"To the Chief Engineer of TsAKB and TsAKB Chief, Lieutenant-General of the Technical Forces, comrade Grabin
April 18th, 1944
Valentine tanks armed with a 40 mm gun continue arriving from England in the USSR.
The penetration of this gun is low and, as experience shows, it cannot fight against modern German tanks in battle. In addition, the ammunition used with the 40 mm gun does not include a high explosive shell, making these tanks ineffective against infantry.
I ask you to determine the possibility of designing and producing an experimental Valentine tank with an 85 mm S-53 gun.
It is necessary to include a 7.62 mm machinegun with 360 degree range to combat enemy personnel.
GBTU USA Chief, Major-General of the Engineering Tank Service, Alymov."
CAMD RF 38-11369-284
April 18th, 1944
Valentine tanks armed with a 40 mm gun continue arriving from England in the USSR.
The penetration of this gun is low and, as experience shows, it cannot fight against modern German tanks in battle. In addition, the ammunition used with the 40 mm gun does not include a high explosive shell, making these tanks ineffective against infantry.
I ask you to determine the possibility of designing and producing an experimental Valentine tank with an 85 mm S-53 gun.
It is necessary to include a 7.62 mm machinegun with 360 degree range to combat enemy personnel.
GBTU USA Chief, Major-General of the Engineering Tank Service, Alymov."
CAMD RF 38-11369-284