"Proposal regarding the decree issued to the Kirov and Izhor factories
- The Kirov and Izhor factories propose a new tank instead of the KV-3 approved by USSR SNK and CC or the VKP(b) decree #548-2332ss issued on March 15th, 1941, with increased armour according to USSR SNK and CC or the VKP(b) decree #827-345ss issued on April 7th, 1941.
- This tank will effectively be a KV-4 tank in armament, dimensions, transmission and suspension design, engine power, and overall layout, but with thinner armour.
- Decree #827-345ss issued on April 7th, 1941 ordered production of KV-3 tanks in 1941 that only differed in armament and armour thickness from the KV-1 and KV-2, so that factories could produce tanks they were used to, with the aim of producing KV-4 and KV-5 tanks in 1942.
- I consider it reasonable to leave the KV-3 with 120 mm of armour in the front and 90 mm in the side, armed with the 76 mm ZIS-5 gun, built using KV-1 components, according to attached tactical-technical characteristics.
Chief of the Main Auto and Armour Directorate of the Red Army, Lieutenant-General of the Tank Forces, Fedorenko
Tactical-technical characteristics for an experimental heavily armoured KV-3 tank
- Purpose:
- Combat with enemy heavy tanks.
- Destruction of concrete fortifications and heavy engineering structures.
- Destruction of enemy artillery and personnel.
- Combat mass: 54-55 tons
- Armour:
- Front plate: 120 mm
- Side plates: 90 mm
- Turret sides: 120 mm
- Roof and floor: 30 mm
- Other armour plates: equivalent to the sides of the hull
- Armament:
- One 76 mm ZIS-5 gun
- Horizontal range: 360 degrees
- Gun elevation: +25 degrees
- Gun depression: -2-3 degrees
- DT machineguns: 3
Of them: - One coaxial
- One in the turret bustle
- One in the front of the hull
- One PPSh submachinegun
- One flamethrower
- Ammunition:
- 76 mm gun rounds: 70-80
- DT rounds: 3000
- PPSh rounds: 450-500
- Hand grenades: 25-30
- Mobility:
- Top highway speed: 35 kph
- Top off-road speed: 20 kph
- Maximum grade: 37-40 degrees
- Climbable obstacle height: no less than 1.2 meters
- Clearance: no less than 450 mm
- Ground pressure without sinking: 0.85-0.9 kg/cm²
- Engine:
- Type: diesel, 700 hp
- Fuel and oil capacity must last for 10 hours of driving
- The cooling, lubrication, and fuel systems must allow for 10 hours of continuous driving with any engine use within the outdoor temperature range of -40 to +40 degrees.
- Transmission and suspension:
- KV type transmission and suspension
- The tank's brakes must hold it when stopped or when on a grade up to 45 degrees.
- Controlling the tank:
- Crew: 5: commander, gunner, loader, mechanic in the turret (also assistant loader), driver, radio operator in the front of the hull."