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D-10 and IS-2

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"To comrade L.P. Beria

On installing the 100 mm D-10 gun produced by NKV factory #9 into the IS tank instead of the D-25 122 mm gun made by the same factory

In March of this year, I reported to you that NKTP factory #100 jointly with NKV factory #9 produced an experimental prototype of the IS heavy tank with a D-10 gun designed by factory #9.

Trials of the IS with a 100 mm gun showed that the 100 mm D-10 gun has undeniable advantages over the 122 mm D-25 gun as armament of the IS tank. These advantages are as follows:
  1. The aimed rate of fire of the 100 mm D-10 gun in the IS tank is up to 8 RPM (on average 6 RPM), 2-3 times higher than with the 122 mm D-25 gun.
    This high rate of fire decisively improves the combat capabilities of the IS tank.
  2. A lack of a muzzle brake on the 100 mm gun improves the firing conditions for the crew in comparison to the 122 mm D-25 gun, which has a muzzle brake.
  3. The 100 mm D-10 gun weighs 300-400 kg less than the 122 mm D-25 gun.
  4. The dimensions of the parts of the gun that are housed inside the turret are less for the 100 mm D-10 gun than the 122 mm D-25 gun, making servicing the gun easier.
  5. The one piece round of the 100 mm gun is safer from the point of view of explosions and fires than the separate propellant of the 122 mm gun.
  6. The armour penetration of the 100 mm D-10 gun is greater, however slightly, than that of the 122 mm D-25 gun at ranges of up to 1000 meters.
    The 100 mm D-10 gun can penetrate the armour of all known tanks at a range of 2 kilometers, except for the front armour of the Panther tank and Ferdinand SPG.
Considering that factory #9 managed to create a 100 mm gun based on a family of guns already in service (85 mm D-5, 122 mm D-25) and that does not require serious changes to the design of the IS tank, I consider that it will not be difficult or time consuming to begin production of the 100 mm D-10 gun at factory #9 (instead of the 122 mm D-25 gun) and installation of this gun in the IS tank at the Kirov factory.

Considering the above, I consider it imperative to begin producing IS tanks with the 100 mm D-10 gun in place of the 122 mm D-25 gun.

If you are in agreement, I ask you to task the People's Commissariat of Tank Production and the People's Commissariat of Armament to prepare a draft GKO decree on this issue.

V. Malyshev
April 25th, 1944"


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