T-34 Turrets at Factory #112
"Overall direction of turret modernization during the warThe design of the turret was changed significantly (see fig. 143).In December of 1941, turrets 34.30sb-7 and 34.30sb-8 were cancelled, and...
View ArticleTractor Trials
"Trials were performed from June 15th to July 10th at the GANIOP. Corps and high power artillery was used in the trials. During the trials, the tractors traveled:TD-18 tractor, with a B-4 203 mm mod....
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Lend Lease Impressions: Bazooka
60 mm rocket launcher AT M160 mm rocket60 mm anti-tank rocket launcherProving grounds trials showed unsatisfactory results, specifically:Low muzzle velocity (89 m/s).Complex rocket design and sensitive...
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Mosin Suppressor
"This suppressor, designed by comrades Barnas and Glinin, has a cigar-like shape (see photo #1) and consists of two parts, connected with a tread at the point of the suppressor where the diameter is...
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Trophies from Galicia
Starting with the late 1930s, testers in Kubinka began receive foreign vehicles from all corners of the world to try on for size. The first to come were trophies captured in Spain during the civil war,...
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Swedo-Polish Tank Killer
Germany invented specialized anti-tank artillery before the end of WWI. It is not surprising that German anti-tank guns became some of the best known in their class. A German gun served as the starting...
View ArticleTank Trailers
"Minutes of a meeting at the 5th Department of the GABTU BTU with representatives of tank units on the issue of trailers for tanks proposed by factories #592 and #112The meeting was led by the Chief of...
View ArticleKV-1S Road Wheels
"Report on KV-1S Road WheelsKirov factory KV-1 tanks used cast road wheels with Г-shaped rims. As a part of the total requirement for weight reduction, the weight of the road wheels would be reduced by...
View ArticleTetrarch Overview
"Office of the Commander of the Armoured and Mechanized Forces of the North Caucasian FrontAugust 9th, 1943To the GABTU BTU Chief, Engineer-Colonel AfoninIn reply to your inquiry, I report the...
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SVT as a Sniper Rifle
"Description of the issue:Proving grounds and battlefield tests of self-loading sniper rifles developed by factory #314 based on approved and prototype blueprints revealed unsatisfactory shot groups,...
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Failed "Laser" Tank
In the first half of the 20th century, the aircraft industry gathered up all technical and scientific achievements. Airplanes were the first to try out new materials, new engines, equipment, and...
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T-37 and T-38 with ShVAK
"To OKB-15 director, comrade ShpitalniyKaganovich factory (Khabarovsk) plans to arm 400 T-37 and T-38 tanks with a ShVAK gun and a coaxial DT machinegun.I ask you to take this project under your...
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Metamorphoses of an Amphibian Scout
An unusual modification of the T-38 can be seen in the outdoor display of the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. This vehicle is distinct from its brothers: instead of one DT...
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Lend Lease Impressions: Submachineguns
"11.43 mm Thompson submachinegun M.192811.43 mm Thompson submachinegun The submachinegun has two types of magazines: 20 round box magazine and 50 round drum magazine.Significant drawbacks of the...
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Dome Turret
"Red Armyman A.A. PimenovSenior Lieutenant E.F. Polushkin2nd Independent Training Automotive Regiment, GorkiyTo the People's Commissar of Defense, comrade StalinKeeping in mind the important role of...
View ArticleDemolition Tanks
"April 5th, 1941Tactical-technical characteristics for design and production of an explosive delivery and deployment device for the T-34The explosive delivery and deployment device for the T-34 tank is...
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SMG Showdown
In December of 1941, the Soviets decided to test a bunch of SMGs. The SMGs were as follows:"Model 1940" (PPD)"Model 1941" (PPSh)SuomiBergman BMP-34 #260Schmeisser 18/28 #77598Neuhausen(They also had...
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Big Dreams, Small Chassis
Despite the difficulty with which the Soviet T-40 amphibious reconnaissance tank entered production, designers considered the platform quite promising. The T-40 chassis would be used to produce the...
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45 with a Long Nose
The history of this anti-tank gun began with work done on personal initiative in December of 1941. Before mass production and service on the front lines, the gun, indexed M-42, defeated several similar...
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Lend Lease Impressions: 37 mm M3 Anti-Tank Gun
37 mm M3 Anti-Tank Gun"37 mm M3 Anti-Tank GunThe gun has a vertical sliding breech without a semiautomatic mechanism. The mount has split trails, and the wheels can elevate above the ground in battle...
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