Nashorn Notes
"On firing positions for 88 mm SPGs (Nashorn, formerly Hornisse)During use of self propelled anti-tank guns, it is important to perform thorough reconnaissance (preferably on foot). Frequently, the...
View ArticleBirth of the SU-152
"State Committee of Defense decree #2883ssFebruary 14th, 1943Moscow, KremlinOn the production of SU-14 SPGs, KV-1S tanks, and armoured hulls for them in February and March of 1943In order to satisfy...
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AK Accessories
The accuracy of an automatic weapon is important, and many experiments were run on the AK platform to figure out if it can be increased. A number of experimental muzzle devices were built for this...
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British Primer Minister in the USSR
Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, visited Moscow in August of 1942. However, a Churchill arrived a month prior to that in another Soviet city, Archangelsk, with the PQ-17 caravan, and not...
View ArticleShermans in the Mud
Few people interested in WWII armoured warfare haven't seen this video depicting Swedish trials of a Sherman, a Churchill, and a Panther in difficult off-road conditions. Many people, after having seen...
View Article45 mm Tank Destroyer
"Attachment #3 to GOKO decree #2429ssOctober 19th, 1942Tactical-technical characteristics for a 45 mm SPG1. Purpose of the SPGThe 45 mm SPG is designed to function as a weapon in tank destroyer...
View ArticleMoonlighting
"From March 26th to April 1st, 1942There is no change in the [123rd] brigade's location. Training continues. Tank companies are working on exercise 4 of the KOP-38 manual.Between March 26th and March...
View ArticleIntermediate Cartridge
"ActDecember 25th, 1941Chebarkul, Chelyabinsk oblastWe, the undersigned, Chief of the 1st Department of the NIPSVO, Military Engineer 1st Class R.A. Kulinich, Chief of the Design Department, Intendant...
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An Alternative from Gorky
The history of Soviet light SPGs is inseparable from the city of Gorky, modern day Nizhniy Novgorod. Guns installed on Soviet light SPGs were developed and built here. The ZIS-30, the first Soviet...
View ArticleSU-152 in Combat
"1836th Heavy Self Propelled Artillery RegimentThe 1838th Guards Heavy Self Propelled Artillery Regiment participated in offensive and defensive combat.In offensive combat, the regiment fought among...
View ArticleAircraft Costs
"Prime cost of important products of the People's Commissariat of Aircraft ProductionItemFactoryPrime in thousands cost during% change in MayJune 19411st quarter 1942May 1942Compared to June...
View ArticleFive Years of Blogging
In my update a year ago, I promised something big by my fifth blogging anniversary. I'm happy to report on not just one, but two notable milestones!The first, and probably most significant, is moving...
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MKb 42(H) First Appearance
I wrote about Sturmgewehr intel before, but here's an even earlier appearance:"Main data:Automatic fire provided by gunpowder gases passing through the gas opening.The barrel locks via the bolt...
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KV-1S: From Temporary to Permanent
State Committee of Defense decree #1878 "On the improvement of KV tanks" was signed on July 5th, 1943. This was the starting point for the creation of a lighter variant of the KV, named KV-1S. Two...
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Sturer Emil: Collector's Item from Stalingrad
Cases where prototypes that never saw mass production ended up on the battlefield are not uncommon. In the USSR, the T-100 and SMK were tested in combat during the Winter War. The T-29 and A-20...
View ArticleStreet Fighter
"March 21st, 1937#4250ssTo the chief of the ABTU, Divisional Commander BokisCC:Chief of Armament of the Red Army, Army Commander 2nd Class, comrade KhalepskiyChief of the General Staff, Marshal of the...
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British Tiger II Intel
The British, impressively enough, were already aware of the King Tiger long before ever seeing it in combat, at least by May of 1944.On July 18th, 1944, the Germans lost three King Tigers on the...
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T-34-85 Armour
Even after the end of WWII, the T-34-85 continued to be a relevant threat, and thus demanded study. This measurement of a T-34-85 turret's armour thickness made in West Germany in 1961, however,...
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Pistol Penetration
Penetration (or, rather, overpenetration) is an important topic for small arms as well as artillery. In this document, several different pistol rounds are compared in their ability to punch through 11...
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Pz.Kpfw.II Ausf. G: The Fruit of Unending Labour
The idea of replacing the La.S.100, or the PzII, with a superior vehicle was born in January of 1937. The result was the La.S.138, otherwise known as the PzII Ausf. D and Ausf. E, created by MAN and...
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