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Kugelblitz Study
I previously wrote about a mysterious "German SPAAG" that was shipped to the USSR for study along with the Maus and Sturmtiger. This SPAAG was likely the Kugelblitz. Unfortunately, I have not found any...
View ArticleMore Firepower
"Order of the People's Commissar of Defense #020On increasing the firepower of tank and mechanized units of the Red Army.January 10th, 1943In order to increase the firepower of tank and mechanized...
View ArticleTank Killer Payouts
"Order of the People's Commissar of Defense #0387On rewards for soldiers and commanders who destroy enemy tanks in combatJune 24th, 1943In order to increase effectiveness in combat with enemy tanks and...
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SPG and Fold-out AA Gun
Medium SPGs on the PzIV chassis designed by Krupp engineers were seemingly cursed. The Pz.Sfl.IVa "bunker buster" only had two prototypes built, and work on the Pz.Sfl.IVb ended after a pilot batch....
View ArticleFiring at Ferdinands
"Characteristics of armour penetration of cannons and effectiveness of mines on enemy tanksBased on experience of combat and trialsTrials against an 88 mm SPG "Ferdinand" show the following...
View ArticleSU-85 Organization
"Order of the People's Commissar of Defense #0032On the inclusion of SU-85 self propelled gun regiments into independent tank destroyer artillery brigades in the Reserve of the Stavka of the Supreme...
View ArticleT-64 Light Tank
"Calculations of hull and turret weights made to requirements of the GBTU TUReport on the increase in mass of the T-64 tank as a result of increase of armour thicknessArmour thickness:Front plate: 45...
View ArticleUpgrade
"Order of the People's Commissar of Defense #005On the refreshing of materiel of one tank battalion in each tank brigade in the Far Eastern Front with T-34 tanksMarch 19th, 1945In order to renew the...
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Ersatz Tank Destroyer
The Jadgpanzer 38(t), also widely known as the "Hetzer", is often treated as just being short of a wonder-weapon that could significantly change the tide of war had it appeared sooner. Without doubt,...
View ArticleCorps and Brigades
"Order of the People's Commissar of Defense #00106 on the Composition of Tank Units in Tank Corps and Tank ArmiesMay 29th, 1942To alter the present arrangement, reorganize the tank corps and tank...
View ArticleBack to School
"Order of the People's Commissar of Defense #0909 On Equipping Training Tank Units with Transient PersonnelNovember 26th, 1942In order to fill tank crews with well trained, brave, decisive, and...
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Last Rites
"To the Chief of the Personnel Losses Department of the 3rd ArmySeptember 8th, 1944#08I report that in carrying out the orders of the Chief of the Rear #0210 issued on August 25th, 1944, deceased...
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Red Army's White Tanks
Issues with reducing visibility of armoured vehicles arose as soon as these vehicles were first used. Like 100 years ago, opposing sides aim to locate enemy vehicles in motion, during stops, and during...
View ArticlePanther Penetration
"Table of results of shooting at the Panther tankCaliberTypeRangeArmour thicknessResult# shotsDescription14.5 ATRBS-4210050No penetration240 mm deep dent in the central part of the armour45...
View ArticleA-20 Production Status
"April 29th/May 4th, 1939#205679To the Chief of the Special Department of the NVKD GUGB of the USSRRE: #4 04/12348In response to your query, I reply that:The shape of the hull, armament, ammunition...
View ArticleToo Little, Too Late
"Received on June 22nd, 1:45 amSend on June 22nd, 2:25 am, 2:35 amTo the commanders of the 3rd, 4th, 10th armies, I pass on the order of the People's Commissar of Defense for immediate execution.A...
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Grand Theft Auto
"Award OrderName: Kondratenko, Vladimir IgnatyevichRank: Guard Red ArmymanPosition and unit: anti-tank rifle crew member, 1st Independent Rifle Battalion, 10th Guards Rifle Brigade.is nominated for the...
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Semovente L40 da 47/32: Italy's Smallest SPG
Italian armoured vehicles of WWII pale in comparison to those of either their allies or their opponents. However, even though their tankettes, light, and medium tanks were not quite world class, the...
View ArticleBT-IS
"To the Central Committee of the VKP(b)Comrade I.V. StalinPeople's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, comrade K.Ye. VoroshilovBolshevik fighters and commanders of the Ukrainian Military District,...
View ArticleT-34 Prices
Makarov and Zheltov, the leading researchers of the history of the T-34 tank and the mind behind t-34inform.ru, a site that I often quote, came up with a rather interesting summary table of the cost of...
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