IS-1 Variants
Development of 85 mm tank guns in the USSR began on May 5th, 1943. Multiple competing variants were developed. A new tank was being designed in parallel, and when it was finished there were two 85 mm...
View Article76 mm HEAT Instructions
"October 28th, 1942Instructions for firing 76 mm HEAT rounds from the 76 mm regimental gun model 1927The BP-353A 76 mm HEAT made from gun iron is introduced into the ammunition loadouts of 76 mm...
View ArticleStuart Arrivals
"June 12th, 1942To the Chief of the 5th Department of the BTU, Engineer-Colonel AfoninRecently arriving American M3 light tanks with a modernized turret (the commander's sub-turret is removed) had an...
View ArticlePanther's Ancestors
The birth of every German medium tank was long and painful. This also applied to the Panther. One of the most numerous German tanks, it took almost 5 years to grow from a 20 ton tank to a 45 ton one....
View ArticleVideo: Soviet Tank Tactics of the 1930s
The Red Army flourished in the mid-1930s. Industry was cranking out new tanks that were easily among the best in the world, and the army was a prestigious institution, which attracted many talented...
View ArticleBy The Book
"Conversation between comrade Khalepskiy and Mr. Christie in comrade Gobar's office, April 21st, 1930Christie: As I give you a draft of the contract that is copied from our contract with the American...
View ArticlePTRD Instructions
 "Instructions on handling the PKB* 14.5 mm anti-tank rifleThe PKB anti-tank rifle uses the force of the recoil to open the breech and extract spent casings.The loading of the rifle is done manually by...
View ArticleNew Look of the Central Front
"May 18th, 1943Armoured and Mechanized Forces of the Central FrontDistinguishing markings of the Armoured Forces of the Central FrontA: Land forces (daytime), tanks and armoured carsThe stripes are...
View ArticleAn Ersatz Tank Destroyer from an Ersatz Tractor
Operation Barbarossa was a difficult trial for the Wehrmacht, as they ran into many unexpected complications. One of them was the presence of a significant amount of Soviet tanks with shell-proof...
View ArticleNew Tanks
"Decree of the Committee of Defense of the Council of People's Commissars #198ssOn the RKKA Tank Armament SystemAugust 7th, 1938Top SecretTaking into account the experience of combat and study as well...
View ArticleT-60 Armament
"Penetration trialsPenetration trials were conducted in parallel with a 20 mm ShVAK gun and 12.7 DShK machine gun. against 20 mm thick cemented and homogeneous armour installed at normal and at 30...
View ArticleT-34 Cupolas
"Order of the People's Commissar of Tank Production of the USSR #338ssMoscowJune 9th, 1943On the installation of commander's cupolas on T-34 tanksIn carrying out decree #3531ss issued by the State...
View ArticleA Light and Simple SPAAG
Germany developed a large series of halftrack vehicles on the eve of WWII from the Sd.Kfz.2 motorcycle to the enormous 18 ton Sd.Kfz.9. All of them (except for the smallest) were used as chassis for...
View ArticleKV-1 vs KV-1S
"Proposal on improvement of the design of the KV tankIt is necessary to improve the reliability of the V-2K diesel to 500 service hours. The components and assemblies of the running gear and...
View ArticleRadios for All
"Order of the People's Commissar of Tank Production of the USSR #447MoscowJuly 28th, 1943Presently, only 50% of T-34 tanks are equipped with radio receivers and transmitters. This reduces their combat...
View ArticleAP-I Bullets
"250th Rifle Division HQArtillery Supply DepartmentDecember 3rd, 1941To Chiefs of Artillery Supply of Rifle Regiments of the 250th Rifle DivisionCopy for only the 916th Rifle RegimentI propose to you...
View ArticleStars and Stripes
"Identification markings for ground forces, tanks, armoured cars, and armoured vehicles of the Central FrontJuly 1st to July 15thDay:For ground forces:Main: 4 vertical stripes on each side of the...
View ArticleA Bullpup for Occupants
In addition to German-made anti-tank rifles, the Wehrmacht and its allies used foreign anti-tank rifles in WWII. Some of them were captured, and some were built to German orders. The latter largely...
View ArticleChristie Progess
"New YorkSeptember 15th, 1930Innokentiy Andreevich,I consider it necessary to report to you on the progress of work on the Christie contract and my work here.The work is in the following state. In...
View ArticleGaining Weight
"NKSM ProposalRegarding individual items in the Tactical Technical Requirements of the T-60* tank proposed by the GABTUThe combat weight of the tank is set at 26 tons.The floor of the tank must be 20...
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