Arty Intel
"To the Chairman of the GAU Artillery Committee, Major General of Artillery, comrade HohlovThere are three captured weapons at army trophy warehouse #2375 (Budka Chichakovo railroad junction)...
View ArticleNew Gun for the KV-2
"To the Director of the Kirov Factory, comrade ZaltsmanCC: Chief of the GABTU, Lieutenant General of the Tank Forces, comrade FedorenkoCC: Chief of the GAU, Colonel General of Artillery, comrade...
View ArticleSoviet Camo that Came Too Late
The appearance of tanks on the battlefield in September of 1916 quickly forced many to reconsider some preconceived notions about their use. The first to make changes were the British, who pioneered...
View Article85 mm for Dummies
Death to German occupants!Areas ofGERMAN TANKSvulnerable to the 85 mm gunDirectorate of the Commander of the Armoured and Mechanized Forces of the Red ArmyMilitary publisher of the USSR NKO, Moscow,...
View ArticleWarspot Article: Shermans at Kursk
The M4A2 tanks began arriving in the USSR in late 1942, but for various reasons they did not see action until the summer of 1943. The Battle of Kursk was one of the first major engagements these tanks...
View ArticleArmoured Confusion: Mid-war
The history of Soviet wartime armoured vehicles bore several misconceptions. There are many reasons for this. A number of myths came from a lack of information. Sometimes historians' own guesses that...
View ArticleVideo: Sherman Tanks of the Red Army Q&A
A few months ago, I did an AMA on Reddit dedicated to my new book, Sherman Tanks of the Red Army. Some questions came up repeatedly, so I decided to make a video about them. Enjoy!
View ArticleIS-4 Green Light
"State Committee of Defense Decree #5583ssMoscow, KremlinApril 8th, 1944On production of experimental prototypes of a new heavy tank at the Kirov factory of the NKTPThe State Committee of Defense...
View ArticleLong Living IS
Production of the IS-2 ended in June of 1945. The IS-3 replaced it in production. The IS-3 was supposed to replace it in service as well, and many considered the IS-3 to be a temporary tank as well....
View ArticleRepair Crews
"Order of the People's Commissar of Tank Production of the USSR #438sMoscowJune 6th, 1942For rapid repairs of hulls and turrets of T-34 tanks in front line conditions, I order that:A repair base must...
View ArticleAquino Tank Weekend 2021
Aquino Tank Weekend at the Ontario Regiment Museum is back, and with it another fresh set of reenactments. This year's was a little bit different than before, featuring a newcomer: the Red Army with a...
View ArticleArmoured Confusion: Victorious '45
There are many misconceptions about the use of tanks in 1945, same as any other period of the Great Patriotic War. These myths muddle the characteristics of tanks, their application, and sometimes even...
View ArticleVideo: Hetzer in Action
The Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer" tank destroyer at the Ontario Regiment Museum has been under restoration for the past several years. This year, the museum crew put the finishing touches on this vehicle...
View ArticleHowitzer T-34
"July 20th, 1942To the director of Kalinin factory #8, comrade FratkinSverdlovskCC: Chief of the NKTP Technical Department, Engineer Colonel GinzburgCC: Chairman of the NKTP Technical Council, SatelRE:...
View ArticleOn the Way to the Most Numerous American Tank
The Americans met the start of WWII with about a dozen Convertible Medium Tanks T4 and a handful of Medium Tanks M2. Despite this poor state of readiness, American industry made some important steps...
View ArticleVideo: T-34-85 in Action at Aquino Tank Weekend 2021
This T-34-85 tank was acquired by the Ontario Regiment Museum in 2019 and first shown in 2020. Since then it has been restored to working order and takes part in demonstrations and reenactments at the...
View ArticleT-34 Rate of Fire Trials
"March 1st, 1941Approved by Proving Grounds Chief Colonel RomanovReport on the experimental driver's observation device, ammunition racks, and commander's and loader's seats of the T-34 tank...Program...
View ArticleThe First Soviet RPG
Widespread use of anti-tank rocket launchers by both the USSR's allies and enemies starting in 1943 forced it to expedite experimental work on these weapons. The first positive results were achieved in...
View ArticleVideo: Italian M 14/41 Tank in Action
Aquino Tank Weekend hosted at the Ontario Regiment Museum often has a guest appearance from a vehicle owned by the Base Borden museum. Usually these are static displays, but this year visitors were...
View ArticleTips for an Anti-Tank Rifleman
Advice for anti-tank riflemen penned by Degtyaryev himself published in the Boyevoy Put' newspaper on May 13th, 1944."The anti-tank rifle gives the best effect at a range no more than 250-400...
View Article