Artillery - God of war!
Infantry - Queen Fields !!
Tanks - Iron Fist !!!.
Dear colleagues, I bring to your attention information about the status and ratio of the forces of the Tank Army at the time of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.
As it was possible to lose in 41g. Having 26,000 tanks?!
Notes (hereinafter simple, - approx.). Once again, man exploring the reasons for the defeat of the Red Army of 1941, trying on the Wehrmacht the same methods (and the same shoes) that were in the USSR. No more than the number of tanks. And the qualitative indicators of tanks (and the USSR and Germany) are generally replaced. We will allocate these places and disassemble separately.
Immediately draws long and slim columns armored vehicles - type of parade on Red Square ...
And, let's compare tanks on 06/22/41. Collible and high quality ...
So - quoted
On 06/22/41 The USSR had 12,780 tanks and wedges in Western districts ...
Wehrmacht had on the border of the USSR - 3987 units of armored vehicles + Satellites of Germany put forward 347 tanks to the borders of the USSR.
Total - 3987 + 347 \u003d 4334
Approx. 4334 exactly also includes tanks and tanks. We will really understand and count. Nothing secret, official network data.
1. PZ I Tank (no more than a tancotte), all modifications (AUSF A and B), including the commander, on June 22, 1941, serviceable - 877 pieces (78%), not working (in repair) - 245 (22% ).
Total tankets 1122 pieces. This tanque did not have cannon weapons at all. The main weapons are two machine guns Mg-34 by a caliber of 7.92-mm. The maximum thickness of the armor is 13 mm.
2. Tank PZ II. Directly on June 22, 1941, a series of release with AUSF and G4 (the latest version of April 1941) took part. Total 1074 tank. Directly good - 909 (85%), in repair - 165 pieces (15%). The maximum thickness of the armor is 30 mm.
3. PZ III tank. Directly on June 22, 1941, a series of release with AUSF and J. Total 1000 tanks took part. Directly sound - 825 (82%), in repair - 174 pieces (17%). The maximum thickness of the armor is 30 mm.
4. PZ IV Tank. Directly on June 22, 1941, a series of release with AUSF AU by E. Total 480 tanks. Directly sound - 439 (91%), in repair - 41 pieces (9%). The maximum thickness of the armor, only in the series E, and for 223 tanks - frontal 50mm.
At the same time, tanks with a thickness of armor in 50-mm - 223 (7%) (maximum amount, excluding faulty tanks) pieces.
Tanks with thickness of armor from 13 to 30 mm - 2827 (93%) pieces. And the most massive tank of the Wehrmacht is a PZ I - 1122 wedge.
Now we begin to understand the tanks of satellites.
347 tank is generally all tanks in a pile of all countries of the allies of Germany, in World War II. There are Romanian tanks, Renault FT-17 and French B-1BIS and Italian Vickers 6 tons. On June 22, 1941, it may be modern and good tanks, but no more than if only there is a desire to laugh. In our article we will not take them into account. Because we will not go to the methods of Gareev.
Superiority is exactly 3 times ....
Approx. While the superiority is exactly 4 times.
However, there is such an English proverb: (Devil in detail).
Let's see the details
First
Sometimes those who say that, here, we had, there were 3 times more tanks than the Germans, they forget that the Germans in principle 4334 are a good tank technique, a fightening.
Approx. This is with what fright all 4334 became good and combat? Here they are where the details begin to pop up. It's all right. Yes, only we will not believe it.
We also had only the tanks of the first two categories (from 4 available) ... The first category is a completely new technique.
The second category is a good combat technique that is in use and defective military equipment requiring current repairs.
The third and fourth category - there already different kinds Repair - Middle Repair, Overhaul, not subject to recovery and so on. That is, this third-fourth category - it can actually be discarded. As for the border districts, the tanks of the first two categories (less demanding current repairs) was about 8,000 pcs.
2. Categories of technology - it is nothing more than bureaucratic correspondence for repair units. Categorization is intended to indicate the magnitude of the service of the tank (or other equipment) in the troops. To the practice of tanks, categorizing - has no relationship.
3. Middle repairs were carried out in divisions by the forces of units with the involvement of specialists of the repair authorities. On average repair can be tanks not only by III or IV category, but also II and even I. On the fourth category, the tank is translated only before writing off it. Prior to this, the tank is in the category III. And it will be repaired.
Pay attention to the logic of the author, who is trying to prove that the USSR had tanks as much as in Germany. First, all the tanks that can be among Germany are calculated. Including tanks with anti-counter-booking, as well as the tanks of the 1917 release. And with respect to the USSR, a note is used that only the tanks of the first two categories will be calculated, that is, new tanks. Just so things are not done. Want to count - count, only the methods apply the same to all. Because if we start counting only new tanks of Germany, issues of 1940 and 1941, then our number of German tanks will decrease to 1124 pieces and no more.
Where did the number of 8,000 tanks come from?
Very simple. This is such arithmetic (Pupkin, without pictures). Just 4780 tanks stupidly equated to old, outdated and not good tanks. Why did it have been done? In order to try to prove that there were about 8,000 good types.
Once again, pay attention. When counting German tanks, words " about" not used. All for sure. These so much. Plus, these still so much. And all the serviceable.
And the USSR (poor) is about 8000. There is no accuracy. And can not.
Let's really look at the details. And compare.
On June 22, there were 1136 T-26 tanks in one of the Western Special Military District. Above this tank was made to laugh in the USSR. But, by the way. The captured T-26 was used in the Wehrmacht, and in 1941 and in 1942. And in Finland, the T-26 was in service until 1961.
October 1941. The German infantry is moving under the cover ... Soviet T-26 tank (already in other hands).
October 1941. BT-7M, on the other side.
BRAIAAUTOMAUBILE BA-20 in Germans.
Another BA-20 in other hands.
And this is already T-34, on the other side.
It is upgraded (by the Germans) Tank KV-1
August 1941, apparently - are it not good tanks?
November 1941. Upgraded and brought to mind (Germans) thirty-four.
September 1941. Germans and by KV-2 did not pass, he was also brought to mind. Advanced is not visible by an armed look.
March 1945. Soviet tankers did not disappear by German tanks.
Armor - 15-mm (since 1939, 20 mm), in 1940 T-26 received shielded armor. But, we will not, we will not T-26, the armor is the only thing that I defended the T-26 German tanks on June 22, 1941.
But by armament he surpassed them. Because the T-26 stood a 45-mm tank gun 20-k. The initial speed of the armor-piercing projectile is 760 m / s. In the flesh until December 1941, this was quite enough to knock out 300 meters anyone german tank.
Little of. The latest modifications of T-26 issues 1938 and 1939 had a stabilizer in the vertical plane of the gun and sight. Therefore, this type of tank (the last modification has numbered 2567 cars) it was easier to lead the shooting from the go, without short stops.
The ratio of 1 to 2 ... It seems to be not bad. However, there is such a sad thing: 95% of Soviet tanks had against the opposite booking and could be amazed by any anti-tank gun ...
Approx. And 93% of German tanks (we have already proven above) there were tanks with anti-government booking.
Pak 35/36 Paved a podcast armor-piercing projectile with 300 meters armor at 40 - 50 mm. With a regular shell, she struck the armor of 95% of Soviet tanks from a half-kilometer.
Approx. And the Soviet 45-mm anti-tank gun 53-K pierced with a podcast armor-piercing shell with 300 meters armor at 40 - 50 mm. An ordinary shell struck the armor of 100% of German tanks from a semi-kilometer.
Speed \u200b\u200b- shooting 10-15 shots per minute ...
Approx. The Soviet gun has the same 10 - 15 shots per minute.
And the Wehrmacht in 41-42g., And the RKKKA in 43-45g. - It was sought to avoid counter-tank battle in the offensive: what's the point of spending a bunch of ammunition, people and techniques forcing a breakthrough, and introducing into it tank corps/ Division, so that after 20-30 km., Raming your tanks in battle on the enemy tanks? - It is much wiser to put your opponent's tanks under the counterdaddar ...
Approx. And here is already a stop. Respected! You are a blacksmith that jumps with the theme on the topic. We are not interested in what was in 1942 and 1943. We specifically look at 1941.
The coming spending on the chosen defense section of its infantry compounds, which in the army most. The defending can only cover this blow to the limited degree at the expense of the same infantry compounds - he could collect for " sealing"Breakthrough only those of them that were in close proximity to the subjected to the strike. The defendant is forced to use valuable motor-mechanized compounds to parry, tightening them to a cracked section of the front .... Where it rises on anti-tank defense on the flanks of the opponent's offensive ....
So All the numerousness of the Soviet tanks depreciated them to their opponent booking ....
Approx. All the same thing also concerned and German tanks, even in the religion, at least in the offensive. However, this is not the answer to the question " why" This is nothing more than creating the topic. Fight is organized and consistent actions. Not pokatushki, in order to " stepping, stump" Any anti-tank division is not without finite. And even more vulnerable than tank itself. Therefore, in the USSR 45-mm anti-tank gun (PTP) was called - " goodbye Motherland"(There was another option" death enemy ..... calculation"), And in the Wehrmacht 37-mm PTP Pak 35/36 was called" beatushka».
And now take a look at the high-quality side ...
We also had the best T-34-76 tank in the world .... Throw moths to roll " in a pure field» - « crowd on the crowd»All German tanks ...
Hmm ... immediately remember the joke ...
There is an excursion in the zoo. Comes to a cell with huge elephant. And then one person asks:
- And what does he eat with you?
- Well, - the guide is responsible for him - cabbage, hay, carrots, vegetables, total - 100 kilograms.
- And what - he will eat it all? - Surprised curious excursant.
"To eat, he will eat," the guide is responsible, "yes who will give him?!
Approx. And who will ask to blame for the fact that Soviet tanks (elephants) did not give 100 kilograms of something per day? And the anecdote is not quite appropriate. Need an example? You are welcome. In August 1941, the tank platoon of Senior Lieutenant Klobanova Zinoviya Konstantinovich only in one battle, disabled 22 tank of the enemy. If you come up for example, Kolobanova August 1941, it is asked, and who looked up by Kolobanov's elephants? No one. That is, when no one interfered with the Tankers of the Red Army in battle (from the elephants, in the form of senior authorities), the tankers achieved not only the results, but also made real feats.
If there were idiots in the Wehrmacht, just dreamed of seeking in the counter tank battle with the tanks of the enemy, then a clear thing, what we would ask them ... But the trouble, a guy Nechurchura and under Prokhorovka, and under the leiser, and where could Substitutes under Consturdar of Soviet tanks his PTO .. \u200b\u200bWell, the tank attacks were safely broken up ... And if the T-34 or KV was a chance, the other tangchegi burned on the distant approaches ...
Approx. The point is not that there were idiots in the Wehrmacht or not. And the thing is that, I repeat the battle is organized and agreed actions. Success in battle reaches not a separate tank, but only as a result of joint active actions. And if the intelligence in the Germans worked at the proper level and detected soviet tanks: without infantry, without artillery and aviation support, then for what to nod to the Germans. Idiot, it turned out not the Germans, but the Soviet command. Which does not understand what thought when he sent his tanks into battle.
BUT! It seems to be about 1941. How to return the author in 1941, not clear? Prokhorovka is still flowers. But the berries appear further. There really anecdote.
Such is a trifle - the share of tanks with a normal booking (i.e. medium and heavy) capable of resolving anti-tank artillery Massed:
- in the RKKA - about 5%;
- In the tank troops of the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front - about 50%.
Approx. Here they are berries appeared. It turns out in 1941, the Germans had medium and heavy tanks in the percentage ratio of as much as 50%. Whereas in the USSR - there are only 5% of them. This is an anecdote, I would even be compared with Italy's tank fleet, there would be no problems. But with the Tanks of the USSR is ridiculous. Something equal to T-35 was the Germans? Or maybe something equal to T-28? Why these tanks were lost - the answer will be lower.
Soviet heavy tanks of 1941 we will call without problems. But, only let the respected author be called " heavy»German tanks on June 22, 1941?
Once again, pay attention to what words are used to describe for German tanks - " middle and heavy" And for the Soviet " faulty and outdated" This is the NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) method. The key in this method is the Union " and" It was always done in the USSR, when it was necessary to blacken something. This method can be delayed in general anything, for example: " cosmonauts and sadomites" We didn't say anything bad about astronauts, but the negative is already on the face. The result will be, if you repeat constantly. This was proven back in the XIX century, Gustave Lebony.
But our middle tanks were better than German! After all, the truth!?
Approx. In something yes, but something is not.
Disappoint, but the best Tank of RKKKA T-34-76 in 41g. Taki inferior to his German " opponent».
Approx. The keyword in the proposal above, the word " taki" Therefore, we will reply with the same word (and method) to a pillar: T-34-76 in 1941, the same was not inferior to any German tank. And therefore disappointed the respected author.
Armor - as an opportunity to confront enemy PTO:
T-34-76 - 40 - 45 mm.
PZ-3-J - 50 mm.
Approx. PZ III AUSF. J This is a tank of March 1941. This is the only thing that the author grabbed. But there is one small but. From March to December 1941, PZ III AUSF J was produced with a 50-mm instrument KWK 38 L / 42 (50 mm tank gun, sample of 1938, with a length of the barrel 42 caliber, or 2100 mm).
Since December 1941, PZ III AUSF J began producing with a 50-mm gun KWK 39 L / 60 (50 mm tank gun, sample of 1939, with a barrel length of 60 calibers, or 3000 mm).
From March 1941, a 76.2-mm F-34 gun was installed on all T-34 with a barrel length of 41.5 calibers, which is 3162 mm.
Here you have to do two refinements:
- The strength of German armor was about 1.5 times higher, which Soviet (for 1941, where did it come from?)
- T-34, Armorists have a rational angle of inclination.
But the slope of armoredists makes sense when the shell caliber is equal to the thickness of the armor. Therefore, for example, an artillertist 50-mm gun was " phiolet"At how the corner the sheets of armor have a tank .... Head.
Approx. It turns out that the rational angles of inclination are garbage? And why then in the rational angles later transmitted all countries in the world? But! On the German tank of June 1941, 50-mm gun, with a short trunk. Very wonderful gun. But to cause harm, the T-34 of March 1941 this can only be an instrument from a distance of 300 meters, and in the side or in the ass. Everything. In all other cases, it could not. But even this is not the main thing. Not every hit in the tank and breaking armor means the defeat of the tank.
And the T-34 could cause damage to PZ III AUSF J, at least 500 meters, at least with 1000. It is not easy for the fact that the gun is more powerful, and in addition to the gun in PZ III AUSF J, the rational angles of the armor of the armor are missing. On which they beat into everything not 50 mm cannon, but 76 mm.
In the same example with Klobanov, the KV-1 tank during the battle received more than 40 hits in the armor of German shells. And not only did not turn out to be damaged, but also capable of further fighting. Very amazing, but the tank of Kolobanova after the fight on August 22 did not hit the IV category. It was Soviet tankers " phiolet"The German projectile will fall into them or not. Because I knew perfectly well that the Germans had short-barreled tank guns that were not intended to combat armored goals.
By December 1941, the command of the Wehrmacht, just revised its attitude towards his tanks. Because the vermachlet tankers were far from " phiolet"The Soviet 76-mm armor-piercing projectile will fall into them or will not fall.
ENGINE:
T-34-76-lapse " V-2.» « umiral"After 40-60 hours of work. This is an indicator of the quality of production.
PZ-III AUSF. J - Engine " maybach"There was a stock of a motor 400 motorcycles. This is also an indicator of the quality of production.
Speed \u200b\u200b(Highway / Crossed Area):
T-34-76 - 54/25 km / h
PZ-III AUSF. J - 67/15 km / h
But! On the Gravel Highway Cube PZ-III AUSF. H and J accelerated at a measuring kilometer to a speed of 69.7 km / h, while the best indicator for T-34 amounted to 48.2 km / h. Allocated as a reference BT-7 on wheels developed only 68.1 km / h!
At the same time: the German car exceeded the T-34 and in smoothness, it turned out to be less noisy - at the maximum speed of movement PZ.III was heard for 150-200 m, and the T-34 - for 450 m. You can even supplement in this case The author, that Soviet tankers, as not regrettable, loved PZ-III AUSF very much. J And not only, but even the version of N. Why? Because the tank was high-quality. He did not whistle, did not fall off and did not bought himself.
Crew remover:
PZ-III AUSF. J - had a three-bed tower, in which there were enough comfortable conditions for the combat work of the crew members. The commander had a comfortable turret that provided him with a wonderful review, all crew members had its own internal communications devices.
In the tower, the T-34 struggled with difficulty two tankers, one of which served as not only the gunner, but also a tank commander, and in some cases the commander of the unit. Internal communication was provided with only two crew members of the four - the tank commander and the driver's mechanic. All of the above is completely true. But this does not apply to the tank itself. This is a problem - Soviet tank generals. Which ordered T-34, while the tank commander was not a member, but charging. It concerned all the Soviet production tanks in general until 1943. And we emphasize - it does not matter T-34, this is the trouble of the Soviet tank school.
"Armorbonity" Tank at 41g.:
- T-37-76 - is limited to the absence of armor-piercing shells. In late 1941 Solved.
- PZ-III AUSF. J - limited to a relatively weak gun. " In late 1941 Solved by introducing a new gun ...
Approx. The lack of an armor-piercing projectile is not an indicator that the tank cannot fight against the tank. German PZ-III AUSF. J Behind the eyes and for your ears, there would be enough to enter a 76 mm of a fragant-burglar projectile. And one. After the fight, the crew would have to extract from a completely whole tank, and replaced to another.
After reading, it does not come to the question. So what is the reason? Why is the USSR having, even if there are 8,000 good tanks, managed in the initial phase of war to blow into the dry 3050 tanks, from which the vast majority is the wedges?
After all, everything is just calculated. Every German tank accounts for 2 Soviet and 1900 more can be left in the reserve. Just in case. Did you never know that.
But did not do that. And did not come.
As of October 28, 1941, there were 441 tank on the Western Front, of which: 33 kV-1, 175 T-34, 43 BT, 50 T-26, 113 T-40 and 32 T-60. This is from the 3852 initial composition, on June 22, 1941.
On October 28, 1941, on the Western Front, tanks at 8.7 (almost 9) times less than they were on June 22 of the same year!
But Kohl is already needed, answer the question - there is no problem.
Causes of tank loss in the USSR from 22.61941 to 10/28/1941:
1. Any vermachlet tank is not just armored wagon. Each tank had appropriate means of communication. Not just he had something. These means of communication - were checked, there was a certain experience of using them. And if a person did not understand or did not want to understand: how a means of communication works, for which it is necessary and what is achieved by means of communications in battle, then this person would never put to the post of co-mandar tank;
2. The commander tank of Wehrmacht is not just the same tank as the rest, only a little different. This is a control car, which in battle could take part equally with all the platform tanks. But at the same time, with everything, she did not just manage, but there was a connection with each participating tank. And besides other things, the commander of the tank platoon of the Wehrmacht in his commander tank were: communications to interact with infantry, communication for interaction with artillery, communication for interaction with aviation and a means of communication with the senior authorities. And if the commander of the tank platoon could not adjust the fire of artillery, to restore its own aviation and could not interact with the infantry - then such a person would never put on the position of commander of the tank platoon.
At the time of 2013, in the Russian army, the commander of the tank platoon does not only have no (but not even dreaming of having) means of communicating to interact with aviation, no connection with its own artillery. It has a very uncommon and very stable connection with its tanks, as well as (not always) with infantry;
3 . Wehrmacht's tank platoon is not three tank as it was accepted in the USSR and now in Russia. Wehrmacht's tank platoon is 7 tanks. Two in each branch, plus the commander's own, 7th tank. Therefore, the tank company of Wehrmacht could have been involved to perform operational tasks. And attracted. But why? In the USSR and in Russia, it is still not clear. Because the organization is not just another. And completely different. Not even Soviet.
In each compartment there were two tanks not just like that. The essence of the application is simple: the first performs the maneuver (any), and the second it covers it at this time. Options for the same action in general darkness;
4 . The felting term of the vermickue tank crew is two years (the figure is still wild for the USSR Army and especially Russia). People did not just studied on the basis of the practical experience of the predecessors, and the crews literally completed each of her man. In order to achieve an understanding without words in general, with one semi-uniform. At the same time, special attention was paid to which crew supports which active. And therefore did not suit the messengers in humans.
The commander of the Wehrmacht Tank - was not charging. He was only an arrow in the PZ I tank. On all the other tanks of the Wehrmacht, the tank commander - managed the crew in battle.
And last. The specific customer of tanks in Germany was not generals, but those who fought on the tanks. That is, when German Arms Minister sent his representatives to the troops, so that they gave a clear and clear picture, which and how to modernize, then representatives of the Ministry of Arms, talked with driver mechanics, navigators and tank commanders. And not with commanders of tank divisions. The commander of the Tank Division could only contribute to the delivery of the representative of the Ministry of Arms into each unit and its protection.
Because the Germans did not have " flying tanks"But it is precisely why PZ I AUSF A Werkest managed to get to Moscow.
And everything that was in the USSR is Napled until 1941, in which there was a robuhan resource just a colossal (plants of almost 20 years dried space, it turns out just like this), or it was stupidly thrown (and accordingly I got a German) or lost - because It was not intended at all for warfare. For travel during parades in Red Square, and no more.
Methods of Gareeva live so far. Not only are they rewritten by history. To this day, it is estimated in the Russian army only a quantitative indicator. And in all not high quality. The preparation of those who will fight at all are not taken into account. So at all so long ago, the head of the General Staff of Russia, Gerasimov, originated that: " Troops prepared weakly, and headquarters prepared very well».
But, " high professional headquarters"Neither can not prepare (even before nearly»Level) Those who will bring victory or defeat in war.
In 1941, the headquarters were also prepared for so much oK"That this did not prevent RKKA retreat to Moscow.
In second world War Tanks played a decisive role in battles and operations, to highlight from a variety of tanks, the top ten, it is very difficult for this reason, the order in the list is rather conditional and the place of the tank is tied to the time of its active participation in battles and significance for that period.
10. Panzerkampfwagen III Tank (PZKPFW III)
PZKPFW III, more known as T-III - a lightweight tank with a 37 mm tool. Booking from all angles - 30 mm. The main quality is the speed (40 km / h along the highway). Thanks to the perfect CARL Zeiss optics, ergonomic workplace crew and the presence of a radio station, "Troika" could successfully fight with much more heavy machines. But with the advent of new opponents, the shortcomings of the T-II manifested themselves more clearly. The Germans replaced 37 mm guns per 50 mm guns and covered the tank by mounted screens - temporary measures gave their results, the T-III was for several years. By 1943, the T-III issue was discontinued, due to the full exhaustion of its resource for modernization. In total, the German industry released 5000 Troots.
9. Tank Panzerkampfwagen IV (PZKPFW IV)
Much more seriously looked PZKPFW IV, which became the most massive tank Banzerwaff - the Germans managed to build 8700 cars. Combining all the advantages of lighter T-III, "Four" had high fireproof and security - the thick plate thickness was gradually brought to 80 mm, and her 75 mm long-term shells were punched with enemy tanks armor, like foil (by the way, was released 1133 early modifications with a short-power gun).
The weak points of the car are too thin board and feed (only 30 mm in the first modifications), the designers neglected the inclination of armor sheets in favor of the technological and convenience of the crew.
Panzer IV is the only German tank, which was in serial production of the whole second world war and became the most massive tank of Wehrmacht. His popularity in German tank workers was popular with the popularity of T-34 from our and "Sherman" among Americans. Well-workedly spent and exceptionally reliable in operation, this combat vehicle in the full sense of the word was a "working horse" Banzerwaff.
8. Tank KV-1 (Klim Voroshilov)
"... From three sides, we were fire on the Iron Monsters of the Russians, but everything was in vain. Russian giants approached closer and closer. One of them approached our tank, hopelessly stuck in a swampy pond and drove on him without hesitation, pressing caterpillars in the dirt ... "
- General Renaard, commander of the 41 vermachlet tank corps.
In the summer of 1941, the Tank of the KV threw the elite parts of the Wehrmacht as impunity as if he had rolled out to the Borodino field in 1812. Invulnerable, invincible and becoming powerful. Until the end of 1941, in all armies of the world, there was no weapon that could stop the Russian 45-ton monster. KV was 2 times heavier than the largest tank of the Wehrmacht.
Armor KV is a wonderful song of steel and technology. 75 millimeters of steel solid from all angles! The frontal coronlers had the optimal angle of inclination, which even more increased the operation of the armor of the armchair - German 37 mm anti-tank guns did not even take it into the focus, and 50 mm guns were not further than 500 meters. At the same time, the long-life 76 mm gun F-34 (ZIS-5) allowed from any direction to beat any German tank of the period from a distance of 1.5 kilometers.
Crews "KV" were completed exclusively by officers, only mechanics were drivers could be elders. The level of their preparation was far exceeded the level of crews that fought on the tanks of other types. They fought more skillfully, so the Germans were remembered ...
7. Tank T-34 (thirty)
"... There is nothing worse than a tank battle against superior enemy forces. Not in numbers - it was no matter for us, we are accustomed to this. But against the more good machines is terrible ... Russian tanks are so agile, in close distances they scrub along the slope or overcome the swamp faster than you turn the tower. And through the noise and roar you all the time hear clanging shells on armor. When they fall into our tank, you often hear a deafening explosion and burning fuel, too loud so that you can hear the death cries of the crew ... "
- The opinion of the German tanker from the 4th Tank Division, destroyed by T-34 tanks in Mtsensk on October 11, 1941.
Obviously, the Russian monster had no analogues in 1941: 500-strong diesel, unique booking, 76 mm gun F-34 (in general, a similar tank KV) and wide caterpillars - all these technical solutions provided the T-34 optimal mobility ratio, fire Power and security. Even separately, these parameters in T-34 were higher than any tank of Banzerwaff.
When the soldiers of the Wehrmacht first met on the battlefield with "thirty consignors", they, to put it mildly, were shocked. The passability of our car was impressed - where German tanks did not even think about it, the T-34 was held without much difficulty. The Germans even nickname their 37-millimeter anti-tank gun "Tuk-Tuk's beater", because when her shells got into the "thirtyweight", they just dug around her and bounced.
The main thing - the Soviet designers managed to create a tank exactly as he was needed by the Red Army. T-34 perfectly corresponded to the conditions of the Eastern Front. The maximum simplicity and manufacturability of the design allowed in the shortest possible time to establish the mass production of these combat vehicles, as a result - the T-34 were easy to operate, numerous and omnipresents.
6. Tank Panzerkampfwagen VI "Tiger I" AUSF E, "Tiger"
"... We went around the beam and sent to the" tiger ". Losing a few T-34, our battalion returned back ... "
- Frequent description of meetings with PZKPFW VI from memoirs of tankers.
According to a number of Western historians, the main task of Tiger tank was the fight against the tanks of the enemy, and its design corresponded to the decision of this particular problem:
If, in the initial period of World War II, the German military doctrine had mainly offensive orientation, later, when the strategic situation was changed to the opposite, the tanks began to be given the role of the liquidation of breakthroughs of German defense.
Thus, the tang "Tiger" thought primarily as a means of combating tanks of the enemy, whether in defense or an offensive. Accounting for this fact is necessary to understand the characteristics of the design and tactics of the use of "Tigers".
On July 21, 1943, the commander of the 3rd Tank Corps Herman Bright, published the following instructions for the combat use of TiGR-I tank:
... taking into account the strength of armor and weapons, "Tiger" should be used mainly against tanks and anti-tank agents of the enemy, and only in the second place - as an exception - against the infantry parts.
As the experience of battles showed, the weapon "Tiger" allows him to fight with the tanks of the enemy at distances of 2000 meters and more, which particularly affects the moral spirit of the enemy. Durable armor allows Tigra to go on rapprochement with an opponent without risk of serious damage from hits. Nevertheless, you should try to start the fight with the tanks of the enemy at distances of more than 1000 meters.
5. Panther Tank (PZKPFW V "Panther")
Understanding that "Tiger" is a rare and exotic weapon of professionals, German tankostroiters have created a simpler and cheap tank, with the intention to turn it into a massive middle tank Wehrmacht.
Panzerkampfwagen V "Panther" still serves as an object of hot disputes. The technical capabilities of the car complaints do not cause - with a mass of 44 tons of "Panther" exceeded the mobility of T-34, developing on a good highway 55-60 km / h. The tank was armed with 75 mm gun KWK 42 with a barrel length of 70 calibers! The armor-piercing pyline shell, released from her hellish troops, flew over the first second 1 kilometer - with such TTX Panthers, could shift any allies tank at a distance of over 2 kilometers. Panthers Booking by most sources are also recognized as worthy - the forehead thickness ranged from 60 to 80 mm, and the corners of the armor reached 55 °. The board was weaker - at the T-34 level, so it was easily affected by Soviet anti-tank agents. The lower part of the side was additionally protected by two rows of rinks on each side.
4. Tank IS-2 (Joseph Stalin)
IC-2 was the most powerful and most heavily of the Soviet serial tanks of the period of war, and one of the strongest tanks at the time in the world. Tanks of this type have played a big role in the battles of 1944-1945, especially distinguished during the storming of cities.
Booking thickness IS-2 reached 120 mm. One of the main achievements of Soviet engineers is economy and a small metal consumption of the design of the IS-2. When mass, comparable with the mass of "Panthers", the Soviet tank was much more seriously protected. But too dense layout required the placement of fuel tanks in the control unit - when armor breaks, IC-2 had little chance to survive. Particularly risked the mechanic-driver, who did not have his own hatch.
Storming cities:
Together with SAU, at its base, the IC-2 was actively used for assault actions of fortified cities, such as Budapest, Breslau, Berlin. The tactics of action in such conditions provided for the action of OGBTP assault groups of 1-2 tanks accompanied by the infantry compartment from several machine gunners, a sniper or a rifle arrow from a rifle and sometimes a stainless meter. In the case of weak resistance, the tanks with assault groups on them were broken along the streets to the squares, squares, parks, where it was possible to occupy a circular defense.
3. M4 Sherman Tank (Sherman)
"Sherman" is the peak of rationality and pragmatism. Especially surprisingly, the United States, who had 50 tanks, managed to create such a balanced combat machine and label 49,000 Shermans by 1945 of various modifications. For example, "Sherman" with a gasoline engine was used in the ground forces, and the M4A2 modification equipped with a diesel engine was applied to the maritime division. American engineers fairly believed that this would significantly simplify the operation of tanks - the Solarium could be easily found in the sailors, unlike high-octane gasoline. By the way, it was this modification of M4A2 to the Soviet Union.
What did "EMCH" (so our soldiers called M4) so \u200b\u200bliked the command of the Red Army, that the elite units did the elite divisions, for example, the 1st Guards Mechanized Corps and the 9th Guards Tank Corps? The answer is simple: "Sherman" had an optimal ratio of booking, firepower, mobility and ... reliability. In addition, Sherman was the first tower with a hydraulic drive of the tower (this provided a special accuracy of the guidance) and the stabilizer of the gun in the vertical plane - the tankers recognized that in the duel situation, their shot was always the first.
Combat application:
After landing in Normandy, allies had to face German tank divisions, which were thrown on the defense of the "Fortress of Europe", and it turned out that the allies underestimated the degree of saturation of the German troops with heavy types of armored vehicles, especially Panthan tanks. In direct clashes with German hard tanks "Sherman" had very little chance. The British could at a certain extent could count on their Sherman Firefly, whose excellent gun produced a big impression on the Germans (so much that the crews of German tanks tried first to hit the Firefly, and then to deal with the rest). The Americans who were counting on their new tool quickly found out that for confident defeat "Panthers" in the front of its armor-piercing shells is still not enough.
2. Panzerkampfwagen VI AUSF. B "Tiger II", "Tiger II"
The fighting debut of royal tigers took place on July 18, 1944 in Normandy, where the 503rd heavy tank battalion managed to beat 12 Sherman tanks in the first battle.
And already on August 12, Tiger II appeared on the Eastern Front: the 501th heavy tank battalion tried to prevent Lviv-Sandomira offensive operation. The bridgehead was an uneven half-trip, who defeated the ends in the Vistula. In about the middle of this semiring, covering the direction on the stash, the 53rd Guards Tank Brigade defended.
At 7.00 on August 13, the opponent under the cover of the mist moved to the onset of the 16th Tank Division with the participation of the 14 Royal Tigers of the 501th Heavy Tank Battalion. But barely new tigers crawled on the original positions, three of them were shot from the ambush by the T-34-85 tank, under the command of the younger lieutenant Alexander Oskina, in addition to the most Oskina, the driver of Stetsenko, the commander of Merhaidarov, Radiste Pechanins and Chalaric . In total, the brigade tankers beat 11 tanks, and the three remaining, abandoned by the crews were captured in good condition. One of these tanks with number 502 is still located in Cuba.
Currently, the royal tigers are available in the expositions of Saumur Musee des Bovington, Rac Tank Museum Bovington (the only preserved copy from Porschet's Tower) and Royal Military Collendge of Science Shrivenham in the UK, Muntster Lager Kampftruppen Schule in Germany (transferred to the Americans in 1961) , Ordnance Museum Aberdeen Proving Ground in the USA, Switzerlands Panzer Museum Thun in Switzerland and the Military Historical Museum of Armored Arms and Technology in Cuba near Moscow.
1. Tank T-34-85
The average T-34-85 tank is essentially a large modernization of T-34 tank, as a result of which a very important lack of the latter was eliminated - the prosecution of the combat department and the impossibility of the full division of the work of members of the crew. It was achieved by increasing the diameter of the tower pursuit, as well as at the expense of installing a new three-seater tower significantly large than that of T-34, sizes. In this case, the design of the housing and the layout in it of nodes and units of any significant changes have not been treated. Consequently, there are also disadvantages inherent in the machine with a stern location of the engine and transmission.
As is known, two layout schemes with a nasal and feed location of the transmission obtained the greatest spread in tank building. Moreover, the shortcomings of the same scheme are the advantages of the other.
The arrangement of the arrangement of the transmission is the increased length of the tank due to the placement in its case of four, non-combined branches or in reducing the volume of combat compartment at a constant length of the machine. Due to the long length of motor and transmission branches, the combat with a heavy tower shifts to the nose, overloading the front rollers, without leaving the place on the raised sheet for the central and even side accommodation of the driver's mechanic. There is a danger of "stirring" serving guns to the ground when the tank moves through natural and artificial obstacles. Complicated control drive, binding a driver with a transmission placed in the stern.
Layout layout T-34-85 tank
Ways out of this position two: either increase the length of the management of the control (or combat), which will inevitably lead to an increase in the total tank length and the deterioration of its maneuverable qualities due to the increase in the ratio L / B - the length of the supporting surface to the width of the rut (at T-34 85 It is close to optimal - 1.5), or radically change the layout of motor and transmission offices. The fact that it could lead to, can be judged by the results of the work of Soviet designers when designing new average T-44 and T-54 tanks created during the war years and adopted by arms, respectively, in 1944 and 1945.
Tank layout layout T-54
On these combat vehicles, a layout with a transverse (and not with a longitudinal, as in T-34-85) was applied to the accommodation of a 12-cylinder diesel engine B-2 (in V-44 and B-54 versions) and combined significantly shortened (650 mm ) Motor transmission department. This made it possible to lengthen the combat separation of up to 30% of the housing length (at T-34-85 - 24.3%), almost 250 mm increase the diameter of the tower pattern and install on the average tank T-54 powerful 100-mm gun. At the same time, it was possible to shift the tower to the stern, highlighting a place for the hatch of the driver on the ripped sheet. Elimination of the fifth crew member (arrow from the course machine gun), removal of waters with a combat separation polish, transfer the fan from the engine crankshaft to the feed bracket and the reduction of the engine height reduced the height of the T-54 tank housing (compared to the T-34 tank case 85) Approximately 200 mm, as well as a reduction in the reserved volume by about 2 m cubic meters. And the strengthening of armor protection more than twice (with an increase in the mass of only 12%).
At such a cardinal reproduction of T-34 tank during the war, did not go, and, probably, it was the right decision. At the same time, the diameter of the tower pattern, while maintaining the constant shape of the housing, the T-34-85 was almost limit, which did not allow to post a larger caliber in the tower. The possibilities of modernization of the armament tank were exhausted completely, in contrast, for example, from American "Sherman" and German PZ.LV.
By the way, the problem of increasing the caliber of the main weapon of the tank was of paramount importance. Sometimes you can hear the question: why did the transition to an 85-mm can be needed, could it be better to improve the ballistic characteristics of F -4 due to an increase in the length of the trunk? After all, the Germans were accepted with their 75-mm gun on PZ.LV.
The fact is that German tools have traditionally been distinguished by the best inner ballistic (ours as traditionally external). The Germans have sought high armored aircraft by increasing the initial speed and better exploration of ammunition. We could only respond to the increase in the caliber. Although the C-53 gun significantly improved the fire capabilities of T-34-85, but, as noted by Yu.E. Maksarev: "In the future, T-34 could no longer directly affect new German tanks." All attempts to create 85-mm guns with an initial speed of over 1000 m / s, the so-called high power cannons, have been completed due to the rapid wear and destruction of the trunk at the test stage. For the "duel" defeat of German tanks, a transition to 100 mm caliber was needed, which was carried out only in the T-54 tank with a tower diameter of 1815 mm. But in the battles of the Second World War, this combat participation car did not accept.
As for the placement of the hatch of the driver's mechanic in the windshield sheet of the case, it was possible to try to go along the path of Americans. Recall, at Sherman, the hatches of the driver and machine gunner, originally performed in the inclined front sheet of the housing, were subsequently transferred to a sweetened sheet. This was done by reducing the windshield tilt angle from 56 ° to 47 ° to vertical. The T-34-85 front sheet of the housing had a slope of 60 °. By reducing this angle is also up to 47 ° and compensating for it to some increasing winding thickness, it would be possible to increase the area of \u200b\u200bthe subferee leaf and place the driver's hatch on it. It would not require a cardinal alteration of the structure of the housing and would not lead to a significant increase in the mass of the tank.
Not changed to T-34-85 and suspension. And if the use of better steel springs helped to avoid their rapid seeding and, as a result, the decrease in clearance, it was not possible to get rid of significant longitudinal fluctuations in the tank hull in motion. It was an organic springs of spring suspension. The location of the same branch offices in the front of the tank only aggravated the negative impact of these oscillations on the crew and armament.
The consequence of the T-34-85 layout scheme has also become the absence of a rotating polishing of the tower in the combat separation. In battle, charging worked, standing on the lids of cassettes with shells laid on the bottom of the tank. At the turns of the tower, he had to move after the executioner, while he was prevented by the shooting sleeves that fell here on the floor. When conducting an intense fire, the accumulated sleeves made it difficult and access to the shots placed in a wagging on the bottom.
By summing all these moments, it can be concluded that, in contrast to the same "Sherman", the possibilities for the modernization of the body and the suspension T-34-85 were not fully used.
Considering the advantages and disadvantages of the T-34-85, it is necessary to take another very important circumstance. The crew of any tank, as a rule, in everyday reality absolutely does not care, at what angle of inclination is the frontal or any other sheet of the case or tower. It is much more important that the tank is like a car, that is, as a totality of mechanical and electrical mechanisms, it worked clearly, reliably and did not create problems during operation. Including the problems associated with the repair or replacement of any details, nodes and aggregates. Here at the T-34-85 (as well as the T-34) everything was in order. The tank was distinguished by exceptional maintenance! Paradoxically, but the fact - the layout is "to blame"!
There is a rule: component is not to provide convenient installation - dismantling units, and based on the fact that the aggregates do not need to be fully repaired. The required high reliability and reliability in the paper are achieved when designing a tank on the basis of ready-made, structurally spent aggregates. Since, when creating T-34, almost none of the aggregates of the tank replied to this requirement, then its layout was completed contrary to the rule. The roof of the engine motorcycle separation was an easy-sensitive, a feed sheet of the hull was folded on the hinges, which made it possible to dismantle such large-sized units as the engine and gearbox in the field. All this was a tremendous value in the first half of the war, when there were more tanks due to technical malfunctions than from the effects of the enemy (as of April 1, 1942, for example, in the current army, there were 1642 serviceable and 2409 faulty tanks of all types, Time as our fighting losses for March amounted to 467 tanks). As the quality of the aggregates have improved the highest indicator, the T-34-85, the value of the repair acceptable layout decreased, but the language will not turn to call it a disadvantage. Moreover, good maintenance facilities turned out to be as the way during the post-war operation of the tank abroad, primarily in the countries of Asia and Africa, sometimes in extreme climatic conditions and with staff that had a very mediocre personnel, if not more, the level of preparation.
If there are all deficiencies in the design of "ThirtyDeighters", a certain balance of compromises was observed, which favorably distinguished this combat car from other tanks of World War II. Easy, ease of operation and maintenance, together with good armor, maneuverability and sufficiently powerful weapons and caused the success and popularity of T-34-85 with tankers.
For each "Tiger" accounted for six tens of T-34, and for each "Panther" - on eight "Shermans"
Compare among themselves, participating in the Great Patriotic War on both sides of the front, in principle, rather meaningless. After all, ultimately the best, as they say, it turns out that which won. And in the case of the greatest war of the twentieth century, it would be fair to say so: the best is the best weapons that hold the winners in the hands. You can compare German, Soviet, British and American tanks and by armament, and on armor, and in terms of the crew, and comfortably for the crew. For each parameter there will be their leaders and outsiders, but ultimately the victory was mined the tanks of the anti-Hitler coalition. Including because they simply were much more. The total release of the tens of the most massive tanks of the Great Patriotic War is at least 195,52 pieces. Of these, the USSR share accounts for 92,077 tanks and 72 919 - to the US share, that is, four fifths, and everything else is the share of Germany (21,881 tank) and the United Kingdom (8275 tanks).
On the one hand, it is noteworthy that, yielding to the total number of tanks produced, Germany was able to effectively dispose of available. On the other hand, the Soviet Union had to pay mass tank losses for the low level of training of tankers and the combat experience they recruited during the war. But it is significant that out of the ten most numerous tanks of the Great Patriotic War, and the entire second world vast majority enters any list of "best tanks of the 1940s". What is natural: in military conditions, the mass release of that weapon is established, which proves its effectiveness and superiority as a whole.
1. Soviet Middle Tank T-34
Total number of tanks of all modifications: 84,070 pieces
Weight: 25,6-32.2 t
Armament: 76/85 mm Caliber gun, two 7.62 mm caliber machine gun
Crew: 4-5 people
Speed \u200b\u200bat rough terrain: 25 km / h
None of the tank in the world tank construction has ever been produced in such colossal quantities. More than half of almost 85 thousand "Thirty highways" falls on the modifications of the first option itself - the T-34-76 (the brainchild of the legendary designer Mikhail Koskina), armed with a 76-millimeter F-34 gun. It is these tanks, which, by the beginning of the war, we managed to release about 1800 pieces, presented a unpleasant surprise tankers and forced Germany to hastily to invent ways to make their armored cars capable of fighting with Russians. It was these cars for themselves - in the literal sense of the word! - And the severity of the first months of war, and the incredible stress of the fracture in the war, and the rapidness of throwing to the West, to victory.
T-34, in fact, was one solid compromise: it should have been simultaneously easy to produce and repair, sufficiently light and at the same time with powerful armor, relatively small, but at the same time with high combat efficiency, easy to master But with a modern snap ... for each of these parameters, or even at once, several T-34 is inferior to any of the other nine tanks from this selection. But he was definitely a tank-winner.
2. American Middle Tank M4 "Sherman"
Total number of tanks of all modifications: 49 234
Armament: Caliber gun 75/76/105 mm, 6.7 mm caliber machine gun, two 6.62 mm caliber machine gun
Crew: 5 people
Speed \u200b\u200bat rough terrain: 40 km / h
Tank M4 "Sherman". Photo: AP.
His name is "Sherman", in honor of the Hero of the Civil War in the US, General William Sherman, - M4 received first in the UK, and only then it became common to all tanks of this model. And in the USSR, where the Led-Lizovsky M4 was supplied from 1942 to 1945, it was most often called "EMCH", according to the index. In terms of the number of tanks that were in service with the Red Army, M4 lost only T-34 and square meters: 4063 Sherman fought in the USSR.
This tank did not like the excess height, who made him very noticeable on the battlefield, and too high the center of gravity, because of which the tanks often overturned even when overcoming minor obstacles. But he was very easy to maintain and reliable, comfortable for the crew and quite effective in battle. After all, the 75- and 76-millimeter guns "Shermans" successfully destroyed the German T-III and T-IV, although it turned out to be weak against the "Tigers" and "Panther". And it is even curious that when, on the Soviet-German front, the "Faustpatronon" jet grenadeans were massively used, the M4 tanks became the basis of the tactics of the fight against grenade launchers, called the "broom". Four or five car guns, dressed on a tank and fastened with shaped straps to brackets on the tower, opened fire on any shelter, where they could hide the Germans armed with "Faustpatron". But the whole thing was in the amazing smoothness of the "Sherman" move: no other tank of the Red Army would allow car guns to aim at full speed because of the crazy shaken.
3. American light tank "Stuart"
Total number of tanks of all modifications: 23 685
Armament: 207 mm caliber gun, three-five machine guns of 7.62 mm
Crew: 4 people
Speed \u200b\u200bat rough terrain: 20 km / h
In the American army, light tanks M3 "Stewart" appeared in March 1941, when it became clear that their predecessors of M2 clearly did not meet the requirements of time. But the "twice" became the basis for the creation of "Troika", inheriting both its advantages - high speed and operational reliability and disadvantages - weakness of weakness and armor and terrifying tightness of the combat department. But the tank was not embarrassed in production, which allowed him to become the most massive light tank.
Of almost 24 thousand "Stuarts", the main part was separated by theaters of hostilities, where the American army fought itself. A quarter of M3 went to the British, and the second cars obtained on the lend-lysis were Soviet troops. In the Red Army, 1237 fought (according to American data, 1681, but in the United States, all shipped cars were taken into account, some of which were destroyed with the convoy's courts) Stuart tanks of all modifications. True, unlike "Shermanov", they did not use the tankers with respect. Yes, they were reliable and simple, but normally move only in direct and wide roads, and on narrow and winding, poorly maneuvered and easily overturned. Their closest was the arrival of the Soviet tankers, and the course machine guns installed in the on-board niches were removed immediately, in order not to waste the cartridges: these machine guns did not have at all. But the M3 were indispensable in intelligence, and their small weight allowed to use Stuarts even for landing operations, as it was during the landing under the southern lake in the vicinity of Novorossiysk.
4. German average tank T-4
Total number of tanks of all modifications: 8686
Crew: 5 people
In German, he was called Panzerkampfwagen IV (PZKPFW IV), that is, the battle tank IV, and in the Soviet tradition it was denoted as T-IV, or T-4. He became the most massive tank of the Wehrmacht in the history of its existence and was used at all theaters of hostilities, where German tank workers were attended. T-4 is, perhaps, the same symbol of German tank parts, which for Soviet tankists has become T-34. Yes, they were, in fact, the main enemies from the first to the last day of the war.
The first T-4 tanks left the gate of the plant in 1937, and the last - in 1945. For eight years of existence, the tank was subjected to a variety of modernization. So, after a meeting in battle with the Soviet T-34 and KV, he had a more powerful gun, and the armor intensified and intensified as the opponent had new funds to combat PZKPFW IV. Surprisingly, but the fact: even after the appearance of more powerful and strong "tigers" and "Panther", T-4 remained the main tank of Wehrmacht - his modernization potential was so great! And, which is natural, this armored car enjoyed deserved love with tankers. First, it was very reliable, secondly, fast enough, and thirdly, extremely comfortable for the crew. And it is clear why: for the convenience of placement of people, the designers abandoned the strong corners of the tilt of the armor. However, it became and weak place T-4: What in the board that even 45-millimeter Soviet anti-tank guns were easily affected in the stern. In addition, the chassis PZKPFW IV was not too good for Russia with its "directions instead of roads", which made substantial adjustments to the tactics of tank connections on the Eastern Front.
5. English infantry tank "Valentine"
Total number of tanks of all modifications: 8275 pieces
Armament: 20 mm caliber gun, 7.92 mm caliber machine gun
Crew: 3 people
Tank "Valentine". Photo: AP.
Designed to support infantry during the storming of fortified positions, Valentine became the most massive British armored machine, and, of course, these tanks were actively supplied to the USSR on Land Lisa. In total, the Soviet side was shipped by 3782 Tank "Valentine" - 2394 British and 1388 collected in Canada. It came to the Soviet-German front for fifty machines less: 3332 pieces. The first of them were in combat parts at the very end of November 1941, and, as the German participants in the battle were written in their memoirs, they did not show themselves in the best way: the prisoners of Soviet tankers, they say, from the soul scolded British "tin".
However, as historians consider historians, the cause of everything was a catastrophic hurry, because of which the crews simply did not have time to master the technique as it should, and appreciate all its capabilities. After all, Valentine did not accidentally produced such a major series. In full compliance with the British concept of the infantry tank, he did not differ in high speed, but was canceled renovated. In fact, it was a kind of British analogue of the Soviet KV with a much weaker cannon and low speed, but but much more reliable and maintainable. After the first experiment combat application The command of the Red Army tank units found a good option to use these machines in battle. They began to let in the "bundle" with the Soviet machines who are adapted to the eastern front, putting a pair with more maneuverable, but less protected light tanks Astrov type T-70. The only problems that could not be able to cope is a weak artvan and a terrifying "Valentine's terrifying".
6. German middle tank "Panther"
Total number of tanks of all modifications: 5976 pieces
Read in the heading "History"
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Weight: 45 t
Armament: 75 mm caliber gun, two 6.92 mm caliber machine gun
Crew: 5 people
Speed \u200b\u200bat rough terrain: 25-30 km / h
Tank "Panther". Photo: U.S. Army Signal Corps / AP
The first appearance of Panzerkampfwagen (PZKPFW) V Panther is the famous Panther - on the Eastern Front falls on the Kursk battle. Unfortunately for Soviet tankers and artilleryrs, the new German tank was not the teeth for the majority of the guns of the Red Army. But the "Panther" herself "bites" from afar: her 75-mm gun made his armor of Soviet tanks from such distances, on which the new German car was invulnerable to them. And this first success gave the opportunity to the German command to speak to make T-5 (so a new tank was called in Soviet documents) the main instead of the "veteran" T-4.
But the reality turned out to be different. Although "Panther" became the second worldwarm mass production, and some of the tank experts considers it the best average tank of the 1940s, it was not able to oust the T-4. As the common legend says, the Soviet T-34 is obliged to the appearance of "Panther". Say, Berlin, dissatisfied with the fact that the Russians managed to create a tank, which is not on the teeth of the Wehrmacht, demanded to construct a kind of "German thirtyweight". But, as you know, the desire to repeat something created by the enemy leads to the appearance of even more powerful, but less suitable for the modernization of weapons: designers hold in the vice characteristics of the prototype and the successfulness of its design. It happened with the "Panther": she managed to exceed the average allied tanks, including T-34, but until the end of a military career and did not get rid of innate shortcomings. And there were a lot of them: an easy-to-facilitate power plant, an excessive complexity of the support rollers system, extremely high cost and labor complexity and so on. In addition, if in the confrontation with the tanks "Panther" showed itself with best sideThe artillery was seriously dangerous to her. Therefore, the most effectively PZKPFW V acted in defense, and at the occurrence they carried significant losses.
7. German Middle Tank T-3
Total number of tanks of all modifications: 5865
Armament: 207/50/75 mm Caliber Gun, Three Caliber Machine 7.92 mm
Crew: 5 people
Speed \u200b\u200bat rough terrain: 15 km / h
Let not such a mass, as T-4, Panzerkampfwagen (PZKPFW) III, from the mid-1941 at the beginning of 1943, was the basis of the Parcerevoff Park - Wehrmacht Tank Forces. And all the reason is strange for the Soviet tradition, the system for determining the type of tank in ... armediation. Therefore, from the very beginning, the 75-millimeter gun T-4 was considered a heavy tank, that is, could not be the main machine, and had a 37-mm tool T-3 referred to the middle and fully claimed the role of the main combat tank.
Although T-3 at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War has already significantly inferior in its characteristics, the new Soviet T-34 and KV tanks, the number of PZKPFW III in the troops and the tactics worked on European TVD, multiplied by the rich military experience of German tank workers and the established system of interaction between different Generic troops, equalized their capabilities. So it lasted before the beginning of 1943, when the necessary combat experience and skills appeared from the Soviet tank workers, and the shortcomings of early modifications of domestic tanks in the new were eliminated. After that, the advantages of Soviet average tanks, not to mention heavy, became obvious. And even despite the fact that the caliber of the T-3 guns consistently increased to 50 mm first, and then up to 75 mm. But by that time, the same tool had a more perfect and well-worked T-4, and the production of Trok turned. But the car, distinguished by excellent performance and the used love of German tank workers, played, becoming one of the symbols of the Second World War.
8. Soviet heavy tank square
Total number of tanks of all modifications: 4532
Weight: 42.5-47.5 t
Armament: 76/85 mm Caliber gun, three 6.62 mm caliber machine gun
Crew: 4-5 people
"Klim Voroshilov" - namely it is so deciphered by the abbreviation of the KV - became the first Soviet heavy tank of the classical scheme, that is, unobed, and not multi-fragrant. And although the experience of its first combat use during the winter war of 1939-1940 was not the best, the new car was put into service. How faithful to this decision was, the military was convinced after June 22, 1941: even after a few dozen shells of German guns, heavy kV continued to fight!
But the impenetrable kV demanded a very attentive attitude towards himself: the power unit and transmission quickly emerged on a heavy car, the engine suffered. But with due attention and experienced carriages of kv tanks, even the first episodes, managed to pass without repairing a motor of 3000 km. Yes, and with its main task of direct support of the storm infantry, the car coped canceled. She could move long at the speed of a walking fighter, allowing the infantrymen all the time to hide behind the armor, which was not the teeth most of the most common at the time of the antician guns of the Wehrmacht.
In the summer of 1942, when it became clear that heavy tanks, even if their main task remains direct support for the infantry breakthrough, must have greater maneuverability and speed, a kva-1c appeared, that is, speed. Due to a slightly thinner armor and a modified motor, its speed has grown, a new gearbox has become more reliable, and the effectiveness of combat use has grown. And in 1943, as an answer to the appearance of "tigers", the kV appeared a modification with a new tower and a new 85-millimeter instrument. But the modified model shortly stood on the conveyor: the heavy tanks of the IP series came to replace it in the fall - much more modern and efficient.
9. Soviet Heavy Tank IP-2
Total number of tanks of all modifications: 3475
Armament: 122 mm caliber gun, 12.7 mm caliber machine gun, three 6.62 mm caliber machine gun
Crew: 4 people
Speed \u200b\u200bat rough terrain: 10-15 km / h
The first tanks of the IP series - "Joseph Stalin" - were developed in parallel with the modernization of the KV tanks, which were put on a new 85 mm tool. But very soon it became clear that this gun was not enough to carry out the fights with the new German tanks of Panther and Tiger, which had thick armor and more powerful 88-millimeter guns. Therefore, after the release hundreds with small tanks, IP-1 was adopted by IC-2, armed with a 122-millimeter gun A-19.
Invulnerable for most anti-tank gunsmachi guns, and many tanks, too, IS-2 could play the role of not only the armored shield, but also artillery support, and anti-tank agent for infantry. The 122-mm gun fully allowed to solve all these tasks. True, it was also the cause of one of the substantial minuses of IS-2. Serviced by the only charging, a gun with a heavy shell was incorrect, allowing you to fire at a speed of 2-3 shots per minute. But the unsurpassed armor gave the opportunity to use the IS-2 in the new role - as the armored framework of assault groups operating in the cities. Marines paratroopers defended the tank from garnettakers and calculations of anti-tank guns, and tankers threw fortified firepoints and dots, clearing the path of infantry. But if the infantrymen did not have time to identify a grenadeometer armed "Faustpatron", then IS-2 strongly risked. The fuel tanks placed inside the tank did it extremely fire-hazardous (a driver-driver who did not have his hatch had often died in the fire, who did not have his hatch and the last time through the tower), and the alentine at the bottom of the combat department when the cumulative projectile hit almost guaranteed exploded, destroying the entire crew.
10. German heavy tank "Tiger"
Total number of tanks of all modifications: 1354
Armament: 88 mm caliber gun, two or three machine gun 7.92 mm
Crew: 5 people
Speed \u200b\u200bat rough terrain: 20-25 km / h
TIGR TANK. Photo: Federal Archive of Germany
Contrary to popular belief that the advent of Panzerkampfwagen (PZKPFW) VI Tiger is obliged to collide in the USSR of Germany with new Soviet T-34 and KV tanks, the development of a heavy breakthrough tank for Wehrmacht was launched back in 1937. By the beginning of 1942, the car was ready, she was adopted under the PZKPFW VI Tiger index and sent the first four tanks under Leningrad. True, this first fight was unsuccessful for them. But in the following battles, a heavy German tank fully confirmed his cat's name, proving that, like a real tiger, remains the most dangerous "predator" on the battlefield. It was especially noticeable on the days of the battle on the Kursk arc, where "Tigers" were out of competition. Armed with a long-term tank tank with powerful armor was invulnerable for Soviet tanks, and for most anti-tank guns, in any case in the forehead and afar. And in order to hit him aboard or stern from the near distance, it was necessary to manage to take such a favorable position. It was a very difficult business: the T-6 crew, as was called "Tiger" in the Soviet documents, had an excellent system of observing the battlefield.
Only later, when Soviet IS-2 appeared, created on their SAU SAU-152 base and BS-3 guns, there was a stop at the "tigers". It is not by chance that ISU-152 and BS-3 in the troops received a valid nickname "St. John's wort". But this happened only in 1944, and before that time, the PZKPFW VI tank was out of competition. He and today is considered one of the best heavy tanks of Hitler Germany, and the entire Second World War. However, "tigers" have been released enough to ensure that these expensive - the cost of one machine reached 800,000 Reichsmarocks and was three times higher than the value of any other tank of that time! - and powerful cars have a cardinal effect on the course of the war.
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About tanks in the Great Patriotic War
(With a comment Sergey V. Stroyev)
With such tanks, we started the war. On the Soviet tank T-26 German soldiers.
Light Soviet Tank BT-7 Beginning of War. Behind two broken in the trash BT-7.
Such tanks were created to combat infantry of a weaker enemy, but not to combat more powerful tanks of a stronger enemy. These high-speed tanks were good for pursuing randomly retreating infant infantry, not having anti-tank agents. But RKKK retreat in 1941-1942.
The Middle Soviet Tank T-34-76. Inferior to the German T-4, but was better than the German T-3
Whatever enough, but Hitler did not know about these tanks and their appearance, albeit in limited quantities, it was a shock for the German command, because in the first months of war, T-34 had more powerful cannon weapons than German tanks. In the T-34 of the Germans, the Germans cut off the large combat experience, the coherence of tank crews in battle, the presence of a two-time connection with all tanks (which was not in Soviet tank platigs, rotates, battalions), the lack of the T-34 crew of the Tank Commander that reduced the combat capability of the Soviet tank divisions in battle. The tank of the commander of the division was highlighted by its high antenna, and his Germans always tried to destroy the first, after which the remaining tanks devoid of even one-sided communication with the commander actually lost a single command and fought by themselves.
This disadvantage was eliminated only on the T-34-85, after terrible losses in the Kursk arc, by January 1944.
Middle German Tank T-3 (Panzer-III). The main German tank of the first months of war.
Reference material
On June 1, 1941, the Red Army tank fleet 23.106 tanks, of which combotts - 18.691 or 80.9%. In five cross-border countries (Leningrad, Baltic, Western Special, Kiev, Special and Odessa) there were 12.782 tanks, including a combat - 10.540 or 82.5% (repairs, therefore 2.242 tanks were required). Most of the tanks (11.029) were part of the twenty mechanized buildings (the remaining - as part of some rifle, cavalry and individual tank parts). From May 31 to June 22, 41 KB, 138 T-34 and 27 T-40 were admitted to these districts, that is, 206 tanks, which brought their total number to 12.988. These were mostly morally outdated light tanks T-26 and BT.
New heavy kb tanks and medium T-34 tanks were 549 and 1.105, respectively. On June 1, 1941 . The Red Army Tank Park consisted of 23.106 tanks, of which the comby - 18.691 or 80.9%. In five cross-border countries (Leningrad, Baltic, Western Special, Kiev, Special and Odessa) there were 12.782 tanks, including a combat - 10.540 or 82.5% (repairs, therefore 2.242 tanks were required). Most of the tanks (11.029) were part of the twenty mechanized buildings (the remaining - as part of some rifle, cavalry and individual tank parts). From May 31 to June 22, 41 KB, 138 T-34 and 27 T-40 were admitted to these districts, that is, 206 tanks, which brought their total number to 12.988.
As part of the tank and motorized divisions of the mechanized cases, T-34 took part in the battles, figuratively speaking, from the very first hours of invasion of the Hitler's Wehrmacht to our country.
According to the states of 1940, two tank divisions of the corps were to have 375, and motorized - 275 tanks. Of these, T-34, respectively, 210 and 17. The rest were BT, T-26, and in the tank division - another 63 square meters. Six tanks at the command of the body complemented their total number to 1.031, of which 437 - T-34. It is not difficult to calculate which percentage was those 1.105 T-34 from the standard number of twenty MK. It is 5.4 percent!
Most buildings did not have on the state of tanks. For example, the 9th, 11th, 13th, 18th, 19th and 24th MK had 220-295 tanks, and the 17th and 20th, respectively, respectively, 63 and 94 tanks were only listed Mechorts, and in fact they were not. Commanders of the buildings and divisions of these, mostly recently formed or still emerging compounds, mainly came from cavalry or infantry parts, did not have the experience of managing mechanized compounds. Crews still weakly owned new machines. The old, for the most part, demanded repairs, had a limited motor life. therefore mortgage for most of them were not very combat. It is understandable. In a short time (several months), it was almost impossible to form such a large number of companies. For these, for other reasons, in battles of the first days of war, our tank compounds suffered large and irreplaceable losses.
Already in August, for example, the 6th, 11th, 13th, the 14th MK, which were part of the Western Front, lost about 2,100 tanks, i.e. 100 percent of the vehicles. Many tanks were blown up with their crews, as they could not move due to a malfunction or lack of fuel... http://www.otvaga2004.narod.ru/publ_w4/050_t34.htm
Since 1943, with the transition of German troops to the positional defense, the main form of an offensive combat of the Soviet troops was a breakthrough. For its successful implementation, especially with deeply echelonized defense, including continuous positions, the concentration of powerful tools for the destruction and suppression of firepoints and the living force of the enemy, a high pace of offensive, as well as a bold initiative maneuver on the battlefield. The guarantee of success was to attract the direct support of infantry (NPP) in the directions of main blows with a consistent increase in the density of tanks and SAU in the breakthrough sites and ensuring the close interaction of tanks with all the forces and means participating in battle. Accompanying infantry at the entire depth of the main defense strip, heavy tanks IP-85, IS-122, self-propelled-artillery installations ISU-122 and ISU-152 have done passes in wire barriers; Destroyed fighter agents and lively enemy strength, reflected the counterattacks of infantry and tanks.
The task of self-propelled artillery, in addition, it was the destruction of fortifications and the struggle against tanks and SAU.
For direct support for the infantry in the breakthrough of positional defense since the beginning of 1944, separate guards heavy tank shelves were used (OGA.TTP), and from December 1944 and individual guards heavy tank brigades (OGV.TTTBR). (The Germans could not create tank brigade of heavy tanks. Due to the shortage of heavy tanks. Shelves of heavy tank tanks "Tiger" were attached to tank corps consisting of medium tanks. S.Trastors). For them, the Tanks of the IS-85 and IS-122 were intended. According to the staff, the regiment consisted of four tank mouth (each in five cars), car gunners, technical support companies, management platforms, sapper and economic platforms and a regimental medical center (PMP). Each regiment was supposed to have 374 personnel personnel and 21 tank IP, including a commander tank. When creating this shelves, the honorable name "Guards" immediately was assigned, since they had the most difficult task - a breakthrough together with infantry and artillery of pre-prepared defense of the enemy and created by him field fortified areas ..... http: //www.otvaga2004. narod.ru/publ_w1/2006-06-26_is1.htm.
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Comment by S.Trueva
Which is noteworthy, heavy tanks with us, and the Germans, were mainly used in a similar way: to strengthen the main medium tanks in battle. The Germans also created separate shelves of heavy T-6 tanks from the "tigers". Normally, their numbering started with the figure 5.
Heavy German tank "Tiger". Appeared in single copies in 1942.
Hitler delayed the beginning of the Kursk battle, waiting for the receipt of more heavy tiger tanks. But despite their participation as regiments, the role of "tigers" was not so much so much that it would justify the transfer of the date of the German offensive for July 1943, which gave the possibility of the Soviet army to create deeply echelonized strategic defense on the Kursk protrusion. The beginning of the offensive in the hot days of day gave another unexpected effect. German tanks were all on gasoline engines and gasoline with a terrible heat easily evaporated and often the German tank climbed from the Soviet projectile hit, which could not break through the armor of a heavy tank, but a pair of gasoline. In war, not to predict ...
Heavy Soviet Tank IS-2. On the front arrived after the Kursk battle
For example, the 502th regiment of heavy tanks "Tiger" "lit up" from the Kursk arc to battles on the territory of Germany ... We have the shelves of heavy tanks "with automatically" became guards, the Germans were also "Guards" - that is, they were formed as The divisions of the SS - that is, non-security units of the SS, namely the military, which were originally created as elite military units.
Some SS tank connections had a loud reputation, distinguished themselves in battles. For example, the 2nd Tank Corpus COP, which almost broke through all three lines of defenseless Prokhorovka, and then on the first day of the counteroffensiveness of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army destroyed up to half the counterattaking Soviet tanks of this 5th Guards Tank Army. Most The role of the Corps commander himself was played - Hawsser, who literally bleasting his tankers in a few years. On July 11, 1943, his tanks stopped at night so that in the morning to resume the offensive and break through the last line of defense under Prokhorovka. But German intelligence reported on the noise of tank engines from the Soviet side and Horouser in 12 nights to explore the Panther's tank battalion, which faced the starting position for the morning onset of the 5th Guards Tank Army.
Soviet light tank T-70, widely used during tank fighting on a Kursk arc.
This light-fertilized machine with a weak gun was a light target for the Germans.
The Germans after the hour battle moved to their initial positions of the failed morning offensive, so the situation has changed. Tankers who have returned from intelligence in the fight to report to the bowl: Soviet tanks are preparing for a massive attack. In the hour at night, Haususser gave an order - prepare for the offensive to cancel and urgently prepare defensive positions for tanks and anti-tank guns to meet the Soviet tanks with fire from the place.
The Germans could move very quickly from the onset of defense. By morning, part of their tanks was buried to the ground in the tower and the anti-tank soldier was prepared by the Kzovetskaya Tank Attack. And when the 5th Guards Army went to the attack in the morning, without intelligence and without art preparation, she was encountered by a wall of fire. The losses from the Soviet tankers and self-propeller were terrible. The counteroffensive choked. The Germans could not move from the spot. Most of the Soviet tanks and all self-propelled artillery (legogencies) guns were destroyed.
But the superiority of the Soviet troops in the number of tanks of Miseomes from the reserves of the steppe front was still forced by the Germans after 5 days already their defensive fights began to begin to retreat towards Belgorod, from where they began on July 5, 1943 their offensive in the South Facs of the Kursk Arc. The Germans wedged into our defenses of kilometers at 35-50 and due to the inequality of forces by July 17, as well as due to large losses in tanks and especially in the infantry, they were afraid of strikes under the foundation of their speakers, their "little Kursk arc." Therefore, they preferred to align the front and avoid the possible tactical environment of part of their units and compounds, the Germans wanted to surround one Soviet slurrow chassis, which, with great losses, managed to partially get out of this environment in the southern Fac of Kursk Arc. In the Northern Fac of Kursk Arc, the Germans had more modest successes than in South.
We know very much about the realities of fighting on a Kursk arc. Even Stalin did not know them. Because lost 300 with excess tanks for four hours of fruitless occurrence July 12 - it was very dangerous for Rokossovsky and he wrote up to Stalin about these points, but stretching them for 2-3 days "fierce fights with German tanks" .... was afraid for his head ... and not in vain. Even in 3 days, such losses in the tanks introduced Stalin into a state of strong anger. But Rokossovsky survived ...
Many myths are written in soviet times About the Kursk Arc and about Prokhorovsky Tank Counter Much .... Only now the archives open and the truth starts to become available for military historians. It can be doubtted by the fact that the Germans and in 1943 were superior to the Red Army in terms of management tank forces (especially in the maneuverable war) and on the organization of the management of troops in general. But in 1943, Soviet fighters have already understood that it is hardly possible to survive in such a fool. And if you remove, then you need to kill as many Germans as possible. Both sides fought with extreme fierce, but in two years of war, the Germans lost their first-class infantry of the 1940 sample and filled with these losses less efficient replenishment. When RKKKA created his first tank army, the Germans wrote with disregard: "Russians created a tool on which they will not be able to play." From the middle of 1943, this Russian "tool" has ever more often played for the Germans funeral march.
With the advent of the German heavy tank "Panther" and a very heavy tank "Tiger", the tank balance for the quality of armored vehicles began to change in favor of the Germans, but not long. Vyanware-February 1944 to the front began to receive upgraded T-34-85 tanks, with a more powerful 85 mm cannon, with more powerful armor and, finally, with a place for a tank commander. For the commander there was no place in the T-34-76 tank, although Halder in his diary in the fall of 1941 wrote that the lack of a commander in T-34 seriously reduces the combat capability of the tank crew and the effectiveness of using these tanks in battle. But even on a Kursk arc, in July 1943, the Soviet tankers had to fight on the T-34-76 and on the light tanks of T-70, which could bother the "Tiger" in the board from a distance of less than 300 meters, while Tiger could They get them at a distance of up to two kilometers. A tank duel at a distance of one kilometer turned into a shot of Soviet tanks without losses and damage for German heavy tanks. However, Russkyseldates and commanders were resigned.
Middle upgraded Soviet Tank T-34-85. At the front came in January 1944.
The courage and perseverance of the Soviet soldier broke the operation "Citadel", the collapse of which meant a root fracture in the whole war with the Germans. Most of the Germans did not have forces for such a strategic offensive operation. The initiative has completely passed to the Red Army.
Onneetskomtanka T-IV
German average tank T-4 with crew.
I read in some memoirs that Soviet tank commanders sometimes used this T-IV trophy tank as a commander tank. It was spacious than our T-34 -76 and had a betterbore. Plus, his commander turret, which was absent on our T-34-76DO 1944. Plus a good walkie-talkie .... Plus good optics, good sights .... Plus Long-life from 1942 to a tool. The tank was ... was produced by the Germans to the Germans until the very end of the war. German T-3 and especially Czechoslovakt. -38 were significantly weaker.
The main average German tank T-4. Sergey was produced until the end of the war.
By the way, the Germans also "were not shy" to use Soviet trophy T-34 in their combat orders. This was especially convenient at the occurrence when T-34 C german crew Could close to Soviet tanks, artillery or infantry and discover suddenly the fire literally focused. Such cases, in particular, took place during the fighting on the Kursk arc, where night battles were not uncommon.
On Soviet trophy tanks in the Arab-Israeli war of 1973.
Soviet trophy tanks played a decisive role in the Arab-Israeli War of 1973. They played a decisive role in capturing the crossing through the Suez Canal when the trophy Soviet tanks with Israeli crews "warmly drove up" to overpowers from Israel and suddenly opened fire. The surviving Arabs fled, and the crosslaims were captured by the Israeli army, As a result of which the Arabic 2nd Tank Army, which had already crossed on the "Israeli" coast, was cut from the rear parts: from the ammunition of fuel. Write new crossings through the channel, apparently there was no opportunity from Egyptians. So successfully launched by the Arabs of the War of 1973 by one tank strike of one battalion of the trophy Soviet tanks in Egyptian crossing over the Suez Canal was completely lost.
About tanks "Panther"
Formally medium, but rather heavy german tank "Panther" (T-5).
It was created by order of Hitler as "deeply upgraded T-34". He had a very good long-baulous gun, good armor (hence the weight of the tank). But did not have a diesel engine, as on the T-34, as the Germans lacked diesel fuel. It was all intended for diesel submarines.
T-5 "Panther" still does not have a clearly defined output - as far as it was a good tank. There are critical comments to its reliability, chassis. As far as it was better than the T-4 difficult to say, since T-4 was produced and effectively used until the end of the war. Perhaps this is due to the fact that Panther was still "delivered", and T-IV was a technologically spent serial tank ... But here, that is noteworthy - when forming new Divizions of the SS, for example, such as the 12th tank division The SS "Hitlergende", armed them after all the "panthers". The fact that the elite troops of the COP would not agree on a bad tank, if there are better. Yes, and in the memoirs of German tankers, as a rule, tank Aces fought precisely on the "panthers". "Tigers" was also not so much released, (though significantly less than the "Panther"), but the memoirs of tank owners who fought on "tigers" I have never met anywhere, except for the description of one episode, in the summer of 1944.
Tankists of the 12th Tank Division of the SS "Hitlergenda" on building from his "Panther".
The division fought mainly on the Western Front since the landing of the allied landing in Normandy. Despite the fact that the crews were staffed by very young tank workers at the age of 17-18 years old, the six-month training, the division struck steadfast. By the end of 1944, it was almost completely knocked out in people and tanks. It was reorganized and thrown on the eastern front to Hungary. By May 1945, less than 500 soldiers and Unters officers and only 1 tank remained alive in the division. (In July 1944 there were 16 thousand people)
Heavy tank "Tiger". The range of direct shot is more than two kilometers.
This episode with the participation of heavy tiger tanks and IS-2 is described by one tanker from the crew of one "tiger", which stood in a high shrub and waited for his victims - T-34 tanks. When one tank T-34 appeared on an even field, one tank T-34 appeared, German "Tiger" made from the ambush, the first targeting shot on the "bait" - which appeared on the field of the Soviet tank, but the entire crew of the Tigger appeared for a few seconds lost consciousness from the direct hit to the "Tiger" of a large-caliber projectile IS-2.Teat-shell for the German heavy tank "Tiger" also shot the heavy Soviet tanks-2, who also stood in the ambush and also hunted, but not for medium tanks, namely for This "tiger", for the time being, a successful ambush. (All the same learned to fight Soviet tankers !!). In addition to this episode, there is no longer anywhere the notes of tankers with the "tiger". It is hardly an accident. Vidimo, the German Tank Assa SS at this stage of war preferred all the same heavy "panthers", as well as good T-4 tanks remained in the tank divisions of the Wehrmacht.
Heavy Soviet breakthrough tank IS-2 with a landing on armor. 1945 year. " To Berlin!"
By the way, in an episode with a "tiger", after the direct hit of the projectile IS-2 "Tiger" was sent to the overhaul, and the entire crew was sent to the hospital, but none of the crew died, everyone was strongly controversial.
The armor of this tank was very powerful, although she due to the weight of the tank, reduced the tank's motor test and allowed to use it far from any terrain. Thus, an episode is described in which the Soviet tankstone T-34-85 was expecting the morning attack of German heavy tanks, pre-throwing their tanks with stacks of hay in such a way that even tank guns were not overwhelmed from the steaks, but for communication between tanks, the commanders crawled around the field to Do not be observed on the other side of the river.
With the beginning of the attack "Tigers" successfully sword moved through a small river, but the rise on the Soviet shore of this river took this river from the front tank "Tiger" about half an hour, because a heavy "tiger" with great difficulty rose on river sand. When a sufficient number of tanks of the enemy, Soviet tankers opened fire from the near distances on heavy to maneuvering the sandy lift. The German tank attack was repulsed with large losses in tanks for the Germans.
About the front repair of tanks
Irretrievable losses in the tanks depended on whom the battlefield remains at night
In the first two years of the war, when the Germans fell, the battlefield, as a rule, remained behind them and, at night, pulled their baked tanks for repair and input them again into battle. Sometimes during the day. In case of serious damage, the baked tanks went to the repair bases and even to Germany from the front line. Soviet T-34 tanks that were maintained, the Germans took themselves and subsequently used them in battles. For repairmen, the Germans created well-equipped workshops at 25-30 km. From the front line, where they worked both German mechanics and Soviet prisoners of war - former tankers. The Germans believed that Russian tank mechanics were better than Russian tankers. The qualifications of Russian mechanics did not cause any doubt about the Germans. The Germans also appreciated the trophy Soviet guns of the 1938 release gun with a caliber from 76 to 85 mm. But when the German retreats, their use was limited by the lack of shells.
The turning point in the war in Komology in the maneuverable tank war was the battle on the Kursk arc. Especially on her southern faces. From July 5 to July 12, 1943, German tank and mechanized troops slowly blurred three lines of strategic defense. For the week of battles, two lines of Soviet-Staff defense were Germans, the Germans fixed on them. The offensive went slowly, but the battlefields usually remained or behind the Germans or it represented at night a neutral strip, with which the Germans, and the Soviet tank sources, mortar and machine-gun enemy truncated to pull the knobs. At this time, the Germans have already tried to pull their tanks, and Soviet, whenever possible, blow up a high-power fugas after which the tank turned into a pile of metal. From July 12 to July 17, the battles went with varying success without special advances from any part, and from July 17, the Germans began organized waste to the initial positions to Belgorod. From that moment on, the baked German tanks were mainly becoming Soviet trophies, since the Germans retreated until the very end of the war. Separate German counteroffensions and even the environments of Soviet units were still local success. Which was then replaced by further departure to the West.
Captured without a fight "Tiger" and other armored vehicles to see in the tank museum in the cubeinqua.
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God, keep Russia!
The history of the creation of two famous fuel tanks is very interesting. It can explain, a very unequivocal assessment of these two machines, and gives an explanation of part of the failures of our tankers who have seen in the summer of 1941. The whole problem is that even experimental, but conceptual cars went to the series.
None of these tanks was created for army army. They had only to show how the tank should look like, its class.
Pre-war plant manufacturing tanks № 183. From left to right: BT-7, A-20, T-34-76 with gun L-11, T-34-76 with gun F-34
Let's start with square. When the leadership of the countries of the Soviets realized that there were tanks in service, are outdated for so much that not at all tanks. It was decided to create new techniques. Certain requirements for this technique were launched. So a heavy tank, I had to have an anti-frequency booking and several guns, in several towers. Under this technical project, the design of machines named T-100 and the QMS.
SMK. 
T-100 
But the designer of the SMK, the cattin believed that a heavy tank should be unobed. And he had the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating another car. But all his KB was occupied by creating an ordered QMS. And then he was lucky, a group of listeners of the Armored Academy arrived at the plant at the plant. This "students" and entrusted to create a new tank. Those at no time thinking rooted the CDM body, leaving a place under one tower. In this tower stuck the second gun, instead of a machine gun. And the machine gun itself was transferred to the tower niche niche. Armor strengthened, bringing a mass project to the specified in the task. Ponaskali nodes, the drawings of which were studied at the Academy. They even took the nodes from the American tractor, filmed from production in the States, 20 years before. But the suspension did not change, coping with the QMS. Despite the fact that the long tank has decreased by 1.5 times. And the number of suspension nodes has decreased by the number. And the load on them increased. The only thing they did the "Students" did a diesel engine. And here for these drawings and created a tank square. Followed by testing along with T-100 and QMS.
The very first kV, autumn 1939 
But here began Finnish war And all three tank sent to the front. Which revealed a complete superiority of the concept of KV over the rest of the tanks. And the tank, despite all the objections of the chief designer, was adopted. The Great Patriotic War began soon, revealed all the disadvantages of the design of a square. The tank was extremely not reliable, especially these tanks suffered from breakdowns of suspension and knots copied from the American tractor. As a result, in 1941, only about 20% of these machines were lost from the enemy's fire. The rest were thrown because of the breakdowns.
QMS in battle 
Fucked on the Fugas QMS in the depths of the Finnish positions 
The military is generally conservative people. If they considered a heavy tank multiply, then just such a thing. And if the tanks for raids were wheezing, then they ordered such a car. In the replacement of tanks of the BT-7 series. But they wanted to get a car protected from anti-tank artillery. What was supposed to make inclined armor. Here on such, the car and issued the order of the Military Kob Koshkin in Kharkov.
A-20 
A-32 
But he saw a car very friend. Therefore, together with the aircraft ordered by the military, the A-20 index, he made almost exactly the same, A-32. Almost, for 2 exceptions. First, the mechanism of movement on wheels was removed. Secondly, the A-32 was 76.2-mm gun. Instead of 45 mm per A-20. At the same time, A-32 weighed on a ton less than A-20. And tests A-32 showed itself more preferable than A-20. Especially when the following modification of the A-34 machine was released, with more durable armor and with a flush F-32, the same as on a sq. True, the weight of the tank increased by 6 tons. And inherited, from A-20, the candle suspension began not to withstand.
Tank A-34 (2nd Experienced Sample) 
But RKKKA, in dire needed new tanks. And despite the detected tank defects went to the series. Moreover, with a more powerful and heavy gun F-34. Cat and the grain gun designer were familiar. Therefore, he even received a set of drawings before this gun. And on the basis of them prepared a place under the gun. And on average T-34, it turned out to be a gun more powerful than in the heavy sq. But as a result of the cost of design, the situation was close, to the situation with square. The T-34 of the first releases were more often thrown out due to breakdowns than due to combat damage.
The very first kV, but in the spring of 1940 after its re-equipment on the KV-2 project. And the tower from the very first kV, which had a y-0 number was installed on the tank number U-2. 
It cannot be said that the designers did not identify the shortcomings of their cars. Immediately began the struggle with "children's diseases" of structures. As a result, by 1943 it was possible to get those famous T-34 and KV about which we know. But in fact, these cars were considered only as temporary, before the emergence of new tanks. So the cat's worked on a kV-3 with a 107-mm gun. A KB in Kharkov over T-34M. The project of the machine, with the transverse location of the engine and vertical sides. T-34M managed to even run into the series. There were about 50 sets of parts for a tank of this type. But before the capture of Kharkov, no tank did not have time to collect.
T-34M, it is A-43. 
So it turned out that tanks were tanks, the appearance of which was not envisaged. And their adoption was considered a temporary measure and not for a long time. Tanks that were not supposed to be used as the main, and which were simply the concepts of design thought.
It cannot be said that in 1940, after the disadvantages of our new tanks were clarified, there were no attempts to create new cars. About the T-34M project, already wrote. There was an attempt to create a new heavy tank. Received the index kV-3. In the project of this car, an attempt was made to remove the shortcomings of the Tanks of the KV-1 and KV-2 tanks (the same KV-1, but with a new tower and 152 mm Gaubitz), used in the project and experience of war with Finns. Arriving this tank was planned 107-mm gun. However, the tests of the first sample of the gun were not successful. The charging was hard and not convenient to work with an ammunition of this size and weight. Therefore, the tank presented for tests in the summer of 1941 was armed with the same 76 mm gun. But here the war began and in September 1941, the experimental car went to battle, on the Leningrad Front. From which she did not return and officially listed missing. But there is a report of one of the RKKK commanders, who claimed that the tank broke into the depths of defense was fired from 105-mm German Gaubitz. From the fire of which was constructed by the guests. From him disrupted the tower, and the tank itself was completely destroyed.
KV-3. Layout. 
Families Filmors familiar to everyone. They are visible to semi-kv-3 with a tower from the KV-1. 
But neither T-34M, nor kV-3 before the war was not considered as the main Tank of the Red Army. They had to become a car with an index T-50. The prototype of this car was created in 1940 and outwardly very much reminded T-34, only a slightly smaller in size. But he had the same 45-mm inclined armor, though the armed machine was a 45-mm gun and 3 machine guns. The project was recognized not quite successful, a car was too highly technological. And she could not master the plants on which she was planned to be released. Yes, and too heavy turned out to be a tank, for its class.
T-126 in Cuba 
Then it was decided to reduce the thickness of the armor to 37mm, remove the exchange machine gun, and put the tower not a trip of machine guns, but one machine gun. Apply a number of other technical solutions aimed at reduced weight and manufacturing production. All this pushed the beginning of production for June 1941. And serial cars appeared in the troops after the start of the war. In all such tanks, not many, several dozen were released. The plant for their production was evacuated from Leningrad, and in a new place it was decided to start producing other types of machines.
T-50. 
His competitor created in the Kirov factory 
But continue to tell about the unknown Soviet tanks of the 2nd World War. About the T-34M project, I already wrote, but the developments of this project were in demand. In 1943, the T-43 tank was adopted to armared, which was a direct heir to the T-34M project. But the appearance on the battlefields of the "Tigers" and "Panther", did not allow this car to go to a big series. But he served as the basis for the best tank of the Second World War, T-44. Already by the middle of 1942 it became clear that the Red Army requires a new average tank. Designing such a tank called T-43, completed by June 1943. The main requirement of the military, to ensure maximum protection with a minimum increase in mass, was performed. His body, inherited the configuration of T-34, has already had a circular 75 mm reservation. The thickness of the frontal part of the tower in which the 76.2-mm tank gun F-34 was installed, brought to 90 mm (against 45 mm in T-34). But the length of the motor-transmission department could not be reduced, as a result of which the combat department was less. Therefore, to provide the crew the necessary internal space, the designers applied torsion suspension, more compact than the candle with vertical springs, like on BT and T-34 tanks. Exceiving T-34 according to armor and not inferior by armament a heavy tank KV-1 and KV-1C, the average tank T-43 However, approached heavy tanks on the specific pressure on the ground, which has adversely affected the passability and stock of the stroke. And its design came out the limit, eliminating further modernization. And when the serial "thirty part" was equipped with an 85-mm gun, the need for T-43 temporarily disappeared, although it was the T-43 tower with minor changes for a T-34-85 tank, so the experience of working on it did not disappear. The fact is that the T-43 test run is 3 thousand km. Vitely proved the correctness of the choice for the middle tank of the torsion suspension and the futility of the phased change in the traditional layout.
T-43. 
T-34 and T-43 
It became clear that I need a fundamentally different machine. It was her who began to design in KB Morozov. As a result of the work and turned out to be tank T-44. The creation of T-44 tank has begun at the end of 1943. The new tank was the designation "Object 136" and in the series - the designation T-44. On the new machine not only applied the transverse location of the engine, but also a number of other technical innovations. Being implemented separately, on different tanks, they would not give a tangible effect, but in the aggregate they made the design of the T-44 of this, which for decades determined the development of domestic armored vehicles. The height of the motor-transmission compartment was reduced, moved the air cleaner of a new type from the collapse of the cylinders of the U--shaped engine to the board. By the way, Diesel itself in -4 was equipped with improved fuel equipment, which made it possible to raise power from 500 to 520 liters. from. With the same volume of cylinders as in the preceding B-34. At the site of the fan, who spent the dimensions of the Carter, put a compact flywheel. This made it possible to mount diesel at low, rigid, but light engine frame, and eventually the height of the body decreased by 300 mm.
Two experimental sample T-44 
The average T-44 and its German analogue of the T-V "Panther". 
There were other constructive developments that could not be implemented on serial T-34. So the new scheme of the engine and transmission department made it possible to shift the tower of a new design with an 85-mm C-SIS-53 gun to the center of the case, where the tankers were less than tired corner oscillations of the machine, and the long-life cannon could not get stuck into the ground when crossing the rough terrain. Firing accuracy and accuracy. And most importantly, such a centering allowed the designers to bring the thickness of the frontal sheet of armor to 120 mm without overloading the front rollers. We add that the transfer of the overall sheet strength contributed and the transfer of the hatch of the driver's mechanics to the roof of the body, and the failure of the ball installation of the course machine gun, since the combat experience revealed its insufficient effectiveness. In the new tank, the exchange machine gun was rigidly fixed in the nose part of the case, and the fuel tank was installed next to the mechanic-driver. On the experimental sample T-44-85 between the second and third support rollers was a small gap. On serial machines, the gap was between the first and second rollers. In this form, the T-44 successfully passed state tests and was adopted in 1944 to armared the Red Army. Tanks T-44 serially produced in Kharkov.
T-44 
From the end of 1944 to 1945, 965 tanks were made. T-44 did not participate in hostilities. Although they began to enter the troops from the spring of 1945. So until May 9, 1945, 160 tanks of this type were applied to the armament of individual Guards Tank Brigades. Which were in the 2nd echelon of the existing army. And who should have become an unpleasant surprise, for the Germans, in case of the appearance of new types of tanks. For example, "Panther-2" developed. But the needs in this type of tank did not arise. Both T-44 did not participate in hostilities. Even against Japan. Thereby falling out of sight of military historians. It's a pity. Because this tank was the best tank of the 2nd world. 
