Porsche and Militarism

It's no secret that the same people often build tanks and peaceful vehicles. For instance, the Kirovets K-700 tractor was designed by the same people who designed heavy tanks at the Kirov factory (including the IS-7). The same designers also produced the KT-12 skidder immediately after the war, and they were pulled off of military projects to do so. Harry Knox, the creator of American light and medium tank chassis, was a successful car designer before going into tanks. Even the famous John Walter Christie worked on (and drove) race cars as well as fire engines before building his tanks. There are plenty of examples where the same person created military and civilian vehicles.

Ferdinand Porsche reaching to touch his Tiger tank.

Ferdinand Porsche is perhaps the best known German tank designer. He is usually remembered for the Tiger (P), Maus, and other fighting vehicles that never made it into mass production. He is also well known for the "Beetle" (also known as the kDF-Wagen or Porsche Typ 60) and sports cars. While the former category of vehicles was unsuccessful, the latter is tremendously popular. Because of this, some claim that Porsche intentionally sabotaged the Third Reich. Let's take a look at what kind of pacifist Ferdinand Porsche turned out to be.

Regimental Support Gun

The history of vehicles and weapons developed and produced in Leningrad in the summer of 1941 and during the blockade is an interesting topic for researchers. One of the most interesting parts are the improvised armoured cars, guns, and SPGs. Some of them are widely known, but others remain in obscurity. One such vehicle that became the foundation of the blockade SU-26 SPG will be covered in this article.

SU-152 Regiments

 "State Committee of Defense Decree #2889ss
February 14th, 1943
Moscow, Kremlin

Topic: on the formation of heavy SPG regiments within the Reserve of the Supreme Command

The State Committee of Defense decrees that:

1. 16 heavy SPG regiments are to be formed according to TO&E #08/175 including 310 personnel and 12 152 mm self propelled ML-20 gun-howitzers each.
   The formation of regiments is assigned to the Commander of Artillery of the Red Army, Marshal of Artillery comrade Voronov, and the Military Council of Armoured and Mechanized Forces of the Red Army (Colonel General of the Tank Forces comrade Fedorenko and Lieutenant General of the Tank Forces comrade Biryukov). The following deadlines are set:
1. By February 28th, 1943: 1 regiment
2. By March 25th, 1943: 5 regiments
3. By April 25th, 1943: 5 regiments
4. By May 25th, 1943: 5 regiments

Truck Proportions

There is a commonly held opinion that, without foreign aid, the Red Army would have hardly any trucks at all and would not be able to execute strategic offensives. Indeed, if you compare the amount of trucks produced in the USSR during the war and the amount of trucks shipped in, the amount of the latter is much greater. This creates the impression that the Red Army was almost entirely dependent on foreign aid for trucks.

Monstrous Regiment

Even as late as 1944, Red Army tank units were far from being populated entirely by T-34s. Sometimes colourful mixes like these went into battle, and their owners had to put up with a gently used fleet.

"By July 15th, 1944, the regiment was equipped with the following:

• 16 T-70 tanks
• 10 Matilda tanks
• 1 M4A2 tank
• 4 BA-64
• 2 motorcycles
• Automobiles:
• Trucks: 34
• Special: 8
• Cars: 2

At this time:

1. T-70 tanks each ran for 110-120 hours, and their technical condition was satisfactory to perform a forced march.
2. Matilda tanks, received from refurbishment on June 27th, 1944, had only 45-55 running hours remaining. Their technical condition was unsatisfactory for a combat vehicle. Matilda tanks required another round of factory repair due to worn out components and assemblies. Due to significant wear on all parts and components of the tank, they could not be restored by the regiment's resources.
3. The M4A2 tank was technically functional and ready for upcoming battles.
4. The Harley and Indian motorcycles were received from refurbishment and were in unsatisfactory condition.
5. Automobiles: half made up of foreign makes. 85% were received to fill up the regiment and brigade back in April of 1942, only 15% were received in the summer of 1943."

Via Andrei Ulanov.

Anti-Panzerfaust Tactics

"How to combat Panzerfaust soldiers and counteract them

The Red Army's use of mass amounts of tanks and SPGs forced the German command to work at reinforcing their anti-tank defenses. This reinforcement went in the following directions:

1. Introduction of high caliber anti-tank weapons.
2. Replacement of anti-tank towed guns with SPGs (Ferdinand and others).
3. Widespread use of AA artillery in anti-tank roles.
4. Invention of new types of weapons, especially close combat ones: torpedo tankette, Ofenrohr, Faustpatrone.

Project 423

Project 423 was an ersatz SPG designed by the artillery chief of the Kirov factory, Lev Izrailyevich Gorlitskiy. The SPG consisted of a 76 mm regimental gun on a cruciform mount, surrounded by an armoured shield, similar to the one used on the T-26-6 (more commonly known as SU-26). 

News from Finland

"On April 8th, 1944, a prisoner was captured near Ashtakhma lake with a photograph of the German "Amphibian" car on him. The prisoner indicated that 66 "Amphibian" cars arrived from German to Finland and were assigned to the 6th SS Grenadier Division. The photograph is attached. A description of this vehicle can be found in report #0235 for 1943.

"Tommy Gons"

"From Washington

#11115, 11116

00:45 August 14th, 1941

#3

Immediate priority

To: Stalin, Molotov, Shaposhnikov

1. The American government officially asks if we need submachineguns currently used by the American military (the so called "Tommy gons"), as well as ammunition for them, and in what amounts. The caliber is 11.53 mm, weight 3.5 kg, effective range of 400 m, the length is about the same as the PPD, top rate of fire is 500 RPM. Three types of magazines: 20, 50, 100 rounds. Muzzle velocity around 300 meters per second. The cartridges are the revolver type. Looks like the Americans have a large stock of this machinegun. It might be good for arming reconnaissance units, paratroopers, cavalry, motorcyclists, and partisans. I request your instruction for the volume of the order.

New Year, New Weapons

"Decree #443ss of the Committee of Defense of the Council of Commissars

December 19th, 1939

Moscow, Kremlin

On the acceptance of tanks, armoured cars, and artillery tractors into service in the Red Army and production in 1940

Based on the results of trials of new types of tanks, armoured cars, and tractors, produced in accordance with Committee of Defense decree #198ss issued on July 7th, 1938, and #118ss, issued on May 15th, 1939, the Committee of Defense of the Council of Commissars decrees that:

1. The following are accepted into service in the Red Army:
1. KV tank: heavily armoured, produced by the Kirov factory based on NKO tactical-technical requirements, with the correction of all defects discovered during trials. The tank must be armed with:
1. An F-32 gun with a coaxial 7.62 mm machinegun in the gun mantlet.
2. A separate 7.62 mm machinegun operated by the radio operator.
3. One 7.62 mm machinegun in the turret bustle.
   Proved for full visibility from within the tank.
2. T-32 tank: tracked, with a V-2 diesel engine, produced by factory #183, with the following changes:
1. Increase the thickness of the main armour plates to 45 mm.
2. Improve visibility from the tank.
3. Install the following armament:
1. F-32 76 mm gun with a coaxial 7.62 mm machinegun.
2. A separate 7.62 mm machinegun for the radio operator.
3. A separate 7.62 mm machinegun.
4. An AA 7.62 mm machinegun.
   This tank will be named "T-34".
3. BT tank: with a V-2 diesel engine, produced by factory #183.
4. T-40 tank: amphibious, with a torsion bar suspension, high caliber machinegun, coaxial 7.62 mm machinegun, produced by factory #37.
5. V-2 engine: 450 hp, produced by factory #75
6. Voroshilovets tractor: artillery tractor with a V-2 diesel engine, produced by factory #183.
7. ST-2 tractor: artillery tractor with a V-2 diesel engine, produced at the Chelyabinsk Tractor Factory.
8. STZ-5 tractor: produced by the Stalingrad factory.
9. BA-11 armoured car: on the ZIS-6-K chassis, 90 hp engine, produced by the Izhora factory.
10. GAZ-61 light 4x4 truck produced by the Molotov Gorkiy Automotive Factory.
11. ZIS-5 4x6 truck.

..."

RGAE 7914-1-26 p.1

Radio Trucks

"To the People's Commissar of Defense, comrade I.V. Stalin

August 5th, 1941

I report on the execution of NKO order #0243s issued on July 23rd, 1941, on the issue of producing armoured carriers for Army (Front) radios and armouring of the divisional radio.

1. The Stalin Automotive Factory (ZIS) developed and produced prototypes (models) of RAF type armoured carriers for Army (Front) radios. The radio is installed in two armoured carriers produced on the chassis of the ZIS-5 truck.
   The armoured carrier was approved by the GABTU and US for mass production on July 30th.
2. The Podolsk Ordzhonikidze factory covered one prototype RSB type divisional radio in armour, which was approved for mass production by the GABTU and US on July 28th, 1941.
3. Presently, neither the armoured carrier nor the armoured radio are put into production due to a lack of armour production base designated by the Central Plan.

Deputy People's Commissar of Defense, Lieutenant General of the Tank Forces, Fedorenko

Deputy People's Commissar of Defense, Peresypkin"

Via Yuri Pasholok.

Leningrad Guntruck

"Decree of the Military Council of the Northern Front #53/ss

July 8th, 1941

Leningrad

Contents: tactical-technical requirements for the installation of a 45 mm gun in a half-armoured ZIS-5 truck and production of 20 such trucks at the Izhor factory.

The Military Council of the Northern Front has decreed that:

The Izhor factory must produce 20 ZIS-5 half-armoured trucks prepared for the installation of a 45 mm gun by July 13th, 1941, with the following improvements and additions:

1. Add additional shields in front of the gun wheels to protect the crew from the front, but without limiting the gun's horizontal traverse.
2. Add seats for the crew and ammunition racks in the truck bed.
3. The 45 mm gun mount must allow for firing from the truck. At the same time, it must be possible to easily and quickly remove and install the gun, with removable metal stoppers underneath the mounts and a collapsible ramp for wheeling the gun into the truck bed.
4. Install an armoured container to hold a fuel tank. The placement is up to the designer.
5. ABTU Chief, Colonel Dementyev, must issue 20 ZIS-5 trucks for the Izhor factory within three days.
6. The Chief of the Artillery Directorate, Major-General Sviridov, must provide 45 mm guns for the half-armoured trucks produced at the Izhor factory.

Commander of the Norther Front, Lieutenant-General Popov

Member of the Military Council of the Northern Front, Corps Commissar Klementyev

Member of the Military Council of the Northern Front, Kuznetsov"

V. Lehn collection

Lend Lease Truck Requirements

"People's Commissariat of External Trade, Technical and Industrial Imports
To comrade Pritvorov

When ordering trucks, keep in mind the following technical requirements that GABTU has for foreign vehicles:

1. From the total, 70% must be two axle 4x4, 20% two axle 2x4, and 10% three axle 4x6. The cargo capacity must be 2.5-3 tons. One or two brands.
2. All vehicles must be equipped with tools and spare parts, and have special Ground Grip type tires.

Truck Amphibian

"Towing barges with a ZIS-5 truck

When crossing deep rivers, drivers of the Nth Front successfully used a ZIS-5 truck to tow a barge. Equipped with special wheels, the truck could easily tow 12 ton barges at a speed of 4 kph (see figure).

Halftrack Experiments

Ever since their appearance in the mid-1910s, halftracks have been considered as a chassis for armoured vehicles, especially SPGs. Better off-road performance than wheeled vehicles and stability made these vehicles an attractive chassis for artillery. Halftrack SPGs were popular in Germany and the United States. The heroes of this article, Soviet ZIS-41 and ZIS-43 halftracks, are not as well known.

Car Trouble

"November 2nd, 1942
To the Commander of the 5th Tank Army

I report on the rather difficult situation with communication vehicles in command units of the 1st Tank Corps.

The Corps is authorized the following amount of Bantam cars:

• Corps HQ: 7
• Motorized Rifle Brigade: 4
• Tank Brigades: 1 each
• Total: 14

Not a single brigade has received a Bantam car. The Corps HQ has only one Bantam car left out of 7. 

Tanks in the East

"To the Chief of the 8th Main Directorate of the NKOP, Brigadier-Engineer comrade Sviridov

I send you these materials on trials of fighting and armoured vehicles BT-7A, T-38, FAI and trucks GAZ-AA, ZiS-5, ZiS-6 regarding their performance during border and internal maneuvers executed by the NKVD Internal Forces in 1937-1938.

Experience in using these vehicles in conditions of middle Asia revealed several design defects that must be corrected when building these vehicles.

I ask you to inform me of your decision.
Division commander Kovalev

RESULTS
Of trials of BT-7A, T-38, FAI armoured car, GAZ-AA, ZiS-5, and ZiS-6 trucks.

Trials were performed in the following conditions:

1. Total distance: 2500 km (without assistance, combined on tracks and wheels)
2. Terrain: various
1. Mountains with steep grades, mountain passes at an elevation of 2500 m to 4000 m, mostly off-road, up to 1000 km long.
2. Rocky bed of a mountain river, 200 km.
3. Off-road on a salt marsh, 250 km.
4. Dirt roads with up to 50 cm of loess dust, 100 km.
5. Loose sand, from flat sand roads to loose dunes with grades up to 40 degrees, up to 1000 km long.
3. Climate conditions:
1. Mountains with a normal temperature of +15, salt marshes with a temperature of +50, mostly through regions without water.
2. Sand-salt marsh terrain with air temperature ranging from +10-15 degrees to -15 degrees.
3. Mountain passes up to 4000 m high in winter conditions with snow banks with temperature ranging from -20 to -40.

The results of the trials showed the following behaviour of vehicles on various terrain:

1. BT-7A tank

Light gravel highway, average speed of 30 kph: Tanks worked normally. Since the tracks weren't broken in, locking pins were cut off and track pins fell out. 

Mountain terrain with passes from 2500 m to 4000 m high: The effectiveness of the fuel mixture decreased, had to be enriched. The result was excess use of fuel, black smoke from the muffler, engine overheating. The engine power decreased by 30-35%. Due to a large power reserve, a 30% decrease in performance did not have a noticeable effect on the vehicle's performance.

The performance of the BT-7A in these conditions showed that they can, without significant changes, especially without an altitude corrector for the carburettor, cross mountain passes over 4000 meters high.

On steep slopes, fuel could drain out of the carburettor, causing the engine to desynchronize. The water temperature reached 100-110 degrees and oil temperature 80 degrees in August.

Suspension: the track pin and horizontal spring plug have significant drift after 500 kilometers of use.

Marching on a mountain approach, flat road on salt marsh, and loess dust: On rocky terrain, the existing design of drive wheel and track links results in frequent jamming due to saturation of the tracks with mud and rocks.

It is possible to cross salt marshes at high speeds, but only without turning and over new places each time.

The BT-7A tank is completely unusable in loess dust conditions and is not protected against it. The lack of protection from dust of transmission components is noticeable. Initially, the complete saturation of tracks, bearings, and disks did not allow for changing gears. It is not possible to clean the main friction clutch in this design without removing the gearbox. In the last stages of moving across loess dust, the main friction clutch disks showed grit up to 2 mm in size, which disabled the clutch. Further use of tanks involved only using the final drives without disengaging the main clutch.

Due to dust getting into the magneto, the tank could not be started. Other electric components were disabled due to dust, such as the starter, the generator, etc.

Engine: the loess dust gets in with air through the air filter, side pockets and cracks, gets into the engine, and forms and abrasive mass when mixing with the oil, resulting in fast wear of cylinders, rings, pins, floating pins, and bearings. As a result, the engine starts working unreliably. The oil system stopped working due to wear of the oil pump gears.

Note: two engines broke down over these trials due to tearing of the piston rods of the 1st and 2nd cylinder. The VVS M-17F manual describes this as a manufacturing defect.

Suspension: the final drive bearings wore down quickly.

Overall conclusions: 

The BT-7A tank is adequate for use in the mountains. The tank needs improvements for use in sandy or dusty conditions to protect the transmission, engine, and electric equipment from dust.

Engine group:

• Requires dust protection with a more powerful oil filter, better sealing of the carburettor and coil pipe housing.
• The fuel nozzles should be moved in order to avoid a chance of fire if gasoline leaks on the magneto contacts.
• The valve rocker leaks oil during use and cannot be repaired.
• The gear-based oil pump and its connector wear quickly.
• The nozzles cannot be regulated without removing the top armour plate.
• It is difficult to access the engine during use.

Transmission compartment:

• The main friction clutch must be protected by a special case (from the engine to the gearbox)
• There must be an intermediate connector between the main clutch and gearbox that allows for work on the clutch without removing the gearbox.
• Strengthen the bearings of the main friction clutch and improve access to them and the ratchet disk.
• Improve access to the oil nozzle of the final drive bearings.
• Cover the control pull rods with a special casing.
• Improve the gearbox link (springs break, locks pop out, other breakdowns).

Final drives:

• Install strengthened ball bearings.
• Redesign the drive wheel in order to strengthen the disk and rim.
• Change the tracks to use finer links.

Electric equipment:

• The lights turned off due to poor quality of lightbulb sockets.
• Up to 80% of ammeter and voltmeter breakdowns were due to poor quality of materials or assembly.
• Starters broke down due to poor quality of relay contacts.
• Bronze bearings of the launch magneto wore quickly.
• The generator plug connectors are unreliable and hard to reach.
• The electric equipment layout is complicated and hard to reach during repairs.
• The ignition button contact (made from a latten brass spring) is low quality and breaks quickly.
• Electric wiring close to the turret creates a fire hazard.

It is necessary to:

• Protect the magneto, generator, and starter from dust and moisture. The started magneto should be installed on ball bearings.
• Remove the plug connectors from the generator and lead the wires up to the control panel near the generator.
• Allow access to the starter relay without removing the starter.
• Note: a Bendix gear starter is desirable. In addition, the tank should have another way of starting the engine aside from the starter.
• Wiring inside the tank should be done in accordance with fire safety. Wires in the turret should be covered in pipes until they reach their contact.
• Small connectors should not have friction contacts, and should be connected with either bolts or solder.
• The battery should be moved to the rear of the tank, as during operation water, oil, and dust gets on it, and leaking electrolyte corrodes the radiator.

It is also difficult to remove the batteries for charging, and in the winter impossible to install the engine heater without it. It is also impossible to charge the batteries without removing them.

In the same conditions, other vehicles were tested:

1. T-38 tank: demonstrated excellent performance in all conditions, aside from:
1. Fast wear of final drive gears.
2. Insufficient engine power for the vehicle's weight, causing overheating, and low speed on land and water.
3. It is necessary to add air filters to the engine.
2. FAI armoured car: showed good results. It is necessary to add an air filter and improved radiator.
3. GAZ-AA: showed good performance and endurance. Needs an oil air filter and an improved radiator.
4. ZiS-5: performs poorly on sand. The reductor is very weak, mostly the gears and bearings of the main gear break. Needs a stronger radiator and a rigidly installed differential like on the GAZ truck.
5. ZiS-6 (three-axle): needs a more powerful engine. The existing engine can only provide a speed of 12 kph on the described terrain. The demultiplexor is very weak, the gears of the first gear break often. Needs a stronger radiator.

Military Engineer 3rd Grade, Babushkin

Lieutenant Sherbelev

Military Technician 2nd Grade, Kurochkin"

V. Lehn collection.

Lend Lease Shipping

As many of you probably know, tanks that arrived at Soviet ports were already (mostly) assembled and packed in a thick layer of protective grease and covers. Vehicles that were a little easier to assemble, like trucks, came in a much more compact form factor.

These Studebaker trucks were assembled at Soviet factories starting in December 1941, but the trucks arrived faster than they could build them. The last of the trucks were finished long after the war, in 1947. 

Rocket Bike

If you've looked into the Soviet M-72 motorcycle, you would probably know that they put all sorts of stuff on top of it: machineguns, anti-tank cannons, light mortars. Today, you can add rocket launchers to that list.

"Report #6877
On the RUM-12 launcher trials

Objective: discover the feasibility of arming motorcycle troops with 82 mm rocket launchers.

Trials were carried out at the Sofrino artillery proving grounds on September 8th, 1941, following NII-3 #1454s directives signed on September 6th, 1941.

Trial details:

The RUM-12 was designed and assembled by factory #487. The launcher consists of a motorcycle with 12 stock aircraft 840 mm rocket rails mounted instead of the sidecar, equipped with pyropistols.

An aircraft ring sight is installed for aiming, as well as a shield to protect the shooter from gases and a control device to activate the pyropistols.

24 rockets were supplied by NII-3, of which:

1. 12 were equipped with TNT warheads and AM-a. detonators. The rockets were equipped with BPP 203/50-1/36-K propellant (22 rods per charge) and a 12 gram DRP primer.
2. 12 were equipped with sulfur warheads. An 18x33 mm TNT charge was inserted, and a stock AM-a detonator was used.

Conditions of trials:

Two groups were fired off to determine groupings.

1. 12 rockets with fast-burning BPP propellant. The rockets did not have ballistic caps on, and the vanes had additional rods welded to them. The angle of elevation was 3.5 degrees.
2. 12 rockets with stock nitroglycerin propellant. The rockets used ballistic caps and stock vanes. The angle of elevation was 3.5 degrees.

Results of trials:

Precision of rockets with fast-burning propellant:

Rockets fired	Acceptable shots	Elevation	Mean deviations						Average range
			Length (m)	Length (arc)	Width (m)	Width (arc)	Required
							Length	Width
12	6*	3.5 degrees	158.1	1/12	35.7	1/52	1/10	1/50	1854

* 6 shots were practice shots. The first tore off two rockets with the exhaust, deformed the vanes on some rockets, and punched through the detonator membrane on one of the rockets. In order to avoid the aforementioned problems, the rest of the shots were made from a partially loaded launcher (3-6 rockets).

Precision of rockets with regular nitroglycerin propellant:

Of 12 shots fired, 6 dipped, falling about 50 meters from the launcher. The other six were significantly scattered width-wise. The dispersion was not measured. No damage to vanes was observed, even thought the rockets were shot from a fully loaded launcher. One shot tore off a pyropistol, likely due to poor assembly at the factory.

During firing from both the first and second groups, the motorcycle was shifted sideways noticeably. The angle of elevation was altered negligibly.

Conclusions:

1. 82 mm rockets with fast burning BPP propellant can be effectively used by motorcycle forces, given that the AM-a detonator is replaced with another detonator (try using the GMVZ detonator).
2. Stock 82 mm rockets can also be used, but with reduced effectiveness, due to their tendency to dip when fired from short ground based launchers.
3. It is necessary to:
1. Increase the stability of the motorcycle.
2. Improve the aircraft ring sight. The sight supplied with the launcher could only be used with a quadrant, which had to be installed on the launcher itself, due to a lack of mounting surfaces on the sight."

CAMD RF 64-12200-12

Chrysler Visit and Sherman Inspection

"Report on the visit to the Chrysler factory in Detroit

From September 3rd to September 5th, Lieutenant-Colonel Demyanenko, Engineer Sorvin, and Engineer Prishipenko visited the Chrysler tank factory. The goal of the visit were:

1. Familiarization with the design of the Chrysler gasoline tank engine and collection of data on its performance, especially in winter.
2. Familiarization with the Chrysler tank factory for evaluation of its production capacity.
3. Personal driving of the M4A4 medium tanks on a proving grounds to obtain necessary data for comparison with M3 and M4A2 medium tanks.

We left Washington on September 2nd, at night, and arrived in Detroit on the morning of September 3rd. We were accompanied by Lieutenant Gerber from the War Department, an aide-de-camp of General Christmass, the chief of tank design and production at the War Department. General Christmass is the chief tank designer in the USA.

When we arrived in Detroit, we were presented to the a Colonel, the chief of the Detroit division of the War Department. The Colonel was very interested in our opinion of American tanks. In particular, he wanted to know about our opinion of the M4A4 tank with a Chrysler engine. This tank has been finalized, and production increases with every month. He also told us that production of M4A2 tanks with General Motors diesel engines and Canadian Valentine VII tanks, which also only use the General Motors diesel, will be complicated in the future. This is caused by a shortage of diesel engines, which are in demand by the American Navy for speedboats. The amount requested by the Maritime Department is very high, and will only increase. 

Note: these engines are built by America's only diesel factory owned by the General Motors company near Detroit. In July of this year, Engineer Sorvin visited this factory. By talking to employees and observation, he was able to establish that the factory produces about 5000 double and single tank diesels (model 6046-Series 71 and model 6004) per month with three shifts working around the clock.. The factory was being expanded to increase production. New mechanical and assembly plants were being built.

The discussion with the Colonel indicated that the above reasons will result in a reduction, or even complete cancellation, of the M4A2 medium tank. At the same time, he highlighted the advantages of the Chrysler engines, built based on automotive engines that the factory has built millions of. He mentioned that there will be no problems with supplies, and like car engines, they will be familiar and easy to service for any driver.

Chrysler's deputy chief engineer of engine production joined us during the trip to the engine factory, located close to Detroit. He stayed with us for the duration of the visit. At the factory, we met with the engine production chief, Mr. O'Malley. With him, and a group of managing engineers, we took a tour of the factory. 

Note: before we left the factory, Mr. O'Malley gave us some documents regarding the quality of parts finish at the factory. These documents are included with the report.

In many offices an laboratories, a cooler is present, capable of generating temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius. During our visit, experiments to examine the starting of a Chrysler tank engine were being carried out in one of these coolers. Additionally, two engines were being tested for wear, actual power, oil and fuel expenditure, etc. During our visit, one of these engines has been working for 400 hours, another for 300 hours. The engines were artificially loaded with Froude hydraulic brakes and an electric balancer machine.

Data gathered during these trials is not yet available, but will be available in the near future.

The next day, we went to the Chrysler Tank Arsenal factory. At the factory, we were accompanied by factory director, Mr. Richay, and the chief engineer of the factory.

The Chrysler tank factory was building M4A4 medium tanks. This factory is famous not only in America, but throughout the whole world. A lot has been written about the construction of this factory in American media, especially in 1940.

In 1941, for the opening date of the factory, the July issue of the Army Ordnance magazine had photographs of the factory, and data on the production capacity and amount of workers. The entire factory, excluding the power plant and warehouses, takes up an area of 1400 by 900 feet. Up to 70% of the ceilings and walls are made of glass. 

Until recently, aside from engines and armament, the factory built everything. Currently, due to increased demand, some components are produced at other Chrysler factories (suspensions, front hulls with gearboxes, final drives). According to the factory director, the September production plan is 600 tanks, and in December, the factory should produce 1000 tanks. 

The tank assembly area takes up the left third of the factory building, lengthwise (see map). The area has 5 assembly lines, which allow for work on 500 tanks simultaneously. 

We attempted to calculate the production capacity of the factory:

1. The amount of turret base production machinery was counted.
2. The amount of turret ring teeth cutting machines was counted.
   Based on our estimates, this is the bottleneck in the production.
   Note: turrets arrive at the factory already cast, in need of mechanical finishing.
3. By asking the factory direction (a real enthusiast of his craft), an chief engineer, we learned the time it takes to finish the bottom of the turret and the turret ring teeth. 

12 carousel machines are used for cutting down the bottom of the turret. It takes 7 hours to process one turret base, so in a day, about 4 turrets can be made. The factory director told us that to increase production to 1000 tanks, three more such machines are needed. We witnessed foundations for these machines being built. The need for more equipment is explained by the fact that an amount of machines is always undergoing preventative maintenance, but the production must always continue. 5 large tooth-cutting machines are used for cutting teeth for the turret ring. It takes 3 hours to process a turret ring. In one day, 40 turret rings can be made.

As such, the production of 1000 tanks per month is possible even now. Finished tanks are fuelled and oiled right at the end of the factory, and drive straight to the proving grounds for testing. The proving grounds are positioned close to the factory building, and consist of a 2-3 km long looped road. The road has varied terrain (concrete, dirt road, sand, elevations and descents). Quality assurance takes 50 miles. After driving for 50 miles, tanks with defects are sent to a refurbishment section for defect correction, after which they are subjected to another 10 miles of track trials. If there are no defects, the tanks are shipped by rail to a tank depot, where radios are installed. Here, instruments and ammunition are loaded into the tank. From here, finished tanks go to army units or to export. 

Due to increasing production, every department is working on installing additional equipment.

Proving grounds and tank driving

After breakfast, we drove to the proving grounds, 12-15 miles from the tank factory. The proving grounds used to be a Cadillac car proving grounds. Next to the good road for testing cars, there is a 2-3 km long tank track, which consists of a dirt road with grades. There is a section of the track that crosses a stream 0.5-0.75 meters deep, but with a hard bottom. The exit from the stream is on a 40 degree grade, which continues for 25-30 meters. There are no muddy, destroyed sections of the road. There are no swamps or trenches. There are no vertical obstacles. When we noted that the proving grounds were insufficient, the factory representatives told us that the tanks were tested at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds (Maryland), where there are allegedly all sorts of obstacles. 

Note: Engineer Sorvin went to the Aberdeen grounds in early August to observe trials of an M4A2 medium tank, and concluded that their proving grounds have nearly identical obstacles as this these proving grounds. 

When we arrived at the proving grounds, we started with a loop around the track in a 2.5 ton Dodge truck (a company owned by Chrysler). All three axles of the truck are powered. The vehicle passed the entire tank route well, including the stream and a small section of bushes, covered in deep gouges.

After breakfast, we personally drove tanks through this route.

There were two tanks there, an M3 medium tank with a Wright engine and an M4A4 medium tank produced by the Chrysler factory with their tank engine. Engineer Sorvin and Lieutenant-Colonel Demyanenko drove these tanks. The impressions are as follows:

1. The M4A4 is undoubtedly superior to the M3, and has superior mobility and acceleration.
2. The 40 degree grade coming out of the stream can be traversed by the M4A4 tank in second gear, while the M3 tank can only traverse it in first gear.
3. The M4A4 tank has a more comfortable driver's compartment than the M3.
4. Both tanks are definitely worse compared to our T-34, and possibly even the KV.

Conclusions

1. The Chrysler tank factory is the one of the newest and largest tank factories not only in the US, but in the world. All factory equipment (machines, devices, cutting and measuring tools, valves, and internal transportation) is new, mostly produced in 1939-1942.
2. The factory is currently capable of releasing 1000 tanks monthly. This capacity is guaranteed by the company engine plant, which produces 35 tank engines daily.
3. The factory produces the M4A4 medium tank with a gasoline engine. This tank is used by the American army and is mass produced at all American tank factories capable of producing medium tanks.
   Note: the M4 medium tank is available in four modifications:
1. M4A1 with a Wright air-cooled gasoline engine.
2. M4A2 with two General Motors water-cooled diesel engines.
3. M4A3 with a special 6-cylinder Ford water-cooled gasoline engine.
4. M4A4 with a 30-cylinder Chrysler water-cooled engine. 
4. The M4A4 tank is identical to the M4A2 (as well as other M4 modifications) in hull design, suspension, armament, observation devices, and communications devices.
   The M4A2 is well known in the Soviet Union from previously sent documents, and all of its drawbacks are repeated on the M4A4 (high ground pressure, height, insufficient amount of vision devices, difficulty in installation and removal of components, difficulty in service, etc)
   The tank's mobility (speed, maneuverability), ability to cross obstacles, and hp/ton is nearly identical to the M4A2 tank with the General Motors engine.
   The M4A4 is superior to the M3, both in the engine, which works on much lower octane gas (65-70) and is water-cooled, and the mobility.
5. Overall, thanks to a lack of experienced tank designers, the Chrysler factory is building tanks whose design and combat performance does not measure up to the potential of such a first-class tank building giant.

Engineer Sorvin.

September 7th, 1942

Washington"

CAMD RF 38-11355-760

An M4A4 tank was sent to the Soviet Union anyway, where trials showed that it was not good enough to order instead of the M4A2.