Kalashnikov's Predecessors

A boom of intelligence about the enemy's weapons came during the summer of 1943. Compared to captured German aircraft and tanks, an "automatic carbine" captured at Kholm, as it was called in the reports, didn't seem as impressive. However, the consequences of its capture for the Soviet small arms industry were not just significant, but, without a shadow of exaggeration, grandiose. 

Master of Disguise

"Translated from German

11th Infantry Division

Counterintelligence dept. #9/44

Top Secret!

Division HQ, January 3rd, 1944

RE: combat against enemy agents and partisans

As mentioned in telephone dispatches ##2539 and 2540 on December 12th, 1943, an unknown person wearing the uniform of a German officer successfully attempted to discover information on our positions and the units occupying them within the sector of the fusilier battalion. Some personnel freely reported information without asking for any documents, despite orders. The enemy agent was not apprehended.

Torsion Bars for the T-34

"December 30th, 1940
#18239ss

To the Chair of the Committee of Defense of the Council of Commissars, Marshall of the Soviet Union, comrade Voroshilov

In carrying out the Committee of Defense decree #428 issued on November 19th, 1940, I present to you my thoughts on moving the T-34 to a torsion bar suspension.

The coil spring suspension currently used on the T-34 is reliable in its function, but has the following drawbacks:

Limiting Reactant

"February 11th, 1941

#144613

To the Chairman of the Committee of Defense of the USSR SNK, Marshal of the Soviet Union, comrade K.E. Voroshilov

Factory #183 under-supplied the GABTU with 1086 friction clutches for the M-5 and M-17 engines in the following amounts: 327 in 1938, 267 in 1939, 492 in 1940.

Due to these missing supplies and 1000 M-17 aircraft engines transferred to the GABTU from the GUVVS, GABTU warehouses and repair bases now hold 2500 engines (2000 M-17 and 500 M-5) which cannot be used to repair BT tanks or replenish spares stocks without friction clutches.

The only factory producing friction clutches is factory #183, which aims to produce 200 M-5 clutches and 270 M-17 clutches, which satisfies the GABTU's requirements by 20%.

I ask you to instruct the People's Commissariat of Medium Manufacturing to include production of 2500 friction clutches into factory #183's production program for 1941 to fully satisfy the GABTU's requirements.

Marshal of the Soviet Union, G. Kulik."

CAMD RF 38-11355-225 p.41

Via Dmitry Shein

T-34s in England

Russia, of all places, recently had to import a number of T-34-85 tanks from Laos, due to a shortage of functional ones to show off in parades and shows. Interestingly enough, when I was in England there appeared to be no shortage of this type of tank at all. In fact, there were probably more of them per capita than in Russia. Let's take a look.

HMC M8: Quick Support for Light Tanks

The idea of a specialized SPG for supporting tank and infantry units came to the Americans in the early 1930s. However, attempts to build such a vehicle ended up with nothing. As a result, the US Army began WWII without an SPG. The HMC T30, built on the M3 halftrack, entered trials in January of 1942. The SPG was launched into production in February of that year. Even though a large number of these halftracks was built, 500 units in all, the Americans saw it as only a temporary solution. Requirements for an SPG with a 75 mm howitzer on a tank chassis were still not met.

Gaining Weight

"December 20th, 1940
#SO6913

To GABTU Regional Engineer,

 Military Engineer 2nd Class, comrade Kozyrev

RE: your letter #652s dated November 19th, 1940

A cast turret weighs 2035 kg.

A rolled turret weighs 1885 kg.

The increase in mass of the A-34 from 25,600 kg to 26,700 kg happened for the following reasons:

ZIS-30 in Battle

"To: Deputy GABTU Chief, Major-General of the Technical Forces, Lebedev

CC: Deputy Chair of the Automotive and Armoured Vehicles Council South-Western Direction, Lieutenant-General of the Tank Forces, Tamruchi

April 5th, 1942

The 57 mm anti-tank gun installed on the Komsomolets tractor showed itself in battle as a fearsome weapon against all types and brands of enemy tanks.

Positive and negative sides were discovered during use in combat.

ZIS-S-53 Gunnery Trials

"VII. Trials of armament

Firing the 85 mm mod. 1944 ZIS-S-53 gun

1. Determining accuracy and precision of fire

Accuracy and precision trials were performed using steel HE grenades. Aiming was done with the stock TSh-15 sight.

Ambient temperature: +32 degrees C.

Visibility: good

Range: 1000 meters

Angle of the tank: 0 degrees

Time for firing: unlimited

Fire correction was performed after every shot

Results:

Conditions	Distance to target	Shots fired	Shots hit	Dispersion radius, cm
				100	50
Firing from standstill at a vertical target initially.	1000 m	10	10	95	45
After mobility trials and 230 shots	1000 m	10	10	54	36

The New T-34

"Decree #428ss of the State Committee of Defense of the Council of Commissars of the USSR

November 19th, 1940

Moscow, Kremlin

On changes and additions to the tactical-technical requirements of KV, T-34, and T-40 tanks

...

On the T-34 tank, in addition to tactical-technical requirements approved by Committee of Defense decrees #45ss on February 27th, 1939, and #443ss on December 19th, 1939, introduce the following changes and additions:

1. The total mass of the T-34 tank is limited to 26 tons.
2. The approved armament of the T-34 tank is the 76 mm L-11 gun with the coaxial DT machinegun in the tank's turret, a second DT for the radio operator, and one submachinegun (PPD) in the turret to fire from hatches. Begin arming the T-34 tank with the F-34 gun starting with January 1st, 1941.