T-64's Birthday

"Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR

Decree dated December 30th, 1966

Moscow, Kremlin

On the acceptance of a new medium tank into service with the Soviet Army

The Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR decree to:

1. Agree with the proposal of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR and Ministry of Defense Industry to accept into service with the Soviet Army a new medium tank, equipped with the 5TDF engine, 115 mm smoothbore D-68 gun with HEAT, HE, and subcaliber armour piercing ammunition, a 2318 two-plane stabilizer, a TPD-43B rangefinder sight, and a PKT coaxial machinegun developed in accordance with CC CPSU and Council of Ministers decree #141-58 dated February 17th, 1961 and matching tactical-technical requirements given in attachment #1.

Name the aforementioned tank T-64."

"Comrade N.A. Kucherenko 

Copy into the order.

V. Bakhirov

January 4th, 1967"

Via Andrei-BT

PzIV Penetration Trials

I previously posted about some dodgy quality armour the British found in PzIII tanks. Samples obtained from various tanks tended to behave in a similar fashion, but other trials showed that this performance was not exclusive to just one type of German medium tank. The performance of the PzIV's armour against the British 2-pounder was so disappointing, that the British theorized the Germans are saving all of their high quality plate for prospective heavy tanks.

"Firing trials by a 2 Pdr. gun mounted in a Mark IVA Cruiser tank have recently been carried out against a captured German PZKW IV 22 ton tank in the Middle East.

The armour basis of the German tank is:

• Turret:
• Front: 30 mm (1.181 inches)
• Side: 20 mm (.787 inches)
• Hull:
• Front superstructure: 60 mm (2.362 inches)
• Rear: 40 mm (1.57 inches)
• Side Centre plates: 40 mm (1.574 inches)
• End plates: 20 mm (.787 inches)

Trial and Error

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

November 6th, 1940

Experimental exercises held by tank and mechanized units and formations show that issues of controlling tank units are quite complicated. After the first stage of battle, cooperation and communication between tank units and individual tanks breaks down.

Results of lengthy marches and trials of tanks, as well as studies of foreign tanks show that tactical-technical requirements of the SP, T-34, and KV tanks need some corrections.

Commanders of individual tanks and up require the ability to fully and constantly observe the battlefield, the situation, and subordinate tanks, being freed of the requirement to also be the gunner or loader. Presently, observation devices and observation methods for the commander are limited, and there is a need to increase 360 degree vision for individual tanks.

At the same time, it is necessary to reduce the effort on levers and pedals of the tank.

In order to increase the combat quality of the SP, T-34, and KV tanks, add the following items to the list of tactical-technical requirements:

1. Install 360 degree vision cupolas on the SP, T-34, and KV tanks
2. Revise the number of crewmen.
3. Clarify the armament and amount of onboard ammunition.
4. Install the KRSTB radio for external communication, as it is smaller and simpler to set up than the 71-TK-3.
5. Use throat microphones instead of bulky microphones for internal communication.
6. Replace the observation devices of the driver and radio operator with improved ones. The driver also needs an optical observation device.
7. Demand that the warranty period of a tank be 600 hours before refurbishment.
8. Replace the T-34's suspension with individual torsion bars, which will free up room inside the tank used up by suspension springs.
9. In the first half of 1941, factories must develop and prepare for production a planetary transmission for the SP, T-34, and KV tanks. This will increase the average speed of tanks and make turning easier.

Authorized by Marshal of the Soviet Union S. Timoshenko"

RGVA 4-14-2892 pp.76-77

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

Valentine With a Long Gun

In the spring of 1943 the variety of British tanks sent to the USSR dropped radically. Matilda tanks were no longer sent, the Churchill nearly vanished from shipping manifests. The Valentine remained the only type of tank sent by the British in large numbers. Even though the British themselves nearly stopped using it by the spring of 1943, they were still in demand with the Red Army. This was especially true for the Valentine IX, the version with a 6-pounder cannon, which had to revert to the two-man turret.

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.

Acceptance of the T-34-85

"State Committee of Defense Decree #4776ss

December 15th, 1943

On the production of the T-34-85 tank with an 85 mm gun at factory #112

The State Committee of Defense decrees:

1. TheT-34-85 tank designed at factory #183 with the 85 mm gun designed at factory #9 built according to tactical-technical characteristics in attachment #1 is accepted into service with the Red Army.
2. The People's Commissariat of Tank Production (comrade Malyshev) and director of factory #112 in Gorky (comrade Rubinchik) to organize production of the T-34-85 tank in the following amounts:
1. In January of 1944: 25 units
2. In February of 1944: 75 units
3. In March of 1944: 150 units
   starting with April of 1944, completely switch to T-34-85 production instead of T-34 tanks."

RGASPI 644-1-183 p.22

New Year, New Valentines

"December 30th, 1942

To the Deputy Chief of the GABTU, Major-General of the Tank Forces, comrade Korobkov

Our representatives in England say that 70 Valentine-9 tanks are being sent with the next caravan. The armament of these tanks is as follows:

1. One 6-pounder gun with elevation of +15 degrees and depression of: forward and to the sides of 8 degrees 30 minutes, to the back 2 degrees 30 minutes. The tank holds 49 artillery shells. Only armour piercing shells are provided.
2. Bren AA machinegun.
3. Thompson SMG.

I ask you to give conclusions.

Deputy Chief of the NKVT Engineering Directorate, Colonel Khryaev"

T8 Periscopic Sights

"Periscopic T8 sight

The principle of the T8 periscope does not differ from previously examined periscopes. It combines an observation periscope with a telescopic system. This design is a further step towards the perfection and development of these types of sights.

The significant difference between the T8 sight and other sights of the first and second group is that the degree of magnification is significantly increased, and a collimator device is with a sighting grid is introduced. Thanks to this, the T8 sight and other sights of its type can be called a variable magnification sight.

A Turret for Three

The first project of a light infantry tank, which later transformed into the Valentine, was presented to the War Ministry on February 10th, 1938. The tank that Leslie Little developed was rejected by the British at least once. One of the reasons for the rejection was the two-man turret, as the British wanted to have it house three crewmen. Leslie Little won that time, and in April of 1939 the Infantry Tank Mk.III was approved with a two-man turret. However, the War Ministry returned to the idea of increasing the crew size of the turret, which led to the Valentine III and Valentine V with three-man turrets.