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It is now difficult to write of the T-34medium tank without using too manysuperlatives, for the T-34 has passedinto the realms of legend. It was one ofthe mam war-winning weapons ofWorld War II, and it was produced insuch vast numbers and in so many versionsthat entire books have been writtenon the subject without exhaustingthe possibilities of the vehicle and itsexploits.In simple terms the T-34 had its originsin the shortcomings of the BT-7and its forebears. The first result of theBT series' up-dating were the designsknown as the A-20 and A-30, producedin 1938 as developments of the BT-IS,but passed over in favour of a heaviergunnedtank with increased armourand known as the T-32. In the T-32 canbe seen most of the features of the laterT-34. It had a well-shaped hull withsloped armour, and a cast and slopedturret which mounted a 76.2-mm (3-in)high-velocity gun. The Christie suspension,suitably beefed up, was carriedover from the BT series, but theability to run on wheels without trackswas abandoned.Good as the T-32 was, a selectionpanel requested yet more armour andso the T-34 was born. It went into productionin 1940 and mass production ofthe T-34/76A soon followed. When theGermans attacked the Soviet Union in1941 the type was already well established,and its apperance came as anasty shock to the Germans. The T-34'swell-sloped and thick armour (minimumof 18 mm/0.71 in and maximum of60 mm/2.36 in) was proof against mostof their anti-tank weapons and the IV3076.2-mm (3-in) gun, soon replaced inservice by an even more powerful IV40gun of the same calibre, was effectiveagainst most German Panzers. Thesecondary armament was two 7.62-mm(0.3-in) machine-guns.From 1941 onwards the T-34 was developedinto a long string of models,many of them with few external differences.Production demands resultedin many expediences, the finish ofmost T-34s being rough to an extreme,but the vehicles were still very effectivefighting machines. Despite the disruptionof the production lines during1941, ever-increasing numberspoured off the extemporized lines, andall manner of time-saving productionmethods (ranging from automaticwelding to leaving whole sections ofsurface unpainted) were used. Thesecond production model was the T-34/76B with a rolled-plate turret.In service the T-34 was used for everyrole, ranging from main battle tankto reconnaissance vehicle, and fromengineering tank to recovery vehicle,It was converted into the simplest ofarmoured personnel carriers by simplycarrying infantry on the hull overlong distances; these 'tank descent'troops became the scourge of the Germansas they advanced westwardsthrough the liberated Soviet Union andthen Eastern Europe. Successively improvedmodels of the T-34/76 were theT-34/76C with a larger turret containingtwin roof hatches in place of theoriginal single hatch; the T-34/76D witha hexagonal turret and wider mantlet,plus provision for jettisonable exteriorfuel tanks; the T-34/76E with a cupolaon the turret and of all-welded construction;and the T-34/76F identical tothe T-34/76E apart from its cast ratherthan welded turret. (It should be notedAbove: The T-34 tank was a veryadvanced design for its time. This is alate production T-34/76 armed with a76.2-mm (3-in) main gun, and wellprovided with sloping armour foradded protection. The tank wasproduced in thousands and proveddurable, mobile and highly effectivein service.that the designations are Western, designedto provide a means of identificationin the absence of Soviet information.)In time the 76,2-mm (3-in)gun was replaced by an 85-mm (3.34-in) gun using the turret taken from theKV-85 heavy tank. This variant becamethe T-34/85, which remains inservice to this day in some parts of theworld. Special assault gun versions usingthe 85-mm (3.34-in) gun and laterthe 100-mm(3.94-in)or 122-mm(4.8-in)artillery pieces were developed, andflame-throwing, tractor, engineer andmine-clearing versions were also produced.But it was as a battle tank that theT-34 has its main claim to fame. Availablein thousands, the T-34 assumedmastery of the battlefield, forcing theGermans back on the defensive andtaking from them the tactical andstrategic initiative thus winning the'Great Patriotic War' for the Soviet Union.Post-war the T-34 and its successorswent on to gain more laurels, but itwas as a war-winner in World War IIthat the T-34 must best be remembered.It was a superb tank.SpecificationT-34/76ACrew: 4Weight: 26 tonnesPowerplant: one V-2-34 V-12 dieseldeveloping 373 kW (500 hp)Dimensions: length 5.92 m (19 ft 5.1 in);width 3 m (9 ft 10 in); height 2.44 m(8ft)Performance: maximum road speed55 km/h (34 mph); maximum roadrange 186 km (115 miles); fording1.37 m (4 ft 6 in); gradient 35°; verticalobstacle 0.71 m (2 ft 4 in); trench 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in)
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