At the beginning of World War II, the T-34 tank was produced in two versions. The T-34/5, produced in small quantities, was armed with the ZiS-4 artillery system. The T-34/76 tank was a medium and large-scale tank with an F-34 gun. By the middle of the war, he had become the main Soviet model. The rise of the T-34/76 tank, which took place in July 2016 in the Voronezh region, helps to remind the current generation of its significance and legend. In many ways, it was thanks to this machine that the Red Army managed to break the back of the German enemy. In this article, we will consider interesting facts about her.
Production
In 1941, the famous modification was made at three factories: in Kharkov, Stalingrad and at Krasnoye Sormovo in Gorky. At the beginning of the war, on June 25, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR adopted a resolution according to which the Soviet industry was to significantly increase the production of tanks.
In fact, a new production system was being created. The leading role in it was assigned to the plant number 183 in Kharkov and its design bureau. The military assumed that other industrial facilities that produced the tank and made changes to its design would consult with this particular enterprise. In practice, everything turned out differently. The turmoil of the war, the evacuation of the Kharkov plant to Nizhny Tagil and other circumstances led to the fact that only the performance characteristics of the model remained unchanged. In other details, the products of different factories could differ slightly. The name of the modification, however, was common. Number 76 was adopted because of the characteristic 76 mm gun.
Appearance in the army
Wartime forced to somewhat simplify and modernize production in accordance with the changed market conditions. In September 1941, after the fever of the first months of the war, the T-34-76 tank began to enter the active army en masse. Least of all this military equipment turned out to be in the northwestern theater of operations.
Firstly, this theater of operations for a long time was only secondary (the main events unfolded in the Moscow direction). Secondly, the Leningrad Front was isolated from the rest of the territory of the USSR. Sending tanks to the blockaded city on the Neva was an extremely difficult task. As a result, the Lenfront fleet mainly consisted not of the mass T-34/76, but of light T-26s and heavy KVs (Klim Voroshilov).
From tractors to tanks
By October 1, there were 566 tanks on the Western Front (65 of which were T-34/76). As can be seen from these figures, the proportion of modification has so far remained insignificant. Most of all, the T-34/76 tank was produced and produced in 1943, when it became the most massive and recognizable Soviet tank. Toward the end of the war, it was supplanted by the next modification - the T-34/85.
In the fall of 1941, the Stalingrad plant became the main tank manufacturer. In the pre-war period, it was created as a tractor. In the course of Stalinist industrialization, several such enterprises appeared, and all of them were built with an eye on a possible armed conflict. If in peacetime the Stalingrad plant produced tractors, then after the German attack, due to the peculiarities of production, it was quickly retrained as a tank plant. Military equipment has taken the place of agricultural equipment.
Test in winter
For the first time, the T-34/76 announced itself as a universal tank in the autumn of 1941. In those days, the Germans rushed to Moscow with all their might. The Wehrmacht hoped for a blitzkrieg and threw more and more reserves into battle. Soviet troops retreated to the capital. The fighting was already going on 80 kilometers from Moscow. In the meantime, very early (in October) snow fell and a snow cover appeared. Under these conditions, the T-60 and T-40S light tanks lost their ability to maneuver. Heavy models suffered from the shortcomings of their gearbox and transmission. As a result, at the most decisive stage of the war, it was decided to make the main tank T-34/76. By weight, this car was considered average.
For its time, the Soviet tank T-34/76 of the 1941 model was an effective and high-quality technique. The designers were especially proud of the V-2 diesel engine. Projectile armor (the most important protective element of the tank) performed all the tasks assigned to it and reliably protected the crew of 4 people. The F-34 artillery system was distinguished by high-speed firing, which made it possible to quickly deal with the enemy. It was these three characteristics that the specialists were primarily concerned with. The rest of the features of the tank changed last.
tank heroes
The tankers who fought on the T-34/76 glorified themselves with such a large number of feats that it is simply impossible to list them all. Here are just some examples of the bravery of the crews during the battle for Moscow. Sergeant Kaforin continued to fire at the enemy, even when all his comrades were killed and the tank was hit. The next day, he moved to another vehicle, destroyed two infantry platoons, a machine gun nest and an enemy command post. The last time Sergeant Kaforin was shot down was in the village of Kozlovo. He fired back until he burned down along with the tank.
In the same way, the crews of Lieutenant Timerbaev and Political Commissar Mamontov fought in cars engulfed in fire. The commander of the tank company, Captain Vasiliev, was wounded, but continued to shoot back. He miraculously managed to get out of the car a few minutes before the explosion. Later, Vasiliev received the well-deserved title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Also, the Red Army soldiers of the 28th Tank Brigade were especially stubborn.
Defense of Moscow
The armored forces played an extremely important role in disrupting the decisive German attack on Moscow. They acted in ambushes, intercepted and defended the most important routes to the capital, holding the roads until the arrival of reinforcements. At the same time, the command often did not know how to deal with tanks. Inexperience and misunderstanding of the realities of the latest technology affected, while the personnel of the Red Army, on the contrary, struck the enemy with their courage and perseverance.
During this period, the most effective group operated, which included five tank brigades (tbr): 1st Guards, 27, 28, 23 and 33 brigade. They were subordinate to the 16th Army and covered the Volokolamsk direction. The attacks on the Germans were carried out mainly from ambushes. The incident that occurred on November 16 in the town of Sychi near Moscow is indicative. Soviet troops took up defensive positions in the village. The tanks hid in ambush. Soon the enemy tried to establish control over the Sychi. 80 crushed detachments of the Red Army infantry and a motorized rifle brigade. At the most crucial moment, Soviet vehicles emerged from the ambush and restored the status quo. Almost all German tanks and two more infantry companies were destroyed in the battle.
Model 1943
The main battles of 1943 took place in the region of the southern Russian steppes, where there was room for maneuvering military operations and the use of a large mass of equipment. It was then that the main Soviet tank was the T-34/76. The model was no longer produced in Stalingrad. Instead, its production was moved to Omsk, Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk.
By the middle of the war, another (albeit minor) modernization of the T-34/76 was completed. Stamped and hexagonal towers appeared, a new gearbox was introduced. Each design bureau puzzled over how to increase the gross production of the machine, while maintaining the quality of its functioning. In fact, on the eve of the Battle of Kursk, the T-34/76 tank of the 1943 model remained an insignificant modification of its predecessor, which appeared at the beginning of the war.
Flaws
Meanwhile, in the course of hostilities during the counteroffensive of the Red Army, significant design miscalculations began to appear that distinguished the Soviet T-34/76 tank. Its quality began to yield to German competitors soon after the defeat of the Wehrmacht near Stalingrad. In the Reich, they realized that it was time for the country to prepare for a long total war (and not a blitzkrieg). Due to the deterioration in the well-being of the population, even more resources began to flow into military budgets. New modifications of German technology appeared.
The primary problem for the T-34/76 was the lack of maneuverability of the tank. Without it, the model became extremely vulnerable. The reason for the defect was the insufficient speed of transmission control. Already the T-34/76 tank of the 1942 model had a 4-speed gearbox, while foreign vehicles had 5-6 speeds. In addition, Soviet gearboxes were difficult to operate. The driver required a lot of skills and strength in order to cope with it, while the German tankers did not know about such inconveniences.
New opponents
Preparing for the most important Battle of Kursk, the Soviet command hoped that domestic tanks would cope with the new German models without any major, revolutionary changes in their design. This confidence was reinforced by new sub-caliber armor-piercing ammunition, which appeared in service with the Red Army in April 1943. However, by that time, the T-34/76 began to regularly lose duels with their main opponents in the face of the German Panthers.
It finally dispelled the Kremlin's illusions. The newest "Tigers", "Ferdinands" and "Panthers" turned out to be much better than Soviet technology, which was two to three years behind them. It seems that this difference is insignificant. In fact, during the war, technological progress in the army gained tremendous speed, due to which even the smallest lag behind the enemy could become fatal.
Work on mistakes
All of the above problems of the T-34/76 tank became the most serious challenge for Soviet designers. Work on the bugs began immediately. The plant in Sverdlovsk was the first to start producing new gearboxes. New 5-speed gearboxes have appeared, and the old 4-speed ones have been modernized. In production, they began to use improved wear-resistant steel. The specialists also tested a new transmission design (bearings, transmission units, etc. were updated). The Sverdlovsk team of inventors managed to introduce the main clutch servo drive into production, which significantly facilitated the work of the driver.
The upgraded undercarriage turned out to be another improvement that the updated T-34/76 tank got. Photos of cars from different series may not differ externally, but their main difference was in the internal structure. The wheels of the road wheels and sloth were reinforced, the reliability of the design was increased, etc. In addition, all tanks began to undergo additional factory tests.
Back in business
In July 1943, for the first time, the improvements that the T-34/76 tank had undergone over the past few months began to affect. Interesting facts were left behind by the famous 5th Guards Tank Army, which made an unprecedented forced march.
In three days, the corps covered about 350 kilometers with minimal losses in personnel. Quite unexpectedly for the Germans, these formations imposed a battle and thwarted the German attack. The enemy lost about a quarter of his tanks.
End of operation
Another serious test for Soviet technology was the Belarusian offensive of 1944. Previously, here, as in northwestern Russia, there was news about the presence of drowned people in the swamps. Including the T-34/76 tank was raised several times.
In Belarus, vehicles had to move along sandy and dirt roads of poor quality, or even through forests and swamps. At the same time, there was a catastrophic lack of time for maintenance. Despite the difficulties, the new T-34/76 transmission coped with its task and withstood a voyage of 1000 kilometers (50-70 kilometers per day).
After the Belarusian operation, this model finally gave way to the next, 85th modification. The last surviving T-34/76 tank was discovered at the bottom of the Don River in the Voronezh region. It was raised to the surface in July 2016. The find will be exhibited in the museum.
The legendary Soviet medium tank T-34, covered with military glory, has been in service with the Red Army since December 1939. Its design marked a qualitative leap in tank building. It organically combined anti-projectile armor with powerful weapons and a reliable undercarriage. High protective properties were ensured by the use of armored thick rolled sheets and their rational inclination. In terms of armament, this tank corresponded to the best examples of heavy tanks. High mobility was provided by a specially designed powerful diesel engine and wide tracks.
During the Great Patriotic War, along with the increase in the production of tanks for the belligerent army, intensive work was carried out to improve the design of the tank and simplify the technology of its manufacture. The original welded turret was replaced with a more efficient cast hexagonal turret. The service life of the engine has been increased by the use of new air cleaners and lubricants, as well as an all-mode governor. A more advanced main clutch and the introduction of a five-speed gearbox significantly increased the speed of the tank.
The first samples of T-34 tanks, released in 1940, had the following technical characteristics:
- Complete weight - 26 tons.
- Crew size - 4 people.
- Frontal armor - 45 mm, slope - 30o, tower - 52 mm with a slope of 60o, sides and stern, respectively, 45 mm and 45o, roof and bottom - 20 mm.
- The power unit is a V-2-34 diesel engine, power 500 hp.
- The number of high-speed gears is 5.
- Fuel tank capacity - 450 l.
- Armament - cannon L-11 76.2 mm, two machine guns DT 7.62 mm. Ammunition - 77 rounds and 3906 rounds.
- Dimensions: length - 5920 mm, width - 3000 mm, height - 2410 mm.
- Power reserve on rough terrain - 225 km.
In the year of issue of 1941, the cannon was replaced with an F-34 of the same caliber, but much more powerful. In the year of production of 1942, taking into account the shortcomings of previous models, the thickness of the armor of the hull and turret was increased to 60 mm, and additional fuel tanks were installed. Weak points were taken into account and in the year of issue of 1943, a hexagonal turret with 70 mm thick armor and a commander's cupola were used. In the year of issue of 1944, the name of the tank changed - T-34-85. He had an enlarged tower, which already accommodated 3 people, the armor was brought up to 90 mm thick, new DTM machine guns were installed.
From the very beginning, the tank was designed according to the classical scheme: the device of the front part is the fighting compartment, including the turret, the rear part is the engine compartment and drive wheels.
The main parts of the design of the T-34 tank were:
- The building is divided into functional areas.
- Power plant with transmission.
- Armament complex.
- Means of observation.
- Chassis.
- Electrical equipment.
- Means of communication.
- Tank hull.
It was welded from rolled armor plates. The stern upper plate was fastened on two hinges, as well as bolted to the lower stern and side plates. With the bolts unscrewed, it could be folded back, which provided access to the engine. In the upper frontal plate there was a hatch for the driver, on the right - a ball mount for a machine gun. The upper side plates had a slope of 45o, the lower ones were installed vertically. Four holes were provided for the balancing axles of the road wheels.
The bottom of the hull was usually made of two sheets, which were butt-welded with an overlay on the seam. On the right, in front of the bottom, in front of the location of the machine gunner, a hatch was made for an emergency exit. Manholes were also cut through which fuel from the tanks, oil from the gearbox and engine were drained. The painting of the tank ensured its camouflage on the ground.
Inside the hull, the T-34 tank was divided into functional zones. In front was the control room. In it were a driver-mechanic with a machine gunner. Pedals and levers of control drives, sensors, control and measuring instruments were also installed here. Behind the control compartment was the fighting compartment, including the turret, which housed the crew commander and gunner, and in the T-34-85 also the loader.
Power plant with transmission
This is the next functional area. She was separated from the fighting compartment by a steel removable partition. An engine was installed in the center of the power zone. On the sides are oil tanks, water radiators and batteries. A hatch with an armored cover was cut out in the roof, through which the engine was accessed. On the sides there were oblong slots for air flow. They were covered with armored blinds.
In the aft there was a transmission or power transmission compartment. This is a set of mechanisms that transmit torque on the crankshaft of the engine to the drive wheels. As a result, the speed of the tank and traction forces change over a wider range than the engine allows. When moving from a standstill, the main clutch smoothly transfers the load to the engine, smoothing out sharp changes in the number of revolutions of the crankshaft and the speed of the tank. Its other function is to disconnect the engine from the gearbox during gear changes.
The gearbox is mechanical, five-speed - four gears for moving forward and one for reverse. Switching - by means of a control drive. In order for the T-34 tank to turn, it was necessary to slow down the caterpillar, in the direction of which the turn is being made. The braking system was based on floating band brakes. They can be actuated from the control department. To do this, on the sides of the driver there are right and left levers, as well as foot drives.
In addition to the main clutch, gearbox, final drives and brakes, the transmission compartment also included an electric starter, fuel tanks and air cleaners. In the roof of the compartment, a rectangular duct hatch was provided, closed with a metal mesh. Under it were adjustable armored shutters. Exhaust caps and two brackets for installing smoke bombs were strengthened in the aft plate.
Armament installed on the medium tank T-43
The main armament of the T-34 tank was originally a semi-automatic 76-mm L-11 cannon of the 1939 issue with a wedge-shaped vertical bolt. In 1941, it was replaced by the F-32 cannon of the same caliber. Later, the T-34-85 tank received the 85 mm D-5T gun, and then the ZIS-S-53. The tower had the ability to rotate, so the cannon and the machine gun coaxial with it could conduct circular fire. The telescopic sight provided a direct firing range of almost 4 km, and from a closed position - up to 13.6 km. The range of destruction by a direct shot with an armor-piercing projectile reached 900 m. The tower rotated using a manual or electric drive. It was mounted on the wall near the gun. The maximum rotation speed from the electric motor reached 30 degrees per second. Vertical aiming was done manually by a sectoral lifting mechanism, which was also located on the left side of the gun.
Shooting could be carried out both mechanically and electrically. Ammunition consisted of 77 shots. It was located in the aft area, on racks, as well as in clamps on the starboard side and in boxes at the bottom of the fighting compartment. Machine guns were equipped with 31 magazines with 63 rounds each. In addition to the main ammunition, tankers were provided with boxed cartridges, pistols, machine guns and grenades.
Chassis
The undercarriage of the T-34 tank was a caterpillar with suspension. They also provided high permeability. It has two caterpillar chains, two driving and guiding wheels and 10 rollers. The track chain has 72 tracks with a pitch of 172 mm and a width of 500 mm. The weight of one caterpillar is 1070 kg. Cast drive wheels served to rewind the tracks and tension them.
The suspension in the T-34 tank was with helical coil springs. The front roller has a double spring. It was located vertically in the bow and was protected by shields. For the rest of the rollers, the suspension was placed obliquely in the shafts of the tank hull. The track rollers were mounted on axles with bearings pressed into the balancers. All rollers are double with rubber tyres.
Electrical equipment
The electrical equipment of the T-34 tank included both sources and consumers of electricity, including:
- Electric starter.
- Electric motor for turning the turret.
- Cooling fans.
- Electric descent of the gun, as well as a coaxial machine gun.
- Electric motors for the heater (it was installed in post-war tank models) and the oil pump.
- Signaling and lighting devices.
- Aim heater.
- Radio station.
- Intercom.
- The sources of electricity included a generator and 4 batteries in pairs on both sides of the engine. The voltage in the system is 24 V, the generator power is 1 kW.
Means of communication
The telephone and telegraph radio station provided two-way communication between the tank and other objects. The range of action depended on the time of year and day. It was the largest on a telephone with a four-meter whip antenna in winter. In summer, especially at night, the level of interference increased, which reduced the communication range.
The transceiver and its power supply were attached with brackets to the rear and left sheets of the tower behind the tank commander's seat. In 1952, a radio station was installed, operating as a telegraph for both reception and transmission. The intercom in the tank has been updated. Now it consisted of several devices - for the commander, gunner and driver. The device provided communication between the crew members among themselves, and for the gunner and commander - also with external respondents.
Organization of the work of the tank crew
The best option, what should be the composition of the crew of the T-34-85 tank - five people:
- Tank commander.
- Driver mechanic.
- Shooter-gunner.
- Gunner.
- Charging.
The tank commander is seated behind the gunner, to the left of the gun. For convenience, he is served by a commander's cupola with observation devices. Tasks of the commander: review and control of the battlefield, instructions to the gunner, work with the radio station, general management of the crew.
The driver sits on a seat that can be adjusted in height. In the front sheet in front of it there is a hatch with an armored cover. Two periscopes are permanently installed in it. Their prisms are closed from below with protective glasses that protect the driver's eyes from fragments. Soft forehead pads are placed above the periscopes to protect the driver's head from possible bruises. Devices and mechanisms for the driver:
- Control levers.
- The rocker from the gearbox.
- Manual fuel supply.
- Brake.
- Main clutch pedal.
- Guard-indicator of control devices.
- Two cylinders of compressed air used for air starting the engine.
- Shield of electrical appliances.
- Tachometer.
- Starter button.
- Speedometer.
- Fire extinguisher.
The machine gunner is on the right side of the driver. Its task is to fire from a machine gun inserted into the ball of the upper frontal hull plate. A special telescopic sight is used for aiming at the target. Shooting is carried out by pressing the trigger for several shots in bursts from a distance of up to 800 m. The machine gun is equipped with automatic equipment powered by powder gases.
The gunner is located in the tower, on the left side. At the direction of the commander or by choosing a target on his own, he directs the cannon and coaxial machine gun at the target. Then fires a trigger or using an electric trigger. At the disposal of the gunner there is a periscope sight that provides a fourfold increase. A cannon with a coaxial machine gun is aimed at the target by the turret traverse mechanism, as well as by raising the cannon.
The loader is located on the right side of the gun. At the direction of the commander, he chooses the type of shot, how to load the cannon, reload the coaxial machine gun, and monitors the course of the battle. His seat is suspended by three straps - two from the shoulder strap of the tower, the third - from the cradle of the gun. By changing the position of the belts, the seat is height adjustable.
To ensure urgent repairs and the necessary security measures, two cylinders of carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are installed inside the tank. Sets of spare parts, accessories and tools are placed not only inside the tank, but also outside. These include, but are not limited to: towing rope, canvas, gun spare parts, reserve tracks, with and without ridges, track pins, entrenching tools. Smoke bombs are installed on the stern.
The service of the T-34 tank after the Second World War
After the Second World War, foreign-made tanks were used in Yugoslavia, including the Russian T-34, transferred by our country in 1945. They were divided into two tank brigades. The Yugoslav leadership made attempts to master the production of T-34-85 tanks. The goal was to increase the service life of the machine. Many design changes were planned. For example, they suggested installing a different diesel engine with an improved transmission, adjusting the hull and turret. This made it possible to reduce the area of the frontal surface of the tank and reduce the risk of hitting it from the front.
In the 40s, Poland, followed by Czechoslovakia, also decided to organize the production of T-34 tanks. We received technical documentation, detailed technology and specialists from manufacturers. The first production tanks appeared here in 1951. They were the same size, but the shape of the turret was changed, the engine was adapted for different types of fuel, and it had an easier start in winter. Additional fuel tanks increased the cruising range to 650 km. Installed devices with night vision for the driver. New radio stations, intercoms TPU-47, special observation devices for the commander were used. Increased the speed at which the tower rotates.
The production of T-34 tanks in these countries continued for five years. From here they entered the armies of many states, including the Warsaw Pact, the DPRK and the PRC. To one degree or another, they participated in many military conflicts that took place in the second half of the 20th century. Successfully fought in Korea, Pakistan and Vietnam. The traditions laid down by the first designers and creators of the T-34 medium tank are being developed in new generations of combat vehicles.
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He was ordered to increase the armor to 45 mm. But they didn’t waste the metal in vain and first checked its running characteristics by simply loading the ballast corresponding to the mass of additional armor plates.
T-34-76
T-34-76 in Poznan
T-34-76 in winter
T-34-76 in attack
T-34-76 in combat
Column T-34-76
T-34-76 on the march
Padded T-34-76
Monument T-34-76
Padded T-34-76
Padded T-34-76
Abandoned Padded T-34-76
The crew of the T-34-76 prepares the tank for battle
T-34 with F-34 gun
T-34-76
T-34-76 in combat
T-34-76 inside
Captured T-34-76
Captured by the Germans T-34-76
The new tank with increased armor received the factory designation A-34. In October-November 1939, the entire plant worked tirelessly. The government firmly set the task of building 2 samples of the tank by November 7 so that they could take part in the parade. However, the tanks were never built on time. The main difficulties were in the manufacture of armor plates. When bending, cracks appeared in certain places. The large size (at that time) of solid armor plates also greatly complicated the work on them.
Scheme T-34 arr. 1940 
T-34 mod. 1940 rasp. crew Meanwhile, on December 19, tests of the loaded A-32 ended. On the same day, a decree was issued "On the adoption of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery tractors into service with the Red Army and on their production in 1940.
An extract from this decree about the A-32 (T-32):
“... The T-32 tank is caterpillar, with a V-2 diesel engine, manufactured by the plant No. 183 of the Narkomsrednemash, with the following changes:
Assign a name to the specified T-34 tank ... ".
a) increase the thickness of the main armor plates to 45 mm;
b) improve visibility from the tank;
c) install the following weapons on the T-32 tank:
1) F-32 cannon, 76 mm caliber, coaxial with a 7.62 mm machine gun;
2) a separate machine gun for the radio operator - caliber 7.62 mm;
3) a separate machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber;
4) anti-aircraft machine gun caliber 7.62 mm.
Assign a name to the specified T-34 tank…”.
Later, one of the conditions for the adoption of this tank for service was to overcome the 2000-kilometer run. The first A-34 (future T-34) rolled off the assembly line in January 1940, and the second in February. And then they were sent to the factory run tests. However, already after 250 km, the engine of the first one broke down, which further slowed down the “winding” of the run.
By the end of February, the first car covered 650 km, and the second - 350. It became clear that by March each car would not be able to “wind up” 2 thousand km, and in fact, state tests were scheduled for March. An emergency meeting was called at the factory, where it was decided that the tanks would go under their own power to Moscow. So they will “wind up” the mileage, and will be in time on time. The chief engineer and designer of the machine, Mikhail Ilyich Koshkin, was appointed head of the expedition.
On the night of March 5th and 6th, the column set off. It included 2 A-34 tanks and two Voroshilovets tractors, one of which was equipped for sleeping places, and the other for a variety of spare parts and fuel. The route was strictly “secret”, bypassing all settlements and bridges. The first breakdown was already about 80 km after the start of the run. One of the tanks broke the clutch, which made the movement of the tank impossible. Koshkin decided not to wait until the tank was repaired, but decided to move on, having previously called a brigade from the factory for repairs.
The first tank arrived in Moscow on March 12, and already on March 17 both tanks were presented to the government on Ivanovskaya Square in the Kremlin. This unprecedented journey took a heavy toll on the health of the designer Koshkin. He fell ill with pneumonia and died on September 26, 1940 in the Zanki sanatorium, where he was undergoing treatment.
Stalin personally approved the car and said to provide all the necessary KhTZ for mass production of the tank. The tank was put into service on June 7, 1940 and was produced until 1958. In the Russian Federation, the tank was officially removed from service only in 1993. Some modifications of the tank are still in service with a number of countries in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Armament of the T-34 tank
Since the original L-11 cannon was quickly replaced by the F-34, let's focus on the characteristics of the F-34.
Weight of the gun, kg - About 1700
Ammunition, sn. — 77
The initial flight speed of an armor-piercing projectile, m / s, - 662
The initial flight speed of a sub-caliber projectile, m / s, - 950
The initial flight speed Oskol.-Fugas. projectile, m / s, - 680
Sighting range, m, - 1500
Elevation angles, degrees: -5° +28°
Armor penetration:
Degrees of inclination are measured with respect to a horizontal surface.
Armor-piercing, At a distance of 500 m, mm/deg. — 84/90°
Armor-piercing, At a distance of 1.5 km, mm/deg. — 69/90°
Sub-caliber, At a distance of 500 m, mm/deg. — 100+/90°
Rate of fire, rds / min - up to 5
Additional weapons:
Two DT machine guns. One is paired with a gun, the second - course.
The performance characteristics of the T-34 tank
Weight, t - 25.6
Crew, h - 4. Commander (he is also a gunner), Loader, Gunner-Radio Operator, Driver Mechanic.
Case length, mm - 5920
Hull width, mm - 3000
Height, mm - 2405
Booking
Tilt degrees are measured with respect to vertical.
Forehead of the hull (top), mm/deg. 45 / 60°
Forehead of the hull (bottom), mm/deg. 45 / 53°
Hull side (top), mm/deg. 40 / 40°
Hull side (bottom), mm/deg. 45 / 0°
Hull feed (top), mm/deg. 40 / 47°
Hull feed (bottom), mm/deg. 40 / 45°
Bottom, mm 13-16
Housing roof, mm 16-20
Tower forehead, mm/deg. 45
Gun mantlet, mm/deg. 40
Turret board, mm/deg. 45 / 30°
Tower feed, mm/deg. 45 / 30°
Tower roof, mm 15 / 84°
Driving performance
Engine power, l. With. - 500
Maximum speed, km / h - 54 (According to other sources - 48).
Power reserve on the highway, km - 300
Specific power, l. s./t — 19.5
Climbability, deg. — 36°
Modifications and vehicles based on the T-34
T-34M- It began to be created due to comparison with the German tank Pz III Ausf.G, which surpassed the 34-ku in some parameters. To improve the smoothness of the ride, a new engine was developed, but the power was left the same. After redesigning the location of the internal components, the weight and length of the vehicle decreased, and the ammunition load increased to 100 shells. The tank was put into service on May 5, 1941 to replace the standard T-34 model 1940, which was then in service. However, production could not be organized due to the outbreak of war.
T-34-57- A new 57 mm ZiS-4 cannon was installed. It had better characteristics than the F-34. The tank was positioned as a "Tank Fighter". Officially, the tank was not put into service due to the excess power of the gun (for 41-42). In 1943, 85-mm guns of greater power appeared. However, 50 pieces were produced.
T-34-76 model 1941- A new tower with walls 52 mm thick and two hatches on the roof of the tower. But one of the most important innovations is the installation of a new 76-mm F-34 gun.
T-34-76 mod 1941 - first on the right T-34-76 model 1942- A new form of the tower has been developed. Thanks to the new turret, the ammunition load increased to 100 rounds, and the projectile resistance also increased.
T-34-76 model 1943— New air cleaners for the engine. New shock absorbers. New tracks. New gearbox. For the first time, a commander's cupola from the KV-1S was installed on the tank. And also the tank is supplemented with all sorts of little things to “improve the quality of the car”. Adopted on June 15, 1943.
- mine trawl PT-3 mounted on the T-34.
T-34-100- A 100-mm D-10T gun was installed. A 100-mm LB-1 gun was also developed specifically for the T-34. By increasing the caliber of the gun, the turret was enlarged and the undercarriage was slightly redone. Not accepted for service due to the start of work on a more advanced T-54.
Other equipment based on the T-34:
— Flamethrower tank. Crew reduced to 3 people. Removed gunner-radio operator. Adopted in 1942.
OT-34 in appearance was not much different from the serial T-34 SU-122- Self-propelled artillery mount. A 122-mm M-30S howitzer was installed in the self-propelled gun. Adopted at the end of 1942.
SU-122 with troops near Kharkov. August, 1943 SU-85 - Tank Destroyer. Gun caliber 85 mm D-5S. Adopted in August 1943.
SU-100- Tank Destroyer. Gun 100 mm D-10S. Adopted on July 3, 1944.
SU-101 and SU-102- Tank destroyers. Designed to replace the SU-100. The SU-101 was equipped with a 100-mm D-10S gun, and the SU-102 - with a 122-mm D-25-44S. They differed from the SU-100 in stronger armor. They were not accepted into service due to the severe crowding inside the car and the already ended war.
T-34T - Tractor. Adopted in 1942.
SPK-5 - Self-propelled slewing crane. Adopted in 1952.
TM-34 - Bridgelayer. Adopted in 1942.
T-100- Egyptian modernization of the T-34 tank. Transformed into a tank destroyer with a 100 mm BS-3 gun. Adopted in 1967.
(Not exactly) - Air defense installation. Equipped with two 37 mm guns. Nothing is known about the adoption.
Combat use of the T-34
The T-34 received its first combat experience in the Great Patriotic War. By the beginning of the war, a little more than a thousand cars were produced, in the border districts there were 926 "thirty-fours".
The meeting with the new Soviet tanks (T-34 and KV) was a real surprise for the German troops. In terms of its combat characteristics, the T-34 surpassed almost all the Wehrmacht tanks available at that time, however, the unsatisfactory knowledge of the crews of new technology, tactical miscalculations in the use of tanks, a shortage of ammunition, fuel, and maintenance equipment nullified all the advantages.
In the chaos of the first months of the war, most of the vehicles were simply abandoned due to breakdowns or lack of fuel. And in general, the proportion of "thirty-fours" against the background of BT-7 and T-26 was very low.
The situation changed in the autumn of 1941, when the number of T-34s in the army increased significantly and they began to pose a much more serious threat to German tanks, as evidenced by numerous testimonies from the opposite side.
By the end of 1941, the T-34 was already becoming the main Soviet tank, playing a key role in all major battles. Since 1942, more thirty-fours have been produced than all other Soviet tanks combined.
Such recognized tank aces as D.F. fought on the T-34. Lavrinenko (52 destroyed German tanks in 2.5 months - the best result among Soviet tankers), V.A. Bochkovsky, N.D. Moiseev, K.M. Samokhin, A.F. Burda and others.
Until the Battle of Kursk, the T-34 continued to outperform almost all German tanks, but in the summer of 1943 the situation changed. The appearance of new German tanks and tank destroyers significantly weakened the positions of the T-34, which ultimately led to the appearance of the T-34-85 modification, which gradually began to displace the T-34 with a 76-mm gun from the troops.
By the beginning of 1945, the T-34-76 was practically gone. Some of them took part in the defeat of the Japanese army.
T-34 in cinema
Despite the very large number of T-34-76s produced, few copies of this tank survived after the war. Therefore, in films, this tank is almost always replaced by a modification of the T-34-85, as was the case, for example, in the famous TV series "4 Tankers and a Dog" or in the movie "Hot Snow".
Genuine copies of the T-34-76 are present in the following films:
"Two Fighters"
"Ivan Nikulin - Russian sailor";
"The Great Break" (T-34-76 model 1942 were shown with and without a commander's cupola);
"Lark" (for this film, the T-34-76 was specially reconstructed at the Lenfilm studio).
T-34 in video games
Being the main Soviet tank of the Great Patriotic War for a long time, the T-34-76 is featured in most video games dedicated to, for example, such as:
Blitzkrieg 1.2
Behind enemy lines 1.2
World War II
steel fury
Stalingrad
Victory Day
Call of Duty, Call of Duty: World at War
World of Tanks
War Thunder
The most famous tank created in the USSR. According to popular opinion, the leader in the nomination "Best tanks of World War II". A direct descendant of BT light tanks. The prototype of the T-34 was experimental light tanks - wheeled-tracked A-20 and tracked A-32. In the summer of 1939, comparative tests of the A-20 and A-34 machines were carried out at the Kharkov training ground, during which the similarity of their performance characteristics was revealed. Both tanks showed approximately equal speed on tracks. After passing the tests, it was decided to build a new tank, with the A-34 index, based on the A-32 prototype.
Birth of the T-34.
During February-March 1940, two T-34 prototypes under their own power made the transition from Kharkov to Moscow. The chief designer M. Koshkin and designer Alexander Aleksadrovich Morozov took direct part in the run. Seriously ill, Koshkin himself sat down at the T-34 levers more than once. The disease progressed and on September 26, 1940, M. Koshkin died. Posthumously for his contribution to the creation of the T-34, he was awarded the State Prize.
On March 17, 1940, T-34s, among other types of military equipment, were presented to the leadership of the state and the army. The tanks generally made a favorable impression, and it was decided to begin production of new vehicles at KhPZ No. 183. The planned target of 150 vehicles was initially set, and was soon quadrupled. But due to production difficulties, until 1941 only 115 medium tanks could be made. In the fortieth year, the cost of the T-34 amounted to 429,596 rubles in accordance with the KhPZ reports and 510,000 rubles according to the People's Commissariat of Medium Machine Building.
Start of production.
In the winter of 1940, three serial T-34s went on the Kharkov-Kubinka-Smolensk run to identify design flaws. The officers of the Research Institute of BT who conducted the tests found so many shortcomings that the report they submitted did not leave the Deputy People's Commissar of Defense to Marshal G.K. Kulik had no choice but to give the order to stop the production and acceptance of the T-34. Instead, it was decided to accelerate the development of a new medium tank A-43, with a torsion bar suspension and improved armor.
The head of ABTU Ya. Fedorov, with whom G.K. Kulik suggested leaving the BT-7M in production and speeding up work on the T-50. The management of the Kharkov plant did not agree with such a non-forest assessment and a proposal to put an end to their offspring and insisted on continuing production, offering to temporarily reduce the warranty mileage of the machine by a factor of three, which was supposed to be a thousand kilometers. The dispute was stopped by Voroshilov, who, although at that time he lost the high position of People's Commissar, but as a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee and as an old Bolshevik, did not lose his influence, both Stalin and the chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Molotov. It was his recommendation that allowed the production of the T-34 to continue until it was replaced by the T-43M.
In less than half a year, the Second World War showed the correctness of this decision. T-34, the production of which was deployed in Stalingrad and Kharkov, made it possible in a short time to organize their production at enterprises in the rear areas during the war period. Starting from the moment of development in production and up to the beginning of the war, the new T-34 was made in the amount of about 1225 pieces. With the beginning of the mobilization of industry, the production of the tank was joined by the Gorky plant "Krasnoye Sormovo" (factory No. 112).
Machine appraisal.
In accordance with the states of 1940, "thirty-fours" were to be included in all newly organized mechanized corps. Each of the two tank divisions of the mechanized corps was to include 375 tanks, of which 210 were medium tanks. Each mechanized division had 275 tanks, of which seventeen were T-34s. The rest are light tanks T-26 and BT, another 63 heavy KV tanks entered the tank divisions. From this it follows that only for the replenishment of equipment, according to the state of thirty, the newly formed corps needed a little more than 8760 medium tanks of a new design.
The serious shortcomings of the T-34 tank, identified even before the war, included poor visibility, the workload of the commander, which did not allow him to control the tank throughout the battle. The tightness of the crew, the constructive "dampness" of components and assemblies. But let's be fair, fine-tuning the design of those Germans took much more time. The tanks, which took comparable time to fine-tune, did not differ in the reliability of the design or the completeness of the design. In the autumn of the forty-first year, in the conditions of an extreme shortage of V-2 engines, some of the T-34s were equipped with the M-17 carburetor engine. Although the T-34 lost some in average speed. Several dozen vehicles were equipped with a 57-mm cannon instead of a regular gun. These tanks served as part of the twenty-first tank brigade, which participated in the defense of Moscow during the autumn of the forty-first year.
The decision is rather controversial, since the fragmentation effect of a three-inch projectile was much higher than that of a fifty-seven millimeter one. The quality of the 57-mm shells was lame, and the BS of the standard T-34 gun was quite enough for German combat vehicles. The issue of equipping the T-34 with a 57-mm cannon quickly lost relevance, since the production of such guns was soon discontinued.
The high cost of the machine, over the course of the forty-first year, was reduced by about half, to 249,256 rubles. The vast majority of T-34s produced in the fortieth year were lost in the battles of the forty-first. Whereas the tanks produced during the forty-first - forty-second years were used for quite a long time. For the longest time on the Leningrad front, the local T-34s participated in the Vyborg offensive in 1944. During the forty-second year, industry produced 12,527 machines for the front. At the same time, the cost has been further reduced:
| KhPZ(№183) |
"Red Sormovo" |
UZTM | №173 |
| 165 810 | 209 700 | 273 800 | 312 700 |
Mainly, the cost of the T-34 was reduced by simplifying the machine in production. Only in the forty-first year, several thousand improvements were made to simplify the design and production technology. In addition, we should not forget about the widespread use of low-skilled labor in the production process. The layout of the T-34 tank produced in 1940-41.
The layout of the T-34 tank, 1942 release.
Scheme of the T-34 tank, produced in 1941, plant No. 183.
Scheme of the T-34 tank produced in 1942, plant number 183.
Scheme of the T-34 tank, 1942, plant No. 183, hexagonal turret.
Interesting fact. In the forty-second year, the GABTU refused to pay for the T-34s manufactured by the Krasnoye Sormovo plant, due to a large percentage of defects. To resolve the conflict, the plant management had to turn directly to L. Beria. In general, even I. Stalin gave an objective assessment of the products of this plant as “Sormov freaks”.
The T-34s, which were made in 1942, differed from the machines of previous years of production, not only in appearance. What is due to the conditions of production: production unfolded in conditions of evacuation, when enterprises began to work literally under the open sky; the vast majority of employed workers were women and children - workers with little qualification: approximately 50% were women, 15% were old people and 15% were children; technologies required for production have not been fulfilled.
All this determined the decrease in the combat qualities of vehicles produced in 1942-43. Often the mass of the T-34 was higher than the passport, and the engines developed much less power. Tanks weighing 31-32 tons, with an engine power of 320-360l.s., left the assembly line. Whereas according to the passport it was supposed to have a weight of 28.5 tons and an engine of five hundred horsepower. As a result, the T-34 tanks developed a speed along the highway of about thirty-five kilometers per hour instead of the prescribed fifty. The checkpoint added problems. Often, T-34 tanks could only move in second or fourth gear; in the rest, the engine simply stalled. Reduced overhaul life.
However, the assertion that the T-34 tank was bad is not true. Not one of the tanks of the Second World War was deprived of shortcomings. The point is the following. If some nations could produce armored vehicles in practically peaceful, and even peaceful conditions, then the USSR launched production in conditions of evacuation. And therefore, he was in the worst conditions among the states participating in the Second World War. 
For example, even the German tank industry, not to mention the allies, was in much more advantageous conditions. Prague, which produced tanks and self-propelled guns for the German army, was not bombed at all, and the last products left the shops already in the forty-fifth year during the Prague uprising.
Therefore, military acceptance officers could not pursue a tough policy of culling T-34s that did not meet passport specifications. The front demanded tanks, and such actions could only help the enemy. In the forty-second year, the question of the very existence of the state seriously arose, and therefore there was not much choice. T-34-76 T-34-76 T-34-76 Main dimensions: shell ammunition, Ammunition cartridges, pcs. Booking: lower front sheet, Fender liner, mm/deg. Change box Mechani- Mechani- Number of gears, forward / Airborne Airborne 71-TK-Z TTX tank T-34.
release
1941
release
1942
release
1943Combat weight, t.
28,12
28,12
28,2 - 30,9
Crew, pers.
4
4
4
Length with gun forward, mm5920
5920
5920
Width, mm
3000
3000
3000
Height, mm
2400
2400
2520
Clearance, mm
400
400
400
Gun, type, caliber, mm
F-34, 76mm
F-34, 76mm
F-34, 76mm
things77
77
100
Machine gun, quantity, type,
caliber, mmDT, 2 x 7.62
DT, 2 x 7.62
DT, 2 x 7.62
(with radio / without radio) 2646/2394
2646/2394
3600
Upper front sheet
mm/deg45/60
45/60
mm/deg45/53
45/53
40/40
45/40
Board, mm/deg
45/0
45/0
Forehead of the tower, mm / hail
45
(52 cast)52
Turret board, mm/deg
45
(52 cast) 52
Maximum speed by
highway, km/h 55
55
Power reserve, km (highway / country road)
300/250
300/250
Climbability, hail
30
30
Roll, hail.
25
25
Wall, m
0,75
0,75
Ford, m
1,3
1,3
Engine, type, brand
Diesel,
B-2-34Diesel,
B-2-34
Power, l/s
500
500
Fuel tank capacity,
l (internal/external)460/134
540/270
cottages, type
chesky
four-
step-
melting
chesky
four-
step-
melting
back4/1
4/1 or 5/1
Swing mechanism, type
friction-
they
friction-
they
radio station
71-TK-Z
or 9R
Diagram of the production of the T-34 tank
Armor scheme of the T-34 tank
On the T-34, the release of the forty-second year, towers of various shapes were installed. If at first, the towers of the first tanks differed slightly from the towers of the forty-first year, then by the end of the year the T-34s received a cast tower.
The assertion that almost boiler steel was used instead of armor steel on the T-34 is not true. The truth is that due to the lack of armor, a number of vehicles had parts from non-standard armor in the structure of the armored hull. In some cases, T-34s had two, and sometimes three types of rollers. The quality of the armor has declined somewhat due to the loss of nickel and manganese deposits, which were located in occupied Ukraine. But soon the quality of the armor was improved to an acceptable level, thanks to supplies from the Arctic. In addition, Lend-Lease deliveries of copper, aluminum, nickel and other materials that were in steady short supply helped rectify the situation.
production centers.
In total, during 1940-44. the industry produced 350312 T-34s with a 76-mm gun. Of these, 1170 tanks are armed with a flamethrower. Price fluctuations in the forty-third year ranged from 136 to 141 thousand rubles at plant No. 183 and up to 210,700 rubles. at plant number 174. The T-34 tank with a 76 mm gun was produced at the following factories:
- Kharkov plant (evacuated to Nizhny Tagil, retained the number and received the name UTZ named after the Comintern);
- "Krasnoe Sormovo", plant No. 112 in Gorky;
- UZTM, in the city of Sverdlovsk;
- Stalingrad tractor (until the end of 04.1942);
Conclusion.
T-34 tanks produced in the forty-second - forty-third years were part of tank units until the end of the war and took part in offensive operations of that period. In the forty-fifth year, some of these tanks were transferred to the Far East and Transbaikalia. There T-34s participated in the Manchurian operation. The tanks of this modification were finally withdrawn from the states at the end of the forties.
Description of the design of the T-34 tank.
Corps.
Kharkov Corps. The armored hull of the T-34 tank underwent many changes during production. Armor for the hull came from Mariupol. The edges of the armor plates were connected to each other "in a quarter", which ensured a tight connection. Welding, exclusively manual, in terms of its quality caused a lot of criticism, walking in appearance, looked very good. If we take the appearance of the first experimental series armored hull as a certain point of reference, then changes to the design were made in May 1940.
Initially, the production technology was the following cycle - armor plate tempering, heat treatment prior to sheet bending, end processing, surface grinding, stamping, hardening. A rather complicated process that gave a lot of marriage. To simplify, Mariupol engineers recommended dividing the front sheet into two sheets, connecting them with a beam. The beam was made by stamping from an armor plate. And this led to an increase in the weight of the T-34 tank by one hundred kilograms. 
Deep stamping above the driver's hatch, in some cases was replaced by a separate part and welded to the front plate. Welded joints completely replaced riveted ones at the end of the summer of 1940. This type of armored hull was produced during the production period before the evacuation, and was the standard for other factories.
Stalingrad Corps. Initially, the armored hulls were assembled from the same parts as the Kharkov-made hulls. However, there were still differences. So the blinds on the upper covers of the MO were replaced with grilles that were simpler in design. The second innovation was the towing hook, first without a cable lock, then with a lock. The hook was fastened first with rivets, and later by welding.
The stamping above the hatch was made much smaller. One of the three observation devices was removed, and the remaining two were sent forward. To reduce the sharply increased dead zone, an all-round viewing device was added to the driver.
After the Mariupol plant went into evacuation, plant No. 264 became the main contractor for the production of armored hulls. The technical equipment of the plant (Stalingrad shipyard) did not allow cutting the armor plate in the required quantity according to the Mariupol technology. To remedy the situation, it was necessary to introduce a connection of armor plates "into a spike". The “quarter” connection remained only when the BO roof was connected to the front sheet. 
The hatch of the transmission compartment of the T-34 tank is only cast. Outwardly, such hatches differed only in that they were slightly higher and wider, although the dimensions of the hatch cutout remained the same. The driver's hatch has changed slightly, the cutout for observation devices has become more gentle. The “horseshoe” of the ball mount was replaced with a ring.
At the next stage of the changes, they abandoned the “thorn” connection of the hull roof with side sheets. This type of armored hull is found on later T-34 tanks. This type of body is characterized by the fastening of the armor protection of the exhaust pipes with eight bolts, and not seven as it was before.
Sormovo Corps. Production of armored hulls at Krasny Sormovo from assembly from Kharkov components. The early Sormovo corps are outwardly indistinguishable from the Kharkov ones. Since the beginning of the development of the production of T-34 armored hulls, work has begun on adapting the technology to local conditions. Such an approach found understanding on the part of the management, and by the relevant decision of the People's Commissariat of Defense, the hands of the plant were untied in this direction. The plant was allowed to make any changes to the specifications and drawings, provided that nodal compatibility was violated.
However, only twenty T-34 tanks left the shop in October. These vehicles were equipped with M-17 carburetor engines; whether they differed in appearance from diesel tanks is unknown. All machines were with early-type hulls, components for them were supplied by allied plants for them.
The first differences were akin to differences in armored hulls of the Stalingrad type, although not similar. The most notable difference is the round transmission access hatch and the straight bottom stern plate. Large loops of the upper stern, which overlapped the bottom sheet, are the most striking difference between the Sormovo T-34 tanks. These loops were located in a small cutout, the geometric dimensions of which were not constant, and sometimes this cutout was completely absent.
Unlike their Stalingrad colleagues, the Sormovites used a characteristic triangular shape to connect the roof of the BO with the upper frontal sheet, as well as the lower frontal with the bottom. Also, a characteristic triangular shape had a protrusion that protected the observation device installed on the front sheet. The mesh covering the blinds was fastened with three loops. A towing device was developed and installed on serial T-34 tanks for towing an artillery gun behind the tank. It was a purely Sormovo innovation.
At the next stage, they abandoned the stamping above the driver's hatch, as well as the third surveillance device. Also at this time, an armored mask of a machine gun appeared. After working out a new way to install the gun, it became possible to abandon the rear hatch in the turret. Another characteristic feature was the many metal strips welded to the hull, which, according to the designers, served to prevent jamming of the T-34 tank nodes by fragments of shells. As well as many different handrail brackets. 
In the forty-third year, a fundamental decision was made to unify the T-34 hulls. The deliveries of the cut from the Urals began and the tank hulls of various factories became more similar to each other. The round hatch in the stern was increased in diameter and moved to the right. After the development of automatic welding in the production of T-34 armored hulls, they abandoned the spike connection of sheets.
Ural Corps. Having gone through several stages of evolution, Nizhny Tagil launched the production of armored hulls of a new type. The main merit in this belongs to the introduction of automatic welding, namely the Paton Institute, which was evacuated to UVZ. The use of automatic welding, for which straight long seams are preferred, led to the abandonment of the spiked connection of armored parts, with the exception of the forehead of the hull with the sides of the tank.
UZTM joined the production of armored hulls in the spring of 1942. In the initial period, some of the hulls were made using a simplified technology, which was associated with technological problems. In the summer of this year, the task became much more complicated - the plant was required to start producing the entire T-34. Also, during this period, the Chelyabinsk plant joined the program for the production of a medium tank.
The design documentation for the T-34 tank was delivered to both plants from Novy Tagil, while to Omsk both from Nizhny Tagil and Sverdlovsk. As a consequence of all this, and the fact that UZTM (and not the only one) sent components for other factories, the armored hulls of these factories did not have well-recognized features, unlike the previous ones. 
Only a few external features are known. For example, the handrails of the "prefabricated structure", Chelyabinsk tanks, like those that were installed on the KV. But the same handrails are sometimes found on machines produced by other plants, with the exception of Omsk. The blinds mesh, in addition to stamping, was produced bent, which is more typical for UZTM.
It is known for sure that ChKZ from 10.10.42. began to install the tank furnace mounting bracket, from 10/22/42. handrails for paratroopers, and since January, the protection of the machine gun began to cover the barrel completely, and not a third. A plate with a number was attached to the frontal beam of the T-34 tank, very often it is only from it that one can reliably determine the place of manufacture of the vehicle.
T-34 towers.
Kharkov towers. Only about 10 towers of the first serial version were produced, two of them were intended for tanks, which were assembled for display to members of the government. Turret ports, as well as observation devices, are located exactly along the axis of the tower. The tower hatch is flat with a device for all-round observation in the center. Some of these T-34 tanks were used for training purposes, and some were sent to the army.
The towers of the next series already differed in their design. The military demanded an increase in internal volume, for which it was necessary to shift the fold line of the side sheet. As a result, the observation devices moved to a plane directed at a slight angle forward. About 16 T-34s with such turrets were produced between the end of August and the beginning of September 1941. Another requirement of the military - to transfer the walkie-talkie to the case from the tower was fulfilled during the production process.
At the next stage, the hatch over the head of the commander, who received a stamping, was increased. The armored parts of the tower were produced by a plant in Mariupol. A cast tower was also mastered here. The cast tower was 200 kg heavier, but did not have any advantages in terms of projectile resistance. The main advantage is a reduction in the production cycle, an increase in the production of T-34 tanks.
The most noticeable difference of this type is that the bevel of the top cover and the rear hatch for installing an oversized gun were eliminated in the aft niche. The reservation of the T-34 observation devices was initially carried out together with the tower, then it was abandoned in order to unify the welded structure with the tower. In the upper hatch, the all-round viewing device was removed, the hole under which was welded with a plug.
The production of welded and cast towers took place in parallel. When mounting the F-34 gun into the turret, protective ridges were welded on both sides of the mask.
At the same time, new changes were approved. The diameter of the T-34 turret ring was changed from 1764 to 1785 mm, and the height of the turret itself was increased by thirteen. Cast combs appeared on both sides of the mask. Introduced fan loops, as well as fastening with six bolts of the lump hatch. In the early release T-34 towers, the hinges were fastened to the cover with rivets, and to the roof of the tower with bolts for dismantling. Towers of this type were produced at a minimum until June 1941.
The last T-34s, which were made in Kharkov, did not have a cutout in the hatch for a circular observation device, as well as only one observation device on board. Starting from October 1941, the Kharkov plant began its work in the Urals. 
Sormovo. The manufacture of towers by Krasny Sormovo began similarly to other factories, with the use of components from Mariupol. However, the developed foundry allowed almost immediately to proceed to the manufacture of their own towers of their own design. In addition to its own production, the program involves allied plants Kuznetsk, Kulebaksky, Magnitogorsk metallurgical plants, as well as Novotagilsky metallurgical plant.
The towers of the Sormovo plant differed from those of the Mariupol one in more rational forms, primarily the contours of the front part, they were more pointed, as well as in the shape of the casting joint. This measure is similar to the "kerchiefs" of the Stalingrad plant. Probably, from February 1942, the T-34 turrets began to be equipped with a hatch of increased thickness with stamping, and the strengthening of the armor of the gun mantlet is attributed to the same time.
It was decided to abandon the hatch in the stern. The dismantling of the gun in military conditions was rarely carried out, and the aft hatch increased the time spent on production. Previously, the method of installing the T-34 gun without a stern hatch was worked out, both in the factory and in the field.
Since March, the Sormovo Thirty-Fours have been produced without a stern hatch, but with jack-holding bars and two stops under the mask ridges. A protective bar complemented the stops and prevented the turret from sliding forward during installation. In the middle of forty-two, handrails were installed on the tower and hull.
At the same time, cast armor was adopted for the commander's panorama of the T-34 and the observation device on the roof. On the front, they began to apply a molding number, first of three digits, then of four. Towers of this type remained in production until the forty-third, already when other factories switched to hexagonal ones.
Nizhny Tagil. The first T-34s assembled in Nizhny Tagil were completed with turrets assembled from Mariupol parts. The process of developing our own was complicated by the loss of technical documentation during the evacuation. This episode is mentioned more than once in memoirs, it is likely that it was so. So the documentation had to be restored in an extremely short time.
It was not possible to mold the entire tower on the existing molding tables. Before obtaining the necessary equipment for this, they decided to mold from several elements. The resulting T-34 tower differed from the previous one by a number of innovations tested in Stalingrad, as well as its own innovations.
T-34s of this period were equipped with turrets manufactured by Kulebak and, according to a number of testimonials, produced by UZTM. The Nizhny Tagil tower contained a number of clearly visible differences, such as:
- reservation of onboard observation instruments, which provided a larger viewing angle;
- the shape of the cut of the upper part of the cannon mask;
- longer lining of the gun mask of the T-34 tank.
This type was in production from the beginning until the winter of forty-two, when it was replaced by a hexagonal turret. As an exception, parts from later years of production could be used on repair T-34s.
Part of the T-34 with early turrets was equipped with a 57-mm cannon, quite a few turrets were used as pillboxes. There were towers produced for armored boats and armored trains, with their own minor differences in design. 
Stalingrad production. Initially, the Stalingrad towers were made from parts brought from Mariupol, and in appearance they should not differ from Kharkov ones. At the end of the summer of the forty-second, improvements were introduced into production that were developed, but not implemented due to evacuation in Kharkov production. A scarce observation device for the loader was often not installed at all, and a stub was put in its place. The fan cover began to lean forward on the hinge, then it was replaced by a fixed cruciform cover.
Until the fall of the forty-second, the configuration of the towers remained the same. Since September 1942, work began on developing a new version of cutting armor plates for turrets and hulls, which were completed by the end of the year. With regard to the T-34 towers, this method provided for the rejection of the bending of the side plates in the aft.
The main features of these towers were:
- increased the size of the rear wall of the T-34, which was fastened with 8 bolts;
- cross-shaped fan cover;
- armored on-board observation instruments that improve visibility (up to the development of the backlog, both types of armor were used);
- three parts of the lower rear part of the tank turret, instead of two;
- a characteristic form of a tower shooter observation device.
Some T-34s had a hatch with a stamping of increased thickness (up to the development of the backlog, both types of hatches were used). The hatch hinges were welded to simplify the design, although this made it difficult to dismantle it.
At the next stage of changes, the rear wall of the turret was made non-removable, similar to the Sormovo T-34s. Stops were welded onto the T-34 hulls, in the back of the bonks for jacks, if it was necessary to raise the tower to dismantle the gun. This option went into the series from May forty-second.
The gun mantlet instead of the right and left parts consisted of an upper part with a bend, as well as a flat lower part. The front part also became flat, as a result of which a protruding lower cheekbone appeared. The shield of the gun mantlet is shorter at the bottom. There were two types of masks:
- mask of the first type with a smaller angle of inclination (existed for a short time);
- a mask with a shortened shield, produced since the spring of forty-two.
In addition to the T-34 with welded turrets, STZ produced T-34s with cast ones. At first, these towers were produced in Mariupol. Then, from the end of the forty-first, the towers of the presumably Kulebaki plant arrived. The production of our own cast towers was mastered in the summer of 1942; in July, machines with cast towers began to leave the factory shops. There were two options - the first had more rounded cheekbones, and the second outwardly repeated the welded tower.
At this, the development of the Sormovo towers was terminated. 
Hexagonal towers of the Sormovo plant.
Factory No. 112 arrived in time for the production of hexagonal turrets only in 1943. Completing a batch of tanks of the transitional series with Ural-made turrets (stamped and cast), Sormovo mastered the production of its own turret of the original form.
A characteristic feature of the Sormovo-made towers is the rather clumsy trimming of the sprues. The observation turret of the tank commander was made of strips of metal rolled into a ring.
The turret is cylindrical in shape with a chamfer at the top. The weld seam is closed with an overlay. This sign is typical for all turrets of this type. Also characteristic are the tides around the weapons ports. The external difference between the commander's turrets of flamethrower vehicles was the input of the antenna in the rear of the wall.
Hexagonal towers factory No. 122 produced several types, because back in the winter of 1944 he mastered the production of T-34-85. On the roofs of the later hexagonal towers, which were produced together with the T-34-85 towers, there were no eyebolts, which were replaced with hooks welded to the sides of the tower, similar to the T-34-85.
Stamped towers.
Towers of this type owe their appearance to the GKO order to double the output of towers at UZTM by October 1942. Production capacities did not allow to force the production of cast towers. Therefore, an unusual decision was made - to use 100,000 tons of Schlemann presses for their production. 
Under the control of the chief engineer Gorlitsky L.E. a team of designers designed a stamped tower. Previously, it was supposed to use stampings from 60 mm rolled metal, however, due to its acute shortage, 45 mm steel was used for the production of the tower.
The shelling of the tower showed that the new model towers even surpassed the cast ones in terms of projectile resistance.
From October 1, 1942, stamped turrets, together with cast turrets, were used to complete machines of our own production.
Since December of this year, the interior space of the tower has been slightly increased. The production volumes of stamped towers made it possible to send part of the products to the head. "Red Sormovo" and No. 183.
All the changes introduced in the cast towers were also implemented in the stamped ones. This applies to the jumper between two hatches, as well as eyebolts and an observation tower equipped with a hatch with two leaves.
Typical for stamped T-34 towers was the placement of an armored fan cap - a slot forward, as well as recesses for observation devices on the roof.
After the curtailment of the program for the production of T-34 tanks at UZTM, from 2050 to 2062 cast and stamped turrets were sent to allied plants.
Tank T-34 on video.
- Tank T-34 video test drive
- "Strike Force: Tank of the Great Victory" video
- Film "Chief Designer"
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