1.1 Variants

• T-34/76A - Production model of 1940
• T-34/76B - Production model of 1941 with heavier armor and a cast turret.
• T-34/76C - Production model of 1942 with heavier armor and a redesigned turret.
• T-34/76D - Production model of 1943 with welded turret.
• T-34/76E - Production model of 1943 with a commanders cupola.
• T-34/76F - Production model of 1943 with a cast version of the T-34/76D turret.
• T-34/85 - Production model of 1943 with a 85 mm gun and improved turret.

• Panzerkampfwagen T-34(r) - T-34s captured by Germany.

The T-34 chassis was used as the basis for a series of self-propelled guns such as the SG-122 and SU-85.

Some T-34 were fitted as self-propelled guns by Syria.

2 Combat history

The T-34 is often used as a symbol for the effectiveness or the Soviet counterattack against the Germans. As such, its actual performance and impact on the war is often overrated. Nevertheless, the appearance of the T-34 definitely was an unpleasant surprise for the German commanders, as it could combat all 1941 German tanks effectively. It was faster, had better armament (50 mm was the predominant calibre of German tanks guns) and better armour protection, due to the technical innovation of sloped armour.

However, direct tank to tank combat was a relatively rare occurrence; the vast majority of losses suffered were from logistical and mechanical troubles (50% of Soviet tanks at the start of the German invasion), artillery and air strikes, anti-tank guns and later in the war self-propelled guns and tank destroyers.

At the outset of the war, only about 10% of all Soviet tanks were T-34 variants, this number increased to 50-60% percent till mid-1943. By the time the T-34 had replaced older models and became available in greater numbers, newer German tanks (including the improved German design based on the T-34, the Panzer-V 'Panther') outperformed it. Heavier Russian tanks designs (e.g. the IS-1 and IS-2) were also better-armed and better-armoured than the T-34.

The T-34 is often called the best tank of World War 2. This may be true when considering the tank in the all around sense. It is true that the German Panther may have been the most powerful all around tank of the war and the Tigers had better guns and armour, but the T-34 was far simpler to manufacture and maintain in the field. It was also very reliable. This allowed mass production and large numbers to be deployed and operated simultaneously. These virtues in combination with its very good balance of firepower, armour protection, and mobility, allow it to be classified, all things considered, as the best tank of the war. The American M4 Sherman had many of these virtues but was deficient in armour design and (in most variants) firepower. German industry was never really effectively organised to mass produce tanks in the quantities required and produced too many divergent designs.

The upgunned T-34/85 nevertheless remained the standard Russian medium tank until the end of the War and played an important role in the Allied victory. The huge numbers produced were a deciding factor.

3 See also

• List of Soviet tanks
• Vickers Tank Periscope MK.IV
• Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau

4 External links

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• AFV Interiors
• Battlefield.ru

Soviet Armored fighting vehicles of World War II

Tanks

BT tank | Iosef Stalin | Kliment Voroshilov | T-26 | T-28 | T-34 | T-35 | T-70

Self-propelled artillery

Assault guns

SU-122 | SU-152 | ISU-122 | ISU-152

Tank destroyers

SU-76 | SU-85 | SU-100

Self propelled anti-aircraft

Experimental vehicles

Soviet armored fighting vehicle production during World War II

Medium tanks World War II Soviet tanks

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