Red steel (more armor)

[Kriegerfaust007]

The L-11 76.2 mm tank gun was a [Soviet]
(Soviet Union - Wikipedia) tank gun, used on the earliest models of the T-34 Model 1940 medium tank and KV-1 Model 1939 heavy tank during World War II.
The 76 mm tank gun M1940 F-34 (76-мм танковая пушка обр. 1940 г. Ф-34 ) was a 76.2 mm Soviet tank gun used on the T-34/76 tank. A modified version of the gun, the 76 mm tank gun M1941 ZiS-5 (76-мм танковая пушка обр. 1941 г. ЗиС-5 ), was used on KV-1 tanks during World War II.
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There was a 57 mm gun considered for the KV-1, but AFAIK it was just a proposal and never fully developed, let alone built.

The tank in the photo is not armed with a 57 mm gun. It is armed with the ZIS-5 76 mm gun. However, the ZIS-5 tested in early 1941 and the ZIS-5 put into production in August were different guns. This gun had the ballistics of the 76 mm model 1931 AA gun. It passed trials, but production of barrels was complicated, so the gun went into production with the F-34 barrel, giving it identical ballistics to the T-34’s gun. More details in this article: http://www.tankarchives.ca/2017/07/big-gun-for-small-turret.htmlIt’s not a 57mm ZiS-4, it’s a 76mm L/51 F-27 gun (based on 76mm 3-K aa gun probably). Later it was chopped down to L/41 length (ZiS-5 gun) . The T-44 was a medium tank developed and produced near the end of World War II by the Soviet Union. It was the successor to the T-34, offering an improved ride and cross-country performance, along with much greater armor. Designed to be equipped with an 85 mm main gun, by the time it was fully tested the T-34 had also moved to this weapon. Both tanks offered similar performance, so introducing the T-44 was not considered as important as increasing T-34 production. Fewer than 2,000 T-44s were built, compared to about 58,000 T-34s. Although the T-44 was available by the end of the war, it was not used in any battle. It was 1 ton lighter than the T-34-85 and slightly faster. The T-44 was heavily influential on the design of the T-54/55 Medium tank, most prominently lower hull and turret profiles. Also notable was the T-44-100, a 100mm D-10T-armed prototype, which would be the same 100mm gun mounted on the T-54/55, bar some minor changes.

[Kriegerfaust007]

Soviet T-34M tank

T-34M highlighting the torsion bar suspension

The scan is a bit cut off, but the production of T-34s wanes to only 40 units over the month of September and is fully replaced by T-34Ms by October. It is interesting to point out that 380 out of the 800 T-34Ms were armed with a ZiS-4 gun, instead of the F-34 gun that the overwhelming majority of T-34s received. 300 of the tanks were also to be equipped with a flamethrower, aside from their main guns (65 F-34 armed T-34Ms and 235 T-34Ms with a ZiS-4). That was one way of compensating for the deficiencies of the 57 mm HE shell. ​ Going through unfulfilled orders, another unbuilt tank pops up, the T-34M. The T-34M (factory designation A-43) was a modernized version of the T-34, with features that would be seen in Soviet medium tanks several years after, like torsion bars, a 5 man crew, a commander’s cupola, a planetary gear transmission, and internal shock absorption.

T-34 family portrait, 1941 (BT-7, A-20, T-34 Models 1940 and 1941) KV-1S

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In response to criticisms, the lighter KV-1S was developed, with thinner armor and a smaller, lower turret in order to reclaim some speed. The KV-1S had a commander’s cupola with all-around vision blocks. It also had a sophisticated planetary transmission that significantly increased the reliability, and allowed use of more efficient regenerative geared steering, unlike the solely clutch and brake steering systems used by the Panzer III, IV and T-34 and previous KV tanks. Its reduced weight allowed it to achieve a top speed of 43.3 km/h. Over 1,300 were built before production ended in August 1943.[18] Although the KV-1S was, according to some, the best of the KV tanks, overcoming its predecessors’ problems (at a cost of losing the heavy armor that made the earlier tanks so valuable, making it more of a slow medium tank than a heavy tank), more modern tanks were already in sight.[19] Up-arming the regular turret of the KV-1S with an 85 mm S-31 resulted in the KV-1S-85. This was rejected as it came with the unacceptable loss of a dedicated commander, reducing the turret crew to two (unlike the 3-man turret fitted to the T-34/85).[20] However, the thinning-out of the armor called into question why the tank was being produced at all, when the T-34 could seemingly do everything the KV could do and much more cheaply. The Soviet heavy tank program was close to cancellation in mid-1943.

The appearance of the German Panther tank in the summer of 1943 persuaded the Red Army to make a serious upgrade of its tank force for the first time since 1941. Soviet tanks needed bigger guns to take on the growing numbers of Panthers and the few Tigers. KV-85

[edit]

A stopgap upgrade to the KV series was the short-lived KV-85 or Objekt 239. This was a KV-1S with the new turret from the Object 237 (IS-85) still in development, mounting the same 85 mm D-5T gun as the SU-85 and early versions of the T-34-85 (not yet in production at the time). The 85 mm proved capable of penetrating the Tiger I from 1000 m and the demand for it slowed production of the KV-85 tremendously, only 148 were built between August and October 1943.[21] Soviet industry was therefore able to produce a heavy tank as well armed as the Tiger I before the end of 1943. Although the KV-85 was an excellent opponent to the Tigers and Panthers, it was a stopgap and thus was built in small numbers.[18] Its weight had climbed up again to about 47 tons, which negated the whole point of trying to make a lighter KV. The complete Object 237 was accepted into service as the IS-85 and was produced in the autumn and winter of 1943-44; they were sent to the front as of October 1943 and production of the IS-85/IS-1 was stopped by the spring of 1944 once the IS-122/IS-2 entered full-scale production.

[Kriegerfaust007]

The KV-13 (Russian: KB-13) was an experimental Soviet medium tank created during World War II.[1][2] It was developed on the KV-1 chassis in the SKB-2 design bureau of the Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant in late 1941 – early 1942, as a “universal” tank, intended to replace the production of T-34 medium tanks and KV-1 heavy tanks at the same time.[3] . * KV-0 - Prototype tank for KV-1. It was armed with 2 guns, 76mm and 45mm gun.[citation needed] It weighed 44tons. KV-1E

The industrious Soviets made the most of the successful KV-1 chassis, producing a number of specialist variants – including the KV-1E (with the ‘E’ standing for ‘Ekranirovaniy’ or “with shields”) – with Russian engineers adding extra armour by bolting steel plating onto the KV-1 hull and turret.

View in Store

KV-8

The KV-8 used the KV-1 chassis – but was fitted with the ATO-41 flame-thrower alongside the main gun and Machine Gun in the turret – making for a ferocious anti-infantry tank.

The standard 76.2mm gun wouldn’t fit alongside the flame-thrower, so was replaced by a smaller 45mm gun – though the Soviets craftily disguised them by placing them inside of 76mm tubes – so that the enemy couldn’t tell the difference!

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KV-1B, KV-1C, and KV-1S

The next model was the KV-1B – this variant saw 25-35mm of additional armour added to the turret, the front of the hull, and the sides. The turret was now cast, rather than welded – and the main gun was replaced by the F-34 gun. The up-gunning proved useful against the ever more potent German tanks of the era – though ultimately they weren’t able to keep pace with the T-34s.

The KV-1C had further armour added, refinements to the engine, and the addition of the 76mm Zis-5 gun. It was one of the most numerous tanks produced at the time.

The KV1-S was the fastest of the original KV-1 series, with less armour and greater speed – the drivers of these vehicles were trained to manoeuvre the tank in such a way as to not show any weak spots to the enemy. The other significant improvement was the commander’s cupola vision blocks, which enabled full vision around the tank. Despite the increase in speed, the tank was expensive to mass produce when compared to the T-34. The next step was to try to make the series more comparable to the T-34 by improving the KV1-S by giving it thicker armour and a new turret and gun – the 85mm D5T which would also later go on to feature in the IS-85.

[Kriegerfaust007]

• KV-0 - Prototype tank for KV-1. It was armed with 2 guns, 76mm and 45mm gun.[citation needed] It weighed 44tons.
• KV-1
  • Model 1939 – First production models, these tanks were prone to frequent breakdowns, but were highly resistant to anti-tank weapons during the Winter War. Armed with the 76 mm L-11 tank gun, recognizable due to a recuperator above a barrel. Most tanks were lacking the hull machine gun, earlier ones also had cast turret (different from one used on 1941/42 models). 141 were built.[citation needed] .45 tons.
  • Model 1940 (German designation: KW-1A) – Used the F-32 [ru] 76 mm gun and a new mantlet. The main production model by the time of the German invasion.[citation needed] 46 tons.
  • Model 1940 s ekranami (“with shields”) or KW-1E – with additional bolted-on appliqué armour and F-32 gun.[citation needed] 49 tons
  • Model 1941 (German designation: KW-1B) – Up-armoured with 25–35 mm (0.98–1.38 in) added to the turret, hull front and sides. Later tanks had cast turrets. This tank was armed with the longer-barreled ZiS-5 tank gun.[citation needed] 47-50 tons.
  • Model 1942 (German designation: KW-1C) – Fully cast turret with thicker armour, again up-armoured, using an improved engine and the 76 mm ZiS-5 tank gun.[citation needed] 52 tons.
  • KV-1S – A variant with higher speed, but thinner armour. A new, smaller, cast turret and redesigned rear hull with a new planetary transmission. 1370 built.[citation needed] 45 tons.

The KV-2 heavy artillery tank’s 152 mm howitzer was housed in an enormous turret. This prototype differs from the production version in several ways. It was called the Dreadnought by its crews.[23]

• KV-2 (204) – A heavy 52 ton assault tank with the M-10 152 mm howitzer, the KV-2 was produced at the same time as the KV-1. Due to the size of its heavy turret and gun, the KV-2 was slower and had a much higher profile than the KV-1. Those captured and used by the German Army were known as (Sturm)Panzerkampfwagen KW-II 754(r).[24] Few were produced due to its combat ineffectiveness: The increased weight of the new gun and turret led to a decrease in speed and that the turret traverse mechanism could only be operated on level ground.[citation needed]
  • KV-2 (ZiS-6) - In March 1941 a single ZiS-6 [ru] was placed into a KV-2 turret for testing. It passed testing by June 1941, after which it was sent to the Artillery Scientific Test Range at Leningrad. While further fate of the vehicle is unknown, it was possibly used (and destroyed) in combat while defending Leningrad.[citation needed]

T-150-KV

• Т-150 (Object 150) - One of a pair of designs requested 17 June 1940. Armour specified at 90 mm, which caused weight to reach 50 tons, so the 600 hp V-2K was replaced with the 700 hp V-5 engine. In addition to the improved armour, the turret had a cupola but otherwise followed the design of the KV-1. One prototype was constructed in 1941 and was destroyed defending Leningrad. On 15 March 1941 the design was approved for production as the KV-3.[25][26]

• T-220 (Object 220) (also called KV-220) - One of a pair of designs requested 17 June 1940. Longer chassis with 7 rollers per side. Armour specified at 100 mm. Prototype trialed with V-2PUN and V-2SN engines. but suffered engine and suspension problems. New diamond-shaped turret fitted with 85 mm F-30 cannon, but development changed to fitting 107mm F-39 instead. One prototype was constructed in 1941 but did not enter serial production. The prototype later had its turret replaced by standard KV-1 turret and redesignated as KV-220-2; it was destroyed in its first battle with 124th Tank Brigade. Original turret was mounted as static pillbox, its further fate is unknown.[25][26]

• KV-3 (Objects 150, 220, 221, 222, and 223) - Designation initially approved 15 March 1941 for production version of Object 150 tank design. Further developments were made on the basis of the Object 220, in the form of the Object 221 (with an 85 mm gun), Object 222 (with the F-32 76.2 mm gun) and Object 223 (built to develop a new conical turret to house the 107 mm gun, now specified to be the ZiS-6 cannon). Series production was intended to start in late 1941, but the German invasion of the USSR halted these plans, and the only prototype hull was destroyed. The design was accepted for service May 1941 and was to have entered production at the Kirovsky Plant in August 1941, but the German invasion forced this to be abandoned.[25][26]

• KV-4 (Object 224) - A project for a super-heavy tank. About 20 different designs were proposed, but it was cancelled due to the outbreak of the war. Different versions would have been between roughly 85 and 110 tonnes, with armour thickness ranging from 120 to 190 mm. Armament consisted of the 107 mm ZiS-6 cannon. Different variants had various auxiliary weapons: 45 mm, 76 mm cannons, machine guns, and flamethrowers in addition to the main gun.[27]

• KV-5 (Object 225) - A cancelled project for a super-heavy tank. Armament was to be a 107 mm ZiS-6 gun in a large turret and a machine gun in a small secondary turret. Weight was projected as about 100 tons, and the tank was to have 150–180 mm of armour. Project development began in June 1941, however, was cancelled due to the Siege of Leningrad, in which all developmental operations at the Kirov Plant were halted. The project fell out of favour from the more advanced heavy tank designs, and no prototype was built.[27]

• KV-6 (Object 222) (also called T-222) - Further development of T-150, same hull with modified turret. Projected in 1940, never built.[28][29] Not to be confused with the fictional KV-VI super heavy tank, built by modeler Brian Fowler in 1995.[30]

• KV-7 (Object 227) (also called U-13). - Experimental self-propelled gun with 100 mm of frontal armour, armed with 3 cannons: two 45 mm model 1932/34 and one 76 mm F-34. 200 rounds of ammunition were carried for the 45 mm guns and 93 rounds for the 76 mm gun. One unit was produced and tested in 1941.[citation needed]

• KV-7-2 (improved variant) (also called U-14) had two 76 mm F-34 cannons, and 85 mm of frontal armour. Vehicles were not taken in service primarily because they could not fight tanks (the KV-7s had only 15-degree gun traverse to each side) and could not combat concrete bunkers due to the small caliber of the guns. After the failure of the KV-7 it was decided to put one 152 mm gun in the casemate instead of three smaller guns; this led to the development of the SU-152.[citation needed]

U-18

• U-18 - Experimental self-propelled gun. KV-7 armed with 152 mm ML-20 gun-howitzer. Vehicle was projected in 1941. Wooden mockup was constructed. Project was cancelled, but this vehicle was a first step towards SU-152 design.[citation needed]
• S-51 (also called U-19) - Experimental self-propelled gun projected by the Grabin Artillery Projects Central Department armed with the 203 mm howitzer M1931 (B-4) in a KV-1S hull. The vehicle was to have 75 mm of frontal armour, 60 mm on the side, and the roof was to be 30 mm (the roof would have been removable to facilitate loading). It was projected to weigh 66 tons, one prototype passed by the testing grounds in the spring of 1944 but was not very successful and cancelled within a year.
• SU-152 - See SU-152. Heavy assault gun based on the KV-1S chassis using 152 mm ML-20 gun-howitzer.
• ZiK-20 - The ZiK-20 was very similar to the U-19 (S-51), but had 105 mm of frontal armour, 75 mm of side armour, and was to mount a ML-20 gun. By the time its wooden mockup was made the KV-1 was phased out of production. However, just before the project was cancelled a blueprint was drawn up to equip the ZiK-20 with a 152 mm gun M1935 (Br-2), and to offset the weight the frontal armour was to be reduced to 75 mm (or 60 mm on the KV-1S chassis).
• SU-203 - SU-152 equipped with 203 mm M-4 mortar. Never built.[citation needed]
• KV-8 (102) – A KV-1 fitted with the ATO-41 flamethrower in the turret,[31] beside a machine gun.[citation needed] In order to accommodate the new weapon, the 76.2 mm gun was replaced with a smaller 45 mm gun M1932, though it was disguised to look like the standard 76 mm (the cannon was placed inside a 76 mm tube).[citation needed]
  • KV-8S (35) – The same as KV-8 but based on KV-1S. Equipped with ATO-42 flamethrower (improved version of ATO-41).[31] The smaller turret of the KV-1S caused space limitations, so 25 of the KV-8S had the original KV-8 turret mated to the KV-1S hull, while the remaining 10 had a KV-1S turret with ATO-42 flamethrower but lacked the coaxial machine gun.[citation needed]
  • KV-8M - Upgraded version of KV-8S. Equipped with two flamethrowers. Two prototypes were constructed.[citation needed]
• KV-9 (Object 229) - A KV-1 with short 122 mm U-11 howitzer. One prototype was constructed and proved in 1941.[citation needed]
• KV-10 (Object 230) - Also known as KV-1K. A KV-1 with 4 rocket launchers on the sides of its hull. Each launcher contained two 132 mm M-13 rockets. Early variant of KV-1K had two launchers on the back of the hull, each contained 6 rockets. One prototype was constructed and tested in 1942. Not taken into service.[citation needed]
• KV-11 (Object 231) - KV-1 armed with 85 mm F-30 cannon. Projected in 1942. Not built.[citation needed]

КV-12

• KV-12 (Object 232) - Experimental chemical tank. Was equipped with 4 external toxin tanks on rear of chassis. Tanks surrounded with 30 mm armour. Not taken into service.[citation needed]
• KV-13/IS Model 1 (Object 233) - Prototype of a medium tank. Designation for an advanced redesign of the KV series, which resulted in the production of the IS series.
  • IS Model 2 - A KV-13, with turret and armament of a KV-9. One prototype was constructed and proved in 1943. Tank had lost competition to IS-1 and was not taken into service.[citation needed]
• KV-14 (Object 236) – Prototype designation for a 152 mm self-propelled gun, accepted for service as the SU-152.[citation needed]
• KV-85 (Object 239) – A KV-1S with the 85 mm D-5T cannon in a new turret, with the ball mounted hull machine gun repositioned to the right of driver (now fixed mount) and the hole welded shut; 148 of these tanks were produced in the second half of 1943 until the spring of 1944 as a stopgap until the IS tank series entered production.[32]
  • KV-85G - KV-1S with 85 mm S-31 cannon. Turret and mantlet remained from conventional KV-1S. This variant was a competitor of the KV-85 during proving. It lost the competition and was not taken into service.[citation needed]
  • KV-122 - A KV-1S with short 122 mm S-41 howitzer. One prototype was made in 1943. Not taken into service.[33]
  • KV-100 - A KV-85 with the 100 mm S-34 cannon. One prototype was made in 1944. Not taken into service.[citation needed]
  • KV-122 - A KV-85 with the 122 mm D-25T cannon. One prototype was made in 1944. Not taken into service.[citation needed]
  • KV-152 - Proposal to fit a 152 mm gun into the turret of a KV-85. Nothing became of the project.[citation needed]

[Kriegerfaust007]

. KV-2 armed with 107mm ZiS-6, May 1941 . KV-220-2. 85 mm F-30 cannon * KV-7 (Object 227) (also called U-13). - Experimental self-propelled gun with 100 mm of frontal armour, armed with 3 cannons: two 45 mm model 1932/34 and one 76 mm F-34. 200 rounds of ammunition were carried for the 45 mm guns and 93 rounds for the 76 mm gun. One unit was produced and tested in 1941.[citation needed] * KV-7-2 (improved variant) (also called U-14) had two 76 mm F-34 cannons, and 85 mm of frontal armour. Vehicles were not taken in service primarily because they could not fight tanks (the KV-7s had only 15-degree gun traverse to each side) and could not combat concrete bunkers due to the small caliber of the guns. After the failure of the KV-7 it was decided to put one 152 mm gun in the casemate instead of three smaller guns; this led to the development of the SU-152.[citation needed] kv9. KV-10 (Object 230) - Also known as KV-1K. A KV-1 with 4 rocket launchers on the sides of its hull. Each launcher contained two 132 mm M-13 rockets. Early variant of KV-1K had two launchers on the back of the hull, each contained 6 rockets. One prototype was constructed and tested in 1942. Not taken into service.

[Josephs_Piano]

No thanks - if you want all the experimental stuff go play War Thunder.

[Adamnpee]

@Josephs_Piano

if you want all the experimental stuff go play War Thunder.

No, thanks.
I play Enlisted mainly because of rare and unusual weapons and equipment that aren’t commonly in other fps ww2 games.