T-34 variants
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The T-34 medium tank is one of the most-produced and longest-lived tanks of all time.
Identification of T-34 variants can be complicated. Turret castings and superficial details, and equipment differed between factories. New features were added in the middle of production runs or retrofitted to older tanks. Knocked-out tanks were rebuilt, sometimes with the addition of newer-model equipment and even new turrets. Some tanks also had appliqué armour made of scrap steel of varying thickness, welded on to the hull and possibly the turret; these tanks are called s ekranami ("with screens").
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[edit] Model naming
German intelligence in World War Two referred to the two main production models as T-34/76 and T-34/85, with minor models receiving letter designations such as T-34/76A—this nomenclature has been widely used in the west, especially in popular literature. Since at least the 1980s however, many academic sources (notably, AFV expert Steven Zaloga) have been using Soviet-style nomenclature: T-34 and T-34-85, with minor models distinguished by year: T-34 Model 1940. [This system is used in this article.]
Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, newly-declassified sources have demonstrated that all T-34s with the original turret and F-34 gun (conventionally known as Models 1941 and 1942) were officially called "Model 1941", and hexagonal-turret T-34 (Model 1943) was officially called "Model 1942".
[edit] List of models and variants
- T-34
- Model 1940 (German designation: T-34/76A)—Armed with L-11 76.2mm tank gun, cast or welded two-man turret.
- Model 1941 (T-34/76B)—With heavier armour, cast or welded two-man turret, and the superior F-34 76.2mm gun.
- Model 1942 (T-34/76C)—Production model of 1942 with many simplified components, generally equipped with cast two-man turrets although a few welded ones remained (early production tanks built at STZ are sometimes called Model 1941/42). Soviet military designation did not consider the manufacturing differences significant to tank employment, so this was not officially differentiated from the Model 1941.
- Model 1943 (T-34/76D, E, and F)—Production model of 1943 with cast hexagonal turret, nicknamed "Mickey Mouse" by the Germans because of its appearance with the twin, round turret-roof hatches open. Earlier production is sometimes called Model 1942/43 or T-34/76D; main production had a new commander's cupola. Official Soviet military designation was Model 1942.
- T-34/57—A very few T-34s in 1941 and 1943 were fitted with the ZiS-4 high-velocity 57mm gun to be used as tank hunters. This gun had a better penetration than the 76.2mm F-34 (140 mm of steel at 500 m, as opposed to 90 mm), but the small projectile couldn't carry an adequate high explosive charge to use against unarmoured targets.
- OT-34—T-34 flame-thrower tank, fitted with an internally mounted flame-thrower replacing the hull machine-gun. Usually Model 1942 with ATO-41 flame-thrower or Model 1943 with ATO-42.
- T-34M—Advanced 1940 prototype (A-43) with improved armour, hexagonal three-man turret, torsion bar suspension, sprung road wheels, increased fuel and ammunition complement. Five hulls were built, but development was abandoned when the war broke out. This program provided the turret design for the T-34 Model 1943, and was resurrected to become the T-44 (below).
- T-34-85
- Model 1943—Short production run of February–March 1944 with D-5T 85mm gun and a new larger, cast three-man turret.
- Model 1944—Main production, with simpler ZiS-S-53 85mm gun, radio moved from the hull into a turret with improved layout and new gunner's sight.
- Model 1945—Changes gradually introduced during 1944–46: electric turret traverse, enlarged commander's cupola with one-piece hatch, squared front fenders, TDP (tankovoy dimoviy pribor) smoke system with electrically-detonated MDSh canisters, turret ventilators front and rear instead of clustered together.
- Model 1946—Post-war production formalizing model 1945 modifications, improved V-2-34M engine, new wheels and minor details.
- Model 1960—Refurbishing program introducing V-2-3411 engine and improved air cleaner, cooling and lubrication system, battery generator, new BDSh smoke canisters, infrared headlight and driver's sight, 10-RT radio replacing wartime 9-R.
- Model 1969 (also called T-34-85M)—Refurbishing program adding new R-123 radio and night driving equipment, automotive improvements, smoke canisters repositioned or removed to make way for additional 200-litre external fuel tanks and ditching beam at the rear, external fuel pump added for easier refuelling from tanks.
- T-34-85M1—Polish refurbishing program, similar to Soviet Model 1960
- T-34-85M2—Polish refurbishing program, similar to Soviet Model 1969, adding exterior stowage, deep-wading kit and snorkel.
- OT-34-85 (sometimes called TO-34)—T-34-85 flame-thrower tank, with ATO-42 in place of the bow machine gun.
- T-44—In 1944 the T-34M programme was resumed, but quickly renamed T-44. The new tank had a turret design based on the T-34-85's, but a new hull with torsion-bar suspension and transversely-mounted engine. It had a lower profile than the T-34-85 and was simpler to manufacture. Between 150 to 200 of these tanks were built before the end of the war. With some drive-train modifications and a new turret and gun, it became the T-54, starting production in 1947.
- Teski Tank Vozilo A ('Heavy Tank Type A')—A 1949 Yugoslav program built seven prototypes of an advanced T-34-85. They are recognizable by their angled front hull corners, modified hull machine gun mantlet, streamlined turret with cylindrical cupola, muzzle brake on the gun, and external fuel tanks appear to be notched to fit the hull. An example is on display at the Kalemegdan military museum in Belgrade.[1]
[edit] Support vehicles
- PT-34—Mine roller tank, mostly built on T-34 Model 1943 or T-34-85 chassis.
- Bridging tanks—Old tanks rebuilt in the field or at repair facilities. These were simply driven into water two abreast for special river-crossing operations, to be recovered later.
- MT-34 (mostniy tank 'bridging tank', 1950s)—Czechoslovakian conversion with PM-34 scissors bridge
- Armoured recovery vehicles—During WWII, some old tanks were rebuilt as armoured recovery vehicles (ARVs), by plating over the turret ring or adding a superstructure. After the war, this repurposing program was formalized in successively more elaborate models:
- T-34-T (tyagach 'tractor')
- SPK-5 (1955)—repair vehicle with ten-tonne crane
- SPK-5/10M—with improved hydraulic crane
- T-34-TO (technicheskoye obsuzhivaniye 'technical maintenance', 1958)—with a work platform over the engine deck.
- VT-34 (vyprošťovací tank ‘recovery tank’)—Czechoslovakian purpose-built recovery vehicle with front superstructure, thirty-tonne winch, and entrenching spade.
- CW-34—Polish derivative of VT-34.
- WPT-34 (1960s)—Polish repair and maintenance vehicle with crane, converted from tanks and self-propelled guns
[edit] Self-propelled guns
The T-34 chassis was used as the basis for a series of self-propelled guns such as the SU-122, SU-85, and SU-100.
[edit] In foreign service
Captured T-34s in German service were designated Panzerkampfwagen T-34(r).
The Finns called the T-34 Sotka after the common goldeneye (the sea duck Bucephala clangula), because the silhouette of the tank seen from the side resembles a swimming waterfowl. Incidentally, Lauri Heino, the well-known Finnish tank ace, Mannerheim Cross winner, and the first foreign soldier to capture an intact T-34 and drive it, had also worked as a seaman on the steamer Sotka.
After WWII, some T-34s were fitted with the Soviet D-30 122mm howitzer by Syria and Egypt, to serve as self-propelled artillery. In the Egyptian variant the howitzer was mounted in a modified turret, the Syrian one had an open mount. Both vehicles are often referred to as T-34/122. Other Egyptian variant, commonly known as T-34/100 or T-100 tank destroyer, carried the Soviet BS-3 100mm anti-tank gun in a modified turret.
