Page 95 - How It Works - Book of Amazing Answers To Curious Questions, 12

History Q�
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Turret
The T-34 used a two-man turret crew system
where the tank's commander also served as the
gunner. This was common in Soviet tank
designs during World War II, despite three-man
turret crews proving superior in the field. Later
models of the T-34 expanded the turret ring to
allow for three-man turret crews.

Cannon Crew Armour Engine
The primary armament of choice for the T-34 The T-34 was controlled by The 1941 variant of the T-34 was equipped The T-34 used a 12-cylinder Gaz diesel V-2
was a 76.2mm F-34 tank gun, which was a four-man team, with the with 45mm front and side hull armour, 60mm engine, which was capable of churning out
designed at the start of World War II. gunner/commander and turret armour and 63mm side armour plating. 500hp. Due to the tank's relatively light
Unfortunately, by 1943 the power and range loader in the turret, and the This provided superior protection for its crew weight compared to its heavier
of the new German Tiger and Panther tanks driver and radio operator than its predecessors - the BT-5, BT-7 and contemporaries, this gave the T-34 a power to
rendered the F-34 obsolete and was replaced positioned in the frontal T-26 - however, heavy tanks such as the weight ratio of 17.5 horsepower per ton and,
by the D-5T and ZiS-S-53 85mm guns. section of the hull. German Tiger could still easily breach it. as a result, a good top speed of 33mph.

What made the T-34 so good?

Often credited as the most effective and influential tank of World War IL the T -34

brought a solid mix of speed, agility and stopping power to the theatre of war

0 ne of the most numerous armoured the end of the war when the superior-but its high top speed of 33m ph, this was only
vehicles during World War II, the hard and expensive to manufacture -German possible if it became entrenched or caught
Soviet Union's T-34 medium tank is Tiger and Panther tanks could not be replaced unawares. By keeping the armour thickness to
considered by military historians to be one of fast enough. a medium level though, the total weight of the
the most important and influential tanks ever The T-34 was fitted with a good balance of T-34 was kept down to z6 tons, under half that
to be built. weaponry, sporting a 76.zmm F-34 tank gun of the German Tiger and allowing the T-34
Evolving out of the BTseries of fast tanks - ideal for taking down medium and light unrivalled dynamism in the field.
(Soviet cavalry tanks with thin armour and armoured enemyvehicles -and twin 7.6zmm Historically, the T-34 will be remembered as
high mobility), the T-34at its introduction was DT machine guns, perfect against the vehicle that swept German forces from
the first tank to sport a complete balance unarmoured targets and to suppress Russia, advancing from Stalingrad all the way
between firepower, mobility, protection and advancing soldiers. Its armour also offered a to Berlin in 1945. However, its usage continued
longevity- something that modern tanks now great balance between protection and weight, right up to 1958, when it was finally replaced
take for granted. Further, it was an especially with up to 63mm of armour plating standing by its successor the T-54. Despite its official
refined and simple design that allowed for between its crew and the shells and bullets of retirement however, the T-34 has continued to
costs (135,000 rubles) and production time the enemy. This meant that only be used in Third World militaries right
frames to be kept low, meaning that many the largest of enemy cannons up to the present day and has also
tanks could be produced in very little time and -such as the 88mm beast fitted found itself bought and
allow Russia to mitigate its higher-than­ to the German Tiger tank operated by both
average losses quickly and cheaply. Indeed, -could breach its hull or private collectors and
this became a very important factor towards turret and, considering military museums.

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