[alberich]

When I encountered a T-34 opr. 42 (e) at Stalingradskii airfield, I felt a little bit lost whether this (e) is good or bad news, i.e whether I should treat this T 34 with more caution or whether I could ignore it.

Apparently this mod is so detailed as to include some T-34s that have no proper optics, thus limiting their effectiveness at ranges > 150 m.

Is there a unit guide that explains the amazing plethora of units and their optimal use on both sides ?

Many thanks

alberich

[Antifa]

I looked on the web -- this is what I found at Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-34_tank

If given the choice between trusting this and Dima -- I would definately go with Dima but this is what I found:


Variants

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").

* T-34
o Model 1940 (German designation: T-34/76A)—Armed with L-11 76.2mm tank gun, cast or welded two-man turret.
o Model 1941 (T-34/76B)—With heavier armour, cast or welded two-man turret, and the superior F-34 76.2mm gun.
o 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).
o 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.
o 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.
o 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
o Model 1943—Short production run of late 1943 with D-5T 85mm gun and a new larger, cast three-man turret.
o Model 1944—Main production, with simpler ZiS-S-53 85mm gun, radio moved from the hull into a turret with improved layout.
o TO-34—T-34-85 flame-thrower tank, with ATO-42.
o Model 1947—Improved V-2-34M engine, new sights, radio.
o T-34-85M—Refurbishing program of the late 1960s. Added 520 hp Model V-54 engine as in T-54 tank, T-55–style road wheels, internal improvements.

* 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.

[Arg0n]

One more thing the T-34/57 had a poor quality barrel it could fire less then 150 shots before the rifling inside the barrel worn out, so that was the main reason the T-34/57 was not made a standard tank destroyer. For more info go to www.battlefield.ru

[Dima]

T34(e) was mass produced since January 1942 till the end of February 1942 on Factory #183, STZ, Factory #112(about 400 (e) were produced). In August 1942 when german reached Stal, STZ produced several T34 with additional armor.

+15mm(frontal upper armor plate).
60mm instead of 52mm(for cast(only) turret's side armor).


btw, there were no T34 obr.43...
latest books(2005) give only:

T34 obr.40(simply T34)(summer 1940- 01.07.1941): : 1225tanx(435 with L-11(L/30.5)).
T34 obr.41(09.1941 - 07.1943): 9311tanx.
T34 obr.42(06.1942-03.1944): 23332tanx(11871 with commanders cupola).

so names will be chnged in Stalingrad mod in update .

[alberich]

Hi Dima,

Many thanks for this reply. I take my hat off to your deep knowledge, although your answer leads to some new questions:

After capturing the maps which house the factories that you mentioned, will supply for the Soviet side dry up ?

Do you have an idea, for how long industrial production of arms and ammunition was maintained in Stalingrad ? Or was all production relocated to other factories well prior to the Wehrmachts arrival ?

Again many thanks

alberich

[Dima]