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The T-34 medium tank has been referred to as the best tank of World War II. It was a further development of the [[BT series]] fast [[light tank|light]] [[tank]]s. By the end of 1940<ref name="KMDB T-34">[http://www.morozov.com.ua/eng/body/history4-6.php "KMDB T-34"]</ref> when production started<ref name="Czołgi Świata (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 25"/>, there were already plans to improve vehicle's reliability and operational capabilities by adopting more modern technology.<ref name="KMDB T-34M">[http://www.morozov.com.ua/eng/body/tanks/t-34m.php "KMDB T-34M"]</ref> This design project was called T-34M.<ref name="KMDB T-34M"/> The new vehicle had enhanced armour protection<ref name="KMDB T-34"/>, a three-man turret, torsion bar suspension instead of Chrstie suspension, road wheels with internal shock absorption<ref name="KMDB T-34"/> and increased amount of fuel<ref name="KMDB T-34"/>, projectiles<ref name="KMDB T-34"/>, cartridges<ref name="KMDB T-34"/>, etc. The Zhdanov Metallurgical Factory manufactured five sets of armour plates for the hull of the T-34M medium tank<ref name="KMDB T-34"/> and delivered them to [[Factory No. 183]].<ref name="KMDB T-34"/> However, early in 1941 work on the T-34M medium tank virtually ceased<ref name="KMDB T-34"/> as the production facilities were extremely busy with the mass production of the T-34.<ref name="KMDB T-34"/> When the war with [[Nazi Germany]] broke out the only sensible solution was to gradually improve the existing design.<ref name="Czołgi Świata (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 25"/> In 1942 the [[T-43 tank]] design project concentrated on increasing armour at a time when maintaining production and increasing firepower were more important. The T-43 was canceled, but its new turret design was adapted to carry a larger 85 mm [[D-5T]] and later [[ZiS-S-53]] gun in a new variant called the T-34-85. It however marked the end of T-34 improvement capabilities as fitting a 100 mm gun proved to be unfeasible.<ref name="Czołgi Świata (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 25"/><ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> |
The T-34 medium tank has been referred to as the best tank of World War II. It was a further development of the [[BT series]] fast [[light tank|light]] [[tank]]s. By the end of 1940<ref name="KMDB T-34">[http://www.morozov.com.ua/eng/body/history4-6.php "KMDB T-34"]</ref> when production started<ref name="Czołgi Świata (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 25"/>, there were already plans to improve vehicle's reliability and operational capabilities by adopting more modern technology.<ref name="KMDB T-34M">[http://www.morozov.com.ua/eng/body/tanks/t-34m.php "KMDB T-34M"]</ref> This design project was called T-34M.<ref name="KMDB T-34M"/> The new vehicle had enhanced armour protection<ref name="KMDB T-34"/>, a three-man turret, torsion bar suspension instead of Chrstie suspension, road wheels with internal shock absorption<ref name="KMDB T-34"/> and increased amount of fuel<ref name="KMDB T-34"/>, projectiles<ref name="KMDB T-34"/>, cartridges<ref name="KMDB T-34"/>, etc. The Zhdanov Metallurgical Factory manufactured five sets of armour plates for the hull of the T-34M medium tank<ref name="KMDB T-34"/> and delivered them to [[Factory No. 183]].<ref name="KMDB T-34"/> However, early in 1941 work on the T-34M medium tank virtually ceased<ref name="KMDB T-34"/> as the production facilities were extremely busy with the mass production of the T-34.<ref name="KMDB T-34"/> When the war with [[Nazi Germany]] broke out the only sensible solution was to gradually improve the existing design.<ref name="Czołgi Świata (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 25"/> In 1942 the [[T-43 tank]] design project concentrated on increasing armour at a time when maintaining production and increasing firepower were more important. The T-43 was canceled, but its new turret design was adapted to carry a larger 85 mm [[D-5T]] and later [[ZiS-S-53]] gun in a new variant called the T-34-85. It however marked the end of T-34 improvement capabilities as fitting a 100 mm gun proved to be unfeasible.<ref name="Czołgi Świata (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 25"/><ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> |
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In the autumn of 1943 the Stalin Ural Tank Factory No. 183, located in Nizhny Tagil (in the Ural Mountains, where most of the Soviet tank industry had been evacuated after [[Operation Barbarossa]] in 1941), started working on a vehicle that would have improvement opportunities in the future. The intention was to retain the high mobility of the T-34 and provide it with heavier [[vehicle armour|armour]] protection against modern tank guns. In November 1943, the chief designer, A. A. Morozov, presented the overall design of the vehicle and a model of the tank which received a designation T-44 (Ob'yekt 136). The first prototype was completed by January 1944 and two more were completed in February. The first two prototypes were armed with 85 mm [[D-5T]] guns and received the designation T-44-85, while the third prototype was armed with the 122 mm D-25-44T tank gun and received the designation T-44-122. The D-25-44T tank gun was very similar to the basic [[D-25]] field gun, but differed in some minor details including fixed single-piece ammunition to increase the rate of fire and a double-baffle muzzle brake.<ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/><ref name="JED The Military Equipment Directory">[http://www.jedsite.info/tanks-tango/tango-numbers-su/t-44_series/t44-series.html "JED The Military Equipment Directory"]</ref> What allowed fitting such powerful armament in a medium tank weighing 30 tonnes was the construction of the hull with an innovative placement of the engine. Unlike most tanks, in the T-44 the engine was placed perpendicular to the axis of the tank. The hull was designed without sponsons. It was also much wider which made the crew compartment bigger and allowed the turret to be placed over the center part of the vehicle |
In the autumn of 1943 the Stalin Ural Tank Factory No. 183, located in Nizhny Tagil (in the Ural Mountains, where most of the Soviet tank industry had been evacuated after [[Operation Barbarossa]] in 1941), started working on a vehicle that would have improvement opportunities in the future. The intention was to retain the high mobility of the T-34 and provide it with heavier [[vehicle armour|armour]] protection against modern tank guns. In November 1943, the chief designer, A. A. Morozov, presented the overall design of the vehicle and a model of the tank which received a designation T-44 (Ob'yekt 136). The first prototype was completed by January 1944 and two more were completed in February. The first two prototypes were armed with 85 mm [[D-5T]] guns and received the designation T-44-85, while the third prototype was armed with the 122 mm D-25-44T tank gun and received the designation T-44-122. The D-25-44T tank gun was very similar to the basic [[D-25]] field gun, but differed in some minor details including fixed single-piece ammunition to increase the rate of fire and a double-baffle muzzle brake.<ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/><ref name="JED The Military Equipment Directory">[http://www.jedsite.info/tanks-tango/tango-numbers-su/t-44_series/t44-series.html "JED The Military Equipment Directory"]</ref> What allowed fitting such powerful armament in a medium tank weighing 30 tonnes was the construction of the hull with an innovative placement of the engine. Unlike most tanks, in the T-44 the engine was placed perpendicular to the axis of the tank. The hull was designed without sponsons. It was also much wider which made the crew compartment bigger and allowed the turret to be placed over the center part of the vehicle.<ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> This reduced the overall length of the vehicle. The thickness of the armour was 75 mm on the front of the hull and 90 mm on the front of the turret. The side armour was 45 mm thick and could be reinforced by 30 mm thick additional armour plate. All three prototypes were powered by the V-2IS diesel engine which developed 500 hp (373 kW). This first generation of prototypes also featured a raised cast drivers hatch with an opening vision flap as well as mounting bolts in a ring around the base of the gun tube.<ref name="Czołgi Świata (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 25"/><ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/><ref name="JED The Military Equipment Directory"/> |
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Morozov's new medium tank design received a skeptic response. It was believed that putting a high-speed V-12 engine with a working displacement of almost 40 liters perpendicular to the direction of travel would cause problems including breaking the connecting rods. It was also believed that decreasing the displacement of the engine compartment for the purpose of enlarging the fighting compartment was unnecessary and that moving the turret rearwards will limit the elevation angle of the main gun. However it turned out that rotating the engine solved many problems. The significant decrease in the length of the engine compartment allowed the turret to be moved rearwards, which in turn moved its rotation axis to the center of the hull and increased the shooting accuracy of the main gun.<ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> It also become possible to increase the thickness of frontal armor protection more than twice without disturbing the center of mass or drastically increasing the weight of the tank. At the beginning of WWII the thickness of T-34 armour was enough. Improvements made to the T-34 during WWII included increasing the caliber of the gun (from 76 mm to 85 mm) and thickening the armor of the turret. However no significant improvements were made for the hull. Increasing the space of the compartment allowed the under-floor ammunition stowage to be removed which was inconvenient because the cartridge-cases got in the way. The ammunition was instead moved to the side stowage. The height of the tank was decreased by 300 mm, even though the turret remained almost the same. Removal of the conical pair in the transmission permitted fitting a more compact gear box and improved the control of the brakes and the steering clutch. The driver received a greater visibility and was kept from getting soaked while the tank was fording water obstacles because his hatch was moved from the glacis plate and positioned so that he exited the vehicle perpendicularly instead of crawling out of the hatch. The new torsion bar suspension allowed easier crossing of rough ground.<ref name="Freerepublic">[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1427139/posts "Freerepublic"]</ref> |
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The first trials of the T-44-122 prototype took place in February and March 1944, but were unsuccessful due to gun failure, and the gun was returned to the No. 9 factory for repair. In April and May 1944 the trials were resumed. Aside from standard trials, the T-44-122 was put in competitive trials against the captured German [[Panzerkampfwagen V Panther]] medium tank<ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> and the second of two first generation T-44-85 prototypes.<ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> However, the practical rate of fire was two to three rounds per minute due to the cramped turret and long, heavy ammunition.<ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> In addition, the vehicle had a very limited stowage of only 24 rounds and this was considered insufficient for a medium tank. As a result all further development of the T-44-122 prototype was canceled.<ref name="Czołgi Świata (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 25"/><ref name="JED The Military Equipment Directory"/><ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> |
The first trials of the T-44-122 prototype took place in February and March 1944, but were unsuccessful due to gun failure, and the gun was returned to the No. 9 factory for repair. In April and May 1944 the trials were resumed. Aside from standard trials, the T-44-122 was put in competitive trials against the captured German [[Panzerkampfwagen V Panther]] medium tank<ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> and the second of two first generation T-44-85 prototypes.<ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> However, the practical rate of fire was two to three rounds per minute due to the cramped turret and long, heavy ammunition.<ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> In addition, the vehicle had a very limited stowage of only 24 rounds and this was considered insufficient for a medium tank. As a result all further development of the T-44-122 prototype was canceled.<ref name="Czołgi Świata (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 25"/><ref name="JED The Military Equipment Directory"/><ref name="The Russian Battlefield"/> |
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Revision as of 13:46, 11 April 2008
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (April 2008) |
| T-44 | |
|---|---|
| File:T44 2.jpg T-44A | |
| Type | Medium Tank |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1944 - end of 1970s[1] |
| Used by | Soviet Union |
| Wars | See Service History |
| Production history | |
| Designer | A. A. Morozov[2] |
| Designed | 1943 - 1944[2] |
| Manufacturer | Factory No. 75 (Zavod 75) in Kharkiv[2] |
| Produced | 1944 - 1947[2] |
| No. built | 1,823[2] |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications (T-44A) | |
| Mass | 31.9 tonnes |
| Length | 7.65 m 6,07 m (hull only) |
| Width | 3.25 m[3] |
| Height | 2.455 m[3] |
| Crew | 4 (commander, driver, gunner and loader)[4] |
| Armor | rolled welded steel hull cast turret 120 mm turret front[2] 90 mm hull upper front[2] 75 mm side (can be reinforced by 30 mm additional armour plate)[2] 20 mm hull bottom[4] |
Main armament | 85 mm ZiS-S-53 tank gun (58 rounds) |
Secondary armament | DTM coaxial light machine gun[4][1] DTM bow light machine gun[4][1] 1,890 7.62 mm machine gun rounds[4][1] |
| Engine | V-44 12-cylinder 4-stroke diesel 520 hp (388 kW) at 1,800 rpm |
| Power/weight | 16.3 hp/tonne (12.2 kW/tonne) |
| Transmission | planetary 5-speed manual |
| Suspension | Torsion bar/beam |
| Ground clearance | 510 mm[4] |
| Fuel capacity | 500 l 650 l (with additional fuel tanks) |
Operational range | 235 km - 300 km (road) |
| Maximum speed | 45 km/h - 51,5 km/h (road)[4] 20 km/h - 25 km/h (cross country)[4] |
The T-44 was a Soviet medium tank, first produced towards the end of the Second World War. This tank was the successor to the very successful T-34. Less than two thousand T-44s were built, but this design became the basis for the T-54/55 main battle tank series, which was the most-built tank of all time. It is sometimes considered to be a main battle tank.[citation needed] Although it wasn't build in large numbers like it's direct predecessor, the T-34 and it's direct successor, the T-54, it defined the Soviet main battle tank development for several decades.[1]
Development History
The T-34 medium tank has been referred to as the best tank of World War II. It was a further development of the BT series fast light tanks. By the end of 1940[5] when production started[2], there were already plans to improve vehicle's reliability and operational capabilities by adopting more modern technology.[6] This design project was called T-34M.[6] The new vehicle had enhanced armour protection[5], a three-man turret, torsion bar suspension instead of Chrstie suspension, road wheels with internal shock absorption[5] and increased amount of fuel[5], projectiles[5], cartridges[5], etc. The Zhdanov Metallurgical Factory manufactured five sets of armour plates for the hull of the T-34M medium tank[5] and delivered them to Factory No. 183.[5] However, early in 1941 work on the T-34M medium tank virtually ceased[5] as the production facilities were extremely busy with the mass production of the T-34.[5] When the war with Nazi Germany broke out the only sensible solution was to gradually improve the existing design.[2] In 1942 the T-43 tank design project concentrated on increasing armour at a time when maintaining production and increasing firepower were more important. The T-43 was canceled, but its new turret design was adapted to carry a larger 85 mm D-5T and later ZiS-S-53 gun in a new variant called the T-34-85. It however marked the end of T-34 improvement capabilities as fitting a 100 mm gun proved to be unfeasible.[2][1]
In the autumn of 1943 the Stalin Ural Tank Factory No. 183, located in Nizhny Tagil (in the Ural Mountains, where most of the Soviet tank industry had been evacuated after Operation Barbarossa in 1941), started working on a vehicle that would have improvement opportunities in the future. The intention was to retain the high mobility of the T-34 and provide it with heavier armour protection against modern tank guns. In November 1943, the chief designer, A. A. Morozov, presented the overall design of the vehicle and a model of the tank which received a designation T-44 (Ob'yekt 136). The first prototype was completed by January 1944 and two more were completed in February. The first two prototypes were armed with 85 mm D-5T guns and received the designation T-44-85, while the third prototype was armed with the 122 mm D-25-44T tank gun and received the designation T-44-122. The D-25-44T tank gun was very similar to the basic D-25 field gun, but differed in some minor details including fixed single-piece ammunition to increase the rate of fire and a double-baffle muzzle brake.[1][7] What allowed fitting such powerful armament in a medium tank weighing 30 tonnes was the construction of the hull with an innovative placement of the engine. Unlike most tanks, in the T-44 the engine was placed perpendicular to the axis of the tank. The hull was designed without sponsons. It was also much wider which made the crew compartment bigger and allowed the turret to be placed over the center part of the vehicle.[1] This reduced the overall length of the vehicle. The thickness of the armour was 75 mm on the front of the hull and 90 mm on the front of the turret. The side armour was 45 mm thick and could be reinforced by 30 mm thick additional armour plate. All three prototypes were powered by the V-2IS diesel engine which developed 500 hp (373 kW). This first generation of prototypes also featured a raised cast drivers hatch with an opening vision flap as well as mounting bolts in a ring around the base of the gun tube.[2][1][7]
Morozov's new medium tank design received a skeptic response. It was believed that putting a high-speed V-12 engine with a working displacement of almost 40 liters perpendicular to the direction of travel would cause problems including breaking the connecting rods. It was also believed that decreasing the displacement of the engine compartment for the purpose of enlarging the fighting compartment was unnecessary and that moving the turret rearwards will limit the elevation angle of the main gun. However it turned out that rotating the engine solved many problems. The significant decrease in the length of the engine compartment allowed the turret to be moved rearwards, which in turn moved its rotation axis to the center of the hull and increased the shooting accuracy of the main gun.[1] It also become possible to increase the thickness of frontal armor protection more than twice without disturbing the center of mass or drastically increasing the weight of the tank. At the beginning of WWII the thickness of T-34 armour was enough. Improvements made to the T-34 during WWII included increasing the caliber of the gun (from 76 mm to 85 mm) and thickening the armor of the turret. However no significant improvements were made for the hull. Increasing the space of the compartment allowed the under-floor ammunition stowage to be removed which was inconvenient because the cartridge-cases got in the way. The ammunition was instead moved to the side stowage. The height of the tank was decreased by 300 mm, even though the turret remained almost the same. Removal of the conical pair in the transmission permitted fitting a more compact gear box and improved the control of the brakes and the steering clutch. The driver received a greater visibility and was kept from getting soaked while the tank was fording water obstacles because his hatch was moved from the glacis plate and positioned so that he exited the vehicle perpendicularly instead of crawling out of the hatch. The new torsion bar suspension allowed easier crossing of rough ground.[8]
The first trials of the T-44-122 prototype took place in February and March 1944, but were unsuccessful due to gun failure, and the gun was returned to the No. 9 factory for repair. In April and May 1944 the trials were resumed. Aside from standard trials, the T-44-122 was put in competitive trials against the captured German Panzerkampfwagen V Panther medium tank[1] and the second of two first generation T-44-85 prototypes.[1] However, the practical rate of fire was two to three rounds per minute due to the cramped turret and long, heavy ammunition.[1] In addition, the vehicle had a very limited stowage of only 24 rounds and this was considered insufficient for a medium tank. As a result all further development of the T-44-122 prototype was canceled.[2][7][1]
Like the T-44-122 prototype, one of the two first generation T-44-85 prototypes went through competitive trials against the captured German Panzerkampfwagen V Panther medium tank.[1] Also the second of the two first generation T-44-85 prototypes was put in competitive trials against the T-44-122 prototype.[1] Aside from that the second prototype uncovered additional faults in the design. By May 1944 two second-generation prototypes were being built. These featured the driver's position moved rearwards so that his hatch was partially on the hull roof. The driver's vision flap was reduced to a plain square flap with rounded lower corners, in line with the glacis plate. Also, these prototypes had prominent collars at the base of the gun tube, without mounting bolts which were present in the first generation prototypes. The two prototypes also have differences between each other.[7] One prototype had a splashboard on the glacis plate[7] while the other had a smooth uncluttered glacis plate.[7] One of these prototypes passed trails on NIBT proving grounds in June and July 1944. This prototype weighed 31.3 tonnes and was armed with an 85 mm ZiS-S-53 gun. The turret front armour thickness was increased to 115 mm. Hulls side armour thickness was increased to 75 mm.[2][7]
The third generation prototype, which received the designation T-44A, was completed after the Morozov Design Bureau had moved back to Kharkiv in Ukraine. The hull upper front armour (glacis plate) thickness was increased to 90 mm and the turret front armour thickness was increased to 120 mm. Even though it was more heavily armoured, the weight went down to 30.7 tonnes. This vehicle also had a new V-44 12-cylinder 4-stroke diesel engine of 520 hp (388 kW) at 1,800 rpm, which allowed the tank to travel at a speed of 60.5 km/h. This prototype also featured some other differences from the earlier prototypes, including the fact that drivers hatch was moved entirely to the roof of the hull[7] and the vision flap was deleted from the design[7] and replaced by a vision slot in the glacis plate.[7] After trials conducted in August and September 1944 and after it received several upgrades[2] (which increased the weight of the vehicle to 31.9 tonnes), the T-44A officially entered service with the Red Army on the 23rd of November 1944.[2][7]
Even with it's innovative technology and better armour protection, the T-44A still used an 85 mm ZiS-S-53 tank gun, the same as the one fitted on the T-34-85 medium tank and the army needed a new tank armed with a 100 mm gun.[2] Therefore two projects were started. Both were basing themselfs on the T-44A medium tank. The first one was focused at making the T-44A design able to mount a 100 mm gun. In 1945, one last T-44 prototype called T-44-100 was made. This one featured a modified turret which could be fitted with the 100 mm D-10T gun or 100 mm LB-1 gun (LB stands for Lavrenty Beria).[7] This prototype also had the 12.7 mm DShK anti-aircraft heavy machine gun fitted to the loader's hatch, 6 mm thick anti-HEAT sideskirts protecting the sides and two cylindrical fuel tanks in the back[1] which increased the fuel capacity to 1035 l.[4] These cylindrical fuel tanks would later also be used in Soviet main battle tanks as additional fuel tanks. The other project was focused instead on creating a new, better vehicle which would be a further development of T-44A. The result was the T-54-1 main battle tank which entered production in 1946. After that the further development of the T-44 medium tank was canceled and all the attention was directed towards the development of a new T-54 main battle tank.[1][7]
Description
The T-44 had a typical tank layout: the driving compartment at the front, the fighting compartment in the middle and the engine compartment in the rear. The original intention was to retain the high mobility and speed of a T-34 and to provide the T-44 with heavier armour protection against large-caliber tank guns. This was accomplished by adding thicker armour but reducing the internal volume of the hull. The T-44 also had a lower profile than the T-34, and was potentially simpler to manufacture. [citation needed] Although the T-44 used many components of the T-34, it had a new hull, modified V-2 engine, suspension and transmission. The T-44 had a compact torsion-bar suspension instead of the T-34's Christie coil springs, although it retained the Christie method of engagement between the slotted drive wheel and track lugs. The hull and wheels were virtually identical to the early T-54's, although the tracks were the same as those on the T-34. The suspension had five large spoked road wheels and 'dead' track. There was a prominent gap between the first and second road wheel. Photos of various prototypes are sometimes seen with a gap behind the second road wheel instead of the first. The original T-44 had the T-34's 'spider' road wheels and a narrow, inset drive wheel at the rear. Reflecting trends in other designs in this period, the T-44 was designed without the hull radio operator/machine gunner position present in many older designs. The space saved was used to increase the ammunition load. [7] The driver's hatch was on the left side of the hull roof. The tank had an improved hull design, longer and wider than the T-34 but slightly lower thanks to the relocation of the air-filter, with thicker armour, and was simpler to construct. [citation needed] The hull had a sloped glacis plate, vertical sides, and slightly beveled rear. Some tanks had a straight splash guard on the glacis. There were three mounts for rectangular stowage bins on the fenders (two on the right hand side fender and one on the left hand side fender). There were also four mountings for cylindrical fuel tanks on the fenders (two per side). This was changed in the T-44M which used rectangular fuel cells. The new V-44 12-cylinder 4-stroke diesel engine developing 520 hp (388 kW) at 1,800 rpm, was a more powerful version of the T-34's V-2 with a new planetary manual 5-speed transmission system, improved cooling system and an improved fuel system which increased its power output, although the tank retained the side clutches from the T-34. The new engine gave the T-44 a speed of 45 km/h to 51 km/h, as well as a road range of 235 km to 300 km. The engine deck had two transverse ventilation grilles at the rear. The exhaust port was on the rear left hand side of the hull. Early examples had transmission problems, which were resolved in a 1961 T-44M modernization with the introduction of a gearbox from the T-54 main battle tank.[7][1]
The turret, which was placed in the center of the hull, was cast, with a prominent horizontal casting seam, shaped like an elongated hexagon with sloped sides and overhang all around. It resembled a longer, better armoured T-34-85 turret. It had a cast gun mantlet with a small but prominent ring/collar around the base of the tank gun tube. The turret roof had a raised commander's cupola on the left, and loader's hatch on the right, with a low dome-shaped ventilator behind it. T-44 tanks could be fitted with additional spaced armour panels protecting the sides.[7]
Service History
The T-44 medium tank officially entered service with the Red Army on November 23, 1944. Production took place at Factory No. 75 (Zavod 75) in Kharkiv using the buildings of the old KhPZ Factory No. 183. The original plans were that the factory would produce 300 T-44A medium tanks a month. However, only 25 T-44A medium tanks were built by the end of 1944. In 1945, 940 T-44A medium tanks were built, making a total of 965 T-44A medium tanks (150 tanks built in 1944 and 1945 were completed by the end of the war). An additional 858 T-44A medium tanks were made in 1946-1947. The T-34 continued to account for 85% of medium tank production through 1950[9], and development of a more advanced medium tank with a more powerful 100 mm gun proceeded. The relatively brief production run ended in 1947 with a total of 1,823 T-44A medium tanks built. It was replaced on the production lines by the T-54-1 main battle tank, which was more mechanically reliable and could mount a 100 mm gun. The superior T-54-2 would replace T-34 production at the Omsk Factory No. 183 in 1950, and the T-54/55 main battle tank series would remain in production until 1981.[2][7]
The T-44 was issued to three tank brigades mustered on September 15, 1944 for training purposes, but these formations were re-equipped with T-34-85 medium tanks prior to entering the Battle of Berlin and Prague Offensive. These were the 6th Guards, 33rd Guards, and 63rd Guards Tank Brigades.[10] The T-44A medium tank was not used operationally in WWII for several reasons including the fact that the Red Army wasn't ready to accept a new tank[1] because of lack of sufficient supplies[1] and technical specialists who could repair and maintain the new tanks[1] as well as the fact that many of the tank crews were inexperienced.[1] However, three tanks were sent to the 100th Special Tank Company which tested them on the Eastern Front.[1]
Due to the Cold War, the USSR decided to keep the tank secret.[11][1]. It was never shown publicly during military parades[11] and there is no photographic evidence of T-44s stationed in East Germany[11] or during the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956[11] although it is known that T-44s were sent there.[11]
In 1961, a number of T-44A medium tanks were modernized with parts from T-54 main battle tank and other upgrades and received the designation T-44M. In 1963, some T-44M medium tanks were converted into T-44MK command tanks. In 1966, a number of T-44A and T-44M medium tanks received a gun stabilizer. T-44M and T-44S medium tanks remained in service with the Soviet Army until the end of the 1970s, when their usefulness as tanks had ended. Many of T-44M medium tanks were converted into BTS-4A armoured recovery vehicles, artillery tractors, tank tractors, engineer tanks and fixed defensive positions. Unlike most of Soviet made weapons the T-44 wasn't exported.[1][7]
After the coat of extreme secrecy was lifted in 1960s when the tank was already becoming obsolete, it was used in two Soviet war movies[1], Father of a Soldier[1] and Act by situation.[1] In the first one, for reasons which remain unknown, it was used to portray a T-34.[1] In the second one it was visually modified with additional plates[1] to look like the Tiger I heavy tank.[1]
Variants
- T-44-85 – Designation used for all prototypes armed with 85 mm gun.[7]
- T-44A (1944) – Main production model.[7]
- T-44M (1961) – T-44A modernization incorporating a drive train upgraded to match the one used in T-54 including the V-54 12-cylinder 38.88 liter water-cooled diesel engine developing 523 hp (390 kW), gearbox, tracks, 'starfish' road wheels and a conventional toothed drive sprocket, flush with the outer track edge. It also had an increased ammunition stowage, new radio and infra-red night sight. The original fenders were replaced by the T-54-style ones. The catwalk stowage was changed to the flat T-54 external fuel tanks with embossed circle and cross. Also a T-54-style headlight cluster was added to right hand side of the glacis plate and the T-34-style headlight on the left hand side of the hull was removed.[7]
- T-44MK (1963) – T-44M converted into a command tank.[7]
- T-44S (1966) – T-44A or T-44M fitted with gun stabilization system.[7]
- BTS-4A – T-44M converted into an armoured recovery vehicle. It was also known as BTS-4-44M.[7]
- T-44M (1961) – T-44A modernization incorporating a drive train upgraded to match the one used in T-54 including the V-54 12-cylinder 38.88 liter water-cooled diesel engine developing 523 hp (390 kW), gearbox, tracks, 'starfish' road wheels and a conventional toothed drive sprocket, flush with the outer track edge. It also had an increased ammunition stowage, new radio and infra-red night sight. The original fenders were replaced by the T-54-style ones. The catwalk stowage was changed to the flat T-54 external fuel tanks with embossed circle and cross. Also a T-54-style headlight cluster was added to right hand side of the glacis plate and the T-34-style headlight on the left hand side of the hull was removed.[7]
- T-44A (1944) – Main production model.[7]
- T-44 tanks converted into fixed fortifications. This process usually involved the removal of the engine and the gearbox while burying the tank up to the top of the hull and covering the turret in concrete to break up the outline and to give it a rock like appearance.[7]
- T-44-122 (1944) – Prototype armed with D-25-44T 122 mm gun.[7]
- T-44-100 (1945) – Prototype fitted with a new modified turret which would allow fitting the 100 mm D-10T gun or 100 mm LB-1 gun (LB stands for Lavrenty Beria). The tank carries 34 rounds for the 100 mm tank gun. This prototype also had the 12.7 mm DShK anti-aircraft heavy machine gun fitted to the loader's hatch, 6 mm thick sideskirts protecting the sides and two cylindrical fuel tanks in the back giving it a fuel capacity of 1035 l. The longer tank gun barrel increased the overall length of the vehicle to 8.04 m. Also the new turret, new armament and the sideskirts made the vehicle heavier as it weighted 34.55 tonnes.[7][4]
Operators
Soviet Union - 1,823 T-44A medium tanks built. A number upgraded to T-44M standard in 1961 and T-44S standard in 1966. Some T-44M medium tanks converted into T-44MK command tanks in 1963. Remained in service with Red army until the end of 1970s. Many of these tanks were converted into BTS-4A armoured recovery vehicles, engineer tanks and fixed defensive positions.
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af "The Russian Battlefield"
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Czołgi Świata" (World's Tanks or Tanks Of The World) magazine issue 25
- ^ a b "KMDB T-44"
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Modern Tanks"
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "KMDB T-34"
- ^ a b "KMDB T-34M"
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "JED The Military Equipment Directory"
- ^ "Freerepublic"
- ^ Zaloga & Johnson 2004:6
- ^ Zaloga et al 1997:61
- ^ a b c d e "Czołgi Info"
References
- Zaloga, Steven J. (1984). Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-606-8.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Zaloga, Steven J. (2004). T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944–2004. Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-792-1.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Zaloga, Steven J., Jim Kinnear, Andrey Aksenov & Aleksandr Koshchavtsev (1997). Soviet Tanks in Combat 1941-45: The T-28, T-34, T-34-85, and T-44 Medium Tanks, Hong Kong: Concord Publication. ISBN 962-361-615-5.
See also
External links
- T-44 Medium Tank at battlefield.ru
- T-44 Medium Tank at wwiivehicles.com
- Rem Ulanov: The Transitional Variant, memoir of a T-44 test driver, at iremember.ru