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Tank Archives

@tankarchives.bsky.social

3K followers 80 following 3K posts

Author, reenactor, film photographer, military historian specializing in 1930s and 1940s armoured warfare.

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · Nov 13

Following the latest Twitter exodus here. For everyone who didn't come from there, I post daily tidbits from the history of tanks and other armoured vehicles. Check out my website at www.tankarchives.com

Tank Archives

A blog about World War II era archive documents, primarily dealing with armoured warfare.

www.tankarchives.com

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 6h

The King Tiger wasn't just unreliable when it came to driving. #OTD in 1944 during gunnery trials at the NIBT proving grounds the semiautomatic mechanism of the gun broke after just 45 shots. It was fixed just to break again two days later. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 14h

After mobility trials, the Object 240 (IS-2 prototype) was forwarded to gunnery trials #OTD in 1943. A new muzzle brake developed to replace the one that ruptured earlier was sent in parallel and installed in such a hurry that it was left painted black. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 17h

Factory trials of the ISU-152 prototype SPG began #OTD in 1943. The vehicle went through brief mobility trials and gunnery trials before being shipped off for testing at the Gorohovets artillery proving grounds. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 18h

20 Valentine II and Matilda III tanks arrived in the USSR #OTD in 1941 as a part of convoy PQ-1. After crews were trained and the tanks were repaired, some had time to reach the front lines before the defensive phase of the Battle of Moscow ended. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 19h

#OTD in 1943 the four prototype T-34 tanks with 57 mm ZIS-4 guns were shipped off after finishing trials. Despite rumours, the tanks didn't go to the front lines: one went to factory #92 and the rest returned to factory #183. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 1d

Good eye, that's quite a rare one too!

Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 1d

Tank riders are often considered a uniquely Soviet phenomenon, but that is not the case. #OTD in 1941 General von Brauchitsch signed manual 130/2b "Motorized company of an infantry motorized division", which described how to use tank riders in battle. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 1d

I don't know if all Lend Lease M3s were the riveted kind but the basic M3 with a riveted hull made up more than half of all Medium Tank M3 production.

Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 1d

Not quite, most Medium Tanks M3 were built in the original configuration (riveted hull, Wright R-975 engine). The spin-offs were mostly useful to refine manufacturing technologies for the M4.

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 1d

The King Tiger tank that arrived in Kubinka for trials in September was only repaired #OTD in 1944. Its condition was still not good enough to perform mobility trials, but it could at least drive to the shooting range for gunnery trials. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 1d

V-11 engines with their output reduced to 520 hp were much more reliable than standard V-2s. Permission to install these engines into IS-2 tanks was given #OTD in 1944, but they were only put into mass production in time for the IS-3. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 1d

The design was more optimized for wartime production. A thicker plate isn't actually that much more expensive.

Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 1d

The plan for Q4 1942 production of KV-1S tanks was finalized #OTD in 1942. Each KV-1S tank cost 295,000 rubles to build, half as much as the KV-1 that it replaced. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 2d

After reviewing captured German guides on fighting the T-34, a report was composed #OTD in 1941 on how to improve the tank's protection. Some features recommended in this report were put into production, others were tested and found to not bring a significant improvement. #tanks #History #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 2d

The T-60 tank might not have been impressive for its time, but it was crucial to the defense of Moscow in the fall-winter of 1941. #OTD in 1941 Malyshev successfully petitioned for permission to repurpose non-tank factories to produce these tanks. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 2d

#OTD in 1941 the Red Army began to rigidly control qualifications of tank commanders. Only a 1st or 2nd Lieutenant could command a medium tank, a company commander required the rank of Captain (or Major, if it was a heavy tank company). #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 2d

As with any tank, the KV-1S changed during its production run. For instance, #OTD in 1942 improved ammo racks were installed, increasing ammunition capacity to 114 rounds for the main gun and 49 magazines for the DT machine guns. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 2d

The Medium Tank M3A1 was standardized #OTD in 1941. The upper hull of these tanks was cast instead of joined together with rivets. This made it easier to produce and gave it greater resistance under fire at the cost of extra weight. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 2d

The first Soviet order for M3 Light tanks was made #OTD in 1941. This tank was not without faults, but it was superior to any Soviet light tank short of the T-50. Shipments continued until the spring of 1943. #tanks #History #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 3d

Trials of German 75 mm HEAT and 50 mm APCR ammunition against the T-34 finished #OTD in 1942. The conclusion was that spaced armour could protect the sides of the tank from these new threats. Unfortunately, heavier weapons were already in use. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 3d

Due to a dire situation near Moscow, a special tank company was formed #OTD in 1941. In addition to production vehicles, it included T-29, A-20, and AT-1 prototype tanks from the museum at the Kubinka proving grounds. All three were lost in battle. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 3d

Trials of the T-46 and T-29 tanks that were supposed to replace the T-26 and T-28 respectively were approved #OTD in 1936. However, due to constantly changing requirements neither tank ended up being mass produced. #tanks #History

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 3d

The first order for Char B1 bis tanks was made #OTD in 1936. Even though it was a great vehicle for its time, only 369 of these tanks were built over the course of 4 years. French industry was unable to provide its army with a sufficient number of heavy tanks. #tanks #history

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 3d

Guards Heavy Tank Regiments began forming #OTD in 1942. They were armed with either KV-1S or Churchill heavy tanks, numbering 21 tanks (4 companies of 5 tanks each plus one tank in the HQ). #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 4d

Work on a heavy cruiser tank began #OTD in 1943. The aim of this project was to drop all the traditions dragging down British tank design and build a tank from scratch. The resulting tank, the Centurion, came too late to fight Germany but served for many decades after. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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