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Soviet combat vehicle production during World War II

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File:Tank factory.jpg
Production of KV-1 heavy tanks

During the Second World War[1] from the start of the war between the Soviet Union and Germany (German invasion of the Soviet Union) on 22 June 1941 Soviet armoured vehicle production was necessary to replace losses due to combat and the loss of production facilities.

Figures are up until the first half of 1945 and only include new production. The Soviet Union had 25,664[2] or 25,481[3] armoured fighting vehicles on 1 June 1941 before it entered the war.

Not shown here are armoured cars, aerosans, artillery tractors and armoured trains.

Light armoured fighting vehicles

Armoured vehicles under about 15 tonnes could be produced and rebuilt in many light industrial installations, such as automotive, streetcar, and light tractor factories. Most were driven by standard automotive engines.

For these reasons light tank production continued well into the war, even though the medium T-34 was much more cost-effective. Foreign light tanks continued to be delivered under Lend-Lease, but domestic production would be replaced by cheaper armoured cars and the plentiful SU-76M self-propelled gun, which was simpler but packed a bigger high-explosive punch.

Typ 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total
Tanks T-26 1,601[4] 1,613[5] 116[6] 47[7] 1,717 or 1,660
BT-7 779[8] 780[9] 779 or 780
T-40 41[10] 668[11][12] 675[13] 180[14] 709 or 896
T-50 48[15] 60[16] 15[17][18] 63 or 75
T-60 1,388[19] 1,366[20] 4,477[21] 4,352[22] 55[23][24] 5,920 or 5,773
T-70 4,883[25][26] 3,348[27][28] 8,231
SP guns ZiS-30[29] 101 101
SU-76[30] 25 1,908 7,155 2,966 12,054
SU-76i[31] 201 201
Total 2,422 or 2,433 2,321 or 2,249 9,580 or 9,455 5,512 7,155 2,966 29,956 or 29,770

The SU-76 was a 76 mm gun mounted on a lengthened version of the T-70 chassis.

Medium armoured fighting vehicles

Building and overhauling heavier armoured vehicles required specialized heavy machinery. Their main components were produced and assembled in facilities which also built heavy tractors, artillery, locomotives, and ship components.

The T-34 tank's basic design was optimal, and continual development of industrial processes allowed it to be produced in greater numbers than any other armoured vehicle during the war.

Medium self-propelled guns were reasonably successful in the pure antitank role, but larger-calibre guns would become more common on heavier chassis, which could better handle their heavy recoil and carry an adequate provision of their large ammunition.

Typ 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total
Tanks T-28 12 12
T-34 115 2,800 12,553 15,812 3,500 34,780
T-34-85 10,449 12,110 22,559
T-44 200 200
SP guns SU-122 25 630 493 1,148
SU-85 750 1,300 2,050
SU-100 500 1,175 1,675
Total 127 2,800 12,578 17,192 16,242 13,485 62,424

The T-28 was an older tank reaching the end of its production in 1940, and there were several hundred fielded already.

The T-34 was originally armed with a 76-mm gun; this was upgraded to a higher-velocity 76-mm, then finally to an 85-mm gun in a bigger turret. The production given for the T-34/85 in 1945 is the full production of that year.

The SU-85, SU-122 and SU-100 were all self-propelled guns mounted on the chassis of the T-34. The SU-85 and the later SU-100 mounted high-velocity guns and were designed for anti-tank work. The SU-122 mounted the lower-velocity 122-mm M-30 howitzer, and was mainly used as battlefield assault artillery against infantry.

Heavy armoured fighting vehicles

Soviet heavy tank production was constantly in danger of cancellation during the war, and only continued thanks to constant improvement and liberal doses of political interference. These vehicles required significantly more resources to produce than the T-34 medium tank, and were always outmatched by it in some significant way. The most successful were the later IS-2 tank and heavy self-propelled guns, whose large-calibre firepower was generally useful against both soft and hard targets. Soviet high command had examined and rejected the 100mm D-10s Gun for the IS2, despite its very high penetration, as it was not able to provide the high explosive support needed against soft targets.[32]

Typ 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total
Tanks KV-1 141 1,121 1,753 3,015
KV-1S 780 452 1,232
KV-8 102 35 137
KV-85 130 130
IS-2 102 2,252 1,500 3,854
IS-3 350 350
SP guns KV-2 102 232 334
SU-152 704 704
ISU-122/152 35 2,510 1,530 4,075
Total 243 1,353 2,635 1,458 4,762 3,030 13,831

Heavy tanks

The KV-1 (after Kliment Voroshilov) was armed with a 76 mm gun; as with the T-34, the length of the gun was increased during production. The KV-1S was a version of the KV-1 with lighter armour (making it faster) and a new turret (still with a 76 mm gun). KV-85 was a KV-1S fitted with an 85 mm gun in the same turret as the IS-1.

After Voroshilov lost political favour, the new KV-13 model with the KV-85's turret and gun was renamed IS-1 after Joseph (Iosif) Stalin. It was soon upgraded to a new turret with high-velocity 122 mm gun, and renamed IS-2, finally giving a slow, expensive heavy tank one clear superiority over the medium T-34.

The IS-3 was an IS-2 with new, advanced hull and turret armour. It saw no combant in world war 2.

KV-8 was a flamethrower tank.

Heavy self-propelled guns

The KV-2 used the same hull as the KV-1 but was armed with a 152 mm howitzer in a huge turret, and was intended for use against fortified targets and infantry. The SU-152 was a 152 mm howitzer on a KV-1S hull. Like the KV-2 it was intended for use as an assault weapon against infantry, but in a hull mount would have a much lower profile, and be cheaper and easier to produce.

The ISU-122 and ISU-152 were self-propelled guns on IS hulls. They were both used as heavy assault guns; and both were useful as Anti Tank weapons. The 122s D25 Gun could penetrate almost any German Tank, and the 152s ML20 had long been used against enemy armour; although it had a low velocity, the massive shell could inflict considerable damage through concussive effects.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Eastern Front of WWII is also known as Great Patriotic War
  2. ^ Боевой и численный состав Вооруженных Сил СССР в период Великой Отечественной войны (1941-1945 гг.). Статистический сборник №1 (22 июня 1941 г.) (Battle and number orders of Armed Forces of USSR during Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). The statistical collection (22nd June 1941). Moscow, 1994. P. 132-135.
  3. ^ Мельтюхов М.И. Упущенный шанс Сталина. Схватка за Европу: 1939-1941 гг. (Документы, факты, суждения). Изд. 3-е, исправленное и дополненное (Stalin's Missed Chance. Struggle for Europe: 1939-1941. (Documents, facts, opinions). 3rd edition). Moscow, 2008. P. 525.
  4. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Г. Отечественные бронированные машины. XX век. Том 1. 1905-1941 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 1. 1905-1941). Moscow, 2002. P. 17
  5. ^ Коломиец М.В. Т-26. Тяжелая судьба легкого танка (Heavy fate of the light tank). Moscow, 2007. P. 150.
  6. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 24
  7. ^ Коломиец М.В. Т-26. Тяжелая судьба легкого танка (Heavy fate of the light tank). Moscow, 2007. P. 150.
  8. ^ Коломиец М.В. Легкие танки БТ. "Летающий танк" 1930-х (The BT light tanks. The 30s' flying tank). Moscow, 2007. P. 73.
  9. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Г. Отечественные бронированные машины. XX век. Том 1. 1905-1941 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 1. 1905-1941). Moscow, 2002. P. 17
  10. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Г. Отечественные бронированные машины. XX век. Том 1. 1905-1941 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 1. 1905-1941). Moscow, 2002. P. 17
  11. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Г. Отечественные бронированные машины. XX век. Том 1. 1905-1941 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 1. 1905-1941). Moscow, 2002. P. 17
  12. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 24
  13. ^ Коломиец М.В. Танки-"смертники" Великой Отечественной. Т-30, Т-60, Т-70 (Great Patriotic War's "suicide" tanks). Moscow, 2010. P. 156
  14. ^ Коломиец М.В. Танки-"смертники" Великой Отечественной. Т-30, Т-60, Т-70 (Great Patriotic War's "suicide" tanks). Moscow, 2010. P. 156
  15. ^ Мельтюхов М.И. Упущенный шанс Сталина. Схватка за Европу: 1939-1941 гг. (Документы, факты, суждения). Изд. 3-е, исправленное и дополненное (Stalin's Missed Chance. Struggle for Europe: 1939-1941. (Documents, facts, opinions). 3rd edition). Moscow, 2008. P. 506.
  16. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 24
  17. ^ Мельтюхов М.И. Упущенный шанс Сталина. Схватка за Европу: 1939-1941 гг. (Документы, факты, суждения). Изд. 3-е, исправленное и дополненное (Stalin's Missed Chance. Struggle for Europe: 1939-1941. (Documents, facts, opinions). 3rd edition). Moscow, 2008. P. 506.
  18. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 25
  19. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 24
  20. ^ Коломиец М.В. Танки-"смертники" Великой Отечественной. Т-30, Т-60, Т-70 (Great Patriotic War's "suicide" tanks). Moscow, 2010. P. 156
  21. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 25
  22. ^ Коломиец М.В. Танки-"смертники" Великой Отечественной. Т-30, Т-60, Т-70 (Great Patriotic War's "suicide" tanks). Moscow, 2010. P. 156
  23. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 25
  24. ^ Коломиец М.В. Танки-"смертники" Великой Отечественной. Т-30, Т-60, Т-70 (Great Patriotic War's "suicide" tanks). Moscow, 2010. P. 156
  25. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 25
  26. ^ Коломиец М.В. Танки-"смертники" Великой Отечественной. Т-30, Т-60, Т-70 (Great Patriotic War's "suicide" tanks). Moscow, 2010. P. 157
  27. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 25
  28. ^ Коломиец М.В. Танки-"смертники" Великой Отечественной. Т-30, Т-60, Т-70 (Great Patriotic War's "suicide" tanks). Moscow, 2010. P. 157
  29. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 291
  30. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 291
  31. ^ Солянкин А.Г., Павлов М.В., Павлов И.В., Желтов И.Т. Отечественные бронированные машины. ХХ век. Том 2. 1941-1945 (Domestic Armoured Vehicles. XXth Century. Volume 2. 1941-1945). Moscow, 2005. P. 291
  32. ^ Zaloga and Ness ( 2003), Red Army hand book, Sutton publishers Ltd. ISBN 0750932090

References

  • Harrison, Mark (2002). Accounting for War: Soviet Production, Employment, and the Defence Burden, 1940–1945. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-89424-7.
  • 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}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • T-34 production figures from battlefield.ru:
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