Chapter 281 KV-1 Tank

In the heart of the Red Empire, a group of people in the Kremlin in Moscow discuss the war situation in Europe.

The flames of war have burned throughout Europe, and such an opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not only can I explore the combat effectiveness of various European countries, but I can also learn lessons from each battle and use them for my own use.

The most important of them is the German tactics and combat effectiveness.

After twenty years of hard work, Germany has become formidable.

"It seems that France's surrender is only a matter of time." Once France surrenders and Germany fully integrates France's powerful industrial system, Germany will become the real European hegemon.

However, such a powerful European hegemon was also a considerable threat to the Soviet Union and was not in the interests of the Soviet Union.

If possible, the Soviet Union should nip this threat in its infancy as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the Soviet Union cannot take action now. The reason is certainly not the "Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact" signed by the Soviet Union and Germany. The so-called agreements and treaties are worthless to the Soviets, and they can be torn up at any time as long as they are in the interests of the Soviet Union.

What did not dare to allow the Soviets to act rashly was the purge campaign still raging in the country. Stalin was furious because of the deception of Yezhov and Voroshilov during the last Polish war. It also caused the purge movement that had just come to an end to revive again, burning more fiercely than before. The whole country is in chaos, and I'm afraid this situation will continue for a few months. How can I think of attacking others? If others don't take the opportunity to attack them, they will burn incense.

More importantly, Stalin was waiting for a powerful tank.

This matter starts from the Spanish Civil War a few years ago.

In this war, the Soviets sent a newly formed tank force to participate in the war, providing a total of 331 light tanks. These tanks are mainly T-26, with a small amount of BT-5. The T-26 is a copy of the British "Vickers" 7-ton tank. It uses Soviet-designed turrets and 45mm artillery and other weapons. It is mainly used to support infantry operations. The BT-5 is a fast tank using the American "Christie" suspension system and is mainly used for reconnaissance.

Although these light tanks are excellent in terms of mobility, unfortunately their protective performance is simply terrible. When faced with field artillery, anti-tank artillery, and even anti-tank guns, the armor of these light tanks is still easily penetrated.

When the T-26 tanks first fought in Spain, three were destroyed by anti-aircraft artillery and infantry weapons. In another battle, a unit of the International Column equipped with 40 tanks suffered heavy losses under artillery fire. There was once a 37mm anti-tank gun hidden in a church that destroyed more than 12 T-26 tanks! 30% to 40% of the battle losses of the International Column's tanks were caused by combat anti-aircraft guns.

After the war, Pavlov, the head of the Soviet Army Advisory Group, believed. "Tanks can only achieve good combat results if they work closely with infantry. The large-scale use of tanks in combat is theoretically unfeasible. Because if tanks do not have infantry support, all tanks will be exposed to the firepower of enemy anti-tank guns. Down."

Pavlov's views deeply influenced Stalin. From then on, the Soviet army began to completely deny the "great depth" combat theory proposed by Marshal Tukhachevsky and the idea of ​​adopting mechanized troops centered on tanks. At the same time, all the mechanized armies formed over the past 32 years were disbanded, and tanks were assigned to infantry as support weapons. The development of the Soviet mechanized forces returned to the starting point.

It was not until the Battle of Poland broke out and the German armored forces swept across Europe that Stalin woke up from his dream. He hurriedly reorganized the mechanized forces and ordered the development of a sufficiently powerful tank.

"Great Comrade Stalin, your convoy is ready." At this time, Stalin's secretary came in and reported respectfully.

"Okay, today's meeting will end here first. Let's go and see the latest works of the Kirov Factory." Stalin said as he stood up and walked out, looking particularly ambitious.

He cannot help but be excited because he will go to the Kubinka tank training base near Moscow to review the latest KV heavy tank produced by the Kirov factory.

Amid everyone's expectations, the convoy arrived at the Kubinka tank training base outside Moscow. When Stalin got out of the car, he saw a tall and powerful new tank parked not far away.

"Great leader Comrade Stalin, this is our latest heavy tank, code-named KV-1. It can be said to represent the crystallization of Soviet technology. Its performance is enough to crush the German Jackal tank." Ye who followed Stalin Moreyev introduced enthusiastically. (Originally, the KV-1 was jointly developed by Kotin and Yemoreev, but Kotin was Voroshilov’s son-in-law and was implicated. He is now digging potatoes in Siberia. As for the codename of this tank, KV-1 (Voroshilov) I won’t change it, so as not to look confused.)

When they were designing, they had already targeted the German Jackal tank. Although the Germans have always regarded this tank as the most confidential equipment, it is absolutely impossible to keep it completely secret when used extensively on the battlefield. They gathered data from all aspects and conducted further research on this basis to form a complete suppression. This is the job of the Kirov Design Bureau.

"Its armor-piercing shells can penetrate up to 77mm (close-range flat shooting), which is enough to penetrate the Germans' 55mm frontal armor at medium distance." The frontal armor thickness of the German Jackal tank is 55mm, which seems to be easy to penetrate; but the Jackal tank armor is inclined at 55 degrees, and the frontal horizontal thickness reaches 95mm according to the equivalent of inclined armor.

"Its armor is very strong, with a frontal armor thickness of 75mm (with a small angle inclination). Ordinary tank guns cannot penetrate from medium distance, and its side armor and back armor can also resist the attack of various artillery."

In 1940, a Soviet tank platoon equipped with KV-1 tanks participated in the battle to break through the main position of Finland. In the battle, no KV-1 tank was penetrated. In the early days of the Soviet-German War, in the battle between the Soviet and German armies, let alone the No. 2 and No. 3 tanks; even the early model of the No. 4 tank was helpless against it.

In 1941, in the Battle of La Seiniai shortly after the Barbarossa Plan began, the KV heavy tanks of the Soviet Second Tank Division encountered the German armored forces. The 37mm caliber shells of the German tanks were bounced back by the thick armor of the Soviet tanks and exploded in the surrounding German infantry groups, which surprised the German tank soldiers. The German army had to change direction and go around the rear of the Soviet tanks to destroy the KV.

In this battle, a KV heavy tank sneaked behind the German line. On June 24, the tank was disguised as a seemingly abandoned tank and ambushed on the supply line of the German Sixth Armored Division. When a German convoy loaded with fuel and ammunition passed by, the KV heavy tank suddenly opened fire and blew up 12 German transport vehicles in succession. The severely damaged German army was in a panic, and finally transferred a 50mm caliber anti-tank gun to attack the KV, but the KV was not afraid and destroyed it with just one shell.

Then, the Germans tried to attack the Soviet tank with a more powerful 88mm anti-aircraft gun from 700 meters away, but the gun was discovered and destroyed by KV before it was pulled into place. That night, German soldiers tried to sneak up on the Soviet tank and wanted to blow it up with explosive packs. When they were about to start the action, a gun went off accidentally and the action failed.

What shocked the Germans was that this Soviet tank alone actually resisted the advance of the entire German armored division for 24 hours. The Germans couldn't sit still. The next morning, German Army General Erhard Laus organized a joint attack by infantry and artillery, and the KV tank finally couldn't resist. Finally, German soldier Shutsen climbed onto the top of the tank and threw a grenade into the tank, and all the Soviet KV tank crew members were killed.

Seeing Stalin nodding frequently with satisfaction, Yemoreyev continued to speak respectfully. "Comrade Stalin, we are still designing a more powerful KV-2 model, which will soon enter trial production."

"That's great." Stalin was delighted, and he praised Yemoleyev and all the workers of the Kirov factory, and instructed them to mass-produce this tank as soon as possible and equip the troops.