The history of the creation of the T-34. Part 1.

There were many legendary and great cars in the history of World War II, but the Soviet average tank T-34 was and remains the most significant. This is an article on the history of the creation of this tank, about its predecessor A-32.

The history of the appearance of the T-34 begins in 1937, when the development of tanks began, which subsequently influenced the creation of “thirty-four”. In September 1938, after consideration of design drawings and layouts of the developed BT-20 tank, the Auto-Bront Management Commission, it was decided to manufacture one wheel and caterpillar tank with a 45-mm gun, two tracked tanks with a 76 mm guns and one shelling case for shelling. In mid-December 1938, improved projects and models of the A-20 tank considered and approved at a meeting of the Main Military Council. A-20 was presented in two versions: wheat and caterpillar (A-20g, which later became A-32). But the final fate of the T-40, T-100 and A-20 tanks was decided on February 26, 1939 at a meeting of the defense committee at the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR (permission to build prototypes and allocation of the necessary funds). As a result, the next day the minutes of the meeting of the defense committee was signed, according to which plant No. 183 was supposed to make three tanks.

A-32 tank (with a 76-mm gun L-10)The A-20 Wheel-Hasinichnaya was ready for May 26, 1939. But the manufacture of a caterpillar machine A-20g (in May 1939 in the documents a new designation is already found-A-32) was late: the first sample was ready on June 13, 1939. In appearance and design, the A-32 resembled A-20, but still there were a number of differences: a) there was no wheel drive;b) the thickness of the armor was distinguished;c) A-32 was armed with a 76-mm gun of L-10;d) the weight of the A-32 was 19 tons. In July 1939, the landfill tests of these tanks began, which ended on August 23. The conclusions of the commission observing the tests were the following: “The A-20 and A-32 tanks were well made. In its strength and reliability above all prototypes of previously released tanks. Have a more powerful armor protection in comparison with serial machines … The cross -country ability of tanks is higher than that of BT … Conclusion. Prototypes A-20 and A-32 are suitable for operation in the conditions of the Red Army. The A-32 tank, as having a margin of weight gain, is advisable to protect with more powerful armor, accordingly, increasing the strength of individual parts “.

After both cars were sent to the Kubinka training ground in order to appear before the eyes of the members of the USSR government (Voroshilov, Mikoyan, Zhdanov, Likhachev and Malyshev were present). Also, tanks of KV, QMC, T-100, BT-7M, T-26 and BA-11 armored vehicles also participated in this review. The new technique made a good impression on the high authorities. It was noted that the A-32 has the full opportunity to strengthen the armor up to 45 mm without special alterations, which should provide protection from 37 mm shells. To determine the possibility of strengthening the armor, they used the second sample A-32, which was made on August 26, 1939. From the first sample, it differed only by weapons: a 45-mm tank gun was installed. In addition, there were no optical devices on the loaded tank, a gun lifting mechanism, radio equipment, machine guns, ammunition with weight models of artillery shots and machine -gun shops, spare parts and transported tools. The tank was loaded with cast -iron blades to a mass of 24 tons.

A-32 tank (second sample), loaded https://megaways-casino.uk with cast-iron blanks.

At the end of August 1939, the development of a new tank with greater armor began in KB 520. This machine received the designation A-34. In December 1939, at a meeting of the Defense Committee, Decree No. 443C was adopted., In the part of the new tank of the plant No. 183, the following was said:

“To adopt the Red Army: ..

The T-32 tank is a caterpillar made by plant No. 183 of the People’s Commissariat, with the following changes:
A) increase the thickness of the main armor sheets to 45 mm;
B) improve the view of the tank;
C) install a F-32 76 mm gun on the tank, paired with a machine gun of a caliber of 7.62 mm ..
Assign the name of the specified tank “T-34” ..

A) organize the production of T-34 tanks at the Kharkov plant No. 183;
B) make 2 prototypes of the T-34 tanks by January 15, 1940 and the installation batch in the amount of 10 pieces-by September 15, 1940 ..
C) bring the capacity of the T-34 tanks to the T-34 tank on January 1, 1941 to 1600 pieces … ”
The issue was planned as A-20 (plant No. 183 in g. Kharkov), and T-34 (plant No. 183 and the Stalingrad Tractor Plant), but later it was decided to refuse the T-34 of the release of the A-20.

The first sample of the A-34 tank, the view on the right.

A-34 tank No. 1, front view.

Thus, the T-34 tank was adopted even before the manufacture of prototypes: the test was only affected by A-32. January 16, 1940 the first sample of the T-34 entered the factory tests.