SMK

SMK

SMK

USSR

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.7	3.7	3.7

Class:

PREMIUM

Heavy tank

Purchase:1 300

Show in game

Description

The SMK was a Soviet prototype heavy tank, intended as a replacement for the multiturreted T-35 tank. The SMK was named after Sergei Mironovich Kirov, a communist party member assassinated in 1934. The SMK was designed by Josef Kotin at Leningrad Kirov Factory No.185 in 1939. SMK competed with another twin-turreted tank, the T-100 from Bolshevik Plant No. 174, designed by N. Barykov. Kotin also designed and produced two single-turret prototypes of the SMK known as the KV (Kliment Voroshilov). Two KVs, two T-100s, and the single SMK were sent to Finland for evaluation during the Winter War where they fought at the Battle of Summa. The long hull of the SMK made turning in Finnish forests difficult and the tank was immobilized by anti-tank mines, forcing it to be abandoned for two months before it could be recovered. The combat showed that the KV tanks were a much better solution for the future, and the SMK project was cancelled.

The SMK was introduced in Update 1.45 "Steel Generals" as a GE premium. The SMK is basically a KV-1 with slightly worse armour protection and additional turret and length. Unlike the all-around 75 mm protection of the KV-1 (L-11), the SMK has thinner sides and rear, as well as turret armour. The added length and weight also makes manoeuvring the tank in urban areas very difficult and peeking corners near impossible without being shot through track wheels which can lead to ammo detonation. The exposed neck of the main gun turret is also a big weakspot, as well as the crew being overall very closely packed, meaning any penetrating hit can become fatal.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Hull75 / 60 / 55

Turret60 / 60 / 60

Crew7 people

Visibility158 %

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour
• Cast homogeneous armour (Turret fronts)

Armour	Front	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	75 mm (30°) Front plate 75 mm (76°) Front glacis 75 mm (48-74°)	60 mm	55 mm (26-71°) Top 55 mm (9-63°) Bottom	30 mm
Main Turret	60 mm (4-70°) Turret front 60 mm (3-56°) Gun mantlet	60 mm (14-17°)	60 mm (15-16°)	30 mm
Secondary Turret	60 mm (11-47°) Turret front 60 mm (4-59°) Gun mantlet	60 mm (9-16°)	60 mm (15°)	30 mm
Cupola	60 mm	60 mm	60 mm	30 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick and tracks are 30 mm thick.
• Column elevating main turret is 60 mm thick with a range of 12-18° of slope.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB38 / 5 km/h

RB and SB36 / 5 km/h

Number of gears4 forward

1 back

Weight55.0 t

Engine power

AB1 622 hp

RB and SB850 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB29.5 hp/t

RB and SB15.5 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	38	5	55	1,097	1,622	19.95	29.49
Realistic	36	5		752	850	13.67	15.45

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB824

RB796

SB2 418

Crew training10 000

Experts67 000

Aces330

Research Aces570 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 80 / 110 / 140 %

2 × 136 / 136 / 136 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Suspension Brake System Filters Transmission Engine	Improved Parts Improved FPE Crew Replenishment	45mm_AP_1942_ammo_pack Horizontal Drive Adjustment of Fire 76mm_AP_1942_ammo_pack 45mm_APCR_ammo_pack Elevation Mechanism

Armaments

Main armament

76 mm L-11 cannon

Ammunition113 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.1 → 6.3 s

Vertical guidance-7° / 35°

76 mm L-11					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	113	-7°/+35°	±180°	N/A	12.1	16.8	20.4	22.6	24.0	8.19	7.25	6.68	6.30
Realistic					8.9	10.5	12.8	14.1	15.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
BR-350SP	APBC	90	88	79	69	60	53
OF-350M	HE	10	10	10	10	10	10
Sh-354T	Shrapnel	35	34	30	26	22	19
BR-350A (MD-5 fuze)	APHEBC	78	76	70	62	56	50

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
BR-350SP	APBC	615	6.5	-	-	-	48°	63°	71°
OF-350M	HE	615	6.2	0.05	0.1	621	79°	80°	81°
Sh-354T	Shrapnel	615	6.44	1.2	14	85	62°	69°	73°
BR-350A (MD-5 fuze)	APHEBC	615	6.3	1.2	14	150	48°	63°	71°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the SMK

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
113	108 (+5)	102 (+11)	90 (+23)	78 (+35)	1 (+112)	Yes

Notes:

• The visual discrepancy concerns the number of shells in rack 5: 60 shells are modeled but it contains 77 shells.
• Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
• Turret rear empty: 102 (+11)

Additional armament

45 mm 20-K cannon

Ammunition300 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

3.8 → 2.9 s

Vertical guidance-7° / 25°

Horizontal guidance-135° / 135°

45 mm 20-K					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	300	-7°/+25°	±135°	N/A	12.1	16.8	20.4	22.6	24.0	3.8	3.3	3.1	2.9
Realistic					8.9	10.5	12.8	14.1	15.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
O-240	HE	4	4	4	4	4	4
BR-240SP	APBC	73	70	60	50	41	34
BR-240P	APCR	94	87	64	43	29	20
BR-240	APHEBC	70	67	58	47	39	32

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
O-240	HE	335	2.14	0.1	0.4	118	79°	80°	81°
BR-240SP	APBC	757	1.43	-	-	-	47°	60°	65°
BR-240P	APCR	985	0.85	-	-	-	66°	70°	72°
BR-240	APHEBC	760	1.43	1.2	9	29.26	48°	63°	71°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the SMK

Full ammo	1st rack empty	Visual discrepancy
300	245 (+55)	Yes

Notes:

• The visual discrepancy concerns the total number of 45 mm shells: only 56 shells are modeled but 300 shells can be taken into battle.
• Once the 56 modeled shells are depleted (either from shooting or from packing fewer shells), the rack disappears.

Machine guns

12.7 mm DK machine gun

Ammunition600 rounds

Belt capacity50 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate600 shots/min

Vertical guidance-10° / 1°

Horizontal guidance-15° / 15°

7.62 mm DT machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition1 890 rounds

Belt capacity63 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate600 shots/min

12.7 mm DK
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Turret rear	600 (50)	600	-10°/+1°	±15°

7.62 mm DT
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial with 45 mm	1,890 (63)	600	-	-

Usage in battles

Confidently stand against most enemy tanks especially if they are without support, use caution against engaging multiple targets from a distance however as a track hit will end any day on the battlefield, the SMK packs its biggest punch up close and cannot expect to survive against sniping units if caught in the open. Keep the tank moving as much as possible and slightly angled facing enemies directly. When engaging heavies it's best to not go toe to toe; however by disabling a track or turret the SMK can hold up in close proximity to most heavy enemy tanks. HE and shrapnel shells are not this tanks forte, rather its APHE rounds usually due to the trick against most enemy units. The SMK can also fool enemies by shooting the 45 mm cannon, then letting the opponent peek out when they think that the cannon is reloading, and shoot them with the 76 mm cannon instead.

Attack and break enemy lines, The SMK is very much a tank worthy of entitling "Not one step back"! A fast load rate and dual turret firing system allow this tank multiple scores even when surrounded or disabled, and the sizeable crew enables quick repair, which is great as its size makes the SMK a juicy target that is more than capable of withstanding incredible amounts of damage. Great at providing weaker units cover and protection from enemy fire, the one-two punch of its cannons reward players that love using more aggressive playing styles.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Two turrets, two guns. A punchy 45 mm and a slow, but steady 76 mm
• Consistent armour all-round, effective against circling low rank tanks like Flakpanzer 38
• Outstanding Mobility for a heavy tank (15 hp/t)
• Can defend itself even when one gunner is injured thanks to the two turrets
• Very difficult to destroy in one hit thanks to the large interior

Cons:

• Gigantic size, very easy target
• The additional turret won't really help when being circled
• Armour isn't strong against tanks at the same BR like the Pz.IV
• Somewhat unique playstyle which may need practice
• Big ammo rack in the second turret (cannot be removed)
• Bad reverse gear

History

Development

The development of the SMK began after the T-35 heavy tank flaws came to light. The T-35 was unreliable and expensive, so the project was made to replace it. The project was headed by former OKMO designer N. Barykov and started in 1937 at the Bolshevik Plant with a specification that the tank could withstand 45 mm hits from point-blank ranges and 75 mm artillery at 1,200 m. The design drawn up in 1938 was still a multi-turret design like the T-35, but the number of turrets was reduced to just two and a wide-track torsion-bar suspension was utilized instead of a spring suspension. The SMK was also redesigned to two different prototypes, the one with two turrets and the other with a single turret installed instead. These two designs were approved by Stalin and the single turret one was named after then Soviet Defense Commissar Kliment Voroshilov as the KV, the forerunner for the KV-1 heavy tanks.

The SMK design weighed 55 tons and had two turrets mounted with one in front of the other, with the one in the mid-hull area as the main turret and the one in front as the secondary turret. The main turret was mounted higher than the secondary and had the 76.2 mm L-11 gun mounted while the smaller one had a 45 mm 20-K gun mounted. The design was powered by a GAM-34BT engine that produces 850 hp for the vehicle. The tank suspension was a torsion-bar suspension for improved smoothness over other suspension designs. Armour on the front hull was 75 mm thick in the front and 60 mm on the sides.

Testing

As part of the heavy tank evaluations, the designs submitted for the project were to be battle-tested. The SMK, two KV-1, and two T-100 prototypes were sent to Finland during the Winter War and took part in the Battle of Summa. These vehicles formed the 91st Tank Battalion in the 20th Heavy Tank Brigade. The SMK, however, was immobilized by a Finnish anti-tank mine during combat and because of its heavy 55-ton weight, an attempt at recovering the vehicle failed and had to be left behind for two months before Soviet forces could break the Finnish defences to secure it. Before being recovered, the Finnish were able to document and photograph the SMK thoroughly. When German intelligence discovered the SMK, it was designated the T-35C, which caused the misunderstanding that the T-35 also took part in the Winter War when it did not.

The failure of the SMK in the Winter War in contrast to the success of the KV-1 prototypes caused the KV-1 design to be accepted into service on December 19, 1939, as the Soviet's main heavy tank. The SMK thus never reached pass the development stage and was left with only one prototype produced.

Archive of the in-game description

The SMK heavy tank was designed and built at the Kirov Factory in Leningrad. In January, 1939 work began on building the tank itself, and the SMK's first test trip around the factory courtyard took place on April 30, 1939. After getting broken in at the factory, the tank was sent to testing grounds, where it underwent testing beginning on the night of July 31 and ending on August 1. Only one model was ever built. It was used in the Finnish War.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the SMK from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Multi-turreted Tanks discusses the SMK at 5:37 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the vehicles;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Russian Tanks] Heavy Soviet Tank SMK