Difference between revisions of "T-34 (Prototype)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=ussr_t_34_1940_l_11}}
 
 
{{About
 
{{About
 
| about = Soviet medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
| about = Soviet medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
+
| usage = other versions
 
| link = T-34 (Family)
 
| link = T-34 (Family)
 +
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=ussr_t_34_1940_l_11
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
+
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
[[File:GarageImage_T-34 (Prototype).jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
+
The '''A-34''' (otherwise known as '''{{Specs|name}}''') was the precursor of the famous T-34 medium tank that played a crucial role in the Soviet victory in the Second World War. The A-34 was developed from 1937 to 1939 by the design bureau of Kharkiv Factory No. 183, led by Mikhail Koshkin. It was based on the earlier [[BT-7M]] tank, but with a new welded hull and a sloped armour of 45 mm on the front and 40 mm on the sides. The A-34 was armed with a 76 mm L-11 gun and two 7.62 mm machine guns, one in the hull and one in the turret. The A-34 prototype underwent extensive testing in 1939 and 1940, proving its superior mobility, firepower and protection compared to other Soviet tanks at the time. On 19 December 1939, the Defence Committee of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decided to adopt the A-34 as the T-34, with some modifications such as improving visibility and installing additional machine guns. The T-34 entered mass production in 1940 and became one of the most influential tanks in history.
{{break}}
 
The '''{{specs|name}}''' is a gift Rank {{specs|rank}} Soviet medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was available only for pre-order during the Closed Beta Test of Ground Forces during the period before Update 1.41. 500 units were also for sale during the 5th Anniversary event, which sold out within 12 hours. The prototype of the T-34, known as the A-34, was the end result of almost five years of development that would eventually become the mass produced [[T-34_(1940)|T-34]].
 
 
 
The T-34 prototype plays like any other T-34, with its high top speed, an adequate 76 mm L-11 gun, and heavily sloped 45 mm armour. These traits make the T-34 prototype a great vehicle for flanking vehicle and as a brawler. While there are vulnerable points on the front that could be penetrated by its contemporaries and lower, a quick and aggressive fighting style could reduce the amount of time the enemy has to aim for these spots to disable the T-34 prototype.
 
 
 
The T-34 prototype presents some similarities and differences from its successor, the T-34 (1940). The front hull are identical, including the rather flat step for the driver right above his hatch's periscope. This spot only has a slope of 22° that gives only 48 mm effective armour. There are also two headlights in the front hull on both sides. Another significant detail on the hull is on the left hull on top of the track fender, which has a large rolled up canvas that is absent on the T-34 1940. Turret shape between the two tanks are about identical, with the exception of an extra light on top of the gun and a protruding antenna from the turret top's antenna mount.
 
 
 
Otherwise, the T-34 prototype follows the trend of a heavily sloped hull on all sides with 45 mm on the front and 40 on all other sides. The T-34 prototype shares the same gun, same weight, and same armour as the T-34 mod. 1940 counterpart. However, the prototype has a higher engine power compared to the mass-produced T-34/76 with 954 (AB)/500 (RB, SB) hp. This allows the prototype to gain speed and retain a higher max speed.
 
  
Several noticeable weak points on the T-34 prototype are the turret cheeks, which on the vertex areas are only 45.1 mm thick, allowing even 37 mm guns to penetrate from a reasonable range. Two weak points on the front hull are the step above the driver's hatch and the machine gun port, both of which have points of minimum sloping that degrades the full slope capability of the front hull. More precise shooters can also aim for the turret ring, which is only sloped enough to provide ~60 mm effective armour from all direction.
+
The '''A-34''', or the '''T-34 prototype''' was available only for [[wt:en/news/356--en|pre-order]] during the Closed Beta Test of Ground Forces before [[Update 1.41]], then discontinued after the update's release. 500 units were also for sale during the [[wt:en/news/5079-special-hurry-up-and-get-rare-packs-en|5th Anniversary event]], which sold out within 12 hours. It has the same features as other T-34s, such as high speed, a decent 76 mm L-11 gun, and 45 mm sloped armour. These make it good for flanking and brawling. The front has weak spots that can be penetrated, but a fast and aggressive style can minimize the exposure. The T-34 prototype differs from the T-34 (1940) in some details, such as a canvas on the left hull, a light on the gun, and an antenna on the turret. Several noticeable weak points on the T-34 are the turret cheeks, the step and the machine gun port on the front hull, and the turret ring. These areas have less sloping or thinner armour than the rest of the tank, making them vulnerable to enemy fire.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
<!--''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat?''
+
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 +
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 +
'''Armour type:'''
  
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''-->
 
'''Armour type:'''
 
 
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 
* Rolled homogeneous armour
 
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Driver's hatch, Machine gun port)
 
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Driver's hatch, Machine gun port)
 +
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 
|-
 
|-
| Hull || 45 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 45 mm (0-53°) ''Lower glacis'' <br> 45 mm (22-60°) ''Driver's hatch'' <br> 45 mm (0-77°) ''Machine gun port'' || 40 mm (40°) ''Top'' <br> 45 mm ''Bottom'' || 40 mm (10-47°) ''Top'' <br> 40 mm (21-45°) ''Bottom'' || 20 mm  
+
| Hull || 45 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 45 mm (0-53°) ''Lower glacis'' <br> 45 mm (22-60°) ''Driver's hatch'' <br> 45 mm (0-77°) ''Machine gun port'' || 40 mm (40°) ''Top'' <br> 45 mm ''Bottom'' || 40 mm (10-47°) ''Top'' <br> 40 mm (21-45°) ''Bottom'' || 20 mm
 
|-
 
|-
| Turret || 45 mm (8-80°) ''Turret front'' <br> 45 + 20 mm (13-78°) || 45 mm (29-31°) <br> 45 mm (1-73°) ''Vision ports'' || 45 mm (30-31°) <br> 45 mm (25-32°) ''Turret ring'' || 15 mm  
+
| Turret || 45 mm (8-80°) ''Turret front'' <br> 45 + 20 mm (13-78°) || 45 mm (29-31°) <br> 45 mm (1-73°) ''Vision ports'' || 45 mm (30-31°) <br> 45 mm (25-32°) ''Turret ring'' || 15 mm
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 
'''Notes:'''
 
'''Notes:'''
 +
 
* Suspensions wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
 
* Suspensions wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
 
* Hull roof has hatches on the rear engine deck that adds 10 mm.
 
* Hull roof has hatches on the rear engine deck that adds 10 mm.
Line 43: Line 40:
 
* Hull underside over tracks is 13 mm thick.
 
* Hull underside over tracks is 13 mm thick.
  
Given that the T-34 prototype nowadays is a rare tank, it is an unlikely opponent to be found on the current War Thunder battlefield. In the case it is found, defeat it in the same manner as any other T-34 tanks. The T-34 prototype has a higher power rating compared to other T-34/76 tanks so the T-34 prototype may move faster than the usual, which would affect the correct lead in aiming at a moving target. Though getting to the side may seem like an easy maneuver, the sloped side hull gives the T-34 a good chance to bounce shots. To counter this, aim for the flat hull sides near the suspension wheel areas (careful not to hit the track or wheels), or just hit the turret sides to knock out the the loader or gunner, both of which would deteriorate the T-34 prototype's combat performance.
+
Given that the T-34 prototype nowadays is a rare tank, it is an unlikely opponent to be found on the current War Thunder battlefield. In the case it is found, defeat it in the same manner as any other T-34 tanks. The T-34 prototype has a higher power rating compared to other T-34/76 tanks so the T-34 prototype may move faster than the usual, which would affect the correct lead in aiming at a moving target. Though getting to the side may seem like an easy manoeuvre, the sloped side hull gives the T-34 a good chance to bounce shots. To counter this, aim for the flat hull sides near the suspension wheel areas (careful not to hit the track or wheels), or just hit the turret sides to knock out the loader or gunner, both of which would deteriorate the T-34 prototype's combat performance.
  
The T-34 prototype can encounter Germany's longer [[KwK 40 (75 mm)|75 mm KwK 40]] gun on the [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]], the Japanese 75 mm Type 3 gun on the Chi-Nu, and the American [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm]] on the M4 Shermans to be able to reliably penetrate its front weak points. Tanks with weaker guns could also aim for the weak points on the turret cheeks, driver step near the hatch, machine gun port, turret ring, and the lower side hull for a penetration.
+
The T-34 prototype can encounter Germany's longer [[KwK40 L43 (75 mm)|75 mm KwK40 L43]] gun on the [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]], the Japanese 75 mm Type 3 gun on the Chi-Nu, and the American [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm]] on the M4 Shermans to be able to reliably penetrate its front weak points. Tanks with weaker guns could also aim for the weak points on the turret cheeks, driver step near the hatch, machine gun port, turret ring, and the lower side hull for a penetration.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
<!--''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and maneuverability as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''-->
+
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
|-
+
 
!colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
+
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=775|rbMinHp=442}}
|-
+
 
! Weight (tons)
+
=== Modifications and economy ===
!colspan="1" | Add-on Armour<br>weight (tons)
+
{{Specs-Economy}}
!colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" | 25.6 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 60 (AB)
 
|-
 
|54 (RB/SB)
 
|-
 
!colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
 
|-
 
!colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|775
 
|954
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|442
 
|500
 
|-
 
!colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
 
|-
 
!colspan="1" | Mode
 
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
|-
 
|''Arcade''
 
|30.27
 
|37.26
 
|-
 
|''Realistic/Simulator''
 
|17.26
 
|19.53
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
<!--''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''-->
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 +
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
{{main|L-11 (76 mm)}}
 
{{main|L-11 (76 mm)}}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="6" | [[L-11 (76 mm)|76 mm L-11]]
+
! colspan="5" | [[L-11 (76 mm)|76 mm L-11]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
+
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
+
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
+
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
 
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="3" | 77 || -5°/+25° || ±180° || N/A
+
! ''Arcade''
 +
| rowspan="2" | 77 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 23.8 || 32.9 || 40.0 || 44.2 || 47.1 || rowspan="2" | 9.23 || rowspan="2" | 8.17 || rowspan="2" | 7.53 || rowspan="2" | 7.10
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
+
! ''Realistic''
|-
+
| 14.9 || 17.5 || 21.2 || 23.5 || 25.0
! style="width:4em" |Mode
 
! style="width:4em" |Stock
 
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
 
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
| ''Arcade'' || 14.9 || 20.6 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
 
|-
 
| ''Realistic'' || 14.9 || 17.5 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
 
|-
 
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
| 9.3 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
===== Ammunition =====
+
==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+
{{:L-11 (76 mm)/Ammunition|BR-350A (MD-5 fuze), BR-350SP, OF-350M, Sh-354T}}
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
+
 
|-
+
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
+
[[File:Ammoracks_T-34_(1940).png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the T-34 (1940) (identical to the {{PAGENAME}})]]
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
 
|-
 
! 10m
 
! 100m
 
! 500m
 
! 1000m
 
! 1500m
 
! 2000m
 
 
|-
 
|-
| BR-350A || APHEBC || 73 || 71 || 65 || 57 || 51 || 45
+
! Full<br>ammo
 +
! 1st<br>rack empty
 +
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 +
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 +
! 4th<br>rack empty
 +
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
| BR-350SP || APBC || 77 || 76 || 69 || 61 || 54 || 48
+
| '''77''' || 75&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 72&nbsp;''(+5)'' || 69&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+76)'' || No
|-
 
| OF-350M || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9
 
|-
 
| Sh-354T || Shrapnel || 37 || 35 || 29 || 25 || 20 || 17
 
|-
 
|}
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
! colspan="11" | Shell details
 
|-
 
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead
 
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s
 
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg
 
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
 
''in m:''
 
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
 
''in mm:''
 
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''
 
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''
 
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
 
|-
 
! 0%
 
! 50%
 
! 100%
 
|-
 
| BR-350A || APHEBC || 615 || 6.3 || 0.15 || 10.0 || 150 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 
|-
 
| BR-350SP || APBC || 615 || 6.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
 
|-
 
| OF-350M || HE || 615 || 6.2 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 621 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
 
|-
 
| Sh-354T || Shrapnel || 615 || 6.2 || 0.5 || 8.0 || 85 || +0° || 62° || 69° || 73°
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
'''Note''':
  
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
+
* Turret empty: 69&nbsp;''(+8)'' shells.
[[File:Ammoracks_T-34_(1940).png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of T-34 1940 (identical as T-34 (Prototype)).]]
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br />  rack empty
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" width="10%" |Recommendations
 
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
 
|-
 
|| '''77''' || 75&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 72&nbsp;''(+5)'' || 69&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+76)'' || style="text-align:left" | No
 
|-
 
|}
 
Turret empty: 69&nbsp;''(+8)''
 
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
<!--''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''-->
+
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
 +
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 
{{main|DT (7.62 mm)}}
 
{{main|DT (7.62 mm)}}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="7" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]
+
! colspan="5" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
+
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
+
| Coaxial || 1,890 (63) || 600 || N/A || N/A
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
 
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" | 1,890 (63) || 600 || N/A || N/A
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
== Usage in the battles ==
+
== Usage in battles ==
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
+
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
The T-34 prototype, due to its weaker 76 mm L-11 gun, does better in closer encounters against thinner armour than long-range. This type of conflict encourages flanking maneuvers and brawling tactics.
+
The T-34 prototype, due to its weaker 76 mm L-11 gun, does better in closer encounters against thinner armour than long-range. This type of conflict encourages flanking manoeuvres and brawling tactics.
  
:'''Flanking:'''<br>
+
;Flanking
The T-34 prototype's higher speed makes the vehicle more favorable for getting around the enemy's sides. This, combined with the BR-250A APHEBC round, can have the T-34 prototype land an exploding round right into the side hull of an enemy tank, hopefully destroying them instantly. This tactic works favorably in larger maps such as Carpathians and Eastern Europe to get around the enemy from a distance and close in on a term in favor of the T-34's. Though, the T-34 would risk running into enemies with more capable long-range fighting skills like the high-velocity [[KwK 40 (75 mm)|75 mm KwK 40]] gun that can end the T-34's run easily.
 
  
In CQB settings like ''Advance To The Rhine'' or ''Berlin'', the T-34 can exploit its speed to get around the city landscape and get to critical points before the enemy could. Though some light tanks could beat the T-34 prototype to these locations, those vehicles could be easily dealt with if engaged first. Be proactive in annihilating the enemy and playing the objective, both of which could be done by controlling a zone of access from the flank position to destroy all enemies crossing the gun sights.
+
The T-34 prototype's higher speed makes the vehicle more favourable for getting around the enemy's sides. This, combined with the BR-350A APHEBC round, can have the T-34 prototype land an exploding round right into the side hull of an enemy tank, hopefully destroying them instantly. This tactic works favourably in larger maps such as Carpathians and Eastern Europe to get around the enemy from a distance and close in on a term in favour of the T-34's. Though, the T-34 would risk running into enemies with more capable long-range fighting skills like the high-velocity [[KwK40 L43 (75 mm)|75 mm KwK40 L43]] gun that can end the T-34's run easily.
  
:'''Brawling'''<br>
+
In CQB settings like Advance to the Rhine or Berlin, the T-34 can exploit its speed to get around the city landscape and get to critical points before the enemy could. Though some light tanks could beat the T-34 prototype to these locations, those vehicles could be easily dealt with if engaged first. Be proactive in annihilating the enemy and playing the objective, both of which could be done by controlling a zone of access from the flank position to destroy all enemies crossing the gun sights.
The T-34's large sloped armour on the turret and hull, barring the weak points, make quick reacting situations in close-quarters brawling favorable for the T-34. In a surprise engagement with an unsuspecting enemy, a careless shot from them will most likely bounce off the large surface area of the front hull or the top and bottom side of the turret cheeks. If the enemy fired before the T-34 did, it now has all the time to line a perfect shot for the 76 mm. However, the 76 mm gun in close range also a good ~70 mm penetration, quite capable to most enemies at its BR except against heavy tanks like the KV-1.
 
  
The downside with this tactic is the relatively longer reload time on the T-34 of ~8 seconds. When encountering enemies with high ROF guns, even the 50 mm guns on the Panzer III can penetrate the weak points and deal a mortal blow to the T-34. Thus, it is important to make sure the T-34 is always fully reloaded and that the first penetrating hit cripples the enemy tanks. It is also important to try and deal with individual enemies instead of multiples as the T-34 prototype is poor in dealing with multiple enemies trying to flank and hit weak points.
+
;Brawling
 +
 
 +
The T-34's large sloped armour on the turret and hull, barring the weak points, make quick reacting situations in close-quarters brawling favourable for the T-34. In a surprise engagement with an unsuspecting enemy, a careless shot from them will most likely bounce off the large surface area of the front hull or the top and bottom side of the turret cheeks. If the enemy fired before the T-34 did, it now has all the time to line a perfect shot for the 76 mm. However, the 76 mm gun in close range also a good ~70 mm penetration, quite capable to most enemies at its BR except against heavy tanks like the KV-1.
 +
 
 +
The downside with this tactic is the relatively longer reload time on the T-34 of ~8 seconds. When encountering enemies with rapid-firing guns, even the 50 mm guns on the Panzer III can penetrate the weak points and deal a mortal blow to the T-34. Thus, it is important to make sure the T-34 is always fully reloaded and that the first penetrating hit cripples the enemy tanks. It is also important to try and deal with individual enemies instead of multiples as the T-34 prototype is poor in dealing with multiple enemies trying to flank and hit weak points.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''-->
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
 +
 
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
 +
 
* Great sloping front hull armour
 
* Great sloping front hull armour
 
* Turret gun mantlet bounces shots frequently
 
* Turret gun mantlet bounces shots frequently
 
* Sloped side armour top also bounces shots
 
* Sloped side armour top also bounces shots
* 76 mm APHEBC devastating when penetrating
+
* 76 mm APHEBC round inflicts large post-penetration damage
 
* Strong engine and high top speed for excellent mobility
 
* Strong engine and high top speed for excellent mobility
 
* Versatile fighting style due to great all-around capabilities
 
* Versatile fighting style due to great all-around capabilities
Line 247: Line 143:
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
 +
 
* Only subpar penetration for the calibre, can lead to the inability to destroy enemy heavy tanks
 
* Only subpar penetration for the calibre, can lead to the inability to destroy enemy heavy tanks
 
* Relatively long reload for the usual >75 mm calibre
 
* Relatively long reload for the usual >75 mm calibre
Line 257: Line 154:
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''-->
+
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
===Development===
 
===Development===
By 1939, the most numerous tank models in the Red Army were the [[T-26|T-26]] and the [[BT-7|BT-series]] light tanks. Though adequate on the days they were introduced, they are now outdated by this time due to the changing technology in anti-tank warfare. Back in 1937, a new tank project was already taking place under engineer Mikhail Koshkin, who was assigned to lead a design team at the Kharkiv Locomotive Factory (KhPZ) for a replacement for the BT light tanks as a new "cavalry tank" to engage in maneuver warfare. The first prototype was designated the ''A-20'' with 20 mm of armour, a 45 mm gun, and a diesel engine in a V-12 configuration. The Christie suspension is taken from the BT, even the conversion to drive track-less on roads. But gradually, the new track designs available made this conversion redundant and was excluded in further models. The A-20 also showed the effective research done into sloping armour on previous prototype designs, utilizing an all-around sloping armour on the design.  
+
By 1939, the most numerous tank models in the Red Army were the [[T-26|T-26]] and the [[BT-7|BT-series]] light tanks. Though adequate on the days they were introduced, they are now outdated by this time due to the changing technology in anti-tank warfare. Back in 1937, a new tank project was already taking place under engineer Mikhail Koshkin, who was assigned to lead a design team at the Kharkiv Locomotive Factory (KhPZ) for a replacement for the BT light tanks as a new "cavalry tank" to engage in manoeuvre warfare. The first prototype was designated the ''A-20'' with 20 mm of armour, a 45 mm gun, and a diesel engine in a V-12 configuration. The Christie suspension is taken from the BT, even the conversion to drive track-less on roads. But gradually, the new track designs available made this conversion redundant and was excluded in further models. The A-20 also showed the effective research done into sloping armour on previous prototype designs, utilizing an all-around sloping armour on the design.
  
It was during this design process that the Russo-Japanese border wars took place and showed the deficiency of the T-26 and BT models. Koshkin then appealed for the initiation of a much better tank concept, the "universal tank" to completely replace the T-26 and BT tanks. The second prototype was the ''A-32'' and has an increased 32 mm of frontal armour with a 76.2 mm L-10 gun. The heavier prototype was still just as mobile as the A-20, and further development into the design increased the frontal armour thickness to 45 mm thick and a newer 76.2 mm L-11 gun attached instead. This prototype model presented, called the '''A-34''', was approved for production and designated the '''[[T-34 (1940)|T-34]]''' after the year 1934, when Koshkin believed was when he formulated the idea for the T-34. Koshkin, however, never saw his tanks in action as he succumbed to pneumonia in September 1940 after trials with the T-34 in the cold winter. Thus, the drivetrain developer Alexander Morozov was appointed as the next Chief Designer. The T-34 tank would go on to become the most produced World War II tank, with 84,000 tanks produced in the production span between 1940 to 1958.
+
It was during this design process that the Russo-Japanese border wars took place and showed the deficiency of the T-26 and BT models. Koshkin then appealed for the initiation of a much better tank concept, the "universal tank" to completely replace the T-26 and BT tanks. The second prototype was the ''A-32'' and has an increased 32 mm of frontal armour with a 76.2 mm L-10 gun. The heavier prototype was still just as mobile as the A-20, and further development into the design increased the frontal armour thickness to 45 mm thick and a newer 76.2 mm L-11 gun attached instead. This prototype model presented, called the '''A-34''', was approved for production and designated the [[T-34 (1940)|T-34]] after the year 1934, when Koshkin believed was when he formulated the idea for the T-34. Koshkin, however, never saw his tanks in action as he succumbed to pneumonia in September 1940 after trials with the T-34 in the cold winter. Thus, the drivetrain developer Alexander Morozov was appointed as the next Chief Designer. The T-34 tank would go on to become the most produced World War II tank, with 84,000 tanks produced in the production span between 1940 to 1958.
  
 
===Design===
 
===Design===
Line 271: Line 168:
 
The prototype of the T-34 was designated the '''A-34''' and was the pre-production model. One notable feature on this tank was a complex single-piece front hull, without the swinging hatch available for the driver to use.
 
The prototype of the T-34 was designated the '''A-34''' and was the pre-production model. One notable feature on this tank was a complex single-piece front hull, without the swinging hatch available for the driver to use.
  
=== In-game description ===
+
{{break}}
The most prolific and most popular soviet tank of World War II. It was developed in factory No. 183's design bureau for deployment in 1939. Around 100 of them were made by the end of 1940.
+
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
 +
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
 +
The A-34 was based on the experimental A-32 medium tank and was put into service in December 1939. This vehicle's design represented a massive leap in Soviet and world tank development. It was the first vehicle to harmoniously combine cannon-proof armour, high-powered weapons and a reliable undercarriage. Its cannon-proof qualities were provided by very thick rolled armour plates set at a slope. The tank was armed with a 76.2 mm L-11 cannon and two DT machine guns. A powerful 500 hp B-2-34 diesel tank engine and wide 550 mm tracks provided the vehicle with high mobility. The first T-34s produced in 1940 were notable for the very high quality manufacturing of their armour.
  
The T-34 Mod. 1940 had a hull and turret made of rolled armour plates set at a slope. Cast steel turrets were installed on some of the tanks. The vehicle was armed with a short-barrelled 76.2 mm L-11 Mod. 1938 cannon with a 30.5 calibre barrel length, and two DT machine guns, one paired with the cannon and the other a bow machine gun set in the frontal armour plate. Its designers used the Christie suspension with five large steel road wheels paired at each side and a large area of clearance between the second and third pairs. The T-34 Mod. 1940 became the standard model for all the tank's alternate designs. They had interchangeable parts, including the engine, armament, transmission and periscopes.
+
The T-34 had a classic layout. The tank's crew consisted of four men - the driver and gunner/radio officer in the driver's compartment, and the loader and commander (also fulfilling the role of gunner) in the two-man turret. The hull and turret were welded from homogeneous rolled armour plates set at a slope.
  
The T-34 had an unusually high power-to-weight ratio thanks to the new economic B-2 diesel engine. The tank enjoyed absolute superiority over other tanks of a comparable class in its mobility, manoeuvrability and moveability. The vehicle had a high weight limit, allowing for modernisation based on the results of combat deployment.
+
Factory No. 183 in Kharkov produced these tanks. In the spring of 1940, around 100 A-34 tanks were produced.
  
When it was put into service, all the T-34's primary tactical and technical characteristics surpassed those of all the Wehrmacht's tanks. The flaws of the first series of this tank were its low motor operating time, unreliable gearbox, the incomplete design of its observation instruments, its crowded fighting compartment and its poorly placed ammunition complement.
+
Tests of the vehicle in its first tactical deployment exposed a range of flaws, such as crowding in the fighting compartment, the limited field of view from the tank, the lack of a radio connection, the low rate of fire and low technical reliability of the new diesel engines.
 +
{{Navigation-End}}
  
Because of the poor development of relevant tactics, the deployment of these tanks at the beginning of the war was extremely unsuccessful. The crews were completely untrained, the tactical use of these tanks was poor, and their deficit of armour-piercing shells and lack of repair and evacuation equipment also had a negative effect. Practically all tanks of this type produced in 1940 were lost in the first two months of the war.
+
== Media ==
 +
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
  
== Media ==
+
;Skins
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_t_34_1940_l_11 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
== Obtainable events ==
+
== See also ==
* The tank was available during the Closed Beta Test for the initial implementation of Ground Forces in a [http://warthunder.com/en/news/356/current/ pack]. The T-34 prototype was available to be bought for 49$/€ as a standalone and 99$/€ for both this vehicle and the [[M4 748 (a) (Germany)|M4 748(a)]].
+
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
* The tank was made available almost five years later as part of War Thunder 5th anniversary during the [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5079-special-hurry-up-and-get-rare-packs-en store discount period], with 500 up for sale alongside the M4 748(a) for $59.99.
 
  
== Read 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;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
''ETC.''
 
  
== Sources ==
+
== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''
+
* ''other literature.'' -->
 +
 
 +
* [http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_a32_t32.php [Tanks-Encyclopedia<nowiki>]</nowiki> T-34 Prototypes: A-20 & A-32]
  
 +
{{TankManufacturer Morozov}}
 
{{USSR medium tanks}}
 
{{USSR medium tanks}}
 
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}
 
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}

Latest revision as of 09:07, 10 March 2024

RANK 4 FRANCE
Somua SM PACK
This page is about the Soviet medium tank T-34 (Prototype). For other versions, see T-34 (Family).
T-34 (Prototype)
ussr_t_34_1940_l_11.png
GarageImage T-34 (Prototype).jpg
T-34 (Prototype)
AB RB SB
3.3 3.3 2.7
Show in game

Description

The A-34 (otherwise known as T-34 (Prototype)) was the precursor of the famous T-34 medium tank that played a crucial role in the Soviet victory in the Second World War. The A-34 was developed from 1937 to 1939 by the design bureau of Kharkiv Factory No. 183, led by Mikhail Koshkin. It was based on the earlier BT-7M tank, but with a new welded hull and a sloped armour of 45 mm on the front and 40 mm on the sides. The A-34 was armed with a 76 mm L-11 gun and two 7.62 mm machine guns, one in the hull and one in the turret. The A-34 prototype underwent extensive testing in 1939 and 1940, proving its superior mobility, firepower and protection compared to other Soviet tanks at the time. On 19 December 1939, the Defence Committee of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decided to adopt the A-34 as the T-34, with some modifications such as improving visibility and installing additional machine guns. The T-34 entered mass production in 1940 and became one of the most influential tanks in history.

The A-34, or the T-34 prototype was available only for pre-order during the Closed Beta Test of Ground Forces before Update 1.41, then discontinued after the update's release. 500 units were also for sale during the 5th Anniversary event, which sold out within 12 hours. It has the same features as other T-34s, such as high speed, a decent 76 mm L-11 gun, and 45 mm sloped armour. These make it good for flanking and brawling. The front has weak spots that can be penetrated, but a fast and aggressive style can minimize the exposure. The T-34 prototype differs from the T-34 (1940) in some details, such as a canvas on the left hull, a light on the gun, and an antenna on the turret. Several noticeable weak points on the T-34 are the turret cheeks, the step and the machine gun port on the front hull, and the turret ring. These areas have less sloping or thinner armour than the rest of the tank, making them vulnerable to enemy fire.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull45 / 45 / 40
Turret45 / 45 / 45
Crew4 people
Visibility83 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet, Driver's hatch, Machine gun port)
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 45 mm (60°) Front glacis
45 mm (0-53°) Lower glacis
45 mm (22-60°) Driver's hatch
45 mm (0-77°) Machine gun port
40 mm (40°) Top
45 mm Bottom
40 mm (10-47°) Top
40 mm (21-45°) Bottom
20 mm
Turret 45 mm (8-80°) Turret front
45 + 20 mm (13-78°)
45 mm (29-31°)
45 mm (1-73°) Vision ports
45 mm (30-31°)
45 mm (25-32°) Turret ring
15 mm

Notes:

  • Suspensions wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
  • Hull roof has hatches on the rear engine deck that adds 10 mm.
  • Belly armour is 13 mm thick.
  • Hull underside over tracks is 13 mm thick.

Given that the T-34 prototype nowadays is a rare tank, it is an unlikely opponent to be found on the current War Thunder battlefield. In the case it is found, defeat it in the same manner as any other T-34 tanks. The T-34 prototype has a higher power rating compared to other T-34/76 tanks so the T-34 prototype may move faster than the usual, which would affect the correct lead in aiming at a moving target. Though getting to the side may seem like an easy manoeuvre, the sloped side hull gives the T-34 a good chance to bounce shots. To counter this, aim for the flat hull sides near the suspension wheel areas (careful not to hit the track or wheels), or just hit the turret sides to knock out the loader or gunner, both of which would deteriorate the T-34 prototype's combat performance.

The T-34 prototype can encounter Germany's longer 75 mm KwK40 L43 gun on the Panzer IV F2, the Japanese 75 mm Type 3 gun on the Chi-Nu, and the American 75 mm on the M4 Shermans to be able to reliably penetrate its front weak points. Tanks with weaker guns could also aim for the weak points on the turret cheeks, driver step near the hatch, machine gun port, turret ring, and the lower side hull for a penetration.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB60 / 10 km/h
RB and SB54 / 9 km/h
Number of gears4 forward
1 back
Weight25.6 t
Engine power
AB954 hp
RB and SB500 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB37.3 hp/t
RB and SB19.5 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 60 10 25.6 775 954 30.27 37.27
Realistic 54 9 442 500 17.27 19.53

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB780 Sl icon.png
RB419 Sl icon.png
SB593 Sl icon.png
Crew training3 400 Sl icon.png
Experts23 000 Sl icon.png
Aces160 Ge icon.png
Research Aces380 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 40 / 50 / 60 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 118 / 118 / 118 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Mods tank reinforcement ussr.png
Crew Replenishment
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Mods tank ammo.png
76mm_AP_1942_ammo_pack
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support

Armaments

Main armament

76 mm L-11 cannon
Ammunition77 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
9.3 → 7.1 s
Vertical guidance-5° / 25°
Main article: L-11 (76 mm)
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 77 -5°/+25° ±180° N/A 23.8 32.9 40.0 44.2 47.1 9.23 8.17 7.53 7.10
Realistic 14.9 17.5 21.2 23.5 25.0

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-350A (MD-5 fuze) APHEBC 78 76 70 62 56 50
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
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-350A (MD-5 fuze) APHEBC 615 6.3 1.2 14 150 48° 63° 71°
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°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the T-34 (1940) (identical to the T-34 (Prototype))
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
4th
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
77 75 (+2) 72 (+5) 69 (+8) (+76) No

Note:

  • Turret empty: 69 (+8) shells.

Machine guns

Ammunition1 890 rounds
Belt capacity63 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main article: DT (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm DT
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 1,890 (63) 600 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

The T-34 prototype, due to its weaker 76 mm L-11 gun, does better in closer encounters against thinner armour than long-range. This type of conflict encourages flanking manoeuvres and brawling tactics.

Flanking

The T-34 prototype's higher speed makes the vehicle more favourable for getting around the enemy's sides. This, combined with the BR-350A APHEBC round, can have the T-34 prototype land an exploding round right into the side hull of an enemy tank, hopefully destroying them instantly. This tactic works favourably in larger maps such as Carpathians and Eastern Europe to get around the enemy from a distance and close in on a term in favour of the T-34's. Though, the T-34 would risk running into enemies with more capable long-range fighting skills like the high-velocity 75 mm KwK40 L43 gun that can end the T-34's run easily.

In CQB settings like Advance to the Rhine or Berlin, the T-34 can exploit its speed to get around the city landscape and get to critical points before the enemy could. Though some light tanks could beat the T-34 prototype to these locations, those vehicles could be easily dealt with if engaged first. Be proactive in annihilating the enemy and playing the objective, both of which could be done by controlling a zone of access from the flank position to destroy all enemies crossing the gun sights.

Brawling

The T-34's large sloped armour on the turret and hull, barring the weak points, make quick reacting situations in close-quarters brawling favourable for the T-34. In a surprise engagement with an unsuspecting enemy, a careless shot from them will most likely bounce off the large surface area of the front hull or the top and bottom side of the turret cheeks. If the enemy fired before the T-34 did, it now has all the time to line a perfect shot for the 76 mm. However, the 76 mm gun in close range also a good ~70 mm penetration, quite capable to most enemies at its BR except against heavy tanks like the KV-1.

The downside with this tactic is the relatively longer reload time on the T-34 of ~8 seconds. When encountering enemies with rapid-firing guns, even the 50 mm guns on the Panzer III can penetrate the weak points and deal a mortal blow to the T-34. Thus, it is important to make sure the T-34 is always fully reloaded and that the first penetrating hit cripples the enemy tanks. It is also important to try and deal with individual enemies instead of multiples as the T-34 prototype is poor in dealing with multiple enemies trying to flank and hit weak points.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great sloping front hull armour
  • Turret gun mantlet bounces shots frequently
  • Sloped side armour top also bounces shots
  • 76 mm APHEBC round inflicts large post-penetration damage
  • Strong engine and high top speed for excellent mobility
  • Versatile fighting style due to great all-around capabilities
  • Handling is superb, especially so with a trained driver
  • Reverse speed quite quick for a withdrawal

Cons:

  • Only subpar penetration for the calibre, can lead to the inability to destroy enemy heavy tanks
  • Relatively long reload for the usual >75 mm calibre
  • Lots of frontal weak points able to be penetrated by even 37 mm calibre, most noticeable are the turret cheeks
  • 13 mm belly armour vulnerable to most high-calibre HE shells
  • Poor gun depression of -5°
  • Loss of crew members hamper tank's combat efficiency drastically
  • Large centre ammo rack always filled, right between two fuel tanks
  • Cramped crew next to fuel and ammo, detonating APHE shells would often destroy the entire vehicle

History

Development

By 1939, the most numerous tank models in the Red Army were the T-26 and the BT-series light tanks. Though adequate on the days they were introduced, they are now outdated by this time due to the changing technology in anti-tank warfare. Back in 1937, a new tank project was already taking place under engineer Mikhail Koshkin, who was assigned to lead a design team at the Kharkiv Locomotive Factory (KhPZ) for a replacement for the BT light tanks as a new "cavalry tank" to engage in manoeuvre warfare. The first prototype was designated the A-20 with 20 mm of armour, a 45 mm gun, and a diesel engine in a V-12 configuration. The Christie suspension is taken from the BT, even the conversion to drive track-less on roads. But gradually, the new track designs available made this conversion redundant and was excluded in further models. The A-20 also showed the effective research done into sloping armour on previous prototype designs, utilizing an all-around sloping armour on the design.

It was during this design process that the Russo-Japanese border wars took place and showed the deficiency of the T-26 and BT models. Koshkin then appealed for the initiation of a much better tank concept, the "universal tank" to completely replace the T-26 and BT tanks. The second prototype was the A-32 and has an increased 32 mm of frontal armour with a 76.2 mm L-10 gun. The heavier prototype was still just as mobile as the A-20, and further development into the design increased the frontal armour thickness to 45 mm thick and a newer 76.2 mm L-11 gun attached instead. This prototype model presented, called the A-34, was approved for production and designated the T-34 after the year 1934, when Koshkin believed was when he formulated the idea for the T-34. Koshkin, however, never saw his tanks in action as he succumbed to pneumonia in September 1940 after trials with the T-34 in the cold winter. Thus, the drivetrain developer Alexander Morozov was appointed as the next Chief Designer. The T-34 tank would go on to become the most produced World War II tank, with 84,000 tanks produced in the production span between 1940 to 1958.

Design

The T-34 took all of the Soviet's experiences with tanks and incorporated into the design. The tank had great sloping armour, a powerful engine, wide tracks, and a large gun. At its introduction, the armour of the T-34 was one of the best in the world, by sloping the 45 mm thick armour plate by 60 degrees, the effective thickness was now 90 mm thick. The armour was welded into place instead of riveted as rivets tend to "spall" and cause damage inside the tank even if the armour was not penetrated. The 76.2 mm gun was a major advantage compared to those on its adversaries, as it could be used as a multi-purpose weapon against infantry and tanks, unlike the Germans who had tanks split for two different roles such as the Panzer III for anti-tank and the Panzer IV for infantry support. The engine, a Model V-2-34 V12 diesel engine, was adequately powerful for the Christie suspension tank design and allowed the T-34 to reach a maximum of 53 km/h (33 mph). The powerful engine, added with the wide tracks that gave it lower ground pressure, allowed the T-34 to travel across cross-country terrain with relative freedom without risk of bogging down.

However, the T-34 is not without its fault and its quality is very questionable in some cases. Two T-34 (1941) models were sent to the United States in late 1942 for evaluations. The evaluations found the armour quality to be rather insufficient, with improper welding in places that can allow leaks and improper alloys that made armour weaker in some places than others, the T-34 cast turret was even found to use softer armour than the hull that render it vulnerable to even 37 mm shells. The gun sights for the 76.2 mm cannon was also quite poor in comparison to the Axis and other Allies. The tank reliability was also troubled by various mechanical issues, especially in the earlier models. Low-quality air filters and insufficient airflow could impede the engine capabilities and the turret drive had poor reliability that could easily jam up. The vision devices were also poor, the crew are unable to see outside the tank with enough situational awareness, even the tank commander couldn't see well out of the tank. Also, the lack of radios on the first few years of T-34s forced the tank commanders to communicate via flags, with only company commanders tanks fitted with the radios. Ergonomics inside the tanks was unsatisfactory and was very cramped inside, with no turret basket the loader has to struggle when the turret rotates and accessing ammunition on the floor boxes makes it a hard and dangerous job for the loader. The commander's hatch on the turret was also one-piece, making even a "heads-up" view for the commander impossible on these large one-piece hatches. Finally, the two-person turret suffered from not only a very cramped compartment but an overworked commander who has to act as a gunner as well.

T-34 Prototype

The prototype of the T-34 was designated the A-34 and was the pre-production model. One notable feature on this tank was a complex single-piece front hull, without the swinging hatch available for the driver to use.


Archive of the in-game description

The A-34 was based on the experimental A-32 medium tank and was put into service in December 1939. This vehicle's design represented a massive leap in Soviet and world tank development. It was the first vehicle to harmoniously combine cannon-proof armour, high-powered weapons and a reliable undercarriage. Its cannon-proof qualities were provided by very thick rolled armour plates set at a slope. The tank was armed with a 76.2 mm L-11 cannon and two DT machine guns. A powerful 500 hp B-2-34 diesel tank engine and wide 550 mm tracks provided the vehicle with high mobility. The first T-34s produced in 1940 were notable for the very high quality manufacturing of their armour.

The T-34 had a classic layout. The tank's crew consisted of four men - the driver and gunner/radio officer in the driver's compartment, and the loader and commander (also fulfilling the role of gunner) in the two-man turret. The hull and turret were welded from homogeneous rolled armour plates set at a slope.

Factory No. 183 in Kharkov produced these tanks. In the spring of 1940, around 100 A-34 tanks were produced.

Tests of the vehicle in its first tactical deployment exposed a range of flaws, such as crowding in the fighting compartment, the limited field of view from the tank, the lack of a radio connection, the low rate of fire and low technical reliability of the new diesel engines.


Media

Skins

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


Kharkov Design Bureau for Mechanical Engineering named after A. A. Morozov
Light Tanks 
BT-5  BT-5 · RBT-5
BT-7  BT-7 · BT-7M · BT-7A (F-32)
Medium Tanks 
T-34-76  T-34 (Prototype) · T-34 (1940) · T-34 (1941) · T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-34 (1942) · T-34E STZ · T-34E
T-34-57  T-34-57 · T-34-57 (1943)
T-34-85  T-34-85 (D-5T) · T-34-85 · T-34-85E
T-34-100  T-34-100
T-44  T-44 · T-44-100 · T-44-122
Main Battle Tanks 
T-54  T-54 (1947) · T-54 (1949) · T-54 (1951)
T-64  T-64A (1971) · T-64B
Export/Captured 
T-34  ▀T 34 747 (r) · ␗T-34 (1943) · ␗Т-34-85 (S-53)
See Also  Uralmashzavod · Uralvagonzavod

USSR medium tanks
T-28  T-28 (1938) · T-28 · T-28E
T-34-76  T-34 (Prototype) · T-34 (1940) · T-34 (1941) · T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-34 (1942) · T-34E STZ · T-34E
T-34-57  T-34-57 · T-34-57 (1943)
T-34-85  T-34-85 (D-5T) · T-34-85 · T-34-85E
T-34-100  T-34-100
T-44  T-44 · T-44-100 · T-44-122
T-54  T-54 (1947) · T-54 (1949) · T-54 (1951)
T-55  TO-55 · T-55A · T-55AM-1 · T-55AMD-1
T-62  T-62 · T-62M-1
T-64  Object 435 · T-64A (1971) · T-64B
T-72  T-72A · T-72AV (TURMS-T) · T-72B · T-72B (1989) · T-72B3 · T-72M2 Moderna
T-80  T-80B · T-80U · T-80UD · T-80UK · T-80UM2 · T-80BVM · Object 292
T-90  Т-90А · T-90M
Trophies/Lend-Lease 
Germany  ▂T-III · ▂T-V
Great Britain  ▂МК-IX "Valentine"
USA  ▂M3 Medium · ▂M4A2

USSR premium ground vehicles
Light tanks  BA-11 · RBT-5 · BT-7A (F-32) · T-26 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-26E · T-126 · PT-76-57 · 2S38
Medium tanks  T-34 (Prototype) · T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-34E · T-34-57 (1943) · T-34-85E · T-34-100 · T-44-122 · TO-55 · T-55AM-1 · T-72AV (TURMS-T) · T-80UD
  ▂M3 Medium · ▂M4A2 · ▂T-III · ▂T-V · ▂МК-IX "Valentine"
Heavy tanks  SMK · T-35 · ▂MK-II "Matilda" · KV-1E · KV-2 (1940) · KV-2 (ZiS-6) · KV-122 · KV-220 · IS-2 "Revenge" · Object 248 · IS-6 · T-10A
Tank destroyers  BM-8-24 · BM-13N · BM-31-12
  SU-57 · SU-76D · SU-76M (5th Gv.Kav.Corps) · SU-85A · SU-100Y · SU-122P · Object 120
SPAA  ▂Phòng không T-34 · ZUT-37