Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

Military history writer specializing in armoured warfare in the 1930s and 1940s. tankarchives.ca Joined January 2016

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

2 days ago

The job of an anti-tank gunner was exceptionally dangerous. In recognition of this, the Red Army established a dedicated anti-tank artillery branch #OTD in 1942. AT troops had a distinctive sleeve patch and received higher pay. #artillery #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

2 days ago

#OTD in 1945 the 9th Guards Mechanized Corps was allocated to the Transbaikal Front. Its Sherman tanks would make a 9000 km journey from Czechoslovakia to Mongolia in order to take part in the offensive against Japan in August of 1945. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

2 days ago

@kokjohnj If you could have a T-34 at nearly the same cost with the same equipment, why build the T-50 at all? Light tanks were built at factories that could not handle anything heavier.

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

2 days ago

The T-50 was arguably the best light tank in the world in 1941, but it was almost as hard to produce as a T-34 medium tank. #OTD factory #174 was ordered to build 620 T-50 tanks before the end of the year but only managed to build 37. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

2 days ago

#OTD in 1941 factory #37 was ordered to begin production of T-50 tanks, an impossible task for the factory's existing equipment. Instead of the T-50, the factory's chief engineer designed the lighter T-30 tank that could be built there instead. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

2 days ago

A massive bombing raid on Krupp's factories was carried out #OTD in 1943. This raid crippled Maus tank production. The program ran on fumes until November, when it was decided to stop after finishing assembly of two chassis and one turret. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

2 days ago

After realizing the weakness of its tanks to light anti-tank cannons, the Germans began installing applique armour. The Pz.Kpfw.IV was the first to receive this modification starting #OTD in 1940. Later the Pz.Kpfw.II and III would be similarly modified #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

3 days ago

The Korean War began #OTD in 1950. Even though tank development made a step forward since WW2, the majority of the tanks used were WW2 vintage: North Korea used SU-76Ms and T-34-85s, and the Americans used Chaffee, Sherman and Pershing tanks. #tanks #history #ColdWar

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

3 days ago

SU-100 tank destroyers on parade #OTD in 1945. Their 100 mm gun proved competitive even after the war and the SU-100 remained in production for a few years. Czechoslovakia also produced the SU-100 under license as the SD-100. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

3 days ago

The SU-102 was delivered for trials #OTD in 1945. This tank destroyer on the T-44 chassis was armed with the 122 mm D-25S gun. Unlike most Soviet tank destroyers it had a rear fighting compartment. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

3 days ago

Germany was also represented, although perhaps not how the Germans would have wanted it. Captured banners were dragged down Red Square face down and burned. Flag bearers were wearing black gloves, which were also burned afterwards.

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

3 days ago

#OTD in 1945 a grandiose two hour long parade was held in Red Square to celebrate victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

3 days ago

#OTD in 1944 Alkett was ordered to begin producing the Panzer IV/70. Their solution combined the regular Pz.Kpfw.IV chassis and the casemate of Vomag's tank destroyer. This design was quick to make, but greatly overweight and unreliable. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

4 days ago

The T-55AK tank was accepted into service #OTD in 1964. This was a command variant of the T-55A tank equipped with new radio equipment and 10 meter tall collapsible antenna. #tanks #history #ColdWar

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

4 days ago

Although T-34 tanks begin to appear in the memoirs of German generals around October, the first reports on T-34 tanks were composed #OTD in 1941. The tank's weight was overestimated at 35-40 tons, but it is unmistakably a T-34. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

4 days ago

The Belorussian Offensive Operation codenamed Operation Bagration began #OTD in 1944. This was a massive offensive that progressed to a depth of up to 600 km on a 1100 km wide front, obliterating Germany's Army Group Center. #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

4 days ago

@manonthesilver The reliability of the two tanks can be compared in the Soviet-Japanese War of 1945 where both had to make a long march through gruelling desert and mountain conditions. The results were about the same: tankarchives.com/2023/08/sherma…

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

5 days ago

Is the T-34 better than the Sherman? Yes. No. Maybe? It depends on how you're measuring it. In my latest video I compare how fast and how effectively these two tanks can strike a target and how a direct comparison might be harder than you might think. youtu.be/afMQnYQC9n4

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

4 days ago

The famous Raseiniai KV tank arrived in the village of Raseiniai #OTD in 1941. Remaining stationary at a crossroads, this tank held back Kampfgruppe Raus for two days, surviving attacks by 88 mm AA guns and demolition charges. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

5 days ago

See how these tanks fared in their first battles in my upcoming book: M3 Light/Medium Tanks vs Panzer IV: Eastern Front 1942. ospreypublishing.com/ca/m3-lightmed… amazon.ca/M3-Light-Mediu…

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Tank Archives @Tank_Archives

5 days ago

The first report on the use of American M3 Lights in the Red Army arrived #OTD in 1942. The tank was judged to be well armed, fast, and agile, but also large and poorly armoured. The narrow rubberized tracks did not work well in mud or wet conditions. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII