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Soviet Union's KV-11 (Kliment Voroshilov) heavy tank

KV-1 Heavy Tank in 1941.
Soviet Union's KV-1 Heavy Tank
KV-1 Heavy Tank:
Soviet Union's KV-1 Heavy Tank
KV-1 Heavy Tank:
Soviet Union's KV-1 Heavy Tank
KV-1 Heavy Tank:
Soviet Union's KV-1 Heavy Tank
KV-1 Heavy Tank:
Soviet Union's KV-1 Heavy Tank
KV-1 Heavy Tank in Leningrad going to the front.
Soviet Union's KV-1 Heavy Tank
KV-1 Heavy Tank:
Soviet Union's KV-1 Heavy Tank
KV-1 Heavy Tank:
Soviet Union's KV-1 Heavy Tank
KV-1 Heavy Tank:
Soviet Union's KV-1 Heavy Tank
Aberdeen Tank Museum
  KV-8 Heavy Tank with flame thrower:
Soviet KV-8 Heavy Tank, Flame thrower
 
1/72 Diecast Models of KV-1
Hobby Master: Easy Models:
3001:
Russia's Hobby Master 3001 KV-1
3003:
Hobby Master HG3003 1/72 Diecast Armor, Soviet KV-1
3005:
Hobby Master 1/72 Armor, USSR KV-1 Heavy Tank
36289:
Easy Model 36289, Soviet KV-1 Model 1942

Design

After experience in the Russio-Finnish War with the T-100 and the SMK, it was found that they were too large and complex.1 Kotin showed design plans for a single turreted heavy tank to Stalin in August 1939 and it was approved to construct a KV prototype.1

This vehicle was originally called the Kotin-Stalin but was officially changed to the Klimenti Voroshilov9 / Klementi Vorishilov / Marshal Klimenti Voroshilov8,11/ Kliment Voroshilov12 (KV) after the Defense Commissar.

The KV-1 borrowed the hull, transmission, optics, and torsion bar suspension from the SMK.1

The engine was the same as the T-34 but with minor modifications. Initially the armor was welded.9

The driver sat in the middle.8,9 The radio operator / machine gunner sat on the left.8,9

Drive sprocket was at the rear.8

Type Name Weight Muzzle Velocity Penetration
500 m
AT2 BR-3502 6.3 kg2 612 m/sec2 66 mm2
HE2 F-342 6.23 kg2 610 - 635 m/sec2  

Prototype

N. L. Duchov was the responsible designer from the S. J. Kotin design bureau that started development of the KV-1 in February 1939.2

The prototype was built at the Kirov Factory in February 1939.9,12 A wooden mockup was ready in April 1939.9 By September 1939 the first prototype was show to the General Staff.2,9,12 It was accepted in December 1939 / December 19, 19392,12, with production starting in February 1940.9

The KV-1 prototype was tested at the Kubinka test grounds outside of Moscow alongside the SMK and T-100.1

Production

They came from the production lines in Leningrad and went straight to the front at Karelian.2 The factory was later moved to Chelyabinsk.2

Variants

Usage

Finland Trials

In February 1940, 22 / a platoon of KV-1s were sent to Finland11 for trials.

The T-100, SMK, and KV-1 prototypes were apart of the 91st Tank Battalion of the 20th Heavy Tank Brigade and had their first combat near Summa from December 17 to 19.1

Despite hits from Finnish antitank weapons none were knocked out.12 It was also found that the diesel engine proved to be very reliable.12 The wide tracks allowed it to have excellent cross country performance.12

Invasion of the Motherland

By June 1941 there were 636 produced. By the Battle for Moscow (December 1941) 1,364.

  KV-1
Crew Commander, gunner, auxiliary driver, driver/mechanic, radio-operator
Commander/loader, gunner, 2nd driver/mechanic, driver/mechanic, hull gunner/radio operator8
51,6,8,9,11,12
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 102,200, 104,719 lb, 104,791 lb9
42,910 kg1, 43,000 kg11, 47,500 kg9
42.23 tons1, 42.3 tons11, 43.5 tons8, 46.35 tons6,12, 47.5 tons7
Length w/gun 20.6'9, 21' 11"11, 22.6'6,12, 24' 3"1
6.3 m9, 6.68 m11, 6.9 m7, 7.41 m1
Length w/o gun 22' 1"
Height 7.9'9, 7' 11", 8' 8"'6,12, 8' 10", 8' 11"11, 9' 5"1
2.4 m9, 2.71 m7,11, 2.87 m1
Width 10.2'9, 10' 2", 10.65'6,12, 10' 10", 10' 11"11, 11' 5"1,
3.1 m9, 3.32 m7,11, 3.49 m1
Width over tracks  
Ground clearance 1' 2.5"
Ground contact length 14.2'12
Ground pressure 10.68 psi, 10.7 psi9, 11.23 psi
0.7 kg/cm2 9
Turret ring diameter  
Armament  
Main

76.2 mm M1938/39 L/30.512
76.2 mm L/30.58
76.2 mm1
76.2 mm L-112
76.2 mm F-349
76.2 mm L/41 ZiS-511

Secondary  
MG 3: 7.62 mm MG1
3: MG6,12
up to 4: 7.62 mm MG11
MG - coaxial 1: MG8
1: 7.62 mm DT MG2,9
MG - rear 1: MG8
1: 7.62 mm DT MG2 (some models)9
MG - hull 1: MG8
1: 7.62 mm DT MG2,12
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main 1119,12, 114
Secondary  
MG 3,0009, 3,02412
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm) 7511
30 - 706, 75+256, 75 - 1009, 90-1108
Front: 757
Side: 757
Hull Front, Upper 759, later models: 75+359, 10612
Hull Front, Lower  
Hull Sides, Upper 75 - 7712, 90+40, 90-130
Hull Sides, Lower 90
Hull Rear 75, 60-75
Hull Top 30 - 4012, 30, 35
Hull Bottom 30 - 4012, 30
Turret Front 30 - 10012, 120
Turret Sides 120
Turret Rear 90
Turret Top 40
Engine (Make / Model) W-2-K2
V-28, V-2-K IS9
V2K11, V-2K12
Bore / stroke  
Cooling Water9
Cylinders V-1211, 129,12
Capacity  
Net HP 5506,11,12, 6007,8
600@2,000 rpm9
Power to weight ratio 12.6 hp/ton9
Compression ratio  
Transmission (Type) 5 forward, 1 reverse
Steering  
Steering ratio  
Starter  
Electrical system  
Ignition  
Fuel (Type) Diesel6,9,11,12
Octane  
Quantity 158.5 gallons
Road consumption  
Cross country consumption  
Performance  
Traverse 360°
Max speed 21.7 mph11, 21.8 mph1, 22 mph6,8,12
35 kph1,7,11
Cross country speed 12.4 mph
Road radius 93 miles11, 140 miles1,12, 156 miles, 210 miles8
150 km11, 225 km1
Cross country radius 94 miles12
Turning radius 31'
Elevation limits -4 to +24.5
Fording depth 4' 8"
Trench crossing 8' 6"
Vertical obstacle 3' 8"
Climbing ability  
Suspension (Type) Torsion bar12
Wheels each side 6 twin steel8
Return rollers each side 38
Tracks (Type)  
Length  
Width 2' 3.5"8,12
Diameter  
Number of links  
Pitch  
Tire tread  
Track centers/tread  

Sources:

  1. Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin's Armored Might, by Tim Bean & Will Fowler, 2002
  2. Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
  3. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
  4. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
  5. Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
  6. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  7. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  8. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
  9. Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
  10. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
  11. The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
  12. Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
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