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Soviet Union's KV-1 S (skorostnoy, "speed")1, KV-1-S1 heavy tank:
KV-1 S heavy tank: |
Design
The KV-1 S was designed by N. F. Shashmurin.2 Armor was reduced to make tank faster as a common complaint from the front was that the KV-1 wasn't manoueverable.2
The armor was made thinner and the turret made smaller.1 A vision cupola was added to turret.2
Improvements
Transmission, cooling, and lubrication systems were improved.1,2
The KV-1-S had a new gearbox and main clutch installed.1
Production
- KV-1 S: 1,233, 1,3701
- Production: Autumn 1942 - 19432, August 1942 - late 19431
- 1940: 3342
- 1941: 1,2322
- 1942: 1302, 7801
- 1943: 4521,2
- Production: Autumn 1942 - 19432, August 1942 - late 19431
Usage
Kursk
The 53rd Guards and 57th Army Heavy Tank Brigades were equipped with KV-1-Ss at Kursk and took part in the heavy fighting from July 12 - 14, 1943.1
Berlin
It is not known for sure but there were reports of KV-1-Ss taking part in Berlin during the operations to take the city in April - May 1945.1
| KV-1 S2, KV-1-S1 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 52,12 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 93,670 lb, 42.5 tons2,5,6,7,8,12 |
| Length w/gun | 22.1'12, 22' 3", 23' 9.5" 6.75 m2, 6.9 m7, 6.95 m5 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 8' 6", 9.8'12, 10' 6.25" 2.64 m5,7, 2.75 m2 |
| Width | 10.7'12, 10' 7", 11' 6.25" 3.25 m2,5, 3.35 m7 |
| Width over tracks | |
| Ground clearance | 1' 5", 0.45 m2,5 |
| Ground contact length | 13.8'12 |
| Ground pressure | 0.74 kg/cm2 2 |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 76.2 mm M1940 L/41.512 76.2 mm 1942 F-342 76.2 mm L/415 76 mm ZIS-5 or F-347 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3: MG12 4: MG5 |
| MG - coaxial | 1: 7.62 mm DT MG2 |
| MG - rear | 1: 7.62 mm DT MG2 |
| MG - hull | 1: 7.62 mm DT MG2 |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 1002, 10212, 1145 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 3,0242, 3,04212, 3,0875 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 606 Front: 757 Side: 757 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 7512, 75+305, 40-752 1943: 751 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 75+30 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 755, 602,12 1943: 601 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 75 |
| Hull Rear | 755, 40-752 1943: 40-751 |
| Hull Top | 30-402,
3512, 405 1943: 301 |
| Hull Bottom | 30-402, 3512 1943: 301 |
| Turret Front | 30 - 8212, 90-955, 822 1943: 821 |
| Turret Sides | 1005, 822 1943: 821 |
| Turret Rear | 955, 822 1943: 821 |
| Turret Top | 305 1943: 301 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | W-25, W-2-K2, V-2K-s12 |
| Bore / stroke | 4 stroke2 |
| Cooling | |
| Cylinders | 1212, V-122 |
| Capacity | |
| Net HP | 6007,12, 600@2,000 rpm2 |
| Power to weight ratio | 14.2 hp/ton2 |
| Compression ratio | |
| Transmission (Type) | 2x4 forward5, 1 reverse5 |
| Steering | |
| Steering ratio | |
| Starter | |
| Electrical system | |
| Ignition | |
| Fuel (Type) | Diesel12 |
| Octane | |
| Quantity | 615 liters2 |
| Road consumption | |
| Cross country consumption | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Max speed | 25 mph6,12, 27 mph8 38 kph5, 42-43 kph2, 43 kph7 |
| Cross country speed | 15.5 mph |
| Road radius | 155.3 miles, 156 miles12 200 km5, 330 km2 1943: 250 km1, 155 miles1 |
| Cross country radius | 99 miles1, 110 miles12 160 km1,5 |
| Turning radius | 31' 9.5 m5 |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | 5' 3", 1.6 m2,5 |
| Trench crossing | 2.8 m2 |
| Vertical obstacle | 1.2 m2 |
| Climbing ability | 36°2 |
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar5 |
| Wheels each side | 65 |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Tracks (Type) | |
| Length | |
| Width | 2' 4"12 700 mm5 |
| Diameter | |
| Number of links | |
| Pitch | |
| Tire tread | Steel5 |
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- Russian Tanks of World War II Stalin's Armored Might, by Tim Bean & Will Fowler, 2002
- Russian Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1917-1945, by Wolfgang Fleischer, 1999
- 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
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1933-1942, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Panzer Truppen The Complete Guide to the Creation and Combat Employment of Germany's Tank Force 1943-1945, Thomas L. Jentz, 1996
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II, David Miller, 2000
- Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?
- The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
- Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
