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Soviet Union's KV-21 heavy tank
Nickname: Dreadnought1
KV-2 heavy tank: Aberdeen Tank Museum |
KV-2 heavy tank: |
KV-2 heavy tank: |
KV-2 heavy tank: |
KV-2 heavy tank: |
KV-2A heavy tank: |
| 1/72 Armor | ||
|---|---|---|
| Easy Models | Hobby Master | |
36283: |
3004: |
3006: |
Design
During the Russo-Finnish War the commander of the 7th Army, K. Meretskov, made requests for a tank that had a large gun to attack Finnish bunkers.1
The KV-2 was designed to attack fortifications.9 There was a special concrete busting shell that the KV-2 could fire.9
The turret and gun weighed 12 tons.1,7 The turret was 1.45 m tall.2
Main Armament
The 152 mm barrel was 3.7 m long.2 There was a drum sight that has a shortened aiming scope.2
Some may have had a 122 mm gun installed.8 The initial production run had 122 mm howitzers.10
| Type | Name | Weight | Muzzle Velocity | Range | Penetration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 m | |||||
| HE2 | 51.1 kg2 | 432 m/sec2 | 5,000 m2 | ||
| AP2 | 40 kg2 | 508 m/sec2 | |||
| APHE8 | 112 lb8 | 1,400'/sec8 |
Prototype
It took two weeks to complete a prototype.1 Trials for the KV-2 prototype were conducted on February 10, 1940.1 Two prototypes were sent to the Finish front on the Karelian Isthmus.1 It is unclear whether they actually saw combat but Meretskov did report very good success against bunkers, which may have only been against captured ones.1
Production
Production of the KV-2 started in February 1940.10
- KV-2, KV-2A:
3302
- Production:
1940 - 19412, 1940 - October 19411
- ? - October 1941: 3343
- 1940: 1022
- 1941: 2321,2
- 1942: 7802
- Manufacturer: Soviet arsenals (1942)8
- Production:
1940 - 19412, 1940 - October 19411
Variants
- KV-2A: Produced in 1940 to battle the Finnish defenses. Proved to be unwieldy as the turret was very heavy. The turret could only be moved when on flat ground. Construction was halted at end of 1941. Built on the KV-1 chassis at the Kirov works in Leningrad.
- KV-2B: Larger mantlet with rounded shield and was 4 tons heavier. Some had flame throwers. Built on the KV-1A chassis.
- LV-1 S: 122 mm gun.2
- ?: 85 mm gun.2
Usage
It was found that the KV-2 was much to heavy and were eventually replaced by self propelled guns.10
Trials in Finland
Used against the Mannerheim Line in February 1940.7
Mechanical Problems
The KV-2s suffered from mechanical problems and often broke down.1 The 41st Tank Division reported that it lost 2/3 of its 33 KV-2s, but only five of those were due to combat.1
Moscow Defense
KV-2s were used in the defense of Moscow in late 1941.1
Stalingrad
The 62nd Army, commanded by Major-General V. Chuikov, had KV-2s to help in the defense of Stalingrad.1
| KV-2 | KV-2A | KV-2B | KV-2 19402 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 61,3,4,8,9 | 61,5,10 | 610 | 62 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 116,845 lb, 53,963 kg3,9 52 tons4,8, 53 tons7, 53.1 tons3,9 |
53,850 kg1 53 tons1,5,10 |
57 tons5,10 | 52 tons2 |
| Length w/gun | 22' 2.25"8, 22' 3"3,9, 23' 11.75" 6.79 m3,9, 6.8 m4 |
7.31 m1 22.3'5,10, 23' 11"1 |
22.3'10 | 6.8 m2 |
| Length w/o gun | 22' 4" | 6.67 m2 | ||
| Height | 10' 7.5"8, 12'3,7,9, 12' 11", 16'1 3.28 m4, 3.65 m3,9, 4.9 m1 |
12'5,10, 12' 11"1 3.93 m1 |
13.7'5,10 | 3.25 m2 |
| Width | 10' 11"3,9, 10' 11.25"8, 11' 9" 3.32 m3,9, 3.35 m4 |
10.93'5,10 | 10.93'10 | 3.35 m2 |
| Width over tracks | ||||
| Ground clearance | 1' 2", 17"8 | 0.45 m2 | ||
| Ground contact length | 14' 5"8 0.52 m4 |
14.4'10 | 14.4'10 | |
| Ground pressure | 12.23 psi, 12.3 psi8 0.84 kg/cm2 4 |
0.9 kg/cm2 2 | ||
| Turret ring diameter | ||||
| Armament | ||||
| Main | 152 mm 1938/40 L/24.52 152 mm M1938/40 L/203 152 mm L/244 152 mm howitzer7 152 mm M1938/408 152 mm L/20 howitzer9 |
152 mm howitzer1,5 152 mm M1938/40 howitzer10 |
152 mm M1938/40 howitzer10 | 152.4 mm 1938/40 howitzer2 |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 2: 7.62 mm DT MG3 3: MGs4 2: 7.62 mm MG9 |
2: 7.62 mm MG1 2: MG5,10 |
2: MG10 | 3: 7.62 mm DT MG2 |
| MG - coaxial | 1: 7.62 mm DT MG8 | |||
| MG - rear turret | 1: 7.62 mm MG 1: 7.62 mm DT MG8 |
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| MG - hull | 1: 7.62 mm MG 1: 7.62 mm DT MG8 |
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| Side arms | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Main | 364,8 | 3610 | 3610 | 362 |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 3,0554, 3,078, 3,0878 | 3,08710 | 3,08710 | 2,475-3,0872 |
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 1109, 30-1103 | 35 - 1005, 1101 | ||
| Hull Front, Upper | 3"@0°8, 754, 75+35 | 11010 | 11010 | 752 |
| Hull Front, Lower | ||||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 3"@0°8, 754, 75+35 | 75 - 7710 | 75 - 11010 | 752 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 75 | |||
| Hull Rear | 3"@0°8, 754 | 60-752 | ||
| Hull Top | 354 | 3510 | 3510 | 30-402 |
| Hull Bottom | 354 | 3510 | 3510 | 30-402 |
| Turret Front | 3"@0°8, 4.3"1 754, 100, 1101 |
35 - 10010 | 35 - 10010 | 1102 |
| Turret Sides | 2.9"1, 3"@0°8 751,4 |
752 | ||
| Turret Rear | 754 | 752 | ||
| Turret Top | 354 | 352 | ||
| Engine (Make / Model) | W-24,8 W-2-K2,3 V2K9 |
V-2K10 | V-2K10 | W-2-K2 |
| Bore / stroke | 4 stroke2 | |||
| Cooling | Water8 | |||
| Cylinders | V-128,9 | 1210 | 1210 | V-122 |
| Capacity | ||||
| Net HP | 5509, 6008 | 5505,10 | 55010 | 600@2,000 rpm2 |
| Power to weight ratio | 11.5 hp/ton2 | |||
| Compression ratio | ||||
| Transmission (Type) | 5 forward, 1 reverse4,8 Sliding mesh8 |
|||
| Steering | Clutch brake8 | |||
| Steering ratio | ||||
| Starter | ||||
| Electrical system | ||||
| Ignition | ||||
| Fuel (Type) | Diesel8,9 | Diesel5,10 | Diesel10 | Diesel2 |
| Octane | ||||
| Quantity | 131.2 gallons8 650 liters4 |
610 liters2 | ||
| Road consumption | 1.3 mpg8 | |||
| Cross country consumption | ||||
| Performance | ||||
| Traverse | 360°8 Power and manual8 |
360° | 360° | |
| Max speed | 15 mph8, 15.62 mph1, 15.9 mph3, 16 mph9, 16.2 mph 25 kph1, 25.6 kph3, 26 kph9, 35 kph4 |
16 mph5,10, 16.2 mph1 26 kph1 |
16 mph10 | 26 kph2 |
| Cross country speed | 7.4 mph1, 9.3 mph 12 kph1 |
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| Road radius | 87 miles3, 93 miles9, 99.4 miles, 150 miles8 140 km3, 150 km9, 220 km4 |
100 miles10, 125 miles1 200 km1 |
100 miles10 | 250 km2 |
| Cross country radius | 130 km4 | 84 miles10 | 84 miles10 | |
| Turning radius | 31' 9.5 m4 |
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| Elevation limits | -4° to +24.5°, -5° to +12°8 | |||
| Fording depth | 3' 9"8, 4' 9" 1.45 m4 |
1.6 m2 | ||
| Trench crossing | 8' 6", 9' 2"8 | 2.7 m2 | ||
| Vertical obstacle | 3'8, 3' 8" | 1.2 m2 | ||
| Climbing ability | 30°2 | |||
| Suspension (Type) | Torsion bar4 Christie type coil spring torsion arm8 |
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| Wheels each side | 64,8 | |||
| Return rollers each side | 38 | |||
| Tracks (Type) | Steel skeleton, dry pin8 | |||
| Length | ||||
| Width | 2' 3.5"8 700 mm4 |
2' 3.5"10 | 2' 3.5"10 | |
| Diameter | ||||
| Number of links | ||||
| Pitch | 6.25"8 | |||
| Tire tread | ||||
| 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
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- -
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Tank Data 2, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, E. J. Hoffschmidt and W. H. Tantum IV, 1969
- 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
