KV-85 Heavy Tank

Soviet KV-85 Heavy Tank

Soviet KV-85 Heavy Tank

Designed with a larger turret to accommodate the 85 mm multipurpose gun, a new cupola, and a ball mounted MG in the turret rear.

It started appearing at the front in the summer of 1943 and was available in large numbers at Kursk in July 1943.

Another source says they didn't first appear until December 1943 against Army Group North. The 27th Guard Regiment had 20 tanks in 4 companies and were decimated by the German defenses.

Some KV-1Cs were upgraded in the winter of 1943-44. At the start of 1944 all production ceased in favor of the IS series.

  KV-85
Crew Commander, driver, mechanic, gunner
41,2,3
55
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 101,413 lb,
43 tons5, 46 tons2,4,7, 50.7 tons1, 45.3 tons3
46,000 kg1,3
Length w/gun 21' 11"5, 22' 6"7, 29' 11.5", 27' 10"1, 28' 3"3
6.68 m5, 8.6 m2,3, 8.49 m1
Length w/o gun 8.6 m2
Height 8' 10.7"5, 10' 2.5", 9' 2"1, 9' 3"7, 9' 6"3
2.71 m5, 2.9 m3, 2.8 m1,2
Width 10' 10.7"5, 11' 5.75", 10' 8"1,3,7,
3.25 m1,2,3, 3.32 m5
Ground clearance 0.4 m2
Ground contact length  
Ground pressure 0.77 kp/(cm2)2
Turret ring diameter 11' 4"7
Armament  
Main 85 mm M1943 D-5 T 85 L/51.5
85 mm 1943 D-5T2,3
85 mm1
85 mm D-5T5
Secondary  
MG 2: 7.62 mm DT MG2
3: 7.62 mm DT MG3
3: 7.62 mm MG, hull, coaxial, rear1
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main 702, 71
Secondary  
MG 3,2762
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm) 30-1103
Hull Front, Upper 60-762
Hull Front, Lower  
Hull Sides, Upper 602
Hull Sides, Lower  
Hull Rear 40-752
Hull Top 30-402
Hull Bottom 30-402
Turret Front 100-1102
Turret Sides 100-1102
Turret Rear 1102
Turret Top 302
Engine (Make / Model) V-2K5
W-2-K2,3
Cylinders V-125
Net HP 6005
Transmission  
Fuel type Diesel5
Octane  
Capacity 615 liters2
Performance  
Traverse 360°
Max Speed 21.75 mph5, 21.8 mph, 22 mph1, 25 mph3,
40 kph3, 42 kph2, 35 kph1,5
Cross Country 12.4 mph
Road radius 93.2 miles5, 140 miles, 155 miles3, 100 miles1,
150 km5, 250 km3, 330 km2, 160 km1
Turning Radius  
Elevation Limits  
Fording depth 1.2 m2
Trench crossing 8' 6"5
2.59 m5, 2.7 m2
Vertical Obstacle 3' 8"5, 3' 11.25"5
1.2 m5, 0.9-1.2 m2
Suspension (Type)  
Wheels each side  
Return rollers each side  
Track length  
Tires  
Track width  
Track centers/tread  
Production 1943: 1301,2, 102

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. Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
  5. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  6. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  7. Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
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