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Soviet Union's KV-85 heavy tank

KV-85 heavy tank:
Soviet KV-85 Heavy Tank
KV-85 heavy tank:
Soviet KV-85 Heavy Tank
   

Design

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

Some KV-1Cs / KV-1s8 were upgraded in the winter of 1943-44. At the start of 1944 all production ceased in favor of the IS series.

Production

Usage

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.2 The 27th Guard Regiment had 20 tanks in 4 companies and were decimated by the German defenses.2

  KV-852
Crew Commander, driver, mechanic, gunner2
41,2,3,8, 55
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 101,413 lb,
43 tons5, 46 tons2,4,7,8, 50.7 tons1, 45.3 tons3
46,000 kg1,3
Length w/gun 21' 11"5, 22' 6"7, 27.85'8, 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, 9' 2"1, 9' 3"7, 9' 6"3,8
2.71 m5, 2.9 m3, 2.8 m1,2
Width 10.66'8, 10' 8"1,3,7, 10' 10.7"5, 11' 5.75"
3.25 m1,2,3, 3.32 m5
Ground clearance 0.4 m2
Ground contact length 14.4'8
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
85 mm M1943 L/51.58
Secondary  
MG 2: 7.62 mm DT MG2
3: 7.62 mm DT MG3
3: MG8
MG - coaxial 1: 7.62 mm MG1
MG - rear 1: 7.62 mm MG1
MG - hull 1: 7.62 mm MG1
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main 702, 718
Secondary  
MG 3,2762,8
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm) 30 - 1103
Hull Front, Upper 60 - 758, 60 - 762
Hull Front, Lower  
Hull Sides, Upper 602, 60 - 658
Hull Sides, Lower  
Hull Rear 40-752
Hull Top 308, 30 - 402
Hull Bottom 308, 30 - 402
Turret Front 30 - 1108, 100 - 1102
Turret Sides 100 - 1102
Turret Rear 1102
Turret Top 302
Engine (Make / Model) V-2K5, V-2K-s8, W-2-K2,3
Bore / stroke 4 stroke2
Cylinders 128, V-122,5
Net HP 6005,8, 600@2,000 rpm2
Transmission  
Fuel type Diesel2,5,8
Octane  
Quantity 615 liters2
Performance  
Traverse 360°
Max speed 21.75 mph5, 21.8 mph, 22 mph1,8, 25 mph3,
40 kph3, 42 kph2, 35 kph1,5
Cross country speed 12.4 mph
Road radius 93.2 miles5, 100 miles1, 140 miles, 155 miles3, 156 miles8
150 km5, 160 km1, 250 km3, 330 km2
Cross country radius 93 miles8
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
Climbing ability 40°2
Suspension (Type)  
Wheels each side  
Return rollers each side  
Track length  
Tires  
Track width 2' 4"8
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. 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
  8. Airfix Magazine Guide 22 Russian Tanks of World War 2, John Milsom and Steve Zaloga, 1977
Home page graphic for wwiivehicles.com, pictures of Sherman, T-34/85, Tiger, and Churchill