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Soviet Union's KV-85 heavy tank¹

KV-85 heavy tank:

KV-85 heavy tank:

Design

The KV-85 was designed by a design bureau led by Lieutenant-Colonel Kotin.¹ He split the bureau into two and each team had different specifications to design for.¹ One of the teams was told to improve the KV series as a stopgap for a new heavy tank.¹ This design was to become the KV-85.¹

The KV-85 was based on the KV-1-S's hull.^1,8 The armor was increased to 4.3" / 110 mm.¹

Some KV-1Cs / KV-1s⁸ were upgraded in the winter of 1943-44.

With delays in the IS-85 and the front lines wanting new heavier tanks, an initial 148 KV-85s were manufactured in the autumn of 1943.¹ At the start of 1944 all production ceased in favor of the IS series.

Main Armament

The KV-85 had the same 85 mm D-5T gun installed that was to be installed in the IS-85.¹ The hull had to be made wider and the 5th crewman was removed to make room for more ammunition.¹

Production

• KV-85: 102, 130^1,2, 148¹
  • Production: 1943^1,2

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-851,2
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

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