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Soviet Union's T-44 Medium Tank

T-44 Medium Tank:
Soviet T-44 Medium Tank
T-44 Medium Tank:
Soviet T-44 Medium Tank
   

Design

The design bureau of A. A. Morosov developed a replacement for the T-34.2 Originally it was designed to have the 100 mm D-10 T tank gun, however, it was too large for the T-34/85 turret.2 It was then decided to install an 85 mm gun.2

Engine

The engine was installed traversely and this resulted in the length of the hull to be shorter and this in turn saved weight.2

Prototype

 

Production

Entered production in 1945. Few models were built and most saw teething problems due to rushed development. Some of the later models had 100 mm guns installed.

Variants

Usage

 

  T-44 Medium Tank T-44 Medium Tank Model 1945
Crew 41,3,4,5 42
Physical Characteristics    
Weight 70,350 lb
31 - 34 tons4, 31.4 tons3, 31.5 tons5, 34 tons1
34,545 kg1, 31,900 kg3
31.9 tons
Length w/gun 25'4 OR 26.5'4, 25.1'5, 25' 1"3
7.65 m3
7.65 m2
Length w/o gun 21' 4"1
6.5 m1
6.09 m2
Height 7.85'4,5, 8'3, 8' 5.25", 8' 2"1
2.49 m1, 2.45 m3
2.41 m2
Width 10.2'4,5, 10' 4"3, 10' 11.5", 10' 9"1
3.28 m1, 3.15 m3
3.15 m2
Ground clearance   0.43 m2
Ground contact length 12.65'5  
Ground pressure   0.84 kp/cm2 2
Turret ring diameter    
Armament    
Main

85 mm 215-553 L/51.55
85 mm1,4
85 mm D-5T3

85 mm ZIS S-532
OR 100 mm1,4  
Secondary    
MG 2 or 3: 7.62 mm DT MG
2: 7.62 mm MG1
2: 7.62 mm DT MG3
2: MG4
3: MG5
2: 7.62 mm DT MG2
Side arms    
Quantity    
Main 585  
Secondary    
MG 1,8905  
Side arms    
Armor Thickness (mm) 15 - 1204
1203
 
Hull Front, Upper 70 - 905, 80 902
Hull Front, Lower    
Hull Sides, Upper 755 752
Hull Sides, Lower    
Hull Rear   30-902
Hull Top 15 - 205 15-202
Hull Bottom 15 - 205 15-202
Turret Front 25 - 1205 90-1202
Turret Sides   752
Turret Rear   752
Turret Top    
Engine (Make / Model) V-2-443,5 W-2-44 water cooled2
Bore / stroke   4 stroke2
Cylinders 125, V-121 V-122
Net HP 5121,4,5 520@2,000 rpm2
Power to weight ratio   16.6 hp/ton2
Transmission    
Fuel type Diesel1,4,5  
Octane    
Fuel quantity   642 liters2
Performance    
Traverse 360°  
Max speed 31.7 mph3, 32 mph1,4,5
50 kph1, 51 kph3
51 kph2
Cross country speed 25 mph  
Road radius 145 - 189 miles5, 186 miles3, 155 miles1
250 km1, 300 km3
235 km2
Cross country radius 122 -155 miles5  
Turning Radius    
Elevation Limits    
Fording depth   1.3 m2
Trench crossing   2.5 m2
Vertical Obstacle   1 m2
Climbing ability   32°2
Suspension (Type) Torsion bar1  
Wheels each side    
Return rollers each side    
Track length    
Tires    
Track width 1' 7.8"5  
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. 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