T-44 Medium Tank

Soviet T-44 Medium Tank

Soviet T-44 Medium Tank

The design bureau of A. A. Morosov developed a replacement for the T-34. 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. It was decided to install an 85 mm gun. The engine was installed traversely and this resulted in the length of the hull to be shorter and this in turn saved weight.

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.

  T-44 Medium Tank T-44 Medium Tank Model 1945
Crew 41,3,4 42
Physical Characteristics    
Weight 70,350 lb
31 - 34 tons4, 31.4 tons3, 34 tons1
34,545 kg1, 31,900 kg3
31.9 tons
Length w/gun 25'4 OR 26.5'4, 27', 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, 8'3, 8' 5.25", 8' 2"1
2.49 m1, 2.45 m3
2.41 m2
Width 10.2'4, 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    
Ground pressure   0.84 kp/(cm2)2
Turret ring diameter    
Armament    
Main

85 mm1,4 OR 100 mm1,4
85 mm D-5T3

85 mm ZIS S-532
Secondary    
MG 2 or 3: 7.62 mm DT MG
2: 7.62 mm MG1
2: 7.62 mm DT MG3
2: MG4
2: 7.62 mm DT MG2
Side arms    
Quantity    
Main 58  
Secondary    
MG 1,890  
Side arms    
Armor Thickness (mm) 15 - 1204
1203
 
Hull Front, Upper 80 902
Hull Front, Lower    
Hull Sides, Upper   752
Hull Sides, Lower    
Hull Rear   30-902
Hull Top   15-202
Hull Bottom   15-202
Turret Front   90-1202
Turret Sides   752
Turret Rear   752
Turret Top    
Engine (Make / Model) V-2-443 W-2-44 water cooled2
Cylinders    
Net HP 5124  
Transmission    
Fuel type Diesel4  
Octane    
Capacity   642 liters2
Performance    
Traverse 360°  
Max Speed 31.7 mph3, 32 mph1,4
50 kph1, 51 kph3
51 kph2
Cross Country 25 mph  
Road radius 186 miles3, 155 miles1
250 km1, 300 km3
235 km2
Turning Radius    
Elevation Limits    
Fording depth   1.3 m2
Trench crossing   2.5 m2
Vertical Obstacle   1 m2
Suspension (Type) Torsion bar  
Wheels each side    
Return rollers each side    
Track length    
Tires    
Track width    
Track centers/tread    
Production 1945: 2001,2  

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
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