Tank Archives

The T-26 tank was originally developed in 1931 and was generally obsolete by the start of the Great Patriotic War. Nevertheless, #OTD in 1941 permission was given to factory #174 to resume production, assembling tanks from existing parts. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

@Plantbaseuk Only in Manstein's memoirs.

@Tank_Archives The Germans did come within a hairsbreadth of breaking through on one of the sides of the bulge.

Even though the Battle of Kursk was far from over, it was clear that the German offensive had failed. #OTD in 1943 the Red Army launched Operation Kutuzov, a large offensive towards Bryansk and Orel north of the Kursk Salient, retaking the strategic initiative #history #WW2 #WWII

@Michael89529595 The ZIS-4 tank gun used a different barrel.

@Tank_Archives I have read of these, but this is a first image I have seen. Thank you. I'm curious if the oversupply of the barrels was used in the T-34/57s?

Trials of the ZIS-30 tank destroyer were conducted #OTD in 1941. The trials were a success, but even so only 100 were built. Since production of the T-20 artillery tractor ended, there was no way to get more chassis for conversion. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The SOMUA S 35 was first shown to the public during a Bastille Day parade #OTD in 1938. Due to issues with deliveries, some of the tanks shown had no observation devices installed. #tanks #history

Learn about how and why this gun was made in my book IS-2 - Development, Design & Production of Stalin's War Hammer. Get 15% off for a limited time! lulu.com/shop/peter-sam…

#OTD in 1943, even before the IS-85 was put into production, a draft for installing the more powerful 122 mm gun was completed. The IS-122 or IS-2 completely replaced the IS-1 or IS-85 in production in early 1944. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The ARL 44 was already considered unsatisfactory as a tank by that point and was reclassified as a tank destroyer. Even so, the ARL 44 was removed from service a year after its public debut. Today, five vehicles remain in museums.

The ARL 44 medium tank was envisioned in 1944 as a way for France to return to tank design after a hiatus during German occupation. This tank was shown to the public #OTD in 1951 during the Bastille Day parade. #tanks #history

This tank was called T-30. It soon evolved into the T-60, a much better known vehicle. There is some debate about how useful a light tank with a 20 mm autocannon was by 1941, but timely delivery of these tanks was crucial in the Battle of Moscow. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The Soviet government wanted to set up T-50 tank production at automotive factories, but the tank was too heavy and complex. #OTD a pitch was made to build a simplified variant of the T-40 amphibious reconnaissance tank instead. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The information learned at the Battle of Kursk was instrumental for figuring out how to fight and defeat the Ferdinand despite its thick armour and powerful gun. youtube.com/watch?v=VkWY65…

Even though many Ferdinands were knocked out during the Battle of Kursk, there was no time to study them. The first information on this new tank destroyer was obtained #OTD in 1943 from a German POW that served in the 654th Tank Destroyer Battalion. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

@rustyalex2 A hole is a hole, a pistol port has to have some kind of plug or shutter to make it not be a hole most of the time.

@Tank_Archives How does a hole 'break'? A hole is a hole.

The Maus was supposed to have submachine gun firing ports in the sides of its turret. They were installed #OTD in 1944, but quickly broke. They had to be removed, leaving holes in the side that were eventually just welded over. #tanks #History #WW2 #WWII

@TotisenTosi @MaptheWar Finnish forces made up one half of the blockade and did their part to hunt ships bringing food into the besieged city. They had everything to do with Leningrad.

@Tank_Archives @MaptheWar Every country at war tries to transfer the war effort to the enemy's territory. The Finns did this in East Karelia. This had nothing to do with Leningrad, over 250 km away.

The Leningrad Defensive Operation began #OTD in 1941. Soviet troops kept the enemy out of the city, but German and Finnish forces still managed to cut off the city from the outside world, establishing a brutal blockade to starve the city out. #history #WW2 #WWII

The LT vz.34 light tank was accepted into service #OTD in 1935. However, a race for better armour resulted in the heavier LT vz.35 being accepted into service later that year, which overshadowed the achievement of Czechoslovakia's first mass produced tank. #tanks #history

Trials of the SU-122M concluded #OTD in 1943. The SU-122M was a considerable improvement over the SU-122, but it was not accepted into service since the chassis was needed to make SU-85 tank destroyers. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Krupp was originally contracted to build just the turret for the B.W. tank, but managed to push through a contract for two hulls as well #OTD in 1935. The result was superior to Rheinmetall's design, and so it was accepted into service as the Pz.Kpfw.IV. #tanks #history

Trials of the s.Pz.B.41 began #OTD in 1940 in Germany at Kummersdorf. Despite being designated an anti-tank rifle, this was more like a light anti-tank gun, as it was fired from a wheeled mount and required a crew of five to operate and move. #artillery #history #WW2 #WWII