So... This is now a thing.
Due to circumstances and events beyond our control the tank situation has developed not necessarily to our advantage. Ergo behold what is likely to cause somewhat of a stir in NW Europe. Hoards of T-34s coming at you from both the East and West...
![[ img ]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/94294688/T-34ish.PNG)
In essence these are T-34s just comprehensively modified to suit requirements. The original T-34s that entered service in 1942 would have been as contemporary Russian vehicles with minimum changes such as the radios and MGs etcetera.
The 1943 model so to speak is where things change.
> MG34s would be used in place of DTs (Yes TG got them in the thirties)
> The Christie suspension gets return rollers and slightly smaller drivers to try and alleviate the track shedding and shredding problems.
> The V-2 would by now have received a better air filter and epicyclic transmission similar to that used in the Cromwell. Essentially the engine would be comparable to a V-2IS or thereabouts.
> The turret traverse system would now be a hydraulic system similar to contemporary British cruiser tanks
> The commander now has a cupola with all-round vision
> The turret ventilation system has been modified to try and stop the loader from falling unconscious
> There is a new domestically developed welded three-man turret similar to that on the T-34M prototype (though not developed from it).
> British radio and intercom equipment would be fitted in the form of a 19 set for inter-tank communications and a throat microphone system for internal communications
> Crew seating would be improved with better folding seats with elbow rests
> The driver's hatch would receive a better prismatic view-port as well as two armoured glass view ports in the hull to aid manoeuvring.
> Hull armour would be broadly the same as later T-34s with an arrangement of 45mm, 45mm and 45mm for the front, side and rear plates with floor and roof armour being 20mm.
> Turret armour would be 90mm, 60mm and 60mm (reduced to 65mm all-round on the Firefly)
> Main armament would be in flux throughout development. Original 1942 era vehicles would have F-34s as Russian vehicles seeing as the round used is a common round.
> 1943 vehicles would first get an indigenous L/43 to replace the F-34 before receiving an L/50 version of the gun (much like the KwK-40).
> With the appearance of the Tiger the T-34/57 would start to appear in limited numbers at first usually issued to platoon commanders and then dedicated tank destroyer platoons in formations.
> The original 57mm used would be the L/43 and L/52 6pdr hastily modified to fit the turret which would be in use at the time. Later developments would see the fielding of an L/70, capable of penetrating the frontal armour of a Tiger A at 500yds with APCR ammunition.
> The terminal effects of the 57mm required an experienced crew to be effective against newer German tanks. However, the ability to penetrate most-all vehicles meant that the L70 vehicles would remain in production until the cessation of hostilities being used in both tank and tank-destroyer units.
> The problems with the 57mm and shorter 76mm guns brings about the T-34 Firefly with a 17pdr. The turret would require modifications receiving a new mantlet and being fractionally longer and wider than earlier turrets.
> Although superior to their stable mates the Fireflies were slow to enter production, which only started to ramp up after D-Day
> Appliqué field kits would be issued for D-Day both as field-kits and factory-fitted.
> The kits consisted of stowage bins, 15mm skirts and appliqué panels for the hull front and sides as well as the turret.
> The hull panels would be applied to the hull with a 10mm air-spacer whereas the turret panels would be fitted with a 30mm air-spacer. These kits had the effect of increasing survivability against hollow-charge and capped rounds.
> Some vehicles not fitted with field kits after D-Day received mesh skirting and panels to nullify the effects of panzerfausts and panzershrecks as much as possible.
~Mark.
