The Soviet KV-1B Heavy Tank – Kliment Voroshilov. This Soviet tank model is from 1941 and had more armour on the turret, front and sides than former versions. It was armed with a longer-barrelled ZiS-5 tank gun – 76 mm tank gun M1940 F-34 which was also used on the T34/76.
KV-1B Heavy Soviet Tank – Kliment Voroshilov
The KV-1B was a variant of the Soviet KV-1 heavy tank, developed during World War II to address some of the operational limitations of the original design. The KV-1, introduced in 1939, was one of the heaviest and most heavily armored tanks of its time, but its weight and mechanical issues were problematic. The KV-1B, introduced in 1941, was a modification designed to improve the tank’s combat effectiveness and production efficiency.
The KV-1B retained the same powerful 76.2 mm F-34 gun as the earlier KV-1, which provided excellent firepower against German tanks and infantry. However, the major difference in the KV-1B was its turret design. It featured a cast turret with a thicker armor thickness of up to 90 mm, making it even more resistant to enemy fire. The improved turret also featured a more efficient internal layout, which allowed for better crew efficiency.
The tank was powered by a 600-horsepower V-2K diesel engine, giving it a top speed of around 35 km/h (22 mph) on roads, though its weight of approximately 42 tons limited its mobility. Its armor ranged from 75 mm to 90 mm thick, making it resistant to most German anti-tank weapons of the early war years.
Despite its strengths, the KV-1B faced mechanical reliability issues and was eventually replaced by more advanced Soviet tanks, such as the T-34. However, it remained a formidable presence on the battlefield during its deployment.
