The T-34-76 was a Soviet medium tank introduced in 1940 and widely used during World War Two. It featured a 76.2mm gun, sloped armor for improved protection, and excellent mobility, making it one of the most effective tanks of its time. Its diesel engine and wide tracks allowed it to perform well in rough terrain and harsh weather conditions. The T-34-76 played a crucial role in turning the tide against German forces, particularly during the Battle of Moscow, Stalingrad, and Kursk.
Development
Based on tank experiences from earlier battles, like those on the border of occupied Manchuria with Japan in 1938 and 1939 where Soviet tanks like the T-26 were no match for the Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go tank’s 37mm gun, the Soviet engineer Mikhail Koshkin convinced Joseph Stalin to allow him to develop a newer and heavier “universal tank”. Koshkin based the name T-34 on the year 1934, in which he started to formulate his ideas about a new tank.
Upgrades
The first series of T-34s were produced in 1940, with a total of around 400 tanks. An upgraded model was produced from 1941 which featured the more powerful F-34 gun, an 9-RS radio set (also installed on the SU-100), and even thicker armour. The tank was later upgraded to the T-34-85 to counter the more advanced German tanks like the Panzerkampfwagen V “Panther” and the Panzerkampfwagen VI “Tiger”.
The Soviet T-34-76 was the most-produced tank of the war.
This T-34-76 Model 1940 tank was photographed in the Musée des Blindes, Museum of Armored Vehicles in Saumur, France.
