This release sees the introduction of new tanks for the Soviets, as well as a couple of new updates to existing vehicles. July 1943 saw the start of the largest tank battle ever seen (probably) – Kursk. These tanks represent a selection of those fielded by the Soviets during the battle.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new units…..
T-70 Light tank
The T-70 was a Soviet light tank introduced in 1942 and used throughout the rest of WWII. Designed as an improvement of the previous T-60, it had a more powerful 45mm main gun, better cross country capabilities and slightly thicker armour. The T-70 still suffered from the drawbacks of relatively thin armour and a weak gun when placed next to even contemporary medium tanks, but it could be produced in large numbers by factories unable to manufacture larger tanks.
Its finest moment was when a lone T70, commanded by Sergeant Alexander Pegov, ambushed a column of 18 Germans tanks and knocked out two Panthers, immobilizing the column.
T-34/76 Medium tank
The T-34 was a medium tank used by the Soviets during WWII. Initially introduced in 1940, it was designed to replace the current range of light and medium tanks in the Soviet army, many of which were obsolete. Armed with a 76mm gun and featuring sloping armour, the T-34 on paper was easily a match for any other medium of the time, and a good deal better than many of them. Combined with a low cost and rapid production time, the T-34 became the second most produced tank of all time (behind its successor, the T54/55 series). However, in reality, the combination of poor visibility and lack of good leadership and training, meant that in the field the T-34 was often outclassed by numerically inferior Axis forces.
KV-1 Heavy tank
The KV-1 was the first of a range of Soviet tanks of WWII named after the Soviet Defence Commissar (Kliment Voroshilov). Introduced in 1939, the KV series really gained notoriety with the German Army during Operation Barbarossa when it was found that their heavy armour rendered them practically immune to the invading PzIII and PzIV tanks armed with 37mm and short barrelled 75mm guns. In fact, at the time, a KV tank was virtually invulnerable to anything short of a FlaK 88 or point blank artillery fire.
However, they also had shortcomings of their own – the heavy armour made them slow and sluggish; the main gun was no better than that mounted on a T-34/76; at 45 tons they really were too heavy for the Soviet transport infrastructure once they were disembarked from trains.
Over 5000 KV-1 tanks were produced and ultimately they served through until the end of the war.
KV-2 Heavy tank
The KV-2 was a development of the KV-1 heavy tank introduced in 1940 and in service until 1945. Essentially a KV-1 with a new turret, the KV-2 had a very large boxy turret mounting a devastating 152mm howitzer. Developed as a breakthrough tank, the new turret added an additional 7 tons to an already incredibly heavy tank and massively increased its height and silhouette.
The increased weight also added further drawbacks – the top speed and ability to cross rough ground was drastically reduced, and the weight of the huge turret meant it could only transverse when level.
Overall, its lacklustre performance and the development of better breakthrough assault vehicles led to only 200 KV2 tanks being produced.
SU-122 Assault gun
The SU-122 was an anti tank platform designed around the T-34 chassis and featuring the A-19 122mm gun used by the IS-2. Designed as a breakthrough gun, the AT capabilities of the A-19 were also excellent, and easily capable of destroying a Tiger I at 1000m. Produced between winter 1942 and summer 1943, the SU-122 saw service for the rest of the war.
SU-152 Assault gun
The SU-152 was an anti tank platform designed around the KV-1 chassis and featuring a 152mm gun howitzer. Unlike the SU-122, the SU-152 was more effective as a howitzer than an AT gun. However, the sheer power of the shell could still blow the turret from a King Tiger, earning the 152 the nickname of “Beastkiller”. Unlike the KV-1, the SU-122 had a much larger fighting compartment due to the casement fitted gun, but suffered from a lack of traverse.
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We hope that you found this little bit of background history and that soon our models will be reinforcing your Soviet armies – Ura!
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