T-34

No tank effected the outcome of World War 2 as much as the production of the Soviet T-34 series.

Designation: T-34
Classification Type: Main Battle Tank
Contractor: State Factories - Soviet Union
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1940
Number Built: 84,070

The Soviet-produced T-34 was a medium tank that attained legendary status in the Second World War. Itself a product of much engineering and design of earlier models - the BT-IS, A-20, A-30 and the T-32 all coming before it - the T-34 was instrumental in forcing the tide of the Third Reich out of the Eastern Front. Becoming the second-most produced tank of all time (it's successor, the T-54/55, would achieve number one status in that ranking) the T-34 would be produced up until 1958, used in force through the Second World War and even in the opening stages of the Korean War with North Korea, and ultimately be exported to dozens of nations around the globe.

The T-34 design stemmed from the T-32, which was an upgraded and up-armored version of previous tank designs. With a panel governing the design process, it was recommended to fit the T-32 with more armor. This particular decision to do so would produce the T-34 in massive numbers starting in 1940.

The arrival of the T-34 series of tanks proved to be quite the surprise to the invading German troops. Well-designed thick and sloped armor was one of the benefits of the T-34 system that became the bane of German ground personnel - who soon found their anti-tank weapons somewhat ineffective against the new steel beasts. With upgrades in main armaments as well, the T-34 soon proved to be a match for the best of the Panzer tanks Germany could field.

The T-34 was produced in just about every battlefield role imaginable. Production was so fierce and fast that many were left with section unpainted. Mass production methods were used in every regard to field as many tanks as possible in the shortest amount of time. Crew accommodations for the tank amounted to 4, though the internal arrangement was, by all accounts, extremely cramped, utilitarian, noisy and smelly.

The base T-34/76 was classified as a medium tank. Main armament consisted of a 76.2mm main gun, which was replaced in the T-34/85 series with the powerful 85mm gun. Complimentary armament included two additional 7.62mm machine guns.

Produced as a whole in the thousands, the system was affordable, adaptable, reliable and highly durable, earning its marks on the battlefield in tried and proven circumstances and turning back one of the greatest land armies ever to march on the Soviet Union.