WW2 KV-1 Model 1939-40-41 footage - КВ-1 серийный - Танк, танк Клим Ворошилов 1, Part 1.

WW2 KV-1 Model 1939-40-41 footage - КВ-1 серийный - Танк, танк Клим Ворошилов 1.
KV-1 (L-11)

The development of the KV-1 began after the heavy tanks T-28 ( T-28 was actually classed as a Medium tank) and T-35's flaws came to light.

During the development in 1937 the T-100s and the SMK prototype were designed and both had tandem turrets, heavy armour, wide tracks, and used the torsion-bar suspension. These tanks were tested in 1939, during the operations in Finland during the "Winter War”
These heavy tanks proved to be resistant, but showed very poor reliability and mobility, were costly and difficult to maintain.

But a single-turreted variant of the SMK was drawn up, named the KV, which was named after the then Soviet Defense Commissar Kliment Voroshilov. the KV prototypes outperformed the T-100 and SMK and was subsequently approved for a 50-unit pre-series of tanks and after testing the first tanks “model 1939”, were delivered in March 1940.

The model 1939 was nearing 45 tons and proofed to be challenging to steer, the transmission wasn't able to cope with the tanks weight, and vision was also limited, with narrow vision slits. But with it's immense weight, and large tracks the tank proofed to have excellent traction on soft ground.

The first model production was meant to have the 76.2 mm (3 in) F-32 as main armament, but because of limited production the medium-velocity “short” barrel L-11 was fitted but the L-11 was deemed insufficient in performance and was later replaced, and the M1940 would later be equipped with the longer F-32 gun and a new mantlet.

During 1940 and early 1941. 141 model 1939s were delivered, followed by 243 to 250 of the model 1940.

The production of the KV-1Es or M1941 called “Ekranami” was started in 1941 and got expedient armor improvement and had soft steel plates, bolted-on. These KV's were earlier M1939's that were either damaged or left overs, and were up-armored and up-gunned with the F-32.
The KV-1B's were totally new production models fitted with the F-34 gun and were also up-armored and the later production models would be fitted with the ZiS-5 76.2 mm. but even due the KV was upgraded it would proof to be a step behind with the German tanks and would be outranged by the Panzer IV F2 and the late Panzer IIIs. and with the added armour the KV V12 diesel, and was decidedly under powered.

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■ Information obtained from several sites.
■ Wikipedia
■ tanks-encyclopedia
■ the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzers
■ preservedtanks
■ pantser.net
■ the.shadock.free.fr/Tanks_in_France

■ Some music is from the YouTube Audio Library.

■ Music used:
EpidemicSound.com

■ Music used:
YouTube audio library.

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