This modern engine – largely of alloy, not cast iron, with four valves per cylinder and an output of 500bhp (rising later to 600bhp)- gave the 28 ton tank a top speed of around 32mph. Production started in June 1940.Īt the heart of the tank was its V12 diesel engine, result of an earlier decision that tanks should be fitted with diesel engines for improved economy and reliability.

The first two prototypes of the T34 were revealed in December 1939 and immediately performed the unheard of task of doing the round trip from the plant in Kharkov to Moscow and back – around 1,800 miles – under their own power and without major problems. The hull of this tank prefigured the T34, with sloped armour, and (in the case of the T32) a 76.2mm gun. By 1940 efforts were concentrated on the development of a fast medium tank, derived from various designs of the preceding years, which had culminated in the A20 of 1938 and the T32 of 1939. Tank development in Russia in the 1930’s focused heavily on the Christie suspension system.

Battle of tank t 34 slow mo