Malashenko was once very curious about how the First Ural Special Design Bureau under the leadership of Morozov could remain so calm under the premise that Kotin was constantly making big news and new cars and new plans were emerging one after another.
Without coming up with some new tricks, you have to know that the t34, which originally had acceptable performance, has already reached the point where it is unbearable.
The Germans, who are becoming more and more powerful in the swarm of tigers and leopards, have invested in many more new tanks than in the existing history. As the main tank on the front line, the battlefield pressure faced and borne by the T34 has almost increased in a straight line. The issue of replacement can be
It is said that it has been an urgent matter since before the Battle of Kursk.
If it weren’t for the fact that the last trip to Tagil was too tight, one side was busy waiting for the bus, and the other side had to give Kalashnikov instructions on new guns. Malashenko really wanted to go there in person.
It is not impossible to go to Morozov's side, which is not far from Kotin. If necessary, it is not impossible to give Morozov some advice and guidance. As long as this war can be ended as soon as possible, it is worth doing.
Malashenko, who was too busy to take care of this matter, received an unexpected surprise: a batch of new gadgets produced by the First Ural Special Design Bureau led by Morozov
Son.
"What is this? Comrade Commander... it looks... uh, it looks like the head of a T34, grafted onto a stretched and lengthened body chassis? Is that what you mean? I don't think I can describe it well.
wrong."
Iushkin, who was good at spouting golden sentences, vividly described what he saw in front of him. Malashenko, who was standing next to Iushkin, also had a look of doubt, confusion, and even a little amusement.
of surprise.
If the appearance of this thing in front of me can be attributed to myself, then isn't the butterfly effect a bit too powerful? I didn't do anything. I didn't interfere in the design of the medium tank at all.
You can’t say it’s because of me that this thing appeared early, right?
No matter how unbelievable Malashenko is in his heart and secretly complaining, the new tank in front of him, which is brand new from the factory, is even in a green state and has not had time to be painted with white winter camouflage, but it is really and truly outstanding.
In front of you, it cannot be denied.
"What do they call this thing? T-43? Am I remembering correctly?"
Iushkin indeed remembered it right and said it right. This newly delivered new medium tank was codenamed "Project 136". This extremely familiar appearance was not difficult for Malashenko to recognize. It was exactly
Originally a historical T44 medium tank.
But that's exactly where the problem lies...
According to Malashenko's guess, the reason why T44 even changed its name to "T43" is because the final time point from design project approval to prototype finalization was completed in 1943.
Except for the Stalin series of heavy tanks, Soviet tanks have a consistent old tradition of naming them after the year when the equipment was developed and finalized. The following T54, T62, T72, and T80 main battle tanks are no better than this. As the successor of the T34, the T44...
..Oh, no, it should be called "t43" now, so of course it is no exception.
"Damn it, isn't it too outrageous? This thing came out early before I even saw t3485? Then does it mean that t3485 is not born?"
Facts have proved that Malashenko was wrong again. He just received T43 in the morning, and what happened immediately in the afternoon directly slapped our Comrade Ma in the face on the spot.
A train full of new and improved T34, which is the T3485 medium tank that Malashenko is still talking about, arrived as scheduled. After signing and confirmation, it was officially delivered to the hands of Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division and began to be installed.
use.
The t3485 that was born in advance is not much different from the t3485 in the existing history. The 85mm D-5t tank gun that had been played with by Kogin long ago and was thrown away was replaced by the original 85mm D-5t tank gun.
The 76mm and 57mm tank guns that existed on the T34 have become new main guns.
The turret is equipped with a brand new electric steering gear for assistance. Malashenko and his brothers got into the tank to test drive one in person. He couldn't help but sigh that a medium tank is a medium tank after all. This one is also equipped with an electric steering gear.
In this case, the turret speed is really much faster than the is6 or even my more powerful is4. This is the advantage of the lighter turret.
The engine remains the same as before, and the external auxiliary fuel tank attached to the outside of the tank still has the same classic heritage feel.
The entire T3485, which was born in advance, has almost no difference from the original configuration in the existing history. If there is any difference, it is in the interior of the tank rather than the appearance.
Perhaps due to the hasty start of production, the vehicle-mounted radio communication systems equipped with these newly delivered T3485s are actually old models produced in 1942. Malashenko clearly remembers that the existing T3485s in history were undergoing upgrades.
At that time, a new vehicle radio communication system was also installed, which increased the effective communication distance of the vehicle radio.
Holding the microphone of the old car radio in his hand, the thoughtful Malashenko began to sort out his thoughts...
Taking a comprehensive look at the current situation at hand, t3485 and t43 should be in a subtle coexistence state.
Although I don’t know the specific reasons for this situation that should not happen, it is indeed before our eyes and exists.
To unravel the final answer to this mystery, Malashenko estimated that he would have to make a trip in person and talk to Morozov face to face to find out the cause and effect. But as the war was about to begin, Malashenko, as the commander of the first division,
Ke obviously does not have this condition. The army cannot do without him, and he is not allowed to take leave. Therefore, the idea of finding the answer can only be thought of and cannot be put into practice.
In fact, what Malashenko didn't know was that Kotin already knew what new and ulterior designs Morozov was quietly working on there. And in order to find out what Morozov was playing, he himself
Knowing that he had made advance preparations, Kotin mobilized almost all his informants and spies planted with Morozov.
But it turned out to be a pity. Morozov obviously knew that Kotin had informants placed around him, and the people who had access to the new medium tank project were all Morozov's core confidants and right-hand men. They could provide Kotin with
None of the people who provided intelligence and information reached this level, which really made our Comrade Ke Jing so angry that he called him cunning.
Of course, Kotin did not tell Malashenko about this embarrassing incident.
As for Morozov, this plan, which had been launched long before the Third Battle of Kharkov, was followed up during the subsequent Third Battle of Kharkov.
The bad news that came and the astonishing battle losses of T34 raised the priority, and the acceleration was completed passively.
The Germans' new heavy armored tanks forced Morozov to come up with an effective design as soon as possible. This was a political task that must be completed, and it was his sacred duty and mission as a member of the Communist Party.
After this, the more brutal Battle of Kursk proved the T34's complete obsolescence.
Morozov, who was working on the improvement and upgrading of T34 with one hand and "Project 136" with the other, was so busy that he couldn't sleep all night long. When he opened his eyes, he saw tanks and factories, and when he closed his eyes, he saw design drawings and plans, until the final actual results could be obtained.