THE LAST OF THE “KV”, THE FIRST “IS”

The new machine, which received the designation “object 233”, was to “combine the abilities of a broad and rapid maneuver with the force of a frontal impact. The project is expected to produce 30-ton KV-13 (instead of the nearly 50-ton KV), moving with a maximum speed of 65 km/h, which had the armor of 75 mm, can withstand the shells 88 mm German Flak 36/37 guns. This “single tank”, the mass corresponding to the average, and the defense – heavy, was supposed to be, according to designers, it is easier and cheaper, significantly reduce the complexity of its production, to increase remotepoint.

 

In March 1942 the whole of the project documentation handed over tacomamama Experienced factory number 100 (up to March 1942-pilot plant CHTZ). Oversaw the project chief designer of the people’s Commissariat for tank industry J. Kotin. In September of the same year a prototype of the tank was demonstrated to the leadership of the Commissariat.

Until the end of the year he was tested. In particular, at the site near Sverdlovsk, the sample was subjected to artillery fire. The fire was fought from the domestic 76 mm tank gun and 88-mm German anti-aircraft guns. Frontal armor withstood our bombs, but the German anti-aircraft gun could penetrate the body in 60% of the shots.

 

In January 1943 he was made the new pattern of KV-13, with a thicker front sheet. Moreover, the front part of the body was cast, for the first time in our tank, providing significant gains in mass as well and in the process. Cast was and tower. Preserved a memo to the people’s Commissar for tank industry Malyshev V., in which it was noted that “through the use of liquid armor seals layout, reducing the size of the hull and turret was able to significantly reduce the weight of a heavy tank to the level of average.”

 

 

Tank is-1 in the Museum of the great Patriotic war in Kiev

 

KV-13 had a classic layout with fighting compartment in the middle of the tank. Here on the lower chase cast turret boxes installed tower with a gun, coaxial machine gun, mechanisms aiming, sights and observation devices; the diameter of the ring equal to 1420 mm. the tower Itself is cast as one piece with the mask and gun was equally strong around the perimeter: the thickness of its walls, the frontal part, sides and stern was 85 mm. In the center of it were the hatches with hinged covers, the front holes for the mounting of sights and fan of the fighting compartment, on the sides and at the stern there were four mirror periscope observation device. The rotation of the turret upon movement of the tank produced by an electric motor, and the engine – manual transmission.

 

The tank’s armament consisted of a 76.2-mm gun ZIS-5 mod. 1941 It was developed in design Bureau of the G. grabina-based anti-aircraft gun mod. 1931 and was initially intended for installation on serial tanks KV-1 instead of guns, f-32 and f-34.

 

ZIS-5 had the V-gate and a mechanical semi-automatic loader, and hiltulanlahti in the back of the cradle. Recoil device consisted of a hydraulic brake rollback and hydropneumatic nachalnika. The gun was installed on the original axles with ball bearings. The length of its trunk was equal to 41.6 per caliber, muzzle velocity of about 680 m/s and the Rate of gun was 4-8 RDS./min.

Horizontal movement of the gun when the movement of the tank was made by means of the actuator, and with the engine off at stops manually. Aiming vertically is carried out in the range – 5° – +25° .

 

In gun ammunition consisted of up to 65 unitary shots with armor-piercing UBR-354, and high-explosive shells UOF-354. The weight of shot projectile fragmentation UOF-354 was of 8.82 kg, the mass of the projectile – 6.2 kg weight of explosive -0,71 kg. Shot armor-piercing shell BR-354А had weight 9,12 kg projectile weight 6.3 kg; it could penetrate at range 500 m armor plate thickness up to 70 mm, and 1000 m -up to 63 mm.

 

 

Medium tank KV-13, armed with 76.2-mm gun ZIS-5

 

 

KV-13:

 

1 – 76.2-mm tank gun; 2 gun mask; 3 – cast turret; 4 – sprocket; 5 – support roller; 6 – output gear; 7 – headlamp; 8 – recess coaxial machine gun; 9 – observation window of the driver; 10 – Luke loader; 11 – shutter engine compartment; 12 – surface of the transmission; 13 – commander’s cupola; 14-cast front part of the hull

 

Housed ammunition cannon cassette boxes on the bottom of the fighting compartment.

 

Next to the cannon in the mask was mounted 7.62-mm machine gun DT, which had the ammunition, 950 rounds in 15 discs; they were placed in the lateral niches of the fighting compartment.

 

For aiming the main gun and coaxial machine gun on the tank target was used telescopic sight DT-7 and tank periscope sight PT-4-7; loader could use the commander’s panoramic device of PTK. Shooting was done hand-or foot-release mechanisms.

 

The peculiarity of the case of the KV-13 was the extensive use of cast parts. And not only the previously mentioned tower and the main frontal part of the hull and turret box, block the stern of the hull, and more were made by method of casting in a mold. In addition, the tank was missing any parts and components from nonferrous metals, with the exception, of course, available to the engine and electrical equipment.

 

Changed significantly and the technology of making the case. It significantly reduced the number of parts, bolting, boring holes under them began to be made in the parts before Assembly, easier welding seams. Due to the compaction of the layout as well as exceptions to the fourth crew member – radio operator-gunner – the height of the tank reduced to 212 mm, and a length of 700 mm. It possible to strengthen the protection within the terms of reference. The upper front hull was now 120 mm bottom 100 mm depth – 75 mm.

 

TABLE of armor PENETRATION of the GUN ZIS-5 armor-PIERCING SHELLS (thickness, mm)

 

 

The initial penetration (NP) means that 20% of the shell fragments were punched for armor plates; Guaranteed penetration (GP) means that 80% of the shell fragments was for the broken armor plates.

 

AMMUNITION FOR TANK GUNS ZIS-5

 

 

 

To the front of the compartment, where the driver was located control devices, actuators, air cylinders, two fuel tanks. At the bottom there was a hatch for emergency exit. The driver was watching the road through the viewing gap with “triplex” in an observation hatch, and two side mirror periscope device.

 

In the feed tank was located engine compartment with the engine V-2K output of 600 HP at 2000 rpm./mines installed along the longitudinal axis of the tank. It was a 12-cylinder high-speed natural pressure diesel engine with direct fuel injection. Dry weight – 750 kg, dimensions – 1558x856x1072 mm, the minimum specific fuel consumption is 170 g/HP-HR was developed and put into serial production in 1937 – 1939 at the Kharkov locomotive works; during the war produced in Chelyabinsk, and then at a specially constructed plant in Barnaul.

 

In-2K was originally intended for use in aircraft – for installation on heavy bombers. In tank took the place of the heavy tanks KV-1 and KV-2, and then the KV-13.

The power plant of the tank was supplied with two air cleaners, cooling fan, lamellar liquid radiator, two oil-filled radiators; engine start produced an inertia starter of EC-9 with manual and electromotive drives.