In a report submitted #OTD in 1951, General Gladeon Barnes lamented the losses American light tanks took from the "Russian T-34 heavy tank" in Korea. Indeed, North Korean T-34-85 could indeed easily defeat South Korean Chaffees head to head. #tanks #history #ColdWar #KoreanWar

The installation of a ZIS-6 107 mm gun instead of a 152 mm howitzer was pitched for the KV-2 #OTD in 1940 . This gun was installed in a prototype in 1941, but only as a test bed for the prospective KV-3 tank. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The installation of a ZIS-6 107 mm gun instead of a 152 mm howitzer was pitched for the KV-2 #OTD in 1940 . This gun was installed in a prototype in 1941, but only as a test bed for the prospective KV-3 tank. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

A successor to the T-100Y SPG was ordered #OTD in 1940: a breakthrough tank called T-100Z with a 152 mm gun. A turret was built for this tank but never installed. Instead, it was used in a line of fortifications near Leningrad. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Comparative trials between the T-34 and T-43 were scheduled to begin #OTD in 1943. Delays led to trials starting only in August, by which point the Battle of Kursk introduced changes to requirements for new tanks. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The Germans began to gather knocked out and abandoned French tanks #OTD in 1940. Captured French tanks made up a large portion of the German tank fleet. Many were deemed unsuitable for front line service but could be used in security and auxiliary roles. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

A Pz.Kpfw.III tank was examined at the Kubinka proving grounds #OTD in 1940. While the tank had some interesting technical novelties that were copied on the T-50 tank, the overall design was considered to be lacking in armour and firepower. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

#OTD in 1945 the Red Army developed requirements for a new tank. Its aim was to combat tanks like the newly discovered Maus. Even though it never had a worthy adversary, the IS-7 was ready for production when all superheavy tanks were cancelled in 1949. #tanks #history #ColdWar

#OTD in 1959 a program to modernize the M48A1 Patton to the level of the M60 was ordered. The tank called M48A1E1 was not approved, although the US ended up carrying out a very similar modernization program in 1975, resulting in the M48A5. #tanks #History #ColdWar

Mobility trials of the T-34-85M ended #OTD in 1944. The tank had more armour than a standard T-34, but reduction of weight in non-critical areas and lower gear ratios kept mobility on the same level. Nevertheless the tank was found to be unsatisfactory. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Italy joined WW2 #OTD in 1940 hoping for a quick and easy victory. It quickly turned out that Italy was ill prepared for a prolonged war. Just over three years later, the Italian government ousted Mussolini and signed an armistice with the Allies. #history #WW2 #WWII

The Vyborg Offensive Operation began #OTD in 1944. The success of this operation played a key part in Finland's decision to exit WW2. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The employment of Elefant tank destroyers in Italy was nothing short of a disaster. Having demolished all but three of their vehicles, German crews left Italy #OTD in 1944. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

#OTD in 1941 a number of obsolete tanks and tractors were considered for conversion into tank destroyers armed with a 57 mm gun. Ironically, even though such a tank destroyer were built, the T-20 tractor chassis was used instead of the ones discussed. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Improvements to Soviet vehicles didn't end with the war. #OTD in 1945 a proposal was made to rearrange ammunition storage in the SU-76M, SU-100, and ISU-122 to make it less susceptible to shock and detonation. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

#OTD in 1943 an order was given to send experimental T-34 tanks with spaced armour into battle. Combat experience showed that this armour greatly helped against 50 mm and short 75 mm guns, but by the summer of 1943 these types of guns were rare. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The order to build a prototype of the IS-6 tank was given #OTD in 1944. This tank was supposed to be a modernization of the IS-2, but really was a whole new tank that sat somewhere in between the IS-2 and Object 701 (future IS-4). #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

#OTD in 1942 Canada was informed that a tank version of the 17-pounder was almost ready. A name was even given to the future M4A1 tank variant with a 17-pounder to be built in Canada: Buffalo II. This tank was never put into production. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

#OTD in 1940 the British Ministry of Supply placed an order for 300 Valentine tanks in Canada. 1420 Valentine VI, VII, and VIIA tanks were built here in total, all at the Angus Shops in Montreal. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

After WW2, Czechoslovakia refurbished a number of StuGs left over on its territory and put them into service under the name ShPTK 40/75N. #OTD in 1951 an attempt was made to rearm the ShPTK 40/75N to use the Soviet 85 mm ZIS-S-53 gun, but it was unsuccessful. #tanks #history

A decree was signed #OTD in 1940 setting the quota for T-34 production. 500 tanks were expected from factory 183 and 100 from STZ before the end of the year. Only 115 were actually delivered. STZ built 25 tanks but none were accepted. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

An order to begin installing commander's cupolas on T-34 tanks was given #OTD in 1943. Unlike previous designs, this one was placed on top of the commander/gunner's station, augmenting his existing rotating periscope. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Assembly of a second T-220 tank prototype began #OTD in 1941. The T-220 had 100 mm of armour and an 85 mm gun, roughly equivalent to the Tiger tank. Only two were built, as the Red Army pursued heavier tanks with better armour and armament. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Assembly of the second Maus prototype finished #OTD in 1944. Since it was rushed to completion before Guderian's arrival, the turret ring was installed unevenly and the gaps had to be packed with shims before the inspection. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

AI could never achieve such heights, to get shots like these you need waterlogged film and a camera so legendarily bad that technicians refuse to work on it. Reflex Korelle, f/2.8 80 mm Tessar, Rollei Retro 80S #shittycamerachallenge #believeinfilm #analogphotography #filmphotography

Experience showed that a new Soviet heavy tank would need an 85 mm gun. #OTD in 1943 Fedorenko wrote that the turret of the IS-1 (#233) was not big for it. Development of a tank with a larger turret ring resulted in the IS-1 (Object 237) we know today. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

An order to produce the Object 252 tank was given #OTD in 1944. The same order gave it the index IS-6. The IS-6 was aiming at an intermediate spot between the IS-2 and IS-4, but in the end there was no demand for this kind of tank. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Two T-34 tanks with reinforced concrete armour arrived for trials #OTD in 1943. This armour consisted of modular cubes which could be replaced in field conditions when they were damaged. No penetration trials were held, as the armour was too heavy. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The Tetrarch airborne tanks first went into battle #OTD in 1944 on #DDay. The ability to be delivered by glider was an advantage, but the element of surprise did little to compensate for their thin armour and poor armament. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Operation Overlord began #OTD in 1944. Paratroopers were dropped at night and the first wave of landing vessels hit the shore at 06:30. Thanks to extensive misinformation, the Germans consider the attack a cover for a real landing at Pas-de-Calais. #history #WW2 #DDay #WWII

Desired modernizations to the T-34 were discussed at a meeting #OTD in 1942. The armour and armament were deemed to be sufficient, but vision and mobility needed work. A commander's cupola and 5-speed gearbox were tested on a new tank indexed T-34S. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F2 tank was equipped with the long 75 mm Kwk 40 L/43 gun. #OTD in 1942 the designation of this vehicle was changed to Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G. This change didn't align with any actual change to the design of the tank. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

A Maus tank was found in the Soviet occupation zone #OTD in 1945. Even though this tank was demolished, it was possible to combine intact parts with those taken from another prototype found at Böblingen to make a complete tank. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The Africa Corps was in dire need of self propelled artillery, an so #OTD in 1942 a decision was made to produce a batch of thirty 15 cm sFH 13/1 (Sf) auf Geschützwagen Lorraine Schlepper (f) (Sd.Kfz. 135/1) vehicles specifically for them. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The Germans began to build SPGs and tank destroyers on the chassis of their light tanks in 1942, including the Pz.38(t). #OTD in 1942 production of gun tanks ceased completely and all Pz.38(t) chassis went to make Marder and later Grille vehicles. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Pz.Kpfw.II als Sfl. Mit 7,5 cm Pak 40 (Marder II) was a way to mechanize the unwieldy 75 mm Pak 40 and make use of the Pz.Kpfw.II chassis that was rapidly becoming obsolete. #OTD in 1942 a decision was made to use half of all Pz.Kpfw.II to build SPGs. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Could a Maus beat an IS-3? How close were the E-series tanks from reaching the battlefield in 1945? All these questions and more are answered in my most recent book: Panzer '46 Eastern Front, now available for preorder. mortonsbooks.co.uk/book/tank-ar...

A SU-15 SPG was delivered for trials #OTD in 1943. This vehicle was designed to replace the trouble-prone SU-12 (SU-76). The improved SU-15M was accepted into service as the SU-76M. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

#OTD in 1943 the M4A2 tank undergoing trials with the Red Army broke down, requiring a pause in the trials. Nevertheless, the vehicle was considered to be quite reliable with the tracks and wheels being the weakest link. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

A decision to build the next generation of American medium tanks was made #OTD in 1943. 200 Medium Tanks T23, 40 T25, and 10 T26 would be built. Only the T26 was successful. The heavily altered Heavy Tank T26E3 was later standardized as the M26 Pershing #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

American and British representatives in the USSR were quite interested in studying the T-34 tank. #OTD in 1942 orders were given for factory #183 to take three tanks off the line and prepare them for shipment overseas. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The German 5 cm Pak 38 gun turned out to be ineffective against the newest Soviet tanks encountered in 1941. #OTD in 1942 a decision was made to phase it out of service, replacing it entirely with the more powerful 7,5 cm Pak 40. #artillery #history #WW2 #WWII

Despite having its own tank industry, Sweden purchased many foreign vehicles. #OTD in 1937 Alexei Surin of ČKD presented a version of the AH-IV tankette customized for Swedish needs. It was accepted into service under the designation Strv m/37. #tanks #history

#OTD in 1945 a report analyzing the needs of the US armor branch was completed. The report concluded that the army needs a series of new tanks in four weight classes. The Light Tank T37 filled the 25 ton slot and led to the development of a heavy and a medium tank #tanks #history

With the situation on the front getting dire, France began to recall tank units from its colonies. #OTD in 1940 the 67th Tank Battalion stationed in Tunisia began to load its Renault D1 tanks on ships to return to France. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The ISU-122S entered trials #OTD in 1944. This vehicle used a 122 mm D-25S gun which had the same ballistics as the A-19, but it was more compact and had a faster firing sliding semiautomatic breech. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

After a number of transformations, the VK 45.02 gained its final name #OTD in 1943: Pz.Kpfw.Tiger Ausf.B. Colloquially, it's still better known by its previous name (Tiger II) or "King Tiger", a name never officially applied to this vehicle. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The GMC T71 was standardized as the GMC M36 #OTD in 1944. This vehicle combined the proven chassis of the GMC M10, GMC M10A1, or M4A3 tank with a new turret carrying a powerful 90 mm gun. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Scale models were used during the Second World War to train vehicle recognition, particularly for pilots. This cardboard scale model of the KV-2 tank was published #OTD in 1942. Ironically, the KV-2 had been out of production for nearly a year. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Production of KV-1 tanks with applique armour was due to start #OTD in 1941. This decision was rolled back soon after the war began, since most German guns couldn't penetrate the KV-1's armour anyway and the extra armour added a lot of weight. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII