1946: Conceptual drawing T-34-85/2

[Gunbird]

Instead of keeping this one in my head, here is a sketch of what I will be building sometime next year in 1/300 and 20mm. Only snag I see sofar is getting enough gunbarrels or figuring out what to do with the other T-34's. Might change those into T-34-122's or T-34-100's as I have spare barrels from other kits.





"We had barely defeated the first attack when the second wave came in through the smoke. Karl, our gunner, cried out they had sent more of the T-34 tin cans at us and started calling ranges when the first shell hit our tank. Followed by 2 more in close succesion, the turret of our trusty Konigstiger shook violently. Karl responded with 2 quick kills on the lead tanks, funelling them in front of our positions, before yet another hit on our turret took out his sights. Through mine I watched the battle unfold as we retreated to our next defensive line, and for a minute I looked in amazement as the turret came off one of the Russian tanks in a massive explosion, thinking my eyes were deceiving as it seemed to have 2 barrels. Later we learned of the existence of the T-34-85/2 and its twin gun mount. The Bolsjewik never was good at aiming, so figured that by adding 2 guns on one tank they could change the kill ratio.

They were somewhat right"

Panzercommander Hanz Joachim Nellmann after the 2nd battle of Děčín crossroads.

Johan
(figured this was more fitting for this board then the WIP board, but feel free to move this if you think otherwise, mods)

[Westfalia Chris]

Nifty design!

Considering that the ammo consumption would double, wouldn´t it make sense to convert some of the "de-barreled" T-34s into armoured ammo carriers for quick battlefield re-equipment? Or maybe "Kangaroo"-style APCs to carry a squad of desantniki for close protection?

[Gunbird]

Ah, thx, I should have thought about those Thx for helping my brain out, on another forum we had been discussing (and modelling) T-34's for just that purpose.

Johan

[PeteMurray]

Very cool. Scrap T-34s can always be used for bits, too!

[TadPortly]

Middle eastern countries made some interesting up-gunned versions of the T34.  In both the case of the 100mm and 122mm guns, it was found that the breech mechanism and length of recoil movement were too big to fit in a standard T34/85 turret:

Syrian T34/122:

http://www.nutsnbits.com/nutsnbits_00007a.htm

Egyptian T34/122:

http://ampsnz.hobbyvista.com/realafvs/PostWWII/Russia/SPG/t-34122/t34122.htm

Egyptian T34/100:

http://www.southernskies.co.za/afv/wip/t34-100/index.html

The Chinese made an interesting AA variant too:

http://vietnamresearch.com/armor/type37_1.jpg

[Hammers]

Not the discretest of tanks are they?