"Report to Comrade People's Commissar of Defense, Comrade Commander, the prototype of the T-34 tank has arrived at the appointed place and is ready for testing at any time!"

A prototype of the T-34 tank, in a vacant lot on the northern outskirts of Leningrad, is being prepared for testing. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

At that time, after the T-34 tank was introduced, it caused a sensation in the Soviet military circles, whether it was mechanical power, firepower, and protection, this tank belonged to the most advanced level at that time, and was considered the most successfully designed tank.

This test attracted the attention of many high-level Soviet military leaders. The People's Commissar of Defense Voroshilov, as well as the newly appointed commander-in-chief of the Soviet Red Army, Semyon Konstantinovich Timoshenko (cemeh_kohctahtnho Вnч_tnmo шehko) were also present. Of course, he was not in charge of ordnance, but Kulik, the deputy People's Commissar of Defense, who had always opposed the creation of tanks.

In addition to the military, the test was watched by Molotov, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs and Politburo member of the USSR, Zhdanov (Аhд pen_ АлekcahдpovIJnч_Ждahoв), Second Secretary Kuznetsov (Аekcen_лekcahдpovnч _ky3he цoв), and of course our protagonist, the First Deputy People's Commissar for Construction of the USSR, Manturov, who had the commissar (general) of the 2nd Army of the Soviet Red Army.

In the previous comparative test of mobility with the KV tank, the agile T-34 impressed the people present, while the KV tank looked clumsy and outdated. And the next step is the fire test.

"The first target," Alexander Aleksandrovich Morozov (Алekcahд p_ Алekcahд nч_mopo3o вв), who was involved in the design of the T-34 tank, pointed to a steel plate 100 meters away and said to Voroshilov and Timoshenko: "It was the 80 mm thick high-quality steel plate from Novosibirsk, which was 100 meters away from the firing point of the prototype and had an angle of 90 degrees from the direction of the shell. ”

Voroshilov glanced at Timoshenko, and then said to Morozov: "Are you confident that you can penetrate it?" ”

"I'm 100% confident!"

"Very well, then let's try it."

After a while, "Boom! A white smoke came out of the 76 mm caliber gun, and the shell had already been fired in the direction of the target.

Several soldiers in Red Army uniforms appeared near the 80-millimeter steel plate 100 meters away, and they clearly saw that a hole with a diameter of 6 to 8 centimeters had appeared in the originally intact steel plate.

One of them held up a banner to signal that the test had been successful. When the onlookers and generals learned about it, they all expressed their confidence in this tank with their applause.

Subsequently, the B-350B armor projectiles of the T-34 tank penetrated steel plates at a distance of 300 meters on one side and 500 meters on the other, both with a thickness of 80 mm, proving that the latest T-34 tank could penetrate the frontal armor of the German No. 4 tank at a distance of 300 to 500 meters.

However, in a normal tank battle, the two tanks will exchange fire when they are 1.5 kilometers apart, and sometimes the two vehicles can be separated by 1 kilometer to determine the winner. The results of the shelling test at a distance of 100 meters, 300 meters, and 500 meters do not really mean anything.

"The next target, at a distance of 1000 meters, is also an 80-millimeter upright steel plate." Morozov said nervously and excitedly.

"Do you have faith?" This time, it was Timoshenko next to Voroshilov who asked this question.

"Sort of," Morozov was not fully confident, "if it's 70 mm, there should be no problem." But shooting 1 mm steel plate from a distance of 80 km is a bit difficult. ”

Sure enough, as Morozov said, the T-34 tank really could not penetrate 80 mm of armor at a distance of 1000 meters. The BR-350B shell just blew a small crater in the steel plate, but it did not penetrate the back.

Replaced with a 70-mm steel plate and placed at a firing distance of 1000 meters, the T-34 fired another shot. This time it was finally crossed, and everyone present applauded warmly.

At that time, a tank gun capable of penetrating 70 mm of armor at a distance of 1,000 meters was already one of the most advanced tank guns in the world. The KWK-37 main gun of the German tank No. 4 could only penetrate 50 mm of armor at a distance of 1000 meters, while the British MKIII tank could only penetrate more than twenty mm.

After the tests, Morozov, as well as his master Koshkin, were very satisfied with their work, and generals such as Timoshenko and Voroshilov, as well as laymen such as Zhdanov and Kuznetsov were very satisfied with the performance of the tank.

But while a wave of satisfaction filled the entire test site, Manturov and Molotov, who were present, actually frowned at the same time.

"Comrade Manturov," Molotov walked up to Manturov and asked, "what do you think of this tank?" ”

"All in all, it's pretty good." Manturov also saw the other party's doubts from Molotov's expression, "The test just now showed that the T-34 tank could not penetrate the armor of the German No. 4 tank at a distance of 1,000 meters. ”

"Yes," Molotov said, "although the Germans may not be able to threaten our tanks at a distance of 1,000 meters. But wouldn't it be better if we could destroy the German tanks at a distance of 1000 meters? It seems that there is still more room for improvement in this tank. ”

"In any case, this tank is superior to the KV tank in terms of mobility, agility and reliability, as you have seen in the previous comparative tests. Moreover, the cost of production is relatively low, but in terms of firepower, there is not much difference between the two, and it should be put into production as soon as possible, and then equipped with troops in large quantities. Manturov stressed the tank's excellent features to Molotov, then Prime Minister of the Soviet Union, and hoped that it would be possible to put it into production ahead of schedule.

"Indeed, the tests just now proved that the design of the T-34 is successful and irreplaceable. It should be put into production as soon as possible, and then equipped with a large number of our army, which can greatly increase the strength of our army. ”

Koshkin, the general designer of the T-34 tank, came over and said to the two people's commissars: "Comrade, I also hope that this tank will be put into production as soon as possible, but we have encountered some resistance. ”

"What resistance?" Molotov lifted his glasses and said: "With such a good tank, who will prevent it from being put into production?" ”

Koshkin glanced in the direction of the T-34 tank and saw that Voroshilov had climbed into the tank himself, so he was relieved to talk to the two men in suits. "There are those who believe that the T-50 and KV tanks can fulfill all tank missions, and that the commissioning of the T-34 is not necessary."

Of course, Manturov knew who Koshkin was referring to, and that was Voroshilov's other son-in-law, Kotin, who was also a tank designer.

Although Kotin was very talented and designed many great works, including the T-26, T-28 and KV, he did not have a big heart.

He used all means, through his connections and influence, to prevent the production of the T-34 tank. Historically, this tank, which was approved at the end of 1939, was not officially put into production until April 1940.

However, Manturov had long stressed to Voroshilov the importance of this tank. Under his influence, the comparative test of the T-34 with the KV tank was also carried out more than two months earlier than in history, and it is estimated that it will soon be put into production.