| KV Series |
| KV-1 Crew: 5 Armament: 75mm or 76.2mm or 85mm gun, 3 DT mg's Armor: 100mm maximum, 75mm minimum Weight: 47,500 kg Performance: 22mph road speed, 156miles range History: In service with Red Army 1940-1945 The Soviet Union was one of the few countries to enter WWII with a production heavy tank. Not only that, the KV was an excellent tank that performed admirably throughout the war. The KV was invented to replace a number of multi-turreted tanks from the 20�s and 30�s. It was first tested in the war against Finland, where it was discovered that its heavy armor was resistant to nearly anything the enemy had. The tanks greatest attribute, it was discovered, was its thick armor. It was also reasonable agile, and armed with a 75mm gun that was constantly upgraded, eventually leading to the KV-85, armed with a 85mm gun. Early in the war with Germany, German tank crews discovered that their shells simply bounced off the KV, and only powerful 88mm guns were capable of knocking them out. This same experience is classicly written about vice versa, with Russian tank crews facing the Tiger, but it must be remembered that German tank crews faced the same thing much earlier in the war. |
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