The famous tank designer Leonid Kartsev made a curious comment about his no less famous colleague, Joseph Kotin, in his memoirs: “He was a talented organizer and an outstanding politician. Further, the names of the heavy tanks created by the design bureau had a political connotation: SMK (Sergei Mironovich Kirov), KV (Klim Voroshilov), IS (Joseph Stalin). This had a psychological effect, first of all, on the customers, and on other officials as well”.
Indeed, it is impossible not to notice the politically "correct" names of some of Kotin's creations. But we must admit that the tanks he created did not shame the names that they were given. The SMK, however, did not become serial, although it was recommended for adoption by the Red Army. The era of multi-turret tanks is over …
But the IS-2 is deservedly considered the most powerful and formidable tank of the Second World War. The KV-1, with all the problems with its chassis, made it possible for trained crews in defensive battles of 1941 to arrange a "merry life" for the Germans and greatly spoil the blitzkrieg triumph. Suffice it to recall at least what the KV-1 crew under the command of Zinovy Kolobanov did (22: 0 in favor of the Soviet tankers. Fantastic result, skill and luck, military-industrial complex, January 11, 2016).
In 1942, the high-speed version of the KV-1 - KV-1S made it possible to win in the changed conditions of tank warfare (KV-1S through the eyes of its commander: Successful duel with T-IV, VPK, January 5, 2018).
And the KV-2 tank, it seems, simply did not have time for "its" war - the Finnish one, which could become its triumph. Samples of the KV tank, both with 76-mm and 152-mm guns, were tested on it, but in small quantities and at the very end of the war.
The KV tank was "unbreakable"
Employee of the Kirov plant Estratov A. I. participated in these tests. Together with the KV, prototypes of the SMK and T-100 took part in them.
(quoted from the book Maxim Kolomiets - Winter War: "Tanks are breaking wide glades").
Here is how the battles between the KV and the Finns were remembered by their participant: “In the evening, Comrade Pavlov, the head of the armored department, came to us. “Now,” he says, “comrades,” I will acquaint you with the pillboxes of the Baboshino fortified area. T-28s cannot pass - they are burning, we hope for you. Tomorrow morning we will let you into battle, we urgently need to test the machines."
Upon arrival at the starting position, they explained to us the task assigned to us: after the artillery barrage, we go on the offensive with the 20th tank brigade. Having passed a small section of the forest, a vast clearing opened up in front of us, tanks are burning to our left and right. The T-28 ahead of us caught fire, it prevents us from moving forward. Turn off the road - we are afraid to run into mines. An anti-tank ditch, nadolby, wire barriers are ahead. We tried to get close to the burning tank and push it off the road. The crew of the T-28 tank left the tank through the landing hatch and did not turn off the gearbox, we could not move the car. An order was received by radio to turn off the road to the left and move along the anti-tank ditch. The enemy hits the starboard side of our car with shells blow after blow, as if hitting the side with a strong sledgehammer. True frost or trembling on the leg walks. Another blow after blow - we move. Our commander Kachikhin spoke up, he was nervous. They are beating us, the enemy is nowhere to be seen. We remembered the instruction of Comrade. Pavlova. The tank commander, Kachikhin, gives the command to look at all observation devices and look for camouflaged pillboxes. Suddenly the Bucket shouts: “There is a hillock ahead. Look, a pipe stuck out of it and hid. " Kachikhin's voice: “This is probably a bunker. Sight on the pipe - fire! " I noticed a bump. There are poles on the hillock. Smoke appears from them. The command of the commander followed - "fire on the pole!" I load the cannon, I am both the minder and the loader. We noticed enemy firing points in several more places. A strong impact of a shell on the front of the tank, the tank showered with sparks, another blow. Our cannon shook and the tank was stopped. What happened is unknown. They started the engine, tried to move - everything is in order. I say to Kachikhin: “I wouldn’t have a snack, we don’t have breakfast, lunch is long gone. I'm sure our tank is not penetrable. " They refused to have a snack.
We received an order over the radio: “To your left is a shot down T-28. Inspect it and, if possible, tow it to the rear. " We came close to the T-28, despite the heavy shelling by the enemy. I got out of the car - being between the tanks it was possible to inspect the T-28 and attach it to the tug. The tank was towed to the rear. P. K. Voroshilov arrived to us early in the morning. and with him five commanders in "Romanov" fur coats. Among them was Pavlov D. G. After examining the KV car, they found: the gun barrel had been shot through, some of the undercarriage rollers had been shot through, some track links were beaten, but not completely, the towing cable was broken, there were many hits on the left and right sides - the tank remained unharmed. Now it was clear to us why our cannon was trembling, why we were showered with flames of sparks. The military commission was pleased. They shook hands with us, congratulated us on completing the assignment. Pavlov ordered Voroshilov to urgently leave for the plant and give the front KV tanks as soon as possible.
The barrel of a 76-mm cannon was brought from the factory. There was no crane - they picked up a solid pine tree with a good strong branch, raised the trunk with the hoist, drove the tank and manually, under the guidance of artilleryman Voinov I. A., the gun was mounted.
For the second time, the QMS and "weaving" went into battle. In this battle, the SMK was blown up by land mines and remained on the territory of the White Finns. The crew of our car were ordered to return to the factory. The plant prepared new towers with a 152-mm howitzer cannon for firing at reinforced concrete structures.
By this time, the second KV was ready. We sent two cars to the front: one was the driver Kovsh, commander Komarov, the other was the driver Lyashko, commander Petin. I began to work on preparing cars for the next battle: refueling with ammunition, fuel, and most importantly, to eliminate the shortcomings of the identified defects. In the Finnish war, the KV tank was unbeatable. Of course, there were defects. Once, due to the failure of small 8 mm bolts, the car almost got to the enemy. This happened on two machines. During the battle, it was already getting dark, two 8 mm bolts were cut off on the Bucket's car, which secure the fuel pump with the V-2 engine. The engine stalled, won't start. I worked on another machine together with I. I. We crawled to the bucket's car, climbed into the car through the landing hatch, and discussed a plan for restoring the car. There is a battle, machine-gun bursts, and we need to get out of the car and open the engine hatch, which is located on top of the car. I got out of the tank, opened the engine hatch, then I. I. Kolotushkin got out. and covered me with a tarp folded in several rows. I am lying on the engine, Kolotushkin climbed into the tank. The electric light of a portable lamp was lit. All this was done so that the enemy could not see the light of the portable lamp with which I had to work. The bucket turns the engine of the machine from the inside, and you need to find the top dead center in the first cylinder of the engine and connect the fuel pump to the engine with two 8 mm bolts at a certain angle. Finally, everything is ready, starting, the engine started working. We left the battle to test the car."
Projectile hits did not affect normal crew performance
The question immediately arises - how true is the assertion of the author of the recollection that "in the Finnish war the KV tank was inimitable"?
Is there any documentary evidence for this? Yes there is.
reference
On testing KV and T-100 on the Karelian Isthmus, February-March 1940.
To test the combat qualities of prototypes of heavy tanks for testing in the Army in the field were sent in the following composition:
1. Tank KV with 152-mm howitzer - 2 units, arrived on February 16;
2. Tank T-100 with normal armament - 1 unit, arrived on February 21;
3. Tank KV with normal armament - 1 unit, arrived on February 26;
4. Tank KV with 152-mm howitzer - 1 unit, arrived on March 2.
This group of 5 units took part in combat operations from February 22 to March 6 with the 20th tank brigade, and from March 7 to 13 with the 1st tank brigade. Basically, this type of tank is designed to combat bunkers, for which 152-mm howitzers were installed on three KVs.
Due to the fact that the fortified area in the direction of action of the 20th tank brigade was broken through before the arrival of heavy tanks, and in the subsequent direction of hostilities, bunker brigades did not meet, it was not possible to check the actual power of fire of this weapon against bunkers …
As a result of the application, it was revealed that:
1. When heavy tanks appeared in the sectors of shelling of enemy anti-tank weapons, the latter tried to disable the tank. But after making sure that the tanks were invulnerable to anti-tank artillery, the enemy ceased firing at them. When the T-28 and VT appeared, the enemy put them out of action with his fire. According to the observation of the tank commanders, they destroyed 14 anti-tank guns.
2. During the same time, 11 firing points located in earthen shelters were destroyed and disabled by cannon fire.
3. 152-mm howitzers were used to destroy nadolb during the fighting.
Nadolby, set on the surface of the highway in the form of granite boulders. Destruction of them with 152-mm shells did not give the desired effect, since when hit, the granite chimney turned over or split into several pieces (2–3), which did not give complete destruction. Fired 18 shells at the nadolb passages for tanks could not be made, which led to the need to organize the undermining of four stones with the help of sappers.
Nadolby (granite), located outside the roads, but dug into the ground, were easily broken by shells. A shell hitting the gouge destroyed it to the ground. The fired 15 rounds at the nadolbam, located in four rows, made a fairly good pass (about 6 meters) for all types of tanks …
The enemy, falling under fire from 152-mm howitzers, stopped firing at the advancing tanks …
KV # 0 - 205 km, KV # 1U - 132 km, KV # 2U - 336 km, KV # ZU - 139 km.
Damage:
… Tank KV No. 0 (14 hits from 37 and 47-mm guns): front square at the junction of inclined sheets - 1, upper inclined sheet (front) - 3, lower inclined sheet (front) - 2, feed - 1, starboard hulls - 3, left side - 1, right sloth into the hub - 1, upper roller - 1, lower roller into the hub - 1.
Tank KV No. 1U has no combat hits.
Tank KV No. 2U: combat hit of a projectile from a 37-mm cannon in the square of the front sheets - 1.
Tank KV No. ZU (12 hits from 37 and 47-mm guns): upper inclined sheet - 1, lower inclined sheet - 1, starboard - 4, hull feed - 1, tower - 1, buffer-stop - 1, lower rollers - 2, caterpillar - 1.
All hits in the armor made indentations from 10 to 40 mm. The impact of shells on the armor in no way affected the normal work of the crew.
The commander of a group of heavy tanks, Captain Kolotushkin."
So Captain Kolotushkin writes: "After making sure that the tanks were invulnerable to anti-tank artillery, the enemy stopped firing at them … the shells hitting the armor (as in the document - MK) did not in any way affect the normal work of the crew." Amazing results.
Is it impossible without nuclear weapons?
Viktor Rezun (calling himself Suvorov) claims that he tried to get an answer from the British military computer to the question: “How could the Red Army break through the Mannerheim line:
“The computer responded quickly and decisively: the direction of the main blow of Lintula is Viipuri; before the offensive - fire preparation: first air explosion, epicenter - Kannelyarvi, equivalent to 50 kilotons, altitude 300; second air explosion, epicenter - Lounatjoki, equivalent … third explosion … fourth …
I to the operators: stop, car, full back!
- Is it impossible without nuclear weapons?
- You can't, - the computer answers.
I approached him with affection and threats, but the stubborn computer got caught: IT IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Have at least eight inches in your forehead, even a computer of the most unimaginable power, the answer is still the same: without nuclear weapons it will not work. ANYONE WILL NOT GET IT!"
The Red Army, as you know, was able to solve this problem without nuclear weapons, but at the cost of heavy losses, with a delay of several months.
Let's try to imagine that a KV with 76mm and 152mm guns would have been created a few months earlier. And not a few of these machines in February - March 1940, but several dozen or even hundreds would have begun to destroy the fortifications of the Mannerheim Line in December 1939.
Finnish anti-tank artillery falls silent, convinced that "tanks are invulnerable", or heroically and senselessly dies. There are simply no other options. After all, firing at HF does not affect the normal work of their crews. And protected by reliable armor 152 - mm guns beat at pillboxes from twenty meters that way. Nuclear weapons would not be needed here. And the reputation of Marshal Mannerheim as a commander would now look completely different …
