Steel Soviet Union

Malashenko was once very curious about how the First Ural Special Design Bureau under the leadership of Morozov could still be so calm and calm under the premise that Kotin was constantly making big news and new cars and new plans were emerging one after another. Unless you come up with some new tricks, you have to know that the T34, which originally had acceptable performance, has already reached the point of being unbearable.

The Germans, who are becoming more and more powerful in the swarm of tigers and leopards, have invested in many more new tanks than in the existing history. As the main tank on the front line, the battlefield pressure faced and borne by the T34 has almost increased in a straight line. The issue of replacement can be It is said that it has been imminent since before the Battle of Kursk.

If the last trip to Tagil had not been too tight, I would have been busy waiting for the bus at one end and giving instructions to Kalashnikov on the new gun at the other end. Malashenko really wants to personally go to Morozov's side, which is not far from Kotin. If necessary, it is not impossible to give Morozov some advice and guidance, as long as this war can be ended as soon as possible. It’s worth doing.

Malashenko, who was too busy to take care of this matter, received an unexpected surprise: a batch of new gadgets produced by the Ural First Special Design Bureau led by Morozov. Son.

"What is this? Comrade Commander, it looks like the head of a T34, grafted onto a stretched and lengthened body chassis? Is that what you mean? I think I described it correctly."

Iushkin, who is good at spouting golden sentences, described what he saw in front of him vividly. Malashenko, who was standing next to Iushkin, also had a look of confusion, confusion, and even a little bit of laughter on his face. surprised.

If even the appearance of this thing in front of me can be attributed to myself, then isn't the butterfly effect a bit too powerful? I didn't do a damn thing. I didn't interfere in the design of the mid-tank at all. You can't say it's because of me that this thing appeared in advance, right?

No matter how unbelievable Malashenko is in his heart and secretly complaining, the new tank in front of him, which is brand new from the factory, is even in a green state, and has not had time to be painted with white winter camouflage, is really and truly outstanding. In front of you, it cannot be denied.

"What do they call this thing? T-43? Am I remembering correctly?"

Iushkin indeed remembered and said it correctly. This newly delivered new medium tank was codenamed "Project 136". This extremely familiar appearance was not difficult for Malashenko to recognize. It was Originally a historical T44 medium tank.

But that’s exactly where the problem lies

According to Malashenko's guess, the reason why the T44 even changed its name to "T43" is probably because the final time point from design project approval to prototype finalization was completed in 1943.

Except for the Stalin series of heavy tanks, Soviet tanks have a consistent old tradition of naming them after the year of equipment development and finalization. The T54, T62, T72, and T80 main battle tanks in the future are all like this. As the successor of the T34, oh, no, now It should be called "T43" and is no exception.

"Damn it, isn't it too outrageous? This thing came out early before we even saw T3485? Then does it mean that T3485 is not born?"

Facts have proved that Malashenko was wrong again. He just received the T43 in the morning, and what happened immediately in the afternoon directly slapped our Comrade Ma in the face on the spot.

A train full of new and improved T34, which is the T3485 medium tank that Malashenko is still talking about, arrived as scheduled. After signing and confirmation, it was officially delivered to the hands of Stalin's 1st Guards Tank Division and began to be installed. use.

The T3485, which was born in advance, is not much different from the T3485 in the existing history. The 85mm D-5T tank gun, which had been played with by Kogin long ago and was thrown away, was replaced with the original one. The 76mm and 57mm tank guns that existed on the T34 have become new main guns.

The turret is equipped with a new electric steering gear to assist. Malashenko and his brothers got into the tank for a test drive. He couldn't help but sigh that a medium tank is a medium tank after all. When it is also equipped with an electric steering gear, the turret speed is really much faster than that of the IS6 or even my more powerful IS4. This is the advantage of the lighter turret.

The engine is still the same as before, and the external auxiliary fuel tank attached to the outside of the tank still has the same classic heritage flavor.

The entire T3485, which was born in advance, has almost no difference from the original configuration in the existing history. If there is any, it is in the interior of the tank rather than the appearance.

Perhaps due to the hasty start of production, the vehicle-mounted radio communication systems equipped with these newly delivered T3485s are actually old models produced in 1942. Malashenko clearly remembers that when the historical T3485 was upgraded, it was also replaced with a new vehicle radio communication system, which increased the effective communication distance of the vehicle radio.

Holding the microphone of the old car radio in his hand, the thoughtful Malashenko began to sort out his thoughts.

Taking a comprehensive look at the current situation at hand, T3485 and T43 should be in a subtle coexistence state.

Although I don’t know the specific reasons for this situation that should not happen, it is indeed before our eyes and real.

To unravel the final answer to this mystery, Malashenko estimated that he would have to make a trip in person and talk to Morozov in person to find out the cause and effect. But now that the war is imminent, Malashenko, as the commander of the first division, obviously does not have this condition. The army cannot do without him at all, and he is not allowed to take leave. Therefore, the idea of ​​​​finding the answer is limited to thinking. Unable to put it into practice.

In fact, what Malashenko didn't know was that Kotin already knew that Morozov was secretly working on some new and ulterior design there. In order to find out what Morozov was playing and to make preparations in advance, Kotin mobilized almost all his informants and spies placed on Morozov's side.

But the result was regrettable. Morozov obviously knew that Kotin had informants placed around him, and the people who had access to the new medium tank project were all Morozov's core confidants and right-hand men. However, none of the people who could provide intelligence and news to Ke Jing reached this level. This really made our Comrade Ke Jing very angry and called him cunning.

Of course, Kotin did not tell Malashenko about this embarrassing incident.

As for Morozov, this plan, which had been launched long before the Third Battle of Kharkov, was followed up during the subsequent Third Battle of Kharkov. The bad news and the shocking T34 battle damage raised the priority and passively completed the acceleration.

The Germans' new heavy armored tanks forced Morozov to come up with an effective design as soon as possible. This was a political task that must be completed, and it was his sacred duty and mission as a Communist Party member.

After this, the more brutal Battle of Kursk proved the T34's complete obsolescence.

Morozov, who was working on the improvement and upgrading of T34 with one hand and "Project 136" with the other, was so busy that he couldn't sleep all night long. When he opened his eyes, he saw tanks and factories, and when he closed his eyes, he saw design drawings and plans, until that moment The time has come when the actual results can finally be obtained