T-34-85

When it was first introduced in 1941, the original 76mm-armed T-34 was a revolution in tank design, employing sloped armor, simple construction methods, and a heavy main gun that could take on and defeat virtually any tank of the day. However, during the early chaotic days of Germany's "Barbarossa" invasion of Russia, the T-34 could not be deployed in significant numbers with sufficient coordination to inflict the maximum possible damage on the German invaders. It would not be until after the winter counteroffensive near Moscow that the T-34 could be unleashed in full and proper force, earning its namesake as "the savior of Russia." In 1944, an even more heavily armed and armored version, the T-34-85, was introduced and was capable of outgunning virtually all of Germany's tanks and assault guns, save for the recently introduced but low in numbers Panther and Tiger tanks. -85's would go on to see further service in the Korean, Vietnam, and Middle East wars and were still in wide use as recently as the Yugoslav civil wars.

T-34-85 Vehicle Stats:
Type: Medium tank
Manufacturer: Various Soviet state factories
First deployed: 1944

Crew: 5
Length: 8.15 m
Width: 3 m
Height: 2.6 m
Weight: 32 tons

Armor: 90mm
Armament, primary: 1 x 85mm ZiS-S-53 tank gun
Armament, secondary: 2 x 7.62mm DT MG
Ammo stowage, primary: 60 rounds
Ammo stowage, secondary: 2,394 rounds

Powerplant: W-2/34 500hp 12-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine
Max speed: 55 km/h
Max range: 360 km

Operators: Soviet Union; (post-war) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Hungary, Iraq, Laos, Lebannon, Libya, Mongolia, North Korea, Poland, Romania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Vietnam, Yemen, former Yugoslavia.