PoorOldSpike
12-02-2009, 01:55
TACKLING THE T-34 IN 1941/42
(Don't try to memorise this (i haven't), i just glance at it now and again to remind myself of something or other)
Four models of T-34/76 are around in 1941(plus the /57 model) to give the Germans a hard time, all have excellent green-class front hull armour but their fatal weakness is their thin turret front, note its only usually yellow-class except for the Model 42 (far left) which is slightly green.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/34.jpg
Below is a chart compiled from exhaustive live-fire tests I did showing the capabilities of German weaponry against the T-34 in 1941. (Blue lettering=Tank Guns, black= towed guns)
Number to the left of each weapon is its penetration rating against 30-degree sloped armour at 100 metres.
The weapons are divided into three bands..
TOP BAND -These are T-34 killers, can penetrate hull front, but be prepared to see some ricochets or partial pens by weapons with pen ratings in the lower 70's.
MIDDLE BAND - Can penetrate turret and hull sides + rear, but usually not the hull front
LOWER BAND - Useless, can't penetrate the T-34 at all from any angle, not even through the thin turret until some of them get hollow-charge ammo(HC) in Dec 41 which skyrockets them into the top band.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/Tackling.jpg
TIMELINE SUMMARY - The T-34 rules the roost making mincemeat of all German tanks until Dec 41 when the PzIII-long arrives which has a reasonable chance of penetrating the front hull at close range.
Also in Dec 41 German PzIV-shorts and Stug-shorts get hollow-charge ammo which also have a fair chance of penetrating the front hull (if the computer gives them any HC in QB's)
But not until March 42 do German tanks at last equal the T-34 when the PzIV-long and Stug-long arrive, backed up in April by the arrival of cheap but powerful Marders..
The captured T-34 can be used but its very expensive in QB's.
Tungsten is poor against the T-34 because of its sloping armour, so although the PzIII-long and a few guns get some tungsten later on, you'll notice the crews usually won't use it against T-34's.
However they will use it with good effect against the slab-armoured KV-1 and 2..
(Don't try to memorise this (i haven't), i just glance at it now and again to remind myself of something or other)
Four models of T-34/76 are around in 1941(plus the /57 model) to give the Germans a hard time, all have excellent green-class front hull armour but their fatal weakness is their thin turret front, note its only usually yellow-class except for the Model 42 (far left) which is slightly green.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/34.jpg
Below is a chart compiled from exhaustive live-fire tests I did showing the capabilities of German weaponry against the T-34 in 1941. (Blue lettering=Tank Guns, black= towed guns)
Number to the left of each weapon is its penetration rating against 30-degree sloped armour at 100 metres.
The weapons are divided into three bands..
TOP BAND -These are T-34 killers, can penetrate hull front, but be prepared to see some ricochets or partial pens by weapons with pen ratings in the lower 70's.
MIDDLE BAND - Can penetrate turret and hull sides + rear, but usually not the hull front
LOWER BAND - Useless, can't penetrate the T-34 at all from any angle, not even through the thin turret until some of them get hollow-charge ammo(HC) in Dec 41 which skyrockets them into the top band.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g64/PoorOldSpike/Tackling.jpg
TIMELINE SUMMARY - The T-34 rules the roost making mincemeat of all German tanks until Dec 41 when the PzIII-long arrives which has a reasonable chance of penetrating the front hull at close range.
Also in Dec 41 German PzIV-shorts and Stug-shorts get hollow-charge ammo which also have a fair chance of penetrating the front hull (if the computer gives them any HC in QB's)
But not until March 42 do German tanks at last equal the T-34 when the PzIV-long and Stug-long arrive, backed up in April by the arrival of cheap but powerful Marders..
The captured T-34 can be used but its very expensive in QB's.
Tungsten is poor against the T-34 because of its sloping armour, so although the PzIII-long and a few guns get some tungsten later on, you'll notice the crews usually won't use it against T-34's.
However they will use it with good effect against the slab-armoured KV-1 and 2..