Final modification of the T-34 tank of 1943. A new three-man gun turret allowed a more powerful 85-mm gun to be mounted. This greatly increased the combat effectiveness of the tank compared to its predecessor, the T-34-76. A total of more than 35,000, in several variants, were produced.
The T-34 medium tank was one of the most mass-produced tanks of the Second World War. In its modification, the "T-34-85", it became the "tank of victory" that completed the defeat of the armored forces of Nazi Germany. Many engineering innovations were applied to the most famous Soviet medium tank. The ricochet angle of the turret armor, the stabilizer of the main gun, speed, and maneuverability brought him the main advantages on the battlefields. The tank's weak points remained insufficient armor protection and gun range. The second problem was solved in the "T-34-85". The main gun was replaced by an 85mm long-range anti-tank gun, which restored parity of firepower with the German combat vehicles "Tiger II" and "Panther".
There were numerous books written and countless propaganda films made about the T-34-85 in the USSR. But objectively, it was a successful development of Soviet engineers. The maneuverable tank, which was sufficiently fast and controlled by four crew members, could successfully conduct both a head-on tank battle and cover infantry, as well as serve as a means of transportation for personnel or ammunition on the armor. Its profile was not devoid of elegance and remained a model of tank architecture for a long time.
