D.M.L. DRAGON

DRR 60135 ARMOR Series

T-34/76 Medium Tank mod. 1941

1^st Guard Tank Brigade, Eastern Front, Moscow 1942.

Die Cast & Plastic 1/72 scale; T-34  - approximately L 3.5” ; W 1 7/8”

Dragon ARMOR 1:72 models are: This line features static pre-assembled, pre-painted models made of both diecast and plastic. True to scale; authentically detailed and historically accurate; each WITH its own protective DISPLAY CASE, which is dust resistant and stackable.

In my personal opinion as a collector models from this series are superior quality that sold at unusually low price

About the T-34:

Short version:

“The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank first produced in 1940. It was the mainstay of Soviet armored forces throughout WWII, and widely exported afterwards. A few T-34s remained in use until the 1990s.
It was developed from the BT series of Fast Tanks, but meant to replace the T-28 medium. When first built, it was the tank with the best balance of firepower, mobility, and protection in existence. By the end of WWII, its production had replaced all other Soviet tank designs except for a small number of Iosef Stalin heavy tanks. This multi-role design greatly influenced the development of Main Battle Tanks in the late 20th century.”
”… The BTs were derived from prototype fast tanks built by American tank designer J. Walter Christie, which were sold to the Soviet Union after the American military declined to buy them. The T-34 incorporates elements of the Christie suspension, in particular the large road wheels.” Development proper commenced in 1936, and a prototype was completed in 1939.  Full scale production started in 1940. The T-34 was produced in two major variants, the basic T-34/76 with a 76-mm gun (simply called T-34, in Soviet service), and the T-34/85 with an 85-mm gun.
Between 1940 and 1944 nearly 40,000 T-34/76 tanks were produced. “

Source – Dragon Model USA website)

BELOW YOU WILL FIND MORE DETAILS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION HISTORY.

Please note that the information provided doesn’t intended to be a historic research; its based on my personal knowledge obtained over the years from different publications, movies, recollections of soviet participants of WW II. It is nothing but a personal opinion provided for your convenience. .

After 60 years since the WW II ended there still be a debate about the best tank of WW II while some says it was Russian T-34 medium tank other says it was the German Panther.  Well in my opinion there no correct answer for this question, in this case it is the matter of opinion and factors taking in consideration for a quest. 

The invasion German force had started encounter the T-34 since late summer of 1941.  The absolute secret Russian T-34 tank was a nasty surprise for Germans indeed.  In fact the only effective weapon against it in German arsenal was 8.8cm anti-aircraft / tank gun.  It was virtually immune to Germans Pz III and Pz IV and Pz II was absolutely impotent against it.  No doubt the T-34 was the best tank in the world at that time.  The biggest weakness of the tank at that time had nothing to do with its design or production.  It was very poor crew training and awful strategy and tactics of Red Army that were so typical for initial period of the Great Patriotic War and began improved only by the end of 1941 and staidly improved over the course of the war.  The much larger and heavier German Panther tank was introduced only in the summer of 1943 and became a really good tank only with an introduction of Ausf. A (second type of this tank).  The heavy German Tiger tank definitely was a superior to T-34 especially on the open Russian fields were it could engage its opponents at a great distance simply denying to an opponent a chance to approach to a distance at which a T-34 could inflict a damage to a Tiger tank.  However, Germans didn’t have a sufficient numbers of those tanks, and couldn’t afford to produce more due to its significant cost and an enormous numbers of labor hours required to built one by very qualified workers.   It is also important to remember that T-34 was the first and the Panther tank design was started as a contra-measure to the T-34 tank and incorporated some key features of this tank such as slopped armor plates, wide tracks and a powerful multi-purpose gun.  Please remember that Germans Pz III had an anti tank gun while Pz IV had 76mm gun fireing high-explosive ammunition; in fact both these tanks were no match to T-34.  Even after heavy up armor and introduction of high velocity gun both still yield to T-34 tank.   The Panther was also much more heavier (about 1/3) larger tank and for a Russian classification it was as a Heavy tank, weight and armor of the Panther is similar to Russian heavy KV and early IS tanks.  Regardless of preferences there no doubts that T-34 was an outstanding tank for a time.  

The T-34 prototype was created at the Kharkov Komintern Steam engine Factory (Kharkovsky Paravozostroitelnui Zavod imeny Kominterna – KhPZ) also known as factory #183 by a design burro of  M.I. Koshkin.    The project started in the summer of 1937 and after up and downs (at some point it was an opinion to cancel the entire project) the tank was ordered into production in May 1940 and first three units completed by September 15, 1940.  Though the production goal for the year was set as 600 units only 115 units were completed by KhPZ (plant #183) and only 23 part assembled at STZ (Stalingradskiy Tractornui Zavod – Stalin Tractor Plant at Stalingrad).  The production delays based on the fact that it was a totally new tank design incorporated many new for a time technologies.   One of major obstacle was the new V-2 aluminum tank diesel engine.   The first series T-34 were armed with 76.2 mm L/11 gun (as presented in this Dragon Armor model).  The mass production of this gun was cancelled in 1939 in favor of the new F-34 gun (developed in 1939) therefore only about 400 units were equipped with L-11 gun.    All other modifications were armed with the F-34 or its modernized variant the F-34M gun.   Along with the installation of the new gun the mod. 1941 received an up armor in the front of the turret, however the frontal armour on some model was only 40mm compare to most had 45 mm.

Production of T-34 increased in 1941, however after Germans invasion begins on June 22, 1941 Russians had to evacuate entire industries to far East, including the major T-34 builder for a time the plant #183 (KhPZ) to Nigniy Tagil (Siberia) were new factory buildings were built.  Evacuation began in mid September with last 30 tanks assembled in Kharkov at the beginning of October.   But in December first tanks assembled from the part built in Kharkov left the factory.  At this time two other factories still built the T-34.  They were:  STZ (were production was stopped only when Germans approach the plant walls by the end of 1942), and plant #112 – “Krasnoe Sormovo” at Gorky.  It is important to remember that the production of such tank was a complex job with many other suppliers were involved in the production.  While loosing more and more industrially developed territory to Germans and relocation of many plants to Far East assemble factories showed wonders of resourcefulness; rubber disappeared from the road wheels and steel-reamed road wheel were introduced (become standard on all T-34 since late 1942), many welded parts were replaced by cast (especially on STZ built units).  It is important to notice that due to a production adaptation needs each factory made some necessary changes in order to keep production and therefore some details differed significantly while tanks still have similar technical characteristics.   In the spring of 1942 the Uralmash Zavod (Ural machine builder plant) started mass production of T-34 hull and turret that were supplied to plant #183.  Latter that year it was ordered to assemble the whole T-34 with first tanks left the factory in September 1942.   At the plant design burro two constructors developed the new “pressed” turret with a total of 2,050 were manufactured by the March 1944 with most installed on the Uralmash assembled tanks and significant numbers supplied to ChKz.  (Leningrad Kirov’s Plant after evacuated to Chelyabinsk).  Uralmash stopped to assembled T-34 in August 1943 when it started to produce different SPG based on the T-34 chassis.  Also in 1942 plant #174, which was evacuated in Omsk, started a mass production of T-34 tank. 

In August 1942 a new turret was developed.  It had a hexagonal form and was known at the time as “a turret of improved form”.  This new turret had two hatches instead of one and air ventilator, in addition the frontal armor protection at the turret front was increased to 65 mm and it had a space for additional ammunition stowage.    Though improved the turret still be very cramped with no space for a gun loader.  At the same time the tank received 5-speed gear box, new air filter “Cyclone” and up to four external tanks (one for oil and the rest for a diesel fuel).    In summer of 1943 the “Krasnoe Sormovo” developed the new cast commander cupola so finally a commander cupola was installed on the T-34.  A pressed variant of a commander cupola was developed on Uralmash but it was rejected.  Also for mod. 1943 frontal armour protection was increased up to 70 mm on both front hull armor plate and turret.  Russians experimented with skirts (shields) as could be seen on many German tanks.  Such protection was used in order to provide better protection against HEAT ammunition.  Sixty-eight units were developed and produced at “Krasnoe Sormovo”.  Most of those tanks were destroyed during the first battle by common 75mm rounds.  After that the idea was considered as “hopeless” and abandoned.

The production of T-34 with 76mm gun was stopped in mid 1944.  Since that time only T-34/85 were produced.  Please note that 85mm gun variant had a totally new much larger three-person design turret with a long barrel 85mm gun, armor protection increased up to 90mm (double compare to initial models) in front on hull and turret and get many other updates.   The new turret was originally developed for a Russian heavy tank KV series, but proved to be unsatisfactory for a heavy tank purpose.  It was decided to install this turret on T-34 and a new one with 110mm gun was designed for KV.  Latter heavy tank line was renamed as IS (Iosip Stalin – Joseph Stalin).

All updates to T-34/85 made the tank very competitive to German Panther, which still be much more heavier tank.

T-34 proved to be an outstanding medium tank, which was superior to any German armored vehicle until introduction of Panther and Tiger tanks.   Suitable for a mass production, dependable, easy for maintenance the tank become a backbone of the Russian armored force.  The total number of production of this tank is astonishing and yields only to American Sherman tank (which was mach less tank in any aspect compare to T-34).  As all machine it has some low points.  Only a small fraction of tanks has a radio, internal communication was lack to only Commander to Driver and at some point even no at all.  A commander will send a signal with push of his leg on a driver left or right shoulder for a turn, back for acceleration and head for a stop; a turret had no room for a gun loader and was very cramped (until introduction of the totally new turret equipped with 85mm gun in 1944), lack of a commander cupola (introduced only in mid 1942 on some models); required a significant physical effort to drive. 

The T-34 / 85 was in production beyond WW II and was manufactured by Soviets allies, served in armies of many nations, and still be in service in some African countries well into 90’s.   Regardless of the competition for the Best Of WW II tank the T-34 is one of the most significant tank design in the tank history.   

I am an authorized D.M.L. – Dragon dealer and going to receive all upcoming models from this line.

Inquire for a regular customer discount for models from this series.