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Prinz Eugen

2024-05-08T15:08:53Z

U69212984: /* Description */ "Fanciful" implies an imaginary or unrealistic career, something that didn't actually happen. A more appropriate adjective is "storied" or "notable".

{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_cruiser_prinz_eugen
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
|store=8103
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} German heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.95 "Northern Wind"]].

The {{PAGENAME}} is perhaps one of the most famous cruisers of World War II. She is best known for her long and storied career, from fighting alongside the battleship Bismarck in the Battle of the Denmark Strait in 1941, to the breakthrough between the British channel in 1942, and providing fire support for the retreating German army on the Eastern Front in 1945. The {{PAGENAME}}'s career literally ended with a bang when she was used as one of the targets for Operation Crossroads nuclear tests in 1946.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Armour}}

As with her sister ship [[Admiral Hipper]], the {{PAGENAME}} features some of the best protection of all cruisers in the game. Her hull is covered with several layers of armour in "turtleback" layout specifically designed to soak up and contain a lot of damage, save for some large calibre AP shells which can still penetrate multiple layers of armour. She also has a very high crew count with 1,776 sailors.

Unfortunately, the {{PAGENAME}}'s real-life fame will make her a priority target: expect to be showered with shells of all calibres from the enemies and putting off fires often. Additionally, the {{PAGENAME}} also has a well-known fatal weak spot at her frontal turret magazine in which most enemy will be targeting it to take her out as soon as possible.

Due to how frequently and easily your secondary and AA armaments will be disabled (and several crew members being killed in process), it is recommended not to repair them to reduce crew loss until you've cleared from enemy fire.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}

For a ship of this size and displacement, the {{PAGENAME}}'s top speed is fairly good at 70 km/h (AB) or 60 km/h (RB). However, due to her mass and high centre of gravity, the {{PAGENAME}} suffers from excessive listing problem that reduce her traverse speed and throw off the aiming reticules into the air. This can be fatal if the ship is flooding, as too much listing angle can result in the ship capsizing and sinking.

{{NavalMobility}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|20.3 cm/60 SK C/34 (203 mm)}}

The {{PAGENAME}}'s primary armaments consists of eight 203 mm/60 SK C/34 cannons arranged in four twin turrets mounted A-Bs-Xs-Y. While not the most powerful gun of its rank, it is still effective at dealing damage to all kinds of targets. The gun has a good reload time of 12 seconds (ace crew) and has a decent firing arc, giving the {{PAGENAME}} a consistent damage output against enemy ships.

The 203 mm guns has three shell choice; an average HE shell with 8.8 kg of TNT, a SAP shell with decent penetration (160 mm at 10 km) and sizeable filler of 5.35 kg of TNT, and a powerful APCBC shell which have very high penetration (265 mm at 10 km), this allows the {{PAGENAME}} to deal damage against heavily-armoured dreadnoughts, and especially deadly at closer range. As each shell have a high velocity of 925 m/s, this results into good accuracy and thus make aiming easier.

{{:20.3 cm/60 SK C/34 (203 mm)/Ammunition|20.3 cm L/4.7 Kz HE, 20.3 cm L/4.4 (m.Hb) APBC, 20.3 cm L/4.7 Bdz (m.Hb) SAP}}

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|SK C/33 AA (105 mm)}}

These cannons are great for taking out destroyers, as they have a good rate of fire and damage output. They also makes decent anti-air guns for high altitude bombers, though not particularly reliable they will definitely make bomb drops harder to pull off. Depending on which target you want to focus on you may load different shells: HE shells for destroyers and other smaller vessels, time-fused HE for anti-air duties if there are a lot of bombers in the sky, and APHE for well-armoured destroyers. You can take manual control of the secondary guns (alt+2 by default), making them more effective and giving you the ability to change the shells depending on the situation you are in. However, this will leave you vulnerable to other cruisers because you will be focusing most of your attention on other vehicles, so it may be better to level up your AI gunners and leave the job to them, while you focus on other cruisers or destroyers with your powerful main guns.

{{:SK C/33 AA (105 mm)/Ammunition|10.5 cm Sprgr. L/4.4 Kpf.Z, 10.5 cm Sprgr. L/4.4 Zt.Z, 10.5 cm L/4.2 AP}}

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|Bofors Flak 28 (40 mm)|2 cm/65 C/30 (20 mm)|2 cm/65 Flakvierling 38 (20 mm)}}

The Prinz Eugen is covered with 40 mm and 20 mm AA guns, boasting an overall much more effective defence than her sister ship the [[Admiral Hipper]]. These guns easily protect the ship from close-range air assaults, while the 105 mm secondary guns will make sure high altitude bombers think twice before presenting themselves as an easy target, though they lack the proximity-fused shells sported by American and British heavy AA guns. It is best to aim the guns yourself if they are coming in from high altitude because most strategic bombers can't manoeuvre very well, making them easy to lead and aim at. The 40 mm and 20 mm autocannons are also great at wiping out torpedo boats and other small vessels. Since they often carry torpedoes that can knock out or critically damage you, the wall of autocannon fire will make those torpedo boats think twice before rushing you, allowing you to focus more on the main target like other cruisers or destroyers.

=== Additional armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Additional}}

{{main|G7a (533 mm)}}

The {{PAGENAME}} is equipped with 26 G7a torpedoes launched from four triple launchers placed in pairs, twelve of them are loaded inside the tubes (six on each side) while other ten is stocked in ready racks. Up to 12 torpedoes can be launched from each side of the ship. Due to the quantity of torpedoes, the {{PAGENAME}} can launch barrages of torpedoes to damage one or more ships at medium-to-long ranges.

=== Scout plane ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Plane}}

Located amidships is a single catapult for an Arado Ar 196 scout plane which provides unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. Alongside the typical abilities of strafing, dropping 2 x 50 kg bombs, and capping zones, the Ar 196 and other scout planes have the added ability to lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). It is essentially the [[Ar 196 A-3|event aircraft]] except with smoke generators, so it will be a familiar unit for those who have the event version. Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new!

== Usage in battles ==

The {{PAGENAME}} is a solid ship with all-around strength that allows her to tip the balance of the team with great firepower and protection. Due to this, {{PAGENAME}}'s presence is enough to draw the attention of most of the enemy team. Whether this is a blessing or a curse depends on how well you're able to exploit the {{PAGENAME}}'s assets.

In a situation with only a few or no dreadnoughts, the {{PAGENAME}} is able to act as a vanguard for the team. Due to your status as a priority target, you can distract the enemy team into trying to take you down, and allowing your teammates to take a clean shot at an enemy. You can also use your large quantities of torpedoes to kill a preoccupied enemy, as they will be focused more on gunnery and will often does not have enough time to react to an incoming torpedoes.

To maximize the {{PAGENAME}}'s protection, angling is a must. You can contain a lot of damage by exposing only one side of the hull while preserving the crew by proper damage control. Prioritise fire extinguishing to reduce crew loss as the ship will catch fire very often, and do not repair the secondaries and AA until the coast is clear as your replacement crew will ended up becoming a cannon fodder. Flood damage is generally manageable as long as you do not attempt to traverse your ship and cause a severe listing in process. Although she remains relatively safe from flooding damage with ~80% of buoyancy left, you might need to repair the leaks as soon as the ship starts flooding (~97%) to reduce water draining time, though this is not as important as fire damage control and you can repair them later on when the flood is close to dangerous level.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great firepower, can take on any kind of targets
* Very tough protection against most shells
* Powerful AA armaments, effective at all ranges
* Decent top speed despite its size
* Very high crew count increases her survivability
* One scout seaplane

'''Cons:'''

* Priority target: she will almost always be targeted by the enemy team
* Catches fire very often in a firefight exchange
* Excessive listing on a turn often results in poor accuracy
* Armour is not thick enough to withstand some high-calibre shells
* Main battery magazines are located above shell rooms, meaning that a detonation is likely to be fatal

== History ==

[[File:Prinz Eugen Underway.jpg|thumb|380x380px|The Prinz Eugen underway, circa 1943.]]
The Prinz Eugen was the third and final member of the completed Admiral Hipper-class of heavy cruisers. Launched in August 1938, she saw extensive service during WWII, including in the sinking of HMS Hood. Following the cessation of hostilities, she was transferred to the Americans who used her as a test target in the Baker nuclear test. Due to the damage received during the tests, she capsized and sank before repairs could be made.<ref name=":0">World War Co (n.d.)</ref>

'''Design and development'''

The German Kriegsmarine began to design heavy cruisers in the early 1930s, despite the fact that the Treaty of Versailles banned them from building any ships of the type. Two designs were considered - a heavy cruiser with eight 203 mm (8-inch) guns in four double turrets, and a light cruiser with twelve 152 mm (6-inch) guns in four triple turrets, similar to those found on the [[Nürnberg]]. In the end, the heavier option was chosen; however, numerous design improvements resulted in the ship being significantly larger than originally intended.<ref name=":0" />

The final design displaced 14,247 tons and was 205 metres long, larger than the pocket battleship [[Admiral Graf Spee]].<ref name=":0" /> Armament was to consist of four dual 203 mm turrets, twelve 105 mm dual-purpose secondary guns and numerous anti-aircraft guns. The ship also carried 22 torpedoes in four triple launchers with 10 reloads, as well as three Arado Ar 196 scout planes.<ref name=":0" /> The main armour belt was between 70-80 mm in thickness, and armour of up to 160 mm thickness could be found on the conning tower. The ship could reach 32.5 kts (60 km/h) and had a range of 5050 nautical miles at 15 kts.<ref name=":0" />

The German Kriegsmarine placed orders for a total of five [[Admiral Hipper (Family)|Admiral Hipper-class]] heavy cruisers, to be known as [[Admiral Hipper]], Blücher, Prinz Eugen, Seydlitz, and Lützow. Of these, the Seydlitz and Lützow would never be completed; Lützow would be sold to the Soviet Union and eventually scrapped, while Seydlitz was scuttled in 1945 after plans to convert her into an aircraft carrier failed. The contract for Prinz Eugen was placed in November of 1935. Following three years of construction, the ship was launched in August of 1938.<ref name=":0" />

'''Service life'''

The Prinz Eugen was then fitted out and underwent numerous sea trials, before being formally commissioned on August 1st 1940. The ship then conducted exercises with U-boats and the battleship Bismarck, between September 1940 and April 1941.<ref name=":1">Rico, J (1998)</ref>

On May 18th, the Prinz Eugen accompanied the newly-commissioned Bismarck in Operation Rheinübung, or Exercise Rhine. After arriving in the Denmark Strait, the pair of ships engaged the battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Hood. During the engagement, Prinz Eugen was able to hit Hood once before a shot from Bismarck detonated the battlecruiser's magazine, resulting in her destruction with the loss of all but 3 of her crew. After the Hood sank, the Prinz Eugen hit the Prince of Wales three times, without suffering any damage herself.<ref name=":1" />
[[File:Prinz Eugen in Norway.jpg|thumb|350x350px|The Prinz Eugen moored in Norway; Admiral Scheer can be seen beside her.]]
Due to the Bismarck<nowiki/>'s damaged state, the two warships broke off soon after the engagement. Prinz Eugen sailed for Brest, where she was repaired. Bismarck was not so lucky, sinking after a long engagement with the battleships HMS Rodney and King George V. While the Prinz Eugen was docked at the Brest shipyard, she was bombed and heavily damaged, losing 60 crew members. Soon after, she participated in the "Channel Dash", escorting battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau through the English Channel towards Kiel. She survived the dash without damage, having fired numerous 203 mm shells at pursuing British destroyers.<ref name=":1" />

In February of 1942, the Prinz Eugen departed for Norway with the pocket battleship Admiral Scheer. En-route, the submarine HMS Trident scored a torpedo hit on Prinz Eugen<nowiki/>'s stern. The hit caused severe damage to her stern and rudder, but she was still able to arrive at Trondheim, Norway under her own power. There, she joined Tirpitz and Admiral Scheer to perform attacks on Allied shipping convoys.<ref name=":1" />

In January of 1945, as the situation looked dire for Germany, the Prinz Eugen was dispatched to Norway once again, this time to evacuate refugees and provide support. Between 10 March and 4 April 1945, the Prinz Eugen expended almost 5,000 rounds of 203 mm ammo. She also lost 9 men as a result of a Russian rocket. On May 7th 1945, along with the surrender of mainland German forces, the Prinz Eugen and Nürnberg surrendered in Copenhagen, Denmark.<ref name=":1" />
[[File:Prinz Eugen Wreck.jpg|thumb|350x350px|Prinz Eugen's wreck upside-down in Kwajelein Atoll. Note that the port-side propeller is removed.]]
After the surrender, Prinz Eugen was handed to the British. Along with several other German and Japanese prize ships, she was handed over to the United States where she was commissioned as USS Prinz Eugen (IX-300). In early 1946, the Prinz Eugen traversed the Panama canal and sailed to Bikini Atoll, where she would carry out her final duty as a test vessel in the Operation Crossroads nuclear tests.<ref name=":1" />

On July 1st 1946, the 'Able' nuclear bomb was dropped on an array of vessels, including the Prinz Eugen. The ship, 1.1 km from the epicentre, suffered only minor damage. The second 'Baker' Nuclear test also failed to do significant damage. However, the shocks of two nuclear explosions caused leaks to form in the Prinz Eugen's hull. As well, the ship could not be repaired due to the high levels of radiation.<ref name=":1" /> On December 22nd 1946, the Prinz Eugen developed a severe list, and capsized in Kwajalein Atoll. The ship was never salvaged due to the levels of radiation, but one of the ship's propellers was removed and installed near Kiel as a memorial for those who served in the Second World War.<ref name=":1" />

=== [[wt:en/news/6498-development-prinz-eugen-steaming-into-the-atomic-age-en|Devblog]] ===
Prinz Eugen, named after an 18th-century Austrian general, was the third and last ship of the German Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruisers to see completion. Although being ready for commissioning in July 1940, an RAF air raid on Kiel lightly damaged the warship, causing its commissioning to be delayed until August.

After passing sea trials in late 1940, Prinz Eugen was assigned to its first, and arguably its most well-known combat mission - Operation Rheinübung - alongside battleship Bismarck in May 1941. Following some repairs in France, Prinz Eugen was assigned to operations in Norwegian waters in 1942, though this undertaking was cut short by a successful torpedo attack performed by the British submarine HMS Trident, which heavily damaged Prinz Eugen. As a result, Prinz Eugen was ordered back to Germany for repairs.

Once repaired, Prinz Eugen returned to service in the late stages of WWII, acting initially as a training vessel for naval officers and providing artillery support for German ground units on the Eastern Front later on.

After the ceasefire in Europe, Prinz Eugen was handed over to the U.S. Navy as a war prize. After a detailed study of the ship's design, the U.S. Navy assigned the warship to a nuclear weapons test at the Bikini Atoll in 1946. Having survived two nuclear blasts one aerial and one underwater Prinz Eugen with minor damage was towed to Enubuj Island which was a part of Kwajalein Atoll. There the cruiser was the target of another underwater nuclear explosion. The ship stayed afloat again but the damage caused, coupled with the lack of a concerted effort for survivability, resulted in it eventually capsizing and sinking.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_cruiser_prinz_eugen Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Store Pack Images" heights="150">
File:Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 01.jpg|
File:Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 02.jpg|
File:Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 03.jpg|
File:Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 04.jpg|
File:Prinz Eugen Store Pack Image 05.jpg|
</gallery>
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Devblog Images" heights="150">
File:Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 01.jpg|
File:Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 02.jpg|
File:Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 03.jpg|
File:Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 04.jpg|
File:Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 05.jpg|
File:Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 06.jpg|
File:Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 07.jpg|
File:Prinz Eugen WTWallpaper 08.jpg|
</gallery>

== See also ==


;[[Admiral Hipper (Family)|Related development]]

* [[Admiral Hipper]]

;Vessels of a similar role, configuration or era

* [[IJN Mogami]]
* [[USS Northampton (CA-26)|USS Northampton]]
* [[Kirov]]
* [[HMS London (69)]]
* [[Zara]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6498-development-prinz-eugen-steaming-into-the-atomic-age-en|[Devblog] Prinz Eugen: Steaming Into the Atomic Age]]

=== References ===

;Citations
<references />

;Bibliography

* WW2 Cruisers. (n.d.). Hipper Class. Retrieved November 13, 2020. [https://www.world-war.co.uk/germany/hipper.php Website]
* Rico, J. M. (1998). The Heavy Cruiser Prinz Eugen. Retrieved November 13, 2020. [https://www.kbismarck.com/prinzeugen.html Website]

{{ShipManufacturer Germaniawerft}}
{{Germany heavy cruisers}}
{{Germany premium ships}}

KV-1E

2024-02-22T12:09:46Z

U69212984: /* Description */ Available for "Defender of the Fatherland" in February 2024

{{About
| about = gift Soviet heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = KV-1 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=ussr_kv_1e
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

In 1940, a new variant of the venerable KV-1 heavy tank appeared on the frontlines of the Eastern front. This new KV had ditched its older, weak L-11 cannon in favour of a F-32 gun, similar to those found on the T-34s of the time. However, the biggest upgrade was its add-on armour. By riveting large steel plates to the hull's weakspots and the turret faces, the KV-1 suddenly became almost impenetrable to its enemies, with the German army having to call in air support or heavy towed 88 mm field guns every time one of these 1940 model KVs was encountered.

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was introduced as a [[wt:en/news/668--en|premium pack]] in [[Update_1.41#19.06.2014_-_1.41.27.12|Update 1.41.27]]. The KV-1E is characterized by its strong armour and decent mobility (for a heavy tank). As such, it can be quite the tough nut to crack for most opponents that it can face. The vehicle is best played aggressively, relying on its good armour to get close to the enemy, as its gun does not have the best penetration at range.

The KV-1E was removed after the [[wt:en/news/5232-shop-winter-sales-special-bundle-and-gift-certificates-en|2018 Winter sale]]. It has since been made available for purchase in-game for Golden Eagles ({{GE}}) for specific Soviet/Russian mini-events like the "Defender of the Fatherland" and "Tankers' Day" in [[wt:en/news/6048-event-defender-of-the-fatherland-en|2019]], [[wt:en/news/6862-special-happy-tankers-day-en|2020]], [[wt:en/news/7054-event-defender-of-the-fatherland-en|2021]] [[wt:en/news/7333-special-happy-tankers-day-en|(twice)]], [[wt:en/news/7568-special-esport-defender-tournament-and-gaijin-store-sale-en|2022]], 2023, and 2024.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Barrel shroud)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 75 + 25 mm (30-31°) ''Front plate'' 40 mm (72°) ''Front glacis'' 25 + 40-75 mm (7-71°) ''Joint plate'' 75 mm + 25 mm (26-51°) ''Lower glacis'' || 75 + 25 mm || 60 mm (13-89°) ''Top'' 70 mm (14-57°) ''Bottom'' || 30 mm
|-
| Turret || 75 + 30 mm (14°) ''Turret front'' 90 mm (0-62°) ''Gun mantlet shield'' 75 mm (4-36°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 75 + 30 mm (14-15°) || 75 mm (15-16°) || 40 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick.
* Roof armour is quite excellent. 30-40 mm is nothing to ignore, even for heavy fighters. Although some aircraft might still pierce it, it will reliably protect from most aircraft cannons. More importantly, it makes the vehicle quite resilient against rocket strikes from vehicles such as the [[Calliope]].
* The lower glacis, unlike most other tanks, is not a weak spot! it is including your own turrets height significantly better angled than the upper frontal plate. Further, neither the MG port nor the drivers view slit are weak points. Discard them as targets if aiming for them.
* Gun mantlet is an extra 75 mm bolted on to the turret, with some parts with an extra 90 mm added instead. This results in a spaced overlapped part with ~150 mm. Only the cheeks left and right of the mantlet bulges should be shot! However, these areas are quite small and easily missed, if the turret is traversed.
* Extra armour indicated by the addition to the armour is not placed all over the tank, thus revealing some weaker areas on the front hull and sides.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 775|rbMinHp= 531}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|F-32 (76 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[F-32 (76 mm)|76 mm F-32]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 111 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+25° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 9.7 || 13.4 || 16.3 || 18.0 || 19.2 || rowspan="2" | 8.19 || rowspan="2" | 7.25 || rowspan="2" | 6.68 || rowspan="2" | 6.30
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 7.1 || 8.4 || 10.2 || 11.3 || 12.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:F-32 (76 mm)/Ammunition|BR-350A (MD-5 fuze), BR-350B (MD-8 fuze), OF-350M, Sh-354T, D-350A}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_KV-1_(L-11).png|right|thumbnail|x250px|Ammo racks of the KV-1 (L-11) (identical to {{PAGENAME}}).]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''111''' || 107 ''(+4)'' || 102 ''(+9)'' || 79 ''(+32)'' || 1 ''(+110)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Racks are modeled by sets of 5 shells (+ 1 set of 3 & 2 sets of 4) and sets disappear from the rack once all shells in the set have been loaded/fired.
* Turret empty: 102 ''(+9)'' shells.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}

{{main|DT (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 3,024 (63) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}
The small calibre of the DT machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help. The clip capacity of the machine gun is quite poor, as it relies on a magazine of 63 bullets instead of a belt like similar machine guns from other nations.

== Usage in battles ==


In game, this tank is possesses great armour and an adequate gun. However, it may not be able to destroy the enemy from the front at times. As such, the tank may require being at a very close distance or a flank shot to disable certain targets. The defining characteristic of this tank is its armour. It can be a tough tank to destroy, given that most of the weak spots from the predecessor have been armoured and, from the front, the only weak spot is the centre of the upper hull. When using this tank, do not be afraid to advance towards the enemy, especially against tanks such as the 75 mm M4s and T-34s since they will find it very difficult to penetrate your thick armour. This tank can also be used for long-range support, since when the armour is properly angled, almost no tank that it faces can pierce its armour.

=== Combat tactics ===

;Urban environment

Urban areas tend to result in very close range engagements. At this range, the armour of this tank can no longer offer the degree of protection that it does at range. With this being said, urban can also present nice medium range opportunities, such as open-air squares and long streets in which this tank can utilise its armour. Urban fighting presents the largest challenge for this tank, as close range flank shots can easily pierce its mighty armour. As such, here are some tactics to use in a city setting:

* Hold down a street - set up in a way that minimizes the chance to be flanked while allowing for the largest angle fire. This will allow the KV-1E to fire at the enemy while minimizing the chance of getting knocked out by a close-range flank shot
* Move with a group of tanks - try to stay in the middle of a group as this will minimize the chances of a close-range flank shot. At this range, the cannon of the tank can penetrate most tanks and has a decent rate of fire, allowing it to quickly engage multiple targets.
* Never blindly drive through an intersection - always check both ways before crossing, as this presents the largest opportunity for danger for this tank.

;Open country

The armour of this tank allows it to engage in the long-range fighting that defines an open country. However, the gun on this tank does not allow it to engage targets at range. This means that in while playing in open country, it is a good idea to get into a good overwatch position or to charge the enemy until the KV-1E is capable of engaging at the optimal range for the 76 mm weapon. While the armour on this tank is among the best for the enemies it faces, there are still certain tanks to worry about. The main tanks to work about are those with the American 76 mm, German 75 mm L/48, Soviet 57 mm and 85 mm, and of course all the large calibre guns such as the KV-2. These weapons are capable of piercing through the KV-1B armour at range, though this requires a lucky hit on an un-angled plate. Here are some tips when fighting in open country:

* Always angle the tank - the unangled armour is good, but it is nearly impossible to pierce when properly angled.
* Don't be afraid to expose the tank - use the armour to give a degree of freedom in finding the targets.
* Advance - take the point or lead the charge, the KV-1B has the armour to break through enemy lines.

;Hill country

This is the type of terrain that this tank excels in. The average range of engagements allows for both the armour and gun to shine. This type of terrain also makes flanking hard, since going over a hill exposes a tank to fire from multiple directions. Even with this, don't forget to check your surroundings. Here are some tips and tactics for fighting in this environment:

* Move through the area between hills - this will allow a degree of control on where the enemy will come from and angle the armour in accordance.
** Going over large hills can be dangerous as it exposes the KV-1B to fire from all directions and also exposes the bottom of the tank to fire.
* Check your surroundings - while it is dangerous to go over hills, many newer player will attempt to do this and will sometimes manage to flank the tank.

;Long range

This tank does not excel here due to the low penetration of the gun. However, the armour of this tank makes it almost invulnerable to enemy fire at long ranges. Due to this, it is possible to safely attack enemies with little fear of penetrating return fire. Just remember to properly angle the tank in order to maximize its armour. While long range combat is not the best option for this tank, it can use its armour to sit in positions that no other tank could do safely. When using this tank from long range, the first piece of advice would be to close in on the enemy, though this is sometimes not possible. When one finds that long-range combat is necessary or is a preferred strategy, one can place this tank in a highly visible position to draw enemy fire. This will allow teammates to find the enemy and eliminate them. This will also allow for one to choose their target, since its gun necessitates shooting at weakly armoured targets or the sides and rear of tanks.

;Medium range

This tank excels in medium range combat due to great armour. Many tanks it faces will find penetrating this tank almost impossible even from the side due to the additional armour.

;Close range

This tank does not excel here due to bad mobility, and the greatest strength of this tank, its great armour, is no longer as potent.

=== Enemies worth noting ===
Generally, it is a good idea to avoid engaging the enemy armoured vehicles mentioned below frontally if possible, as they can reliably harm you and vice versa.

* - '''[[Pz.IV F2]] / [[Pz.IV G|G]] / [[Pz.IV H|H]] / [[Pz.IV J|J]]''' - Their long cannons have lethal penetrations at short ranges. Shoot their turret or hull side. Frontal hull is not recommended since they can equip add-on armour and/or spare tracks, increasing the thickness up to 100 mm.
* - '''[[M4A3E2]] Jumbo / [[M4A3E2 (France)]]''' - Shoot at sides/rear, commander cupola or Hull MG.
* - '''[[T14]]''' - Shoot at the hull MG port, turret ring, or lower side hull. Its 75 mm gun has great depression angles, is vertically stabilised, and has around 100 mm penetration at close range, giving it a fair chance to shoot first and even penetrate the KV-1E's weakspots.
* - '''[[Churchill III]] / [[Churchill VII]]''' - Target their hull at the MG port, hull sides when facing vertically, or rear. Or you can take your time and destroy their gun barrels and tracks, their cannons can only fire solid shots with relativlely poor pentration, thus they will have a hard time disabling your crew.
* - '''[[ARL-44 (ACL-1)]]''' - Target their front sprocket wheels when their hull are facing straight at you. The shot will go through the sprocket and penetrate a weakly protected "box" behind it which is connected to the hull, sending its shrapnels to the crew inside the hull. Or, shoot its sides/rear whenver possible. Do not shoot at its upper front plate.
* - '''Tanks destroyers''' in general - Vehicles like the [[Dicker Max]], [[Sturer Emil]], [[Breda 501]], [[8,8 cm Flak 37 Sfl.|8,8 cm Flak 37 sfl]]., etc all have high penetration and large explosive fillers, allowing them to critically damage the KV-1E at a distance/angle where other tanks cannot. Morever they tend to have other qualities such as great gun depression, high-zoom gunsight, high speed, allowing them to ambush the KV-1E from far away or in an unexpected flank. Thus, if you know the presence of a tank destroyer near by, target them first. If not, be careful and watch out for suspecious bushes and corners.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Heavily armoured for its battle rating, can easily bounce off shells from common foes like [[M4A1]]
* Acceleration is good on flat terrain
* Crew of five brings high survivability, especially against British solid shells
* Gun does a lot of post penetration damage. Can one shot compact tanks like [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]]

'''Cons:'''

* Some other tank (destroyer)s are able to easily penetrate its armour, such as [[Dicker Max]]
* Lacklusture mobility: poor top speed, decreases speed dramatically in a turn or climbing hills
* Large exposed gun breech, very vulnerable to damage
* Large fuel tanks lined up on the side
* The 76 mm F-32 gun struggles against some tanks like the [[M4A2]], [[T-34 (Family)|T-34]]
* Slow turret traverse: if you need to face another direction quickly you must rotate both the turret and the hull

== History ==

===Development===
The start of the KV-1 heavy tanks began after the heavy tank [[T-35]] flaws came to light. Designers were ordered to draw up new designs to become the basis of a breakthrough heavy tank needed for the Soviet doctrine. This made for a tank that was heavily armoured, but not very mobile as it was to be for siege warfare. The designs offered all had heavy armour, wide tracks, and used the torsion-bar suspension. The designs were the [[SMK]], T-100, and what would be the '''KV tank''', which was named after the then Soviet Defense Commissar '''K'''liment '''V'''oroshilov.

During the developmental progress, the prototypes of all these heavy tanks were made and the Winter War with Finland was on its way. The Soviets sent these tanks into Finland for combat testing, to which the KV design outperform in every way with its superior armour and firepower. The armour on the KV tank was impenetrable by any tank cannon in service and most anti-tank guns as well, the 76.2 cannon also gave it a huge firepower boost compared to the usual 37 mm in use by other countries. However, the design was found to be difficult to steer, the transmission was unreliable, ergonomics was poor and vision was limited, plus with its 45-ton weight, it was a very heavy tank for its time. In truth, while formidable in power and protection, courageous crew member willing to curse the name would speak out about the trouble the KV tank really was. The main variant of production before World War II broke out was the KV-1 model.

===KV-1E===
The initial production in 1939 had the KV-1 equipped with an [[KV-1 (L-11)|L-11 cannon]], this was upgraded to the F-32 in 1940. The Model 1940 production was the main KV-1 variant that was available during the German invasion in Operation Barbarossa. During the German invasion, it was found that the KV-1s, while invulnerable to even the German [[Pz.III J|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV F1|Panzer IVs]], was easily taken out by the German 88 mm FlaK cannon used in anti-tank roles. This caused the KV-1 production model to be up-armoured for increased survivability with applique armour bolted onto the tank. Though it varies on how much extra armour is bolted on, some KV-1s have overall armour width of 100 mm thick. These up-armoured Model 1940 KV-1s were called '''KV-1E''', with "E" standing for ''"ekranami "'', which means "with shields". This up-armouring of the tank caused the weight to be increased from its original 45 tons to 50 tons, further straining the drive system of the tank.

===Combat usage===
The main bulk of these up-armoured tanks was sent to the Northwestern and Leningrad fronts. Some of these tanks were captured intact and used by German forces against their former users. Nevertheless, the KV-1 continued to serve until the end of the war, though in dwindling numbers as they are lost due to mechanical failures or combat. Some 1941-built KV-1s still saw service in 1944 at the Leningrad front before being replaced by [[IS-2]] tanks, then they saw service in Manchuria in 1945.

===Survivors===
Several KV-1s survive after the war, most as monuments, but also in museums. Only one genuine KV-1 was restored to running condition in Russia after it was found in the bottom of the Neva River. One KV-1B can also be found at the Bovington Tank Museum at England.

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After receiving the first reports from the front about the heavy tanks' deployment in battle, the LKZ factory began to work on strengthening the KV's armour. The only weapon capable of penetrating the Soviet tank's frontal armour was the 88 mm 8.8 Flak 18 anti-aircraft cannon. Its anti-aircraft rounds, even without an armour-piercing steel core, had an 810 m/s muzzle velocity and could penetrate an 80 mm thick armour plate set at a 30 degree angle from a range of 1,000 metres. As a rule, it disabled the KV-1 with 2-3 hits to its turret and hull.

Specialists at the Leningrad Kirovsk factory developed a simple but effective up-armouring design previously used on the T-28 tank. The tank's turret and hull sides were fitted with 25 mm add-on armour plates, increasing the overall armour width to 100 mm. Furthermore, a small gap was left between the turret and the add-on armour. This improved the tank's defences when under fire from shaped high explosive shells. These modifications increased the tank's combat-loaded weight to 50 tonnes. Tanks modified in such a way could be discerned by the huge heads of the bolts used to attach the add-on armour plates.

The main bulk of these up-armoured tanks was sent to the Northwestern and Leningrad fronts. Some of these tanks were captured intact and used by German forces.
The stationary nature of combat encounters did not allow the KV to truly come into its own. Apart from that, tank units constantly complained about the vehicle's high weight, which didn't just lead to technical problems. All it took was a few KV tanks driving along a road to make it difficult to negotiate for other vehicles, even tracked ones. The heavy tank's mobility on loose ground or boggy terrain was unsatisfactory.
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== Media ==


;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
File:ArtImage2 KV-1E.png|The KV-1E with battle scars after a combat at [[Abandoned Factory]].
</gallery>

;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_kv_1e Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|x7lBM-poxh0|'''Should You Buy: KV-1E''' - ''ConeOfArc''|KwF-bx-XDeA|'''EASTERN BLOC - KV-1E in War Thunder''' - ''OddBawZ''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Churchill III]]
* [[ARL-44 (ACL-1)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/792--en|[Historical] Zinovy Kolobanov's feat of arms]]
* [[wikipedia:Kliment_Voroshilov_tank|[Wikipedia] Kliment Voroshilov tank]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/soviet/soviet_KV-1.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> KV-1]

{{TankManufacturer Kirov}}
{{USSR heavy tanks}}
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}