Difference between revisions of "T-34 (1941)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=ussr_t_34_1941}}
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{{About
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{{Notice|''This page is about the medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''. For other uses, see [[T-34 (Disambiguation)]]''}}
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| about = Soviet medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = T-34 (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=ussr_t_34_1941
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|GarageImage T-34 (1941) AddArmour.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png|ArtImage2_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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<!--''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.''-->
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<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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The '''{{specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{specs|rank}} Soviet medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in during the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before [[Update 1.41]].
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The '''T-34 (1941)''' is the second variant of the [[T-34 (Family)|T-34 medium tank family]]. This variant was comparable to the earlier [[T-34 (1940)|T-34 (1940) variant]]. The highly efficient, long-barrelled 76.2 mm F-34 tank gun was the most significant enhancement of the T-34 (1941) variant. Many components, such as the new gun mount, the welded turret with a new, single, wide hatch, and many other elements, were evaluated for mass manufacturing. The single hatch was kept for convenience, but it was heavy and easily clogged, trapping everyone within. The crews despised it (because of the poor comfort and ergonomics), and it was promptly dubbed the "pirozhok" (stuffed bun). Another weakness in the design was the extremely big rear exhaust covers. With no special-purpose hatch or traversable periscope, the turret crews were not adequately protected in the turret.
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 +
Introduced in the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41, the T-34 (1941) variant expanded on the ideology of the preceding T-34 (1940) variant. The T-34 (1941) variant had identical designs to the preceding variant, but one important enhancement was its firepower. Due to the increased barrel length, which leads to an increase in muzzle velocity, players will find it much easier to engage adversaries. Furthermore, ammo enhancements also offer to increase the overall performance of the T-34 (1941) variant. The T-34 (1941), with its sloped hull frontal armour plate, outstanding off-road performance, and manoeuvrability, combines mobility, protection, and firepower.
 +
 
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat?''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
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'''Armour type:'''
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 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)
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* Cast homogeneous armour (Driver's hatch, Machine gun mount)
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 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
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! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
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|-
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| Hull || 45 mm (60°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 40 mm (1-73°) ''Machine gun ball mount'' <br> 45 mm (60°) ''Driver's hatch'' <br> 100 mm (5-35°) ''Welded glacis joint'' <br> 45 mm (60°) ''Lower glacis'' || 40 mm (40°) ''Top'' <br> 45 mm ''Bottom'' || 40 mm (49°) ''Top''  <br>  40 mm (47°) ''Bottom'' || 20 mm
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|-
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| Turret || 45 mm (3-75°) ''Turret front'' <br> 45 mm (2-78°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 45 mm (30°) || 45 mm (30°) || 15 mm
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|-
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|}
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'''Notes:'''
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 +
* Suspensions wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
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 +
The T-34's armour, even though only 45 mm thick on the front, is angled at 60°, which increases its effective thickness and the ability to ricochet or bounce enemy shells. Never let your enemies see your sides, as they are thinner, less angled and your enemies can easily penetrate it. The turret is still 45 mm thick, but much less angled. If your turret is penetrated with an APHE shell, you're a goner. Always angle your armour.
  
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''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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The T-34 has a crew of 4 men packed tightly together, and as such one shot could incapacitate all of them. The ammunition is conveniently stored below the tank, making it difficult to detonate. If you carry a decreased ammunition load, preferably 15-30 shells, the enemy would have a hard time detonating your ammo. However, shrapnel from a HE shell shot below you can be dangerous, especially when you encounter a [[Ho-Ro]], for example. The engine is the module most of your opponents will target. Parts and FPE will allow you to survive the shots targeted at your engine. However, your quite low rate of fire (~9 sec reload stock) will give your enemies a second, final blow.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=775|rbMinHp=442|AoAweight=0.15}}
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The tank's mobility is impressive due to the very generous hp/ton ratio the engine provides to the medium tank. The wide track also helps with traction across softer ground, so the {{PAGENAME}} is less likely to be bogged down in more wet terrain like in the map [[Jungle]].
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Exploit the {{PAGENAME}}'s mobility with its highly-angled hull armour to wreck havoc in the enemy lines by breaking through and marauding their controlled zones.
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 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
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{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
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The {{PAGENAME}}'s 76 mm F-34 is  overall better gun compared to the preceding L-11 gun, with much better armour-piercing characteristics, shell muzzle velocity, and faster reload time. The F-34 gun essentially makes the 76 mm-armed T-34 a menace in lower rank battles by being able to penetrate even heavy tanks with a well-placed hit.
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Of the three armour-piercing shells available, the two most recommended shells to bring to destroy enemy tanks is the APHEBC '''BR-350B (MD-8 fuze)''' and the APBC '''BR-350SP''' shells. Though the '''BR-350A (MD-5 fuze)''' has more explosive filler for post-penetration damage, the lower penetration values mean that this potential is useless if the shell can't penetrate the enemy tank's armour, hence the '''BR-350B''' is recommended for a balance in armour-piercing potential and post-penetration damage. The APBC presents the best penetration values, but does not have any explosive filler inside, so it is best to keep them in reserve in case the {{PAGENAME}} encounters one of the few troublesome vehicles it struggles to penetrate.
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[F-34 (76 mm)|76 mm F-34]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
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|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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|-
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! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 77 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 23.80 || 32.94 || 40.00 || 44.24 || 47.06 || rowspan="2" | 8.97 || rowspan="2" | 7.93 || rowspan="2" | 7.31 || rowspan="2" | 6.90
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|-
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! ''Realistic''
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| 14.88 || 17.50 || 21.25 || 23.50 || 25.00
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|-
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|}
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 +
==== Ammunition ====
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{{:F-34 (76 mm)/Ammunition|BR-350A (MD-5 fuze), BR-350SP, BR-350B (MD-8 fuze), OF-350M, Sh-354T, D-350A}}
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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<!-- '''Last updated: 2.15.1.70''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! Full<br>ammo
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
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! 3rd<br>rack empty
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! 4th<br>rack empty
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! 5th<br>rack empty
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! 6th<br>rack empty
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
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|-
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| '''77''' || 75&nbsp;''(+2)'' || 69&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 53&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 37&nbsp;''(+40)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+58)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+76)'' || No
 +
|-
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|}
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'''Notes''':
  
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=== Additional armament ===
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* To go into battle with the flanks empty of shells, pack 69&nbsp;''(+8) shells'' (racks 1 & 2 depleted).
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''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
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* As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire both shells in the set.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
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<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
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 +
A standard coaxial machine gun. The only major difference the DT has compared to other nation's machine gun armament is the magazine-fed system. While this means the firing time between reloading is shorter, reload time is also shorter to get the weapon back into action.
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]
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|-
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
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|-
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| Coaxial || 2,898 (63) || 600 || N/A || N/A
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|-
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|}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
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''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
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<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
 
 +
The {{PAGENAME}} is one of the most well rounded medium battle tanks at its rank among it with the German [[Pz.IV F2]] and United States [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tanks. The sloped armour, great acceleration, good speed, and excellent 76.2 mm cannon make it a force to be reckoned with especially against inexperienced players, though against experienced players this advantage is less substantial. Compared to the [[T-34 (1940)|1940 version]], the 1941 gets a better 76.2 mm cannon which greatly improves the penetration power, but still keeps the thinly armored 1940 model turret. At distance, the sloped armour is efficient at blocking shells from enemy tanks with relatively short and small-calibre cannons even some long barrel and high calibre guns can also have trouble penetrating on the sloped armour if used well. Even with its sloped armour advantages, a T-34 is a relatively easy tank to knock out with a well-placed shot to the side, turret, or at close range by a larger cannon.
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 +
;Urban combat
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T-34's in urban combat are a lethal machine combined the sloped armour with its speed and manoeuvrability combined with the 76.2mm F-34 makes it excel in close-quarter combat against most enemy tanks it will face in battle. Its short barrel will do excellent against most enemy armour, with well-placed shots in close range battles. In urban (City) battles the T-34 is a great hit and run tank, offering great acceleration. At slow speed, it can also be highly lethal but advance with care. It takes a while for the barrel to stop shaking when going to halt from full speed, which is a drawback if directly facing an enemy tank, which can appear suddenly from around the street corners or sitting and covering other roads that exist in the city. It is recommended when advancing, use slow speed to reduce that shaking and which allows for better engagement to get that enemy to be knocked out.
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 +
;Open Fields
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 +
Open fields are not the optimal combat situation for the T-34 1941 with its crew being relatively close to each other makes it prone to being a one-hit kill and an easy target for tanks like Pz IV F.2, StuG III F, Na-To and M10 GMC which can easily score a hit from far away. Utilize the acceleration, relative good speed and wide tracks to advance around on most terrain till a position where the gun can reliably penetrate enemy armour with a good well placed shot and knock the enemy threat out. Be aware of the surroundings there can be an enemy threat everywhere which can easily knock the T-34 from the side or a hit to the fragile turret.
 +
 
 +
;Common opponents
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 +
* [[M4]], [[M4A2]] - The T-34's 76 mm gun cannot penetrate the welded hull M4/M4A2 reliably from the front, while the 75 mm gun on the M4/M4A2 can penetrate the T-34's turret and disable or cripple it. They do have very weak lower side hull armour (only 38 mm) that can be overmatched by the 76 mm APHEBC round if exposed, and the flat areas on the turret can also be penetrated fairly reliably if they can be hit. Generally avoid head-on engagements, especially if the M4 is hull-down.
 +
* [[M4A1]], [[Sherman II]] - Similar to the M4/M4A2, except that the cast hull is weaker than the welded hull on the M4/M4A2, and can be penetrated frontally. Otherwise, the same advice applies.
 +
* [[Pz.IV F2]], [[Pz.IV G|G]], [[Pz.IV H|H]], [[Pz.IV J|J]] - The Ausf. F2 variant is the first Panzer IV to mount a long-barreled 75 mm gun. This gun is one of the most lethal mounted on any tank within the T-34's BR range, and it is easily capable of penetrating the T-34 at most ranges. The Ausf. F2 has very weak armour, however, and is something of a glass cannon. The Ausf. G, H, and J have up-armoured hulls that are quite difficult to penetrate, but their turrets are as weak as the one on the F2. The Ausf. J, in particular, has manual turret traverse and is very vulnerable to being flanked. Avoid long-range duels with them.
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* [[Chi-Nu II]] - Essentially the Japanese counterpart to the German Panzer IV Ausf. F2.
 +
* [[Churchill III]], [[Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany)]] - The 6-pounder gun on the Churchill will be hard-pressed to penetrate the sloped T-34 hull, but it can easily penetrate the turret and disable the turret crew. It is difficult to penetrate the frontal armour of the Churchill at long ranges. However, it is a slow, cumbersome heavy tank, and is easy to outflank and dispatch with shots to the side armour.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they can be substituted with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
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 +
* Excellent post-penetration effect with the BR-350B, easily destroying most tanks it sees in one shot
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* Sloped hull armour provides good protection against small calibre / low-penetration shells (e.g. 75 mm M3, 50 mm KwK39), and even large calibre guns when angled correctly
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* 49 km/h top speed allows it to change position quickly and outrun lots of other medium tanks
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* Nearly impossible to damage the transmission and immobilize it from the front
 +
* Very fast turret traverse, good for urban combat
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
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 +
* The 4 crew members are very close together making the {{PAGENAME}} easily disabled when penetrated from the front / side hull, or even the turret
 +
* -5° gun depression is below average, making it ineffective to combat in hills comparing to the [[M4]] with -10° depression
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* Large fuel tanks scattered at the sides of the hull, tend to catch fire when hit
 +
* AP shells lack the penetration against more heavily armoured foes like the [[KW I C 756 (r) (Germany)|KW I C 756 (r)]] and the [[Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany)|Pz.Kpfw. Churchill]]
 +
* It is difficult to place bushes on the upper front hull due to the obstruction of MG port and driver's optics
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's devblog entry (if applicable) and the ingame encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
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<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
 
 +
===Design===
 +
The T-34 Model 1941 was the direct successor of the T-34 Model 1940. It featured the exact same design, with a frontal sloped armour, a 2-man turret, a 500 HP engine and a 76 mm gun.
 +
 
 +
===Development===
 +
Only minor modifications were implemented in the T-34 Model 1941. The main goal was to get rid of teething problems and improve manufacturability. It still had a cramped 2-man turret but it was better armoured: the vehicle gained 2 tons overall. It received a better radio equipment for commander tanks but the turret lost its periscope. It kept the initial engine but received better injection, air filter and a better gear box. A major change was the better 76 mm F-34 gun. The gun featuring a better performance was installed on new T-34 Model 1941 in place of the 76 mm L-11 at the initiative of Vasiliy Grabin. Those new tanks were then issued to platoon commanders who in return praised the new gun for its performance. This led the Soviet bureaucratic institutions to approve the gun for production and integration on The T-34. Production started early 1941 in Kharkov. While only 400 T-34 Model 1940 were produced. a total of 3,111 T-34 Model 1941 were produced by Soviet factories before switching to the Model 1942.
 +
 
 +
===Combat usage===
 +
The T-34 (1941) was the first T-34 to massively see combat. It was deployed on the Eastern front to counter the advance of German armour and was deemed a performant platform by Soviet troops. The lack of effectiveness of German 50 mm guns against the sloped armour of T-34s led to the development of new 75 and 88 mm guns to equip German tanks.
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 +
{{break}}
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{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
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{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
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The second T-34 model was developed in 1941. The main difference in the T-34 Mod. 1941 was the installation of the new 76 mm F-34 cannon with a 41.5 calibre barrel length. In addition, the shape of the cannon's recoil mechanism armour was changed, along with the method used to attach it. The muzzle velocity of its armour-piercing shell was somewhat higher than that of the L-11 cannon, amounting to 662 m/s. The weapon's armour penetration and gun depression were increased. Its practical rate of fire in combat conditions came to 3-5 shots per minute. Apart from that, the Mod. 1941 tanks were equipped with tracks with more pronounced track grousers.
 +
 
 +
In 1942, versions appeared with cast turrets and new, wider tracks. Shortages of rubber deliveries for manufacturing road wheel bands forced the development of fully metallic wheels. Throughout 1942, an attempt was made to strengthen the tank's armour by laying additional 20-25 mm plates in the turret and frontal hull. The final issue tanks had additional fuel tanks attached to the back of the hull, along with a large number of hand-rails on the turret and hull for ease of carrying tankborne infantry and servicing the vehicle's components.
 +
 
 +
All in all, a large number of changes were aimed first and foremost at simplifying production and increasing the T-34's manufacturing speed. Some of these tanks were equipped with ATO-41 flamethrowers. In 1943, a design was presented at factory No. 112 to improve the T-34's armour after the fashion of German tanks. Vehicles with reinforced turrets, hull and side add-on armour were tested on the front in August 1943. Tests in combat conditions showed that the tank's survivability had not significantly increased, so the design was discarded.
 +
 
 +
Setting up production in evacuated factories allowed the number of these vehicles in tank units to be significantly increased, and from 1942, the T-34 became the most prolific tank, with more produced than all other types of tanks combined.
 +
{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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 +
;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_t_34_1941 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
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 +
;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|XorVHprN6f8|'''The T-34 Family''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel'' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 03:28.}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Related development
 +
 
 +
* [[T-34 (Family)]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
−
* ''other literature.''
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 +
* [http://www.wardrawings.be/WW2/Files/1-Vehicles/Allies/2-USSR/03-MediumTanks/T-34(76)/File/4-Models.htm <nowiki>[War Drawings]</nowiki> T-34/76 Variants (French)] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20210422190418/http://www.wardrawings.be/WW2/Files/1-Vehicles/Allies/2-USSR/03-MediumTanks/T-34(76)/File/4-Models.htm Web Archive])
  
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{{TankManufacturer Morozov}}
 
{{USSR medium tanks}}
 
{{USSR medium tanks}}

Latest revision as of 02:38, 29 August 2023

Introducing Wiki 3.0
This page is about the Soviet medium tank T-34 (1941). For other versions, see T-34 (Family).
T-34 (1941)
ussr_t_34_1941.png
GarageImage T-34 (1941).jpg
GarageImage T-34 (1941) AddArmour.jpg
ArtImage T-34 (1941).png
ArtImage2 T-34 (1941).png
T-34 (1941)
USSR flag.png USSR
II Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
4.0 4.0 4.0
Class:
Research:5 600 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:22 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png

Description

The T-34 (1941) is the second variant of the T-34 medium tank family. This variant was comparable to the earlier T-34 (1940) variant. The highly efficient, long-barrelled 76.2 mm F-34 tank gun was the most significant enhancement of the T-34 (1941) variant. Many components, such as the new gun mount, the welded turret with a new, single, wide hatch, and many other elements, were evaluated for mass manufacturing. The single hatch was kept for convenience, but it was heavy and easily clogged, trapping everyone within. The crews despised it (because of the poor comfort and ergonomics), and it was promptly dubbed the "pirozhok" (stuffed bun). Another weakness in the design was the extremely big rear exhaust covers. With no special-purpose hatch or traversable periscope, the turret crews were not adequately protected in the turret.

Introduced in the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41, the T-34 (1941) variant expanded on the ideology of the preceding T-34 (1940) variant. The T-34 (1941) variant had identical designs to the preceding variant, but one important enhancement was its firepower. Due to the increased barrel length, which leads to an increase in muzzle velocity, players will find it much easier to engage adversaries. Furthermore, ammo enhancements also offer to increase the overall performance of the T-34 (1941) variant. The T-34 (1941), with its sloped hull frontal armour plate, outstanding off-road performance, and manoeuvrability, combines mobility, protection, and firepower.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull45 / 45 / 40
Turret45 / 45 / 45
Crew4 people
Visibility83 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Driver's hatch, Machine gun mount)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 45 mm (60°) Front glacis
40 mm (1-73°) Machine gun ball mount
45 mm (60°) Driver's hatch
100 mm (5-35°) Welded glacis joint
45 mm (60°) Lower glacis 		40 mm (40°) Top
45 mm Bottom 		40 mm (49°) Top
40 mm (47°) Bottom 		20 mm
Turret 45 mm (3-75°) Turret front
45 mm (2-78°) Gun mantlet 		45 mm (30°) 45 mm (30°) 15 mm

Notes:

  • Suspensions wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.

The T-34's armour, even though only 45 mm thick on the front, is angled at 60°, which increases its effective thickness and the ability to ricochet or bounce enemy shells. Never let your enemies see your sides, as they are thinner, less angled and your enemies can easily penetrate it. The turret is still 45 mm thick, but much less angled. If your turret is penetrated with an APHE shell, you're a goner. Always angle your armour.

The T-34 has a crew of 4 men packed tightly together, and as such one shot could incapacitate all of them. The ammunition is conveniently stored below the tank, making it difficult to detonate. If you carry a decreased ammunition load, preferably 15-30 shells, the enemy would have a hard time detonating your ammo. However, shrapnel from a HE shell shot below you can be dangerous, especially when you encounter a Ho-Ro, for example. The engine is the module most of your opponents will target. Parts and FPE will allow you to survive the shots targeted at your engine. However, your quite low rate of fire (~9 sec reload stock) will give your enemies a second, final blow.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB55 / 8 km/h
RB and SB49 / 7 km/h
Number of gears4 forward
1 back
Weight28.3 t
Engine power
AB954 hp
RB and SB500 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB33.7 hp/t
RB and SB17.7 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock AoA Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 55 8 28.1 0.15 775 954 27.53 33.71
Realistic 49 7 442 500 15.7 17.67

The tank's mobility is impressive due to the very generous hp/ton ratio the engine provides to the medium tank. The wide track also helps with traction across softer ground, so the T-34 (1941) is less likely to be bogged down in more wet terrain like in the map Jungle.

Exploit the T-34 (1941)'s mobility with its highly-angled hull armour to wreck havoc in the enemy lines by breaking through and marauding their controlled zones.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB678 → 922 Sl icon.png
RB779 → 1 060 Sl icon.png
SB990 → 1 347 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications10 440 Rp icon.png
13 960 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost750 Ge icon.png
Crew training6 300 Sl icon.png
Experts22 000 Sl icon.png
Aces210 Ge icon.png
Research Aces220 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
40 / 70 / 80 % Sl icon.png
124 / 124 / 124 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
470 Rp icon.png
Cost:
620 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
470 Rp icon.png
Cost:
620 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
870 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
150 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
470 Rp icon.png
Cost:
620 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement ussr.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
870 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
150 Ge icon.png
Mods tank additional armor.png
Add-on Armor
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
76mm_AP_1942_ammo_pack
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
470 Rp icon.png
Cost:
620 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
76mm_AP_1941_ammo_pack
Research:
470 Rp icon.png
Cost:
620 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
870 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
150 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
76mm_ussr_Smoke_ammo_pack
Research:
680 Rp icon.png
Cost:
900 Sl icon.png
115 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

76 mm F-34 cannon
Ammunition77 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
9.0 → 6.9 s
Vertical guidance-5° / 30°

The T-34 (1941)'s 76 mm F-34 is overall better gun compared to the preceding L-11 gun, with much better armour-piercing characteristics, shell muzzle velocity, and faster reload time. The F-34 gun essentially makes the 76 mm-armed T-34 a menace in lower rank battles by being able to penetrate even heavy tanks with a well-placed hit.

Of the three armour-piercing shells available, the two most recommended shells to bring to destroy enemy tanks is the APHEBC BR-350B (MD-8 fuze) and the APBC BR-350SP shells. Though the BR-350A (MD-5 fuze) has more explosive filler for post-penetration damage, the lower penetration values mean that this potential is useless if the shell can't penetrate the enemy tank's armour, hence the BR-350B is recommended for a balance in armour-piercing potential and post-penetration damage. The APBC presents the best penetration values, but does not have any explosive filler inside, so it is best to keep them in reserve in case the T-34 (1941) encounters one of the few troublesome vehicles it struggles to penetrate.

76 mm F-34 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 77 -5°/+30° ±180° N/A 23.80 32.94 40.00 44.24 47.06 8.97 7.93 7.31 6.90
Realistic 14.88 17.50 21.25 23.50 25.00

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
BR-350A (MD-5 fuse) APHEBC 87 85 77 69 62 55
BR-350SP APBC 99 96 87 76 66 58
BR-350B (MD-8 fuse) APHEBC 96 94 84 74 64 56
OF-350M HE 10 10 10 10 10 10
Sh-354T Shrapnel 35 34 30 26 22 19
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
BR-350A (MD-5 fuse) APHEBC 662 6.3 1.2 14 150 48° 63° 71°
BR-350SP APBC 655 6.5 - - - 48° 63° 71°
BR-350B (MD-8 fuse) APHEBC 655 6.5 0.9 14 100.1 48° 63° 71°
OF-350M HE 680 6.2 0.05 0.1 621 79° 80° 81°
Sh-354T Shrapnel 618 6.44 1.2 14 85 62° 69° 73°
Smoke shell characteristics
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Screen radius
(m) 		Screen deploy
time (s) 		Screen hold
time (s) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g)
D-350A 680 6.45 13 5 20 50

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the T-34 (1941)
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
77 75 (+2) 69 (+8) 53 (+24) 37 (+40) 19 (+58) 1 (+76) No

Notes:

  • To go into battle with the flanks empty of shells, pack 69 (+8) shells (racks 1 & 2 depleted).
  • As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire both shells in the set.

Machine guns

7.62 mm DT machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition2 898 rounds
Belt capacity63 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min

A standard coaxial machine gun. The only major difference the DT has compared to other nation's machine gun armament is the magazine-fed system. While this means the firing time between reloading is shorter, reload time is also shorter to get the weapon back into action.

7.62 mm DT
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 2,898 (63) 600 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

The T-34 (1941) is one of the most well rounded medium battle tanks at its rank among it with the German Pz.IV F2 and United States M4 Sherman tanks. The sloped armour, great acceleration, good speed, and excellent 76.2 mm cannon make it a force to be reckoned with especially against inexperienced players, though against experienced players this advantage is less substantial. Compared to the 1940 version, the 1941 gets a better 76.2 mm cannon which greatly improves the penetration power, but still keeps the thinly armored 1940 model turret. At distance, the sloped armour is efficient at blocking shells from enemy tanks with relatively short and small-calibre cannons even some long barrel and high calibre guns can also have trouble penetrating on the sloped armour if used well. Even with its sloped armour advantages, a T-34 is a relatively easy tank to knock out with a well-placed shot to the side, turret, or at close range by a larger cannon.

Urban combat

T-34's in urban combat are a lethal machine combined the sloped armour with its speed and manoeuvrability combined with the 76.2mm F-34 makes it excel in close-quarter combat against most enemy tanks it will face in battle. Its short barrel will do excellent against most enemy armour, with well-placed shots in close range battles. In urban (City) battles the T-34 is a great hit and run tank, offering great acceleration. At slow speed, it can also be highly lethal but advance with care. It takes a while for the barrel to stop shaking when going to halt from full speed, which is a drawback if directly facing an enemy tank, which can appear suddenly from around the street corners or sitting and covering other roads that exist in the city. It is recommended when advancing, use slow speed to reduce that shaking and which allows for better engagement to get that enemy to be knocked out.

Open Fields

Open fields are not the optimal combat situation for the T-34 1941 with its crew being relatively close to each other makes it prone to being a one-hit kill and an easy target for tanks like Pz IV F.2, StuG III F, Na-To and M10 GMC which can easily score a hit from far away. Utilize the acceleration, relative good speed and wide tracks to advance around on most terrain till a position where the gun can reliably penetrate enemy armour with a good well placed shot and knock the enemy threat out. Be aware of the surroundings there can be an enemy threat everywhere which can easily knock the T-34 from the side or a hit to the fragile turret.

Common opponents
  • M4, M4A2 - The T-34's 76 mm gun cannot penetrate the welded hull M4/M4A2 reliably from the front, while the 75 mm gun on the M4/M4A2 can penetrate the T-34's turret and disable or cripple it. They do have very weak lower side hull armour (only 38 mm) that can be overmatched by the 76 mm APHEBC round if exposed, and the flat areas on the turret can also be penetrated fairly reliably if they can be hit. Generally avoid head-on engagements, especially if the M4 is hull-down.
  • M4A1, Sherman II - Similar to the M4/M4A2, except that the cast hull is weaker than the welded hull on the M4/M4A2, and can be penetrated frontally. Otherwise, the same advice applies.
  • Pz.IV F2, G, H, J - The Ausf. F2 variant is the first Panzer IV to mount a long-barreled 75 mm gun. This gun is one of the most lethal mounted on any tank within the T-34's BR range, and it is easily capable of penetrating the T-34 at most ranges. The Ausf. F2 has very weak armour, however, and is something of a glass cannon. The Ausf. G, H, and J have up-armoured hulls that are quite difficult to penetrate, but their turrets are as weak as the one on the F2. The Ausf. J, in particular, has manual turret traverse and is very vulnerable to being flanked. Avoid long-range duels with them.
  • Chi-Nu II - Essentially the Japanese counterpart to the German Panzer IV Ausf. F2.
  • Churchill III, Pz.Kpfw. Churchill (Germany) - The 6-pounder gun on the Churchill will be hard-pressed to penetrate the sloped T-34 hull, but it can easily penetrate the turret and disable the turret crew. It is difficult to penetrate the frontal armour of the Churchill at long ranges. However, it is a slow, cumbersome heavy tank, and is easy to outflank and dispatch with shots to the side armour.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Excellent post-penetration effect with the BR-350B, easily destroying most tanks it sees in one shot
  • Sloped hull armour provides good protection against small calibre / low-penetration shells (e.g. 75 mm M3, 50 mm KwK39), and even large calibre guns when angled correctly
  • 49 km/h top speed allows it to change position quickly and outrun lots of other medium tanks
  • Nearly impossible to damage the transmission and immobilize it from the front
  • Very fast turret traverse, good for urban combat

Cons:

  • The 4 crew members are very close together making the T-34 (1941) easily disabled when penetrated from the front / side hull, or even the turret
  • -5° gun depression is below average, making it ineffective to combat in hills comparing to the M4 with -10° depression
  • Large fuel tanks scattered at the sides of the hull, tend to catch fire when hit
  • AP shells lack the penetration against more heavily armoured foes like the KW I C 756 (r) and the Pz.Kpfw. Churchill
  • It is difficult to place bushes on the upper front hull due to the obstruction of MG port and driver's optics

History

Design

The T-34 Model 1941 was the direct successor of the T-34 Model 1940. It featured the exact same design, with a frontal sloped armour, a 2-man turret, a 500 HP engine and a 76 mm gun.

Development

Only minor modifications were implemented in the T-34 Model 1941. The main goal was to get rid of teething problems and improve manufacturability. It still had a cramped 2-man turret but it was better armoured: the vehicle gained 2 tons overall. It received a better radio equipment for commander tanks but the turret lost its periscope. It kept the initial engine but received better injection, air filter and a better gear box. A major change was the better 76 mm F-34 gun. The gun featuring a better performance was installed on new T-34 Model 1941 in place of the 76 mm L-11 at the initiative of Vasiliy Grabin. Those new tanks were then issued to platoon commanders who in return praised the new gun for its performance. This led the Soviet bureaucratic institutions to approve the gun for production and integration on The T-34. Production started early 1941 in Kharkov. While only 400 T-34 Model 1940 were produced. a total of 3,111 T-34 Model 1941 were produced by Soviet factories before switching to the Model 1942.

Combat usage

The T-34 (1941) was the first T-34 to massively see combat. It was deployed on the Eastern front to counter the advance of German armour and was deemed a performant platform by Soviet troops. The lack of effectiveness of German 50 mm guns against the sloped armour of T-34s led to the development of new 75 and 88 mm guns to equip German tanks.


Archive of the in-game description

The second T-34 model was developed in 1941. The main difference in the T-34 Mod. 1941 was the installation of the new 76 mm F-34 cannon with a 41.5 calibre barrel length. In addition, the shape of the cannon's recoil mechanism armour was changed, along with the method used to attach it. The muzzle velocity of its armour-piercing shell was somewhat higher than that of the L-11 cannon, amounting to 662 m/s. The weapon's armour penetration and gun depression were increased. Its practical rate of fire in combat conditions came to 3-5 shots per minute. Apart from that, the Mod. 1941 tanks were equipped with tracks with more pronounced track grousers.

In 1942, versions appeared with cast turrets and new, wider tracks. Shortages of rubber deliveries for manufacturing road wheel bands forced the development of fully metallic wheels. Throughout 1942, an attempt was made to strengthen the tank's armour by laying additional 20-25 mm plates in the turret and frontal hull. The final issue tanks had additional fuel tanks attached to the back of the hull, along with a large number of hand-rails on the turret and hull for ease of carrying tankborne infantry and servicing the vehicle's components.

All in all, a large number of changes were aimed first and foremost at simplifying production and increasing the T-34's manufacturing speed. Some of these tanks were equipped with ATO-41 flamethrowers. In 1943, a design was presented at factory No. 112 to improve the T-34's armour after the fashion of German tanks. Vehicles with reinforced turrets, hull and side add-on armour were tested on the front in August 1943. Tests in combat conditions showed that the tank's survivability had not significantly increased, so the design was discarded.

Setting up production in evacuated factories allowed the number of these vehicles in tank units to be significantly increased, and from 1942, the T-34 became the most prolific tank, with more produced than all other types of tanks combined.


Media

Skins
Videos
The T-34 Family - War Thunder Official Channel discusses the T-34 (1941) at 03:28.

See also

Related development

External links


Kharkov Design Bureau for Mechanical Engineering named after A. A. Morozov
Light Tanks 
BT-5  BT-5 · RBT-5
BT-7  BT-7 · BT-7M · BT-7A (F-32)
Medium Tanks 
T-34-76  T-34 (Prototype) · T-34 (1940) · T-34 (1941) · T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-34 (1942) · T-34E STZ · T-34E
T-34-57  T-34-57 · T-34-57 (1943)
T-34-85  T-34-85 (D-5T) · T-34-85 · T-34-85E
T-34-100  T-34-100
T-44  T-44 · T-44-100 · T-44-122
Main Battle Tanks 
T-54  T-54 (1947) · T-54 (1949) · T-54 (1951)
T-64  T-64A (1971) · T-64B
Export/Captured 
T-34  ▀T 34 747 (r) · ▄T-34 · ▄T-34-85 · ␗T-34 (1943) · ␗Т-34-85 (S-53)
T-54  ▄T-54
See Also  Uralmashzavod · Uralvagonzavod

USSR medium tanks
T-28  T-28 (1938) · T-28 · T-28E
T-34-76  T-34 (Prototype) · T-34 (1940) · T-34 (1941) · T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-34 (1942) · T-34E STZ · T-34E
T-34-57  T-34-57 · T-34-57 (1943)
T-34-85  T-34-85 (D-5T) · T-34-85 · T-34-85E
T-34-100  T-34-100
T-44  T-44 · T-44-100 · T-44-122
T-54  T-54 (1947) · T-54 (1949) · T-54 (1951)
T-55  TO-55 · T-55A · T-55AM-1 · T-55AMD-1
T-62  T-62 · T-62M-1
T-64  Object 435 · T-64A (1971) · T-64B
T-72  T-72A · T-72AV (TURMS-T) · T-72B · T-72B (1989) · T-72B3 · T-72M2 Moderna
T-80  T-80B · T-80U · T-80UD · T-80UK · T-80UM2 · Т-80U-Е1 · T-80BVM · Object 292
T-90  Т-90А · T-90M
Trophies/Lend-Lease 
Germany  ▂T-III · ▂T-V
Great Britain  ▂МК-IX "Valentine"
USA  ▂M3 Medium · ▂M4A2

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