Soviet Metallurgy Contribution to the Creation and Serial Production of the Kliment Voroshilov (KV) Soviet Heavy Tank (1939–1941)

Abstract

The Kliment Voroshilov (KV) heavy tank became one of the legends of the Great Patriotic War and one of the most recognizable combat vehicles of those years. The evaluation of the tank, its engineering aspects and application is still ambiguous in the scientific, popular science literature and journalism: from panegyric to dispraise. The historical memory of this combat vehicle is actively living its life not only in books, but also in virtual space, in the branches of Internet forums and computer games. The KV heavy tank was developed and put into service at the very end of 1939. A new brand of 42S armor steel was created especially for it, which was distinguished by a relatively low content of alloying elements and high adaptability for mass production. The authors have studied the stages of armor production and the difficulty in its creation, and as well as show the enormous contribution of metallurgists to the creation of the combat vehicle. As a result of engineering research and the decisive contribution of metallurgy, a formidable machine was obtained, which had thick armor (75 mm) and rather powerful armament (76.2 mm gun). At the same time, the tank had a whole range of disadvantages that reduced the effectiveness of its combat use. The general lack of design and archaic technological solutions created serious problems both in the production and in the subsequent operation of the new heavy tank. The history of the tank makes it possible to take a fresh look at the long glorious traditions of the national metallurgical school and its decisive role in the victory in the Great Patriotic War.