I´ve never found more specific information about the operational history of the T-44 in WWII than that it saw action in the final months of WWII. I understand there were two versions. One which retained the turret of the T-34/85 ( including the 85mm gun ), and one which had a larger turret which was first fitted with an 85mm gun later replaced with a 100mm gun. I believe they had some trouble with the latter gun though, as it was too heavy or too big.
The T-44 saw little action in WW2. 3 tanks was tested by the Special Tank Company #100 on the eastern front. http://www.battlefield.ru/t44.html I dont know if more T-44s saw any action in WW2 nor in what operation they to part in Some T-44 pictures http://www.jagdtiger.de/SovietTanks/T-44-01.htm
Nice sites Jens! It seems to me that this T44, viewing the construction of the hull, had completed a lot of steps from the early-war tanks towards the armour of today. it's sloped nicely, and it doesn't have much of a superstructure where the suspension ends.
Thanks Jens. Look at this photo : I can´t remember how many times I´ve seen people claim that the Panther wouldn´t look out of place on a modern battlefield. It looks out of place next to the T-44 !
I think I have read somewhere (maybe battlefield.ru, but not sure) that it was only a prototype, that feature things later seen on the JS series. So maybe it was just used to know if those improvements where efficient or not. Maybe it was only a prototype tank, nothing more.
No, it was more than a prototype. I believe it saw service post-war, until replaced by the T-54 ( Does anybody know how many T-44s were produced btw ? ).
Around 200 T-44s were produced. The T-44's hull was basically almost the same as the early version of the T-54. The turret of the T-44 was almost the same as the T34/85 as were the wheels, tracks and engine.
They were made as a stopgap after the war. When the t-54 was developed it replaced the T-44. The engine set inside of the tank perpendicular to the treads which gave it a shorter footprint. The engine/transmission was one easily removable package. Much like the modern day Bradley "powerpack". I heard because of the short tread length it was a very tight turning tank at high speed.
Well, if you compare them... The Panther is taller, more angular, the glacis plate is less sloped, and it looks kinda 'hunched' compared to the T-44. It looks as though the high glacis plate is designed to protect the join of the turret to the hull. Anyway, the T-44 certainly bears more resemblance to modern tanks than the Panther. Which you find more pleasing to the eye is a different matter...
He he :lol: The Panther's only bad side is actually its height..... everything else on the Panther is far superior..... KBO
Don't forget, the Panther was in combat action in July 1943 and I very much doubt whether the T-44 ever saw action during WW2. In WW2 terms a difference of 2 years is the equivalent of a generation post war. The claim that three T-44s were tested on the Eastern Front is too 'vague' to be taken seriously. We all know how fond the Soviets were of tall tales.
KBO, That colour pic of the T-44 you posted must have been a patchwork because it has the T-54's starfish pattern wheels and the later track. True T-44s used the T-34's 'spider web' wheels(as did early T-54s) and also the T34's track. That picture of a T-44 has too many T-54 features to be an original T-44.
Nice topic you guys have got running here. Nice to compare these tanks. As for me, I'd say that the T-44 (the first two pics) look certainly more modern than the Panther, but I think this round shaped turret is such an ugly thing! The second post of KBO, containing the T-44, the tank looks more like a light armoured IFV, if you ask me. This piece of hull coming above the edge of the front armor really looks fake.. :cry:
