Get Inside The Soviet T-34 Tank With Historian James Holland
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Published 2021-12-31
Introduced in 1940, the T-34 was famously deployed with the Red Army against Operation Barbarossa - Nazi Germany's doomed invasion of Russia. Its 76.2 mm tank gun was more powerful than its contemporaries while its 60 degree sloped armour provided good protection against anti-tank weapons. But as James discovers, life for the crew of these tanks could be hazardous indeed!
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All Comments (21)
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I'm the one called Oli who was operating the turret and barrel, whilst my dad was driving it. It was very fun filming this documentary with James and Waitman.
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I remember watching a series 'Survivors of Stalingrad' and one German infantryman (you could tell he still shuddered thinking about it 60 years later) recalled how seeing T-34's churning through the snow with infantry riding on the back was the infantryman's worst nightmare come true. Nearly breaking down he said "Animals can burrow and take shelter-we couldn't even do that."
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T-34: the art of having "good enough" in massive quantities
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Would really have liked to see more of the "Inside"! I.E. How the commander could see out while battened down - what the gun site looked like - what the driver could see, how the gun was loaded,who shot the machine gun, how the crew ate and slept, where was the snooker room? etc. etc.
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I love how James presents things and how he can bust out into those little stories that to most are little unknown tidbits from the war but he manages to make them feel like defining moments.
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Would like a documentary on the enormous endeavor of moving all the Soviet tank factories eastward.
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21:07 Operation manual in cocpit is in Polish language - very clear: Engine RPM Maximum: 1800 Normal 1600 - 1700 During engine start max: 600-800 Outgoing water: max 105°C Don't move until oil temperature reach 45°C and water temperature 50-55°C Start moving in lower gears Outgoing oil max: 100°C Oil pressure: Normal: 6-9 ATM At 600 800 rpm: 2ATM
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Interesting to see the fully cast turret on the T-34 but it was not the first. That went to the British Matilda. My father was a gunner in the Matilda and if you think the T-34 is cramped the Matilda was way worse. Dad was 6' tall and I don't know how he did it. You mentioned how recoil from the gun was dangerous to the loader well in the Matilda there was 3/8" clearance from the breach to the turret wall on recoil. Quite a few loaders lost arms whilst training. Great video. Keep them coming.
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I am Russian, and I was pleasantly surprised that our legendary tank is so well known abroad! Happy New Year!
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I remember a Kalashnikov quote " Its simple to make something complex,Its complex to make something simple". I think that's it if not close enough.
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Well done James , keep up the good work , happy new year , and looking forward to more videos next year
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Excellent video! Thank you for giving us a tour of the T-34!
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Can't wait to see episodes on the Sherman, and all the German tanks. Great content. Thank you.
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If I'm not mistaken I saw Polish writings around the indicators and switches. Of course the tank was commonly used in Polish army. It was also the main character in a pretty silly, but enourmously popular tv series " Czterej pancerni i pies", "Four tankman and a dog". Lots of wonderful movie scenes with the tank including underwater crossing.
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My favourite tank of all time. Even when it's stationary, the T34/85 looks like it's going somewhere with purpose.
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Saw the T-34 in 'action' in Kosova '98-'99. Primarily deployed by the MUP (in dark blue police livery) as an escort for JNA troops and rolling stock retrograding back to their barracks in Serbia. Edit: Oskin captured all three of the Tigers. They were repaired and returned to service with Soviet crews. One, hull 502, is on display in a Russian museum. Tak!
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Where did that half hour go? I feel like this video lasted all of five minutes. Love it. Keep going, guys.
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I liked the conversation but I would have enjoyed it more without the constant flash editing of the same footage repeated over and over again. A detailed walk around showing and explaining the hatches and accessories would have been nice.
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My university professor would always say "The Germans could not build enough 'great' tanks, but the Soviets could build enough good enough tanks. And that's all you need."
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If you ever get a chance to watch James Holland's take on the Battle of Britain do so. Its a wonderful documentary and so game-changing.
