![]() ![]() Based on existing information, the lead engineer of this project was A.S. The resulting vehicle is often called KV-122, but it is not known if this index was really used. This work was also done on personal initiative, but the initiator remains unknown. The last attempt to boost the firepower of the KV-85 was undertaken in the spring of 1944. The turret was copied from the IS-2 designed in 1944. The prototype KV-122 was created in the spring of 1944 by the Construction Bureau of the Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant on the basis of the KV-85 and differed from the latter in a turret with a 122-mm gun. The KV-122 (1943), KV-100 (1944) and KV-122 (Object 239) (1944) were all prototype derivatives armed with a short 122 mm (4.8 in) howitzer (for indirect fire support), a long 100 mm (3.94 in), and a 122 mm (4.8 in) built and tested in 1943-44. ![]() The number 34 was not used by accident, as the gun was based on the 100 mm B-34 naval gun. Like factory #9, the TsAKB was working on a triplex: three different barrels on one cradle. The idea to improve the armament of the KV-85 was born at the Central Artillery Design Bureau (TsAKB), which was working on the S-34 family of guns. The weight reached 47-48 tons, which was too much for the chassis. The KV-85 and its potential modernization were a different story. Calculations showed that the mass of the IS-85 with the D-25 gun grew to an acceptable 45-46 tons. Such a gun, indexed D-25, was being developed by factory #9's design bureau. Experience at the Battle of Kursk showed that a heavy tank needs a more powerful weapon than a D-5T gun. The main reason for putting improved tanks in front of brand new ones was ease of production.Īfter the Battle of Kursk, an order was given to develop a 122 mm tank and SPG gun with 1000 m/s muzzle velocity. ![]() The Soviet tank industry was no exception in this regard. It is often the case in many nations that instead of new tanks, industry preferred improved versions of tanks that were already in production. ![]()
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