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KV-4

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KV-4

AnnoR73_KV4.png
Battle Tier
1234567891011
Overview
Mouse over "
Well, the ones further down, of course.
" for more information
[Client Values; Actual values in
Specifically, the mismatch in crew values caused by commander's 10% crew skill bonus. Outside of a crew of 1 commander only, 100% crew is a fiction. The client values, given for 100% crew, will normally be taken into battle with 110% crew skill members aside from specific functions, causing their actual performance to deviate from the expected client value. These differences are taken into account in tooltip boxes.
]
2,430,000  Credits Cost
1600420 HP Hit Points
97.43/102.5648.7/112.56 t Weight Limit
Crew
  1. Commander
  2. Gunner
  3. Driver
  4. Radio Operator
  5. Loader
  6. Loader
Mobility
10001200 hp Engine Power
30/11 km/h Speed Limit
1618 deg/s Traverse
10.2624.64 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio
NoNo Pivot
Armor
// mm Hull Armor
180/130/130220/150/140 mm Turret Armor
Armament







{{#ifeq:ARMOR_PIERCING_CR|ARMOR_PIERCING||



{{#ifeq:HIGH_EXPLOSIVE|ARMOR_PIERCING||


AP/APCR/HE







{{#ifeq:ARMOR_PIERCING_CR|ARMOR_PIERCING||



{{#ifeq:HIGH_EXPLOSIVE|ARMOR_PIERCING||


AP/APCR/HE
Shells




















270/4400/280




















1010/4000/650
Shell Cost
300/300/360320/320/420 HP Damage
167/219/54227/289/62 mm Penetration



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6.45 r/m 

Standard Gun

Reload Times
Nominal: 9.3 s
50% Crew: 11.52 s
75% Crew: 10.06 s
100% Crew: 8.92 s
Rammer: 8.03 s
Vents: 8.72 s
Both: 7.85 s
Both and BiA: 7.68 s
Both and Max Crew %: 7.36 s

See Crew, Consumables, or Equipment for more information.



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6.67 r/m 

Standard Gun

Reload Times
Nominal: 9 s
50% Crew: 11.15 s
75% Crew: 9.73 s
100% Crew: 8.63 s
Rammer: 7.77 s
Vents: 8.44 s
Both: 7.6 s
Both and BiA: 7.43 s
Both and Max Crew %: 7.12 s

See Crew, Consumables, or Equipment for more information.
Rate of Fire






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1935

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 1 (300 Damage):


Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 1935
50% Crew: 1563
75% Crew: 1788
100% Crew: 2019
100% Crew
Vents: 2064
Rammer: 2244
Both: 2295
Both and BiA: 2346
Both and Max Crew %: 2445

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 2235
50% Crew: 1863
75% Crew: 2088
100% Crew: 2319
100% Crew
Rammer: 2544
Vents: 2364
Both: 2595
Both and BiA: 2646
Both and Max Crew %: 2745

See here, here, or here for more information.

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 2 (300 Damage):


Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 1935
50% Crew: 1563
75% Crew: 1788
100% Crew: 2019
100% Crew
Vents: 2064
Rammer: 2244
Both: 2295
Both and BiA: 2346
Both and Max Crew %: 2445

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 2235
50% Crew: 1863
75% Crew: 2088
100% Crew: 2319
100% Crew
Rammer: 2544
Vents: 2364
Both: 2595
Both and BiA: 2646
Both and Max Crew %: 2745

See here, here, or here for more information.

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 3 (360 Damage):
With wholly penetrating hits

Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 2322
50% Crew: 1875.6
75% Crew: 2145.6
100% Crew: 2422.8
100% Crew
Vents: 2476.8
Rammer: 2692.8
Both: 2754
Both and BiA: 2815.2
Both and Max Crew %: 2934

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 2682
50% Crew: 2235.6
75% Crew: 2505.6
100% Crew: 2782.8
100% Crew
Rammer: 3052.8
Vents: 2836.8
Both: 3114
Both and BiA: 3175.2
Both and Max Crew %: 3294

See here, here, or here for more information.






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2134.4

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 1 (320 Damage):


Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 2134.4
50% Crew: 1721.6
75% Crew: 1974.4
100% Crew: 2227.2
100% Crew
Vents: 2278.4
Rammer: 2473.6
Both: 2531.2
Both and BiA: 2585.6
Both and Max Crew %: 2697.6

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 2454.4
50% Crew: 2041.6
75% Crew: 2294.4
100% Crew: 2547.2
100% Crew
Rammer: 2793.6
Vents: 2598.4
Both: 2851.2
Both and BiA: 2905.6
Both and Max Crew %: 3017.6

See here, here, or here for more information.

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 2 (320 Damage):


Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 2134.4
50% Crew: 1721.6
75% Crew: 1974.4
100% Crew: 2227.2
100% Crew
Vents: 2278.4
Rammer: 2473.6
Both: 2531.2
Both and BiA: 2585.6
Both and Max Crew %: 2697.6

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 2454.4
50% Crew: 2041.6
75% Crew: 2294.4
100% Crew: 2547.2
100% Crew
Rammer: 2793.6
Vents: 2598.4
Both: 2851.2
Both and BiA: 2905.6
Both and Max Crew %: 3017.6

See here, here, or here for more information.

Standard Gun

Using Shell Type 3 (420 Damage):
With wholly penetrating hits

Theoretical Damage Per Minute
Nominal DPM: 2801.4
50% Crew: 2259.6
75% Crew: 2591.4
100% Crew: 2923.2
100% Crew
Vents: 2990.4
Rammer: 3246.6
Both: 3322.2
Both and BiA: 3393.6
Both and Max Crew %: 3540.6

Advantageous Damage Per Minute
First-shot DPM: 3221.4
50% Crew: 2679.6
75% Crew: 3011.4
100% Crew: 3343.2
100% Crew
Rammer: 3666.6
Vents: 3410.4
Both: 3742.2
Both and BiA: 3813.6
Both and Max Crew %: 3960.6

See here, here, or here for more information.
Damage Per Minute


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0.45 m 

With 50% Crew: 0.557 m
With 75% Crew: 0.487 m
With 100% Crew: 0.431 m
With BiA: 0.422 m
With BiA and Vents: 0.413 m
Maximum possible: 0.396 m

For more details, see Crew


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0.36 m 

With 50% Crew: 0.446 m
With 75% Crew: 0.389 m
With 100% Crew: 0.345 m
With BiA: 0.338 m
With BiA and Vents: 0.33 m
Maximum possible: 0.317 m

For more details, see Crew
Accuracy


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3.4 s 

With 50% Crew: 4.212 s
With 75% Crew: 3.678 s
With 100% Crew: 3.26 s
With GLD: 2.964 s
With BiA: 3.188 s
With BiA and Vents: 3.119 s
With both and GLD: 2.835 s
Maximum possible: 2.718 s

For more details, see Crew or Equipment


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2.3 s 

With 50% Crew: 2.849 s
With 75% Crew: 2.488 s
With 100% Crew: 2.205 s
With GLD: 2.005 s
With BiA: 2.157 s
With BiA and Vents: 2.11 s
With both and GLD: 1.918 s
Maximum possible: 1.839 s

For more details, see Crew or Equipment
Aim time
2020 deg/s Turret Traverse
360° Gun Arc
-6°/+12°-6°/+18° Elevation Arc
6050 rounds Ammo Capacity
General
1515 % Chance of Fire






330 m 

With 50% Crew: 259.3 m
With 75% Crew: 294.7 m
With 100% Crew: 330 m
With Recon and Situational Awareness: 346.7 m
With Coated Optics: 363 m
With Binocular Telescope: 412.5 m
Maximum possible: 472.4 m

For more details, see Skills or Equipment






350 m 

With 50% Crew: 275 m
With 75% Crew: 312.5 m
With 100% Crew: 350 m
With Recon and Situational Awareness: 367.7 m
With Coated Optics: 385 m
With Binocular Telescope: 437.5 m
Maximum possible: 501.1 m

For more details, see Skills or Equipment
View Range


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440 m 

With 50% Crew: 355.2 m
With 75% Crew: 406.8 m
With 100% Crew: 458.9 m
With 100% Signal Boost: 528 m
When affected by 100% Relaying: 484 m
Maximum possible: 660.5 m

For more details, see Skills or Equipment


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730 m 

With 50% Crew: 589.3 m
With 75% Crew: 674.9 m
With 100% Crew: 761.3 m
With 100% Signal Boost: 876 m
When affected by 100% Relaying: 803 m
Maximum possible: 1095.9 m

For more details, see Skills or Equipment
Signal Range
Values are Stock - click for Top

Additional Statistics
(Top Configuration)

When using the 107mm ZiS-24 gun:

Camouflage

  • Stationary: 2.3%
  • When Moving: 1.1%
  • When Firing: 0.6%


Terrain Resistance

  • On Hard Ground: 1.25
  • On Medium Ground: 1.44
  • On Soft Ground: 2.4


Dispersion Change Values

  • Turret Contribution
  • Rotation: 0.15
  • Shot Recoil: 3.84
  • Suspension Contribution
  • Acceleration: 0.22
  • Turning: 0.22


With 100% Crew

VIII

AnnoR73_KV4.png

2430000

The KV-4 is a Soviet tier 8 heavy tank.

The project of N. L. Dukhov developed in April 1941. A prototype was to be produced by November 1941. However, the work was discontinued due to the outbreak of the Soviet–German war.

It is in many ways the antithesis of the IS-3 - it is slow but heavily armored, just like the KV-5, and has the same pitiful turret traverse speed. This ensures that the KV-4 is ill-suited to defend against flankers or circling tanks. While it does have 180mm of frontal armor, it is nearly unsloped and it is recommended that the hull of the tank be angled to maximize its effect and make use of the sturdy sides. The long 107mm's penetration and damage are comparable to those of German long 105mm from the Tiger II and it is relatively accurate. While the gun may be accurate it is NOT to be used as a sniper. This tank weighs over a 100 tons, roughly 53% of the Maus's weight and only 29 tonnes lighter than the E-100 . The weight ensures that any tanks that dare ram this tank will receive a harsh punishment.

The KV-4 leads to the ST-I.

Modules / Available Equipment and Consumables

Modules

Ico_gun_alpha.png

Guns

Tier Gun Penetration
(mm)
Damage
(HP)
Rate of fire
(rounds/minute)
Dispersion
(m/100m)
Aiming time
(s)
Weight
(kg)
Price
(Credits)

VII 107 mm ZiS-6 167/219/54 300/300/360 6.67 0.45 2.9 2400 68290
VII 122 mm D-2-5T 175/217/61 390/390/530 4.17 0.46 3.4 2600 84980
IX 107 mm ZiS-24 227/289/62 320/320/420 6.67 0.36 2.3 2840 180000
VIII 122 mm D-25TS 217/270/61 390/390/530 5 0.44 3 2590 125140

Ico_engine_alpha.png

Engines

Tier Engine Engine Power
(hp)
Chance of Fire on Impact
(%)
Weight
(kg)
Price
(Credits)

IX M-40 1000 1000 15 1250 85000
IX 2x V-2K-F 1200 15 1500 87500

Ico_suspension_alpha.png

Suspensions

Tier Suspension Load Limit
(т)
Traverse Speed
(gr/sec)
Rmin Weight
(kg)
Price
(Credits)

VII KV-4 102.56 16 B/2 20000 17780
VIII KV-4 Bis 112.56 18 B/2 20000 33600

Ico_radio_alpha.png

Radios

Tier Radio Signal Range
(m)
Weight
(kg)
Price
(Credits)

VII 10RK 440 100 18600
IX 12RT 625 110 33600
X R-113 730 80 52200

Compatible Equipment

Low Noise Exhaust System Class 1 Vertical Stabilizer Class 1 Superheavy Spall Liner Camouflage Net Class 2 Coated Optics Class 1 Stabilizing Equipment System Experimental Optics Wear-Resistant Gun Laying Drive Improved Configuration Venting System Innovative Loading System Enhanced Gun Laying Drive Class 1 Improved Hardening Class 1 Additional Grousers Class 1 Modified Configuration Class 1 Improved Rotation Mechanism Class 1 Improved Aiming Class 1 Improved Ventilation Class 1 Binocular Telescope Class 1 Gun Rammer Class 1 Turbocharger Class 1 

Compatible Consumables

Stabilizer Greasing Automatic Fire Extinguisher Natural Cover Optical Calibration Aim Tuning Experienced Firefighters Manual Fire Extinguisher Pre-Battle Maintenance Vent Purge Large First Aid Kit Large Repair Kit Duty Comes First Lend-Lease Oil Shell Organizer Orderly Ammo Rack Focus on Target Extra Combat Rations Removed Speed Governor Increased Focus Small First Aid Kit Small Repair Kit Gearbox Intricacy Steady Hand Combat Course 


Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:


  • Overall thick armor, especially when angled. Very good sidescraping tank.
  • The 107mm ZiS-24 has superb penetration and damage per minute. Very good shell velocity as well.
  • The top 107mm is also accurate, with good handling and aiming speed
  • Very high HP at 1700.
  • Superheavy weight at 106 tons. Anyone that rams you will have a bad time


Cons:


  • While the armor is very thick, almost all of it is flat. You need to angle your tank to make it work properly
  • Extremely slow. Top speed is only 30 with awful hull traverse. Overall sluggish mobility
  • Very poor base view range of 350 meters
  • Bad stock grind. Expensive modules while being terrible when un-upgraded.
  • The tank is gigantic, making it a prime target for SPGs.


Performance

Equipped with the 107mm gun, top engine and turret, it will become in many ways superior to the KV-5, as they both share the same amount of armor but the KV-4 lacks the weak frontal "R2-D2" radioman turret from the KV-5, and has superior penetration. Unfortunately, the KV-4's top gun has a very slow fire-rate and low DPM, less than 1700 damage per minute (base with 100% crew), while the KV-5 has 2100. Another problem is the long aiming time. The KV-4 also has slower top speed, making ramming less effective.

It should also be noted that the KV-4 is a fairly decent tank to play, especially if you have cover from artillery. It is very bouncy, and many shots, including those from Tier 8, and sometimes even tier 9 TD's will ricochet if tank is angled properly. Note that miniturret on top of update turret is not really a weak spot, but has the same armor as the flat turret face. It's possible to angle the turret between shots to increase its effective armor.

Coaxing out a KV-4 from a narrow defensive position will take great effort, especially on alleys or bridges, and even so, it shall be noted that the indicated side armor value does not account for the fact that shells hitting the sides will also have to go though the massive tracks, much to the dismay of the enemy. In addition to its thick side armor, the mid-mounted turret allows it to use side-scraping techniques much more effectively than the front mounted turrets used by most other tier 8 heavy tanks.

When confronted by fast mediums or light tanks at close range (a favoured tactic because of the KV-4's extremely poor traverse speed) the best tactic is to use ramming tactics. Although the KV-4 can rarely work up to full speed, it is so heavy that even a light brush against an enemy tank will take its tracks off, leaving it an easy target.

The introduction of the Japanese super-heavies and of the newer German and Soviet heavy tanks of late (such as the IS-M, the Object 252U and the VK 100.01 P) has relegated the KV-4 into a second-line support tank. It cannot trade damage in a straight up brawl simply because the long 107mm cannot pump out enough damage per shot to compete with the bigger guns many of the newer heavy tanks carry. This is despite the fact that the 107mm has better accuracy and faster reload time by comparison. With that said, the KV-4 is still a very potent defensive tank that can hold territory firmly especially narrow streets or avenues. Veteran KV-4 drivers will now have to adjust their playstyle while newer players are warned not to use the KV-4 to lead a charge unless absolutely necessary.

  • In 1.10 the KV-4 was buffed

Reload of top 107mm (Top turret) from 9.88 -> 8.63 Aim time and dispersion from 2.78/0.36 -> 2.21/0.35 Turret bloom of top 107mm with top turret from 0.15 -> 0.10 (about 33% less) +40mm to the frontal turret thickness (180 -> 220)

  • 122mm D-25T removed, replaced with D-25TS

Comparison: Old 122mm (D-25T) penetration: 175/217/61, AP/APCR/HE Dispersion and aim time: 0.44 and 3.26 6 gun depression

D-25TS: Pen: 217/270/61 Aim time and dispersion: 2.88 and 0.42 Ammo loadout: APCR/HEAT/HE 8 gun depression


Early Research

Researching the long 107 will be top priority as the penetration of the 122mm gun is inadequate for the KV-4 as a tier 8. Once the 107 is researched and mounted, it is possible, and somewhat plausible, to simply grind on through to the ST-I. None of the other modules transfer through, and you can equip the 107mm on the stock suspension without having to purchase torsion bars. If however you feel that the extra mobility that the suspension, engines and turret traverse (2 extra degrees/s) provide are valuable follow the research guide below.

  • Research the Engine
  • Research the Suspension
  • Research the Turret
  • Research the Radio

Alternatively, if you are willing to spend the credits on premium ammunition, you can stay with the 122 mm and grind the suspension and engine upgrades first. Keep in mind that the 107 is a very long grind (44000) and the KV-4 has terrible mobility with the stock engine.


Suggested Equipment


Tank Gun Rammer Enhanced Gun Laying Drive Vertical Stabilizer Spall Liner Toolbox 


Gallery

Historical Info

On March 11th, 1941, Soviet intelligence reported on the production of new German heavy tanks. The largest of them, Type VII, allegedly had a mass of 90 tons and was armed with a 105 mm gun. Soviet high command took this report very seriously. Design work started to create a worthy opponent for German heavy tanks. The result of this work was the creation of several unusual projects: KV-4 and KV-5.


Fear Magnifies

The information was partially correct, as the VK 65.01 project was finished in June of 1940, and it really was indexed Pz.Kpfw. VII. One of the tanks was to be armed with a 105 mm gun, but only 20 calibers long. The design of the 36 ton VK 36.01 started in the middle of 1940, which was indexed Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf B. This was the mass of the "Type V" mentioned in the report. Information on real vehicles ended up mixed with hearsay. This hearsay created such a stir in the Soviet Union that heavy tank designs were radically revised.

It is thought that the flywheel of superheavy tanks started spinning on April 7th, 1941, when USSR SNK and CC of the VKP(b) decree #827-345ss was issued. In reality, everything started two weeks before. Having studied the intelligence report, GAU assumed that the 90 ton tank was armed with a tank version of the 105 mm Flak 39. This gun was purchased in 1940 by a Soviet commission. Trials demonstrated that a 130 mm armour plate provided adequate defense from this gun.

On March 21st, 1941, tactical-technical requirements were composed for the tank that would be named KV-4. Its mass was estimated at 70-72 tons. The front of the hull and the entire turret would have 130 mm of armour, the sides of the hull would have 120 mm. The armament would consist of a 107 mm F-42 (ZiS-6) gun and three machineguns. A note at the end of the document said that two tanks should be made, one with a 76 mm gun (the ZiS-5 with 3-K ballistics) and one with a 107 mm gun. The tank would store 70-80 107 mm shells. A 1200 hp engine was specified as the power plant. As a temporary measure, an 850 V-2SN engine was acceptable. With the more powerful engine, the maximum speed of the tank was rated at 35 kph.

By March 27th, the draft of the decree "On the production of experimental prototypes of heavy tanks" was ready. According to it, both heavy tank prototypes were due on November 1st, 1941. The blueprints would be ready at the Kirov factory by July 17th, and Izhor factory had to have the hulls and turrets ready by October 1st. Factory #92 would deliver one 76 mm ZiS-5 and one 107 mm ZiS-6 by September 1st.

As for the engines, plans were awaited within ten days for V-2 and M-40 based designs. The V-2 was the V-2SN, but the second engine is a much more interesting proposal. This aircraft based engine was produced at the Kirov factory. Its stock power output was 1000 hp, but a supercharged 1500 hp M-40F also existed.

The sixth point in the decree contained ideas about transporting the tank by rail. The People's Commissariat of Supply Lines (NKPS) could only offer four-axle platforms with a capacity of 60 tons. Obviously, for a 70 ton tank, this was not enough.

Anyway, by April 7th, the situation changed drastically. Instead of the KV-3, a reworked T-150 with a mass of 50 tons, a new tank would be built, with the same index, a mass of 68 tons, 120 mm of front armour, and a 107 mm gun. The approach to the KV-4 changed as well. Its mass increased to 75 tons, and the armour could potentially increase to 140-150 mm. The sides thickened to 125 mm. The deadline was moved: it was now necessary to prepare the model and technical project by June 15th and the turret and hull were expected by August 15th, 1941.

This wasn't all. Instead of a KV-4 wit a 76 mm gun, decree #827-345ss instructed the Kirov factory to build a tank that would be an answer to the phantom Pz.Kpfw. VII. As the German vehicle, this KV-5 would have a mass of 90 tons. Its armament and engine would be the same as on the KV-4. The increase in mass was due to the front armour, which was 170 mm thick in the front and 150 mm thick on the sides. The crew of both tanks would be between 6 and 8 men.

According to the decree, the blueprints for this tank were due at the Izhor factory by July 15th, and full documentation with a full scale model was due on August 1st. The Kirov factory would receive a turret and a hull by October 1st, and the tank itself would be finished on November 10th, 1941.

Heavy Duty

These new requirements meant that if the tank wouldn't have to be made from scratch, the idea would have to be drastically revised. Zh.Ya. Kotin, the director of the Kirov factory design bureau, had a difficult problem that had to be solved quickly.

Zhosef Yakovlevich took the same road as the design bureau of factory #185 when developing heavy and medium tanks in the late 1930s. During development of the 115 and T-100 tanks, several variants were prepared by different groups. Kotin went one step further and included nearly all designers from the factory into the project. For extra motivation, the authors of the more successful designs would be awarded a bonus.

Work started in the middle of April of 1941. The conditions of the contest limited the engineers fairly loosely. The only constants were the engine (M-40), mass (80-100 tons) and the presence of a turret. A multi-turret layout was allowed. The main gun would be a 107 mm ZiS-6, and the military insisted on a secondary 45 mm gun. In total, 27 projects were provided for the contest. The size of this article does not permit to cover them all, so we will discuss the more interesting designs.

N.L. Dukhov was the most successful in this task. Without coming up with any excessive fantasies, Nikolai Leonidovich approached the issue conservatively and expanded the T-220 tank. The hull was somewhat lengthened and widened, increasing the number of road wheels to 8 per side. The turret was also evolutionary, resembling the T-220 turret. The T-220 also donated its commander's cupola (with some changes), equipped with a DT machinegun. The armament, a 107 mm and a 45 mm gun, was combined into a single system.

The mass of Dukhov's tank was 82 tons, the lightest of all KV-4 proposals. The armour was at the levels required by the project, and the maximum speed of the tank was on the order of 40 kph. This design won the contest.

The second place was taken by a collective design by K.I. Kuzmin, P.S. Tarapanin, and V.I. Tarotko (some sources list S.V. Mitskevich instead of Tarapanin). Kuzmin and Tarotko later proved themselves to be talented hull designers. The KV-4 tank proposed by this group was unusual. Its fighting compartment was moved to the back, and the engine was placed in the center. The main gun was placed in a casemate with a wide horizontal range. The 45 mm gun was in a separate turret. The mass of the tank was 88 kph, and the speed was estimated at 36 kph.

The third place was taken by N.V. Tseits. Nikolai Valentinovich was the most experienced designer at the Kirov factory, starting his job in the 1920s, and having a wide variety of vehicles under his belt. Tseits' design was progressive and conservative at the same time. The second gun was discarded, as he considered it unnecessary. Tseits' design is characterized by a tall turret, allowing the vertical placement of one-piece 107 mm shells. In theory, this layout would greatly ease the loader's job. In order to compensate for the tall turret, the hull was made as low as possible. A "step" separated the fighting and engine compartments.

Another project received praise, designed by A.S. Yermolayev, who proposed two variants. The first 95 ton KV-4 had two turrets. The main one had a 107 mm gun, and the second, placed in front of it, had a 45 mm gun. The second variant was the same, but the 45 mm gun turret was missing, taking 5 tons of weight with it. Yermolayev must have remembered the SMK, the development of which he was in charge of. It's worth noting that at least five other authors used the same layout as Yermolayev.

The heaviest design was by G.V. Kruchenyh, who later designed the turret for the IS-3. Like Kuzmin, Tarapanin, and Tarotko, the engine in this design was moved forward. The tank had two turrets, one on top of another. A commander's cupola with a machinegun made up the third level. Krucheniy's KV-4 weighed a whopping 107 tons. The idea of turrets stacked on top of one another came up in five other projects.

At last, let us mention the KV-4 designed by N.F. Shashmurin. Nikolai Fedorovich indexed the KV-4 and KV-5 projects "BS", which he decoded as "a madman's nonsense" (bred sumashedshevo). No one can describe what he came up with better than the man himself.

"Having received the task to design a multi-turreted cyclops among the other leading designers of the bureau, I, without the enthusiasm about that condition (just think, we just rejected the "supermarket" SMK) I made a "knight's move", rejecting turrets altogether, and doing what I once did for the KV-1, installing the M-10 howitzer in a caponier structure, a casemate. Since we just made a super-heavy KV-3 tank, I didn't think too hard about a new one. I took off the turret and repeated my previous work, a high power SPG, installing Grabin's 107 mm gun. I explained in a note that, if necessary, the gun could be removed and replaced with an infantry squad. This modification was not allowed to enter the competition, as it violated the conditions: not enough armour, mass outside the 80-100 ton range, no turrets. In order to avoid a conflict, I made a compromise. Maintaining that a superheavy cannot be a tank, I added the necessary protection, reaching about 90 tons. I kept the main gun in a casemate, but added a KV-1 turret on the roof. I.M. Zaltsmann liked the design (due to its "reasonable universality", as he called it) and I received a second place award, 1000 roubles. That was nice, I bought a fur coat for my wife."

Backup Option

On May 9th, 1941, the contest winners were annouced. Dukhov received 5000 roubles for first place. Kuzmin, Tarotko, and Mitskevich received 3000 for their second place project. Tseits, Yermolayev, and Sychev received 2000 roubles each. Shashmurin received 1500 roubles.

After that, work on the KV-4 went slowly. According to the decree, the project was due in mid June, but judging by the correspondence sent, not much progress was made towards that goal. Things got to the point that Marshall Kulik himself intervened and demanded that work speed up. No one knows how much effect that had, since his letter was dated June 12th, and the war started ten days later.

Another stakeholder, the NKPS, was doing much better. GABTU and NKPS actively exchanged mail regarding railroad platforms for new tanks since spring of 1941. The goal at first was 72 tons, but in April, the numbers changed to 80-100 tons. GABTU ordered 200 of these platforms for 1941 and 1500 for 1942. Unlike the tankers, the railroaders completed their mission. In 1941, production of six-axle 120 ton platforms began, with length and weight capacity to spare.

As for the KV-5, almost no work was done until June of 1941. According to Zaltsmann's letters, there was an idea to announce a prize for the winning KV-5 design as well, but that idea was dropped. Kotin's competition was rejected and more successful KV-4 designs were reused. As Dukhov's design was already being worked on and the front-engined tank was too progressive, Tseits' KV-4 was selected. Nikolai Valentinovich was appointed as the lead designer. Other engineers from the KV-4 contest were involved in the project: Kuzmin was designing the hull, Sychev the turret and gun mount. Fedorchuk, the most experienced designer, was given the suspension.

The KV-4 and KV-5 were in an odd place. On one hand, GABTU's position was that the KV-3, the work on which was progressing at full throttle, was a temporary solution, and would be replaced in 1942 by the KV-4 or KV-5. Which design would win would be a matter settled by competitive trials.

On the other hand, the KV-4, approved in May, had nearly no documents completed. The same could not be said for the KV-5, work on which continued even after the start of the war and the order to cease work. Even the manufacturing technology was changed. The last blueprints were dated August of 1941, when the Germans were already near Leningrad.

As mentioned above, the KV-5 was based on Tseits' KV-4. The idea of a tall turret and short hull was expanded upon and adapted to mass production. The "step" in front of the turret was removed. The driver received a personal casemate, and the hull gunner got a mini turret. Because of this, the front of the hull was only 920 mm tall. Second, the circular shape of the main turret was revised. The front armour grew to 180 mm, making it invincible to any gun of that era.

Battle of Phantoms

The development of the KV-4 and KV-5 is usually seen as a senseless waste of time and money. This is largely true. Even if the war did not start in 1941, it is doubtful that these tanks could enter mass production. However, where there's smoke, there's fire. The mistakes made by Soviet intelligence have a basis in fact.

Study of Bunderarchiv documents shows that, in March of 1941, Kripp began production of the 15 cm K. L/40 Sfl., or 149 mm self-propelled gun. In the fall of 1941, this project turned into 15 cm L L/40 fur VK 70.01. Yes, this is the very same VK 70.01, better known as Lowe or Pz.Kpfw. VII. The mass of this tank was also 90 tons, and one of the armament variants was a 105 mm gun. Perhaps this is the Pz.Kpfw. VII that intelligence discovered. In any case, this is not the VK 70.01 that is widely known now, as sloped armour was only used in Germany after the fall of 1941 when the Germans became familiar with the T-34.


Historical Gallery

Historical Accuracy Errata

The following are consensus errors or inconsistencies which have been identified with the configuration of the vehicle in question and conflict with information available on the public record. The causes for these divergences in the game are normally not disclosed and may be rooted in game balance.

*There were no plans to mount a 122 mm or the high-powered ZiS-24 107 mm gun. Only proposed armament was the ZiS-6
  • Only the stock turret was planned for Dukhov's design (in-game model), upgraded turret is from a different design variant.
  • Only the 1200 hp M-40 engine was planned for the tank, the twin V-2K powerplant was supposedly for the KV-5.
  • Vehicle weight is higher than planned, design weight was 82.5 tons.
  • Hull armour is thicker than the design. Hull armour was supposedly 130-150 mm thick at the front, and 125 mm at the side.


Sources and External Links

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Self-Propelled Artillery IISU-18 IIISU-26 IVSU-5 VSU-122A VISU-8 VIIS-51 VIISU-14-1 VIIISU-14-2 IX212A XObject 261
Heavy Tanks
USA VT14 VT1 Heavy Tank VIPawlack Tank VIM6 VIIKing Tiger (Captured) VIIM-II-Y VIIT29 VIIIChrysler K VIIIChrysler K GF VIIIT26E5 VIIIT26E5 Patriot VIIIM54 Renegade VIIIT77 VIIIM-III-Y VIIIM-IV-Y VIIIM6A2E1 VIIIT32 VIIIT34 VIIIT34 B IXAE Phase I IXConcept 1B IXM-VI-Y IXM103 IXT54E1 XM-V-Y XT110E5 XT57 Heavy Tank
UK VChurchill I VExcelsior VIChurchill VII VITOG II* VIIBlack Prince VIIFV201 (A45) VIIICharlemagne VIIICaliban VIIIGonsalo VIIICaernarvon VIIICaernarvon Action X IXFV4201 Chieftain Proto IXConqueror XFV215b XSuper Conqueror XT95/FV4201 Chieftain
Germany IVPz.Kpfw. B2 740 (f) IVDurchbruchswagen 2 VITiger 131 VIVK 30.01 (P) VIVK 36.01 (H) VIIVK 45.03 VIITiger I VIITiger (P) VIIIVK 100.01 (P) VIIIVK 168.01 (P) VIIIVK 168.01 Mauerbrecher VIIIVK 75.01 (K) VIIIE 75 TS VIIILöwe VIIITiger II VIIIVK 45.02 (P) Ausf. A IXE 75 IXMäuschen IXVK 45.02 (P) Ausf. B XE 100 XPz.Kpfw. VII XMaus XVK 72.01 (K)
France IVB1 VBDR G1 B VIARL 44 VIIAMX M4 mle. 45 VIIIAMX 50 100 VIIIAMX M4 mle. 49 VIIIAMX M4 mle. 49 Liberté VIIIAMX 65 t VIIISomua SM VIIIFCM 50 t IXAMX 50 120 IXLorraine 50 t IXAMX M4 mle. 51 XAMX 50 B XAMX M4 mle. 54
USSR VChurchill III VKV-220-2 VKV-220-2 Beta Test VKV-1 VKV-1 shielded VIKV-1S VIKV-2 VIKV-2 (R) VIKV-85 VIObject 244 VIT-150 VIIIS VIIKV-3 VIIKV-122 VIIIS-2M VIIIS-2 shielded VIIIS-2 VIIIIS-3 VIIIIS-6 VIIIIS-6 B VIIIKV-5 VIIIKV-4 VIIIIS-5 (Object 730) VIIIIS-3A VIIIIS-3A Peregrine VIIIKirovets-1 VIIIKV-4 Kreslavskiy VIIIObject 252U Defender VIIIObject 252U VIIIIS-M VIIIObject 703 Version II VIIIIS-2-II IXT-10 IXObject 777 Version II IXObject 257 IXObject 705 IXIS-3-II IXST-I XIS-4 XIS-7 XObject 260 XObject 705A XObject 277 XObject 279 early XST-II XObject 780
China VIIIS-2 VIIIWZ-111 VIIIWZ-111 Alpine Tiger VIII110 VIII112 IXWZ-111 model 1-4 IXWZ-114 X113 X113 Beijing Opera XWZ-111 model 5A XWZ-111 Qilin
Japan IIIType 91 Heavy IVType 95 Heavy VO-I Experimental VIHeavy Tank No. VI VIO-I VIIO-Ni VIIIO-Ho IXType 4 Heavy XType 5 Heavy
Czechoslovakia VIIŠkoda T 45 VIIVz. 44-1 VIIIŠkoda T 56 VIIITNH 105/1000 IXTNH T Vz. 51 XVz. 55
Sweden VIIIEmil I VIIIEMIL 1951 VIIIBofors Tornvagn IXEmil II IXStrv K XKranvagn
Italy VIICarro d'assalto P.88 VIIIProgetto CC55 mod. 54 VIIIBisonte C45 IXProgetto C50 mod. 66 XRinoceronte
Poland VII45TP Habicha VIII50TP prototyp VIII53TP Markowskiego IX50TP Tyszkiewicza X60TP Lewandowskiego
ja:Tank:R73 KV4