Information in the Red Army was shared horizontally as well as vertically. #OTD in 1944 the 1st Ukrainian Front shared data on the field trials of their King Tigers with the 2nd Ukrainian Front while official trials at Kubinka were only beginning. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The T-10M tank was accepted into service #OTD in 1957. Its main distinguishing feature over the T-10B was the use of an improved 122 mm M-62 gun that replaced the D-25T, variants of which were used on Soviet heavy tanks since 1943. #tanks #history #ColdWar

Two King Tiger tanks arrived at the Kubinka Proving Grounds #OTD in 1944. The journey took a month and a half since the captured tanks had to drive to the train station for shipping, but kept breaking down despite being almost brand new. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Mikhail Koshkin, the leader of the design team at factory #183 that created the legendary T-34 tank, insisted on taking part in the trials personally. When the tank fell into a river during winter trials, he contracted pneumonia and died #OTD in 1940. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

A list of desired features for the next generation of T-34 tank was composed #OTD in 1940. These features were supposed to be put into production with the T-34M in 1941, but the invasion by Nazi Germany prevented this upgrade. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

#OTD in 1945 the SU-101 returned for a second round of trials. Despite many improvements, the limitations of the T-44 chassis made themselves known. Since the war was over, it was preferable to wait for a tank destroyer based on the T-54. #tanks #history

The Mozdok-Malgobek Operation concluded #OTD in 1942. The German offensive towards the Caucasus oil fields was successfully defeated, depriving the Nazis of fuel necessary for a prolonged war. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

#OTD in 1942 the Red Army began experiments to see how T-34 tanks could be protected from HEAT and APCR ammunition. The result of these experiments was the installation of 16 mm thick spaced armour on two brigades worth of T-34 tanks. #tanks #History #WW2 #WWII

A new indie tank game? Don't mind if I do! Tank Battle Classic is a retro PS1 style game with a brutal retro hit model: one penetrating shot is a kill for you or your enemies. It's on Steam for like five bucks, so definitely give it a try.

Kirov factory developed a replacement for the ISU-152 on the new IS-3 chassis in 1945. The army took its time in giving permission to start trials, and even trials of the gun only began #OTD in 1945. By the time the vehicle was ready, the army lost interest. #tanks #history

Work on 122 mm guns with muzzle velocities of 1000 m/s began #OTD in 1943. These guns were designed to fight future German superheavy tanks, although since those tank never showed up there wasn't much pressure to put the guns into mass production. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Soviet mobility trials of the GMC M10 tank destroyer began #OTD in 1943. The vehicle's mobility was on par with the M4A2 tank that Soviet testers were already familiar with. Adding spurs to the rubber tracks made climbing slopes a lot easier. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

A set of instructions on fighting Ferdinand tank destroyers was distributed #OTD in 1943. One of the biggest weaknesses of the vehicle was a large rear hatch which could be targeted with Molotov cocktails. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Production of LTP tanks for Peru began #OTD in 1938. Threatened by German annexation, the Czechoslovakian army nearly bought these tanks themselves, but the Munich Agreement made armed resistance pointless and the tanks went to their intended owners. #tanks #history

Adna Chaffee was born #OTD in 1884. He fought to establish a tank force in the interbellum period and laid the foundation for the US armored forces. He died in 1941, but was immortalized in the nickname of the Light Tank M24. #tanks #history #ww2 #WWII

Trials of the 122 mm D-25 gun ended #OTD in 1943. The gun passed trials, but the muzzle brake was deformed during firing. It was replaced with a design copied from the Ferdinand. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Major deliveries of KV-85 tanks began #OTD in 1943. This was a stopgap vehicle, allowing a heavy tank with an 85 mm gun to go into production quickly and letting ChKZ master production of a new turret before switching to a new hull for the IS-1. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

A detailed report on the Tiger tank was published in the Tactical & Technical Trends magazine #OTD in 1943. It was theorized that this tank had deep water fording capability for an amphibious landing in the UK, so it was drawn with a snorkel attachment. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

#OTD in 1944 an order was given to introduce improvements into the design of the T-44 tanks as a result of trials. This was the last stage of improvements before mass production would begin. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The first production HMC M8 photographed #OTD in 1942. This was a modified Light Tank M5 with a new turret that could take a 75 mm howitzer. Despite the small caliber, the light weight and high speed of this vehicle made it into a useful support weapon. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The DS-39 machine gun was accepted into service #OTD in 1939. It could have replaced both the bulky Maxim gun for infantry and DT machine gun for tanks, but sufficient production was not reached before the German invasion and so it replaced neither. #guns #history #WWII #WW2

#OTD in 1941 HTZ-16 ersatz tanks first saw battle not too far from the factory they were made in. For obvious reasons most were lost fairly quickly, but some survived at least until mid-1942. #tanks #history #ww2 #WWII

Obsolete LT vz.34 tanks returned to action in 1944. A number of tanks were used by the Slovakian resistance during the Slovakian National Uprising. The Germans captured ten of these tanks #OTD in 1944, which were then used by the Tatra Tank Division. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The British introduced a new system of tank designations #OTD in 1941. Names replaced indexes for tanks. For example, the cumbersomely named Infantry Tank Mk.IIA** was now simply known as Matilda IV. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

#OTD in 1942 convoy PQ-18 reached the USSR carrying the last shipment of Churchill II tanks. After that the British only sent Churchill III and IV tanks with a new welded and cast turret respectively and a more powerful 57 mm 6-pounder gun. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

#OTD in 1955 Czechoslovakia signed a deal to supply arms to Egypt, including refurbished StuG 40 assault guns and license-built copies of T-34-85 tanks. Many T-34-85s seen in museums today are tanks that were sold in this deal. #tanks #history #ColdWar

The first Soviet report to refer to the Infantry Tank Mk.II as "Matilda" was composed #OTD in 1941. This shows that the name was used unofficially, as the British only officially adopted names for their tanks on the following day. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

For a period of time, American light tanks developed in multiple branches. The Light Tank M5 received a new engine while the M3A3 received a new turret. #OTD in 1942 the Americans combined the two, creating the Light Tank M5A1. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

The high velocity 76 mm F-27 gun was installed in a T-28 tank for trials #OTD in 1940. This gun with the ballistics of the 3-K AA gun was developed for use in the T-150 tank which never entered mass production. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

Japan purchased a Tiger tank and blueprints from Germany during the Second World War. The plan was to disassemble the tank and send it to Japan by submarines, but #OTD in 1944 the tank was pressed into service by the Germans and never made it to Japan. #tanks #History #WWII #WW2