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SMK (Sergei Mironovich Kirov)

1939 WINTER WAR WORLD WAR 2 X-TANK

History of SMK (Sergei Mironovich Kirov)

Soviet tank technology gained considerable momentum in the decade preceding World War II (1939-1945). Gone are the days of relying on Western development, replaced by entirely new domestic products - some successful, some unsuccessful. In the period before World War II, a new demand for Soviet ground attack heavy tanks appeared.

This resulted in two competing prototypes, known as the "SMK" and the "T-100" - each following a very similar design approach, with multiple turrets housing capable armor-piercing weapons.

Both designs ultimately failed to replace the bulky, limited-edition multi-turret T-35 heavy tank of 1935. The T-35's armor was too light to fight against more modern weapons.

For a period in the history of tank warfare, a "multi-turret" tank was the way to go, as it provided inherent firepower and armor protection far beyond conventionally thought single-turret designs. Of course, this resulted in overweight, bulky machines that were worthless on the mobile battlefields of the 1930s and 1940s. As a result, many become showcases and promotional products in their spotlight.

Few have seen direct, meaningful combat.

The focus of this article is the SMK, with the initials of the murdered communist Sergei Mironovich Kirov (1886-1934). The multi-turret approach features a main turret, located amidships and mounted with a short-barreled 76.2mm L-11 main gun. A smaller front turret was armed with a still powerful long-barreled 45mm Type 1932 anti-tank gun, with anti-infantry measures of 3 x 7.62mm machine guns for defense. On paper at least, this gave the tank a very wide range of fire from all its emplacements - a quality similar to that of warships of the time. Of course the extra turret and everything that goes with it adds to the weight, length and overall bulkiness of the overall design, the original design approach included no less than three main turrets with 1 x 76.2mm and 2 x 45mm guns - The design requirement was eventually dropped.

The armor protection of the various fairings ranges from 20mm to 60mm - the vehicle must withstand hits from short- and medium-range 45mm anti-tank guns and medium- and long-range (up to 1,300 yards) 75mm anti-tank guns.

Inside, the car will be piloted by no less than seven men - reminiscent of the "landing ships" of World War I decades ago. Power comes from a single GAM-34BT 12-cylinder gasoline engine producing 850 hp driving a conventional track wheel arrangement with drive sprockets, track idlers and up to four or five track return rollers.

The engine is a modified version of the Mikulin aircraft engine, so it takes a lot of power to move this beast. The 55-ton vehicle (with a design range of 50-60 tons) is expected to travel up to 140 miles at 22 mph on smooth roads.

Torsion bar suspension attempts to provide some off-road capability and ride comfort - the original approach was spring suspension, but that requirement has changed for the better.

The design of the SMK began in the spring of 1938 by the engineering team stationed at the Kirovsky Plant No. 100 in Leningrad, and a contract for two pilot vehicles was signed. The car made its debut in May 1938, when the requirement for a third turret was dropped (a move championed by Stalin himself).

The SMK was proven operational by the end of April 1939 and evaluated throughout the year - eventually pushed into direct combat during the "Winter War" (November 1939-March 1940) with neighbouring Finland Serve. However, this is where the story of the SMK ends, as it crossed a mine in Finland on December 19, 1939, preventing its advance. The crew was forced to abandon the experimental vehicle, which was not salvaged by the Soviets until March 1940. It took about 6 T-28 tanks to get rid of this steel monster, and after it was rescued, it was not rebuilt.

Its hull was scrapped sometime in the 1950s, marking its official demise.

During the development of the SMK, the Kirov team also drew up plans for a heavy tank with a turret, named after the initials "KV". This was endorsed by Stalin himself and favored for its combination of firepower, protection and economy, and became the line of success for the KV-1 tanks used in World War II.

In fact, KV bid against SMK and T-100 and won both.