Before World War II, the Soviet Union saw a shift in tank development, moving away from Western influence and focusing on domestic designs. Two competing prototypes, the "SMK" and "T-100," were created to address the need for heavy ground attack tanks. Both shared multi-turret layouts with armor-piercing weaponry, but they failed to replace the earlier T-35 tank due to its insufficient armor against modern weapons.
The "SMK" tank, named after communist Sergei Mironovich Kirov, featured a main turret with a 76.2mm L-11 main gun and a smaller front turret equipped with a potent 45mm Type 1932 anti-tank gun and machine guns. However, the multi-turret concept added weight and complexity, leading to challenges in mobility and battlefield performance. The tank's armor ranged from 20mm to 60mm, designed to withstand hits from various anti-tank guns at different ranges. Despite their potential, these multi-turret tanks were often more suited for display and promotion than actual combat due to their unwieldy nature.
Years of Service: 1939
Origins: Soviet Union
Crew: 7
Production: 1
Manufacturer: Leningrad Factory No. 100 - USSR
Fire Support/Attack/Breakthrough
Support allied forces with direct/indirect fire, attacking forward positions and/or breaking through fortified areas of the battlefield.
Tank vs. Tank
Fight with armored vehicles of similar form and function.
Length: 28.7 feet (8.75m)
Width: 11. 0 feet (3.35m)
Height: 11.0 feet (3.35m)
Weight: 110,231 lbs (50,000 kg)
Tonnage: 55.1 tons
Engine: 1 x GAM-34BT 12 cylinder 850hp petrol engine driving a conventional sprocket arrangement.
Speed: 21.7 km/h (35.0km/h)
Area: 136. 7 miles (220.0 km)
1 x 76.2mm main gun is located in the main turret.
1 x 45 mm Type 1932 main gun in the secondary gun.
3 x 7.62mm DT machine guns.