Russian WW2 KV Series of Tanks

Research by Ian Sadler IPMS UK Armour TAS

When I started this research, I did not expect it to be so complicated or rewarding. I have to admit that I knew some of the details in the differences between the KV series of tanks but as I progressed I was surprised even more esp. just how little research has been done in the past.

There are plenty of publications in Russian and Polish however, the biggest problem is I neither read not nor understand the complex grammar of these languages. So I am reliant on the good old fashioned mark one eye ball and plenty of time studying the hundreds of photographs spread over a great many publications. Any omissions and faults are mine and mine alone.

This is not intended to be a history of the KV series that is for authors with access to the archives based in Russia to publish a definitive one preferably in English.

Firstly, I had to decide how to divide the research into sections so as to not make it repetitive or boring.

I looked at the relevant sections I had made in draft form and came to the conclusion it was better to divide into the years of  production as far as this was known, this would cover the guns used, turrets associated with them and lastly the hull types that make up a completed tank. Lastly any odd combinations or additions to the normal, this included the mainly the pattern of wheel types or usage

However, as with all research you then turn to yet one more photograph in other publications and all you have written is turned upside down.

In the end, I decided it was better to describe the photograph and at the same time give the book or magazine followed by the  page or photograph number used for the  research as notes. After all the photograph is frozen in time and encapsulates all the relevant details at one go……..

Early KV Angled Turret

The early angled turret KV has only two differences that I can see and both relate to the road wheels. One is as per the kit with lightening holes round the circumference and the other has no holes just a blank rim. At the time of research this kit has yet to be released so I will be able to amend this section later when I obtain one for building.

KV-2 152 mm Kit No T 00312

The KV 2 has the same road wheels as per the kit but it can also have the following types No 2 and 3. See note about wheel types later in article. The return rollers can be the type with 6 ribs lined up with the bolts and between the central hub and the outer rim or as those supplied in the kit.  

The only other detail in Russian service that I can find are two types of appliqué armour welded  to the area in front of the hull hatch, one is a square bar and the other is slightly taller but has a chamfered edge facing the front of the hull. These additional appliqué armoured bars run from the outer edge of the hull to the armoured cover of the episcope and are welded on. If I had to guess at the size of the armoured strip, I would say the square one is 2 inches square or 50 mm by 50mm square and the other 3 inches tall by 2 inches wide or 75mm by 50mm.  

The square bar can clearly be seen in the Tankograd Special publication on the KV-2 tank at the top of page 62.

In the same publication at the top of page 64, the KV 2 this time in winter cammo and  in the  service of the German Army it has additional appliqué armour on the hull sides just above were the track guards should be. They seem to be made from two sections of BT 5 or 7 hull plates. You can plainly see the cut outs for the suspension arms. Also, the square appliqué armour is in front of the hull. I have discounted the additional turret hatch fitted by the Germans there is no point in rehashing it again.

The chamfered type can be plainly seen on page 28 and 30, 32 of Stalins Giganten published by Das Waffen Arsenel Band 41 ISBN No 3-7909-0064-8

On page 28 you can clearly see the shape for the early square pattern fuel cells strapped to the fenders and method of securing them can be clearly shown see below on page, there should be four on the right hand side facing forward. On page 31 it shows them again fitted at the rear of the left hand side; note the fuel cells are narrower than the fender width; they are clearly illustrated in the above publication. One of the best illustrations of the fuel cells is in Frontline Illustrated KV special combined issue top of page 61. Also on bottom of page 71 in same book.

Below is a scan of the Wheels types as was known before I carried out the research I am indebted to the Japanese Author who unfortunately I am unable to credit it to him as I do not know his name.

I can only add one more type to the ones illustrated and it fits in between the top left and the next one on the same row. It has no ribs on the central boss in other words it is smooth, but it still has the holes in the outer rim. This makes nine types in all.

I will use this reference and it will use the following numbering system all will start from the top left and then across and down to the bottom row and across. With the addition of the new one, I hope this makes some type of sense.  To give an illustration if I refer to no 6 then it is the first one on the left of the bottom row. 

KV-1 1941 Eskranami Kit No T 00357

 The KV -1 1941 Eskranami version can be built as per the kit but the following have been noted.

No 2 Build as per kit for turret only, no hull armour at all.

No 3 Again as per kit build but with added armoured ring round rear machine gun, this ring is made from flat plate welded on.

No 4 Again as per kit but on the rear of the Turret, the bolted appliqué armour is not flush at the sides it is open-ended. A good illustration is in Military Chronicles Issue no 4 /2002 on bottom of page 30.

No 5Again as per kit for turret and lower hull armour; but the side armour on hull sides is made from two pieces it has half round cut outs two per sheet and stands up proud of the hull and is welded on.  Note the cut outs are not in line with track support brackets but inboard of them. The upper hull front armour also has the added extra square strip of metal added above this armour and in front of hull hatch.

No 6 Again as per the kit for the turret only but on the hull, the appliqué armour is made from two oblong sheets of metal welded above the track guards in place of the bolted on armour. These sheets stand proud of the hull and are flush with the bottom of the turret. The wheels are as per the kit. This is in Tankograd early versions top of page 46.  

No 7 Lastly as per the kit in full but it has an added oblong strip that is the full length of the two side bolted plates of armour above the track guards, this extra strip is above the bolts line on hull appliqué armour; it is flush with the bottom of the turret. The wheels are from the front to rear Ist 3 No 2 then next is as per kit, and then last two back to No 2. In Tankograd No 2002 page 50 top photograph and also on page 51 the top photograph.

Other details that can be added are the early square fuel tanks as well as the stowage boxes. I have observed several layouts but the most common is two between the last pair of track guard support brackets on the left hand side looking from the rear towards the front. On the other side, the middle 3 track guard brackets have two fuel tanks per set making 4 in all; this brings the total to 6 per vehicle. The wheels on this one are first three two no 3 next one is no 4 and last two are no 3 .This well covered in Tankograd Soviet Special 2002 top of page 51.

A good example of a none standard wheel layout is illustrated in Tankograd No 09 July 2000, on page 44 the bottom photograph.  Here we have from the front the first two wheels are No 1 and the next four are all No 4. 

Wheel types observed can be no 1 on the drawing, then No 3, 4 and lastly No 7. You can have a mix of two types on a single side mostly they are No 1 and 3. There are bound to be more variations than I have listed.

A further illustration of mixed types of wheels is in Front line Illustrated KV special combined issue on the bottom of page 60 photo no 66. This shows clearly the first to road wheels are No 1 and the rest are No 4.

As far as turret markings I have found only 3 photographs of them marked up in white lettering, unfortunately I cannot translate them but they are in a long out of print Russian publication called Soviet tanks WW2 published in 1996. One has a white star below of the slogan they are all build no 2 in above list. This is now available in Tankograd Early versions top of page 43.

As to camouflage I can find only one speculative photograph in Tankograd KV early versions bottom of page 44. I could be wrong but it looks like two tone green and brown in a broad wavy line on the rear and side of the turret.

Conclusions on the KV 1 Bolted on Appliqué Armoured Tanks…

In the end it comes down to finding the photograph of the particular version of  tank you want to build and using the information contained in the photographs produce one of the above listed types. Safe in the knowledge that the final models are correct and were fielded in the war. This section is produced out of order just to prove that factories received various components and fitted them as they received them, this was contrary to any orders from up on high. The priority was to get them out to the troops as quickly as possible. So in the end most combinations are possible.

A very good example of this is in Front line illustrated KV special combined issue on the bottom of page 5 in second half. It shows that two types of hull round and angled along with 3 types of turret, all being fitted on the same day and at the same time. An other factory photograph on top of page 10 again in second half on book shows clearly one hull type angled with 5 turret types, including in the bottom right for ground the rare simplified cast turret. Compare with the top plate of the tank in centre with gun turned to right. This photo will be examined more closely in the section about the cast turret KV-1.

Please note I have listed only the very best photographic reference with each type of KV but I have used 41 separate publications for the research. When I have completed the full research all the books and magazines I used will be included as a separate index.

 I Ian Sadler IPMS UK Armour TAS ©