Soviet T-34/85 Medium Tank

The Soviet T-34/85 entered service on 15th December 1943 in response to the well armed and armoured Tiger and Panther tanks of the Wehrmacht. Of more than 52,000 T-34 medium tanks produced until the end of the war, approximately 22,000 were of the T-34/85 configuration. Early T-34/85 medium tanks were armed with the 85 mm D-5T tank gun which was replaced by the 85 mm ZIS-C-53 tank gun in the M.1944 version of the same vehicle. The T-34/85 medium tank proved very successful in combat, and it continued to serve in the Korean War, the Middle East, Vietnam, Angola, Ethiopia, and many other trouble spots around the world.

Available Scale Model Kits

T-34/85, 1:72 ESCI 8626
T-34/85, 1:72 Atlantic 614 (Soft Plastic)
T-34/85, 1:72 Cooperativa 72009
T-34/85 M.1944 with D-5T Gun, 1:72 UniModel UM72327
T-34/85 with S-53 Turret, 1:72 UniModel UM72328
1:72 AER Moldava 72009
- Minenräumgerät für T-34/85, 1:72 AER 7209
T-34/85, 1:72 Toga 251
T-34/85, 1:72 Rhino Models #36 (KPHZ Turret)
- Detail Kit, 1:72 EDUARD
- Photo Etched Detail Plate, 1:72 Part PT P-72-017
- KPHZ Turret, Conversion Kit, 1:72 Rhino Models #35
T-34/85, 1:76 Hinchliffe 20/195
T-34/85, 1:76 Airfix 01316
T-34/85, 1:76 Crusader Models CMB67
T-34/85, 1:76 Archer Models
T-34/85, 1:76 Fujimi 76009
- T-34/85 1943 ZAVOD NR-112 Turret with D-5T Gun, 1:76 VUC C-133
- T-34/85 1944 ZAVOD NR-112 Turret with ZIS-C-53 Gun, 1:76 VUC C-139
T-34/85, 1:87 KOMO/ROCO 1225

Technical Specifications

T-34/85
Type: Medium Tank
Motor: V-12 cylinder diesel, 372 kw
Speed: 60 km/h on roads
Cruising Range: 400 km
Overall Length: 8100 mm
Width: 3000 mm
Height: 2700 mm
Ground Clearance: 400 mm
Weight: 32,000 kg
Armament: 85 mm D-5T Tank Gun (1943) or ZIC-C-53 (1944) Tank Gun with 55 rounds; two DT 7.62 mm MGs with 1890 rounds
Crew: Commander, Driver, Radio Operator, Gunner, and Loader

Bibliography

The T-34 Russian Battle Tank by Matthew Hughes, Chris Mann
Funcken, L. & F.: L’Uniforme et les Armes des Soldats de la Guerre 1939–1945, p. 77

Museum Exhibits

T-34/85 Medium Tank, Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim, Germany

T-34/85 Medium Tank, Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung (WTS) Koblenz, Germany

Historical Employment

Soviet Army, 1943-1945
Polish People’s Army (LWP), 1944-1945
Korea, 1950
Middle East, 1965
Middle East, 1967
Middle East, 1973
Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), 1982-1984
Vietnam
Angola
Ethiopia

The T-34/85 was a very effective variant of the T-34 medium tank, and it was cheap enough to mass-produce. Wargamers will want at a platoon or a company of T-34/85 to defeat enemy armour and overrun opposing infantry positions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Soviet Red Army Miniatures of World War Two