MtG

The model pictured is the fantasy of a modeller without the slightest concept of engineering. It not only didn't exist, it couldn't be built. From the lack of spacing for the dual 152's in the modified KV-2 turret (no breech clearance), to the fact that no final drive shafts or transmission gears large enough to handle the necessary torque could be fit into the final drive assembly area in a KV hull, to the fact that the link pins in the tracks couldn't stand the shear stress, this thing is simply a mechanical engineering impossibility with modern materials science and manufacturing techniques, let alone with the **** steel machining and alloying capabilities the Soviets had. There is something along this line that is what Panzer Leader is thinking of - the standard pre-war five turret (short 76 plus 2 45 AT's + 2 MGs) T-35 heavy tank fit was known as the land battleship, but it was a totally different hullform than the KV, which was years later in development. Due to the overall length, and the mass of the three gun turrets, plus the pre-war armor-covered running gear design, the overall armor of the T-35 was abysmally thin, running from 6-30mm, which was not heavy tank standard, even for it's time. Despite the underarmoring, the vehicle was incredibly susceptible to mechanical failure, and most were not battlefield casualties in Barbarossa, they never made it to the battlefield. There is a well known Bundesachiv photo of some German troops inspecting a roadkill T-35, where the crew had carried along an extra transmission to cope with the notorious unreliability of the T-35 drive train, but even that didn't help them. This is the best T-35 reference online. [ 12-14-2001: Message edited by: MtG ]</p>