SMK (Sergai Mironovich Kirov)

History of SMK (Sergai Mironovich Kirov)

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.

Specification

BASICS

Years of Service: 1939

Origins: Soviet Union

Crew: 7

Production: 1

Manufacturer: Leningrad Factory No. 100 - USSR

Roles

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.

Dimensions and Weight

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

Power and Performance

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)

Weapons

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.