I’m hopin that someone out there can tell me whether or not a T-34/76 mod. 1941 would still be in action in 1943? Reason I’m asking is because I’ve finished Dml’s T-34/76 and wanna put it in a dio with some russian figures which have early 1943 uniforms. I know there were T-34/76’s in action at Kursk, but I’m not sure if they’d be unmodified 1941 versions.
A different approach…some T34/76 1941 models (Mickey Mouse Ears) were captured by the Germans. These were re-painted, had new lights and extra storage added, of course German crosses and again sent back to fight Russians. I can’t remember the correct Sd. Kfz. # given but it is shown in the Encyclopedia of German Armoured Vehicles.
'41 34’s didn’t have mickey-mouse ears. that’s the 43. i’m sure some '41’s would be used in '43, there’s plenty of pictures of the 34-85 and 34-76’s side by side and some of those WERE the older non-hexagonal turret ones. if you want, make it a '42 model t-34, the cosmetic differences between '41 and '42 models are minor like one headlight instead of two, maybe different tracks and periscopes, things like that. some '42’s had the cast turret instead of the welded but i think some factories still made the old ones in '42.
The reality of the combat on the russian front would seem to be that if a 41 model t34 was useable in 43 it was. It’s a use what ya got situation. Squadron’s T-34 in action shows that T34/76 that were damaged but recovered were rebuilt as T34/85. A T34 model 41 would very likely have new track by 1943, it might have wore out four set by then, some new wheels too, maybe a mixture of different types of wheels. You get to weather the hell out of it if you want too.
I got a 1943 model T34/76 that I’m gonna mix the road wheels and kitbash it back to a 41 and 3/4 or a 42 and 1/8[:D] Just have to wait as it’s not next on the list. Production changes were cut in at each plant as they got the parts (hull of a 41 with turret of 42 with wheels of 41 & 42. that sort of thing). Sounds like a fun project.