KV-3 Heavy Tank

As KV-1 and KV-2 heavy tanks rolled off production lines, Soviet strategists sought even more formidable tanks. In June 1940, they commissioned the Kirov plant to build four prototypes by December. Only two emerged: the T-150, a beefed-up KV-1, and the T-220, a larger vehicle with thicker armor and an 85mm gun. Testing exposed significant issues; the T-150 lacked power, and the T-220's new engine exploded on the second day. Despite this, the T-150 entered production as the KV-3 in March 1941. Fears of a colossal German heavy tank and the realities of producing a more unreliable KV-1 led to a revised plan: produce the T-220 with a new engine and a 107mm gun, ready in six weeks, with a production goal of over 500 by year's end. The new KV-3, equipped with a supercharged V-2 engine, completed 1985km (1233 miles) by June 22. However, the German invasion interrupted progress. The Kirov factory was threatened, evacuated to Chelyabinsk, and redirected to produce existing KV-1 types. The KV-3, a harmonious blend of power, armor, and speed, was the ultimate Tiger hunter, entering combat six months before its German counterpart.