KV-13
Soviet experimental medium tank
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The KV-13 (Russian: KB-13) was an experimental Soviet medium tank created during World War II.[1][2] It was developed on the KV-1 chassis in the SKB-2 design bureau of the Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant in late 1941 – early 1942, as a "universal" tank, intended to replace the production of T-34 medium tanks and KV-1 heavy tanks at the same time.[3]
| KV-13 | |
|---|---|
 KV-13 | |
| Type | Medium tank |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Soviet Union |
| Production history | |
| Designer | SKB-2 |
| Designed | 1941–1942 |
| Manufacturer | Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant |
| Produced | 1942 |
| No. built | 3 |
| Specifications ([1]) | |
| Mass | 32 metric tons |
| Length | 6.65 m (21 ft 10 in) with gun forward |
| Width | 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Crew | 4 |
| Armor | 120 mm maximum |
Main armament | 76 mm M1941 ZiS-5 gun |
Secondary armament | 1 × 7.62-mm DT-29 machine gun |
| Engine | Kharkiv V-2 V12, liquid-cooled diesel engine 600 hp (450 kW) |
| Power/weight | 18.8 hp/t (14.0 kW/t) |
| Suspension | Torsion bar suspension |
| Ground clearance | 450 mm (18 in) |
Operational range | 320 km (200 miles) |
| Maximum speed | 65 km/h (40 mph) |
Development
The first prototype of the KV-13 was made in the spring of 1942, but in the fall of that year tests showed a lack of mechanical reliability and demonstrated the need to strengthen the vehicle's armour and to equip it with the new three-seat turret.[1][2] While production of two modified prototypes incorporating these modifications began in December 1942, work on the KV-13 as a medium tank was discontinued in favour of continuing the production of the T-34. The further development of the project using two modified KV-13 prototypes led to the creation in 1943 of the IS-1 heavy tank.[3][4] This tank was never used in combat.