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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 10m

A test TOG turret was shot up #OTD in 1941 to determine the best methods of joining thick armour with bolts. None proved satisfactory, as even a nonpenetrating hit from 2-pounder shot could destroy the bolts. The plates also cracked under 6-pdr fire. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 1h

The Americans tried to boost the firepower of the GMC M37, installing a 75 mm recoilless rifle for self defense instead of a .50 caliber machine gun. The weapon was hard to use and could hit the crew with the backblast. Work was discontinued #OTD in 1947. #tanks #history #ColdWar

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 2h

Trials of the T-70 tank with a two-man turret finished #OTD in 1942. Results of the trials were used to develop an improved turret which was later used on the T-80 tank. #tanks #History #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 3h

The American T20 medium tank program split into several directions at its start, but a whole new variant was introduced #OTD in 1942: the T23E3 tank with an electric transmission, torsion bar suspension, and 76 mm gun. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 4h

Winter camouflage trials ended #OTD in 1941. The result was the famous "tire track" camo that blended together at long range, creating gray tones that blurred the tank's outline even when only white paint was available. #tanks #History #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 14h

Polish 7TP tanks entering Český Těšín #OTD in 1938. After Germany annexed the Sudetenland, Poland stepped in and bit off its own chunk of Czechoslovakia. #tanks #history

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 21h

Factory #174 transitioned to producing T-34-85 tanks with improved armour #OTD in 1944. This was the last of Soviet factories to move to building tanks with new turrets with armour up to 90 mm thick. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Driving trials of the IS-2 tank began #OTD in 1943. There was a fear that the new heavier main gun would significantly impact the tank's mobility and speed, but this fear proved unfounded. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The 1st Moscow Conference concluded #OTD in 1941. Here, British, American, and Soviet diplomats negotiated the conditions for British and American military aid to the USSR, including payment. #tanks #history #WWII #WW2

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Several sets of Maus hulls and turrets were constructed, but never used. #OTD in 1944 Hitler proposed using the turrets in fortifications. Blueprints were drawn up, but not a single turret was ever installed. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The most famous variant of the Katyusha was based on the Studebaker US6 truck, but there were many other chassis including fully tracked ones. For instance, the STZ-5 NATI tractor with an M-13 MLRS was accepted into service #OTD in 1941. #artillery #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Poland was interested in Christie tanks, but came too late. The first stage of Polish trials finished only #OTD in 1938, by which time the convertible drive had fallen out of fashion and the tank's armour was considered too thin. It did not go into mass production. #tanks #history

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#OTD in 1939 Soviet tank chief Pavlov reported that the A-32 tank was ready to go into production. Full scale production was expected by 1941, but even at this point it was clear that the A-32 would become to the Red Army's main tank, replacing the T-26. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The last shipment of Valentine tanks arrived in the USSR #OTD in 1944. These were Valentine IX tanks armed with 57 mm guns. Tanks like these were used in reconnaissance regiments and as anti-tank screens in regiments armed with Sherman tanks. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

An order to test mine rollers and night vision equipment for T-34 tanks was given #OTD in 1942. Trials carried out by the 19th Tank Brigade showed that the mine rollers worked well, but the night vision devices had mixed reviews. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

M4A2(76)W tanks began to reach Soviet training units in the fall of 1944, but without ammunition. #OTD in 1944 a telegram was sent requesting ammo and tens of thousands of rounds arrived in Murmansk in October-November 1944. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Installation of the D-25T gun into the IS-2 tank prototype was completed #OTD in 1943. The rear machine gun was removed, as there was an unfounded concern that there would not be enough room in the tank to operate the gun with it present. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The T-29 tank was an attempt to replace the T-28 with a faster and more versatile medium tank. After years of work the project yielded nothing but prototypes. #OTD in 1941 the T-29-5 prototype was evacuated to Kazan as the Germans approached. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Operation Typhoon began #OTD in 1941, marking the start of the Battle of Moscow. The plan called for massive pincers to grip the city from the north and south, but only a tiny German force even made it close to Moscow before the tide of war turned. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

PQ-1, the first regular Arctic convoy, set out for the USSR #OTD in 1941. This tank brought a handful of Matilda III and Valentine II tanks that arrived just in time to take part in the finishing stages of the Battle of Moscow. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Calculations made #OTD in 1943 showed that while the T-43 could be modernized to meet rising requirements, its weight would surpass 35 tons. A decision was made to drop the project and focus on a new tank, which later became the T-44. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Canada had a choice of several tanks to build when they decided to form an armoured division. #OTD in 1939 they ordered blueprints for the Infantry Tank Mk.III from Vickers. This was the option they went with in the end, building 1420 tanks in Montreal. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

#OTD in 1942 a proposal was made to use leftover T-60 tank hulls to build armoured sleds that a T-34 or a KV tank could tow into battle as a sort of pseudo-APC. Many experiments were performed, but no such vehicle was ever put into production. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The second pilot Covenanter tank was delivered for trials #OTD in 1940. The compact cooling system turned out to be ineffective, causing a lot of problems during usage. There were attempts to correct this, but the Covenanter never became battleworthy. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Swamp mobility trials of the Czechoslovakian LT vz. 35 tank were held in the USSR #OTD in 1938. Thanks to a better suspension than the T-26, it moved much more confidently in difficult terrain. #tanks #history

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The Valentine XI was the last type of Valentine tank, featuring a 75 mm gun instead of the 57 mm 6-pounder. #OTD in 1943 Elswick Works delivered their 100th and last Valentine XI tank. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Tankograd was created not just by relocating existing factories, but by reallocating new ones to tank production. #OTD in 1942 the first T-34 tanks were completed at UZTM in Sverdlovsk. These factories were also used as a source of chassis for the SU-85 #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A report on tank reliability in the Soviet-Japanese War was published #OTD in 1945. Similar % of T-34-85 and M4A2 tanks broke down during the operation (8.3% vs 8.2%). The tanks were similarly likely to suffer from engine failure (~55% of the total). #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The trials program for penetration testing of the Ferdinand tank destroyer was completed #OTD in 1943. Tests showed that despite its thick armour, it could be defeated by existing guns including the 122 mm D-25 and 152 mm ML-20. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#OTD in 1942 the British offered the USSR additional shipments of anti-tank weapons: PIATs and Boys rifles. The offer was declined. The Red Army did not consider these weapons effective and they saw almost no front line service. #tanks #guns #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Trials of a SU-31 SPAAG based on T-60 components began #OTD in 1942. The trials showed that the SPAAG had identical mobility to the light tank and that the parallel engine layout showed a lot of promise. This solution migrated to the SU-12 (SU-76). #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A cheap and effective antitank weapon in 1941, antitank rifles began to lose their luster by 1944. #OTD in 1944 the 51st Army composed a report finding that the PTRS was insufficiently reliable and the otherwise satisfactory PTRD fired too slowly. #guns #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The first 10 Czechoslovakian AH-IV-R (R-1) tankettes built for Romania was completed #OTD in 1937. Romania wanted to build these vehicles locally in addition to purchasing Czechoslovakian ones, but only one was ever completed. #tanks #history

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The first wartime contract for Char B1 tanks was signed #OTD in 1939. The army wanted 400 more heavy tanks but only 34 from this contract were finished before France surrendered. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The T-34 originally had a radio in the turret. #OTD in 1940 a report was composed on various ways of fitting it into the hull where it could be operated by the hull gunner instead of the tank commander. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A ceremony was held at the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company #OTD in 1941 to commemorate the first shipment of Valentine tanks to the USSR. A small quantity of these tanks arrived in time to fight in the Battle of Moscow in November-December 1941. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Information in the Red Army was shared horizontally as well as vertically. #OTD in 1944 the 1st Ukrainian Front shared data on the field trials of their King Tigers with the 2nd Ukrainian Front while official trials at Kubinka were only beginning. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The T-10M tank was accepted into service #OTD in 1957. Its main distinguishing feature over the T-10B was the use of an improved 122 mm M-62 gun that replaced the D-25T, variants of which were used on Soviet heavy tanks since 1943. #tanks #history #ColdWar

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Two King Tiger tanks arrived at the Kubinka Proving Grounds #OTD in 1944. The journey took a month and a half since the captured tanks had to drive to the train station for shipping, but kept breaking down despite being almost brand new. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Mikhail Koshkin, the leader of the design team at factory #183 that created the legendary T-34 tank, insisted on taking part in the trials personally. When the tank fell into a river during winter trials, he contracted pneumonia and died #OTD in 1940. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

A list of desired features for the next generation of T-34 tank was composed #OTD in 1940. These features were supposed to be put into production with the T-34M in 1941, but the invasion by Nazi Germany prevented this upgrade. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#OTD in 1945 the SU-101 returned for a second round of trials. Despite many improvements, the limitations of the T-44 chassis made themselves known. Since the war was over, it was preferable to wait for a tank destroyer based on the T-54. #tanks #history

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The Mozdok-Malgobek Operation concluded #OTD in 1942. The German offensive towards the Caucasus oil fields was successfully defeated, depriving the Nazis of fuel necessary for a prolonged war. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

#OTD in 1942 the Red Army began experiments to see how T-34 tanks could be protected from HEAT and APCR ammunition. The result of these experiments was the installation of 16 mm thick spaced armour on two brigades worth of T-34 tanks. #tanks #History #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A new indie tank game? Don't mind if I do! Tank Battle Classic is a retro PS1 style game with a brutal retro hit model: one penetrating shot is a kill for you or your enemies. It's on Steam for like five bucks, so definitely give it a try.

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Kirov factory developed a replacement for the ISU-152 on the new IS-3 chassis in 1945. The army took its time in giving permission to start trials, and even trials of the gun only began #OTD in 1945. By the time the vehicle was ready, the army lost interest. #tanks #history

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Work on 122 mm guns with muzzle velocities of 1000 m/s began #OTD in 1943. These guns were designed to fight future German superheavy tanks, although since those tank never showed up there wasn't much pressure to put the guns into mass production. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Soviet mobility trials of the GMC M10 tank destroyer began #OTD in 1943. The vehicle's mobility was on par with the M4A2 tank that Soviet testers were already familiar with. Adding spurs to the rubber tracks made climbing slopes a lot easier. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

A set of instructions on fighting Ferdinand tank destroyers was distributed #OTD in 1943. One of the biggest weaknesses of the vehicle was a large rear hatch which could be targeted with Molotov cocktails. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII

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Tank Archives @tankarchives.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Production of LTP tanks for Peru began #OTD in 1938. Threatened by German annexation, the Czechoslovakian army nearly bought these tanks themselves, but the Munich Agreement made armed resistance pointless and the tanks went to their intended owners. #tanks #history

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