BS TOPSHOTEir ‘when the USER State Defence Committe, having analy” ‘sed experiences from the Spanish Civil War, resolved to com ‘Struct a successor of the BT? ‘convertible tank” (tracks could be removed and a chain drive to the road wheels engaged allowing the tank to travel at high speeds on roads). Tho first prototype, desigmated A-20, retained the wheel/ruck ‘ond, prototype A-32, in which the wheel'track feature was Sbandoned. Tho work’ on prototypes commenced in early 1940 and from February to May they were extensively tested the fel. The A'32 proved more universal. Is refined ver ston was designated 7-34 and aocopted for serial production, Several teething problems, discovered during exploitation of ‘T-S4M variant. Nevertheless, the imminent war with Germa- lupgrades had to be suocessively introduced tothe basle 734 design as Sts mass production continued. First Td4s were farmed with the 76-2 mm I-11 gun, replaced in early 1941 by the F-04 gun of the same calibre but better parameters ‘The simultaneous production of the 7-24 by many various plants resulted in many derivative variations of the basic ‘TOPSHOT: T-34/76 Aosign. They differed in turrets, road wheels, drive sprock ta and Adler whools, ar well as tracks, redesigned driver's hatch, the method of connecting the giacis plates and ott re. Beginning with 1942, a new, more spacious and simpll fied turret was installed, In 1042 the ower transmission system was redesigned with & new gearbox and more eff tient air ltrs installed. Between 2040 and s044 the Soviet, Industry managed to turn out over 24,000 vebicles of his type. Staring with 1044, the 7.34 armed with 70.2 mu gun Phased out in favour of the upgunned and modernised 1-34 {Sted with a powerful 65 mu yran. The Polish People’s Army reosived ite first Tada on &th July 1049. Thess were 92 ‘machines manvfuctured in the No. 112 Plant in Gorky. As the Polish armoured forces expanded, many more came long. Betwoon July 1943 und January 1945 the Polish Peo. ples Army was ioued witha total of 118 T-34s, armed with "76.2 mm jruns, of various sub-rariants. Only a few of them ‘survived in Poland until prosont dag. Both wohlclos presented {n this book ean be found in the city of Poznan. The first 8 housed at the Armoured Forces Museum of the Stefan Coa neck! Military Academy and the other in the Museum of A ‘maments at the Posnan Citadel ‘Staniataw Jabloiak! Ta a7 Suez Piri) ae‘Technical data on T-34/765-168 ee Teeggirt Pd