KV-85
Summary
| Origin country | 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR |
| Category | Main Battle Tank |
| Sub-type | Heavy Main Battle Tank |
| Manufacturer | Sidorenko & Usenko |
| Number built | 148 units |
Technical specifications
| Crew | 4 personnels |
| Range | 250 km |
| Mass | 46.0 tons |
| Height | 2.9 m (9.5 ft) |
| Width | 3.25 m (10.7 ft) |
| Length | 8.6 m (28.2 ft) |
| Max. speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) |
| Engine | V-2 Diesel Engine with 600 hp |
| Weapon 1 | 1 D5-T 85mm gun |
| Weapon 2 | 1 DT 7.62mm coaxial machine gun |
| Weapon 3 | 1 7.62mm DT machine gun |
| Weapon 4 | 1 7.62mm DT machine gun |
Further Reading
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Profile of KV-85
Description
The KV-85, also identified as Object 239, was a heavy tank developed by the Soviet Union in 1943. Created as an interim measure to counter German Tiger and Panther tanks, the vehicle was produced between August and October 1943. A total of 148 units were manufactured before production transitioned to the IS series.
The vehicle utilized a KV-1S chassis fitted with the turret from the Object 237. It was armed with an 85 mm D-5T tank gun, which was capable of penetrating the frontal armor of a Tiger I at 1,000 meters. Secondary armament consisted of three 7.62 mm DT machine guns. Modifications from the base KV-1S included the repositioning of the ball-mounted hull machine gun to a fixed mount to the right of the driver, with the original opening welded shut. The vehicle was powered by a V-2K V12 diesel engine and used a torsion bar suspension. Armor protection ranged from 30 mm to 110 mm.
The KV-85 entered service with the Soviet Union in 1943 and saw combat during World War II. Units were dispatched to the front beginning in October 1943. The tank served as a stopgap until the IS-1 and IS-2 reached full-scale production, providing the Red Army with a heavy tank platform mounting an 85 mm gun during the autumn and winter of 1943–1944.