T-34/85 Details Part 1

If there is one word to describe the T-34/85, it might be "ubiquitous." The mainstay of Soviet tank forces in the final year of the Second World War, this tank got a new lease on life in the postwar world, when Czechoslovakia and Poland began producing the T-34/85 for both domestic and export markets. The T-34/85 ended up being exported to over 30 countries during the postwar era, and saw service in most conflicts in the Cold War. The subject of this page is an ex-East German NVA T-34/85M, one of a number of armoured vehicles donated to the tank museum at CFB Borden back in the early 1990s by the German government. The photograph above shows the vehicle on outdoor display in Worthington Park; in the background can be seen a very rare Churchill Mark I, complete with 3 inch howitzer mounted in the hull. This vehicle is now, I believe, undergoing restoration.

This shot of the bow shows well the angled hull and overall configuration of the forward hull fittings. The spare track is held on the glacis plate by bolts through the flat links. On the hull side, immediately inboard of the fenders and facing forward, are standard Soviet running lights, as seen on T-54/55s, T-62s, T-72s, and most other Soviet AFVs; these were retrofitted to this vehicle. The Notek light on the glacis immediately to the left of the driver's hatch gives this T-34 a distinctly Teutonic appearance.

The forward left side of the vehicle provides a useful view of both the hull fittings and the turret. The red star on the turret side and the white 09 represent, I believe, an attempt to replicate Soviet Second World War markings. The turret casting and construction can be clearly seen; this is a so-called "angle-jointed" T-34/85 Model 1944 production version. The added lights, complete with prominent brush guards, can be clearly seen, as can the station-keeping light and the electrical conduits. The bracket for the horn (which is missing) can barely be seen behind the headlight.

This photo shows the central hull side, which is dominated by the air intake grilles. A variety of grab handles (for tank-riding infantry) can also be seen, as well as tie-downs and fittings for tools. The cast turret texture, with the large "281" on the side, is particularly noteworthy. Just visible under the turret is one of the station-keeping lights, a postwar addition.

More grilles and handles can be seen on the engine deck. Interestingly, the hinge pins for the screening over the engine fan are missing.

These are the external fuel tanks on the left-hand side of the vehicle. The straps that hold the fuel tanks in place can be clearly seen, as can the tie-downs on the hull side and some details of the fenders.

Although somewhat blurry, this photo shows the front and top of the fuel tanks, as well as details of the upper portion of the fuel tank mounts. These fuel tanks are not plumbed into the vehicle's fuel system; the fuel had to be pumped into the tank's internal fuel tanks.

The rear of the turret is visible in this photograph, showing tie-downs, lift hooks, and handles which dot the turret sides and rear. The twin-ventilator on the turret roof, beside the commander's cupola, identifies this as an earlier production vehicle.

The commander's cupola is on the left side of the turret, with crude vision slits cast into it. In front of that are the commander's rotating MK-4 periscope and, to its left, the radio antenna.

Our final shot of the Camp Borden T-34 is right up the vehicle's rear, showing the overall configuration of the exhaust and rear plate. The exhaust staining is of interest, and the rear station-keeping lights can be seen on the hull sides, facing rear, below the external fuel tanks. Details of the two-part track links can also be seen.