Strange Tanks Article

casting capabilities played an important roll.
unsure, maybe the US (France?) gave the techniques to the soviets, in order to cast a one piece turret with some slope/no rivets?

 

If you mean T-34?? After the earliest turrets, casting eventually proved 'easier' for the Soviets than rolled plate or welding.
Peter Samsonov's new book is quite interesting on it; The initial design required 60 hrs of pressing per turret & other machining capacity was also put under unacceptable stress, They went down a difficult route of learning hard armour casting themselves. From order to prototype - January to July '40.

(Finally got Francis Pulham's book 'Fallen Giants' on T35. Not a technical history - more a gazetteer of individual vehicles, but well worth a look for anyone interested in the things. Very good images.)