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| Weapons in WWII Discussion about the weapons and war machines created during World War Two |
June 6th, 2007, 07:33 PM
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KV-2
Does somebody have any info on this monster? It looks like a pillbox on tracks 
Did it see service? 
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June 6th, 2007, 07:55 PM
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Re: KV-2
It pretty much is a pillbox on tracks. 
Try typing 'KV2 Tank' into Google mate, plenty of coverage of service history out there.
By the way, there's something strange about that KV2 picture you posted, it doesn't appear to have the standard hull shape above the tracks, can't recall properly but I have a feeling that it was only a development model that had those curved stowage boxes(?) down the sides... but then 'KV2' doesn't appear to be a genuine Russki name for the thing either...
Cheers,
Adam.
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June 6th, 2007, 07:59 PM
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Re: KV-2
I would normally have tried google, but it's more fun here!
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June 6th, 2007, 08:27 PM
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Cavalry Rupert  |
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Re: KV-2
I've heard varying reports, a Soviet artillery vet I met said they were popular because it's better to have some armour and mobility than none and a truck. On the other hand I've heard crews hated them, I can see why.
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June 6th, 2007, 08:29 PM
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Re: KV-2
The only info I have is that the turret jammed if the tank stopped on a slope, but that's it.
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June 6th, 2007, 08:34 PM
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Re: KV-2
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Originally Posted by Joe
I would normally have tried google, but it's more fun here!
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Oh alright then. 
It came about as a response to the lack of mobile artillery support in the Russo-Finnish conflict. Two dedicated attempts at mounting massive guns were discarded when the expediency of mounting a 152mm gun on existing KV chassis was tried, and took only 2 weeks to complete.
The sheer weight of the thing limited it's role combined with other flaws (all the deficiencies of the KV's drivetrain exacerbated by extra weight, huge Silhouette etc. & apparently the turret couldn't be traversed if not on level ground!) but it definitely had it's moments when the circumstances were right.
Some nice quotes about KV1&2's from Bean & Fowlers' 'Stalin's armoured might':
Rokossovsky:
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The KV tanks literally stunned the enemy, they withstood the fire of every type of gun the German tanks were armed with, but what a sight they were returning from combat. Their armour pockmarked all over and the barrels sometimes pierced.
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1st Panzer Division:
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Our companies opened fire from 700 metres. We got closer and closer... soon we were only 50-100 metres from each other. A fantastic engagement opened up - without any German progress. The Soviet tanks continued their advance and our ap projectiles simply bounced off. The soviet tanks withstood point-blank fire from both our 50mm and 75mm guns. A KV2 was hit more than 70 times and not a single round penetrated. A very few soviet tanks were immobilized and eventually destroyed as we managed to shoot off their tracks, brought up artillery to hammer them at close range and then attacked them on foot with satchel charges.
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Nice shot of one under new management from the excellent Beutepanzers site:
One is reputed to have been used in defence of the Krupp plant at war's end, it's unconfirmed but there does appear to have been a runner there. There's also a shot on that site of one allegedly being prepared for a German assault plan on Malta where they were envisioned as a way of getting pillboxes right onto the beach.
Cheers,
Adam.
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June 6th, 2007, 11:22 PM
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Re: KV-2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Von Poop
Oh alright then.
It came about as a response to the lack of mobile artillery support in the Russo-Finnish conflict. Two dedicated attempts at mounting massive guns were discarded when the expediency of mounting a 152mm gun on existing KV chassis was tried, and took only 2 weeks to complete.
The sheer weight of the thing limited it's role combined with other flaws (all the deficiencies of the KV's drivetrain exacerbated by extra weight, huge Silhouette etc. & apparently the turret couldn't be traversed if not on level ground!) but it definitely had it's moments when the circumstances were right.
Some nice quotes about KV1&2's from Bean & Fowlers' 'Stalin's armoured might':
Rokossovsky:
1st Panzer Division:
Nice shot of one under new management from the excellent Beutepanzers site:
One is reputed to have been used in defence of the Krupp plant at war's end, it's unconfirmed but there does appear to have been a runner there. There's also a shot on that site of one allegedly being prepared for a German assault plan on Malta where they were envisioned as a way of getting pillboxes right onto the beach.
Cheers,
Adam. |
I believe that the Germans used 1 KV-2 against the Allies, is this the one?
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June 7th, 2007, 02:22 AM
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Re: KV-2
Personally I think its a beautiful machine.
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June 7th, 2007, 11:42 AM
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Re: KV-2
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Originally Posted by Sloniksp
I believe that the Germans used 1 KV-2 against the Allies, is this the one?
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More than just one captured and used mate, just check that website, they are not all the same vehicle. If you mean the Western allies then maybe the Krupp one? This seems to have been captured by American forces but that doesn't confirm it was actually used, and the only reference I've yet seen to it being active is in the same book the website cites.
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Originally Posted by Hawkerace
Personally I think its a beautiful machine.
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When I was a kid I thought it had been designed to incapacitate the enemy by making them fall about laughing... but now I know what you mean, something rather 'full on' about it.   
Cheers,
Adam.
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June 7th, 2007, 02:07 PM
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Re: KV-2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawkerace
Personally I think its a beautiful machine.
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I think it looks like a cow,myself.lol Wonder how long it took to swing that turret? |
June 7th, 2007, 03:47 PM
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Re: KV-2
Yes, not exactly the best looking
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The war against Russia will be such that it cannot be conducted in a knightly fashion. This struggle is one of ideologies and racial differences and will have to be conducted with unprecedented, unmerciful and unrelenting harshness. -Adolf Hitler
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June 7th, 2007, 04:57 PM
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Ace
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Re: KV-2
The KV-2 was not quite a tank, rather a self-propelled high calibre artillery piece. Turret rotation speed was irrelevant, it's targets would tend to stay put (think bunkers etc.). For a Western with the same configuration thin of the Brit Bishop, on a Valentine chassis. Would you call this a tank?
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June 7th, 2007, 05:25 PM
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GröFaZ  |
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Re: KV-2
I don't know how else to describe the KV-2 other than it looks very, very Russian.
I certainly wouldn't want to be sitting in a defensive position and see one of these things slowly rumble onto the battlefield.  |
June 7th, 2007, 05:32 PM
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Re: KV-2
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I don't know how else to describe the KV-2 other than it looks very, very Russian.
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Well at least we stand out.
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The war against Russia will be such that it cannot be conducted in a knightly fashion. This struggle is one of ideologies and racial differences and will have to be conducted with unprecedented, unmerciful and unrelenting harshness. -Adolf Hitler
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June 7th, 2007, 11:13 PM
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Re: KV-2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Za Rodinu
The KV-2 was not quite a tank, rather a self-propelled high calibre artillery piece. Turret rotation speed was irrelevant, it's targets would tend to stay put (think bunkers etc.). For a Western with the same configuration thin of the Brit Bishop, on a Valentine chassis. Would you call this a tank?
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Oh, well how about this bunker buster. A definate beauty.
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June 8th, 2007, 01:11 AM
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Dishonorably Discharged
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Re: KV-2
There is a great old picture I've seen around over 30 years now in books somewhere of one of these with a PzIII hole right through the muzzle.
I think there is even a story using the actual German tank commander's story that because they couldn't penetrate its armour even after circling the bugger, he literally deliberately targetted the huge Soviet 152? cannon and holed it clear though making the gun inoperable.
Interesting monster though huh?
I'm sure Soviet Infanty appreciated it being around.
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June 8th, 2007, 01:43 AM
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Re: KV-2
Quote:
Originally Posted by FramerT
I think it looks like a cow,myself.lol Wonder how long it took to swing that turret?
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Eh, I just think that its a creative tank. I mean they could've put the gun in some ugly circular sandwich turret and such. But for some reason.. to me.. its like the perfect tank..
too bad thats not the way it worked out to be ;/
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June 9th, 2007, 11:58 AM
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Re: KV-2
The KV with the smaller turret and 76.2mm & 85mm guns was much more practical and effective. One of the few heavy tanks of actuall value.
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June 10th, 2007, 05:41 AM
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Re: KV-2
Ran across this.....
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June 10th, 2007, 05:56 AM
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Re: KV-2
After I posted the above pic I noticed just how "German" the cupola looked and, believing this to be a "captured" vehicle found the following..... 
It seems that Russian production of this vehicle had no provision for such a cupola. And so, with no German identification markings on the b/w photo, the cupola must mean that it is truly a captured vehichle, no?
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June 10th, 2007, 03:04 PM
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Re: KV-2
Another shot with the cupola.....and this time with German markings.
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Last edited by wilconqr; June 10th, 2007 at 03:18 PM.
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June 10th, 2007, 03:13 PM
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