Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3011 KV-1E Soviet Heavy Tank 6th Heavy Tank Guard Regiment, May 1943

Authentic Detailing Pre-Painted by professionals Accurate paint colors Markings Tampo (pad) applied Fully Assembled True to Scale (1:72) Weathering and insignias Turret turns Main gun elevates Metal turret and main gun Realistic tracks

The KV-1E Model 1940 was a heavily armored version of the KV-1 with a 76.2 mm F-32 gun. To better protect the KV-1 bolted on armor was added. In July 1941 M1940 KV-1s had appliqued armor panels applied and were re-designated KV-1E Model 1940 [E stands for “s Ekranami” - literally KV with screens also referred to as appliqued armor]. The added armor worked but overall it was more of a hindrance than help. This modification along with a few others brought the weight from 43 tonnes to 50 tonnes and added so much weight that there were frequent drive train breakdowns. But most losses came from Ju-87s, infantry with flamethrowers and anti tank guns like the Flak 36.

The 6th Guard Tank Regiment was formed in 1941 as the 12th Tank Corps and re- designated the 6th Guards Tank Corps in 1943. Their KV-1 tanks fought in nearly all major battles including Stalingrad in January 1943. In May 1943 the Soviets prepared for the coming German summer offensive near Kursk that would see the largest tank battles ever fought in history. With the mass production of the lighter and faster T-34 the KV-1 was eventually relegated to providing cover fire for troops and as a break through vehicle.

KV-1E specifications:

dimensions: Length: 6.75 m Width: 3.32 m Height: 2.71 m Weight: 47 - 50 tonnes Armor: 90 mm Main armament: 76.2 mm F-32 gun with 111 rounds Secondary armament: 3 x 7.62 mm DT Machine Guns with 3024 rounds. Located coaxial, bow, turret rear Power plant: 12 cylinder diesel V-2 600 hp Suspension: Torsion bar Road speed: 35 km/h Power/Weight: 13 hp/tonne Range: 335 km Crew: 5