The KV Series - A Complete History Of Russia's WW2 Monsters
In 1938 Soviet tank designers came up with the best heavy tank design in the world - the KV-1. Far from perfect, this 45 ton rolling behemoth would kick start a series of hugely impressive and incredibly influential vehicles, going from the KV-1 all the way up to the KV-14 and beyond. Seeing extensive combat in the Second World War against the invading German army, the KVs would join the T-34 in forming the core of the Red Army's modern armoured spearhead, and would be developed further into the iconic IS series.
DISCORD: / discord
PATREON: / redwrenchfilms
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:25 SMK and T-100
04:02 KV-1
05:50 KV-2
07:39 The KV-3 Saga
11:07 KV-4 and KV-5
11:52 Baptism of Fire
14:52 Serious Issues
17:40 KV-1 Mod. 1941
18:28 KV-1E "Ekranami"
18:55 KV-1 Mod. 1942
20:00 KV-13
21:10 KV-1S "Skorostnoy"
22:05 SU-152 (KV-14)
23:05 KV-85 and IS
23:50 KV-6, 7 and 8
24:45 KV-9, 10, 11 and 12
25:40 Conclusion
All content is presented in historical context for educational purposes. All footage is owned by it's copyright holder and is used in this channel under "fair use".
Music by Epidemic Sound
Imagine being inside a cramped steel box and get hit by a 150mm artillery shell
Boom
Your hearing loss was not military related*
Nah 40mm of roof armor is something just make track become yellow > WarT hunder
And then continue fighting... xD
152mm*
"...The KV seemed to have no situational awareness, with no idea where the enemy was, what their friendly tanks were doing, or where fire was coming from..." As a former wot player, I can confirm that this is what KV's are like.
🤙
LoL
World of Tanks too!
I play war thunder, yah same in there also lol
*we just dinged them!*
The KV series is such a funny bunch of tanks. They’re all funky and different but really powerful.
The sheer variety is enough to make them worthwhile!
The age of tank discovery back then introduced so much weird and interesting tank
This tank is what won the war in Finland in 1940. The soviets were unable to breach the mannerhiem line, until they brought these in the very end. The kv1 broke the line and captured viipuri or now viborg, that’s when the Finn’s decided to sign Stalins treaty.
I never knew that the KV-1 didn't have a loader and the third turret crewmember was a second driver who operated that weird rear machine gun. That's fascinating and makes the KV-1 look a lot less modern than it seemed.
I know many tanks of this era were notoriously cramped and uncomfortable to be inside of. The situation inside the KV-1 however seems really difficult to work with though
I do wonder what the crews would have done in combat though. You'd think without much to shoot at the assistant driver would try and assist with the loading, no matter what his field manual said he was supposed to be doing.
@@impguardwarhamer He would do what the commander of the tank was asking him to do... but the layout was most likely no ok to work as loader and not have stuff and other persons in the way.
@@impguardwarhamer Just my IMHO, other than helping to load, he would also poke his head out of the hatch and act as a navigator. Also if the unit did not have tank radios, he would probably act as a signal man using flags for communication with other KVs.
@@Bialy_1 yeh but I imagine many commanders would ask them to assist loading. Still you're right about layout, theres probably not much they could do to help
The kv2 was found by the germans to be a strange beast, it was deadly on perfect terrain, but the turret was so heavy, on any degree of slope, it was almost impossible to move it
Yeah, and I believe shooting while the turret is turned 90 degrees would jam the turret ring because of the recoil.
@@DarkButz And every time a tank would get a hit a edvard kun song will play.
not to mention it literally fires a 50+Kg bomb!
@@DarkButz That doesn't make sense; the recoil forces are exactly the same regardless of the orientation of the turret.
I read the same thing concerning KV 2 on steep grades. The turret was immobilized. Yet on level ground facing an fortitifed position and escorted by infantry and Light tanks. She would be in her element. Immune from anti tank weapons and had only the specialty role in mind
just finished watching the tank museums video on the char b1 and now you upload this?! today is a good day for tanks on youtube
But Red effect not uploaded a video 😢
Honoured to be put in the same class!
To understand what a gamechanger the KV1 tank was, you must go to Parola armour museum where you can see an early KV1 model lined up with the ubiquitous T-26 tanks the Red Army fielded in 1940. The KV dwarfs the earlier models and its armour plating is nothing short of intimidating in comparison.
KV3 program actually contributed to the IS development in an indirect way. Most of KV3's drivetrain(primarily gearbox and steering mechanism, but some other minor stuff as well) was installed on KV-1S, and later used for the IS series. One of the main issues with KV series was the fact that casting quality was nonexistent, and in practice individual tanks ended up with a mass of 46-50 tons. Original gearbox was derived from the one on the much smaller t28 and was rushed in development, which led to it having barely any potential for upgrades. One of the main points of the KV13 development was to sort out the issue with casting quality, and they did it in some very interesting ways. Shashmurin and his team re-engineered KV13 into lots of smaller and simpler castings which were assembled together with welding, and beefed up some of the weaker components by simply making them bigger(roadwheels, shock absorbers, etc).
When a tank opted to crush the enemy beneath rather than using its gun is called domination.
Favorite tank series of the era for me, for no reason in particular. Glad you did a video on the KVs, and a very good video at that. Much appreciated!
Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed.
I always admired the heavy track and suspension of KV's, and KV's in general.
It was the first actually mobile heavy tank that also had to navigate russian terrain so they came up with really beefy tracks (reminder that the whole idea of contemporary BT series was to save the tracks for combat) and invulnerable suspension.
13:35 They must've hit one of the worst possible sections of the KV-1 to have this effect with a 150mm artillery shell. Even if it didn't directly damage the KV-1's armor, one of these rounds hitting the front hull or non-mantlet part of the turret should've given the occupants injuries from the pressure wave. I wish we could know what happened to the occupants of that tank, they either got really lucky or fought in spite of their concussions and other potential injuries. That cannon likely fired a 43.52 kg (95.9 lb) HE round. The ISU-152, world-famous for being THE definitive WWII derp gun that killed tanks on the regular, fired a 40kg-43.5kg HE round for reference (edit: SU-152 used very, very similar HE ammo and as Red Wrench outlined, performed a similar role for longer). It turned the occupants to jelly or blew the tank open through "overmatch", being such a large round that it cracked German armor plates open or rattled the chassis to pieces at times. I wanted to throw that out there for some perspective to folks. First-hand accounts always need to be used in conjunction with other sources, or a multitude of different accounts need to be used in conjunction to get a realistic picture of what REALLY happened.
The crew could have perish, and the tank move on itself( soviet tank have an tendancies to still move after the driver is kill)
Assuming it hit the front turret glacis, i assume the driver was either KO'd by the shockwave and left his foot onto the gas pedal! OR the rest of crew was KO'd and he wasnt told to stop ;)
I think the howitzer may have actually missed the vehicle and perhaps hit the ground beside it. Would've produced a huge plume of debris either way so may have been difficult to verify if it was a hit or a near-miss.
Perhaps the shell didn't explode as it had not travelled far enough for the fuse to arm?
@@ariza7654It is something of an achievement from the engine to keep running after a supposed direct hit like that.
What a fascinating series of tanks. It's odd, because I really loved WWII history for so many years, especially tanks and planes, but I had never heard of this thing until I played War Thunder five years ago. For Russia, it was always T-34-76 this, or T-34-85 that. I never even knew they had heavy tanks during the war. Since then, I've obviously dedicated a lot more study to it, and I've come to love the KV so much. Now I know even more, about all the in-between variants I had never been able to find much information about. A KV-1 Katyusha... who would've though...
I found it really interesting too!
At 16:12 I can't help but wonder if a more experienced tank commander would simply have the "assistant driver" switch positions with him, so he could sit at the hatch and have an outside view, while the A-driver would then act as the loader.
I don't see why that wouldn't happen. He would be the commander after all.
Right, but the problem with that is that the turret MG gunner("assistant driver") position has no vision devices that point forward, so it doesn't work as a TC position unless you keep the top hatch open and observe that way.
The rear machine gun he’s talking about is the smaller one inside the turret, not the big one on top, so the only view he had wouldve been to the back of the tank
As @executivedirector7467 pointed out, the rear position has no vision hatches! According to some sources some KV tanks went into combat without the assistant driver, as a 4 instead of a 5.
@@executivedirector7467 I would think sticking your head out is an acceptable trade-off for improved situational awareness, especially if the "commander's" position has such crap visibility as it is
Amazing video! As a World of Tanks' player, I always wondered what is between KV-5 and KV-13! Thank you for the thorough explanation! Can't wait for the IS-series video!
Thank you so much!
@@RedWrenchFilms No, I thank YOU for the amazing content! Keep it up, man!
❤❤❤😢❤ 3:10 3:11 😂😅😊😊😊😊😊😂😂😂😂😂😂 3:18
The Kv was insane in world of tanks! One of my fav tanks 😍 IS series next please!!!
world of tanks, is a game, total fantasy.
wot plus
I have good memories of playing the kv-1 armed with the 122mm howitzer
@@diptastik5651 🤓
@@diptastik5651 Plus it's a bad game.
Awesome video! I would love to see one about the IS series as well!
Ah the KV-2 Death Fridge. It brings back so many fond WoT memories.
Amazing video for such a small channel, so much information packed in under 30 minutes but also very interesting to listen to and watch. Soviet designs were really something else, especially hastily made ones during the nazi invasion in the WW2. Keep up with making these kinds of videos, I'd love to see more!
Thank you Nemanja :) I'll do my best!
Really enjoyed the video and the coverage of most of fhe kv models! It's really interesting to see how forward thinking these tanks were in 1939 and how dated they became in 1942. Really shows how innovative the T-34's hull design was. Would love to see you covering the IS lineup.
Seconded. Given how good this video was, I'd like to see Red Wrench make sense of the postwar IS prototypes.
Thank you so much! Means a lot.
When i saw Su-100Y, I giggled inside, thinking of the same box tank destroyer that my own in WOT blitz. Solid credit generator.
Loved this video, as always. Keep up the good work, I like this format where you present a series of vehicles and their variants, and there are a lot more that could make a lovely video! Pz IV, Sherman, Churchill, Patton, Leopard 1 and 2...
Thank you so much!
Many interesting things to take away here: The KV-6, although being indexed as basically a KV-1 with 90mm of armor, was nothing more than a mention. All tanks with hull flamethrowers were known as "KV-1 with Flamethrower", similar to the "Shielded KV-1" name. The KV-85 prototype became the testbed for the KV-122, which still survives to this day in the 85 configuration. The KV-100 was a separate prototype from this. There is also the KV-85G, which was a KV-1S fitted with an 85mm gun (S-31). The mysterious third man in the turret was nothing more than a confusion created by British trials of the KV tank. They combined the Commander and Loader into a single crew member and turned the 3rd man into a Mechanic/Assistant Driver. Although I absolutely loved researching the entire KV series, the one that I still love reading about is the KV-3, the tank that had all the puzzle pieces, just not put together. Amazing video!
I actually found it incredibly difficult to piece the KV-3 part of the video together! A lot of conflicting sources, dates and names involved and I did my best to stop it just becoming this huge mess of Objects and KVs and 107mm guns. Glad you enjoyed!
Yeah, the names are the most confusing part. One document even calls the T-220 the KV-4, which I didn't know until a couple days ago. Good luck with your IS video, since name recycling is present with those tanks as well. As far as the KV-3 goes, a selection of sources state that not only the hull and ZiS-6, but even the turret were all built, just ended up at different locations. If you ever need help with any topic, I'll try to give you any primary/secondary sources I have access to.
The description of the KV-1 absolutely shrugging off a 150mm howitzer felt so badass and proof that Soviet bias existed in the real world
I watch youtube by using my hearing aids and connecting it to my ipad using bluetooth, sort of like airpods but with extra steps, and your voice, the volume, 10/10, its soothing and doesnt hurt my ears, kudos!
🤙
I fucking love how all of his videos have subtitles too
Ah thank you! Glad it works for you - I try and make my audio as good as I can.
i love the kv series and really look forward to the IS series. been a while since id learned so much from a video this was awesome
Thanks man!
@@RedWrenchFilms su-76i is more interesting subject
Thank you ❤️I was just wondering if you had something about the Kv series last week and you just uploaded this!!
Ottimo video, ottime e rare immagini, in parte inedite in Italia..Complimenti all' autore.
Great in depth video about the KV series, subbed.
SUCH A GOOD VIDEO!!!! Would absolutely love to see the same sort of video on the IS series
I love your work. Please, do more of them !
Thank you!
I just saw this in recommended and cannot wait to watch more! Super excited for a video on the JS series of tanks :D
Ah thank you so much!
The first KV I learnt of was the KV-2 because I feared it the most in game 😅
thought i had a piece of fur on my monitor but it's just your pfp
@@warlordshaxx856 thats very tru, looks so real
I wasnt tricked by your pfp because im using darkmode lol
@@user-op8fg3ny3j "Dear God..."
Fascinating video mate! Congrats on finding so much old footage of these rare beasts. Not many people know about the KVs. These machines were great for the time.
Thank You. Great video, KV -2 has always been a tank I wanted to learn more about. Cheers
Thanks Ian :)
Good video. Lots of research seems to have gone into this, and I appreciate the work.
Thank you so much it means a lot :)
Very good and informative piece on the whole KV series.
Thanks Mark!
Damn bro, hitting us with the long form... You're too good to us!
I'm just glad you guys enjoy them!
This was worth the wait and i like this format, another great video❤️
Thanks man!
Woah dude, glad to catch another video!!
Wow, what a great surprise to find. Excellent use of documentary footage and exhaustive but not exhausting coverage. Subb'd!
really enjoy this format of video's, look forward to further video's like this. very informative and well presented, good job.
That KV-1 that held off advancing German forces for days was being withdrawn to the rear when it broke down. It was towed to that location where the crew was given orders to hold off the advancing armor as long as possible. They managed to accomplish that by being resupplied at night with ammunition, rations and fresh crews. I think the crew took off / escaped once the tank started being hit by 88's or heavy artillery rounds.
Love this format of video i hope you make many more like this on many different tanks
Thanks Aaron! I plan to.
@Red Wrench Films cheers for commenting back love the channel mate up there with armored archive channel you would make the cheiftain proud with the true facts keep it up brother thanks for your hard work
One unusual variant of the KV-1 was the Pz.KV-1B 756(r), a captured KV-1 modified to accept the German 75mm L40 gun, apparently this was an attempt by the Germans to make better use of the KV-1’s that they had captured, as far as is known only one was ever converted and only a single photograph of the vehicle is known.
Just recently stumbled upon your channel and am really enjoying the videos. Really good info, well presented with a good mix of visuals that are mostly new to me and helps keep things engaging. Keep up the great work :)
Thank you so much :)
Excellent research and so well-presented too! Keep up the great work young man.
Very interesting. Can't wait to see your video about the IS serie.
The best KV documentary so far. And you now have one more subscriber.
Pls make a series about the IS vehicles , and love your Videos ❤
Really good summary with useful spotting tips. Will remember them in case one shows up on the news!
Haha I wouldn't be surprised!
Excellent research, fantastic footage! You found information about models I didn't even know about...😮
Thanks so much John!
Great work, very informative, intelligently laid out. Thanks again 👍
Very well prepared & presented. Thank you.
Thanks Paul!
@2:13 T-100 Interesting Running Gear. Great Vid! Cheers!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!
KV 1 is one of my favorite looking tanks, to me it not only is strong but also just looks strong. Besides that Its far out one of my favorite tanks in Warthunder
Am so excited about the IS tanks video
Great video. Well done 👏🏻
Thanks Lynn!
Thanks! Fascinating
Love it! Can you do a video on the IS series? 😊
It's in the works!
Thank you for mentioning that the ability of the crew to be able to see what is happening outside is very important in tank design. Great stuff.
Absolutely!
Good video. It really tells the tale of the KV series tanks.
Great video
The invasion of the Soviet Union was when the German OKW first learned of the KV tanks. It was a huge shock, not just that the KVs were so good but also that the Soviets, who the Germans believed were an inferior race could have built such a tank.
Soviets aren't a race*
@@roombussr5676 Indeed they are not, they were a mixture of races all of which the Germans considered inferior to the Germanic race.
Would love to see IS series review
It's on the way!
Excellent video. KV-2 was a monster. German reports about meeting them are numerous. There are several videos about the one that stopped 2 divisions for a day and a half in Russian.
Thank you!
I love the KVs there’s a story of a kv1 that took many shots while fighting a German colomn can’t remember the name now. Love the video!
I think you are reffering to Kolobanov's KV1 . From what i can remember it took 150 hits, non penetrating.
@@RandomPotatoGamingYT no, he is refering to battle on Rasseinyaya, where 1 tank stopped offensive until it was destroyed !!! BY PUTTING GRENADE INTO HOLE FROM 8,8 cm cannon !!!
@@RandomPotatoGamingYT yes! Thank you!
@@namefamily2748 I'm surprise the crews ears are still intact after that much hits.
@@dudududu1926 well... enough for shoting down enemy artillery
Love your work! Keep going
Will do!
"Further developed into the terrifying IS-2" KV2 (m10): that's cute, can it make a tank disintegrate into ash?
it actually can, and with much greater accuracy than the KV-2. The 122mm is no joke.
IS-2/152: hello there
@@quan-uo5ws KV2: "oh" *(ceases to exist)*
Great video, learned lot. Video about IS series in same format would BE nice
Aw thank you so much - it's in the works!
Nice hear that you work on new interesting videos
One of the best tank info channel
Thank you! Means a lot!
Great job putting all this confusing and sometimes contradictory information together!
Thanks!
It’s always a good day when this guy uploads
Thanks :)
I can't wait for if and when you do an IS video. Very entertainging and informative
Thanks!
Great job on this interesting subject
Thanks!
excellent work!
Thanks Garrett!
Great video , really enjoyed it 😅
Stories like the one at 13:10 are the reason i completely adore the KV-1
Super video!
Great Video👍🏻 i Love your Channel ❤
Thanks :)
Damn I use the KV-9 aka the KV-1 with the 122 Howizer in WoT quite often! Damn the gun is powerful against weakly armored tanks!
9:15 "Managed to convince himself" is always a phenomenal phrase, but when its referring to that bullshit quantity of armour its even better
This was an awesome video
Thanks Liam!
very well made video congrats
Thank you!
Oh yeah we need a series on the IS tanks for sure
Amazing Video
Thank you!
Wonderful detailed documentaries
Thanks for the subtitles. Just wanted to let you know that they're appreciated.
No problem! I'm aware my accent isn't the easiest to understand sometimes.
@@RedWrenchFilms nah your accent is fine were just deaf lol
Very interesting. Good research!
I can't wait for the next video!
Thank you!
Yessirr part 2 the IS series
Another great video
Thank you!
Excellent video, gonna be throwing this at people as an intro to Soviet heavies
Amazing video
Thanks!
I love these series
Well done sir¬
Can't wait for the complete story of IS series
Nice video, very in-depth! I do wonder between the KV-85 and IS-85 what the differences were other than the hull. Specificlly, with the drivetrain. DId one have more engine, transmission, etc. issues than the other? Thanks
You should've made up a couple of KV versions--Wargaming would've had premium copies available in WoT within a week!
Hahaha half of these are made up enough!
I never knew there were that many KV series tanks in existance
I'll be honest - me neither!
Stalinium increased 4000%