The T-34 File

1. AFV Weapons Profile No. 47 – Russian T-34 – J.M. Brereton and Major Michael Norman, RTR, Profile Publications Ltd., UK, 1972. ISBN 0-89747-112-1. S/C 20pp. English text.

 

An excellent title, this booklet is divided in two sections, one for the T-34/76 and one for the T-34/85. Both sections provide extensive background and development material that is supplemented by various in-action and museum shots. As well, there is an excellent 5-view colour plate of a T-34/76B in the centre of the booklet.

Current Status: Long Out of Print

2. Armour in Profile No. 9 – T-34/76 – J.M. Brereton, Profile Publications, UK, 1967. S/C 12pp. English text.

 

Identical to the section on the T-34/76 printed in AFV Weapons Profile No. 47, even including the colour plates.

Current Status: Available

3. Koku-Fan March 1978 – Pictorial Russian Tanks, T-34 and Stalin of the World War Two – Steve Zaloga and James Grandsen, Bunrin-Do Co., Japan, 1978. S/C 94pp. Japanese text w/ English captions.

 

Excellent photographic coverage of Soviet tanks, with an emphasis on the T-34 – 67 pages worth including some colour shots of T-34/85s on display in Seoul, Korea. While the captions often leave something to be desired, the photos are excellent providing excellent coverage of the T-34 in combat. Highly recommended.

Current Status: Long Out of Print

4. New Vanguard No. 9 – T-34/76 Medium Tank 1941-1945 – Steve Zaloga and Peter Sarson, Osprey Publishing Ltd., UK, 1994. ISBN 1-85532-382-6. S/C 48pp. English text.

 

An excellent book, typical of the New Vanguard series. The book covers the development and operations of the T-34/76 during WWII. The book is well illustrated with excellent line drawings and fabulous colour plates including a 2-page cutaway of a T-34 Model 1942. Highly recommended.

Current Status: Available

5. Soviet Panzers in Action – Armor No. 6 – Uwe Feist, Squadron/Signal Publications, USA, 1973. S/C 50pp. English text.

 

This S/S publication is typical of the original Armor Series translated from the Waffen-Arsenal publications. While this book covers all Soviet armour, from T-26 to the JS-II, there are 12 pages devoted to the T-34. While there are few line drawings, the pictures are quite good with a large number of museum shots showing various details such as the suspension, turret and interior. A great title to have in the library, if one can find it.

Current Status: Long Out of Print

6. T-34 in Action – Armor No. 20 – Steve Zaloga and James Grandsen, Squadron/Signal Publications, USA, 1981. ISBN 0-89747-112-1. S/C 50pp. English text.

 

This S/S publication is typical of the series, providing reasonable background and a large number of photos. As well, this book contains a large number of line drawings and sketches detailing each various model of the T-34. Coverage ranges from the initial production variants of the T-34/76 to the final variants of the T-34/85. Finally, there are 8 colour plates detailing 5 T-34/76 models and 3 T-34/85 models. An excellent title to have in one’s collection.

Current Status: Available

7. T-34 Russian Armor – Weapons Book No. 21 – Douglas Orgill, Ballantine Books, New York, 1971. S/C 159pp. English text.

 

This 159-page, 5" x 8" paperback was Weapons Book No. 21 in Ballantine’s Illustrated History of World War II, a large series of mass-market monographs popular in the early 1970s. It is illustrated in black and white with photographs, maps, and several competent line drawings by John Batchelor, one of which is a fine exploded view of a T-34/76, 1942 model. The design and early production history of the tank is covered, but little attention is given to the post-1941 development of the T-34. One chapter offers an excellent, detailed description of the layout of the early versions of this tank, both inside and out, as well as a summary of its performance characteristics. The balance of the volume deals with Soviet tank tactics as they related to the T-34 and an overview of the tank war on the Eastern Front. The photographs, while plentiful, are only of fair to good quality, and less than one-third actually illustrate T-34s.

Current Status: Long Out of Print

Submitted By: Thomas R. Kailbourn

8. Vanguard 14 – The T-34 Tank – Steve Zaloga and James Grandsen, Osprey Publishing, UK, 1980. ISBN 0 85045 341 0. S/C 40pp. English text.

   An excellent title that has since been supplanted by the New Vanguard titles on the T-34/76 and T-34/85, this book briefly covers the development of the T-34 and its employment during WWII. Well illustrated with photos and 8 pages of colour plates, this is an excellent title to have in the collection.

   Current Status: Long Out of Print

9. New Vanguard No. 20 – T-34/85 Medium Tank 1944-1994 – Steve Zaloga, Jim Kinnear and Peter Sarson, Osprey Publishing Ltd., UK, 1996. ISBN 1-85532-535-7. S/C 48pp. English text.

 

An excellent book, typical of the New Vanguard series. The book covers the development and operations of the T-34/85 and variants during WWII and post war. The book is well illustrated with excellent line drawings and fabulous colour plates including a 2-page cutaway of a T-34/85. Highly recommended.

Current Status: Available