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The KV-13 was a design for a ‘universal tank’ to replace the T-34 and KV family produced at the Chelyabinsk plant that was building the KV series.
The ‘universal tank’ was developed in response to complaints from the tank forces about the difficulties of operating mixed forces of T-34s and KV-1s, with the heavier tanks not able to keep up with the T-34s.
The KV-13 was close to being a new design. It was smaller than the KV-1 in most directions. It had five road wheels, compared to the six of the KV-1. It carried 120mm of armour on the hull glacis, 75mm on the hull sides and 85mm on the turret, about the same as the original KV-1 but lower than later versions of the tank. It was hoped this would protect the tank against frontal fire from the German 88mm tank gun.
The KV-13 was given a new power train, replacing the unreliable one on the KV-1. Weight came down to 31 metric tons, down over 10 tons compared to the KV-1S and 15 compared to the KV-1. Speed rose to 34mph.
The KV-13 was armed with the same 76mm gun as the later KV-1s. The crew was reduced to three – driver, loader and commander/ gunner. This would have greatly reduced the combat effectiveness of the tank.
The idea of the ‘universal tank’ was abandoned after the entry into combat of the Tiger I and Panther. Although they were unable to give the Germans victory at Kursk, they did outclass existing Soviet tanks, and would also have outclassed the KV-13 (and in particular its made its 76mm gun ineffective). Instead the Soviets decided to focus on mass production of the up-gunned T-34-85 and the production of a new heavy tank. This would result in the IS family, which would use some elements from the KV-13, but with a larger turret to allow it to carry heavier guns.