[hawkonevoodoo]

Can you or anyone else confirm a couple of things for me? "Ehkranami", does this mean the equivalent to "With Applique" referring to additional armor plating?
In the picture I added what I think is the equivalent to the Russian above it. Would you please confirm this.
Thanks in advance.

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by hawkonevoodoo

Can you or anyone else confirm a couple of things for me? "Ehkranami", does this mean the equivalent to "With Applique" referring to additional armor plating?
In the picture I added what I think is the equivalent to the Russian above it. Would you please confirm this.
Thanks in advance.

You are somewhat correct, экраны means screen. Contrary to the Western sources, this wasn't a field modification, but a design feature implemented at the factory level based on NKVD-procured intelligence on the successful use of 88-mm Flak36 guns in anti-tank role during the France campaign.

Unfortunately for the Soviets, the production commenced literally on the eve of war in June of 1941 and was supposed to complement already incorporated armor strengthening of KV-1 through the welding of extra plates of armor on all turret and hull sites.

Due to production interruption as well as materiel shortages very few KV-1s got a full set of applique armor.

It should be stressed again that that the Russian word EKRAN translates into English as Screen, which describes this feature particularly well since the bolted on armor was attached via somewhat complicated process of wielding receptacles to the hull and turret AND subsequently mounting screens via strong screw-bolts. That is to say that screens didn't lie flush with body panels, and there was a gap between the main body and such add on screens. Very few armor aficionados are aware of that nuance.

To make things even more confusing, there is no official Soviet record as to not only how many late-production KV-1 M1940 were produced with extra screens, but the fact that such modification existed at all! Paradoxical, given the plethora of photographic evidence confirming the fact of existence of "screened" KV-1s.

Russian armor historians came to conclusion than only KV-1s produced in July of 1941 (i.e. the ones already with an extra set of armor WELDED ON) received "screen" updates to some extent. Most likely ALL those KV-1Es were produced in Leningrad Kirov Factory (Russian acronym LKZ) just before the production line dismantling and evacuation to the Ural mountains.

Most of the photos of "screened" KV-1s, whether in use or destroyed were taken in Leningrad area of operation.

Here is a blue print of late production KV-1 M1940 with extra armor plating AND bolted on applique armor.

[hawkonevoodoo]

Thanks Sergei, I saw two or three sites use "with applique" for Ehkranami but I wondered if they were translating it literally, screen makes more sense especially when I consider it with applique. I envision applying armor like a screen of protection.

What about the picture in my first post, does it say "For Stalin"?

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by hawkonevoodoo

What about the picture in my first post, does it say "For Stalin"?

Yes, it does say "For Stalin". The issue with M1940 KV-1 (i.e. the one with F-32 gun) is that it rapidly went through three production modifications. The most common version was the one with welded on extra armor plates, which was further "burdened" with screens in July of 1941. The total weight of M1940 KV-1E ballooned to 50 tonnes making it prone to drive train failures.

It should also be mentioned that most KV-1 fell to precise Ju-87 "Stuka" bomb hits and close infantry assaults with flame throwers that to tank or anti-tank gun fire, including the famous Flak36.

If HM will decide to do KV-1E version they should make some provisions for modeling the small gap between the main body and extra screens. Although, the Finnish version seen below (please not that only turret has screens) would be nice as well:



Regards,

Sergey