KV-13

KV-13
Type	Medium tank
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
Used by	Soviet Union
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	SKB-2
Designed	1941–1942
Manufacturer	Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant
Produced	1942–1943
Number built	3
Specifications ()
Weight	32 metric tons
Length	6.65
Width	2.8 m (9.2 ft)
Height	2.5 m (8.2 ft)
Crew	3
Armor	120 mm maximum
Main armament	76 mm ZIS-5 tank gun
Secondary armament	1 × 7,62-mm DT-29 MG
Engine	V12, liquid-cooled diesel engine 600 hp (441 kW)
Transmission	mechanical
Suspension	Torsion bar suspension
Ground clearance	450 mm
Operational range	320 km (200 miles)
Speed	65 km/h (40 mph)

The KV-13 was an experimental Soviet medium tank created during World War II. It was developed on the KV-1 chassis in the SKB-2 design bureau of the Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant in late 1941 – early 1942, as a "universal" tank, intended to replace the production of T-34 medium tanks and KV-1 heavy tanks at the same time.

Development

The first prototype of the KV-13 was made in the spring of 1942, but in the fall of that year tests showed a lack of mechanical reliability and demonstrated the need to strengthen the vehicle's armour and to equip it with the new three-seat turret. While production of two modified prototypes incorporating these modifications began in December 1942, work on the KV-13 as a medium tank was discontinued in favour of continuing the production of the T-34. The further development of the project using two modified KV-13 prototypes led to the creation in 1943 of the IS-1 heavy tank.