T-44 | Failure or Wasted Potential #3

The Russians have made very impressive tanks over the course of the war, of course starting out with a tank like the T-34 and KV-1 which surprised the Germans when they started with operation Barbarossa, and then the IS-2, where Heinz Guderian said that even if you are in a tiger 1 you should not engage the IS-2 alone because it was such a formidable tank. But today we are going to talk about another tank which was to late to actually serve in world war 2, this is because when it entered service back in 1944, this was according to some sources because they did not have any spare parts, and this would be especially bad considering they had a completely new hull, and this tank was also a lot more expensive and hard to replace, eventually the T-44’s was only really used in the Hungary Uprising, I do not consider the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 actual combat, because their role in the Hungarian uprising was basically only intimidation, and even then it is heavily debated if the T-44 actually took part in this event, hence why it is a part of the Series, A Failure or Wasted Potential, The T-44 is one of the most well known tanks after the seconds world war, the popularity around this Tank is mainly due to the immense popularity of games like War Thunder and World of Tanks respectively. Just like a lot of Soviet tanks they were shrouded in mystery, even though they were known to exist they were rarely found on a picture, this is going to make the editing a lot more difficult so I am looking forward to that.
But before we are going to dive deeper into this subject I would like to raise the bar to 120 likes within 24 hours, if we achieve this I will have a new video about the American T28, Online in 48 hours, this subject was recommended to me by one of my viewers, so you know what to do. I also have just created a new Instagram account solely dedicated to this channel so head on over to the comments, there is a link and this will take you to that Instagram account, I also have a discord server so if you are interested in that there will also be a link for that, now let’s go
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[@LearningHistoryTogether]

My socials Instagram: instagram.com/learninghistorytogether?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Discord : discord.gg/ZBjEKbpyR4

[@oisnowy5368]

I disagree on the T-44 being wasted potential; after all it has had the greatest of legacies in Soviet tank designs. It did not win wars, but it laid the foundation of everything else to come. So, unless everything after it is wasted potential... only then would I label the T-44 too as wasted potential.

[@grumpyboomer61]

Considering that it was designed in the middle of a war for survival, the T44 was a solid tank. There just wasn't the time or resources to develop it under the circumstances. So, I wouldn't call it a failure or a wasted opportunity. More like a prototype for future development.

[@ottovonbismarck2443]

My words !

[@richardbradley2802]

I see the T-44 as a testbed for the new hull design, they ironed out the problems with this tank, and this allowed the T-54-62s a quicker development and a reliable drive train to start from. Another interesting video, thanks! (or should that be Tank you!)

[@ottovonbismarck2443]

Very good choice of tank ! I'd say T-44 solved many if not most issues of T-34, i.e. weak armor and Christie suspension. Like Centurion and Pershing it came too late for WW2 but heavily influenced post-war design well into the 60s. It wasn't built in numbers simply because there was no actual demand for it after the war and Russia had more pressuring issues, i.e. rebuilding a country, than replacing its T-34 fleet ... It wasn't a waste, it was the next logical step which finally leads to T-62; very similar to M-26 leading to M-60 or Centurion leading to Chieftain. Because you're on a roll here, please consider T-64 (yep 64, NOT 62) for a video. Another overlooked Russian beauty (and technologically very advanced).

[@Mattamaza]

T44 took some lessons from studying the Panther. In particular moving the turret to the middle of the tank centralizes the center of mass which means that the entire tank does not rock or sway as much when firing the gun. Moving the mass back means that you can increase the front hull thickness too without making the tank too nose heavy. Of course all of this was possible because they figured out how to mount the engine transverse in the hull, shortening the engine bay significantly.

[@slimrummy4616]

T44 is my favorite tank ever I think it's absolutely beautiful, and a meiore images of WW2 and post war feature designs.. idk super unknown tank aswell

[@Firebird400]

I think it was an important step to the design of the more successful t54/55 ect series of tanks. I just like learning about less main stream vehicles and equipment.

[@w0lfgm]

I dont agree that is the wasted protentional nor failure. It is a part of evolution. The USSR school of tanks rarely revolutionize (composite armor, smoothbore gun, autoloader, APS, ERA, for some ppl, but composite armor and autoloader was tested before USSR by the USA, ERA was deployed by Israel before the USSR) and more depends on the evolution. From the BT series was developed A-20 and based on it next A-32 that entered service as T-34/76. Team from Kharkov wasn't happy with T-34 Christie suspension, seeing that that type suspension takes bigger volume inside the hull and removing the trucks and drive on the wheels is pointless for the combat machine so immediately started developing A-43 project, that was planned to enter into the service as T-34M with torsion bar/arm suspension. Project started too late, because war has already started 1939, so instead of new untested design, USSR opted for upgrading T-34 and cancelled it 1941. Other competitor continued developing own tank that was tested as T-43 in early 1943, but test showed that it has no significant benefits over the T-34 in armor or mobility. Retooling would take time and only the turret is used to upgrade T-34 to 85 mm standard. Instead on the same base T-44 was developed but again, retooling, training of the workers would take time, that the USSR didnt have. Remembering that T-34 and KV-1 failed in 1941 during Barbarossa and seen same mistakes done by the Germans, that sent to early without enough testing new models like Tiger, Panther and Ferdinand at Leningrad and Kursk, without proper supply chain, washout resolving teeth problems and piecemeal, USSR opted to pump more T-34. Even the US made same decision and opted to upgrade M4 with 76 mm gun instead rushing theT-20. As you said, the hull was the base for the T-54/55 as well T-62. For some extent it was basis for the T-64, T-72, T-80 and T-80. It served it purpose.

[@gavindenton6821]

v signifcant tank, birthed the T54/5 the most produced tanks ever, and therefore all subsequent soviet MBT's.

[@slimrummy4616]

Its my favorite tank

[@Firebird400]

Thanks! For the video .

[@livingroomtheatre174]

Lovely content. Keep up the Good work. After the T-28, can you please make a video on AMX -13/75? And post that PT-76 also? Kindly reply, it would be great.

[@LearningHistoryTogether]

Yeah I'll definitely look into it✌ thnx for the recommendation

[@jamesevans886]

The T-44 actually did see combat in 1945. The Guard divisions that were using the T-44 had to swop over to T34/85s. Stalin did not want the West to have any captured examples to examine. The initial run of T-44s, unlike other Russian tanks, operated poorly and unreliable in the sub-zero temperatures. This required a completely new redesign of the engine bay to fix. Its road wheel and suspension configuration was carried over to the T-55. There were unconfirmed whispers about the existence of the T-44, but it came as a complete surprise to NATO in the late 60s when the Soviet Union announced its official retirement. There were so few of the T-44 made by comparison to other Soviet designs it could be considered a limited production collector's edition. Another Soviet design to look at is the T-43. Its production was halted very early as after trails, it was considered to be no real improvement over the T-34/85. The video was again very well presented.

[@spamuraigranatabru1149]

I do believe the T-44 saw action, in a modernised form, on the China-Mongolia boarder in the Sino-Soviet fighting.

[@jamesevans886]

@spamuraigranatabru1149 Thanks for your reply. Quite possibly, as its operational history is very sketchy in the West at best. It went through at least one modernisation program as there is a reference to a T-44M. There were only around 1,400 T-44 made. By comparison, there were roughly 125,000 T-54 tanks produced. This number varies depending on different reports. The T-54 was a much better, so I don't think the Soviets had any real post-war plans for the T-44. The Soviets do keep re-purposing old designs. For example, they still had quite a few T34/76 tanks still in use at the end of WW2. By this time, they were used in the recon, light tank role replacing the T-70 light tank in front line units. So I do see the T-44 quickly jointing the T-10 in the second echelon units post-war and ending up wherever its parent formation is sent.

[@spamuraigranatabru1149]

@@jamesevans886 The T-10 series stayed entirely at the western flank, it and the T-44 recieved night fighting and stabilisation equipment and was not too rare a sight till the later introduction of the T-64B into the Guard units at the mid 70s and subisquiently put into storage/scrapped. Better fate then the IS-4 and IS-3

[@jamesevans886]

@spamuraigranatabru1149 I was simply outlining what sort of tanks end up in the second echelon rather than stating historical deployment. The T-10 was also developed in the Middle East. Thanks for your reply.

[@spamuraigranatabru1149]

@@jamesevans886 my bad, good chat though, thank you too for your time!

[@HermitagePrepper]

T-44 was a stepping stone that must be made. Kinda like the us infantry rifle m-14...you gotta go there to get to a better spot

[@DIREWOLFx75]

The origin of the most produced tank ever, the T-54.

[@retepeyahaled2961]

I always thought that the KV series turned into the IS series and that they evolved into the modern russian tanks. The KV tanks had torsion bar suspension from the start, so it seems to me that the T44 was a failed attempt to produce a real successor for the T34, switching to torsion bar suspension. Could you make a video on the Christie suspension and why they stopped using it on tanks? I once saw a picture of an exploded T34 and it looked like a mattrass ripped open, with enormous springs sticking out. Like half of the interior of the tank was spent on the springs.

[@LearningHistoryTogether]

I believe that the KV line and the IS line are connected, this is first of all because they are both heavy Tanks and second the KV line and the IS line have like a love Child from the IS-1 (IS-85) and the Kv-1s which is the KV-85 which has the IS-85 Turret and the Chassis of the KV-1S and then eventually the IS line stops at the T-10m which I mentioned in the T-10m video The T-44 has more in common with the T-34 line especially the T-34-85 because the Turret of the T-44 looks a lot like the T-34-85's and it has the same main armament. That is where the similairities stop though, because the T-44 has a entirely new redesigned Hull, new Engine etc, which was used for later designs. I can probably make a video about the suspension later but first I need to fully understand it myself first, i believe it was Einstein who said 'If you can't explain it to someone else easy, you don't understand it yourself well enough' something like that. Thanks for the suggestion I will definitely do it in the future though, when I get more time to carefully research the subject in more detail

[@brooksroth345]

Not a waste. It directly led to the development of all future Soviet tanks.

[@Firebird400]

13.99 wasn’t really enough buddy but the next jump was $ 70 . So here’s 2 x 13$ . Thanks for your effort.

[@LearningHistoryTogether]

Oh wow man, I honestly really Appreciate the donations man, thank you very much, can I repay you in some way, so do you maybe have a like a suggestion for a video or something in that idea?

[@Firebird400]

Don’t worry about it man . Nothing comes to mind just keep doing what you always been doing .

[@saturnswachter841]

I think the thumbnail is an early T-54, because of the rear mounted sprocket wheel

[@thescotishclonetrooperecho7773]

Based on the poor performance of the T-34 I'm inclined to say failure

[@vagabond2024]

😵‍💫

[@thescotishclonetrooperecho7773]

@@vagabond2024 what

[@quyha3234]

Base on the performance of t54 it was a good jump from t34