Tank Crew T34 - rubber wheel vs regular steel wheel? Available mods in-game...

[GenMarkof007]

S! to all TC tankers,

Many of the tankers (online) were asking the same question over and over...
So I will do a post on this and please if you really have any input, feel free to give us some answers about this in IL2 Tank Crew.

 

What do you gain or loose if you choose rubber wheels in the T34 mods?
Do you gain speed on the roads, but loose some off road?
We all know that the primary historic answer, was a shortage of steel rubber for the Russian Army... but why did the IL2 devs add those mods in game?

 

If you also think that It doesn't do anything, and it's only for historic purpose... please give your input!

 

Cheers,
GenMarkof

 

p.s.: always open to learn more about history, World War 2 and IL2 Great Battles games.... +

Edited March 4, 2023 by GenMarkof007

[LukeFF]

Pretty sure the developers have said it's just a cosmetic difference here.

 

@Regingrave?

[GenMarkof007]

S! I just found this... so the rubber was in shortage and not the steel?!!

-----

 

Mid Production - Second Gun – 7.62cm F-34 L/42

The L-11 gun was soon replaced by the longer 7.62cm T-34, easily recognised by the position of the gun at the top of the mantlet. This version of the tank entered production in small numbers in 1941, and production merged into that of the hexagonal turreted version late in 1942. It was known as the T-34B and T-34C to the Germans and as the Model 1941 and 1942 in recent western histories.

T-34 Model 1941 or 1942, Crimea 1942

The T-34 gun was designed in 1940 and entered production at the start of 1941. A small number of tanks were produced armed with this gun in the first half of 1941, and it became the standard version in the second half of the year.
 

During 1942 the Soviet Union ran very short of rubber. A new all-steel road wheel was developed for the T-34. This was used at all of the T-34 factories, although in different proportions as the supply of rubber remained variable. The Stalingrad plant was most likely to produce tanks with no rubber tired wheels, the No.183 factory to produce tanks with no all-steel wheels. Most factories attempted to use rubber tires on the front and last road wheels.
 

The designation Model 1942 is normally given to tanks with a series of modifications introduced from the end of 1941. These include the use of a waffle pattern on the tracks, which increased grip (but was often removed on tanks with all steel wheels), a new drivers hatch, 45mm side armour and a circular access hatch above the transmission.
 

A mixed version was produced at Stalingrad. Here the glacis plate was interweaved with the side armour, a flat plate was used to make the rear of the turret, and a single plate was used for the front of the gun recuperator housing, giving it a distinctive “chisel” shape.
 

[MajorMagee]

The rubber provided a smoother, quieter ride. It was found that using all steel led to more vibration, reducing mileage, and doing more damage to the tank's tracks, and other various systems (lights, optics, fuel lines, etc.). Adding rubber to the first and last positions (where the tracks are being set down, and picked up from the ground) provided nearly the same reduction in vibration as the all rubber configuration.

 

 

Service to the line,

On the line,

On Time!

Edited March 4, 2023 by MajorMagee

[69th_chuter]

https://www.tankarchives.ca/2014/07/t-34-tires.html   This is purportedly a 1943 report on various rubber tire designs that were tested for the T-34.

 

The steel rimmed wheels had rubber isolators inside the sizable hub of the wheel but these didn't work anywhere near as effectively as rubber tires.

 

There are a few pictures of T-34s late war sporting random Panther wheels which is interesting.