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These Countries Are Still Operating WWII-Era T-34 Tanks
The tank that just won’t quit
The T-34 main battle tank is one of the most famous tanks in history. It was instrumental in helping the Soviet Union beat back the ill-fated 1941 German invasion. The T-34 was formidable, and when it first appeared on the field, it was more than a match for the German Panzers. As the war progressed, the Russians became more adept at building and maintaining these tanks. By the end of 1945, the USSR had built over 57,000 of these tanks. (The US built 50,000 Sherman tanks for comparison.)
While the T-34 is an enduring image of the Second World War and one that is still held up as a Russian triumph, no one would say that they are suited for modern combat. The T-34 was designed in 1940 and was most heavily produced in 1944 and 1945. That makes the T-34 84 years old. Very few weapons that were designed in 1940 area still in use today. For example, how many soldiers do you see wielding M1 Garands today?
The T-34 boasts a 76mm main cannon, which was powerful in 1944 but is akin to a peashooter today. Modern tanks, like the Abrams, haul 120mm cannons, nearly twice as powerful as the old World War II-era tanks.
The technological disparities between 1940s-era technology and modern technology are why it is so odd and eye-catching to…
