kv 4

Intro The KV-4 was a Soviet super-heavy tank project from 1941, intended as a much larger and more powerful successor to the KV-1 and KV-3. It never left the design stage but is notable for spawning over 20 unique design proposals—some of the most ambitious armored vehicle concepts of WWII. --- ? General Overview Name: KV-4 (Object 224) Country: Soviet Union Type: Super-heavy tank (paper project) Era: Early World War II (1941) Status: Cancelled before prototype stage Design Bureau: Kirov Factory (Leningrad) --- ? Purpose and Context In early 1941, Soviet intelligence learned of German heavy tank developments, such as the Tiger. In response, the Soviet High Command ordered the development of an extremely heavily armored breakthrough tank with a powerful gun. KV-4 was intended to dominate the battlefield and counter any potential German threats. --- ? Design Competition Unusually, the KV-4 wasn’t assigned to a single designer. A design competition was held among engineers at the Kirov Plant, resulting in over 20 distinct KV-4 designs. Designs varied dramatically in size, layout, and armament. --- ? General Specifications (varied by proposal) Feature Range of Concepts Weight 85 to 100+ tons (estimates) Armor Thickness Up to 130–150 mm (frontal) Main Armament Typically a 107 mm ZiS-6 gun Secondary Armament 45 mm gun, 76.2 mm gun, MGs depending on design Engine Supercharged V-2 variants (~1200 hp proposed) Speed ~20–30 km/h (theoretical) Crew 6 to 9 (depending on design) Many KV-4 designs featured: Multiple turrets (up to 2–3) Casemate-style superstructures or traditional turrets Extremely thick armor for the era Emphasis on firepower over mobility --- ? Why It Was Cancelled Operation Barbarossa (June 1941) forced an immediate halt to experimental projects. The Soviet Union had to prioritize mass production of practical tanks like the T-34 and KV-1. The KV-3 project (also cancelled) was already more feasible than KV-4. No prototy