Chapter 1249 November 29

In the original history, Morozov had plenty of time to improve the T34 medium tank and develop the next generation T44 medium tank.

The large number of tigers and leopards invested by the German army in the Battle of Kursk did sound the alarm for the Soviet army, but the number of tigers and leopards in the existing history was not that large. The T34 still had an indisputable advantage against the main force of the three and four types that occupied the vast majority of the German armored forces.

In short, although the German large cats showed their prowess during the Battle of Kursk, they did not have a decisive impact on the war situation. To put it simply, the number was too small to cause a qualitative change.

But now, in this historical timeline that has been tampered with by Malashenko, the lineup of the German armored forces is already beyond imagination compared to the original history. In particular, the total number of tigers and leopards has reached a level sufficient to cause a qualitative change, and the almost overturned battle of Prokhorovka is the best proof.

Morozov, who had no chance to receive "guidance" from Malashenko, was under tremendous pressure, and the orders given to him by his superiors were unprecedented.

The requirement to immediately improve the existing T34 medium tanks and complete the upgrade was placed at the top priority, so that the front-line troops could have tanks that were sufficient to cope with the war situation in the short term, at least to have a fighting force against the German large cats, and not just to send heads and brush up the record.

On the other hand, Morozov, who realized that improving the T34 could only solve the urgent problem but was not a long-term solution, also accelerated the design progress of the new medium tank on his own, and must be able to come up with a new medium tank that could match the combat power of the German Panther tank.

Carrying out two tank design plans at the same time was very bold and challenging. Morozov had never faced such a situation before, let alone such a huge pressure.

But sometimes some things are not subject to human subjective will, but must be completed. As a Communist Party member with firm beliefs and will, Morozov knew and understood this.

Morozov led the team to work hard day and night. In the second month after the Battle of Kursk, the first full-size new medium tank prototype with a turret and main gun was completed, and Project 136 made a breakthrough.

The relevant testing work was soon launched, and a total of 3 prototypes of Project 136 were manufactured and put into testing.

Because it was a rush job, many new designs different from T34 were also adopted.

The three new prototypes of Project 136 showed different degrees of problems in the test. The turret steering machine of this one was not working, the cooling system of that one had problems, and another one broke the gearbox gear directly in the high-speed cornering test and broke down on the spot.

Morozov, who could foresee that there would be problems in the test, was not discouraged. He led the design team to recover the three prototypes and continue to improve them and prepare for the next test.

It was at this time that Morozov's mortal enemy and competitor, Malashenko's good brother Comrade Kotin, finally learned some specific details about Project 136 through his informant.

"Three prototypes broke down during the test? Are you sure?"

The informant who came to tell Kotin personally nodded. Under Morozov, his position was a workshop director. On the day of the prototype test, he happened to be arranged to observe and learn on the spot. He witnessed the whole process and every detail of the failure of the three prototypes at the test site.

"It seems that our comrade Morozov has encountered some troubles. I thought he had some amazing super design. It seems that I overestimated him."

After hearing the news, Kotin, who felt more and more happy, raised a smug smile at the corner of his mouth. Seeing Morozov, who always competed with him for the allocation of production resources, was defeated, Kotin felt an indescribable joy in his heart.

But what Comrade Kotin did not realize was that without the uncertainty factor of Malashenko, or even the blessing of the "humanoid self-propelled plug-in", his heavy tanks would have been on par with the design projects that Morozov was responsible for in the original history. The two of them were competing with each other and were almost the same, with almost no big gap.

Kotin's achievements today are closely related to Malashenko's intervention and guidance, but Kotin was not aware of all this.

Seeing his old opponent suffer a setback, it would be a lie to say that Kotin was unhappy.

But while this happy psychology under the competitive relationship was generated, Kotin felt that Morozov's design progress was a bit too slow.

After all, in the final analysis, everyone is still a comrade and a family fighting together under the same red flag. If Morozov cannot figure out the design plan for a long time, the war on the front line will inevitably be affected and it is not impossible to get worse.

It was important to keep ahead, but it was also best not to let Morozov fall too far behind. Heavy tanks alone could not win the battle.

In view of this, after careful consideration, Kotin made an unprecedentedly bold decision: this time he would help Morozov, at least to make him barely keep up with his pace.

Having made up his mind, Kogin immediately sent someone to send some design drawings and samples to Morozov, including the electric-driven cooling fan designed by the German lunatic August. This should help Morozov solve the problem of insufficient heat dissipation when the engine is running at full power, increase the reliability of the entire power cabin system, extend the life of the engine, and meet standards.

In addition to this set of small patents held by Kogin, the rest include but are not limited to improved gearbox design, new planetary gears used on IS6 heavy tanks, heavy tanks led by Shashmulin Level electric steering gear design scheme.

Morozov, who was busy improving the deficiencies, was a little surprised to find that the things Kotin sent him for the first time were almost all targeted medicines and corresponded to the problems that occurred in his prototype car during testing. This was simply incredible. !

Although he was puzzled as to why Kotin did this and for what purpose, Morozov, with a try attitude, still used all Kotin's design plans and used them as reference for those that could not be directly applied. Integrate and improve it into your own design to upgrade.

About a week later, the three upgraded and improved 136 Project prototypes all performed well in the second test. The most critical power system and turret servo mechanism did not have any problems. The improved design plan sent by Kejing was adopted. Proven to work.

Marshal Voroshilov, Kotin’s father-in-law and special representative of his loving father Comrade Stalin, observed the entire second test and informed Morozov on the spot of the result, “I am very satisfied!”

The approval document from Moscow arrived quickly and smoothly, and Morozov's hard work of more than half a year was rewarded.

Coincidentally, the new medium tank, which was given the official number "T-43", was finalized and put into production exactly one month later than Kotin's IS6 was announced to be finalized and put into production.

This day is November 29, 1943.