Photographs of Tank Armour Penetration Test

[Mangrove]

There is a series of 11 photographs in Finnish Wartime Photograph Archive under 115592a-115593h that depict a destroyed KV-1 armour used to test the penetration of various 76 mm (tank gun?), 40 mm (Bofors?) and 20 mm grenades. According to the description attached to the photos, the photographs were received to be rephotographed on 13 May 1942.

Does anyone know if these tests were performed by the Finns or the Germans? What was the distance from which the shots were fired?

[ChristopherPerrien]

Have to be Finns. The calibers are (fairly)non-standard for the German Army and reflect calibers and weapons more commonly used by Finland at the time.

The kicker is the 40mm. The Germans basically sent all Bofors they had, and any captured ones to Finland, early war. Any German test would have used a 37mm gun.

Both Finland and Germany use 76mm (captured) , but the Finnish were much more probably to have used one in a test, reflecting their greater use (percentage wise) of the 76mm.

Germans rarely used 20mm in an AT role, as they stop carrying anti-rifles long before 1942 and their only 20mm was an AA weapon., However the Finns had an excellent 20mm ATR (Lahti L-39), they used commonly throughout the war.

[JTV]

Mangrove, can you give correct photo numbers for those?

Jarkko

[Mangrove]

Mangrove, can you give correct photo numbers for those?

They're correct in my original post. The first photograph is 115592a (when searching, remember to check the "päivättömät" box). Otherwise, you can also find them by searching for "Lokki" and skipping to page 40 of the search.

[JTV]

Mangrove, can you give correct photo numbers for those?

They're correct in my original post. The first photograph is 115592a (when searching, remember to check the "päivättömät" box). Otherwise, you can also find them by searching for "Lokki" and skipping to page 40 of the search.

Thanks - that did the trick. Actually these might be copies of photographs from non-Finnish (likely German) tests. I am thinking so because photo caption for photo 115593e says "Valokuvat jäljennetty alkuperäisistä valokuvista, jotka saatu jäljennettäviksi Ulkomaa-osastolta, everstiluutnantti Ursinilta 13.5.1942", translated "Photographs copied from original photos , which have been received for copying from Lieutenant Colonel Ursin of Department of Foreign Countries 13rd of May 1942".

Finnish military did similar kind of testing, although mostly test shooting to plates of armor, not to complete vehicles. I have seen wartime test reports originating from such tests done by Kenttätykistön Koeampuma-asema (Test Firing Station of Field Artillery) in Niinisalo and Tank Battalion/Brigade/Armor Division.

Jarkko

[Mangrove]

SA-Kuva 144667 - 144697: "Santahamina, 31 December 1943".