The T-34 is rightfully considered almost a cult armored vehicle in Russian history - after all, many Soviet tankers went through the entire war on it. However, this does not mean at all that the tank was perfect: like any other, it had a number of shortcomings that those who drove it might not like. However, this does not detract from its legendary status, and the mistakes made on the T-34 were eliminated as much as possible in new modifications and models.
For the first time, the shortcomings of the T-34 were discussed even before the start of World War II, when in 1940 two German tanks Pz. III, which were compared with the Soviet machine. And then it turned out that the domestic model loses in a number of ways. First of all, noise indicators were thrown: if Pz. III was heard for 250 meters, then the T-34 - twice as far.
There were other problems, for example, the maximum speed - for Pz. III, this figure was 70 km / h, while the T-34 barely reached 48.2 km / h. However, the greatest complaints about the Soviet tank were in terms of its comfort: the German vehicle had a separate turret for the commander, excellent visibility was provided, and the crew had communication devices. But the T-34 turret was very cramped - two people squeezed in with difficulty, the commander also worked as a gunner, and had radio contact only with the driver.
It was on the basis of the results of these tests that the development of a new modification, the T-34M, was started. However, according to the Novate.ru editorial staff, as of May 1941, only three of these tanks were assembled, so when the war began, they had to fight on what was - the T-34. It is the memories of front-line tankers that make up the main source that allows you to find out the disadvantages of the machine, identified during operation.
So, for example, experienced tankers called the T-34 a crematorium due to the fact that its fuel tank was located next to the crew, between the side walls. And the latter were too thin armor, which made its way through the projectile without much. In addition, if the tank was knocked out, this often led to jamming of the hatches, which made it almost impossible for the crew to get out. Therefore, the tankers preferred not to close the hatches at all.
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It would seem that most of the problems should have been solved by replacing this tank with its newer modification - the T-34-85, however, this car was often called a "tin can". So, among the shortcomings of this model, they called a minimal view, poor ventilation, because of which the crew was suffocating from powder gases. Even the springs on the seats caused discomfort. However, the real problem was also tightness, as in the case of the T-34: if a projectile hit the tank, then the crew could get such injuries that even with the whole armor after the impact, the combat unit turned out to be incompetent.
However, this does not at all negate all the advantages of the T-34 and its modifications, which allowed it to become a real symbol of the Victory. So, it was cheap at cost compared to other, including foreign, models. In addition, he had an excellent diesel engine, which was appreciated not only by Soviet, but also by American experts. And on the battlefield, he was valued for his maneuverability and combat power, so the T-34 rightfully bears its status as a real military legend.
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A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/211021/60955/