Tank Archives
@tankarchives.bsky.social
Author, reenactor, film photographer, military historian specializing in 1930s and 1940s armoured warfare.
Pinned
Tank Archives
@tankarchives.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Tank Archives
A blog about World War II era archive documents, primarily dealing with armoured warfare.
www.tankarchives.com
Following the latest Twitter exodus here. For everyone who didn't come from there, I post daily tidbits from the history of tanks and other armoured vehicles. Check out my website at www.tankarchives.com
The Tiger-Maus project promised to give Germany a Maus-like superheavy tank with off-the-shelf parts. A draft was completed #OTD in 1942. The project failed, but soon returned as the E-100. It was cancelled for a second time before the chassis was even finished. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII
November 30, 2025 at 5:54 AM
#OTD in 1935 a decision was made to build Kleiner Panzerbefehlswagen (small armoured commander's vehicles) on the Pz.Kpfw.I Ausf.B chassis. These tanks had no turret and only one machine gun for self defense, but had more room inside to work with maps and radios. #tanks #history
November 29, 2025 at 9:42 PM
The AT-1 was a Soviet SPG on the T-26 chassis. It was technically accepted into service, but due to constantly climbing requirements and issued with production of the PS-3 gun, production was in bad shape. #OTD in 1937 the project was officially cancelled. #tanks #history
November 29, 2025 at 9:06 PM
The official name Panzerjäger Panther für 8.8cm Pak 43/3 (Sd.Kfz.173) was quite a mouthful, as was commonly the case with German vehicles. #OTD in 1943 Hitler decided on a more memorable name that is much more commonly used to this day: Jagdpanther. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII
November 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Initially, the Pz.Kpfw.III was Germany's main medium tank and the Pz.Kpfw.IV was only a support tank. This changed at a meeting #OTD in 1941, when Hitler decreed that the Pz.Kpfw.IV with the new long 75 mm gun should be prioritized as the new main tank #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII
November 29, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Christie sold all his patents, present and future, to the US Army in 1920. That meant when he got too difficult to work with the army could find other people to build Christie tanks for them. #OTD in 1932 a contract for 5 tanks was awarded to American LaFrance. #tanks #history
November 28, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Trials of the Vickers 6-ton tank began in the USSR #OTD in 1930. This tank turned out to be what the Red Army needed to get out of a tank design rut. A licensed copy was accepted into service as the T-26 with ten thousand of these tanks built over the next decade. #tanks #history
November 27, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Foreign tanks arriving in the USSR in winter were immediately painted white. By the time the new crews finished training, the paint would rub off completely. #OTD in 1944 a request was made to stop doing this and only paint tanks before they go to the front. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII
November 27, 2025 at 5:16 AM
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November 27, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Black Friday deals on my Military History Group titles! Save 20% on Achtung Tiger and IS-2: Development, Design, and Production of Stalin's War Hammer!
www.lulu.com/spotlight/mhg
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The first battle between American and German tankers took place #OTD in 1942. Elements of the 1st Armored Division armed with M3 Light tanks and M3 halftracks engaged Pz.Kpfw.III and IV medium tanks from the 90th Light Motorized Division near Tebourba. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII
November 26, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The LT vz.38 was was superior to German light tanks and on par with their medium tanks. After occupation of Czechia, the Germans took control of ČKD and continued production for their needs. The first batch of 150 tanks built for Germany was completed #OTD in 1939 #tanks #history
November 26, 2025 at 5:02 AM
The Red Army hoped to compensate for its shortage of pickup trucks with British Bren Carriers. A program to test the carrier as a tractor for 45, 57, and 76 mm guns was signed #OTD in 1941. Unfortunately, the vehicle failed trials due to excessive pitching. #history #WW2 #WWII
November 25, 2025 at 8:28 PM
