Did the T-34 see any field mods while in Soviet service. I've seen T-34s with welded on plate armor and the bed spring armor but did any use other materials. For instance were sandbags ever fitted like on Shermans. Or was concrete or logs ever used like on Finnish Stugs or for that matter entire sets of Schurzen with mounting brackets from captured German tanks used. Or did Soviet doctrine during WWII basically state go with what you got.

Nether concrete nor sandbags,but there is a T34/85 with panzer 4's additional armour at berlin. you can see it here: http://gallery.kitmaker.net/showphoto.php/photo/352820

Thanks again.

Hey Kevin,

The soviets used field mods not much.
But the field mods the use where a bit weird. In the closing days of the war especially in the Berlin battle even whole dish cabinets, beds and clothing closets where used.
They even used panzer 4 cupola's on mod. 1941 and 1942 tanks.

Regards,

Remco

Few to none.
The added plates you see weren't field modifications at all but rather were added at the factory or at repair shops during thorough rebuilds.
The "bedsprings" were cobbled together by unit workshops and appear only during the Berlin fighting as far as anyone has been able to tell.
The Soviet army doesn't seem to have been big on sandbags and from my reading, individual initiative has never been encouraged by either Soviet or Russian armies.
Add to that tanks of the RKKA during the Great Patriotic War rarely lasted more than a few days, let alone weeks or months, on the front so putting in the extra effort would almost seem to be a waste of time.

Mark

Hey Kevin,

I just had a look in my T-34 stockpile of books and found some pics with a T-34 with brackets on the rear for some wooden logs. The usual tracks on the side of the turret... Thats about it...

Regards,

Remco