trurle
Banned
Likely the capture of the KV-1 factory will speed up the introduction of the Tiger tank by few months, but ATL Tiger will have some design elements of the KV-1 tank. The German engineers will simply reuse most generic templates and tools from the KV-1 factories, without bothering to completely replicate Soviet design which was questionable even among Soviet field commanders. Most likely, also will be early Tiger tank with the 76mm cannon instead of 88mm - to accommodate with the early KV-1 styled turrets.One thing which i have wondered about is how the capture or destruction of the KV-1 production plant would have influenced the war.
Despite the T-34 taking the spotlight, the KV-1 was actually the tank which gave the Germans a massive headache in 1941.
I'd like to look at two possible scenarios:
1. KV-1 tank factory captured and pressed into service to strengthen Italian and Romanians tank forces.
Possibly KV-1 as fortifications later in the war.
2. KV-1 tank factory destroyed prior to being moved to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelyabinsk_Tractor_Plant
Thoughts and Ideas? Would the capture or destruction delay the introduction of the Tiger I tank?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_I
Destruction of KV-1 plant would not make much difference from OTL until early 1942 - at this point the Soviets will start to have larger losses during offensives on the prepared German positions, due lack of the dedicated "breakthrough tank". This likely mean generally slower pace of the WWII on the Eastern front, with slightly more emphasis on attrition rather than on maneuver warfare.