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MUSEUM OF ARMORED FORCES
KUBINKA RUSSIA

SELECTED PHOTOS

prepared and copyright by John Sloan

The Museum of Armored Equipment has one of the largest collections of armored vehicles in the world. The 290 items range from 3-5 ton light tanks and armored cars to a super-heavy, 180 ton monster. There are 40 self-propelled guns from 57 to 600 caliber, 30 armored cars, 10 reconnaissance and command vehicles, and a variety of technical and engineer support vehicles. Vehicles from 11 foreign countries are represented. During the Civil War and foreign intervention the Red Army captured several French and British tanks. One of the Reno tanks was taken by Lenin's order to the Sormobski factory in Nizhnigorod as a model for Soviet tanks. In 31 August 1920 the first Soviet built tank, a 7 ton vehicle with 8-16mm thick armor was produced. During the 1920's the Red Army purchased many foreign examples of tanks to use as models for future domestic production. During World War II the USSR received American tanks under Lend-Lease. The bulk of foreign tanks in the collection was captured during World War II. Others were obtained by exchange with the British Armor Museum or were given by Soviet allies and clients from items they captured in VietNam, Korea, Cuba, Middle East Wars, etc. There are 129 Russian items including many prototype models of vehicles that were not produced in quantity. To return to the Xenophon main page go here.


To view the catalog of the museum collection prepared by Steven Zaloga from materials supplied by the museum please go here.

Following are selected photos taken during visits in 1992 and 1993. Copies of these photos may be purchased as prints or on disk. Not being sufficiently familiar with armored vehicles, I may not have correctly identified many of the tanks and SP guns in these photos by matching the vehicle numbers to Steve Zaloga's catalog numbers. I am delighted with the multiple responses viewers have sent in offering additional imformation or corrections. In several cases I have received conflicting opinions. I will attempt to register all identification information received with the captions for the pictures. We are planning another visit for summer 1997. Anyone wishing to supply information or participate in future visits to the museum is most welcome to contact Xenophon. The page was last amended on 22 Dec. 2001. A future project is to develop a bibliography of printed references and attach it to this page.

Russian Vehicles

{short description of image} Soviet armored railroad car.
{short description of image}general view of shed of Soviet tanks, #106 is SU 152 gun on KV.

{short description of image} Putilov Austin Armored Car.
{short description of image} #405 is a BA-6 standard armored car from 1935, #406 is a BA-21 6 wheel BA-20 derivative from 1939, #407 is a KSP-76 SP ZIS 3 w/76mm gun from 1944.
{short description of image} #402 in Pavilion 4 - BA-27M (1930) Early armored car - #403 - BA-3 (1943) BT-5 T-26 turret armored car. Here we have a discrepency between Steve's catalog and Ed's photo identifications. Ed writes that the #402 is the BA-3 and #403 is a BA-6.
| {short description of image} #402 again - #403 BA-3 again - #404 PB-4 (1935) Amphibious armored car. Ed wonders if it is really amphibious. Any other ideas out there?
{short description of image}402, #403, #404 PB-4 again - #405 BA-6 (1935) Standard Armored Car. Ed notes that #405 is a BA-10 rather than BA-6.
{short description of image} # 404 again, #405 BA-6 - #406 BA-21 (1939) 6 wheel Armored Car a BA-20 derivative.
{short description of image} #415 in Pavilion 4 - Soviet BTR-40 (1950) Standard postwar scout car. #416 is a BTR-40A with ZPTU-2 AAMG turret from 1951.
{short description of image} #302 A T-27 tankette (identification kindly supplied by Ed Dyer).
{short description of image} #307 in Pavilion 3 is a T-37A amphbious (1933) standard scout tank. In forground #308 is T-30 (a T-40 prototype) from 1941, and #306 is a BT-5, Cavalry tank from 1933.
{short description of image} #102, pavilion 1, T-35 Model 1935 Heavy Tank
{short description of image}#102, T-35 model 1935 heavy tank
{short description of image} #103, SU-14/Br-2 prototype SP gun of 1939, in background is #104, a SU-100U of 1941.
{short description of image} #103, SU-14/Br-2 prototype SP gun from other side.
{short description of image} Ed Dyer has supplied information on this vehicle. It is a T-18 tankette, a modification of the T-17. However, this photo shows twin mounted MG's that Ed notes are likely bogus, as the original mounted a 37mm cannon.
{short description of image} on right, #103 SU 14 prototype SP Gun, on left #104 SU100U prototype SP Gun
{short description of image} #310 in Pavilion 3 - Soviet T-126SP gun (1940) A T-50 prototype. In background, item 311 is a short lived T-50 infantry tank from 1940.
{short description of image} #316 in pavilion 3 - Soviet T-80 (1943) Light Tank. In background, item 317 is K-75 (1947) Non amphibious APC.
{short description of image} #206 is a T-44 production version from 1944 and #207 is a SU-101 from 1945.
{short description of image}#214 is a T-55 Almaz 1961 tank with night vision devices. #215 in Pavilon 2 - Obiekt 483 (1959) A Soviet Experimental flame thrower. Ed Dyer notes it is on a T-54 chassis.
{short description of image}Obiekt 430, T-64 prototype, Soviet Medium Tank
{short description of image} #221 Object 430 - (1960) T-64 prototype with 100 mm gun and smooth wheels. In background #220 is IT-1 a T-62 derived missile armed tank destroyer (1968).
{short description of image} #221 Object 430, T-64 prototype.
{short description of image} #222 Object 432, T-64 prototype with early turret.
{short description of image} #218, Obiekt 167, T-62 with new suspension.
#218 is Obiekt 167, a T-62 with new suspension and 700 hp diesel engine and Malyutka ATGM from 1961. #219 is Obiekt 167s, a mod of 167 with GTD 800 turbine engine from 1962.
{short description of image} Obiekt 220, IT-1 - T-62 derived missile armed tank destroyer.
{short description of image}#219 again and #220 is an IT-1, A T-62 derived missile armed tank destroyer.
{short description of image} #119, Obiekt 277 - final derivitave of the T-10 with rounded bow, which, as Ed Dyer points, out did not see production..
{short description of image} #118 Obiekt 268 T-10 based Assault Gun. Ed Dyer notes that it carries a modified ML-20S 152mm howitzer. #117, Obiekt 266, T- 10 relative, which Ed identifies as the IS-8.
{short description of image} #119 is Obiekt 277, a T-10 relative with larger turet and rounded bow from 1957, #118 is Obiekt 268, a T-10 based assault gun from 1956 (see kpd018).
{short description of image} #117, Obiekt 266, T-10 relative (see note for kpd018) above.
{short description of image} #229, Obiekt 172m. T-72A prototype.
{short description of image} #228 is Obiekt 172, a T-72 prototype of 1969, # 229 is Obiekt 172M Ural, a T-72A prototype of 1972.
{short description of image} #231, Obiekt 219, T-80 Tank
{short description of image}#231 in Pavilion 3 - Obiekt 219-T-80 (1976), a T-80 prototype. #230 is Obiekt 174/T-72BV, a T-72 with reactive armor.
{short description of image} #120 - Obiekt 279 (1957) Troyanov super-heavy tank, close up showing the double treads.
{short description of image} Again, Obiekt 279 Troyanov super heavy tank, showing more of the chassis.
{short description of image} Another view of Obiekt 279 Tryanov super heavy tank, from the other side, showing the turret.
{short description of image} Closeup of tracks of the Obiekt 279, Troyanov super heavy tank.
{short description of image} #121, Obiekt 770, Isakov heavy tank prototype.
{short description of image} # 122 is SU 100 SP, #123 is SU 100P Rear mounted.
{short description of image} #222 is obiekt 432, T-64 prototype, #223 is obiekt 434, T-64 115 gun.
{short description of image}#224 is T-64 A, #225 is obiekt 775, P. P. Isakov low profile missile tank a relative of the T-64.
{short description of image} #225 is the P. P. Isakov low profile missile tank.
{short description of image} #225, Obiekt 775, is the Isakov low profile tank again, #226 is obiekt 287, Taifun missile tank destroyer with two 73 mm turrets.
{short description of image}#226, Obiekt 287, Taifun missile tank, #225, low profile tank.
{short description of image} #226, Obiekt 287, Taifun missile tank, #227, Obiekt 288, Kotin T-64 observation tank, twin Isotov engines.
{short description of image} #227, Obiekt 288, Kotin, T-64 observation tank.
{short description of image} #227, Kotin, T-64 observation tank, #228, obiekt 172, T-72 prototype.
{short description of image} #228, T-72 prototype.
{short description of image} #228, obiekt 172, T-72 prototype.

German Vehicles

{short description of image} The German Kugelpanzer, Artillery rolling forward observer post. I have various opinions on the origin and use of this item. Steve Zaloga wrote an article on it for the ordnance magazine at Aberdeen.
{short description of image} German Tank pavilion - #1 is PzKpfw I (1939), #2 is PzKpfw II (1940), # 3 and # 4 are Marder II Tank destroyers (1942) and #5 is Wespe.
{short description of image} MAUS - Front glacis. This is item 16 in Pavilon 5.
For a description of the MAUS and MORSER kindly supplied by Mr. Lothar Zeidler please go here.
{short description of image} MAUS - Front glacis and turret.
{short description of image} MAUS - Rear view
{short description of image}MAUS - Front detail of glacis and turret
{short description of image} MAUS - Front detail - (overexposed by flash, but shows turret)
{short description of image} Between MAUS and MORSER with local fans
{short description of image} Detail of MORSER
{short description of image}Detail of MORSER
{short description of image}Detail of MORSER
{short description of image} KARL MORSER - Front view of the 60 cm SP mortar. This is item 15 in Pavilion 5 5.
{short description of image} MORSER - Rear view.
{short description of image} MORSER - Front view.
{short description of image} German mineclearing vehicle - Alkett Minenraumfahrzeug. It is item 32 in Pavilion 5.
{short description of image} German Elefant, Sturmgeschutz, 8.8cm Pak43 SP Tank Destroyer. Edwin Dyer has provided information on the item in background - a Waffentrager or a VK30001H 128mm SP gun on Pzkpfw IV chassis - also known as Selbstfahrlafette L/61. Two were built on left over chassis and put into service with the 2nd Panzer Division in Russia, where it was captured.
{short description of image} German PkFw VI ausf E, Tiger I.
{short description of image} #21 in German tank pavilion, the Jagd Tiger Tank destroyer.

OTHER WEB PAGES ON ARMOR

Wee have photos of vehicles at the two museums at Ft Hood and at the outdoor military museum in Kyiv. Now photos of armor and artillery at Aberdeen Proving ground, at the Virginia armor museum and Ft Lewis, Washington. Go toTop.