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 Pz.Kpfw.II Ausf.J had thick armour but very poor armament for a tank of its weight class and so there was no room for it on the front lines. #OTD in 1943 six of these tanks were formed into a tank company attached to the 14th SS Police Regiment. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII
January 6, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Hetzer vs SU-76M is crushing it, #1 in German and Russian history and #2 in Hungarian history among new releases!
January 5, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Hetzer vs SU-76M is crushing it, #1 in German and Russian history and #2 in Hungarian history among new releases!
The 7.62 cm F.K.(r) auf gp. Selbstfahrlafette (Sd.Kfz. 6/3) was the simplest kind of tank destroyer: a captured Soviet F-22 gun in an armoured box on top of a surplus halftrack chassis. These ersatz tank destroyers first arrived in Tripoli #OTD in 1942. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII
January 5, 2026 at 4:52 PM
The KV-8 tank completed trials #OTD in 1942. It flamethrower was placed in the turret, and not in the hull like in earlier models. Since there wasn't room left for a 76 mm gun, these tanks had a 45 mm gun with a tube around it to make it look thicker. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII
January 5, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Today we know the Battle of Seelow Heights as a key part of the Battle of Berlin, but it wasn't always treated as such. In this video, I take a look at the preparations of the battle, its significance, and how its legacy changed over the years. youtu.be/-6Mo6a1_2tE #history #WW2 #WWII
Seelow Heights: Preparations, Expectations, and Legacy
YouTube video by Tank Archives
youtu.be
January 4, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Today we know the Battle of Seelow Heights as a key part of the Battle of Berlin, but it wasn't always treated as such. In this video, I take a look at the preparations of the battle, its significance, and how its legacy changed over the years. youtu.be/-6Mo6a1_2tE #history #WW2 #WWII
The earliest 122 mm D-25T guns were equipped with the "Ferdinand style" muzzle brake copied from German 88 mm guns. #OTD in 1944 a new fully original muzzle brake entered trials. This muzzle brake was used on almost all D-25 guns used in tanks and SPGs. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII
January 4, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Final drives were a major weak spot of the Panther tank. #OTD in 1944 a decision was made to develop new more reliable planetary final drives. It turned out that they couldn't be fitted without major changes to the vehicle and were never used after all. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII
January 4, 2026 at 5:14 AM
#OTD in 1943 the SS Ballot carrying Lend Lease cargo ran aground at Kildin Island. It took months to recover the cargo it was carrying, including four Medium Tanks M3. They were corroded and were missing parts, but could eventually be put into action. #tanks #history #WW2 #WWII
January 4, 2026 at 4:11 AM
#OTD in 1942 factory #183 finished its plans to improve the T-34's armour. 15 mm thick applique armour was welded to the front of the hull, the turret was thickened to 60 mm. Relatively few of these tanks were built before the initiative was cancelled. #tanks #History #WW2 #WWII
January 3, 2026 at 5:18 AM