Institute of Metal Physics, Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Ekaterinburg, Russia):

B. A. Gizhevskiy, Cand Phys.-Math., e-mail: gizhevskii@imp.uran.ru

Institute of History and Archeology, Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Ekaterinburg, Russia):
N. N. Melnikov, Cand Hist., Associate Prof., e-mail: meln2011kit@gmail.com
Vas. V. Zapariy, Cand Hist., Associate Prof., e-mail: pantera.zap@gmail.com

Ural Federal University (Ekaterinburg, Russia):
V. V. Zapariy, Dr. Hist., Prof., Dept. of Gistory and Social relations, e-mail: vvzap@gmail.ru

The Ural Plant of Heavy Engineering (Uralmash) during the period of Great Patriotic War was the main producer of self-propelled artillery vehicles (guns) based at medium tank. The application characterizes the chemical composition of Uralmash-made armoured self-propelled guns SU-85, SU-122, SU-100 (during 1943-1945) and T-34 tank made by Kharkov plant in 1940. The research was conducted by a non-destructive method using a portable X-ray fl uorescence spectrometer directly on the armoured vehicles exhibits at the open exposition of the Museum of Military Equipment at Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC). The composition of the rolled armour samples for T-34 and self-propelled guns corresponds generally with 8C (MZ-2) steel, except the citadel roof at self-propelled guns. SU-100 gun mask was made from cast armoured 71L steel. According to archival data, was compared the composition of steel 8С (МZ-2) made in 1939 and 1942, with other famous tanks of this WWII period: Pz. Kpfw. IV Ausf. F., Matilda Mk II.

In this way, the composition of 8C steel, as the basic rolled armour for all Soviet medium tanks and self-propelled guns, despite the diffi culties of tank factories evacuation, was maintained during all war period.
The metal science part of the work was carried out within the framework of the “Structure” budget theme, No. AAAA-A18-118020190116-6.

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