The early T-34 was not without its problems. While the 88 mm AA gun could be used as a stopgap in limited circumstances, only the arrival of the PAK 40 75mm anti-tank gun could restore the balance. The appearance of the T-34 also forced the Germans to completely revamp their anti-tank arsenal because the existing 37mm PAK 36 and 50mm anti-tank guns were largely ineffective against the T-34 and KV tank.

This forced the Germans to begin a costly programme of up-gunning and up-armouring its tanks, and initiate the development of a new tank, the Panzer V Panther to serve as an antidote to the T-34. The revolutionary combination of thick, angled armour, heavy firepower and superb mobility placed it in a dass above its closest German contemporaries, the Panzer III and Panzer IV. The combat debut of the T-34 Model 1940 tank in the summer of 1941 revealed it to be unquestionably the finest tank design of its time. The T-34 Model 1942 closely resembled the Model 1941, but incorporated a number of detail changes which had been introduced to simplify production and reduce costs.

T-34-76 Medium Battle Tank