The T-34/76 had some fundamental flaws as a weapon system.

The Germans themselves have expressed the opinion that the T-34 was the most effective tank they encountered. High maneuverability and relatively spacious interior arrangement have made this tank a favorite of Soviet tank crews.

Sloping armor was a relatively new concept that allowed for increased protection by presenting a surface that induced deflection of horizontal shot and presented an increased cross section compared to the same thickness of armor. Conversely, very few German weapons were able to pierce the T-34’s sloped armor. Until late 1942, the T-34 was capable of defeating all German tanks, including the Panzer IVF, which mounted 50 millimeter frontal armor. The T-34 was an outstanding design, combining the attributes of speed, protection, and firepower in a vehicle that was simple for the Soviet arms industry to produce in quantity, and was not beyond the functional and maintenance capabilities of the average Russian soldier.

Battle of tanks t 34