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T-34/85 Tank (Russia)

Improving upon the already substantial armor and armament of its predecessor, the T-34/85 was fitted with an 85-mm anti-aircraft gun. Able to travel smoothly on just about any terrain, the T-34/85 was a formidable force throughout the war. When first confronted with original T-34/85 tanks, the Germans quickly took note of its superiority to their tanks.

T34/76 Light Tank (Russia)

Acknowledging the superior design of German tanks, Russia developed the T-34/76 light tank. The T-34/76 was designed to excel in armor and firepower and match its German counterparts in all ways. Although effective battlefield vehicles, Russia was unable to produce as many of these tanks as planned, so the T-34/76 never became the combat powerhouse it was intended to be.

BM-13N Katyusha "Stalin Organ" (Russia)

The Russian Katyusha was an effective mobile rocket launcher. The Russian Army typically fitted these rocket-launching ramps on trucks protected by armor. However, when times were tough they used any truck available. The Katyusha was not a very accurate rocket launcher, but because it fired rockets in salvoes, it overcame the lack of accuracy with heavy barrages.

Yak-9 Fighter plane (Russia)

First used in combat at the Battle of Stalingrad, the Yak-9 couldn’t typically keep up with the technologically superior German fighter aircraft in one-on-one dogfights. However, Russian air forces often had an advantage in terms of the number of planes in the skies because they were able to mass-produce the Yak-9. All in all, Russia produced more Yak-9s than any other fighter aircraft.

Spitfire Mk VB (U.K)

First produced in 1938, the Spitfire played an important role for the Allied Forces until the end of the war. Over time, the Spitfire was modified to incorporate heavier armor, better machine guns, and a more powerful engine. Renowned for its sleek design and unique oval wings, the Spitfire had the speed and maneuverability to counter Germany’s best fighter aircraft.

Stay tuned for part 3, when we check out the U.S based aircraft.