KV-1 Russian heavy tank, model 1942, early version
Eastern Express 35120

Design of the Kliment Voroshilov tanks, named after the Soviet Defence Commissar, began in 1938 at the Kirovskiy Works in Leningrad. After the German invasion of 1941 the KV assembly lines were evacuated to Chelyabinsk to form the new Zavod #100 known as "Tankograd" (Tank City).

KV-1 model 1942: Armour thickness increased to counter the long 75 mm gun fitted to the Panzer IV F2 and the 75 mm PaK 40 anti-tank gun. The hull side plates were 90 mm thick and the cast turret had sides 120 mm thick.