The drivers hatch on the T-34

[charlie don't surf]

Howcome the drivers hatch is almost always removed on T-34's which are put out of action, was it due to internal explosions?

regards

[gorbag]

Main gun ammunition storage was almost directly behind the driver's position, so if the tank brewed up, the explosion vented foreward and up through the turret hatches. Also, the welding on the T-34s were notoriously shoddy, owing to rather poorly trained factory workers, and the minor parts had a habit of shaking off (like hinge welds). There were instances of the driver's hatch shivering off if a German AT round scuffed off the glacis plate, though the quality control did improve as the war progressed.

[charlie don't surf]

Thanks, I suspected that this was the reason.

regards