[Would you like to see the Cypriot T-34-85 in-game?]
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In 1965, a secret shipment of 32 refurbished T-34-85 tanks, accompanied by a significant quantity of other Soviet-made military equipment, arrived to Cyprus. The delivery was routed through a Yugoslav port and originated from one of the Soviet satellite states or the USSR itself. The tanks arrived in good working condition, complete with ample spare parts, and went on to serve as a core armored component of the Cypriot National Guard. After nearly two decades of service, they were officially withdrawn from active duty in 1984.
Unique Features:
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What makes these Cypriot T-34-85s particularly unique is their planned modification to carry additional .50 cal Browning M2/M2HB or .30 cal M1919 machine guns, unlike the Serbian T-34Bs, which typically mounted these at the rear, the Cypriots opted to install them at the front of the turret, just in front of the commander’s hatch, although photographic evidence shows some Cypriot T-34s also mounting them at the rear.
Another unique feature of the Cypriot T-34-85s was the eclectic mix of road wheels they were equipped with. Delivered with a variety of Soviet-manufactured wheels, ranging from postwar T-54/55-style wheels to the bare steel types used during World War II, on some tanks these were mounted in an ununiform pattern. This gave the Cypriot T-34s a distinctive and somewhat patchwork appearance.
The Cypriot T-34-85s originally arrived in the standard Soviet green paint scheme, typical of Warsaw Pact equipment of the era. However, over time, efforts were made to adapt their appearance to the local environment and improve concealment. Some tanks were repainted in distinct camouflage patterns suited to the Cypriot terrain, while others were given much darker shades of green. In the field, crews often took a more improvised approach, covering their tanks with mud, sand and bushes to blend into their surroundings. Additionally, Cypriot T-34-85s bore Hellenic-style markings, with Greek Armed Forces tank insignia painted on both sides and the rear of the turret.
History:
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The T-34s were assigned to the Cypriot National Guard’s 23 EMA, specifically equipping the 1st and 2nd Tank Companies.
By the 1970s, the Cypriot T-34-85s began showing first problems as spare parts became increasingly scarce and maintenance issues grew more severe. Every 8 to 10 years a tank had to be completely overhauled, a rule of thumb to keeping aging armor operational. However, Cyprus lacked both the facilities and resources for such comprehensive maintenance. As a result, the performance and reliability of the tanks steadily declined. By 1973 the tanks were in a terrible mechanical condition and 90% of their RM-31-T radios were out of order because of their age.
As a result, the use of the T-34-85s during the 1974 Turkish invasion was conservative and very hesitant, leading to poor overall results. Despite their age, the T-34s were, in theory, well-suited for the Cypriot environment, they could traverse the island without refueling and their wide tracks allowed them to move quickly across sandy beach terrain. However, the Cypriot National Guard dispersed their tanks rather than concentrating them, forfeiting one of the key advantages of armored warfare. Most of the T-34s were lost to Turkish aircraft and anti-tank weapons, while others were abandoned due to mechanical failures.
The T-34-85 managed to score a few enemy vehicles including several M113 armored personnel carriers, trucks and maybe a single Turkish M47 Patton. Ironically, a single captured Turkish M47 scored more kills against Turkish armor than the T-34-85s did. In total, the 23 EMA lost 21 T-34-85 tanks, with 6 men killed and 6 missing. They were left with 11 T-34-85 tanks that were withdrawn from service in 1984. Due to bureaucratic and political issues no efforts were made to refurbish the tanks. Ironically, the Turks had a special mission company equipped with 11 captured T-34-85s and some captured BTR-152V1s that were repaired and used until 1986. Today T-34-85s remain on Cyprus in various conditions. The National Guard might still have one in somewhat good condition that was delivered to a failed War Museum in Nicosia.
Visual Characteristics:
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The Cypriot T-34-85 appears to be based on a modified 1945 or 1946 model, which is currently only partially represented in-game by the T-34-85 Gai. In essence, the Cypriot variant could be seen as a T-34-85 Gai outfitted with a U.S.-supplied machine gun. While the Gai, at the time of writing, is the best-performing T-34-85 in War Thunder from a stats standpoint, primarily due to its 520 hp engine, it remains unclear whether the Cypriot tanks received the same engine upgrade. However, it is confirmed that Cypriot T-34-85s were fitted with an electric turret traverse system, meaning their turret rotation speed should match that of the Gai.
Notably, photographic evidence indicates the presence of a blackout projector on the left, regular projector on the right, and a box-style electric fuel pump mounted on the left glacis slope, a feature typical of 1960s modernization packages. Some also feature wooden splash guards on the frontal slope. At least one Cypriot tank has also been identified with an upgraded turret roof/ventilation system. This suggests that the Cypriot tanks may in fact be closer to the T-34-85 Model 1960, rather than earlier or less-refined variants, especially given the presence of several post-war upgrades typically associated with that modernization program (T-34-85 (1969) – The Last T-34-85). Additionally, the use of T-55-style “starfish” road wheels, not yet represented in-game, is a hallmark of 1960s production and refurbishment cycles. I suspect these are either Yugoslav T-34Bs (T-34B) or originate from the same shipment batch.
Implementation:
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I believe the Cypriot T-34-85 could be a fitting addition to the British tech tree as a premium, event, or squadron vehicle, given that Cyprus was formerly a British colony and maintains historical, cultural, and military ties to the United Kingdom. Considering the UK currently lacks a T-34-85 in its tech tree, the Cypriot T-34-85 would make a unique and historically justified addition. Its inclusion would offer British players access to a classic Eastern Bloc tank with a distinctive twist.
Disclaimer: All aspects of this suggestion are ultimately up to Gaijin’s discretion to decide and implement. This includes the vehicle’s battle rating (BR) , nation (tree), available ammunition types and visual features.
T-34-85 (Cyprus) — Specifications:
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- Crew: 5 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver, Radio Operator/MG)
- Weight: ~32 tons
- Length: 8.15 m (with gun forward)
- Width: 3.00 m
- Height: 2.45 m
- Armor: 20–75 mm (frontal turret up to ~90 mm)
- Main Armament: 85 mm ZiS-S-53 gun (56 rounds)
- Turret Rotation Speed: 21.2°/s
- Vertical Guidance: -0.5/25.0°
- Secondary Armament:
- 2 × 7.62 mm DT machine guns
- 1 × externally mounted .50 cal M2/M2HB Browning or .30 cal M1919
- Engine: V-2-34 12-cylinder diesel, 500 hp (maybe 520hp)
- Top Speed: ~55 km/h (maybe 61 km/h)
- Suspension: Christie
- Transmission: 5-speed manual
Community Skins:
Sources:
Spoiler
Mamounidakis, I. (2008). Armor on Cyprus: Evolution and Operations. Trojan Horse.
https://inf.news/en/military/438df69d27f0679881453ace4196f060.html
https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/local/dismantling-of-war-museum-has-begun/
