Here is an article about most famouse fight of KV-1
The newspaper “Into the glory of the native land” from 09.09.06
Main battle of Senior Lieutenant Zinoviy Kolobanov.
“To stand to death!” - task I obtained personally from the division commander Baranov, told Kolobanov after war to Leningrad journalists. - he showed me on the map the fork of the roads, which go in the Luga and Kingisepp, and he ordered: “to overlap and to stand to death”. Situation in the environs of Leningrad was such, that I perceived the order of division commander literally. Yes, to step back was already nowhere: behind was Leningrad…
Kolobanov told: "when I returned to the company, they soldiers already concluded loading rounds. Were taken mainly armor-piercing. Two fire units. There were three roads, which should be be overlapped, .
I gave orders to the crew, to defend roads on the flanks, and I decided to defend the road in the center. With the tank commanders we supported radio communication. Company sent two tanks - Lieutenant Sergeyev and Junior Lieutenants Yevdokimenko - to the Luga road (now - Kiev highway). Two additional KV under the command of Lieutenant Lastochkin and Junior Lieutenant Degtyar were directed to protect the road, which leads to Volosovo. Tank of company commander stood in ambush in the road, which connects Tallin highway with the road to Marienburg - in the North outskirts of Krasnogvardeysk.
Let us again give word to Zinof kolobanov: "road went past us at small angle, excellently examined. We began organization of the position for the ambush. But to dig out caponnier for KV - this, I will directly say, heavy labor. On top of that soil fell strong. But we equipped the primary position, and spare. Tank was placed, all they thoroughly disguised ".
For his tank Kolobanov determined position in such a way, that in the sector of fire was the longest, well opened section of road. Distance to it about 150 meter. Around in the field the untidy stacks was seen: the extensive swampy meadows were pulled along both sides of road in Marienburg. There was even small lake with the ducks carelessly floating on it.
Nearer to the night approached infantry cover. Very young Lieutenant reported Kolobanovu, that he arrived at his disposal. Experienced tanker understood: from the infantry in this battle it will be little to sense. But fearing, that the Germans will visit KV into the rear and will blind crew by the smoke pots, he ordered to place infantrymen behind the tank, in the side so that they would look after the flanks.
“To the battle!”
19 August 1941. Morning. The sun rose. About ten oclock they heard shots to the left - on the road, where held defense the armored machines of Lieutenant Lastochkin and Junior Lieutenant Degtyar. They reported on the radio that one of the crews engaged the battle with the German tanks. Kolobanov called for the commander of the infantry unit and ordered: to him to open fire only after KVs gun will fire. About two oclock appeared enemy vihicles. After slamming the hulls, crew stood still at their places. Gunner Senior Sergeant Andrey Usov reported, that he sees three motorcycles with the carriages. The order of the commander followed: - dont open fire! German motorcyclists rushed forward to the side of Marienburg, without noticing disguised in the ambush KV. Carrying out the order Of Kolobanov, reconnaissance and the infantrymen did not begin to open fire also. Dust yet did not calm down , when column appearad . In front - staff vihicles, after them - tanks. To Leningrad moved units of the 10th tank regiment of the eighth tank division of Wehrmacht.
T -.III and T -.IV moved on the reduced distance, substituting their left boards almost on strict angle to KVs gun: ideal targets! Their hulls were opened, part of the Germans sat on the armor. Crew even distinguished their faces - it was only 150 meter to the road! Column pulled out along the highway. It seemed it will be no end. "eighteen... Twenty... Twenty two!", - counted the tanks Kolobanov. At this time with the company commander along the radio connected battalion commander Shpiller. He sternly asked: - "Kolobanov, why you let Germans to pass?!" To answer battalion commander there was no time: leading tank slowly left to the cross-road and close approached two birches - orientator №1. Leading tank they blowed with the first round. By the second shot, directly on the cross-road, was stopped the second tank. The plug arose on the road. Column was pressed as spring, and tanks merged into one gray wall. Kolobanov ordered to transfer fire to the tail of column in order to finally lock it on the road. So enemy was in the trap: neither forward nor back tanks could move, and they did not dare to roll up to the swampy field. First time germans could not even determine from where shooting is conducted, and they opened fire from their guns on the shocks of hays, which immidiatelly caught fire. But soon ambush was discovered, and tank duel of one KV against eighteen German tanks began. To the Kolobanovs tank was brought down entire deg of armor-piercing shells. About what thaught enemy tankers, turning towers and loking to the target sights? Probably, lonely Soviet tank seemed them a suicider. They yet did not know that they deal with KV.
From the masking soon didt remain anything. Tankers suffocate from gunpowder gases, became deaf from the frequent impacts of German rounds about the armor. Loader, Red Army private Nikolai Rodenkov worked in the rabid rate, forcing into the breech of gun round after round. Usov didnt abandon the target sight, and continued to conduct fire…
Kolobanov recalled after the war: "Im frequently asked: did I feel fear at that moment? It is uncomfortable to answer, you can think that Im boasting. But I felt no fear. I will explain, why. Im soldier. After retirement for twenty three years worked in the national economy. But nevertheless entire life it felt myself soldier. At that time division commander gave me order "to stand to death". These words are not some emotional formulation, but precise order. I accepted it to the performance. It was finished, if it is necessary, to die. And no fear I had and couldnt have “.
… the commanders of the tanks, which held defense on other roads, reported on the radio about the situation in their sections. Kolobanov understood from their reports that there also occur fierce fightings and reinforcment will not come…
Understanding, that burn into the trap, Germans attempted somehow to maneuver. But they got stuck in the swamp. KVs rounds struck their tanks one after another. But numerous direct hits of enemy rounds did not cause special harm to Soviet tank. Infantry unit came to help German tankers. Germans rolled for the road anti-tank guns. Kolobanovnoted these preparations of the enemy. - orientator is two! - he yelled. - straight line, under the front panel, fragmentation - fire! Usov struck by HE fragmentation round the antitank guns. When German infantry joined the battle the infantry unit located behind KV began fire. Usov managed to destroy one of the guns immediately. But the second gun had time to produce several shots. One of them broke the scanning periscope, from which conducted the battlefield surveillance Kolobanov, and another, after striking under the tower, wedged it. Usov soon was possible to break that gun, but KV lost the possibility to turn its seven-ton tower. Now the corrective turns of the gun to the right and to the left could be made, only turning entire tank. And again word to Kolobanov: "What does remember tanker about the battle? Crossing of sight. Here stress is such, that the time is compressed, to the outside thoughts there is not second. I remember, as my fellows shouted: "hurray!", "it burns!.." But to restore some details of this battle - I cant”. … Nikolai Kisel’kov came out to the armor and established spare periscope instead of the damaged. Kolobanovt ordered driver Nikolai Nikiforov to derive tank from the caponnier and to engage alternate firing position. On the eyes in Germans huge tank moved backward from its shelter, drived in the bushes and again opened fire on the column. Now it was necessary for the driver to show his skills. Carrying out Usov’s orders, he once after at once turned KV in the necessary direction. The fire of enemy gradually weakened. Finally last tank was destroyed, battle ceased. They burnt all of 22 German tanks. In their armored wombs the ammunition continued to vomit, heavy dark-blue smoke was pulled above the swampy plain…
During the slaughter that lasted more than hour, Kolobanov`s crew
fired on the tanks and the anti-tank guns of the enemy 98 rounds, including all armor-piercing. In that battle KV obtained 156 hits from the armor-piercing shells. The battalion commander established connection.
By the loud voice Shpiller asked:
- Kolobanov how it goes? Do they burn?
- They burn well, comrade battalion commander!
Senior Lieutenant reported: crew destroyed the enemy tank column with number into 22 combat vehicles, crew cannot further hold position, cause ammunition end, there are no armor-piercing shells, and tank itself obtained serious damages.
Soon on the armored car drove up Shpiller. Together with him there was civil person with the film camera in the hands. After clinging to the viewfinder, he shot a long panorama of the burning column of Germans. Shpiller thanked crew for the successful fulfillment of combat mission and reported that soon the place of battle will approach the tanks of Lieutenant Lastochkin and Junior Lieutenant Degtyar.
For that battle Senior Lieutenant Kolobanov was rewarded with the Order of the Red Banner, and the gunner of tank Senior Sergeant Usov - by Order of Lenin.
Kolobanov is in the center of the foto!
