Question: "What's Big, Green, has a 152mm howitzer, and carries a squad of shock troops?"
Answer: "I don't know, but getting the heck outta here!!!"
The Kliment Voroshilov (KV Model 1946) Czernobog is named after the dark god in Slavic mythology that conjures up and sends forth demonic minions. It is designed primarily as a breakthrough walker, to be used as spearhead in frontal assaults, able to soak up enormous damage and can go over many obstacles and anti-tank ditches. Its heavy caliber howitzer can destroy most man-made obstacles and bunkers, and provide supporting fire to its dismounted infantry. Like its namesake, it carries a squad of troops in an armored compartment.
Design
The Kliment Voroshilov design bureau utilized the lines of the previous KV-2 turret, a sight already vaunted by the the enemies of the motherland. The main body is constructed in two parts. The front is the fighting compartment, with the upper level housing the main and secondary weaponry. The vehicle commander and driver-mechanic is on the left, with the gunner, loader, and assistant loader on the right. Machine gunners have their own separate hatches on top of the sponsons. The lower level serve as a troop compartment, being able to carry a squad of fully equipped troops under armor. To the rear is the engine and locomotor compartment.
The main fighting compartment can traverse 5 degrees to the right or left. The main gun can further traverse another 40 degrees both ways, to compensate for the limited traverse of the body.
Armament
The KV-46 Czernobog is mainly armed with a heavy 152mm howitzer, being able to fire HE, HEDP, and AP rounds. Thus it can be used against fixed fortifications, buildings, and other armored vehicles and walkers. As secondary weaponry it has two DShK 12.7mm heavy machine guns mounted in side sponsons for anti-infantry work.
Variants
Many units use a modified Czernobog as a command walker, with the command element being protected in the (relatively) cavernous troop compartment. It has additional radios as needed. Some Czernobogs have flamethrowers instead of machine guns for city fighting work. Another variant is used as a siege engine, being armed with a 240mm mortar and has hydraulic spade arms at the rear to brace itself when firing.
