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This seems to be a “Here are some apples and here are some oranges - please compare” types of questions, so it is very difficult to answer.However, from the phrasing I will attempt to answer in two ways:What is the calibre of the named persons and would they be good in a government? (aka a Fantasy Government)Which group has more democratic legitimacy to govern?Calibre:Michel BarnierHe has served in several French cabinet positions such as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2005, Minister of State for European Affairs from 1995 to 1997, and Minister of the Environment and Way of Life from 1993 to 1995. He also served at European level as European Commissioner for Regional Policy (1999–2004) and European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services (2010–2014); he also was Vice President of the European People's Party from 2010 to 2015.Barnier was appointed Minister for Agriculture in the French government on 18 June 2007, stepping down on 7 June 2009 upon his election as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). He served as European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services under Barroso.The European Commission has appointed him as their Chief Negotiator in charge of the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).(Source: Wikipedia[1]So he is a very experienced politician serving at the top of the French Government. Likely to be a valuable addition to any Government. He has been a very effective Commissioner.Donald TuskTusk has been involved in Polish politics since the early 1990s, having founded several political parties and held elected office almost continuously since 1991. Tusk was one of the co-founders of the free-market-oriented Liberal Democratic Congress party. He entered the Sejm (lower chamber of Poland’s parliament) in 1991, but lost his seat in the 1993 election which went badly for the Congress. In 1994, the Congress merged with the Democratic Union to form the Freedom Union. In 1997 Tusk was elected to the Senate and became its deputy speaker. In 2001 he co-founded another centre-right party, Civic Platform (PO), and he was again elected to the Sejm, and became its deputy speaker.[3] He was elected Prime Minister in 2007 and with his party's victory in the 2011 Polish parliamentary election, he became the first Prime Minister to be re-elected since the fall of Communism in Poland.In 2014, he became President of the European Council, and was re-elected to this position in 2017. He resigned as Polish Prime Minister to take the role, having been the longest-serving Prime Minister of the Third Polish Republic.(Source: Wikipedia[2]No only has he served in Government, he was a Prime Minister of Poland. Again, an excellent choice for any Government. As President of the European Council he has certain given a profile to the job which did not previously exist and expresses the view of the Council admirably.Guy VerhofstadtGuy Maurice Marie Louise Verhofstadt (Dutch: [ˈɣiː vərˈɦɔfstɑt] (About this sound listen); born 11 April 1953) is a Belgian politician who has served as the Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Belgium since 2009. He served as the 47th Prime Minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008, Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium from 1985 to 1992 and Minister of Budget from 1985 to 1992. He was a Member of the Chamber of Representatives from 1985 to 2009.Since 2009 he has served as a Member of the European Parliament where he is the leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and founded the inter-parliamentarian federalist Spinelli Group. He was the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party nominee for President of the European Commission in the 2014 European Parliament election, and is the European Parliament's representative in the Brexit negotiations.(Source: Wikipedia[3]Another ex-Prime Minister! Great political experience and again surely a great addition to our Fantasy Government. OK, he is a Lib-Dem, so might not fit in well with the previous two who are essential Conservatives, but maybe in a coalition? He is the leader of the ALDE group in the European Parliament and while there are aspects of his politics which I would disagree with, I cannot fault his political style in leading that group.I won’t give the Wikipedia thumbnails for the UK politicians as I think they are all well know, at least to UK readers.Theresa MayUK Prime Minister following David Cameron after he resigned following his failed EU Referendum. May was selected by MPs only and was not subject to a vote by the party. Her previous role in the Home Office was notable by her inability to use even the levers available to her to control immigration. Probably would not have become Prime Minister except in the special circumstances of the EU Referendum. Went on to lose the Conservative majority in the snap General Election with an at best lacklustre performance. Not exactly first choice for Fantasy Government PM, but she is resilient.David DavisLong established politician and has served in previous administrations. Noted for going of the rails occasionally, such as when he wasted taxpayers thousands of pounds in a pointless By-election over an issue that probably few can remember. Probably only in the government due to the special circumstances of the EU Referendum. While in charge of the negotiations with the EU, he has appeared out of his depth and not in charge of his brief. His profile has almost entirely disappeared since December. Probably too old for our Fantasy Government.Boris JohnsonAh, Boris. The cleverest “fool” in the government. Extremely intelligent, but likes to play the jolly idiot. Enjoys the limelight and admiration. Wants desperately to be PM. However, prone to gaffs. Appears bored of actual government. A good laugh, but a serious politician? Well, only if it means the advancement of Boris.Democratic Legitimacy:Michel BarnierBarnier is a Commissioner, put forward by the French Government and confirmed in position by the European Parliament. He has no party political role to speak of, but instead executes the Work Programme of the EU as agreed between the European Council and the European Parliament. He can serve two 5 year terms and can be “recalled” by the European Parliament if he does not perform well enough. No political mandate and no political power.Donald TuskTusk is the President of the European Council, but President in the sense of the French use of the word, i.e. its Chairman. He co-ordinates and acts as the spokesman for the European Council, but has no party political role himself and is dependent on the Council for decisions and direction. He can serve 2 2.5 year terms. No political mandate and no political power.Guy VerhofstadtVerhofstadt is an elected MEP from Belgium and the leader of the ALDE grouping in the European Parliament. He therefore is a politician and has a mandate from his electorate. Normal political mandate and political power.Again, I won’t talk about the three British politicians in detail as they are well know. In their current roles as elected British MPs and members of the UK Government they obviously wield considerable political power and have the mandate of their electorate.It has been suggested that they are more easily removed than the Europeans, but it is worth noting that under the UK First Past the Post system this is actually extremely unlikely as Johnson and Davies have “Very Safe Seats”, while May has an “Ultra Safe Seat”[4].The two groups obviously have very different roles with the UK Politicians directly governing, while the europeans are part of a Treaty based organisation which seeks to deliver the requirements of its Member States, the UK being one of them. So they don’t really “Govern” anyone.Footnotes[1] Michel Barnier - Wikipedia[2] Donald Tusk - Wikipedia[3] Guy Verhofstadt - Wikipedia[4] http://www.voterpower.org.uk/

What is ESE/ IES ?Indian Engineering Services comprise of engineers who work under the government of India and designated as Class – 1 officer. They administer a large segment of the public sector economy, which constitutes of Indian Railways, Power, Telecommunications, Central Water engineering, Defence service of Engineers, Central Engineering Service, etc. The nature of work performed by these bureaucrats largely depends on their engineering branch and the service or cadre they are recruited in. The career progression goes smoothly attaining high esteem. The first position offered is that of Asst. Executive engineer and the hierarchy ends at the position of Chairman/ Managing Director.A combined competitive examination is conducted by the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to the Indian Engineering Services. The Examination constitutes of a written examination followed by an interview for the personality test. The recruitment of qualified candidates is made under the following categories:Electronics & Telecommunication EngineeringElectrical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringCivil EngineeringESE eligibility:(I) Nationality:A candidate must be either:(a) A citizen of India or(b) A subject of Nepal or A subject of Bhutan or(c) A Tibetan refugee who came over to Indian before the 1st January, 1962 with the intention of permanentlysettling in India or(d) A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or East African countries ofKenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or from Vietnam withthe intention of permanently settling in India.Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (b), (c) and (d) above shall be a person in whose favor acertificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.(II) Age Limits:A candidate for this examination must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years on the 1st January, of the exam year.The upper age-limit of 30 years will be relaxable up to 35 years in the case of Government servants of the following categories, if they are employed in a Department/Office under the control of any of the authorities mentioned in column 1 below and apply for admission to the examination for all or any of the Service(s)/Posts mentioned in column 2, for which they are otherwise eligible.The upper age-limit prescribed above will be further relaxable:(i) Upto a maximum of five years if a candidate belongs to a scheduled caste or a scheduled tribe.(ii) Upto a maximum of three years in the case of candidates belonging to OBC category.(iii) Upto a maximum of five years if a candidate had ordinarily been domiciled in the state of Jammu & Kashmir during the period from 1st January, 1980 to the 31st day of December, 1989.(iv) Upto a maximum of three years in the case of defence service personnel disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area, and released as a consequence thereof.(v) Upto a maximum of five years in the case of ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on 1st August, and have been released (i) on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year from 1st August) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, or (ii) on account of physical disability attributable to Military Service or (iii) on invalidment; (vi) Upto a maximum of five years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment of five years of Military Services as on 1st August, and whose assignment has been extended beyond five years and in whose case the Ministry of Defence issues a certificate that they can apply for civil employment and they will be released on three months notice on selection from the date of receipt of offer of appointment.(vii) Upto a maximum of 10 years in the case of blind, deaf-mute and Orthopaedically handicapped persons.(III) Minimum Educational Qualifications:Obtained a degree in Engineering from a university incorporated by an act of the central or state legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as universities under section-3 of the university grants commission act, 1956 orPassed Section A and B of the Institution Examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India) orObtained a degree/diploma in Engineering from such foreign University/College/Institution and under such conditions as may be recognised by the Government for the purpose from time to time orPassed Graduate Membership Examination of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India) orPassed Associate Membership Examination Parts II and III/Sections A and B of the Aeronautical Society of India orPassed Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Radio Engineers, London held after November 1959Provided that a candidate for the post of Indian Naval Armament Service (Electronics Engineering Posts and Engineer Group 'A' in Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing/Monitoring Organization) may possess any of the above qualifications or the qualification mentioned below namely: M.Sc degree or its equivalent with Wireless Communication, Electronics, Radio Physics or Radio Engineering as a special subject.ESE 2018 SyllabusBROAD CONTENTS OF THE GENERAL STUDIES AND ENGINEERING APTITUDE PAPER( Stage-I, Paper-I).General Studies and Engineering Aptitude(Stage I - Paper I, Objective type, Common to all Candidates, 2 hours duration, 200 Marks maximum)The questions from the following Topics will be set in Paper-I of Stage-ICurrent issues of national and international importance relating to social, economic and industrial developmentEngineering Aptitude covering Logical reasoning and Analytical abilityEngineering Mathematics and Numerical AnalysisGeneral Principles of Design, Drawing, Importance of SafetyStandards and Quality practices in production, construction, maintenance and servicesBasics of Energy and Environment : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, Climate Change, Environmental impact assessmentBasics of Project ManagementBasics of Material Science and EngineeringInformation and Communication Technologies (ICT) based tools and their applications in Engineering such as networking, e-governance and technology based education.Ethics and values in Engineering professionNote:The paper in General Studies and Engineering Aptitude will include Knowledge of relevant topics as may be expected from an engineering graduate, without special study.Questions from all the 10 topics mentioned above shall be set. Marks for each Topic may range from 5% to 15% of the total marks in the paper.REVISED SYLLABI OF FOUR ENGINEERING DISCIPLINESUNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, NEW DELHIENGINEERING SERVICES EXAMINATION (ESE) SYLLABIBranch/Discipline: Civil Engineering(Contents for syllabi of both the Papers together for Stage-I objective type Paper–II and separately for Stage-II Conventional type Paper-I and Paper – II)PAPER – I1. Building Materials:Stone, Lime, Glass, Plastics, Steel, FRP, Ceramics, Aluminum, Fly Ash, Basic Admixtures, Timber, Bricks and Aggregates: Classification, properties and selection criteria;Cement: Types, Composition, Properties, Uses, Specifications and various Tests; Lime & Cement Mortars and Concrete: Properties and various Tests; Design of Concrete Mixes: Proportioning of aggregates and methods of mix design.2. Solid Mechanics:Elastic constants, Stress, plane stress, Strains, plane strain, Mohr’s circle of stress and strain, Elastic theories of failure, Principal Stresses, Bending, Shear and Torsion.3. Structural Analysis:Basics of strength of materials, Types of stresses and strains, Bending moments and shear force, concept of bending and shear stresses; Analysis of determinate and indeterminate structures; Trusses, beams, plane frames; Rolling loads, Influence Lines, Unit load method & other methods; Free and Forced vibrations of single degree and multi degree freedom system; Suspended Cables; Concepts and use of Computer Aided Design.4. Design of Steel Structures:Principles of Working Stress methods, Design of tension and compression members, Design of beams and beam column connections, built-up sections, Girders, Industrial roofs, Principles of Ultimate load design.5. Design of Concrete and Masonry structures:Limit state design for bending, shear, axial compression and combined forces; Design of beams, Slabs, Lintels, Foundations, Retaining walls, Tanks, Staircases; Principles of pre-stressed concrete design including materials and methods; Earthquake resistant design of structures; Design of Masonry Structure.6. Construction Practice, Planning and Management:Construction - Planning, Equipment, Site investigation and Management including Estimation with latest project management tools and network analysis for different Types of works; Analysis of Rates of various types of works; Tendering Process and Contract Management, Quality Control, Productivity, Operation Cost; Land acquisition; Labour safety and welfare.PAPER – II1. Flow of Fluids, Hydraulic Machines and Hydro Power:(a) Fluid Mechanics, Open Channel Flow, Pipe Flow:Fluid properties; Dimensional Analysis and Modeling; Fluid dynamics including flow kinematics and measurements; Flow net; Viscosity, Boundary layer and control, Drag, Lift, Principles in open channel flow, Flow controls. Hydraulic jump; Surges; Pipe networks.(b) Hydraulic Machines and Hydro power -Various pumps, Air vessels, Hydraulic turbines – types, classifications & performance parameters; Power house – classification and layout, storage, pondage, control of supply.2. Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering:Hydrological cycle, Ground water hydrology, Well hydrology and related data analysis; Streams and their gauging; River morphology; Flood, drought and their management; Capacity of Reservoirs.Water Resources Engineering : Multipurpose uses of Water, River basins and their potential; Irrigation systems, water demand assessment; Resources - storages and their yields; Water logging, canal and drainage design, Gravity dams, falls, weirs, Energy dissipaters, barrage Distribution works, Cross drainage works and head-works and their design; Concepts in canal design, construction & maintenance; River training, measurement and analysis of rainfall.3. Environmental Engineering:(a) Water Supply Engineering:Sources, Estimation, quality standards and testing of water and their treatment; Rural, Institutional and industrial water supply; Physical, chemical and biological characteristics and sources of water, Pollutants in water and its effects, Estimation of water demand; Drinking water Standards, Water Treatment Plants, Water distribution networks.(b) Waste Water Engineering:Planning & design of domestic waste water, sewage collection and disposal; Plumbing Systems. Components and layout of sewerage system; Planning & design of Domestic Waste-water disposal system; Sludge management including treatment, disposal and re-use of treated effluents; Industrial waste waters and Effluent Treatment Plants including institutional and industrial sewage management.(c) Solid Waste Management:Sources & classification of solid wastes along with planning & design of its management system; Disposal system, Beneficial aspects of wastes and Utilization by Civil Engineers.(d) Air, Noise pollution and Ecology:Concepts & general methodology.4. Geo-technical Engineering and Foundation Engineering :(a) Geo-technical Engineering : Soil exploration - planning & methods, Properties of soil, classification, various tests and inter-relationships; Permeability & Seepage, Compressibility, consolidation and Shearing resistance, Earth pressure theories and stress distribution in soil; Properties and uses of geo-synthetics.(b) Foundation Engineering: Types of foundations & selection criteria, bearing capacity, settlement analysis, design and testing of shallow & deep foundations; Slope stability analysis, Earthen embankments, Dams and Earth retaining structures: types, analysis and design, Principles of ground modifications.5. Surveying and Geology:(a) Surveying: Classification of surveys, various methodologies, instruments & analysis of measurement of distances, elevation and directions; Field astronomy, Global Positioning System; Map preparation; Photogrammetry; Remote sensing concepts; Survey Layout for culverts, canals, bridges, road/railway alignment and buildings, Setting out of Curves.(b) Geology : Basic knowledge of Engineering geology & its application in projects.6. Transportation Engineering:Highways - Planning & construction methodology, Alignment and geometric design; Traffic Surveys and Controls; Principles of Flexible and Rigid pavements design.Tunneling - Alignment, methods of construction, disposal of muck, drainage, lighting and ventilation.Railways Systems – Terminology, Planning, designs and maintenance practices; track modernization.Harbours – Terminology, layouts and planning. Airports – Layout, planning & design.UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, NEW DELHIENGINEERING SERVICES EXAMINATION (ESE) SYLLABIBranch/Discipline: Mechanical Engineering(Contents for syllabi of both the Papers together for Stage-I objective type Paper–II and separately for Stage-II Conventional type Paper-I and Paper – II)PAPER – I1. Fluid Mechanics:Basic Concepts and Properties of Fluids, Manometry, Fluid Statics, Buoyancy, Equations of Motion, Bernoulli’s equation and applications, Viscous flow of incompressible fluids, Laminar and Turbulent flows, Flow through pipes and head losses in pipes.2. Thermodynamics and Heat transfer:Thermodynamic systems and processes; properties of pure substance; Zeroth, First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics; Entropy, Irreversibility and availability; analysis of thermodynamic cycles related to energy conversion: Rankine, Otto, Diesel and Dual Cycles; ideal and real gases; compressibility factor; Gas mixtures.Modes of heat transfer, Steady and unsteady heat conduction, Thermal resistance, Fins, Free and forced convection, Correlations for convective heat transfer, Radiative heat transfer – Radiation heat transfer co-efficient; boiling and condensation, Heat exchanger performance analysis3. IC Engines, Refrigeration and Air conditioning:SI and CI Engines, Engine Systems and Components, Performance characteristics and testing of IC Engines; Fuels; Emissions and Emission Control. Vapour compression refrigeration, Refrigerants and Working cycles, Compressors, Condensers, Evaporators and Expansion devices, Other types of refrigeration systems like Vapour Absorption, Vapour jet, thermo electric and Vortex tube refrigeration. Psychometric properties and processes, Comfort chart, Comfort and industrial air conditioning, Load calculations and Heat pumps.4. Turbo Machinery:Reciprocating and Rotary pumps, Pelton wheel, Kaplan and Francis Turbines, velocity diagrams, Impulse and Reaction principles, Steam and Gas Turbines, Theory of Jet Propulsion – Pulse jet and Ram Jet Engines, Reciprocating and Rotary Compressors – Theory and Applications5. Power Plant Engineering:Rankine and Brayton cycles with regeneration and reheat, Fuels and their properties, Flue gas analysis, Boilers, steam turbines and other power plant components like condensers, air ejectors, electrostatic precipitators and cooling towers – their theory and design, types and applications;6. Renewable Sources of Energy:Solar Radiation, Solar Thermal Energy collection - Flat Plate and focusing collectors their materials and performance. Solar Thermal Energy Storage, Applications – heating, cooling and Power Generation; Solar Photovoltaic Conversion; Harnessing of Wind Energy, Bio-mass and Tidal Energy – Methods and Applications, Working principles of Fuel Cells.PAPER – II7. Engineering Mechanics:Analysis of System of Forces, Friction, Centroid and Centre of Gravity, Dynamics; Stresses and Strains-Compound Stresses and Strains, Bending Moment and Shear Force Diagrams, Theory of Bending Stresses- Slope and deflection-Torsion, Thin and thick Cylinders, Spheres.8. Engineering Materials:Basic Crystallography, Alloys and Phase diagrams, Heat Treatment, Ferrous and Non Ferrous Metals, Non metallic materials, Basics of Nano-materials, Mechanical Properties and Testing, Corrosion prevention and control9. Mechanisms and Machines:Types of Kinematics Pair, Mobility, Inversions, Kinematic Analysis, Velocity and Acceleration Analysis of Planar Mechanisms, CAMs with uniform acceleration and retardation, cycloidal motion, oscillating followers; Vibrations –Free and forced vibration of undamped and damped SDOF systems, Transmissibility Ratio, Vibration Isolation, Critical Speed of Shafts. Gears – Geometry of tooth profiles, Law of gearing, Involute profile, Interference, Helical, Spiral and Worm Gears, Gear Trains- Simple, compound and Epicyclic; Dynamic Analysis – Slider – crank mechanisms, turning moment computations, balancing of Revolving & Reciprocating masses, Gyroscopes –Effect of Gyroscopic couple on automobiles, ships and aircrafts, Governors.10. Design of Machine Elements:Design for static and dynamic loading; failure theories; fatigue strength and the S-N diagram; principles of the design of machine elements such as riveted, welded and bolted joints. Shafts, Spur gears, rolling and sliding contact bearings, Brakes and clutches, flywheels.11. Manufacturing ,Industrial and Maintenance Engineering:Metal casting-Metal forming, Metal Joining, Machining and machine tool operations, Limits, fits and tolerances, Metrology and inspection, computer Integrated manufacturing, FMS, Production planning and Control, Inventory control and operations research - CPM-PERT. Failure concepts and characteristics-Reliability, Failure analysis, Machine Vibration, Data acquisition, Fault Detection, Vibration Monitoring, Field Balancing of Rotors, Noise Monitoring, Wear and Debris Analysis, Signature Analysis, NDT Techniques in Condition Monitoring.12. Mechatronics and Robotics:Microprocessors and Microcontrollers: Architecture, programming, I/O, Computer interfacing, Programmable logic controller. Sensors and actuators, Piezoelectric accelerometer, Hall effect sensor, Optical Encoder, Resolver, Inductosyn, Pneumatic and Hydraulic actuators, stepper motor, Control Systems- Mathematical modeling of Physical systems, control signals, controllability and observability. Robotics, Robot Classification, Robot Specification, notation; Direct and Inverse Kinematics; Homogeneous Coordinates and Arm Equation of four Axis SCARA RobotUNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, NEW DELHIENGINEERING SERVICES EXAMINATION (ESE) SYLLABIBranch/Discipline: Electrical Engineering(Contents for syllabi of both the Papers together for Stage-I objective type Paper–II and separately for Stage-II Conventional type Paper-I and Paper – II)PAPER – I1. Engineering MathematicsMatrix theory, Eigen values & Eigen vectors, system of linear equations, Numerical methods for solution of non-linear algebraic equations and differential equations, integral calculus, partial derivatives, maxima and minima, Line, Surface and Volume Integrals. Fourier series, linear, non-linear and partial differential equations, initial and boundary value problems, complex variables, Taylor’s and Laurent’s series, residue theorem, probability and statistics fundamentals, Sampling theorem, random variables, Normal and Poisson distributions, correlation and regression analysis.2. Electrical MaterialsElectrical Engineering Materials, crystal structures and defects, ceramic materials, insulating materials, magnetic materials – basics, properties and applications; ferrities, ferro-magnetic materials and components; basics of solid state physics, conductors; Photo-conductivity; Basics of Nano materials and Superconductors.3. Electric Circuits and FieldsCircuit elements, network graph, KCL, KVL, Node and Mesh analysis, ideal current and voltage sources, Thevenin’s, Norton’s, Superposition and Maximum Power Transfer theorems, transient response of DC and AC networks, Sinusoidal steady state analysis, basic filter concepts, two-port networks, three phase circuits, Magnetically coupled circuits, Gauss Theorem, electric field and potential due to point, line, plane and spherical charge distributions, Ampere’s and Biot-Savart’s laws; inductance, dielectrics, capacitance; Maxwell’s equations.4. Electrical and Electronic Measurements:Principles of measurement, accuracy, precision and standards; Bridges and potentiometers; moving coil, moving iron, dynamometer and induction type instruments, measurement of voltage, current, power, energy and power factor, instrument transformers, digital voltmeters and multi-meters, phase, time and frequency measurement, Q-meters, oscilloscopes, potentiometric recorders, error analysis, Basics of sensors, Transducers, basics of data acquisition systems5. Computer Fundamentals:Number systems, Boolean algebra, arithmetic functions, Basic Architecture, Central Processing Unit, I/O and Memory Organisation; peripheral devices, data represenation and programming, basics of Operating system and networking, virtual memory, file systems; Elements of programming languages, typical examples.6. Basic Electronics Engineering:Basics of Semiconductor diodes and transistors and characteristics, Junction and field effect transistors (BJT, FET and MOSFETS), different types of transistor amplifiers, equivalent circuits and frequency response; oscillators and other circuits, feedback amplifiers.PAPER – II1. Analog and Digital Electronics:Operational amplifiers – characteristics and applications, combinational and sequential logic circuits, multiplexers, multi-vibrators, sample and hold circuits, A/D and D/A converters, basics of filter circuits and applications, simple active filters; Microprocessor basics- interfaces and applications, basics of linear integrated circuits; Analog communication basics, Modulation and de-modulation, noise and bandwidth, transmitters and receivers, signal to noise ratio, digital communication basics, sampling, quantizing, coding, frequency and time domain multiplexing, power line carrier communication systems.2. Systems and Signal Processing :Representation of continuous and discrete-time signals, shifting and scaling operations, linear, time-invariant and causal systems, Fourier series representation of continuous periodic signals, sampling theorem, Fourier and Laplace transforms, Z transforms, Discrete Fourier transform, FFT, linear convolution, discrete cosine transform, FIR filter, IIR filter, bilinear transformation.3. Control Systems:Principles of feedback, transfer function, block diagrams and signal flow graphs, steady-state errors, transforms and their applications; Routh-hurwitz criterion, Nyquist techniques, Bode plots, root loci, lag, lead and lead-lag compensation, stability analysis, transient and frequency response analysis, state space model, state transition matrix, controllability and observability, linear state variable feedback, PID and industrial controllers.4. Electrical Machines :Single phase transformers, three phase transformers - connections, parallel operation, auto-transformer, energy conversion principles, DC machines - types, windings, generator characteristics, armature reaction and commutation, starting and speed control of motors, Induction motors - principles, types, performance characteristics, starting and speed control, Synchronous machines - performance, regulation, parallel operation of generators, motor starting, characteristics and applications, servo and stepper motors.5. Power Systems :Basic power generation concepts, steam, gas and water turbines, transmission line models and performance, cable performance, insulation, corona and radio interference, power factor correction, symmetrical components, fault analysis, principles of protection systems, basics of solid state relays and digital protection; Circuit breakers, Radial and ring-main distribution systems, Matrix representation of power systems, load flow analysis, voltage control and economic operation, System stability concepts, Swing curves and equal area criterion. HVDC transmission and FACTS concepts, Concepts of power system dynamics, distributed generation, solar and wind power, smart grid concepts, environmental implications, fundamentals of power economics.6. Power Electronics and Drives :Semiconductor power diodes, transistors, thyristors, triacs, GTOs, MOSFETs and IGBTs - static characteristics and principles of operation, triggering circuits, phase control rectifiers, bridge converters - fully controlled and half controlled, principles of choppers and inverters, basis concepts of adjustable speed dc and ac drives, DC-DC switched mode converters, DC-AC switched mode converters, resonant converters, high frequency inductors and transformers, power supplies.UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, NEW DELHIENGINEERING SERVICES EXAMINATION (ESE) SYLLABIBranch/Discipline: Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering(Contents for syllabi of both the Papers together for Stage-I objective type Paper–II and separately for Stage-II Conventional type Paper-I and Paper – II)PAPER – I1. Basic Electronics Engineering:Basics of semiconductors; Diode/Transistor basics and characteristics; Diodes for different uses; Junction & Field Effect Transistors (BJTs, JFETs, MOSFETs); Transistor amplifiers of different types, oscillators and other circuits; Basics of Integrated Circuits (ICs); Bipolar, MOS and CMOS ICs; Basics of linear ICs, operational amplifiers and their applications-linear/non-linear; Optical sources/detectors; Basics of Opto electronics and its applications.2. Basic Electrical Engineering:DC circuits-Ohm’s & Kirchoff’s laws, mesh and nodal analysis, circuit theorems; Electro-magnetism, Faraday’s & Lenz’s laws, induced EMF and its uses; Single-phase AC circuits; Transformers, efficiency; Basics-DC machines, induction machines, and synchronous machines; Electrical power sources- basics: hydroelectric, thermal, nuclear, wind, solar; Basics of batteries and their uses.3. Materials Science:Electrical Engineering materials; Crystal structure & defects; Ceramic materials-structures, composites, processing and uses; Insulating laminates for electronics, structures, properties and uses; Magnetic materials, basics, classification, ferrites, ferro/para-magnetic materials and components; Nano materials-basics, preparation, purification, sintering, nano particles and uses; Nano-optical/magnetic/electronic materials and uses; Superconductivity, uses.4. Electronic Measurements and Instrumentation:Principles of measurement, accuracy, precision and standards; Analog and Digital systems for measurement, measuring instruments for different applications; Static/dynamic characteristics of measurement systems, errors, statistical analysis and curve fitting; Measurement systems for non-electrical quantities; Basics of telemetry; Different types of transducers and displays; Data acquisition system basics.5. Network Theory:Network graphs & matrices; Wye-Delta transformation; Linear constant coefficient differential equations- time domain analysis of RLC circuits; Solution of network equations using Laplace transforms- frequency domain analysis of RLC circuits; 2-port network parameters-driving point & transfer functions; State equations for networks; Steady state sinusoidal analysis.6. Analog and Digital Circuits:Small signal equivalent circuits of diodes, BJTS and FETs; Diode circuits for different uses; Biasing & stability of BJT & JFET amplifier circuits; Analysis/design of amplifier- single/multi-stage; Feedback& uses; Active filters, timers, multipliers, wave shaping, A/D-D/A converters; Boolean Algebra& uses; Logic gates, Digital IC families, Combinatorial/sequential circuits; Basics of multiplexers, counters/registers/ memories /microprocessors, design& applications.PAPER – II1. Analog and Digital Communication Systems:Random signals, noise, probability theory, information theory; Analog versus digital communication & applications: Systems- AM, FM, transmitters/receivers, theory/practice/ standards, SNR comparison; Digital communication basics: Sampling, quantizing, coding, PCM, DPCM, multiplexing-audio/video; Digital modulation: ASK, FSK, PSK; Multiple access: TDMA, FDMA, CDMA; Optical communication: fibre optics, theory, practice/standards.2. Control Systems:Classification of signals and systems; Application of signal and system theory; System realization; Transforms& their applications; Signal flow graphs, Routh-Hurwitz criteria, root loci, Nyquist/Bode plots; Feedback systems-open &close loop types, stability analysis, steady state, transient and frequency response analysis; Design of control systems, compensators, elements of lead/lag compensation, PID and industrial controllers.3. Computer Organization and Architecture:Basic architecture, CPU, I/O organisation, memory organisation, peripheral devices, trends; Hardware /software issues; Data representation& Programming; Operating systems-basics, processes, characteristics, applications; Memory management, virtual memory, file systems, protection & security; Data bases, different types, characteristics and design; Transactions and concurrency control; Elements of programming languages, typical examples.4. Electro Magnetics:Elements of vector calculus, Maxwell’s equations-basic concepts; Gauss’, Stokes’ theorems; Wave propagation through different media; Transmission Lines-different types, basics, Smith’s chart, impedance matching/transformation, S-parameters, pulse excitation, uses; Waveguides-basics, rectangular types, modes, cut-off frequency, dispersion, dielectric types; Antennas-radiation pattern, monopoles/dipoles, gain, arrays-active/passive, theory, uses.5. Advanced Electronics Topics:VLSI technology: Processing, lithography, interconnects, packaging, testing; VLSI design: Principles, MUX/ROM/PLA-based design, Moore & Mealy circuit design; Pipeline concepts & functions; Design for testability, examples; DSP: Discrete time signals/systems, uses; Digital filters: FIR/IIR types, design, speech/audio/radar signal processing uses; Microprocessors & microcontrollers, basics, interrupts, DMA, instruction sets, interfacing; Controllers & uses; Embedded systems.6. Advanced Communication Topics:Communication networks: Principles /practices /technologies /uses /OSI model/security; Basic packet multiplexed streams/scheduling; Cellular networks, types, analysis, protocols (TCP/TCPIP); Microwave & satellite communication: Terrestrial/space type LOS systems, block schematics link calculations, system design; Communication satellites, orbits, characteristics, systems, uses; Fibre-optic communication systems, block schematics, link calculations, system design.Sourse UPSC websitehttp://www.upsc.gov.in/

Favorite does not mean best right? Then my choice would be the T-34.(T-34/85 in the Nishy-Novgorod Kremim, Russia.)Here we look at the Soviet tank that spearheaded all the Soviet offensives of World War Two, indeed the tank would become the very icon of the Red Stream-Roller that drove from Stalingrad to Berlin. Some historians argue that it was the best tank of the war; others say that its capabilities are vastly exaggerated. We look at both sides of the argument and the history of the T-34, a machine that the Russians call the ‘Victory Tank.’when war broke out in 1939 the most numerous tanks available to the Soviets were the fast cavalry tanks of the BT series, but events in Mongolia at Khalkhin-Gol against the Japanese showed the BT to be vulnerable to fire and too lightly armoured. Another tank available in large numbers to the Soviets at this time was the T-26. However, the T-26 was a light tank and as such, it was too lightly armoured and armed to be able to hold its own against medium tanks, it was also slow moving, being designed to keep pace with the infantry. Both these designs were developed from foreign models from the early 1930s, the T-26s being based on the British Vickers 6-ton whilst the BTs were based on the American Walter Christie designs.During their brief border, wars with Japan at Lake Khasan and Khalkhin-Gol in 1939 had nearly 500 T-26s, BT-5s, and BT-7s. The Japanese Type 95s had diesel engines yet the Soviet machines were relying on petrol driven ones, as did the tanks of most nations at that time, these often burst into flames when hit by Molotov Cocktails when attacked by Japanese tank hunting squads. This coupled with poor welding in the Soviet armour plates left small gaps in the armour through which the flaming petrol from the Molotovs easily seeped into the fighting and engine compartments along with portions of armour plating that had been assembled with rivets proving vulnerable made going to war in the BTs a very uninviting prospect. Added to this was the fact that main gun on the Japanese Type 95, the 37-mm, in spite of its mediocre performance was easily able to piece the armour on the BTs and T-26s. The use of riveted armour led to an effect called ‘Spalling,’ whereby hit by an enemy shell, even if the hit failed to disable the vehicle, the rivets could be forced to break off and become like flying bullets inside the tank, often killing and maiming members of the crew.In 1937, before these border clashed with the Japanese had started the Red Army had given an Engineer Mikhail Koshkin (3rd December 1898 – 26thSeptember 1940) the job of leading a team for designing a replacement for the BT tanks. At first glance, Mikhail Koshkin would seem a strange choice for the role. He had started life as a sweet maker before studying engineering. But as it turned out, he proved to be the correct choice and he soon got himself and his team working at the Khakiv Komintern Locomotive Plant.(T-34/85 mounted up as a memorial. Also in Nishy-Niovgorod)(KhPz) the first prototype dubbed, the A-20 was to have been made with 20-mm (0.8-inches) of armour, a 45-mm (1.77-inch) gun and was to be fitted with the new Model V 2-24 engine, which used less flammable diesel fuel in a V-12 configuration designed by Konstantin Chelpan (27th May 1899 – 10 March 1938) whom headed the Engineering Design Bureau at the KhPz plant was later shot on the orders of Stalin, becoming one of the countless victims of the’ Purges’. The new design also had an 8 x 6 wheel convertible drive to that found on the BT tanks V x 2 which allowed it to run on wheels without the need of caterpillar tracks of the early 1930s, this gave the tanks of 53 mph (85 kilometers per hour.) on roads but gave no advantage in combat. However, by 1938, track design had improved and the designers considered it a waste of space and weight in spite of the increase in speed. Another feature found on the A-20 that was incorporated from the BT series was sloped armour, which was better able to deflecting anti-tank missiles than perpendicular armour.After fighting with the Japanese Koshkin approached Stalin with a proposal for a second prototype, Stalin gave the go ahead for the development of a more heavily armoured and armed tank that reflected the lessons learned in battle with Japan and would in time replace both the T-26s and BT tanks. The 2ndprototype was named by Koshkin the A-32 after its 32-mm (1.3-inch) of frontal armour. The vehicle was armed with an L-10 76.2-mm (3-inch) gun and the same Model V-2-34. Both tanks were tested in 1939 at the field’s trails at Kublinka, the heavier A-32 proved to be just as fast and mobile as the A-20. Pleased with the results the go-ahead was given for the production of a still heavier version that was to have 45-mm (1.77) of frontal armour and was armed with the newer L-11 76-2-mm gun as the T-34. Koshkin had chosen the name after the year 1934 when he had started to work on his design for a new tank and to celebrate that year’s expanding of the armoured force and appointing Sergo Orzdhonikidze (24th October 1886 – 18 February 1937 possibly murdered as a victim of Stalin’s purge) to head tank production.From the outset, there was resistance to the T-34 Programme from within the military who believed it would be better to manufacture vast numbers of the older T-26 and BT tanks but the poor performance of these models in the Winter War (Russo-Finnish War, fought in the Winter of 1939-40) swung opinions to the T-34 and production went ahead.(The original T-34 prototype, the A-32, so named after the thickness of the frontal armour, 32-mm (1.3-inch).)The first production batch of the new tank was completed in September 1940 when it completely replaced the production of the T-26 and BT series and the massive multi-turreted T-28 medium tanks at the KhPz Plant. Though the T-34 was a very new design, it kept the superb American designed Christie suspension system and the sloped armour of the earlier models. The mass production of the tank soon got under way with the T-34/76 A. When the Germans attacked the USSR on the 22ndJune 1941, the type was already well established and it came as a nasty shock to the Germans, though the tank had posed a series of new challenges for the Soviet industry. The vehicles produced was heavier ay other previously produced up to that date and there problems with defective armour plates. Another problem that was to prove series in battle was that only the company commanders could be equipped with radios. (Originally, the 10-RT radio set) due to their expense and short supply whilst the rest of the tank had to make do with signalling flags like on old sailing ships.(A view of the Battle of Kursk where the T-34 helped destroy the German Panzers in what was the biggest but not the bloodiest battle of WW2. Painting by Alexander Pavlenko)“The Russian tanks are so agile, at close ranges they will climb a slope a cross a piece of swamp faster than you can traverse the turret. When they hit one of our panzers there is often a deep long explosion, a roar as the fuel burns, a roar too loud, thank god to let us near the cries of the crew.”(German panzer crewman belonging to Guderian’s Second Panzer army. Soviet union 1941)Another problem was the L-11 gun, which did not live up to expectations so the design bureau at Gorky Factory N. 92 designed a superior F-34 76.2-mm. No bureaucrat could be found willing to approve the production of the new gun however, Gorky and the KhPz started to produce the weapon anyway and after the gun’s performance in combat official approval came from the state Defence Committee.As the German war-machine rolled ever deeper into the Soviet Union, Moscow came out with an incredible decision; they would move the factories east, to beyond the Urals out of reach of the relatively short ranged bombers of the Luftwaffe. This was off cause a daunting task, to move entire factories, the people and machines would require the use of huge quantities of rolling stock, yet it was achieved in spite of German aircraft bombing the railways and marshalling yards. The movement of hundreds of factories in 1941 has to rank has one of the most remarkable logistical operations of World War Two. The experiences and hardships of the workers and engineers as they were up-rooted from their families and sent east in often freezing conditions and badly heated railway cars can only be imagined.“On the 3rd of July, the People’s Commissioner for the machine building N. S Kazakov issued orders that the ‘Kransil Profintin,’ be evacuated to Krasnoyarsk in East Siberia.We began dismantling the equipment next morning…Three persons loaded one fright car in less than hour.By the evening of the 6th July, the first train was ready for send off. It consisted of 34 fright cars carrying 334 people.…We managed works was to go up 9in was a hemp field… a wasteland with 4 barracks – the stores of grain-purchasing agency……We managed to find lodgings for the people in the Kirov district of Krasnoyarsk in schools abd community centres that were not functioning at that time. And the local people shared their homes with the new arrivals. Some offered a room, others the corner of a room…It took, 7,550 freight cars to evacuate the plant. Some were sent to Gorky, to Sverdlovsk, Nizhnil Togil… the lion’s share, more than 6 thousand freight cars, were sent to Krasnoyarsk.”(Factory worker evacuated to the East 1941)(A Soviet crew operate a 76mm gun during the fighting in Stalingrad. Even at the height of the battle factories there were turning out T-34s. Tank crews went to the factories and picked up the T-34s there and then drove them straight to front unpainted. The front line could be a matter of just a few hundred yards from the factory. Painting by A Marchenko)Finding suitable buildings to house the machinery proved to be a major problem, many were constructed from scratch, as was finding suitable housing for the tens of thousands of workers who were shipped east with the factories.At first conditions were crude and harsh, workers slaved away in factories still awaiting their roofs and walls in sub-zero conditions. People worked, clad in thick fur coats and gloves, some even slept besides their machines. Alexander Morozov (16th October 1904 – 14th June 1979) whom had been appointed chief designer for the T-34 personally supervised the evacuation of all skilled engineers, machinery and stock from the KhPz Plant to re-establish the factory. In the Urals at Nizhny Tagil, here in Dzerzhinsky Ural Rail Car factory N. 183. The Kirovsky plant was moved just in time to avoid being caught up in an encircled Leningrad when the Germans tigfhtened their hold on the city. It was relocated along with the Kharkiv diesel Factory to Chelyabinsk, soon, due to the huge numbers of T-34s made there it bear the nickname Tank City. (Tankograd) The manufacturing history of the tank is staggering; altogether, from 1940 to the end of production in the 1950s as many as 84’070 tanks were built, this includes tanks made under licence in Poland and Czechoslovakia. Many were roughly finished, with welding marks clearly visible yet this did not hamper their mechanical reliability. As a result, it was the most wildly produced tank of the Second World War and the second most wildly produced tank in history after the Soviet T-54/55 series.Soviet designer were aware of a few deficiencies (Some were quite such as poor optics and two man turret.) within the tank but to fix them would have production and the Soviet Command was a firm believer in quantity over quality. Over a period of two years production costs for the T-34 were cut time and time again and production time was half as new innovations were brought in to speed manufacture, such as the newly designed 76.2-mm F-34 Model 1941 gun which had 614 parts compared to the older models 861. A new hexagonal turret was designed in 1942 that was less cramped than the previous one and a new clutch was added. Working in the factories now were a mixed bunch, 50% of whom were women, 15% boys and 15th invalids and old men.The tanks performance in battle was mixed, hampered by lack of a radio, poor optics, poor quality training, and poor tactical deployment the tanks were destroyed in huge numbers.“The T-34s operated in a disorganized fashion with little coordination, or else tended to clump together like a hen with chicks. Individual tank commanders lacked tactical awareness due to poor provision of vision devices and preoccupation of gunnery duties. A tank platoon would seldom be capable of engaging three separate targets, but would tend to focus on a single target selected by the platoon leader. As a result, T-34 platoons lost the greater firepower of three independently operated tanks.”(Official German report)(Soviet T-34/76 tanks made at the Uralmash Plant in 1942 being prepared for the front. Looking at the workers heavy coats, it is clear that it is very cold in the factory.)On top of this by 1941, the army was in the process of being massively overhauled.Many new weapons had been approved but they had not yet been deployed and only 115 T-34s were produced in 1940 and the old army make up had been dismantled but had not yet been replaced by the new system.The Germans had serious trouble with the T-34 early in the war; the guns on many of their tanks were unable to stop the Soviet machines, which just bounced off their sloped armour. The wide tracks of the T-34 meant that the tank could cross-terrain were the German tanks would get bogged down, often amazing the Axis as they witnessed it cross swamps and plough through deep snow with relative ease. The panzer IV, the T-34s most dangerous opponent before the Tiger, used a primitive leaf-spring suspension and narrow tracks. “We had nothing comparable,” wrote Fredrich von Mellenthin. (30th August 1904 – 28th June 1997)“The main weakness of the two man-turret of a T-34 Model 1941 is that it is very tight. The Americans couldn’t understand how our tankers could fit inside during a winter, when they wear their sheepskin jackets. The electrical mechanism for rotating the turret is very bad. The motor is weak, very overloaded and sparks horribly, as a result of which the device regulating the speed of the rotation burns out. and the teeth of the cogwheels break into pieces. They recommend replace it with a hydraulic or simply manual system.”(Major General of Tank Armies, Khlopov.)(T-34s overrun a German trench at Kursk, July 1943. Painting by Robert Forczyk)A long march could be punishing for an early model T-34. In June 1941, D. Ryabyshev’s 8th Mechanized Corps lost half of their tanks from breakdowns whilst on the road to Dubno.“From the point of operating them, the German armoured vehicles were almost perfect, they broke down less often. For the Germans, coving 200-km was nothing, but with T-34s, something would be lost, something would have broken down. The technological equipment of their machines were better, the combat gear was worse.”(Artem Drabkin and Oleg Sheremet {T-34 in Action})One of the problem’s with the T-34’s reliability was with the suspension system.“The Christie’s suspension was tested long ago by the Americans and unconditionally rejected. On our tanks, because of the poor steel on the springs, it very quickly (Unclear word)} and as a result of clearance is notably reduced. The delicences, in our tracks from their viewpoint results from the lightness of their construction. They can easily be damaged by small-calibre and mortar rounds. The pins are extremely poor tempered and made of poor steel. As a result, they quickly wear and the track often breaks.”(Major General of Tank Armies, Khlopov.)The tracks were part of the T-34 that had to be more frequently repaired.“The caterpillars used to break apart even without bullet or shell hits. When earth got struck between the road wheels, the caterpillar tracks, especially during a turn – strained to such an extent that the pins and tracks couldn’t hold out.”(A. V. Maryevski)(One of a very few surviving T-34/76s, this one a Polish T-34 Model 1943 in Poznan. Notice the 1943’s hexagonal turret that distinguishes it from the earlier models.)Tests conducted at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland in the United States revealed a multitude of problems, dust and sand getting into the ignition and causing the engine to grind to a halt. The turret drive also suffered reliability, added to this was the use of poorly manufactured, low quality steel side friction clutches and outdated and badly manufactured transmission meant that the T-34 broke down frequently.“Judging by samples, Russians when producing tanks pay little attention to careful or the finishing technology of small parts and components, which leads to the loss of the advantage of the use of diesel, the good contours of the tanks, thick armour, good and reliable armaments. The successful design of tracks, etc. Russian tanks are significantly inferior to American tanks in their simplicity, manoeuvrability, the strength of firing, (reference to muzzle velocity) speed. The reliability of mechanical construction and the ease of keeping them running.”(Major General of Tank Armies, Khlopov.)(T-34/85s form part of the Prokhorovka Battle of Kursk memorial just outside the town of that name. Though the 85mm armed T-34 did not enter service until well after the Battle of Kursk very few 76mm armed T-34s remain as most survivors were upgraded to the 85 model. As a result the vast majority of T-34s found on memorials or in museums are 85s.)Several key factors that led the Germans to the very gates of Moscow in spite of the markedly inferiority of the German tanks over the T-34 was the poor state of leadership, tank tactics and crew training of the Soviet armoured formations. This was largely a result of Stalin’s ruthless purges of the officer corps in the 1930s, which had vastly reduced the army’s efficiency and morale.(During 1941, about a quarter of the troops had no military training whatsoever. most commanders felt lucky to have T-34 drivers with three to five hours instruction. the tactics were also related to poor training. The individual tank commanders lacked situation awareness. The enormous shortcomings in training and tactics demonstrated by Red Army tank units rendered the T-34 a very blunt sword.”(Steven J Zaloga)(The advance of the T-34s at Kursk seemed unstoppable. Painting by Graham Turner)By the tme of the Battle of Kursk in July 1943, the Red Army was the biggest land history. The infantry made up the mass of this huge force as they did in every army but it was the tanks that formed the pivot. The Soviets organised with three to a troop with three troops to a squadron and two squadrons plus a supply platoon forming a tank battalion. Three battalions formed a brigade, and a tank corps, two of these with a mechanized corps made up a tank army which contained three brigades plus motorised infantry, self–propelled artillery and supporting formations.A popular method employed by the Red army may seem extreme and costly to the eyes of the West, in order for the infantry to keep up with the tanks, special detachments of tank infantry, referred to as Tankodesantkiki were formed. Armed with sub-machine guns, the men would go into action riding on the backs of the tanks. As hey reached the enemy position they would just off the tanks and deal with the opposition and when the fighting was over they would simply hitch a ride on the tanks, needless to say that they had a very short life expectancy. The very idea was crude and casualties were high but it worked. A mass of charging T-34s, firing as they came with groups of infantry crouched behind the turrets had a devastating effect on the morale of the enemy.(Soviet infantry huddled on top of a BT-7 model 1935 tank during training. Such, infantry dubbed Tankodesantkiki, exposed, as they were suffered appalling casualties. The life expectancy for a Tankodesantkiki was usually measured in days.)During 1942-43, the German infantry began receiving large numbers of Pak-40.75-mm anti-tank guns, which very quickly became the nemesis of the T-34. Along with the 88-mm the Pak 40 began to make its presence known, whereas the 88 was big ad unwieldy, having a high profile the Pak 40 had a low profile and was therefore easier to conceal, the Germans passed large numbers onto their allies, the Finns who used them with great success.(Finnish troops operating a German Pak 40.75-mm during the Continuation War. They are wearing Italian helmets and carrying Czechoslovak Rifles. The Pak 40 was very effective in knocking out T-34s. Its low profile meant that it was a lot easier to conceal than the unwieldy 88 .)In response the Soviets began upgrading their T-34s, the Model 1942 increased armour and the Model 1943 (Actually interduced in 1942) had even more armour, increased fuel and ammunition capabilities and an improved engine filter and a new clutch.Soviet tactics too were improving; at Stalingrad, they had deployed a double envelopment manoeuvre that had surrounded the German 6th Army and forced them to surrender in February 1941 in a campaign that is wildly regarded to be the turning point of the war on the Eastern Front.(Smashed German armour at Kursk. Part of a Diorama in the Belgorad State history and art Museum which has this to say about the display ‘The Arc of Fire was set up by the creative teamwork of military painters being members of the Grekov Studio awarded with the Red Banner of Labour and the Red Star: People’s Artist of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Nikolay Yakovlevich But (Team Leader), honoured artists of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Gennady Kirillovich Sevostyanov and Viktor Nikolayevich Shcherbakov as well as artist Mikhail Antonovich Sychyov.)In 1943, the Soviets created Polish and Czech armies in exile and started to supply them with T-34 Model 1943s with Hexagonal turrets. Like with the Soviets, the Polish and Czech tank crews were sent into action very quickly and with little training and as a result, casualties were predictably high.July 1943 saw the Germans launch Operation Citadel in the area around the city of Kursk that was to witness the largest clash of armour in history with over 6’000 armoured tracked vehicles taking part in what has become known as the Battle of Kursk. This was to be Germany’s last major offensive on the Eastern Front in World war Two and it saw the debut of the German Panzer V, the Panther tank that was armed with a powerful high velocity 75-mm gun, these would operate with the Tigers (Panzer VI) that were being used for the first time in large numbers and were armed with the deadly 88. The objective of Citadel was to pinch of a huge salient in the German lines around the cities of Kursk, Orel, and Belgorod and to trap huge numbers of Soviet troops located in the Salient. However, Soviet intelligence had got wind of the plain from a spy close to Hitler and accordingly had moved large numbers of troops and equipment into the threatened area.“The fascists are attacking between 3rd July and the 5th. This isn’t a guess but a fact. We know it.”(Lieutenant-General Nikita S Khrushchev.)Also seeing its debut in the battle was thew giant Ferdinand or Elephant self-propelled gun, also armed with an 88. However, this vehicle was to prove to be a major disappointment to the Germans as its designers had neglected to fit the Ferdinand with machine-guns and it could only manage 11 mph (17 km) and so it became easy prey for Soviet infantry.Hitler placed a lot of faith in the new Panzer V Panther tanks, yet production was a disappointing mere 50 vehicles a month whilst the Soviet factories were churning out 1’000 T-34s every month.The fighting was desperate and bitter with heavy casualties on both sides.“Our tanks advance across the steppes in small groups, using copses and hedges as cover. Initial staccato gunfire soon merged in a great-sustained roar. The Russian tanks met the German advance formation flat out.Both sides’ were mixed up together, and there was no opportunity, either in time or space to disengage and reform in battle formation. At times, the range was short… When a tank was hit, frequently its turret was blown off and tossed through the air for dozens of yards.At the same time, over the battlefield furious air fighting built up; with both Russian and German airmen trying to help their own side. Prokhovoka seemed to be permanently in the shadow of bomber, ground-attack, and fighter aircraft, and one dogfight seemed to follow another without respite.In no time at all, the sky seemed to be palled by the smoke of the various wrecks. The earth was black and scorched with tanks burning like torches.”(General Pavel A Rotmistov)The T-34 proved to be no match for the Tiger and the Panther but the overwhelming numbers of Soviet armour proved to be irresistible.“Soon many of the T-34s had broken our screen and where streaming like rats all over the battlefield.”(A German tank commander)(The German plan to pinch of the Kursk Salient and trap huge numbers of Soviet troops was foiled by a spy in Berlin who informed Stalin of the Plans.)One problem that confounded the Germans at Kursk concerned their new Panther tanks whose engines tended to burst to flames when they over heated, sometimes incinerating the crews. Yet the T-34s still suffered from the usual breakdowns as the Germans discovered when using captured examples such as the surprise night attack on Rzhavets when Major Franz Bake (28 February 1898 – 12th December 1978) led two battalions of Germans with a captured T-34 at the front to successfully capture the town.“After about six miles our T-34 went on strike. Moved no doubt by national sentiments, it stopped and blocked the road. So our men had to climb out of their tanks and in spite of the Russians standing all around them, watching cautiously, they had to haul the T-34 off the road and push it into a ditch in order to clear the way for the rest of the formation.In spite of the order that not a word of German was to be spoken, a few German curses were heard. But the Russians still did not notice anything. The crew of our T-34s was picked up and we moved on.”(Major Franz Bake)(The Germans would never recover probably from their defeat at Kursk in 1943, the losses in men was bad enough coming less than a year after Stalingrad but this battle saw the destruction of many of Germany’s new tanks and Sp-guns, the loss of material was immense as this painting by R Krivonogov shows.)With the Allied landings in Sicily, the Citadel offensive was called off as valuable Panzer units were sent in to Sicily in a futile attempt to throw the invaders back into the sea.The Soviet Union’s decision to concentrate on one cost effective design, whilst cutting cost and simplifying production had been proven to be the right choice, though it proved to be a costly one for the crews. However, the Soviet’s had learned during the fighting around Kursk that the 76.2-mm gun of the T-34 was no longer the effective weapon it was back in 1941. They discovered that the crews were unable to piece the frontal armour of the Tiger 1s and Panthers at the standard combat ranges and were forced to rely on working around the enemy tanks rear and sides and overwhelming numerical superiority but often succeeding at the cost of high casualties.The Soviets had also encountered up-gunned versions of the German Panzer IV equipped with the high-velocity 75-mm (2-95-inch) gun, Morozov’s design bureau to design a completely new tank to be dubbed the T-43, which was to have better armour protection and a three-man turret and was intended to replace the T-34 and the bigger KV-1 heavy tank.(The soviet T-43 was intended to replace the T-34 but it was counciled in favour of the more heavily armed T-34/85.)In late 1942, the Tiger 1 appeared on the battlefields of the Eastern Front as a response to the T-34. The soviets conducted tests on a captured Tiger in April 1943 and they discovered that the T-34’s 76-mm could not punch through the frontal armour of the Tiger at all and the sides only at very close range. The Soviet has had on hand the 52-K-85-mm anti-aircraft gun, which was found to be effective against the frontal armour of the Tiger, and so it was decided to go ahead with developing the 52-K for use on tanks. As work had already begun on upgrading the 52-K before the appearance of the Panther and as the T-34 prototype’s heavy armour proved to be no defence against the Tiger’s 88-mm (3.46-inch) gun and its mobility was found to be inferior to that of the T-34’s, it was decided to develop the 52-K for fitting to the T-34. The result was the T-34/85, which became the standard Soviet medium tank with an uninterrupted production ruin fore the rest of the war. In comparison, the Germans chose to upgrade with more heavy and expensive models that were difficult to produce and often to maintain in the field whilst by the end of May 1944 the Soviets were manufacturing 1’200 T-34/85s a month. During the entire war, production of types of Panthers was just a mere 6’557 whilst by the war’s end production of the T-34/85 alone ran at 22’559. One thing that continually amazed the Germans was the ability of the Soviets in keeping their machines running in the most extreme weather when German tanks would not even start.(T-34/85s and Su-152s (top picture by the burning building) advance towards the Reichstag. Painting by Alexander Pavlenko.)“Suddenly machine-gun fire rattles at us. Tank engines into lower gear and were like frightened babies. Though the blizzard the outline of enemy tanks show themselves our artillerymen run around screaming. They throw away their arms, fall down, and are crushed by the heavy caterpillar tracks. Some stop and put up their hands to signal their surrender, but the next moment their mowed down by the whipping machine-gun fire.”(A German eyewitness)After the defeat of Nazi Germany, the Soviets next turned their attention to Japanese in Manchuria in August of 1945. Here the Japanese were even more unprepared than the Germans had been to deal with the waves of T-34s and the campaign was over very quickly with relatively little cost the Soviets when compared to their battles in Europe.Korea.At the start of the Korean War a full brigade of T-34s of 120 T-34/85s, equipped the North Korean armoured forces and these spear headed the invasion of the South in June 1950. Later more T-34s joined the initial force that had crossed into South Korea.. At the start, the Communist machines had overwhelming success against South Korean infantry and the Americans of Task Force Smith and US M 24 Chafee tanks. The old World war era Bazooka that equipped the US infantry proved to be totally inadequate, the rockets failing to stop the T-34s as did the shells of the Chafee’s 75-mm gunsHowever, the superiority of the T-34 in Korea was not to last, the tanks met their match when they started to encounter the American M-26 heavy tanks and ground-attack aircraft. Then US infantry began to be supplied with the 3-5-inch Super-Bazooka, which were rapidly flown over from the States. Later the still M 4 Shermans of the M 4 A 3E8 variants and British Centurions arrived. By August 1950, the tide of war turned in favour of the United Nations forces when the North Koreans suffered a series of defeats in tank battles when the UN troops brought their new equipment to bear. The US landing at Incheon came on September 15th; these were successful and cut of the North Koreans supply lines causing the tanks and infantry to run out of fuel, ammunition, and food. This forced the North Koreans into an all-out retreat, leaving behind many T-34s and other heavy equipment. By the time, that the retreat was over the Communists had lost 239 T-34s and 74 Su-76s. After November 1950, North Korean armour was rarely encountered. Yet combat between the tanks of the UN and T-34s was not over, when China entered the war they brought with them four regiments of t-34/85s and a few IS-2s and other armoured vehicles, however the Chinese dispersed the tanks with the infantry resulting in tank vs tank encounters being rare.(North Korean t-34/85, knocked out by the United States Marines in September 1950 during the UN advance on Seoul after the amphibious landings at Incheon.)China would later produce the T-34 tank in their own factories as the Type 58. A survey conducted in 1954 concluded that the conflict witnessed 119 tanks vs tank actions involving US army and Marine, with 97 T-34/85s being destroyed along with another 18 probables. The M 4 A3E8 was involved in half of these, the M-26 in 32% and the M-46 in 10% the later two tanks proved to be a bit of an overkill for the T-34s as their 90-mm firing HVAP rounds (High velocity armour piecing) could penetrating the armour of the M-26 and the M-46. The M 4 A3E8 was about an equal match for the T-34 but the Shermans had the advantage with superior HVAP ammunition.(An M-19 Self-Propelled gun and an M 46 Patton during the epic retreat from the Yalu. The T-34 did not present the same problem for the Americans in Korea as it had once done for the Germans in WW2. Painting by David Pentland.)The T-34 soldiers on in the armies of several countries and took part in several wars, the 1956 Hungarian Upraising; Cyprus junta the Cypriot National Guar 35 T-34/85 tanks, which were used to help support a coup by the Greek junta on 15thJuly 1974. They also helped fight, (unsuccessfully) in the Middle East, Vietnam, Angola, Somalia, and even in Yugoslavia in the 1990. The influence of the T-34 on the future development of tanks was immense. Surviving T-34s can be seen mounted on war memorials all over Eastern Europe where the tank has become a symbol of the Soviet Union’s war with the Axis.Love it or hate it, the T-34 was without doubt one of the most influential weapons in history.(Egyptian T-34/85 in the Saladin Citadel military museum, Cairo.)SourceMagazines.1) War Machine. Soviet and American Tanks of World war Two II. Various authors. Orbis Publishing.Books.1) Russia at War, 1941-45. By Vladimir Karpov. Preface by Harrison Salisbury. Edited by Carey Schofield Stanely Paul and Co, Ltd.2) World War II. Russia Besieged. BY Nicholas Bethell. Time Life Books.3) Weapons and War Machines. BY Ian V Hogg and John Batchelor. Phoebus Publishing Company.4) World Way II. The Soviet Juggernaut. By Earl F Zemke. Time Life Books.Web.1) Tank desant. Wikipedia.2) T-34. Wikipedia.3) T-24. Wikipedia.4) T-43. Wikipedia.5) Mikhail Koshkin. Wikipedia.6) Sergo Ordzhonikidze. Wikipedia.7) Konstantin Chelpan. Wikipedia.8) Alexander Alexandrovich Morozov. Wikipedia.9) Fredrich von Mellenthin. Wikipedia.10) 7.5-cm Pak-40. Wikipedia.11) Franz Bake. Wikipedia.