Thank you to Lyric1 for finding me the info for this skin, my first 1943 model T-34. This variant's texture mapping is a bit less buggy than the T-34/85 which should make multi-colour camo schemes a bit easier to do later.
This 1943 model T-34 was operated by the 119th Independent Tank Regiment, also known as the Sassuntsi-Davit Tank Regiment. Like all 119th tanks on its turret it carried the name of David of Sassoun, the hero of an epic poem relating to Armenia's 8th to 10th Century struggles against Muslim invaders.
Formed in January 1943 this Armenian-based regiment was funded by public subscription from Armenian communities outside the USSR, mainly in the USA and the Middle East. The 119th was a specialist engineer breakthrough unit equipped with a mix of 76mm and 85mm gun T-34s, some with flail mine clearing equipment, as well as some KV tanks. It April 1944 as part of the Soviet 27th Army it took part in the USSR's push into the Balkans, known as the First Jassy–Kishinev Offensive. Then in July it was attached to the 5th Guards Tank Army and fought in Operation Bagration, the great advance that destroyed the Wehrmacht's Army Group Centre. For its heroism in these battles it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner and in 1945 was rechristened the 135th Guards Tank Regiment.
