Morozov, Aleksandr

Born Oct. 16 (29), 1904, in Bezhitsa, now Briansk Oblast. Soviet tank designer; major general of the technical services (1943); doctor of technical sciences (1972); Hero of Socialist Labor (1942). Member of the CPSU from 1943.

Morozov graduated from a machine-building technicum in 1931. He served as chief of a plant’s design office group from 1931 to 1938, assistant chief of the design office from 1938, and chief designer from 1940. From 1931 to 1939, Morozov participated in the design of light wheeled and track-laying tanks, including the BT-2, BT-5, and BT-7. Jointly with M. I. Koshkin and N. A. Kucherenko, he was in charge of designing the medium T-34 tank, which was recognized as the best tank of World War II (1939–45). After the war several tanks and other armored weapons were created under Morozov’s direction. He was a deputy to the fifth convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Morozov received the State Prize of the USSR (1942, 1946, and 1948) and the Lenin Prize (1967) and was awarded two Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, six ether orders, and various medals.