From June 1943 onwards, there was great concern in the ranks of Soviet tank units. They had met the German Panther for the first time on the field of battle at Kursk, and the mighty Tiger I was being encountered in increasing numbers. The Soviets desperately needed a tank with a more effective gun, and the solution offered up was a T-34 with a larger turret and larger gun. This new tank was known as the T-34/85, and it featured an 85mm antitank gun (derived from an anti-aircraft gun of the same caliber) mounted in a larger three-man turret. This more powerful tank entered service from March 1944 onwards.