The Kliment Voroshilov (KV) tank was a Soviet heavy tank named after the Soviet defense commissar and politician Kliment Voroshilov and used by the Red Army during World War II. The KV series were known for their extremely heavy armor protection during the early part of the war, especially during the first year of the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Until better guns were developed by the Germans, it was often the case that the only way to defeat a KV was with a point-blank shot to the rear.