Based on the bitter experience of Barbarossa, the T-44 was designed with heavier armour protection while still retaining the mobility of the T-34. The T-44 had a lower profile than the T-34 and other features were changed including the removal of the hull machine gun that had proved a weakness in combat. The T-44 entered service with three tank brigades in September 1944 although was not used operationally in WWII against Germany. However three were used operationally on the Soviet Eastern Front