Soviets were just continuing to do what everyone else had been doing for years.
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewto...p?f=70&t=14464
Interesting to note that hatches were not sealed, but used as originally intended to help maximise visibility.
Also, power isn't required to traverse the turret, it can be done manually, albeit somewhat slower than electrically/hydraulically. That actually gives me another idea - an alternate power source could easily be substituted in a static position - steam, water, man/animal power could all be employed to charge an accumulator.
https://youtu.be/aKmi0PN7LxM?t=502
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accumulator_(energy)