I have seen it written that as part of Soviet Deep Battle, both types of corps were intended for exploitation of breaches made by the rifle divisions and heavy tank brigades of the shock armies. Is this correct? And if not, what was the proscribed role for each type of corps?
I ask because I find the development of Soviet armoured organisation fascinating to observe; the grand ideas of the early 1930s, the regression that came with the purges, then suddenly the huge multi-division formations of 1940-41. After that comes the second regression after the disasters of 1941 and finally the development of what seemed to be the "winning formula" in 1942. It is also interesting to compare with the development of armour organisation in the other belligerent armies.
A Tank Corps contains three Tank Brigades (53 tanks each) and a Mechanized Rifle Brigade, while a Mechanized Corps contains thee Mechanized Rifle Brigades and one Tank Brigade. Both units contain auxiliary units like a mortar squadron, an SPG regiment, an armoured car regiment, a Katyusha regiment, etc.
The Mechanized Corps had a lot more men (15740 vs 9667 of a Tank Corps) and thus also had extra administrative units like a State Bank field branch and a field bakery.
Sources:
Shtat 010/270
Shtat 010/418
GOKO Decree 2791ss