T-54A tank 1/35 SKIF 238

Т-54А tank

1/35 scale plastic model kit

SKIF 238

Package include:

Photo Etched set Highest quality Eduard

Decals

Gum tracks

Plastic parts

Assembly guide

Manufacturer: SKIF (Ukraine)

Scale: 1/35

Material: Plastic

Unpainted, Unassembled, Kit do not contain paints and glue.

Condition: New in Box

The T-54 and T-55 tanks are a series of main battle tanks (according to some sources) although not recognised as an MBT by Soviet and Russian sources, instead classifying them as medium tanks (the very concept of "main battle tanks" was applied only to tanks beginning with T-64A, armed with 125-mm tank gun) that were designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just as the Second World War ended. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armoured units of the Soviet Army, armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, and others. T-54s and T-55s were involved in many of the world's armed conflicts during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

The T-54/55 series eventually became the most-produced tank in history. Estimated production numbers for the series range from 86,000 to 100,000. They were replaced by the T-62, T-64, T-72, T-80, and T-90 in the Soviet and Russian Armies, but remain in use by up to 50 other armies worldwide, some having received sophisticated retrofitting.

Soviet tanks never directly faced their NATO Cold War adversaries in Europe. However, the T-54/55's first appearance in the West in 1960 spurred the United States to develop the M60 Patton.

T-54A and T-54B

In the beginning of 1950s, the personnel of the OKB-520 design bureau of the Stalin Ural Tank Factory No. 183 (Uralvagonzavod) had been changed considerably. Morozov was replaced by Kolesnikow, who in turn was replaced by Leonid N. Kartsev in March 1953. The first decision of the new designer was to fit the 100 mm D-10T tank gun with the STP-1 "Gorizont" vertical stabilizer. The new tank gun received the designation D-10TG and was fitted into the T-54's turret. The new tank received night vision equipment for the driver and was designated T-54A (Ob'yekt 137G). Originally, this had a small muzzle counter-weight, which was later replaced with a fume extractor. It was equipped with an OPVT wading snorkel, the TSh-2A-22 telescopic sight, TVN-1 infrared driver's periscope and IR headlight, a new R-113 radio, multi-stage engine air filter and radiator controls for improved engine performance, an electrical oil pump, a bilge pump, an automatic fire extinguisher and extra fuel tanks. The tank officially entered production in 1954 and service in 1955. It served as a basis for T-54AK command tank, with additional R-112 radio set (front line tanks were equipped with R-113 radio set), TNA-2 navigational device, ammunition load for the main gun decreased by 5 rounds and the AB-1-P/30 charging unit, which was produced in small numbers. In October 1954 a T-54A tank, designated as T-54M (Ob'yekt 139) served as a testbed for new D-54T and D-54TS 100 mm smoothbore guns and "Raduga" and "Molniya" stabilization systems, which were later used in the T-62. These were not completely successful, so further T-55 development continued to use the D-10 series guns. It was fitted with V-54-6 engine developing 581 hp (433 kW). It never went into production.

T-54/55

T-55

Type

Medium tank

Main battle tank

Place of origin

Soviet Union

Service history

In service

1946–1980s(T-54/USSR)

1955-present(T-55)

Production history

Designer

KMDB (T-54),

OKB-520 (T-54A and later)

Designed

1945

Manufacturer

KhPZ, UVZ (USSR),

Bumar-Łabędy (Poland),

ZTS Martin (Czechoslovakia)

Produced

1946–81 (USSR)

1956–79 (Poland)

1957–83 (Czechoslovakia)

Number built

86,000–100,000+ est.

Variants

See Operators and variantssection below

Specifications (T-55)

Weight

36 tonnes (39.7 ST)

Length

6.45 m

Width

3.37 m

Height

2.40 m

Crew

4

Armour

hull front 100 mm @60°, turret front 205 mm (rounded), hull side 80 mm @0°, lower hull side 20 mm @0°, turret side 130 mm (rounded), hull rear 60 mm @0°, turret rear 60 mm (rounded), hull top 33-16 mm, turret top 30 mm, hull floor 20 mm

Main

armament

D-10T 100 mm rifled gun

Secondary

armament

7.62 mm SGMT coaxial machine gun, (12.7 mm DShK heavy machine gun)

Engine

Model V-55(V-54) V-12 water-cooled. 38.88-l diesel

581 hp (433 kW)

Power/weight

14.6 hp/tonne

Transmission

Mechanical synchromesh, 5 forward, 1 reverse gears

Suspension

Torsion bar

Ground clearance

0.425 m

Fuel capacity

580 l internal, 320 l external (less on early T54), 400 l jettisonable rear drums

Speed

48 km/h (30 mph)