T-55k command tank - turret photos needed

[badger]

On 05/05/2023 at 21:18, Kingsman said:

 

 

Great photo - thank you. I have a couple of Revell 1/72 T-55s that need this and the instructions are none too clear on how it all fits.

 

On 06/05/2023 at 08:09, Old pro said:

 

An interesting photo of another Finnish T 55 showing a rear mounted tube that seems thinner than the normal snorkel.

an odd East German T 55 (with a lot of old and new features) seems to show a thinner tube mounted behind the bumper and in front of the snorkel, unfortunately it is a poor quality picture.

 

Fantastic selection of photos - thank you!!

I have a magazine article on Finnish T55s somewhere I'll dig out as they seem to be throwing up some interesting information.

 

That East German one is brilliant - such a mix of features. Would make a great addition to the 1/72 collection.

[badger]

Digging around I've found the East German photo identified as a T-54z (updated T-54).

 

I think I can make out a turret ventilator, possibly with a black canvas(?) cover.

 

Either way, an interesting future project

[Old pro]

12 hours ago, badger said:

Digging around I've found the East German photo identified as a T-54z (updated T-54).

 

I think I can make out a turret ventilator, possibly with a black canvas(?) cover.

 

Either way, an interesting future project

Yeah I did wonder, but not being able to see the turret ventilator correctly although there is something black there, that said it has all the features you would expect from an early T 54 especially with the main gun minus fume extractor and the wheels. T 54z seems to be an unofficial title, there is no reference to them in German orbats although sources do tell of 3 z programs for the T 54, 54A and 54AM (which is an oxymoron as the AM is already a modified A) however in German literature they are all classed as T 54A of which there were 193, at the time of German reunification, 160 of which were in reserve and 33 stored, although there is no difference noted between command tanks and troop tanks.

All that said it would be odd to give a T 55 these features mainly because the fume extractor was part of the main gun stabilisation and the main gun does look to even have the weight to replicate it seen on earlier T 54s.

[Kingsman]

The smooth-barrel D-10T gun is only seen on the early T-54s up to the T-54-3 (M1951).  Allegedly there was a command version of the T-54-3.  The D-10TG with the fume extractor was introduced on the T-54A (M1955).  The T-54A was the first type licence-built in Poland and Czechoslovakia.  Czech T-54AKs apparently came in 2 types, AK-1 and AK-2.  AK-1 just had an extra radio with a standard antenna whereas the AK-2 had the HTM-10 antenna mast.

[badger]

On 09/05/2023 at 08:49, Old pro said:

All that said it would be odd to give a T 55 these features mainly because the fume extractor was part of the main gun stabilisation and the main gun does look to even have the weight to replicate it seen on earlier T 54s.

Thanks for the details on this - may very form the basis of a future build

[badger]

Only 

On 09/05/2023 at 13:07, Kingsman said:

The smooth-barrel D-10T gun is only seen on the early T-54s up to the T-54-3 (M1951).  Allegedly there was a command version of the T-54-3.  The D-10TG with the fume extractor was introduced on the T-54A (M1955).  The T-54A was the first type licence-built in Poland and Czechoslovakia.  Czech T-54AKs apparently came in 2 types, AK-1 and AK-2.  AK-1 just had an extra radio with a standard antenna whereas the AK-2 had the HTM-10 antenna mast.

Thanks for this- I wasn't sure when Poland and Czechoslovakia started production, but vaguely recollected it wasn't right at the start of the build programs

[Kingsman]

Poland begins T-54A production in 1956, continuing until 1964.  T-55 production runs from 1958 also until 1964, with T-55A from 1964 until 1979.

 

Czechoslovakia builds T-54A from 1957 to 1966 and T-55 from 1958 until 1983.

 

Russia builds:

T-54-1 from 1946-48

T-54-2 from 1949-52

T-54-3 from 1952-54

T-54A from 1955-57

T-54B from 1957-59

T-55 from 1958-64

T-55A from 1963-81

[badger]

On 12/05/2023 at 20:54, Kingsman said:

Poland begins T-54A production in 1956, continuing until 1964.  T-55 production runs from 1958 also until 1964, with T-55A from 1964 until 1979.

 

Czechoslovakia builds T-54A from 1957 to 1966 and T-55 from 1958 until 1983.

 

Russia builds:

T-54-1 from 1946-48

T-54-2 from 1949-52

T-54-3 from 1952-54

T-54A from 1955-57

T-54B from 1957-59

T-55 from 1958-64

T-55A from 1963-81

Thank you - thats a very useful summary!