T-54

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T-54
T-54 in a museum in Israel

T-54 in a museum in Israel
General properties
crew 4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader)
length 6.04 m (without cannon)
width 3.27 m
height 2.4 m (tower top)
Dimensions 36 t
Armor and armament
Armor Armor steel
Main armament 1 x 100 mm cannon of the type D-10T or D-10Tg
Secondary armament 2 × 7.62 mm MG SGMT , 1 × 12.7 mm MG DschK
agility
drive V12 diesel engine W-54
520 PS (382 kW)
suspension Torsion bar
Top speed 50 km / h
Power / weight 10.6 kW / t (14.4 PS / t)
Range 400 km

The T-54 is a medium battle tank designed in the Soviet Union and built from 1947. It was a further development of the T-44 . With around 40,000 units built, the T-54 is one of the most-produced main battle tanks in the world. Despite his old age, he can still be found in the armed forces of many countries in Asia and Africa. The T-54 was later replaced by the further developed T-55 , which looks very similar to it on the outside.

development

T-54 model 1949 (tower with overhang)

From 1944, attempts were made to give the T-44 more firepower by installing a larger cannon. For this purpose, prototypes of a 100 mm and a 122 mm cannon were tested. The 122 mm cannon with the two-part ammunition turned out to be too big; the 100 mm version could be built into an enlarged tower, but it was also too big to be used effectively. Because of this, a new, enlarged turret was designed that could accommodate the cannon and at the same time had armor reinforced to 203 mm on the turret front. In order to maintain mobility despite the increased weight, a new engine called the W-54 was installed. The first prototype was completed at the end of 1945. The design was accepted in April 1946, after which series production of the T-44 was stopped in order to produce a first small series of the vehicle, now known as the T-54, for testing. The designation was later changed to T-54-1 in order to distinguish it from the later specimens, which differ in design. The first copies were completed in 1947 in Nizhny Tagil and Kharkov . After the first vehicles had been delivered to units in Belarus for testing, it turned out, however, that the vehicle was still very faulty; Among other things, the tower was not optimally designed because it formed a bullet trap above the slewing ring. Production was therefore discontinued after only around 1200 units were produced. The towers of the vehicles produced were removed and reused in a stationary defense belt on the Chinese border.

When designing the new turret, the designers leaned on the turret of the IS-3 heavy tank , which had a much cheaper shape. Series production was resumed in 1949 under the designation T-54-2. The design turned out to be so good that the Politburo approved production in another factory in Omsk (Omsktransmash). This version remained in production until 1951.

With the T-54-3, the design of the tower was changed once more in 1951, whereby the overhang at the stern was removed. This tower shape was retained until the end of production. A total of around 40,000 T-54s were built in various production facilities.

crew

The crew consists of four soldiers - commander, gunner, driver and loader. The driver is sitting in the front left in the tub. The loader has his place on the right-hand side in the turret next to the on-board cannon; the commander and the gunner sit on the left side of the tower. The soldiers can get on and off via two hatches in the tower, the driver via a hatch in the tub.

technology

Armament and ammunition

Gunner place with the bottom piece of the cannon
Bow plate with hole for the bow machine gun of a T-54A

The main armament of the T-54 is a 100 mm D-10T drawbar cannon as the D-10TG. The original version of the weapon had neither stabilization nor a smoke evacuator. By stabilizing the weapon, the hit probability increased from 3% to 30%. From the T-54A version, a vertical stabilization STP GORIZONT and a smoke extractor were integrated into the weapon. The weapon system of the T-54B was stabilized in two axes.

The elevation range of the weapon is −5 ° to + 18 °, the directional range is 360 °. Up to the T-54B version, the drive was only manual, then also electrically. At the time of its commissioning, the T-54 had a very high firepower.

As ammunition were shaped charge projectiles (HEAT - H igh E xplosive A nti T ank) and splinter projectiles (HE - Frag) is used. Armor-piercing projectiles (HVAP - H igh V eLocity A rmour P iercing) were only introduced in the 1960s as the precision of these projectiles because of the simple fire control at long range was too low. The HVAP ammunition could penetrate 185 mm of armor steel at a distance of 1000 m, the HEAT ammunition 380 mm.

The combat load consisted of 34 projectiles.

The secondary armament consists of a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun of the DSchK-38/46 type , a coaxial and an SGMT machine gun that is rigidly installed in the bow and fires through the nose plate .

Armor

T-54 hull armor

The armor of the T-54 consists of homogeneous rolled armored steel in the hull, the tower is made of cast steel. The armor on the turret front is 200 mm thick. The armor on the front of the hull is 100 mm thick and inclined at an angle of 30 degrees, which results in a passage of 200 mm. This heavy armor prompted Great Britain to develop the 105 mm L7 cannon .

The T-54 has the following armor:

Component Tower front Tower sides Tub front above Tub front below
Strength 203 mm 150 mm 97 mm 99 mm

Drive and drive

The compressed air inlet manifold on the engine of the T-54
Diesel engine W-54

The T-54 is powered by a water-cooled 12-cylinder W-54 diesel engine. An electric starter is available to start the engine, and a compressed air system can also be used in cold weather.

The roller drive consists of five rubber-tyred twin rollers. The suspension takes place via torsion bars. There is a significantly larger gap between the first two rollers than between the remaining rollers. This is to reduce the effect of mines on the drive. The first and last rollers on each side are fitted with hydraulic shock absorbers.

The execution of the drive and running gear was partly taken over for the construction of the Kharkovchanka expedition vehicle , which was used in the Antarctic.

Optics and fire control

The driver has two front-facing corner mirrors, of which the right one can be replaced by the TWN-1 infrared night vision device. The commander has access to a commander's straightening system, the TPK-1 observation device (5 times magnification) and four corner mirrors . The gunner has the telescopic hinge rifle scope TSch 2-22 with a reticle for distance estimation. The IF can be switched between 3.5 or 7 times magnification. The gunner and loader have an MK.IV corner mirror each

In battle, the commander is constantly on the lookout for targets. Once a target has been identified, he or she aligns the turret with the commander's aiming system at the target so that the gunner can aim at the target, estimate the range and engage the target. Meanwhile, the commander is looking for further targets.

Technical specifications

designation T-54A
Type: Main battle tank
Crew: 4th
Engine: water-cooled 12-cylinder diesel engine W-54
Power: 382 kW (520 hp)
Transmission: synchronized spur gear change gear with five forward gears and one reverse gear
Landing gear: torsion bar sprung roller drive
Length over all: 9000 mm
Width over everything: 3270 mm
Height above everything: 2400 mm
Ground clearance: 425 mm
Wading ability : 1400 mm
Trench crossing ability: 2700 mm
Climbing ability: 800 mm
Gradeability : 30%
Bank slope: 30%
Combat weight: 36,400 kg
Maximum speed road: 50 km / h
Top speed terrain: 30 km / h
Fuel quantity: 580 liters in the tank + 280 l
Driving range: 440 km using the fuel barrels
Armament: 100 mm D-10TG cannon, 2 × 7.62 mm machine guns, 1 × 12.7 mm AA gun
Ammunition: 34 cartridges for the BK, 200 cartridges for the Fla-MG, 3500 cartridges for the MGs

Technical data according to:

Calls

A T-54 incapacitated in Budapest during the 1956 Hungarian uprising

For the first time the T-54 was used in combat in the suppression of the popular uprising in Hungary . Some of the Soviet tank divisions stationed in Hungary had only been equipped with the T-54 shortly before the outbreak of the uprising. Some of the tanks were lost during the fighting, most of them destroyed by anti-tank guns and Molotov cocktails . A captured tank was driven onto the grounds of the British embassy by rebellious Hungarians. Based on this example, NATO was able to study the new vehicle in detail for the first time. The knowledge gained from this led to the development of the British L7 cannon.

In the Six Day War , the T-54 was used on the Syrian and Egyptian sides, but there was little fighting between Arab and Israeli tank units.

During the 1973 Yom Kippur War , there was heavy fighting between Syrian and Egyptian T-54s on one side and Israeli Scho't and M60s on the other. More than 20 years after its commissioning, the T-54 was no match for the Israeli tanks, especially since the Arab units were far less trained and poorer than the Israeli ones.

In Asia, the T-54 was used in the conflicts between India and Pakistan . The fighting there was much more even, with India using the T-54 and Pakistan using the Type 59 , a Chinese copy of the T-54.

The largest missions of the T-54 took place during the Vietnam War . In early 1971, North and South Vietnamese troops fought each other during Operation Lam Son 719 in Laos , with the South Vietnamese armed with American M48s . About 90 T-54s were destroyed during the fighting for Quang Tri Province . During the skirmishes for the city of An Loc, the North Vietnamese troops suffered heavy losses as their opponents used TOW guided missiles for the first time . By 1972 North Vietnam lost about 400 T-54s, but here too the South Vietnamese troops were better trained and managed. During the 1975 offensive, T-54s spearheaded the advancing units, this time with great success. The T-54 had other missions in Cambodia , mostly for infantry support.

The T-54 was widely used in Africa . After independence from the colonial powers, many African states turned to the Soviet Union for development and military aid. As a result, the T-54 was exported to many African countries and was used in most of the conflicts on the continent, including the Algerian civil war , as well as in Ethiopia , Eritrea , and Somalia . In most cases it was used to support infantry units.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the T-54 was used in various conflicts on the Arabian Peninsula. In the First Gulf War between Iraq and Iran, Soviet and Chinese tanks fought against each other on both sides. In the Second Gulf War , a number of Iraqi T-54s were used against the coalition forces. However, the tank had no chance against the more modern American and British models.

Furthermore, the T-54 was used by all parties in the Yugoslav Wars, as well as after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the former Soviet republics.

variants

T-54-1

T-54-1

The original production variant, which was only produced in small numbers. The tower had a different shape than that of later models and was ballistically unfavorable. Anti-infantry machine guns were installed on both sides of the hull.

T-54-2

In this variant, the tower was completely redesigned to remove the bullet traps on the lower side of the tower. There was still a slight overhang at the rear of the tower. The anti-aircraft machine gun was replaced by a machine gun of the DSchK type, the two machine guns on the hull were removed because practical use was not possible. Instead, a machine gun was installed near the driver's seat. The engine got a new oil filter and a preheater for the oil supply. The chain was replaced by a new chain widened to 580 mm, which should offer better traction.

T-54-3

The turret of the T-54-3 was revised once more, with the overhang at the stern removed. The gunner optics were replaced by a more modern variant. The electronics got a better seal to protect against dust and dirt. Adapters for attaching a mine clearance device were also attached. With this 8.8 t heavy device, two 1.3 m wide lanes in front of the tracks of the vehicle could be cleared, a 1.2 m wide gap remained between the two lanes. The use of the engine and gearbox was very demanding.

T-54A

T-54A of the Polish Armed Forces

The T-54A was the first Soviet tank to be equipped with a stabilization system for the tank gun. The STP-1 “Horizont” stabilizer only worked in the vertical plane. The probability of being hit while moving increased considerably. In the event that a shooting stop was made, it was much shorter. The barrel of the cannon was equipped with a smoke evacuator to prevent powder gases from entering the fighting compartment.

In order to increase the mobility of tank units, the T-54A was also equipped with underwater equipment. For this purpose, all openings were sealed watertight and a snorkel was attached for air supply. Parts of the equipment were already integrated into the vehicle, other parts such as the snorkel had to be attached separately. The preparation time took about 70 minutes. With the help of this equipment, the tank was able to cross bodies of water with a depth of up to five meters and a width of up to 700 meters. The flow velocity was allowed to be a maximum of 1.5 m / s. Navigation under water was carried out using a gyro compass. The crew was equipped with diving rescuers for emergencies . The tank was able to fire its on-board cannon 30 seconds after leaving the water; removing all of the deep-water equipment took about 15 minutes.

Another change was the equipping of the driver with an infrared vision device. The associated infrared searchlight was attached to the bow plate.

T-54B

The T-54B was the first Soviet tank to be conditionally capable of night combat, equipped with an infrared searchlight on the front of the turret and a smaller infrared searchlight on the commander's hatch. The gunner had new optics with a day and night vision channel. In order to increase the combat value, the weapon system with the designation D-10T 2 was equipped with the stabilizer STP-2 "Zyklon", which worked in the vertical as well as the horizontal plane. In addition, the tower could also be rotated with an electric drive. A complete rotation through 360 ° took 30 seconds.

License production

The T-54 was produced under license in various states, including a. in Poland and Czechoslovakia as well as in China (as type 59).

literature

Web links

Commons : T-54  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
  • Stefan Kotsch: From T-54 to T-90. From the history of Soviet tank construction. In: Main battle tanks in detail. Retrieved July 12, 2014 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Steven Zaloga: T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944-2004. P. 5 f.
  2. ^ Andrew Hull et al .: Soviet / Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. P. 22 f.
  3. ^ A b Steven Zaloga: T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944-2004. P. 7 f.
  4. ^ Andrew Hull et al .: Soviet / Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. P. 23 f.
  5. ^ Andrew Hull et al .: Soviet / Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. P. 31.
  6. ^ A b Steven Zaloga: T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944-2004. P. 40.
  7. ^ Andrew Hull et al .: Soviet / Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. P. 49.
  8. ↑ Steven Zaloga: T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944-2004. P. 8 f., P. 28 f.
  9. ↑ a b A. W. Karpenko: Soviet-Russian tanks 1905-2003. P. 279.
  10. ↑ a b c Christopher Foss: Jane's Armor and Artillery 2007-2008. P. 119.
  11. ↑ a b Jörg Siegert , Helmut Hanske: Main battle tanks of the NVA . Motorbuch, Stuttgart 2011, ISBN 978-3-613-03294-1 , p. 75 .
  12. ↑ Steven Zaloga: T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944-2004. P. 39.
  13. ↑ Steven Zaloga: T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944-2004. P. 40 f.
  14. ↑ Steven Zaloga: T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944-2004. P. 41 f.
  15. ↑ Steven Zaloga: T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944-2004. P. 42 f.
  16. ^ Andrew Hull et al .: Soviet / Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. P. 23.
  17. ^ Andrew Hull et al .: Soviet / Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. P. 23 f.
  18. ↑ Steven Zaloga: T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944-2004. P. 18 f.
  19. ↑ Stefan Kotsch: Das Panzerdetail - Basics for weapon stabilizers. In: kotsch88.de. Retrieved August 21, 2018 .
  20. ↑ a b Stefan Kotsch: From T-54 to T-90. From the history of Soviet tank construction. In: Main battle tanks in detail. Retrieved July 12, 2014 .
  21. ^ Andrew Hull et al .: Soviet / Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. P. 26.
  22. ^ Andrew Hull et al .: Soviet / Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. P. 26 f.