{"product_id":"rubicon-miniatures-t-54-2-t-54-3-t-54a-t-54b-mbt","title":"Rubicon Miniatures - T-54-2 \/ T-54-3 \/ T-54A \/ T-54B MBT","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT-54-2 \/ T-54-3 \/ T-54A \/ T-54B MBT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMain Battle Tank\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e The\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT-54\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT-55\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etanks are a series of Soviet main battle tanks introduced in the years following the Second World War. The first T-54 prototype was completed by the end of 1945. From the late 1950s, the T-54 eventually became the main tank for armoured units of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoviet Army\u003c\/strong\u003e, armies of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWarsaw Pact\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecountries, and many others. T-54s and T-55s have been involved in many of the world’s armed conflicts since their introduction in the second half of the 20\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecentury.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT-54\/55\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eseries is the most-produced tank in history. Estimated production numbers for the series range from\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96,500\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eto\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e100,000\u003c\/strong\u003e. They were replaced by the T-62, T-64, T-72, T-80 and T-90 tanks in the Soviet and Russian armies, but remain in use by up to 50 other armies worldwide, some having received sophisticated retrofitting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCold War\u003c\/strong\u003e, Soviet tanks never directly faced their\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNATO\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eadversaries in combat in Europe. However, the T-54\/55’s first appearance in the West around the period of the 1950s spurred the United Kingdom to develop a new tank gun, the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRoyal Ordnance L7\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the United States to develop the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM60 Patton\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first production version, designated\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT-54-1\u003c\/strong\u003e, differed from the T-54 prototype, had thicker hull armour. As production ramped up, quality problems emerged. Production was stopped and an improved\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT-54-2\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eversion was designed. Several changes were made and a new turret was fitted. The new dome-shaped turret with flat sides was inspired by the turret from the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIS-3\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eheavy tank; it is similar to the later T-54 turret but with a distinctive overhang at the rear. It also had a shorter bustle. The fender machine guns were removed in favour of a single bow-mounted machine gun. The transmission was modernised and the track was widened to 580mm. The T-54-2 entered production in 1949. In 1951, a second modernization was made, designated\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT-54-3\u003c\/strong\u003e, which had a new turret without side undercuts, as well as the new TSh-2-22 telescopic gunner’s sight instead of the TSh-20. The tank featured the TDA smoke generating system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn March 1953, the T-54-3 fitted the 100mm D-10T tank gun with the STP-1 “Gorizont” vertical stabilizer, and designation as the D-10TG. The new design also received night vision equipment for the driver and was designated\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT-54A\u003c\/strong\u003e. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA new version, based on T-54A, designated\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT-54B\u003c\/strong\u003e, was designed in 1955. It was fitted with a new 100mm D-10T2S tank gun with STP-2 “Tsyklon” 2-plane stabilizer. It entered production in 1957. During the last four months of production, the new tanks were equipped with an L-2 “Luna” infrared searchlight, a TPN-1-22-11 IR gunner’s sight, and an OU-3 IR commander’s searchlight. Modern APFSDS ammunition was developed, dramatically enhancing the penetrative performance of the gun to keep it competitive with NATO armour developments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Highlights\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e- Choices to build a T-54-2, T-54-3, T-54-A, or T-54B MBT\u003cbr\u003e- T-54B has early, mid, and late production options\u003cbr\u003e- All hatches can be open or closed\u003cbr\u003e- Driver hatch has an armoured windshield option\u003cbr\u003e- All round detailed OMSh track links\u003cbr\u003e- 12.7mm DShK heavy machine gun included\u003cbr\u003e- Soviet crew with post-WW2 or Cold War head gear\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo of Parts:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e219 pieces\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\/\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4 sprues\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlastic Kit - ABS Cement Required\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMiniatures supplied unassembled and unpainted.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rubicon Models","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44660567998533,"sku":"RU-280120","price":42.55,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0716\/5218\/0037\/files\/280120_T-54-2-3-A-B_MBT.webp?v=1772119021","url":"https:\/\/wholesale.warandpeacegames.com.au\/products\/rubicon-miniatures-t-54-2-t-54-3-t-54a-t-54b-mbt","provider":"War and Peace Games | Wholesale","version":"1.0","type":"link"}