| Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3304 - T-55 North Vietnam Army, winter scheme |
| THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES, NOT THE FINAL PRODUCT |
Authentic Detailing
Pre-Painted by professionals
Accurate paint colors
Markings Tampo (pad) applied
Fully Assembled
Die-Cast Model
True to Scale (1:72)
Weathering and insignias
Turret turns
Metal turret and main gun
Realistic tracks
Pre-Painted by professionals
Accurate paint colors
Markings Tampo (pad) applied
Fully Assembled
Die-Cast Model
True to Scale (1:72)
Weathering and insignias
Turret turns
Metal turret and main gun
Realistic tracks
1945 saw the introduction of the T-54 and produced in large numbers from 1947 on. In 1958 after major
improvements the T-54 was reborn as the T-55. The improvements consisted of a thicker turret casting,
an added NBC protection feature and a more powerful engine. The production of the Soviet built T-55
lasted from 1958 to 1981 with tens of thousands being built. License to build was given to
Czechoslovakia, Poland and China where it was designated the Type 59. The Chinese modified and
improved the Type 59 and renamed it the Type 69. When the Type 69 is given a 105mm main gun it is
called the Type 79. Approximately 95,000 tanks of all variants of the T-55 have been produced. The T-
55 has been used in over 40 countries and after almost 50 years many are still in use.
In the late 1960s the North Vietnamese Army began to receive T-54A, T-54B and T-55 tanks from the
Soviets and China contributed their Type 59 tank, a much better built version of the T-55. It wasn’t until
February 1971 before the NVA tanks entered combat during encounters into Laos. By 1972 the there
were enough tanks for the NVA to create 3 tank regiments and a few independent tank battalions. The
tanks had several encounters with the South Vietnam Army who were better trained and better
equipped with the M48A3 Patton and much better trained. At the battle for the city of An Loc the NVA
suffered heavy losses to the newly developed TOW wire-guided missile. In 1972 the NVA lost over 400
tanks but were re-supplied with enough Chinese Type 59 tanks to create nine tank regiments. In 1975
the war went from the commonly perceived jungle warfare to assaults on South Vietnam spearheaded
by T-55 type tanks. The NVA also learned to use their tanks in jungle warfare which was not expected.
In 1979 North Vietnamese tanks were used to support infantry when a brief border war broke out with
its former ally China. Direct tank on tank encounters didn’t take place because of the rugged terrain.
Any further fighting in Indochina saw limited usage of the T-55 and Type 59 tanks and was basically in
support of the infantry.
T-55A Specifications
Crew
4
Weights
Weight: 36.6 tons (33203 kg)
Ground pressure: 12.66 lb/in sq. (0.89 kg/cm sq.)
Dimensions
Length: 29.5 ft (9.0 m) with gun – 21.1 ft (6.45 m) without gun
Width: 11.8 ft (3.60 m)
Height: 7.6 ft (2.32 m)
Powerplant
Model V-55 diesel, 520 hp (390 kW), 12cylinder, 38.88 liter water cooled
Power/weight ratio: 14 hp/tonne
Performance
Operational range: 248.5/310.7 mi (400/500 km) – with drop tanks 372.8 mi (600 km)
Maximum road speed: 31.06 mph (50 km/h)
Maximum off-road speed: 21.75 mph (35 km/h)
Average cross-country speed: 15.5 mph (25 km/h)
Fording depth:
Normal – 4.6 ft (1.4 m)
With snorkel – 18 ft (5.5 m)
Armament
Armour: 6.69/7.99 in (170/203 mm)
Gun: 3.94 in (100 mm) rifled gun, D-10T2S
Auxiliary armament: .3 in (7.62 mm) (7.62 X 54R) Machine Gun SGM-T/PKT
Mounted armament: .5 in (12.7 mm) (12.7 X 108R) AA MG DShKM
improvements the T-54 was reborn as the T-55. The improvements consisted of a thicker turret casting,
an added NBC protection feature and a more powerful engine. The production of the Soviet built T-55
lasted from 1958 to 1981 with tens of thousands being built. License to build was given to
Czechoslovakia, Poland and China where it was designated the Type 59. The Chinese modified and
improved the Type 59 and renamed it the Type 69. When the Type 69 is given a 105mm main gun it is
called the Type 79. Approximately 95,000 tanks of all variants of the T-55 have been produced. The T-
55 has been used in over 40 countries and after almost 50 years many are still in use.
In the late 1960s the North Vietnamese Army began to receive T-54A, T-54B and T-55 tanks from the
Soviets and China contributed their Type 59 tank, a much better built version of the T-55. It wasn’t until
February 1971 before the NVA tanks entered combat during encounters into Laos. By 1972 the there
were enough tanks for the NVA to create 3 tank regiments and a few independent tank battalions. The
tanks had several encounters with the South Vietnam Army who were better trained and better
equipped with the M48A3 Patton and much better trained. At the battle for the city of An Loc the NVA
suffered heavy losses to the newly developed TOW wire-guided missile. In 1972 the NVA lost over 400
tanks but were re-supplied with enough Chinese Type 59 tanks to create nine tank regiments. In 1975
the war went from the commonly perceived jungle warfare to assaults on South Vietnam spearheaded
by T-55 type tanks. The NVA also learned to use their tanks in jungle warfare which was not expected.
In 1979 North Vietnamese tanks were used to support infantry when a brief border war broke out with
its former ally China. Direct tank on tank encounters didn’t take place because of the rugged terrain.
Any further fighting in Indochina saw limited usage of the T-55 and Type 59 tanks and was basically in
support of the infantry.
T-55A Specifications
Crew
4
Weights
Weight: 36.6 tons (33203 kg)
Ground pressure: 12.66 lb/in sq. (0.89 kg/cm sq.)
Dimensions
Length: 29.5 ft (9.0 m) with gun – 21.1 ft (6.45 m) without gun
Width: 11.8 ft (3.60 m)
Height: 7.6 ft (2.32 m)
Powerplant
Model V-55 diesel, 520 hp (390 kW), 12cylinder, 38.88 liter water cooled
Power/weight ratio: 14 hp/tonne
Performance
Operational range: 248.5/310.7 mi (400/500 km) – with drop tanks 372.8 mi (600 km)
Maximum road speed: 31.06 mph (50 km/h)
Maximum off-road speed: 21.75 mph (35 km/h)
Average cross-country speed: 15.5 mph (25 km/h)
Fording depth:
Normal – 4.6 ft (1.4 m)
With snorkel – 18 ft (5.5 m)
Armament
Armour: 6.69/7.99 in (170/203 mm)
Gun: 3.94 in (100 mm) rifled gun, D-10T2S
Auxiliary armament: .3 in (7.62 mm) (7.62 X 54R) Machine Gun SGM-T/PKT
Mounted armament: .5 in (12.7 mm) (12.7 X 108R) AA MG DShKM
