Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3304 T-55 North Vietnam Army

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

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