T-10 Heavy Tank

Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank.

The Soviet T-10 heavy tank was the last of its kind and lineage, which began in 1943 with the IS-1 heavy tank and was superseded by the modern Main Battle Tank (or Universal Tank) in the early 1970s. Introduced in 1953 as the IS-10, it was renamed T-10 after Stalin‘s death (March 5, 1953). Distributed among the divisions at first, the T-10 later served in independent heavy tank regiments that formed the Schwerpunkt in attack or defense, and were to provide fire support for T-54 and T-55 medium tanks. Its potential Cold War opponents were the British Conqueror, the US M103 Heavy Tank, and the French AMX 50. From 1974, the T-10 heavy tank was replaced by the modern T-64 main battle tank, which was superior to it in every respect. Obsolete T-10M heavy tanks remained in reserve until 1993; some were handed over to South Ossetian militias, such as the South Ossetian Republican Guard, which fought in the 1990–1992 South Ossetia War.

Available Models

  • T-10M Heavy Tank, 1:35 Meng Models TS-018
  • T-10M Heavy Tank, 1:35 Trumpeter 05546
  • T-10M Heavy Tank, 1:72 Eaglemoss
  • T-10M Heavy Tank, 1:100 Roskopf 4
  • T-10M Heavy Tank, 1:300 Heroics & Ros SM07

Technical Specifications

  • T-10 Heavy Tank
  • Typ: heavy tank
  • Engine: V-12-Diesel W-12-5 with 38,88 l displacement, 522 kW / 700 HP (559 kW / 750 HP, T-10M)
  • Speed: 42 km/h on Roads (50 km/h, T-10M)
  • Range: 250 km
  • Length: 9807 mm (10.600 mm, T-10M)
  • Width: 3560 mm
  • Height: 2430 mm
  • Ground Clearance: 460 mm
  • Weight: 52 t
  • Armament:
    • 122 mm Tank Gun D-25TA (M-62-T2, T-10M) with 30 Rounds
    • 12,7 mm DSchKM Machine Gun coaxial (14,5 mm MG KPWT, T-10M)
    • 12,7 mm DSchKM AA-MG (14,5 mm MG KPWT, T-10M), 1000 Rounds
  • Crew: Commander, Driver, Gunner, Loader
  • Produktion:
    • T-10 (1952)
    • T-10A (1956) with single-plane Gun Stabilizer
    • T-10B (1957) with two-plane Gun Stabilizer
    • T-10M (1957) longer M-62-T2 L/4 Tank Gun with Muzzle Break, IR-Nightvision, ABC-Protection, Deep Wading Snorkel (from 1963), APDS- and HEAT-Shells (from 1967).

Historical Employment

  • Soviet Army, 1953–1974 (in Reserve until 1992)
  • Russian Federal Army, 1992–1993 (Reserve; decommissioned in 1996)
  • Armed Forces of South Ossetia, 1990–1995

Bibliography

In combined arms operations, T-10 heavy tanks were to support T-54/55 medium tanks with effective long-range fire, or to form the main point of attack themselves and break through enemy lines in order to gain operational freedom in the enemy‘s rear. IS-3 or T-10 heavy tanks are particularly useful for wargamers interested in Cold War simulations. While scale model kits of the T-10 are few and far between, the vehicle happens to be available in traditional 1:72, 1:100, and 1:300 wargaming scales.

Cold War Miniatures