T-54/55: SOVIET WAR MAIN BATTLE TANK

With specially commissioned colour profiles illustrating the major variants of the T-54/55 series of tanks and models built specifically for this volume. During the Cold War, these tanks represented the most serious threat to Nato land forces in Europe. Available in huge numbers, it formed the core of the Warsaw Pact armoured warfare doctrine which envisaged massed tank attacks against the weakest points in Nato's front-line defences. Yet the T-54/55 could be stopped by smaller numbers of tanks which had the benefit of better technology and training, as was demonstrated during the Yom Kippur War of 1973 when Israeli tanks dealt out appalling punishment to T-55s of the Syrian army. Nevertheless, the T-54/55 was one of the most successful tanks ever produced. The book is a concise account of the design, development and battlefield performance with technical analysis and details of modifications and archive photographs of the tanks in action. Also gives details of available kits and photos of specially commissioned models together with artwork showing colour schemes for modellers. 64 very large pages in softback, 20 x 29cm. Colour.