T-54 obr. 1945 (first prototype) — A Legend is Born

ChieftainWarrior · February 27, 2026, 8:26pm

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T-54 obr. 1945

TL;DR: First prototype of the T-54, built and tested in 1945. Bridges the gap between the T-44 (-100) and early T-54 variants.

History
The T-44 entered production in October 1944. It was intended to replace the T-34-85, and featured a lower profile, improved armour, and an improved engine. However, it retained the 85mm ZiS-S-53. This cannon was quickly becoming obsolete, and thus work began on improving the T-44.

A surviving T-44. They saw service until the 1970s

A number of different requirements were created for a new medium tank in 1944. In the first half of 1944, the NIBT proving grounds (Kubinka) believed that the new tanks should: weigh up to 35t, have a top speed of 45–50km/h, have frontal hull armour 90–100mm thick, and frontal turret armour 120–130mm thick. It would have a 76mm or 85mm cannon, with 1000m/s muzzle velocity. The GBTU issued requirements based on NIBT’s assessment, but were more vague. This then led to disagreements with the NKTP.

While the two agencies disagreed over the requirements for a new vehicle, KB-520 of factory #183 began independent work on a modernised T-44 in August 1944, before the T-44 had even entered production. This vehicle initially retained the designation of T-44A (the same as the production version), but it was changed to T-44B in Autumn 1944. It featured a new cast turret and increased armour protection. It also featured a wider turret ring (1800mm), but retained the same hull as the T-44, just with thicker front and side armour. By the end of October, all of the hull components were complete.

On November 1st, Order #637 was signed by the NKTP: it ordered further increased armour, and blueprints of this new variant, by December 1st, as well as a new IS-6-style turret — the entire vehicle was to weigh less than 34t. It also ordered the construction of a prototype by January 1st 1945. At the same time, the vehicle received a new designation: T-54.

Construction of the hull was finished in November. Design and production of the turret continued until January. Despite having to design an IS-6-style turret, factory #183 took a very liberal approach, and instead just improved the existing T-44 turret, namely by lowering the height and thickening the armour, made possible by it being wider. It was armed with the 100mm D-10T, the same gun fitted to the SU-100.

The first T-54 obr. 1945 prototype

Final assembly was complete by February 14th. The vehicle immediately underwent initial trials at the factory, first testing the main cannon, and then its mobility. It was then sent to Kubinka for further testing. The vehicle drove for 1553km — it turned out to be around 10 km/h slower than anticipated. On March 23rd–24th, the vehicle was fitted with a new gun, the D-10TK. This featured a number of mechanical improvements. During firing trials, the rate of fire was measured at 4.5–5.4 rpm.

Despite overall successes, a number of flaws were noted, such as poor joints, poor ergonomics, and slow gun elevation. The turret design was also noted as a flaw, and a request was put in for a new IS-3-style turret. The final verdict recommended the T-54 for service, but only after its issues were fixed. The T-54 was then sent to Gorokhovets proving grounds for further firing trials. This time, the rate of fire was significantly higher at 6.3 rpm.

T-54 trials 1
T-54 trials 2
T-54 trials 3
T-54 trials 4

T-54 obr. 1945 during moblity trials

In May and June, new components were designed, including a new gearbox. Factory #183 thus built a second prototype in June 1945. This vehicle didn’t feature any of the improvements requested from Kubinka, just a new transmission and main cannon. This time, it was armed with the 100mm KS-D-10. Contrary to some sources, the second prototype was virtually identical to the first. Development of the T-54 suddenly slowed, as KB-520 was ordered to study and document the American Mack NR truck in July 1945.

Note
This suggestion is for the first T-54 prototype, armed with the D-10TK and not the KS-D-10, although aside from the main armament, the two 1945 prototypes were virtually identical

T-54 1945 prototype 2

The second T-54 prototype, built in mid-1945

Multiple further prototypes would be constructed in 1946. These were also given the factory designation Object 137. In 1946, the T-54 was accepted into service, and it entered production the following year as the T-54 obr. 1947, or T-54-1. This quickly saw quality issues, and production was halted until the T-54-2 (T-54 obr. 1949) was designed. Overall, over 100,000 T-54s, and later, T-55s would be produced until 1983 — one of the most successful tanks in the world.

Object 137

1. One of the early Object 137 prototypes; 2. A T-54 obr. 1947

Characteristics
The T-54 obr. 1945 (first prototype) was armed with the 100mm D-10TK. This cannon could fire a variety of shells, namely BR-412 APHE. BR-412B and BR-412D, both with ballistic caps, were developed after 1945, although would likely still be present on this vehicle in-game. BR-412 penetrates 218mm @ 0° @ 10m. BR-412B penetrates 218mm @ 0° @ 10m (but has better penetration at range and angles), and BR-412D penetrates 239mm @ 0° @ 10m. The cannon could also fire BR-412P APCR (also developed after 1945), penetrating 224mm @ 0° @ 10m. 34 rounds were carried. The T-54 obr. 1945 had a rate of fire of 6.3 rpm, giving it a 9.5s reload. The gun could elevate +17°/-3°, although at a very slow speed of 1.3°/s. The turret could traverse 360° at 36°/s. The T-54 obr. 1945 was also armed with a 7.62mm hull machine gun and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, with 3000 rounds of ammunition total.

tT-54 1945 ammo

Ammunition layout of the T-54 obr. 1945

The T-54 obr. 1945 was heavily armoured, particularly in comparison to its predecessors, the T-44 and T-34. The UFP and LFP were both 120mm thick, sloped at 60° and 45° respectively. The hull sides were 90mm at 0°, and the rear at 30–45mm at 17–70°. The turret front was 180mm thick, with variable slope. The turret sides ranged from 90mm–150mm, sloped at 20°, and the rear was 75mm sloped at 12°. The roof was 15mm.

The T-54 obr. 1945 was fitted with a V2-44 engine, the same as fitted on the T-44. This produced 520hp. The vehicle had a combat weight of 35.5t, giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 14.6hp/t. It had a top speed of 43.5km/h.

Conclusion
The T-54 obr. 1945 would be an excellent addition to the Soviet tree, blurring the lines between the T-44 (and T-44-100) and early T-54 production variants. It would likely sit at a BR of 7.3 or 7.7 — it has similar armour to the T-54 obr. 1947 and a much faster horizontal traverse rate, but possibly a slower reload, a much worse elevation rate, and lower top speed, thus making it either a sidegrade or slight downgrade. However, at 7.3, its armour may be overly strong.

Specifications
Armament

100mm D-10TK
- 34 rounds
- Ammunition
  - BR-412 APHE
    - 218mm @ 0° @ 10m
  - BR-412B APHEBC
    - 218mm @ 0° @ 10m
  - BR-412D APCBC
    - 239mm @ 0° @ 10m
  - BR-412P APCR
    - 224mm @ 0° @ 10m
  - OF-412 HE
    - 27mm @ 0°
  - 3D3 Smoke
Vertical Guidance
- -3°/+17° @ 1.5°/second
Horizontal Guidance
- 360° @ 36°/second
2x 7.62mm (hull and coaxial)
- 3000 rounds

Armour

Hull
- UFP: 120mm @ 60°
- LFP: 120mm @ 45°
- Sides: 90mm @ 0°
- Upper rear: 30mm @ 60°
- Middle rear: 45mm @ 17°
- Lower rear: 30mm @ 70°
- Engine compartment roof: 15mm @ 90°
- Fighting compartment roof: 30mm @ 90°
Turret
- Front: 180mm
- Sides: 150–90mm (front–rear) @ 20°
- Rear: 75mm @ 12°
- Roof: 15mm @ 90°