T-54 ltwt.

## Basic Information

A proposed lightweight version of the T-54 medium tank. Development was started in May 1949. Compared to its series-produced predecessor, the tank had better performance and maneuverability. Therefore, the tank was planned to replace the T-54 in accomplishing complicated missions. However, the T-54 tank of 1949 was improved and mass produced, and the lightweight version was canceled while still in the design phase.

The T-54 ltwt. leads to the Object 84.

## Pros & Cons

##### Pros:

* Strong turret and hull armor for a light tank
* Great on the move accuracy and rate of fire
* Great HP
* Great horsepower/ton ratio considering its armor

##### Cons:

* Mediocre gun depression and accuracy
* Armor is insufficient against higher tiers
* Limited shell capacity
* Slightly weaker pen than most Light Tanks, compensated by better agility than many
* Weaker frontal hull than LTTB

## Performance

Avoid direct confrontations in early battle. Instead, scout for bigger guns on your team and skirmish with enemy light tanks. The T-54 ltwt excels against enemy light tanks due to its thick and well sloped armor. Avoid battle with higher tier mediums due to their significantly improved firepower, unless flanking. Late game, act as a highly mobile assassin. In tier 9 games, the T-54 can play as a highly mobile medium tank, whilst in tier 10 scouting is advised over medium tank performance. Make use of turret armor, but do not rely on it too much as the cheeks and cupolas can be penetrated by most enemies.

## Historical Information

In May 1949, the design bureau of Plant No.183 (Kharkov) designed a light variant of the T-54 tank with improved terrain passability compared to the production T-54 model. This light variant could serve during special operations, where passability, speed and agility were needed more than superior armor protection. In order to achieve that, this light variant had wider tracks (580mm). Both tanks were to use the same components, so the lighter variant could be easily produced by the plant in parallel with the original vehicle. The only things different were the hull and the turret, both having reduced level of protection, but kept the original shape (armor angles and such) of the production model. Final drives were also subjected to some small technical changes.

The turret shape was modified to remove the frontal shot trap. Its frontal armor was also reduced from (T-54) 200mm to 180mm, the sides were reduced from 160mm to 120mm, the turret roof from 30mm to 20mm and the rear from 65mm to 60mm. The roadwheels were also to be a bit smaller (810mm diameter reduced to 790mm), torsion bars were also thinner (52mm to 42mm diameter) and the tank of course was lighter. Its weight was projected 31 tons. It was to be armed with the D-10T 100mm gun, the power-to-weight ratio was to be 16,8hp/t (using the 520hp T-54 engine) and its maximum speed was to be 58,7 km/h.

This vehicle was, according to its designers, to solve tactical problems where using regular T-54 tanks was not practical. Note that the Chinese actually went even further and reduced not only the armor, but also the size of the original tanks, creating the Type 62 by miniaturizing Type 59. That happened of course more than a decade later. Apparently, this project never progressed past the drawing board stage.

## Historical Accuracy Errata

The lightweight variant was to be fitted with the same 520 hp engine on the T-54. In World of Tanks Blitz, however, the former has almost twice the engine power.

* Only the 100 mm D10T gun was proposed for this tank. The "D-10TM" designation is fictitious.