The D-10 series of rifled guns was developed during the Second World War around a 100 mm naval round with the D-10s being first production guns for the SU-100 assault gun in 1944.

The first of the D-10 tank gun series was the D-10T, which was fitted to a number of trial vehicles before being fitted into the early models of the T-54. This was followed by a version fitted with a bore evacuator, and a new version, known as the D-10TG, which was equipped for stabilisation in the vertical plane. Then came the D-10T2S equipped for stabilisation in both vertical and horizontal planes.

None of these versions have muzzle brakes and all have horizontal sliding wedge breech blocks. The recoil system consists of a hydraulic buffer and a hydropneumatic recuperator. All fire the same fixed ammunition. Thermal sleeves can be fitted.

Royal Ordnance Nottingham produces a conversion kit to replace the 100 mm gun of the T-54/T-55 and Type 59 tanks. Details are given in this section under the United Kingdom. Significant quantities of Egyptian T-55 MBTs have been refitted with this 105 mm L7 gun.

India offers an upgrade package for the T-54/T-55 which includes the replacement of the 100 mm gun by the 105 mm L.7 which has been built in India. Details are given in this section under India.

Some T-55 MBTs used by the former Warsaw Pact countries have been upgraded to the T-55AM2 configuration which includes the installation of a thermal sleeve for the 100 mm gun.

With the installation of the 9K116 Bastion system, the T-54/T-55 can fire the AT-10 Stabber laser-guided projectile.

This has a minimum range of 100 m and a maximum range of 4,000 m. The first laser guided missile had a single HEAT warhead but the latest version has a tandem HEAT warhead to defeat tanks fitted with ERA. This round is called the 3UBK-10M1 and has a maximum range of 4,000 m. The complete round weighs 27.5 kg while the missile on its own weighs 19.4 kg, has an overall length of 1,124 mm and has an average speed of flight of 300 m/s.

Prime contractor for this system, which is also referred to as the Bastion, is the KBP Instrument Design Bureau.

The Chinese produce a copy of the D-10T but their designation for it is not known. Production of the D-10 series tank gun has also been undertaken in the former Czechoslovakia and Poland. Production of this weapon was probably also undertaken in the former Yugoslavia.

Status

Production as required. D-10T installed on T-54 and Type 59 MBTs, D-10TG installed only on T-54A MBT. D-10T2S installed on T-54B, T-54C, T-55 and T-55A MBTs.