Quote:
Originally Posted by dragoon500ly
The turret has the gunner and tank commander positioned on the left side of the turret, in seats suspended from the turret ring. The loader stands on a small platform suspended from the turret ring (that's right, the T-54/55 series does not have a turret basket!).
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Lee,
Not that it matters much, but someone local bought a surplus T-54 from the Czechs. They keep it in a museum on a decommissioned base (the former CFB Chilliwack). Year before last I was out there and got to ride in the commander's hatch with a full family riding on the back, sides and front,
tank desant-style. From what I recall, the gunner and TC were located on either side of the gun, but yeah, there was no turret basket.
Brandon,
I think one of the main concepts for the BMP/BMD was a vehicle that could allow infantry to fight buttoned-up on a nuclear battlefield. Not so good on the non-nuclear battlefield! Original tactical doctrine was to have the vehicle leading out front, followed by the infantry... after the Yom Kippur war this doctrine was reversed, so obviously a few kinks needed to be ironed out.
Tony