T-55
T-55A
Overview
T-55A
Former Polish army T-55A main battle tank on display in a museum.
Source: Radomil -
© GNU Attribution - Share Alike license
1964 - 1973 (Czechoslovakia)
1964 - 1978 (Poland)
Soviet Union - Malyshev plant
Soviet Union - UVZ
Czechoslovakia - ZTS Martin
Poland - Bumar Labedy
About 1.500 in Poland
About 1.700 in Czechoslovakia
Description
Introduction
The T-55 is an early Cold War era main battle tank of Soviet origin. It is a produced improved T-54 that was produced in large numbers for Soviet forces. The T-55 is an iconic vehicle of the Cold War era, and one of the few vehicles from that age that remain is active frontline service around the world, albeit often as a second line vehicle.
Design
The T-55 is a further development of the T-54 tank. The T-55 was optimized for the nuclear battlefield by fitting an NBC system and contained various minor upgrades over the T-55. Externally the T-55 looks quite similar to its predecessor. Ergonomics are improved by adding a turret floor, central NBC system and main gun stabilized in both axis.
Firepower
The main armament of the T-55 is the 100mm D-10T2S rifled main gun. This gun is manually loaded and stabilized in both axis. Ammunition types include sabot, HEAT and HE-fragmentation. A total of 45 shells are carried, 11 more than on the T-54, which are stored in hull stowage that doubles as fuel tank. A 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun is fitted. The 12.7mm DShKM heavy machine gun was omitted at first since it was of limited use against jet aircraft. With American forces introducing helicopters in large numbers during the Vietnam war the DShKM was re-introduced.
Protection
The T-55 has a welded steel hull and cast dome turret. The armor protection is similar as the late model T-54. There are no side skirts or smoke grenade dischargers. Smoke can be generated by injecting diesel fuel in the exhaust. The NBC protection was significantly improved by adding an over pressure system with central filtration.
Mobility
The T-55 has V-55 V12 diesel engine that produces 580 hp. The tracks provide good off road performance. Maximum speed is 50 km/h on roads. The T-55 can ford shallow water or cross rivers while fully submerged and using a snorkel.
Users
The T-55 and T-55A were acquired in large numbers with Soviet forces. Over 10.000 were produced in the USSR, with several thousand more produced in the Warsaw Pact. Many existing T-55A tanks were upgrade to T-55AM standard, mostly in the Warsaw Pact. In Soviet service the T-55 was mainly supplemented and replaced by newer designs such as the T-62, T-64 and T-72.
Variants
T-55A
Former USSR T-55A main battle tank on display in a museum.
Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin -
© GNU Attribution - Share Alike license
Soviet T-55 production models
Details
Media
T-55
An East German T-55 with additional stowage boxes on turret and a mount for the DShKM on the turret roof.
Source: baku13
Copyright: GNU Attribution - Share Alike license
T-55 and T-55A
A column of Polish T-55 tanks headed by a T-55A. This photo was taken during the Cold War.
Source: Polish government
Copyright: Public domain
T-55A
Forward view of T-55A main battle tank on public display.
Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Copyright: GNU Attribution - Share Alike license
T-55A
Rear view of T-55A main battle tank on public display.
Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Copyright: GNU Attribution - Share Alike license
Upgrades of the T-55
T-55AM
Deep modernization of the T-55. Fitted with applique armor, smoke grenade dischargers, rubber side skirts, improved ammunition and roof mounted DShK heavy machine gun. Some variants also have ability to launch Bastion anti-tank guided missile.
T-55AMV
Deep modernization with many of the elements of the T-55AM. However, Kontakt-1 ERA is fitted instead of applique armor.
Specialist vehicles based on T-55 chassis
T-55 Marksman
Finnish self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the chassis of repurposed T-55AM main battle tanks.