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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

Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Main battle tank
Entered service
1958
Status
In service
Development
1957 - 1958
Developer
Soviet Union - OKB-520
Production
1958 - 1965 (USSR)
1964 - 1973 (Czechoslovakia)
1964 - 1978 (Poland)
Producer
Soviet Union - Omsktransmash (main Soviet producer)
Soviet Union - Malyshev plant
Soviet Union - UVZ
Czechoslovakia - ZTS Martin
Poland - Bumar Labedy
Number produced
8.462 T-55, 450 T-55K, over 1.511 T-55A and over 24 T-55AK in USSR
About 1.500 in Poland
About 1.700 in Czechoslovakia
Designations
Object 155 (GABTU index)

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

T-55
The original T-55 is a much improved version of the T-54. The T-55 features a more powerful V-55 engine, an NBC system, a turret floor and carries more fuel and ammunition. Was fitted without DShK on the turret roof until retrofitted in 1972.
T-55K
Command version of T-55. Fitted with additional radios in lieu of some of the ammunition.
T-55A
T-55 with much improved NBC shielding, removed the bow machine gun and has the PKT as a coaxial machine gun instead of the SGMT. Was originally fitted without DShKM heavy machine gun on the turret roof until retrofitted in 1972.
T-55AK
Command version of T-55A. Fitted with additional radios in lieu of some of the ammunition.

Details


Facts T-55A
General
Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Main battle tank
Crew
4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader)
Dimensions
Weight
36 t combat load
33.7 t empty
Length
6.20 m (hull)
9 m (gun forward)
Width
3.27 m
Height
2.35 m (cupola)
2.70 m (overall)
Main armament
Type
100mm D-10T2S rifled cannon
Mount
Main gun in turret
Ammunition
43 rounds
Elevation
-5 to +18°, powered
Traverse
360°, powered at 17°/s
Stabilizer
Yes, both axis
Coaxial armament
Type
7.62mm PKT machine gun
Mount
Coaxial with main armament
Ammunition
3.500 rounds
Traverse
Elevation and traverse as main armament
Stabilizer
Yes, both axis
Chassis
Chassis type
Tracked chassis, five roadwheels
Chassis layout
Idler front, drive sprocket rear
Tread
2.64 m
Track width
0.58 m
Track on ground
3.84 m
Ground pressure
0.81 kg/cm²
Suspension
Torsion bar
Automotive
Engine
V-55 V12 diesel
Power output
580 hp at 2.000 rpm
Transmission
Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse
Fuel
960 L
Mobility
Speed
50 km/h on road
Range
460 km
650 km with fuel tanks
Power to weight ratio
16.1 hp/t
Obstacle crossing
Ground clearance
0.43 m
Wall
0.8 m
Trench
2.7 m
Gradient
60 %
Fording
1.4 m unprepared
5 m with snorkel
Protection
Armor type
Steel
Armor thickness
203 mm turret front
150 mm turret sides
64 mm turret rear
39 mm turret roof
97 mm hull front
79 mm upper hull
20 mm lower hull sides
46 mm hull rear
NBC system
Yes
Smoke system
Exhaust diesel injection
Equipment
Night vision
Yes

Media


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


TO-55

Soviet flamethrower tank based on the T-55.

VT-55

Czechoslovak armored recovery vehicle, first introduced in 1969.

T-55 Marksman

Finnish self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the chassis of repurposed T-55AM main battle tanks.