T-55 Soviet Main Battle Tank

The T-55 is one of the most produced and widely exported tanks in history, developed by the Soviet Union as an evolution of the earlier T-54. Introduced in the late 1950s, it saw extensive service globally and became a mainstay of many armies during the Cold War era. The T-55/56 designation generally refers to the T-55 and its immediate upgrades or licensed versions used by Warsaw Pact and non-aligned nations.

General Specifications:

  • Country of Origin: Soviet Union
  • Type: Main battle tank (MBT)
  • Service Entry: 1958
  • Crew: 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Dimensions:

  • Length: 9.00 metres (29 ft 6 in) with gun forward
  • Width: 3.27 metres (10 ft 9 in)
  • Height: 2.40 metres (7 ft 10 in)
  • Weight: 36 tonnes (T-55A variant)

Powerplant and Mobility:

  • Engine: V-55 12-cylinder diesel engine
  • Horsepower: 580 hp (432 kW)
  • Maximum Speed: 50 km/h (31 mph) on road, 27 km/h (17 mph) off-road
  • Range: 500 km (310 miles) on road (with auxiliary fuel tanks)
  • Suspension: Torsion bar suspension

Armament:

  • Main Armament:
  • 100 mm D-10T2S rifled gun (the same gun from the T-54 series)
  • Ammunition Capacity: 43 rounds (APFSDS, HEAT, HE, and ATGM rounds in later versions)
  • Secondary Armament:
  • 1 x 7.62 mm SGMT coaxial machine gun
  • 1 x 12.7 mm DShK anti-aircraft heavy machine gun (on later variants like the T-55A)
  • 1 x 7.62 mm SGMT bow-mounted machine gun (optional)

Armour:

  • Hull Armour:
  • Frontal: 100 mm
  • Side and Rear: 80 mm
  • Turret Armour:
  • Frontal: 200 mm
  • Side and Rear: 150 mm
  • The T-55’s armour was an improvement over the T-54, particularly in its turret, which retained the signature rounded shape that offered good ballistic protection.

Design Features:

  • Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Protection: The T-55 was the first Soviet tank to incorporate full NBC protection, allowing the crew to operate in contaminated environments. This feature was a significant advancement, reflecting the Cold War context.
  • Improved Fire Control: While early models lacked sophisticated night vision, later variants were fitted with infrared searchlights and passive night vision systems, enhancing their combat effectiveness at night.
  • Ammunition Types: The 100 mm D-10T2S gun was capable of firing a wide range of ammunition types, including APFSDS (Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot) for anti-armour, HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank), and HE (High Explosive) rounds. The gun also became capable of launching anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) in later variants, improving its ability to engage targets at longer ranges.

Operational History:

The T-55 entered service in 1958, quickly replacing earlier models like the T-54 as the mainstay of Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces. Its design improved upon the T-54 in several key areas, such as better NBC protection, more reliable components, and improved ease of production.

The T-55 was exported to numerous countries across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Eastern Europe. It saw combat in virtually every major conflict during the Cold War and after, including:

  • The Arab-Israeli Wars (1967, 1973)
  • The Vietnam War
  • The Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988)
  • The Gulf War (1991)
  • The Yugoslav Wars (1990s)
  • Numerous post-colonial and civil conflicts in Africa and the Middle East

Upgrades and Variants:

  • T-55A: Introduced in 1963, this variant featured enhanced radiation protection and added the 12.7 mm DShK anti-aircraft machine gun on the turret.
  • T-55AM: A modernised version with improved fire control systems, stabilisers for the main gun, and the capability to launch ATGMs (such as the 9M117 Bastion missile).
  • T-55M: Another modernisation package with ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour), laser rangefinders, and more advanced targeting systems.
  • T-55M6: A further upgrade that incorporated many aspects of the T-72, such as a new engine, better armour, and an autoloader.

License-built versions and foreign variants:

  • Type 59: China’s license-produced version of the T-54/T-55, which evolved into various models with improved firepower and technology.
  • Romanian TR-580/800: Local variants of the T-55 produced in Romania, often featuring more modern fire control and armour.
  • Tiran: Israeli-modified T-55s captured during the Arab-Israeli Wars, upgraded with Western technology, including better guns and electronics.

Legacy:

The T-55’s combination of simplicity, durability, and ease of maintenance made it highly popular with nations that needed reliable tanks in large numbers. It became a symbol of Soviet armoured warfare, often used by developing nations as the backbone of their armoured forces well into the 21st century. Even today, upgraded versions of the T-55 continue to serve in various militaries, having been retrofitted with modern equipment to remain competitive on the battlefield.

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