Detailed review of the T-55 medium tank - cheap and cheerful

A large number of tanks that were developed immediately after the end of World War II did not remain in service. But there was one Soviet tank that became an exception - the T-55. This copy went into production in the late 50s of the last century.

The T-55 tank became the most popular tank of the second half of the 20th century. It took part in several wars in all corners of the planet and has no plans to retire yet, since an adequate replacement for this simple and unpretentious tank has not yet been created.

History of creation

By the beginning of the 50s, the design of the T-54 tank, as they say, “took shape.” We got rid of “childhood diseases”, abandoned bad decisions, and found the optimal shape of the tower. And, most importantly, they finally launched mass production. By this time, the tank designer Alexander Morozov had returned to Kharkov, and work on further improving the vehicle was headed by Leonid Kartsev. He was faced with a new task - to adapt the T-54 to the conditions of a probable nuclear war.

Tests of Soviet atomic bombs showed that tanks (and especially the crew) were disabled even far from the epicenter. They decided to combine the developed system of protection against weapons of mass destruction with other developments to improve the operational qualities of the Fifty-four. And the modernized tank was named T-55. Its production began in 1958.

T-64-55 – hybrid tank. An unusual solution for modernizing the T-55

Tanks of the T-55 family (Fig. 1) are the most common tanks in the world. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the T-55 tank took part in all wars and any significant armed conflicts of the second half of the twentieth century.

Indeed, the vehicle, which is in service in almost 70 countries around the world, has earned the love and respect of tankers for its reliability, unpretentiousness, ease of operation and survivability. These qualities led to the widespread distribution of the vehicle - in total, more than 70,000 (according to other sources - 80,000) units were produced - the number of T-55s produced (including copies and clones) is comparable to the number of all other tanks produced in the world after the Second World War. World War. There are currently about 40,000 tanks in service, 20,000 of which are operational.

The T-55 tank is the unofficial world champion in its ability to be repaired in field conditions. The simplicity of the design determines the low cost of the vehicle and high combat effectiveness. In addition to economic and technical aspects, there are also psychological aspects associated with the T-55 tank. Among them are traditions, experience in training more than one generation of specialists who know this tank, habit and a very large number (in some countries - up to several millions) of shells for the 100 mm D-10T2S cannon, the reserves of which will last for many years.

But there are no eternal machines. The tank, created in 1956, today does not meet the requirements for mobility and security. The chassis has practically exhausted its modernization potential and does not allow for any serious enhancement of armor protection; the V-55 engine has a power of 580 hp. does not provide the necessary dynamic characteristics.

Naturally, to improve the combat characteristics of the vehicle and extend its service life, its modernization is being carried out in a number of countries.

Currently, there is a steady trend of customers turning to cost-effective options for upgrading the T-55. The main directions are modernization of the turret, modernization of the chassis in order to increase protection, improving dynamic characteristics by installing a more powerful engine, modernizing the transmission and suspension.

One example is the installation of an American AVDS-1790-5A diesel engine with a power of 620 hp on the T-55, carried out within the framework of the Egyptian Ramses-2 program. and hydrodynamic transmission TSM-304 (German licensed RK 304). It should be noted that simply replacing the power unit is not a comprehensive solution to the problem. The increased power flow passed through the final drives and chassis, which were not designed for such loads, led to their breakdowns. For final drives, this means chipping and cutting of gear teeth, and destruction of bearings. In the chassis, the teeth of the drive wheel are cut off, the track fingers are destroyed, the rubber array of the road wheels overheats and breaks down, the torsion bar shafts break, the bearings of the drive wheels, road wheels and guide wheels fail, and due to overheating the operation of the hydraulic shock absorbers is disrupted. Replacing all these components with reinforced ones will lead to an increase in the cost of upgrading the vehicle to an amount comparable to the cost of a modern tank.

In addition, modern Western power plants have larger dimensions than the B-55 engine and require developed and dimensional cooling and air cleaning systems for their operation; hydrodynamic transmissions also require the use of their own cooling system, which makes it even more difficult to “fit” the power unit into an existing engine -transmission compartment. This will inevitably lead to an increase in the height of the engine-transmission compartment, and, as a result, to a limitation in the sweep angles of the tank gun.

Other upgrade options also have a fairly high cost. If we look at them from the point of view of the efficiency/cost ratio criterion, we will see that most companies try first of all to sell high-tech, expensive products, without having an integrated approach to modernizing the machine. The proposed components and systems are often not designed to work in a coordinated manner either with each other or with the components and systems of the tank being modernized.

More profitable, both in terms of economic and operational indicators, is the comprehensive solution to the problem proposed by the Kharkov BTRZ.

The modernization of the tank involves, while maintaining the T-55 turret, replacing the entire T-55 chassis with the chassis of the T-64 main battle tank (Fig. 2). This scheme is preferable for a number of reasons. Firstly, all chassis components and systems were designed specifically to work together and fit together perfectly. Secondly, the proposed solution does not require alteration of the armored hull, which creates weakened zones due to the large number of welds. Thirdly, the proposed chassis has a proven design, optimized during long-term use in the army.

The proposed chassis belongs to the next generation combat vehicle and has significantly higher combat characteristics. First of all, this concerns the 5TDF two-stroke 5-cylinder boxer diesel engine with a power of 700 hp. Today, this engine has the best power density (both overall and liter) in the world. Its closest analogue is the M-12ZG “Mitsubishi” two-stroke 10-cylinder boxer diesel engine of the Japanese Type-90 tank, which weighs 3 tons (versus 1 ton for the 5TDF). In addition, the “Japanese” has a service life of 400 engine hours (5TDF has a warranty service life of 500 engine hours, and a qualified driver can increase it 2-3 times). It should also be noted that the M-12ZG has a 7 percent higher specific fuel consumption.

the Leyland L50 boxer multi-fuel diesel engine with counter-moving pistons in the cylinder (installed on the English Chieftain MBT) - it was vertically opposed with a rated power of 750 hp. For a 55-ton tank, the engine was clearly rather weak, and when installed in the tank, it turned out that it had not yet reached its nominal value. Possibly due to losses in the cooling and exhaust system.

At the request of the customer, a standard engine with a power of 700 hp. can be replaced by one of the forced versions of the 5TDF family engines with a power of up to 850 hp. in the same dimensions.

Compared to the T-55 chassis, the T-64 tank chassis is more reliable; its armor protection is more than doubled due to spaced armor. In addition, the mechanical control system of the T-55 was replaced with a more advanced hydromechanical one, and the energy intensity of the suspension was significantly increased. Due to the self-cleaning ability inherent in the design of the undercarriage and the use of support rollers, and rubber-metal joints in the track, power losses in the undercarriage are reduced, its reliability and durability are significantly increased while the amount of maintenance is reduced. In addition, its design increased mine resistance and reduced vulnerability to napalm, pyrogens and other incendiary agents.

Due to the use of the T-64 chassis, the hybrid vehicle has higher acceleration characteristics, higher maximum and cruising speeds, a larger fuel range, and a greater depth of water obstacles that can be overcome without preparation.

Due to the fact that the T-55 tank turret is lighter than the T-64 turret, the T-64-55 hybrid tank (Fig. 3) has a mass of 33.8 tons - 7 tons less than the T-64 itself. As a result, the chassis elements of the T-64 tank with the T-55 turret have a longer service life, the load on the engine is reduced, and lower specific ground pressure results in higher maneuverability. In addition, a lighter turret makes it possible to enhance armor protection through the installation of remote sensing containers, some of which are located at an angle and at a certain distance from the main armor (the so-called “eyebrows”), the use of more powerful weapon systems and/or the use of various additional systems and complexes (see below).

A set of design measures - the introduction of an additional storage tank and additional ammunition rack fastenings - (Fig. 4) made it possible to increase the ammunition load from 43 to 55 shells.

The turret of the T-64-55 hybrid tank is the turret of the T-55 tank with a 100-mm D-10T2S cannon, but its resistance to damage by anti-tank weapons can be significantly increased by installing dynamic protection elements on it (Fig. 5). Thus, to operate the vehicle, retraining of the crews is not required, the possibility of using 100-mm shells for the D-10T2S cannon remains, the ammunition load is increased, and the rotating floor of the T-55 fighting compartment is preserved.

Despite the dense layout, access to the engine for maintenance is not difficult, due to the roof of the engine-transmission compartment, which is easily lifted using a special mechanism (Fig. 6).

The proposed hybrid of the T-55 and T-64 is not an example of high technology, but a vehicle that radically reduces the gap between tanks of the first post-war generation and modern vehicles.

The proposed modernization option has a high efficiency/cost ratio, as a result of which, from an economic point of view, it leaves potential competitors far behind. The upgraded tank's characteristics are very close to those of modern tanks.

Comparative table of tactical and technical characteristics of T-55 and T-64-55

T-55	T-64-55
Combat weight, t	36	33,8
Crew, people	4	4
Gun, type, caliber	D-10T2S, 100 mm	D-10T2S, 100 mm
Ammunition	43	55
Length with gun forward	9000	9000
Width	3270	3270
Height	2218	2200
Clearance	425	500
Armor, mm: hull forehead	100	80+105 (2 slabs of fiberglass STB) +20 +30
Specific ground pressure, kg/cm2	0,81	0,78
Highway speed, km/h	50	65
Cruising range on the highway, km	300 (with additional 480 barrels)	600
Rise, deg.	32	32
Roll, deg.	30	30
Wall height, m	0,80	0,80
Ditch width, m	2,70	2,70
Fording depth, m	1.40 with preliminary preparation (with OPVT - 5 m)	1.80 without preparation (with OPVT - 5 m)
Power, hp	580	700
Specific power, hp/t.	16,11	20,71

The offered machine can be equipped with additional systems and complexes:

• Mobile system for suppressing radio frequencies in the range of 20-2000 MHz . For protection against radio-controlled explosive devices;

• Optical-electronic suppression complexes of various types. To interfere with the enemy's rangefinder and/or disrupt ATGM guidance, as well as to quickly search for an attacking PTS in order to suppress the PTS with fire from its own weapons;

• Dynamic protection of the latest generation “Knife”. For protection against all types of anti-tank ammunition, including armor-piercing sabot rounds (APS).

• Active protection complex “Zaslon”. For remote destruction of incoming anti-tank ammunition.

• Mine trawl (as an option - with an electromagnetic attachment). To overcome minefields.

• Camouflage design with a multispectral camouflage network “Contrast”. To reduce the visibility of the tank in the infrared, thermal and radar ranges, they can reduce the target acquisition range of high-precision weapons by 9 times.

The offered machine can be equipped with one of two types of tracks:

• The first is for rocky and sandy soils (Figure 7).

• The second is for marshy soils (Figure 8).

Both types of tracks can withstand 4 kg of explosives.

Similar measures to create a hybrid tank can be carried out by combining the T-64 chassis with the turret of a T-62 or T-54 tank.

After upgrading the tank, the customer is free of the T-55 chassis. On its basis, the Kharkov BTRZ State Enterprise developed the BMP-55 heavy infantry fighting vehicle with full documentation. A working prototype of this machine was manufactured (Fig. 9). If interested, this infantry fighting vehicle can also be offered to the customer.

Based on the experience of recent armed conflicts, vehicles of this class are the most popular and dynamically developing in the modern arms market. Unlike other vehicles of this class, the use of a tank chassis allows for a level of armor protection comparable to that of a main battle tank, as well as the use of combat modules with high fire performance. In the case of using dynamic protection containers, you can get a vehicle protected from most anti-tank weapons existing today.

When creating the BMP-55, the B-55 diesel of the T-55 tank is changed to a 5TDF with a power of 700 hp, ensuring unification with the T-64-55. A two-stroke multi-fuel boxer diesel engine gives the car high dynamic characteristics. Most of the T-55 transmission is also replaced by the T-64 tank's onboard gearboxes. The upper part of the armored hull is welded from flat armor plates, forming a vehicle with a front-mounted engine compartment, a mid-mounted control compartment, and a rear-mounted combat/troop compartment. This allows you to combine high protection of the crew from frontal fire with the ability to safely dismount troops under the cover of the vehicle hull.

In addition to the T-55 chassis, the conversion process also includes the release of the T-64 tank turret with a 125 mm caliber gun and loading mechanism. To date, besides Russia and Ukraine, only the French (Leclerc MBT) and the Japanese (Type-90 MBT) have been able to equip their tanks with loading mechanisms.

KhBTRZ proposes to use the released towers as unmanned (uninhabited) combat modules BM-125-64 , which are based on a proven and reliable loading mechanism together with a powerful 125-mm cannon (Fig. 10). It is advisable to use these modules for anti-landing defense of the coast, creating fortified areas in the border strip, and covering particularly important objects. The turret control automation is being redesigned to accommodate the external circuit, and the optical channels of the cannon and anti-aircraft machine gun sights are duplicated by video cameras. The gun module can be supplemented with a machine gun armed with a 12.7 mm NSVT heavy machine gun. The modules can be in combat readiness for an unlimited period of time, around the clock, do not require constant presence of operators, and can fire with high accuracy at a distance of up to 10 kilometers. Previously, such combat systems, which do not require the presence of operators, were not exhibited on the global arms market.

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The design of the Soviet T-55 tank - main features

Soviet tank builders, starting with the T-34 and IS-2 tanks, relied on equipping their vehicles with powerful and reliable power plants. Soviet V-2 diesel engines survived the entire war and earned recognition from the military. The designers of the T-55 medium tank approached the solution of the task in a similar way. The B-55 diesel engine was liquid cooled and provided the vehicle with high speed characteristics and a large range, both on hard surfaces and on rough terrain. The engine was started using compressed air, increasing battery life.

The engine power has increased and the reliability of the torsion bar suspension has increased. The car had one of the best running parameters. The specific pressure on the ground was only 0.81 kg/cm2. The tank could immediately overcome a ditch 2.7 m deep and a wall 0.8 m high.

For the first time, spare fuel tank racks were installed on a Soviet tank in the bow of the armored hull. During field tests, this innovation proved its right to life. Fuel tanks filled with diesel fuel played the role of additional anti-cumulative protection.

While the Nizhny Tagil tank builders did an excellent job with the propulsion system and chassis, they had to work on the armament of the armored vehicle. As in the previous model, in the T-54B tank, the new vehicle was equipped with barrel stabilizers in the horizontal plane. It was necessary to increase the ammunition capacity of the tank gun by increasing the number of cumulative armor-piercing shells. The D-10T2S 100-mm tank gun was considered one of the most powerful at that time. From a distance of 1000 m, a sub-caliber projectile fired from this weapon freely penetrated armor 275 mm thick.

The tank was equipped with a new crew protection system in case of the use of weapons of mass destruction. Collective protection involved complete sealing of the tank's fighting compartment. The vehicle's life support systems provided a filtration and ventilation system. The crew of the tank was reliably protected not only from the shock wave, light radiation and radiation, but also could fight in the current conditions.

T-55

DATA FOR 2012 (standard replenishment) T-55 / “object 155” TO-55 / “object 482” T-55K / “object 155K” T-55A T-55AM / T-55M T-55AD T-55MV Medium tank. Developed by the design bureau of plant No. 183 (later - PA "Uralvagonzavod") on the basis of the T-54B medium tank in 1958. It differs from the T-54B in a more powerful engine, increased ammunition, increased fuel system capacity, the introduction of anti-nuclear protection, improved equipment, installation of smoke new type of equipment, etc. Entered service on May 8, 1958. Serial production at plant No. 183 (UVZ) began in June 1958 and the first basic modification was completed in July 1962. T-55 tanks were also produced at plant No. 174 (Omsk, since 1958) and at plant No. 75 (Kharkov). It was modernized several times (1970, 1975, 1983). By default, the data is for the basic modification of the T-55 (if the name of the modification is not specified, then the data applies to all main models of the tank).

T-55AM with a KDT-2 laser rangefinder, monument in Khimki, Moscow region, 05/01/2008 (photo VLAS, )
Crew - 4 people (driver, gunner, loader and commander)

Design - similar to T-54 Reservation:

T-55, T-55K, TO-55, etc.	100	115-160 (105-200)
T-55A, T-55 model 1981	100	200
T-55AM, T-55M	30+120+100	60+230+200
T-55AD	120-130 probably	200 probably
T-55AMV, T-55MV	250 including remote control	200

In the 1970s (or later), some of the T-55A had rubber side screens installed (not earlier than 1975).

T-55A with side screens, photo later 1975 (https://militaryphotos.net)

The T-55M and T-55AM are equipped with multilayer shields made of combined armor on the turret, the frontal part of the hull, side rubber shields, and the bottom of the hull is additionally armored to protect the driver.

Multilayer screens made of combined armor on the turret and frontal part of the hull of the T-55AM tank, monument in Khimki, Moscow region, 05/01/2008 (photo VLAS, )

Multi-layer additional armor for the frontal part of the T-55M tank hull ()

Additional rubber side screens on the T-55AM tank, monument in Khimki, Moscow region, 05/01/2008 (photo VLAS, )

The T-55AD is additionally armored in the frontal part and the bottom of the hull under the driver.

The T-55AMV uses mounted dynamic protection - 42 elements per side (light version - 10 elements per side above the fender), the turret has about 40 elements (no data, counted from the photo), the front of the hull is also protected.

Transmission and suspension : similar to T-54

Engine : - T-55 - diesel B-55 with a power of 580 hp. - T-55 model 1981 - diesel B-55V with a power of 580 hp. - T-55AM, T-55M, T-55AD, T-55AMV, T-55MV - diesel V-55U with a power of 620 hp. - T-55AM-1, T-55M-1, T-55AD-1, T-55MV-1 - V-46-5M diesel engine with a power of 690 hp.

T-55 TO-55 T-55K	T-55 "Almaz"	T-55A	T-55 model 1981	T-55M T-55AM/AD	T-55MV T-55AMV
Combat weight (t)	36-36,5	36	36.5-38	36-37	40,9-41,5	37,4
Fuel capacity (l)	680+285	nd	680+285	960	680+285	nd
Length (mm)	9000	9000	9000	9000	8618	8618
Case length (mm)	6040	6200	6040	6200	6200	6200
Width (mm)	3270	3270	3270	3270	3526	3526
Height (mm)	2218	2350	2350	2350	2350	2350
Ground clearance (mm)	425-500	425	425	425	352	392
Specific ground pressure (kg/sq.cm)	0.81 0.82 (T-55K)	0,81	0,81	0,81	0,92-0,93	0.92 0.81 (AMV)
Specific power (hp/t)	16,1	16	15.8-16	15.8-16	15	15,8
Speed ​​(km/h)	48-50	50	50	50	54 50 (T-55AM)	54 50 (AMV)
Cruising range (km)	480-500 375 (TO-55) 450 (T-55K)	500	500	485-500	290	450 290 (AMV)

Hull length 6200 mm, possibly the length of tank hulls produced by Omsk Plant No. 174.
Obstacles to overcome: - roll - 30 degrees - rise - 30 degrees, 32 degrees (TO-55, T-55 model 1981) - ditch - 2.7 m - wall - 0.8 m - ford - 1.4 m (5 m with OPVT)

Armament:

Tank type	Main weapon	Twin systems	Anti-aircraft installation	Additional weapons
T-55 (1958)	100 mm D-10T2S cannon, 43 rounds of ammunition.	7.62 mm machine gun SGMT ammunition 1500 rounds.	since 1970 DShK-M	7.62 mm SGMT machine gun in the front hull, 2000 rounds of ammunition.
TO-55 (1958)	ammunition 25 rounds.	automatic flamethrower ATO-200, ammunition - 460 liters of mixture	since 1970 DShK-M	7.62 mm SGMT machine gun in the front hull, 750 rounds of ammunition.
T-55K (1959)	ammunition 37 rounds.	7.62 mm SGMT machine gun, 2000 rounds of ammunition.	since 1970 DShK-M	No
T-55 "Almaz" (1961)	ammunition 31 rounds.	7.62 mm SGMT machine gun, 1250 rounds of ammunition.	No	No
T-55A (1962)	ammunition 43 rounds.	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 1250 rounds of ammunition.	since 1970 DShK-M	7.62 mm PKT machine gun in the front hull, 1500 rounds of ammunition.
T-55 arr. 1981	without changes	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 1500 rounds of ammunition.	12.7 mm DShK-M machine gun, 400 rounds of ammunition.	7.62 mm PKT machine gun in the front hull, 2000 rounds of ammunition.
T-55AM T-55AM-1 (1981-1983)	ammunition 42 rounds.	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 3000 rounds of ammunition.	12.7 mm DShK-M or NSVT machine gun, 300 rounds of ammunition.	ATGM 9K116 "Bastion" - used from the main gun
T-55M T-55M-1 (1983)	ammunition 43 rounds.	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 2250 rounds of ammunition.	12.7 mm DShK-M machine gun, 300 rounds of ammunition.	ATGM 9K116 "Bastion" - used from the main gun
T-55AD T-55MV (1983)	without changes	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 3000 rounds of ammunition.	12.7 mm DShK-M or NSVT machine gun, 300 rounds of ammunition.	ATGM 9K116 "Bastion" - used from the main gun

The 100 mm D-10T2S gun is equipped with a two-plane STP-2 “Cyclone” stabilizer.
Developed by design bureau of plant No. 9 (Sverdlovsk), chief designer - F.F. Petrov. On models like T-55AM / T-55M / T-55AD (1983) and similar ones, there is a “Cyclone M1” stabilizer and a thermal protective casing for the gun. The 12.7 mm DShK-M anti-aircraft machine gun or 14.5 mm KPVT was installed on tanks of the T-55 family officially starting in 1970, but the units that entered Czechoslovakia in 1968 already had T-55s with the DShK-M anti-aircraft machine gun. Tanks of the T-55M type and similar ones were equipped with the 9K116 Bastion ATGM with the appropriate equipment and ammunition. The ATGM was used by firing ATGMs from the main gun. T-55AD - the Drozd active protection system is installed with 8 3UOF14 rounds, a radar and a control unit. The Drozd system units are mounted on the tank turret. The Drozd complex was developed during the design and development work of the same name TsKIB for small and hunting weapons (TsKIBSOO) from 1977 to 1982. the complex is designed to protect the tank from ATGMs and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). Structurally, the complex consists of combat units (4 units of 2 shots each, perhaps there was an option with 2 units of 2 shots each), two radar units (placed above the units of shots on the sides of the tank turret), a hardware control module, a control panel and connecting cables. The complex equipment includes an emergency generator. The complex's radar detects and tracks an attacking object, gives the command to rotate the turret, fires a shot, displays the shooting sector of the striking element on the control panel, and checks the complex's systems. The complex is blocked when the tank hatches are open. After switching on, the complex works automatically. Electromagnetic compatibility of the complex’s equipment in a group of 30 tanks has been ensured. Can be upgraded for installation on any tank, incl. with internal placement of equipment. Produced in series since 1983. Weight including bulletproof and anti-fragmentation protection - 1000 kg Protection zone in azimuth - sector 80 degrees Protection zone in elevation - from -6 to +20 degrees Speed ​​of the attacking object - 70-700 m/s Probability of defeat attacking object - no less than 0.7 Power consumption - 700 W

Equipment : The Volna automated fire control system was installed by 1985 on the T-55AMV modification and, probably, on the T-55MV. Optical sight: - TSh-2A or TSh-2B (T-55, T-55K) - developed (like all TSh sights) and produced by the Novosibirsk Instrument-Making Plant (Novosibirsk). - TSh-32PV (T-55A) - TShS-32PVM / TSh-2B-32P (T-55 model 1981) - TShSM-32PV and 1K13 (T-55AM, T-55M, T-55AD, T-55AMV , T-55MV)

Optical sight, probably TShSM-32PV / 1K13 on the T-55AM tank, monument in Khimki, Moscow region, 05/01/2008 (photo VLAS, )

Night sight: - TPN-1-22-11 (including T-55AM/M) Laser rangefinder: - KDT-1 / KDT-2 (quantum tank rangefinder) - since 1974-1975. incl. on new-built tanks, necessarily during modernization on T-55AM, T-55M, T-55AD, T-55AMV, T-55MV tanks.

Welded body of the KDT-2 laser rangefinder on the T-55AM tank, monument in Khimki, Moscow region, 05/01/2008 (photo VLAS, )

The BV-55 ballistic computer was installed on tanks upgraded according to the T-55AM, T-55M, T-55AD, T-55AMV, T-55MV modernization options (since 1983). Radio station: - R-113 - R-113 and R-112 (HF band, T-55K) - R-123 / R-123M (T-55 model 1981) - R-173 (T-55AM, T -55M, T-55AD, T-55AMV, T-55MV)

Gyrohalf-compass GPK-48 (since 1960 GPK-59)

A means of setting up a smoke screen TDA (thermodynamic equipment) and 8 x PU 902B (usually on the right side of the turret, in one block) starting with the T-55AM, T-55M, T-55AD, T-55AMV, T-55MV tanks.

Launchers of the 902B system on the T-55AM tank, monument in Khimki, Moscow region, 05/01/2008 (photo VLAS, )

Equipment for underwater tank driving (crossing depth up to 5 m, length - 700 m). Anti-nuclear protection equipment. It is activated by gamma radiation sensors, the fighting compartment and control compartment are sealed, excess pressure is injected, and the air is filtered. Starting with the T-55A OPAZ has been improved. Fire protection system Mine trawls PT-55 - installed on some tanks since 1959. Bulldozer equipment for self-digging BTU (weight 2.3 tons) or BTU-55 (weight 1.4 tons) installed on some tanks in the 1960s.

Modifications : T-55 / “object 155” (1958) - the first series of T-55, basic modification. In 1962, the T-55A was replaced in the series.

T-55 / object 155 (photo by A.N. Makarov, https://militaryphotos.net)

TO-55 / “object 482” (1958) - flamethrower medium tank based on the first T-55 model. Developed by design bureau of plant No. 75 and design bureau of plant No. 174, mass-produced at plant No. 174 (Omsk) from 1958 to 1962. In 1962, it was produced on the basis of the T-55A tank. Removed from service by the Russian Armed Forces in 1993. The tank for the fire mixture was located instead of ammunition next to the driver; the tank was equipped with an upper hatch and a lower hatch for draining.

Flamethrower tank TO-55 based on the T-55A tank (https://militaryphotos.net)

T-55K / “object 155K” (1959) - command version of the T-55. Developed by the design bureau of plant No. 183 (UVZ) in 1959. An additional HF radio station R-112, an AB-1-P/30 gas-electric generator and navigation equipment were installed. The ammunition load has been reduced and the front-mounted machine gun has been removed.

T-55 "Almaz" (1961) - a conditional name, an experimental tank with an experimental Almaz TV system. The system is designed to provide observation and aiming in conditions of inoperability of optical means of observation and aiming (under water, during a nuclear explosion, etc.). Three TV cameras were installed on the tank (one in the front of the hull, two on the turret) and two TV screens to display information. The sighting range during the day is 1500-2000 m. The tank commander was located next to the driver, the ammunition load was reduced, and the front-mounted hull machine gun was removed. The system turned out to be unreliable and was not adopted for service. T-55A (1962) - a modernized version of the T-55, the second large-scale modification. Developed by design bureau of plant No. 183, put into service in 1962, in series from 1963 to 1977. The tank was modernized several times in the 1970s, the latest modernization being the T-55AM (see below).

T-55A with laser rangefinder - probably KDT-1 - from 1974-1975. installed including on newly built tanks (https://militaryphotos.net)

T-55 "Uran" (early 1960s) - a conditional name, an experimental tank with TV equipment "Uran" intended for tactical reconnaissance of the battlefield with image transmission to a receiving point on the BTR-50 chassis with remote viewing equipment on the UAZ chassis 69. Image transmission range is 10-30 km.

T-55 GTD (early 1960s) - a conditional name, an experimental tank with a GTD-3T gas turbine engine with a power of 700 hp. developed by OKB-29 Omsk). Tested.

“object 612” (1962-1965) - an experimental tank with an automatic gear shift drive of the electro-hydraulic type. Developed by OKB-29 Omsk). Made 3 pcs. During the tests, the low reliability of the new mechanisms was revealed.

T-55 with the Malyutka ATGM (early 1960s) - a conditional name, a tank with three Malyutka ATGMs installed on the turret roof was tested in the early 1960s.

T-55 model 1981 is a conditional name; by 1981, several upgrades of the basic T-55 models were made during mass production at the Uralvagonzavod Production Association and by repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Under this name, the performance characteristics of T-55 military vehicles and modifications as of 1981 are cumulatively collected.

T-55 produced 1975-1977 with laser rangefinder KDT-1 (https://militaryphotos.net)

T-55AM (1983) - the basic model of the T-55A modernization. Developed by the design bureau according to the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated July 25, 1981. The tank (modernization option) was put into service in April 1983. Modernization was carried out by repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense since 1981. The tanks received a complex of guided weapons, new equipment, multi-layer screens made of combined armor on turret and additional armor for the frontal part of the hull, side rubber screens, additionally armored bottom, upgraded engine, etc.

T-55AM tank, monument in Khimki, Moscow region, 05/01/2008 (photo VLAS, )

T-55M (1983) - the basic model of the T-55 modernization. Developed by the design bureau in 1983. Modernization was carried out by repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The tanks received a complex of guided weapons, new equipment, multi-layer screens made of combined armor on the turret and the frontal part of the hull, rubber side screens, an additionally armored bottom, a modernized engine, etc.

T-55AM-1 (1983) - variant of the T-55AM with the V-46-5M engine. T-55M-1 (1983) - variant of the T-55M with the V-46-5M engine. T-55AD (T-55A with Drozd, 1983) - the basic model of the T-55A modernization. Developed by the design bureau in 1983. The T-55AD tank entered testing in December 1983. Modernization was carried out by repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The tanks received the Drozd active protection complex (developed from 1977 to 1982 by TsKIBSOO), a guided weapons complex, new equipment, additional hull and bottom armor, side rubber screens, a modernized T-55AM/T-55M engine, etc. . Currently, the first copy of the T-55AD tank is in the Museum of Armored Forces NII-38 BT of the Russian Ministry of Defense in Kubinka. In the mid-1980s, T-55AD tanks were part of the Navy Marine Corps, as well as, probably, in other units and formations of the USSR Armed Forces. T-55AD-1 (1983) - variant of the T-55AD with the V-46-5M engine. T-55AMV (T-55A modernized with Volna, 1985) - the basic model of the T-55A modernization. Developed by the design bureau, adopted for service in 1985. Modernization was carried out by repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The tanks received a complex of guided weapons, new equipment including the Volna automated control system, additional hull armor, on-board rubber screens, mounted dynamic protection for the turret and hull, an upgraded T-55AM/T-55M engine, etc. T-55MV (T-55 modernized with Volna, 1985) - modernization of the T-55. Developed by the design bureau, adopted for service in 1985. Modernization was carried out by repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The tanks received a complex of guided weapons, new equipment including the Volna automated control system, additional hull armor, on-board rubber screens, mounted dynamic protection for the turret and hull of the T-55AMV type, an upgraded engine of the T-55AM/T-55M type, etc. T-55MV-1 (1985) - variant of the T-55MV with the V-46-5M engine. Based on the T-55 tank, the following were created: - T-55 missile tank (project, 1961-1963, UralvagonUralvagonobject 602 design bureau (1964, Omsktransmash design bureau); - IMR engineering clearing vehicle / "object 616A" "(1969, KB "Omsktransmash");

Projections T-55 (https://www.morozov.com.ua)

Status : in total, together with the T-54, more than 100,000 tanks have been produced by all countries over the entire period. USSR / Russia - 1958 - the beginning of the T-55 entering the USSR Armed Forces. - 1961 - according to the state, there were 94 T-55 (+27 T-54) in the tank regiment of the USSR Armed Forces (261st tank regiment of the 37th Guards TD). - 1969 - according to the state, they were not listed in the tank regiment of the USSR Armed Forces (261st tank regiment of the 37th Guards TD). — 1993 — the TO-55 flamethrower tank was removed from service with the Russian Armed Forces. - 2010 - in the Russian Armed Forces, in storage at least, only about 1100 pieces. Export :
Azerbaijan - as of mid-2009, 100 T-54 and T-55 units are in service.
Algeria : - 2007 - 270 T-54/55 in service. Angola : - 2007 - about 200 T-54/55 in service. Afghanistan : - 2007 - in service. Bangladesh : - 2007 - 100 T-54/55 in service. Belarus : - 1992 - during the collapse of the USSR, the Armed Forces of Belarus ended up with 443 T-55s (later sent for storage and disposal). Bosnia and Herzegovina : - 2007 - 3 T-54 and 75 T-55 in service. Vietnam : - 2007 - 850 T-54/55 and possibly Type 59 in service (China, delivered sometime before 1979). Egypt : - June 1967 - during the 6-day Arab-Israeli war from Egypt on the Sinai Peninsula, Israel captured 291 T-54 tanks. — 1967-1973 — 1260 T-54 and T-55 tanks were delivered to Egypt. - 1987 - work began on modifying the T-54 and T-55 tanks - T-54E / T-55E "Ramses II" - with the installation of an American gun and other imported equipment. The first T-54 tanks were delivered to the USA to test the modification.

Tank T-55E Ramses-II (https://www.militaryphotos.net).

- late 1980s - the possibility of modernizing the fleet of T-55 tanks with German help was studied. According to the Jung Jungenthal project, two prototypes were modernized. For mass modernization, the Ramses-II project was adopted. According to the project, it was planned to leave 100-mm D-10T cannons on some of the tanks, and replace them with 105-mm M-68 cannons on some of them.

Tank T-55 Jung Jungenthal (https://www.militaryphotos.net).

- 1990s - work began on modernizing the T-54 and T-55 tanks in service with the Egyptian army - T-54E / T-55E "Ramses II" - an American 105 mm rifled gun M-68, a Belgian fire control system "Titan" were installed » Mk.1, American AVDQ-1790-5A engine and Egyptian TSM-304 transmission. Mass rearmament was not carried out for financial reasons. — 2005-2006 — modernization of T-54 and T-55 tanks according to the T-54E / T-55E “Ramses II” standard. A total of 270 tanks were modernized. — 2007 — 270 T-55E “Ramses II” tanks in service, 840 T-54/55 in storage.

Israel : - 1967 June - during the 6-day Arab-Israeli war, 291 T-54 tanks were captured from Egypt on the Sinai Peninsula (+ 82 T-55, 251 T-34, 72 IS-3M, 29 PT-76 and 51 Su-100). The captured T-54 tanks were modernized by Israel in the late 1960s - early 1970s according to the Ti-67 model - a 105 mm L7 rifled gun, smoke grenade launchers were installed, and other minor changes were made. - 1988 - the Achzarit tracked armored personnel carrier on the chassis of captured T-54 and T-55 was adopted and put into serial production by the Israeli army. In total, from 400 to 500 captured tanks were converted. - 2007 - in service with 261 Ti-67 tanks, 126 T-54/55 and T-62 and Achzarit armored personnel carriers (it is not known how many).

India : - 2011 May 23 - the media stated that in the next few years the Indian Ministry of Defense intends to modernize the existing fleet of T-55 tanks. In total, the Indian Armed Forces currently have about 900 T-55s. The tanks will receive a new 105 mm gun, new chassis and fuel tanks (lenta.ru).

Iran : - 2007 - in service with 540 T-54/55 and Type 59 (China). Yemen : - 2007 - 450 T-54/55 in service. Kampuchea : - 2007 - more than 100 T-54/55 and Chinese Type 59 are in service. DPRK : - 2007 - T-54/55 and Chinese Type 59 are in service.

Congo : - 2007 - 25 T-54/55 and/or Chinese Type 59 are in service. Cuba : - 2007 - in service. Laos : - 2007 - 15 T-54/55 in service. Lebanon : - 1992 - T-54/55 is in service, incl. as part of the Army of South Lebanon (pro-Israeli formations) - up to 70 units, along with T-55s and Shermans. - 2007 - up to 200 T-54/55 in service; Libya : - 2007 - more than 1040 T-54/55 in storage. Mauritania : - 2007 - 35 T-54/55 in service. Mali : - 2007 - 12 T-54/55 in service. Mongolia : - 2007 - 370 T-54/55 in service. Pakistan : - 2007 - in service with 51 T-54/55 and/or Chinese Type 59. Peru : - 2007 - 275 T-54/55 in service (of which about 200 are combat-ready).

- 2010 - up to 300 T-55 tanks in service.

- 2010 October 18 - testing of the Tifon-2 / T-55M8A2 tank, created on the basis of the T-55 by the Peruvian company DISCA and the Kharkov Morozov Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau, began. The production of Tifon-2 tanks will be carried out by modernizing the Peruvian T-55 using repair kits supplied from Ukraine.

Armament - 125 mm KBM-1M cannon with an 18-round automatic loader (total ammunition - 31 rounds). Engine - 5TDFMA with a power of 1050 hp. Speed ​​- up to 55 km/h Equipment - digital fire control system and thermal imaging sight for the gunner.

Tank Tifon-2 (https://maquina-de-combate.com)

Rwanda : - 2007 - 24 T-54/55 in service.

Romania : - 1991 - in service, the T-55 tank is produced under license under the name TR-85. - 1995 - development of the TR-85 modernization option began - TR-85M1 Bizonul (Bison). Several companies from all over Europe are involved in the development, the equipment is supplied mainly by Matra (France). The armament is unchanged (it was planned to replace the gun with a 120 mm gun), but a new two-plane stabilizer and a thermal casing for the gun have been installed. Ammunition - 41 shots. Additional armor with built-in dynamic protection (turret), combined additional armor for the front of the hull, on-board protective anti-cumulative screens. The design of the rear part of the turret has been changed. Engine - diesel 8VS-A2T2 with 860 hp. Weight - 54 tons Maximum speed - 60 km/h Cost of modernization - 1 million USD In total, 300 T-55 tanks of different production series were modernized using the TR-85M1 Bizonul model.

Tank TR-85M1 Bizonul, Romania (https://military-today.com)

Syria : - 2006 - 1000-1250 T-54/55 tanks in service + about 1000 tanks in storage (all delivered before 1992).

Slovenia : - 1999 - in service. Deliveries to the Slovenian army of the last of 30 T-55 units modernized by STO RAVNE together with the Israeli company Elbit have been completed. During the modernization, a rifled 105 mm gun was installed, built-in dynamic protection on the turret and hull of the tank, on-board protective rubber screens, a new rubber-metal track, a two-plane weapon stabilizer, a Fotona SGS-55 sight with a laser rangefinder, a Fotona COMTOS-55 commander's sight with independent line stabilization sighting, laser irradiation indicator LIRD-1A (activates IS-6 jamming grenade launchers). The engine is boosted from 520 hp. up to 600 hp The possibility of replacing the engine with a MAN diesel engine with an output of 850 hp is being considered.

Slovenian modernized T-55 (https://nnm.ru)

Sudan : - 2007 - in service with 200 T-54/55 and Chinese Type 59.

USA : - 1997 - a project for modernizing the T-55 and Type 59 tanks was presented. Contractor: Cadillac Gage Textron, developers: Textron Marine and Land Systems (all USA). A total of 2 units were built. Engine - Detroit Diesel 750 hp. Gearbox - automatic Allison Transmission Suspension - conventional torsion bar or hydropneumatic suspension Cadillac Gage Textron Weight - 42-46 tons Maximum speed - 55 km/h Armament - 105 mm rifled gun Cost of modernization - 2.8 million USD

Upgraded T-55 - Jaguar, USA (https://military-today.com)

Tanzania : - 2007 - 30 T-54/55 in service. Togo : - 2007 - 2 T-54/55 in service. Uganda : - 2007 - 154 T-54 / T-55 and Chinese Type 62 are in service. Ukraine : - 1992 - during the collapse of the USSR, there were 1,100 units in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. T-54 / T-55.

Finland : The ItPsv.90 ZSU is being produced and is in service (at least by 2010) - the Marksman combat module (2 x 35 mm Oerlikon cannons) manufactured in Great Britain on the T-55AM chassis made in Poland.

Finnish ZSU ItPsv.90 (photo courtesy of Epizikl, 2010)

Eritrea : - 2007 - 150 T-54/55 in service. Ethiopia : - 2007 - more than 250 T-54/55 and T-62 in service.

Yugoslavia : - 1991 - in service, previously supplied and produced under license.

South Ossetia : - August 2008 - 87 T-72 and T-55 tanks in service.

Sources : Options for modernizing the T-55 tank. Website https://nnm.ru, 2010. Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia. Website https://ru.wikipedia.org, 2010. Drogovoz I.G., Tank sword of the Land of the Soviets. M., Ast, Minsk, Harvest, 2001. Ivanov A., Active tank protection. // Military parade. No. 5 / 1997 Karpenko A.V. Review of domestic armored vehicles (1905-1995). St. Petersburg, Nevsky Bastion, 1996. Metelsky Yu., Popov G., Gibin I., From idea to production. // Military parade. No. 3 / 2001 Forums MilitaryRussia.Ru. Website, 2010 Yurchin V. Lebanese Armed Forces. // Foreign Military Review. No. 5 / 1993 Lenta.ru. Website https://lenta.ru, 2010-2011 Wikipedia. Website https://en.wikipedia.org, 2010.

Armament

The T-55 remained armed with the 100 mm D-10T cannon. In the mid-40s, this weapon was beyond praise, but by the early 60s it was clearly outdated, despite the installation of an ejector and stabilization in two planes. The penetration of chamber shells of the BR-412 family at a kilometer distance did not exceed 185mm of armor. However, the designers made an impressive effort to maintain the effectiveness of the gun. Already in 1961, the ammunition load was replenished with the 3BK5 non-rotating cumulative projectile.

Equipped with a kilogram of A-IX-1 substance, it could penetrate up to 380mm of armor. Later it was supplemented with a sub-caliber projectile with a detachable 3BM-8 sabot, which penetrated up to 272mm of armor at a distance of 1000m.

The 3BM25 finned sub-caliber projectile, which appeared on the T-55 tanks of the M and AM versions, could penetrate 290mm of armor at a kilometer range, and the 3BK17M cumulative projectile with a copper cumulative funnel and an okfol charge had a penetration of 390mm. The penetration of the Bastion missile, guided by a laser and launched from a gun barrel, is 600 mm of armor behind dynamic protection. The tank's high-explosive fragmentation shells were also improved. The OF-412 was replaced by the 3OF32 equipped with 1.7 kg of hexal.

The SGMT machine gun, coaxial with the cannon, was replaced during production by the PKT, and the front-mounted machine gun in the front plate was abolished on the T-55A. An anti-aircraft machine gun was not initially installed on the tank, but by the end of the 60s, due to the growing threat of combat helicopters, the T-55 was equipped with a turret with a DShK machine gun.

Creation of the T-55 tank and sabotage in the assembly shop

It is well known that the Soviet medium tank T-55 was created on the basis of the T-54 tank.
The memoirs of the famous tank designer Leonid Nikolaevich Kartsev help to understand how the process of transforming the T-54 into the T-55 began “from below” without instructions from “from above”, and what unexpected opposition had to be faced during the production of the new tank. "Object 155"

During the period described, Kartsev was the general designer of Uralvagon - M.K.) also reacted to the idea with enthusiasm, but asked... to make sure that the introduction of all planned innovations took place not as a modernization, but as the creation of a new tank. We divided responsibilities: I am responsible for the designs and test results of prototypes, Okunev is responsible for implementation into production... The new development was given the name “object 155”.

The development turned out to be successful, and in mid-1957 “object 155” was put into service under the name “T-55 tank”. Serial production was planned to begin on January 1, 1958.

Workers falsify the situation with the stacking of shots

“When production of the T-55 tank began, there were many complaints from workers about the placement of shots along the partition of the engine compartment. Workers complained about the difficulty of adjusting the crossbars to prevent the projectiles from touching each other. Having investigated this issue, I suspected that the assembly workers were pursuing their own goals: to achieve an increase in the standard time for fitting. This issue was raised daily in reports in the assembly shop. The director scolded me... Finally, my patience ran out, and I decided to prove that the workers were falsifying the situation. After the shift, the designers V.O. and I Drobotenko and N.N. The Popovs came to the workshop and began adjusting the ill-fated styling. The work was not easy: you adjust the crossbar to eliminate the contact of the projectile in one place, but it appears in another. We fussed with this matter all night, but we achieved stability in our work and handed over two packages to the military representative. At the morning report, the military representatives told the director about this. The reaction was appropriate. He accused the workers of the assembly shop of sabotage and instructed the chief technologist of the plant to urgently make a mock-up of the installation in the manufacturing shop and carry out adjustment work there. The issue of this really complex shot placement was never raised again.”

Should the plant still pay extra for tanks?

It should be noted that the assembly shop workers had good reasons to try to fool their superiors by maximizing the time standards for adjusting the crossbars. They cared about the future...

Kartsev wrote: “Then every year in February, by directive order, production standards were tightened by 15%. If for the production of some part they paid, for example, one ruble, then from March 1 it’s already 85 kopecks, and next year 72 kopecks, etc.”

The question arises: if prices are reduced annually for 7 years in a row, what will happen? Tightening by 105%?

It is no coincidence that one of Kartsev’s colleagues once joked during the next reduction in prices: “I have been working at the plant for many years, the standards are becoming stricter every year, now the plant has to pay extra for tanks, and not receive money.”

Of course, it didn’t come to the point of paying extra for a part made with one’s own hands. Ways out of this situation were found: “In order for the plant to operate profitably, we followed two paths: reducing the labor intensity of production by introducing new, more productive equipment, or introducing new models into production, adding “fat” to the standards to further tighten them. For example, the labor intensity of manufacturing the T-55 and T-62 tanks was almost the same, and due to the improvement in the combat characteristics of the latter, the price for it was 15% higher than for the T-55 tank.”

It is clear that previously the combat characteristics of new vehicles were improved compared to their aging predecessors, which created a “fat” with which it was possible to tighten the standards. This is how the military industry worked until 1965, when, as part of the so-called Kosygin reform, the annual directive reduction in labor intensity was canceled...

Performance characteristics and comparison with analogues

What’s interesting is that the T-55 did not have a direct foreign analogue as such. The American M60 was already competing with the T-62, and the British Centurion, after all the upgrades, came closer to the more modern Soviet machine. To compare the parameters of the “Centurion” of the early version and the American M48, let’s take it.

T-55	М48А1	"Centurion" Mk.3
Weight, t	36	46,4	50
Length, m	6,2/9	6,9/8,8	7,2
Height, m	2,3	3,2	3
Frontal armor, mm	100	110	76,2
Maximum speed, km/h	50	50	35
Armament	100 mm cannon, 2x7.62 mm machine guns	90mm cannon, 12.7mm machine gun, 7.62mm machine gun	84mm cannon, 7.7mm machine gun

The vehicles shown in the table were superior to the T-55 in size and weight, had less powerful weapons, and the Centurion was inferior in armor and mobility. However, this situation did not last long - the released Centurions began to be rearmed with the new L7 cannon. The same rearmament was carried out, for example, with the Israeli M48.

And the “Soviet response” to the new Western weapon took shape in the form of the T-62. An enlarged hull had to be developed for it - the minimum dimensions and volumes included in the design of the T-54 had an impact. At the same time, the USSR not only preserved the production of the tank with the least potential for modernization - they tried their best to bring the T-55 to the level of the latest MBTs. At the same time, in terms of weapon power, the “fifty-fifth” was inferior to the similarly modernized T-62.

But this tank, equipped with a complex mechanism for ejecting cartridges, was not exported so actively and was not produced under license.

The T-55 found its place even when it was replaced by better cars.

Simple, reliable and of good quality, it turned out to be indispensable for those countries where it was impossible to find highly professional crews and a high production culture. However, his time is still running out.

The Fifty-Fifths are wearing out, anti-tank weapons are being improved, and the day is not far off when it will be easier and cheaper to buy a new tank rather than rebuilding the Fifty-Fifths. This indirectly confirms that modernization projects remain unclaimed.

Tank T-120MK

This machine is a development of the T-120M project. Their production is carried out at, the machine was developed there. The tank is designed to break through well-fortified enemy positions, destroy fortifications, and play a central role in offensive operations. The T-120MK command tank is not equipped with additional armor shields on the sides and carries fewer weapons.

The computer tactical and operational battle control system “Eye of Battle” unites into a single network all combat units on the battlefield: ground, air, sea, infantry. The system every second assesses the defensive and offensive potential of allied and enemy forces, promptly provides unit commanders with recommendations for action, and is capable of taking control of individual vehicles, turning them into combat drones.

Tank performance characteristics:

• Year of adoption – 2029
• Crew, people – 5
• Combat weight, t – 54.9
• Engine DRV-11SM, gas turbine, power, hp – 1600
• Maximum speed on the highway, km/h – 78
• Maximum speed over rough terrain, km/h – 65
• Cruising range, km – 710
• A12M gun, caliber 130 mm, ammunition - 60
• ATGM firing range, km – 15
• BOPS firing range, km – 5
• PT-1 B gun, caliber 20 mm, ammunition - 800
• TG “Lava” grenade launcher, caliber up to 100 mm, ammunition – 2×9

All other systems on the tank are exactly the same as on the T-120M project.

In addition to standard tanks, an air defense vehicle was made on the basis of the T-120. Unfortunately, the author does not give her characteristics, so I’ll just give her appearance.

Modifications and vehicles based on the T-55

Modifications

• T-55A, with a higher level of anti-nuclear protection. It was produced from 1962 to 1977, and was constantly improved throughout its production;
• T-55K, command version of the T-55 with an additional radio station;
• T-55AK, command version of the T-55A;
• TO-55, a flamethrower tank, which had a flamethrower instead of a coaxial machine gun;
• T-55AM with additional armor protection, a guided weapons system and other technical innovations;
• T-55AM-1, a model with a more powerful diesel engine;
• T-55AD with active protection 1030M "Drozd";
• T-55AMV with mounted dynamic protection, anti-aircraft machine gun, modernized chassis and equipment for effective combat;
• T-55M with many technical improvements. Also produced in various versions.

Vehicles based on T-55

• MTU-20 and MTU-55 – bridge laying machines;
• Object 604 – minesweeper;
• VT-55A – repair and recovery vehicle made in Czechoslovakia;
• GTU-1 – universal tractor;
• BTR-T - heavy armored personnel carrier;
• Ahzarit - Israeli heavy armored personnel carrier;
• TVNA - Indian heavy armored personnel carrier;
• T-55-64 - Ukrainian vehicle with a turret from the T-55 and a chassis from the T-64;
• T-55 Marksman is a Finnish anti-aircraft gun with a Marksman turret.

Foreign modernizations of T-54/55 tanks

In recent years, many not very rich countries have preferred not to purchase the latest military equipment, but to improve existing ones. There are many reasons for this: modern technology, especially airplanes, helicopters and tanks, are extremely expensive; In addition, this technique in some cases has redundant capabilities. It’s hard to imagine a semi-literate African peasant from some Ethiopia behind the levers of a Leclerc stuffed with various electronic gadgets. He may be able to drive a tank, but it’s unlikely that he can handle all the complex equipment, and why does he need this equipment if his potential opponent is an equally semi-literate tank driver? Of course, this example is from the realm of fantasy, although very close to reality. However, for most countries, the latest tanks are too expensive and often unnecessary. The solution is to modernize the vehicles currently in service. Israeli modernization of T-54/55 tanks

The Israelis were the first outside the USSR to undertake modernization of the T-54/55. After the 1967 war, Israel received rich trophies, including several hundred tanks. The Israelis rightly considered it unreasonable to simply melt down such a number of excellent combat vehicles, but it was also difficult to operate them in their original form in their army. The USSR, naturally, did not at all strive to provide the T-54/55 with the Stars of David on the turrets with spare parts and ammunition. If the problem of spare parts could be solved by “cannibalizing” some of the vehicles, then with shells for guns the situation was much more complicated.

At the end of the 60s, the command of the Israeli Self-Defense Army came to the conclusion that it was necessary to standardize tank weapons. The Israeli army had several types of tanks, respectively, armed with different guns, which made it difficult to supply tank units with ammunition. The best tank gun in the West at that time was chosen as a single weapon - the English 105-mm rifled gun L7 (more precisely, its American version - M68). All Self-Defense Army tanks received this gun - Shermans, Centurions, M48, M60, T-54/55. The former Arab tanks also received radios used by the Israeli army and a new fire extinguishing system. Boxes were welded onto the turrets of some vehicles to store tankers' property or tools.

Some of the T-54/55 underwent a more serious modification - they were equipped with American 8V-71T diesel engines and Browning machine guns. The reason is the same as in the case of replacing a gun - simplification of supply and maintenance. T-54 with new engines and weapons received the designation Ti-67. Before the 1973 war, the Self-Defense Army had about 100 Ti-67s.

An even more radical version of the modernization of the T-series tank - as the T-54/55 is called in the West - was first officially shown in 1984. The “S” tank received a new “Matador” fire control system, developed by the Israeli company Elbit, an American two-plane weapon stabilizer from the Caddilac Gage company, and a “Halon” fire extinguishing system, which has proven itself well on Merkavas that burned in 1982 in Lebanon. The tank's armament was reinforced with a 60-mm mortar placed on the left side of the turret. The “S” tank has the ability to attach elements of Blazer dynamic protection (gradually, all Israeli T-54/55 tanks were equipped with dynamic protection). The installation of a new engine led to a slight increase in specific power compared to the original model (from 15.8 hp/t to 16.03 hp/t), but the acceleration characteristics of the tank improved by 50%.

"Tiran-5" - modernized T-55

Egyptian modernization of T-54/55 tanks

The basis of the tank fleet of the Egyptian army in the 70s and 80s also consisted of T-54 and T-62. The Egyptians carried out local modifications to the T-54 before the 1973 war, installing night vision systems from the West German company AEG-Telefunken on the towers, similar to those used on the Leopard-1 tanks. In 1984, the command of the Egyptian armed forces decided to bring the combat potential of the T-54 tanks to the level of the American M60A3 tank by modernizing it. Since they chose an American tank as a role model, they entrusted the work on modernizing the T-54 to the Americans - the General Products Division of Teledyne Continental.

The rear part of the hull was lengthened by 600 mm, since it was necessary to install a new AVDS-1790-5A turbocharged diesel engine, which developed a power of 908 hp. (80% of the engine parts were the same as on the M60A3 tank). The old five-speed manual gearbox was replaced with a hydromechanical TCM-304 (licensed version of the West German Renk RK-304), designed specifically for medium and heavy tracked vehicles. The driver's mechanic's dashboard was made in the American style. The suspension was replaced with a new General Dynamics 2880 like on the M48 "Patton III" tank.

The increase in hull volume made it possible to almost double (from 812 liters to 1312 liters) the fuel supply in the internal tanks, providing a cruising range of 530 km. Two new exhaust pipes (at the rear on one side of the body) replace the exhaust port on the left. An armored air filter intake was placed at the rear of the hull to allow external fuel tanks to be mounted on it. A fire extinguishing system from HTL Industries was installed in the engine compartment, and on top it was covered with a single armor plate with several hatches for repair and inspection of the engine and auxiliary systems in the field.

As for the armament, the 100 mm gun was replaced with a 105 mm gun from the M48 tank, but the original bolt from the DT-10T was preserved (the recoil system was modified). For guidance, the Titan Mk 1 guidance system was added, which included an Avimo TL10-T sight, laser rangefinder and a graphic display integrated into the CRT eyepiece. Additionally, four smoke grenade launchers were installed on board.

Tank T-55E Ramses-II

Late 1980s - the possibility of modernizing the fleet of T-55 tanks with German help was studied. According to the Jung Jungenthal project, two prototypes were modernized. For mass modernization, the Ramses-II project was adopted. According to the project, it was planned to leave 100-mm D-10T cannons on some of the tanks, and replace them with 105-mm M-68 cannons on some of them.

Tank T-55 Jung Jungenthal

Iraqi modernization of T-54/55 tanks

Iraqi modernization of T-55 and Type-69. In 1989, at an exhibition in Baghdad, a modernized Iraqi T-55 tank was demonstrated, armed with a 125-mm 2A46 smoothbore gun, which was previously installed on Soviet T-72A vehicles. Due to the use of an automatic loader, the crew of the vehicle consisted of three people. In the rear part, the height of the turret was increased to accommodate the mechanism for lifting the automatic loader cassettes. The tank had reinforced armor protection for the turret and the front of the hull. The sides of the hull are protected by anti-cumulative screens. Four smoke grenade launchers are mounted on each side of the turret. The weight of the modernized tank increased to 40 tons.

Tank T-55 Enigma

Czechoslovak modernization of T-54/55 tanks

In the 80s, when the combat and technical characteristics of the T-55A ceased to meet modern requirements, Czechoslovakia also adopted a program to modernize them, the final result of which was to become the original Czech T-55AM2. The modernization was supposed to be carried out in two stages.

At the first stage, the Kladivo fire control system developed in Czechoslovakia was installed on the tanks. Its use significantly increased shooting accuracy at ranges up to 4000 meters. The next noticeable change was the installation of an SDIO detection and indication system, which notified the crew if the tank was irradiated by an enemy laser sight. The tank that underwent such modernization received the index T-55AM1.

At the second stage, the Czechoslovak T-55s were supposed to receive the 9K116 “Bastion” guided weapon system (but not all tanks managed to install it before the collapse of the USSR), additional multi-layer armor and a more powerful engine (B-55AM2 with a power of 620 hp), those. undergo modernization basically similar to the Soviet T-55M. With all these changes, the tank received the index T-55AM2 (with the Bastion system - T-55AM2-B). T-55AM2 were in service with the Czech army, the Slovak army, the Hungarian army and the army of the former GDR.

Czechoslovak-made T-55AM2 tank with Kladivo fire control system

Polish modernization of T-54/55

Polish T-55s received applied armor on the bottom (for protection against mines), frontal parts of the turret and hull. Side screens protect the top of the chassis from the action of cumulative ammunition; vertically installed steel sheets cover the fender tanks with fuel. The tank uses a caterpillar track with rubber-metal joints.

A special feature of the Polish version of the T-55 is a laser rangefinder integrated into the gunner's sight, while in other countries the rangefinder was placed on the gun mantlet. The weapon control system includes a new ballistic computer; The T-shaped weather sensor for atmospheric parameters, which are entered into the computer, is clearly visible in the front part of the tower roof.

The ammunition load was slightly increased, the turret was equipped with a rotating turret (as on the Soviet T-54B), to facilitate the work of the driver, a hydraulic amplifier for the turning mechanism and the main clutch was introduced, engine lubrication and its air starting system were improved. The number of external fuel tanks was increased (from three to six), due to which the tank's cruising range increased to 830 km. Such Polish-made tanks are known under the designation T-54AM. The T-54AD command tank ("dowodka" - commander) with an additional radio station was also produced. For more convenient placement, the Poles even enlarged the rear part of the tower. T-54AD tanks were intended for regimental commanders and chiefs of staff.

Tank T-55AM Merida

Romanian modernization of T-54/55

The layout of the TR-580 tank is generally similar to the layout of the T-55 tank. The tank hull is lengthened. The chassis uses 6 road wheels of slightly smaller diameter than the T-55. The MTO roof is slightly raised compared to the roof of the fighting compartment. The turret is cast, with a welded roof, but has a slightly different shape than the T-55. On the sides of the turret, closer to the stern, there are boxes with machine gun belts for the DShKM machine gun.

The location of the crew members, weapons, aiming and observation devices is similar to that of a Soviet tank. The machine is equipped with steel side anti-cumulative screens.

1995 - development of a modernization option for the TR-85 - TR-85M1 Bizonul (Bison) began. Several companies from all over Europe are involved in the development, the equipment is supplied mainly by Matra (France). The armament is unchanged (it was planned to replace the gun with a 120 mm gun), but a new two-plane stabilizer and a thermal casing for the gun have been installed. Ammunition - 41 shots. Additional armor with built-in dynamic protection (turret), combined additional armor for the front of the hull, on-board protective anti-cumulative screens. The design of the rear part of the turret has been changed.

Tank TR-85M1 Bizonul

Ukrainian modernization of T-54/55

Instead of the old B-55 with 580 hp. a two-stroke multi-fuel diesel engine with counter-moving pistons and a 5TDFM turbocharger with a power of 850 hp was installed in the engine and transmission compartment. As a result, the tank's maximum speed increased to 65 km/h. The average speed on the highway, instead of the previous 35 km/h, is now 45 km/h. The driver has an automated motion control system with a steering wheel at his disposal. The chassis was significantly modified to accommodate the increased loads. The tank also began to use asphalt tracks.

Much attention is paid to protection characteristics. The tank's armor was significantly strengthened by installing additional passive protection and so-called “reactive armor.” Elements of the Varta optical-electronic countermeasures system were mounted on the tank's turret. New fire-fighting equipment should also ensure survivability in the event of a defeat.

Instead of primitive sights, the gunner-operator now has a modern fire control system at his disposal. The tank can use guided missile weapons. And the tank commander can duplicate the actions of the gunner. A closed-type anti-aircraft installation was installed for it.

The new gun, at the request of the customer, can be of 125 mm or 120 mm caliber. It is associated with an automatic loader installed in the turret niche.

Tank T-55AGM

Slovenian modernization of T-54/55

During the modernization the following changes were made:

The tank was equipped with active armor, its elements are clearly visible on the hull and turret. A new 105mm L7A3 with thermal shroud was installed. Manufacturer: British Aerospace Defense Ltd, Royal Ordnance Divisio. The fire control system was radically improved due to the installation of a digital ballistic computer. The gun is stabilized in two planes.

A new Slovenian-made Fotona SGS-55 sight with a laser rangefinder was installed. The vehicle was also equipped with a Fotona COMTOS-55 commander's sight with an independent stabilization line of sight, which allows him to track targets and even aim the gun independently of the gunner, if necessary.

The LIRD-1A Laser Illumination Detector is linked to the IS-6 smoke grenade launcher system which can be automatically activated in the event of an emergency.

Upgrades to the V-12 diesel engine resulted in an increase in power from 520 hp. up to 600 hp

Rubber side skirts similar to those installed on the T-72 appeared in the chassis, and the tank was also equipped with new tracks with rubber-metal hinges.

An additional attachment, a box for crew belongings, which serves as an additional anti-cumulative screen, appeared in the rear part of the turret.

Slovenian modernized T-55

Serbian modernization of T-54/55

Serbian car intended for export. The tank was equipped with: mounted dynamic protection on the turret and on the front of the hull, rubber-fabric side anti-cumulative shields, a modern fire control system, a communication system with built-in protection, a new power plant with a capacity of 780 hp.

Tank T-55H, Partner

Chinese modernization of T-54/55 tanks

Joint development with American Land Systems"

Layout with a rear engine and transmission compartment. The hull and turret are welded. The design of the tank uses combined armor. The development and installation of the upper part of the hull, turret and engine was carried out by the American (Cadillac Gage Textron).

A distinctive feature is the crew arrangement typical for NATO tanks, in which the commander and gunner are located in the turret on the right. The gun guidance drives are electro-hydraulic; if they fail, control is carried out manually.

The main armament of the tank is a 105 mm L7 rifled gun. The gun is stabilized in two planes. As auxiliary weapons, the tank is equipped with a 7.62 mm machine gun coaxial with a cannon, as well as a large-caliber 12.7 mm M2HB anti-aircraft machine gun. The tank is equipped with a fire control system, which is similar to that installed on the American Stingray tank with a laser range finder and thermal imaging devices.

The tank chassis was manufactured in China. Individual torsion bar suspension. Automatic transmission XTG-411 manufactured by Allison Transmission (General Motors Corporation). There is a radio station, TPU and automatic PPO system.

Upgraded T-55 – Jaguar

Sources: https://vestnik-rm.ru/news-4-4428.htm https://www.nauka-tehnika.com.ua/nt/article/tanki-tt-54t-55-chast-3-protivniki https://military.tomsk.ru/blog/topic-298.html https://www.xliby.ru/transport_i_aviacija/tehnika_i_vooruzhenie_1999_08/p4.php

Combat use

The Soviet tank, produced in large quantities, can easily be called the most exported vehicle. The vehicle was supplied to Egypt and Syria in various modifications. The vehicle was in service with the warring armies of Pakistan and India. Libya and Iraq received a large number of tanks. We can safely say that the T 55 has become a desert tank. The main military operations in which Soviet vehicles took part took place in desert and semi-desert conditions.

The Arab-Israeli wars became the largest testing ground for Soviet technology. The first combat experience came in 1967, when another Six-Day War broke out between a coalition of Arab states and Israel. The most massive participation of Soviet T 55 tanks was noted in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War, when Egyptian and Syrian troops managed to inflict a number of sensitive defeats on the Israeli army. On both sides, up to 2,000 T 55 tanks, which were in service with the tank divisions of Egypt, Syria and Israel, took part in the hostilities.

The Indo-Pakistani conflict of 1971 also did not happen without the participation of Soviet machines. The armies of both countries had both T 54 and T 55. At the end of hostilities, India purchased up to 1000 vehicles from the Soviet Union. Pakistan also did not stand aside, having signed a contract for the supply of a larger batch, about 2000 vehicles.

One of the largest and longest military conflicts in which the Soviet T 55 tank took part was the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988. The vehicle formed the basis of the Iraqi Army's tank fleet. This vehicle also took part in the subsequent First Gulf War. Here the already old car had to confront the latest Abrams M1 tanks and the British Challenger 2 tanks. The results of combat clashes between Iraqi tank divisions and coalition forces are clearly not in favor of the former. Soviet vehicles could no longer compete on equal terms with the new American and British tanks.

The era of active combat participation of the Soviet T 55 tank has come to its logical end.

Tank with lining

Tank with lining

The next stage in adapting the T-55 to combat operations in a nuclear war was work to enhance the protection of the crew and vehicle from penetrating gamma and neutron radiation. The crew was to some extent protected from the first by tank armor, although not sufficiently. For fast neutrons, the armor was a rather weak barrier.

In addition, the danger of neutron radiation is enhanced by the fact that under the influence of neutrons, non-radioactive atoms of the environment are transformed into radioactive ones, that is, so-called induced radioactivity is formed, which leads to radiation sickness. Penetrating radiation also causes darkening of optics and disables radio-electronic equipment, especially its semiconductor elements.

To solve the problems of protecting tanks from penetrating radiation, a special anti-radiation protection department is being organized under the leadership of M. .A. Studnitsa. By 1961, methods for calculating penetrating radiation were developed in this department, based on data from full-scale tests and model experiments. A special POV material (polymer layers with boron oxide and other fillers) is also being created, designed to reduce the effects of neutron radiation. POV had half the specific gravity compared to lead, but provided similar protection. Its disadvantage was flammability.

Tank T-55A

In the spring of 1961, design work began at plant No. 183 to equip the T-55 tank with this material. M.A. himself was sent to the plant. Studnits to resolve emerging issues directly on the spot. The POV was supposed to be placed in the habitable compartments of the hull and turret in such a way as to minimize the radiation dose to the tank crew members. The designers of the POV received the code name “underlay”.

In addition to the anti-radiation effect, the “lining” also protected the crew from being hit by shrapnel bouncing off the armor when a shell hit the tank. Equipping the tank with this material did not pose any particular problems, although it turned out to be a rather labor-intensive process. The POV was produced in the form of flat plates of a certain thickness, and if in the hull, where the armor plates were also flat, everything was simple, then in the turret with curved walls the situation was more complicated. Here the “lining” sheets had to have a complex three-dimensional configuration. It was possible to give it to the POV sheets only by heating, as a result of which it softened. Considering the mass production of tanks, to produce the “lining” parts, it was necessary to develop quite complex technological equipment, including metal molds. First, a development of the future part was cut out of a flat POV plate, after which it was softened by heating, and already in the mold it was given the appropriate configuration.

The roof of the T-55A tank turret. Anti-radiation “boom” on the roof of the commander’s and loader’s hatches, on the commander’s cupola and the driver’s hatch cover

The Fifty-five, equipped with a lining, later received the designation T-55A. This vehicle became the world's first production tank, specially equipped to protect the crew from the effects of penetrating radiation and the shock wave of a nuclear explosion, which ensures the possibility of combat operations in areas subject to radioactive contamination. In addition to the “lining,” a number of other changes were made to the design of the T-55A. The most significant of them was the refusal to install a stationary machine gun in the control compartment, the fire from which was conducted by the driver, while the machine gun was aimed by turning the entire tank. Practice has shown the ineffectiveness of firing from this machine gun.

Design work was carried out in a short time, and the modernized tank with improved radiation protection was put into service by order of the USSR Minister of Defense dated July 16, 1962 under the designation T-55A (“object 155A”). True, the T-55A was never produced at the “native” plant in Nizhny Tagil, since during this period OKB-520 was completing work on a more powerful tank - the T-62, armed with a 115-mm smoothbore gun, and the plant was preparing to develop it serial production.

Tank T-55A

Since December 1961, production of the T-55 was discontinued here.

However, if previously the transition from one modification of the T-54 to another, and then to the T-55, was carried out without stopping production, then the development of the T-62 required more serious efforts: on the new vehicle the design and dimensions of the hull and turret changed significantly, for which it was necessary to change most of the production equipment. The volume of this work is evidenced by the fact that from the beginning of 1962, tank production at the Ural Carriage Plant was stopped for six months to carry out preparatory measures, for example, to replace welding equipment in the hull shop and rotary machines for processing the turret ring.

Note that the T-62 was produced without anti-radiation “lining”. The fact is that the designers worked on this tank under conditions of strict weight restrictions, because the new vehicle needed to be equipped with a much more powerful gun, using heavy unitary shots that were maximum permissible in length. All this required an increase in the size of the fighting compartment, and the weight of the tank increased accordingly. Calculations showed that installing a POV would make the vehicle heavier by at least another 500 kg. The customer, represented by GBTU, considered this unacceptable.

Thus, the T-62 went into production without any lining.

DShKM anti-aircraft machine gun

Tank with laser rangefinder KDT-1; its rectangular casing is clearly visible above the gun mantlet

Production of the T-55A was transferred to Omsk to plant No. 174 (later Omsk Transport Engineering Plant), which previously produced T-54 and T-55 tanks, as well as various combat and special vehicles based on them: engineering vehicles, self-propelled anti-aircraft guns ZSU-57-2, self-propelled guns SU-122. The production of T-55A tanks in Omsk began in 1963 and continued until 1977 (according to other sources - until 1979).

During mass production, changes were made to the design of the tank to improve its tactical and technical characteristics. For example, the anti-neutron protection was strengthened: not only a “lining” appeared on it, but also an “overlay” - an additional layer of POV material located on the outside of the hull: on the driver, commander and loader hatch covers, as well as on the section of the turret roof between them . The “top” was attached to the outside of the armor and covered with metal “covers” on top.

Since 1965, the T-55A began to be equipped with more reliable tracks with a rubber-metal hinge, the RMSh, which turned out to be twice as durable as the OMSh with an open metal hinge. Now their mileage reached 2000 - 3000 km. Accordingly, the design of the removable rims of the drive wheels was also changed - the rims for the caterpillar with RMS had 14 teeth instead of 13 for the old OMSh.

Since June 1965, tanks have been produced with an improved OPVT, providing conditions for the tank to move on land without restrictions. Later, instead of a long air supply pipe, which was installed in the rear part of the hull, they began to use a short one with a mount on the front right side of the turret.

Since 1969, an anti-aircraft machine gun again appeared on the tank, but this time to combat combat helicopters; it was installed in the machine gun turret on the loader's hatch, and the boxes with cartridges were placed outside the turret on brackets specially welded for this purpose.

Since 1974, the RBZ-1M gamma sensor was replaced by the new GD-1M. The radio equipment was also updated - the R-113 was replaced with the R-123 radio station.

Tank caterpillar with rubber-metal hinge RMSh

Short OPVT pipe on the right fender of the tank

In the same year, quantum rangefinders KDT-1 "Neva" were installed on the tanks, complete with a TShS-32PVM gunner's sight with independent stabilization of the field of view in the vertical plane.

We also note that since 1963, in addition to high-explosive fragmentation and armor-piercing ammunition, the T-55 ammunition was introduced with the ZBK5M cumulative projectile (armor penetration up to 390 mm), and in 1967, sub-caliber armor-piercing shells ZBM10 - steel finned BPS with armor penetration of 180 - came into service. - 290 mm at a distance of 2000 m. In the 1980s, even more powerful ammunition appeared: cumulative - ZBK17M and sub-caliber - ZBM25 (OBPS with a tungsten inclusion in a steel shell with armor penetration of 280 mm/2 km).