T-54 / T-55 Main Battle Tank - Overview

The T-55 medium tank is a further development of the T-54B. It has some improvements over its predecessor that are hard to notice externally, but these improvements made the tank more efficient and lethal. The T-55 was officially accepted to service with the Soviet Army in 1958. Its production commenced during the same year. This tank was license-produced in China, Czechoslovakia and Poland. It is estimated that around 70 000 T-54 and T-55 tanks were produced in the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Poland. This figure does not include tanks produced in China. Since its introduction the T-55 has seen combat in more than 20 wars. Despite its age this medium tank is still used by about 50 countries around the world.

Both the T-54 and T-55 were heavily influenced by the Soviet experience gained during the WW2. The T-55 was the first Soviet tank, fitted with an efficient NBC protection system. At the time it was the only tank in the world, capable of fighting after a nearby nuclear explosion.

This tank has a weldes steel armor hull and a cast turret. Front of the hull has a 60° inclination angle. This tank is also fitted with automatic fire suppression system, that was a novelty at that time. The T-55 can launch its smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into exhaust.

The T-55 is fitted with a fully-stabilized 100-mm gun. It can fire accurately on the move. At a speed of 12 km/h the tank has a first round hit probability of about 60%. A total of 43 rounds are carried. The previous T-54 carries only 34 rounds.

On initial production tanks the roof-mounted 12.7-mm machine gun of the T-54 was removed, because it was ineffective against jet aircraft. In the late 1950s combat helicopters were still under development. The 12.7-mm machine gun was fitted back only in 1970.

This tank is operated by a crew of four, including commander, gunner, loader and driver.

This tank is powered by a V-55 diesel engine, developing 520 hp. It replaced the less powerful and unreliable V-45 engine of the T-54. Maximum road speed is about 50 km/h. Cross-country speed is about 25 km/h. Maximum range on fuel, including external tanks, is up to 530 km. The T-55 can be fitted with a deep wading kit and ford water obstacles up to 5 m deep.

Since its introduction the T-55 was constantly upgraded. Various countries offer a number of upgrade programmes for this ageing tank. However even updated T-55 tanks are no match for modern MBTs.

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T-54 / T-55 Main Battle Tank