T-55

The T-55 Main Battle Tank.

Designation: T-55
Classification Type: Main Battle Tank
Contractor: State Factories - Soviet Union
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1958

The T-55 Medium Tank is probably the most internationally prolific piece of
tracked armor as it can be found in dozens of military inventories across
the globe. It has seen military frontline service from the invasion of
Hungary in 1956 to the Arab wars with Israel of the late 1960's and early
1970's.

The T-55 features a 100mm D-10 rifled main gun. Two 7.62mm defensive machine
guns are provided, one coaxially and one in the bow front-hull. A 12.7mm air
defense machine gun is provided in later models of the T-55.

Development of the T-55 stems from the base T-54 Main Battle Tank design,
which itself can trace it's roots back to the World War Two-inspired T-34
tank design. The T-55 was superceeded by the T-62 detailed elsewhere on this
website.

In all essence, the T-55 shares many common features, components and systems
with the T-54, thus many sources may group their histories together as such
(sometimes shown as T-54/T-55).

Variants:
T-55 - Base production model. Basic T-54 with new turret and 12.7mm
anti-aircraft machine gun.
T-55A - Added radiation protection and 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun.
T-55M - New 580hp engine sans cupola for loader; Ability to fire AT-10
Stabber ATGW missiles through main gun.
T-55M-1 - Passive armor protection
T-55MV - Explosive reactive armor protection
T-55AM-1 - Standardized to T-55A specifications with passive armor
protection and AT-10 firing ability.
T-55K - Command Vehicle
T-55AK - Command Vehicle
T-55MK - Command Vehicle
T-55MVK - Command Vehicle
T-55AM2B - Czech-produced variant
T-55AM2P - Polish-produced variant
T-55AM2PB - Russian-produced variant
T-55AD - T-55M standardized specifications with specialized countermeasures
system installed.
T-55AD-1 - Upgraded engine; Laser-rangefinder.

Specifications:
Dimensions:
Length: 20.34ft (6.20m)
Width:11.81ft (3.60m)
Height: 7.61ft (2.32m)
Performance:
Speed: 22mph (35km/h)
Range: 242miles (390km)

Structure:
Accommodation: 4
Weight: 44.6 US Short Tons (40,500kg)
Systems:
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: Yes - Infrared
Power:
Engine(s): 1 x 462-516 kW 675 hp diesel engine.

Armament & Ammunition:

1 x 100mm D-10 rifled main gun
1 x 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun
1 x 7.76mm coaxial machine gun
1 x 7.62mm machine gun in bow

Ammunition:
34 x 100mm projectiles
500 x 12.7mm ammunition
3,000 x 7.62mm ammunition