Combat weight: (fully stowed, no crew) about 35.9 tons (36.500 kg).
Lenght: (Gun to front) 29.7 ft (9.02 m); (gun to rear) 21.7 ft (6.57 m).
Widht: 10ft 9.5in (3.265 m).
Height: 7.10 ft (2.380 m).
Engine: T-54: V-2-54 vee-12 watercooled diesel, 520 hp; T-55: V-2-55 vee-12, 580 hp
Armament: D-10T, D-10TG or D-10T2S 100mm gun (T-54: 34 rounds, T-55: 43 rounds); 7.62mm SGMT or PKT machine gun (co-axial) with 3000 rounds; T-54 also one 12.7mm DShK with 500 rounds for AA use and one 7.62 SGMT (bow).
Speed: 30 mph (48 km/h).
Range: T-54: 250 miles (400 km); T-55: 310 miles (500 km).
Armour: Up to 100 mm, mantlet up to 170 mm.
The T-55 medium tank has a fully tracked, five-road-wheeled chassis. This chassis has a space between the first and second road wheels and no return rollers. The T-55 has a low-silhouetted hull with a dome shaped turret mounted over the third road wheel. It is armed with a 100-mm rifled gun, which has a bore evacuator at the muzzle. The T-55 also mounts a 7.62-mm coaxial machine-gun. Early versions also mounted a bow-mounted 7.62-mm machine-gun. The T-55 differs from the older T-54 models because it lacks the right-hand cupola and the turret dome ventilator, which is located in front of that cupola on the T-54. Most T-55's also lack the turret-mounted 12.7-mm antiaircraft machine-gun of the T-54. All T-55's mount an infrared gunner's searchlight above, and to the right of the main gun. This searchlight, however, is not a distinguishing feature since it has been retrofitted to many T-54 and T-54A tanks. The T-55 combines a high velocity gun with a highly mobile chassis, a low silhouette, and exceptional long-range endurance. Improvements over the T-54 include a larger V-12 water-cooled diesel engine with 580 rather than 520 hp, and an increased cruising range of 500 rather than 400 kilometers (600 kilometers with auxiliary tanks). The increased cruising range can go up to 715 kilometers with two 200-liter auxiliary fuel tanks which can be carried on the rear. The T-55 has two-plane stabilization of the main gun rather than vertical stabilization only. It also has a basic load for the main gun of 43 rather than 34 rounds. The T-55 can ford depths of 1.4 meters without preparation. It has snorkel equipment which enables it to cross depths of up to 5.5 meters at a speed of 2 kilometers per hour. This equipment takes about 30 minutes' preparation, but can be jettisoned immediately on leaving the water. All T-55's have the PAZ radiation detection system; the T-55A also has an anti-radiation liner. Injecting vaporized diesel fuel onto the exhaust system can generate a dense smoke screen.
VARIANTS:
T-54A Same as the T-54 but introduced the D-10TG gun with a new fume evacuator, and vertical plane stabilization system. Internal improvements included a new multi-stage air cleaner and radiator controls for improved engine performance. China manufactured this variant under license as the Type 59.
T-54B This version introduced the OU-3 Infrared searchlight on the commander's cupola, and a TPN-1 gunner's day/night sight in place of the earlier MK-4 periscope. This version also introduced a two-axis stabilization system and the improved D-10T2S 100-mm rifled gun. This was the first version to be regularly equipped with a snorkel to allow deep fording of rivers.
T-54K This is the command version of the T-54A. It incorporates an additional radio by reducing the ammunition storage.
T-54AD This is a Polish-built command version of the T-54 that incorporates a slight extension of the turret that provides space for the additional radios.
OT-54 This flame-thrower tank substituted a ATO-1 automatic flame-thrower for the 7.62-mm coaxial machine-gun. The bow ammunition storage was modified to permit carrying 460-liters of flammable liquid using compressed gas for propulsion. Maximum range was 160 meters and the system could fire 15-20 bursts per minute.
T-55 The T-55 used a new turret, similar to that used on the T-54A, but without the prominent roof-top "mushroom" ventilator dome, and two enlarged "D" roof panels. Internal improvements include the V-55 engine, initial stages of the PAZ chemical/radiation protection system, and an increase of ammunition to 43 rounds. This tank does not have a 12.7-mm antiaircraft DShK machine-gun on the loader's hatch.
T-55A This variant incorporated the complete PAZ/FVU chemical/radiation filtration system. This version is most easily recognized by the larger combings on the commander's and loader's hatches as well as the blister on the driver's hatch.
T-55A Model 1970 This version is equipped with a 12.7-mm antiaircraft DShK machine-gun.
T-55A Model 1974 This version is equipped with the KTD-2 laser rangefinder, which is mounted immediately above the main gun in an armored box.
T-55K There are three variants of this command tank. These vehicles have an additional command radio as well as supporting generator, and carry less ammunition. The T-55K1 and T-55K2 both carry two R-123 or R-123M and a R-124. The T-55K3 carries one R-130M, a R-123, a R-124, and a 10-meter antenna. Command variants of the later variants carry the same designations, e.g., T-55MK1, T-55AM1K3, etc.
OT-55 This flame-thrower tank incorporates the ATO-200 flame projector. The flame thrower is ignited by pyrotechnic charges, and 12 charges are the basic load. The stowage tank contains 460-liters of flammable liquid, and each burst averages 36 liters. The maximum effective range of the system is 200 meters, with the stream having an initial muzzle velocity of 100 m/s.
T-55MV This is the T-55M with its armor protection supplanted with a first generation explosive reactive armor (ERA) array. Most of these vehicles were also retrofitted with the same fire-control improvements of the T-55AM2PB, including the AT-10 STABBER antitank guided missile, the Volna FCS, as well as the automotive and communications improvements.
T-55AMV This is the T-55AM with the same ERA protection as the T-55MV. Most of these tanks also received the same improvements of the T-55AM2PB.
T-55AM1 This is the modernized version of the T-55 with improved fire controls. The Czechoslovak version uses a laser rangefinder mounted over the main gun and a wind sensor. The FSU version incorporates the KTD-2 or KDG-1 laser rangefinder. The Polish version uses a new fire control system that integrates a laser rangefinder into the gunner's sight.
T-55AM2 This is the improved T-55AM1 with the BDD (horse-shoe) appliqu? armor. These BDD armor panels consist of armored steel boxes filled with penapolyurethane. Cavities in the boxes can be supplemented with water or sand for added protection. This version also incorporates the improved V-55U engine that has an integral supercharger and offers 620 hp. This tank has also been retrofitted with the improved R-173P radio system.
T-55AM2PB This is the T-55AM2 with fire control improvements and the AT-10 STABBER antitank guided missile. It also incorporates the 1K13 BOM gunner's sight in place of the TPN-1M sight, and the new Volna fire control system that includes the KDT-2 laser rangefinder, the BV-55 ballistic computer, the TShSM-32PB sight and the Tsiklon-M1 gun stabilization system.
This Picture was taken in cambodia
