T-55 MEDIUM TANK (Czech production) - TANK DIVISION OF THE NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL(NTC) OF LIBYA - BATTLE OF OM EL KHANFOUSA - 2011

Description

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 adopted by 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. Russian Army withdrawn last T-55 tanks from active service in 2016. Though despite its age this medium tank is still used by around 50 countries from all 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 welded steel armor hull and a cast turret. Front of the hull has a 60° inclination in order to increase protection. This tank is also fitted with automatic fire suppression system, that was a novelty at the 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. Still used at the time by several armies in Middle East. (Scale : 1/35e)