T-55 Main Battle Tank

T-55AMV

Type

Mount

Typical Ammo Load

100mm D-10T2S smoothbore rifled gun

Turret; manual loading

38.
APFSDS-T, HEAT, Frag-HE

AT-10 anti-tank guided missiles.
SACLOS; infrared laser-beam rider

Gun-launched

5.
AT-10, AT-10 Improved

7.62mm PKT-T machine gun

Coaxial to main gun

1,250

12.7mm DShKM AA machine gun

Turret top

500

GENERAL DATA
Â	T-55AMV
Country of Origin	CIS (formerly USSR)
Role	Main battle tank
Date Of Introduction	1983
Crew	4
Combat Weight	44.6 tons (40.5 mt)
Ground Pressure	12.66 psi (0.89 kg/cmË›)
Dimensions (LxWxH)	29.5 x 11.81 x 7.61 ft (9 x 3.60 x 2.32 m)
PERFORMANCE
Â	T-55AMV
Engine	620-690 hp (462-515 kw) diesel
Range	242 miles (390 km).  373 miles (600 km) with extra tanks
Road Speed	31 mph (50 km/h)
Cross Country Speed	16 mph (25 km/h)
Swim Speed	N/A
Fording Depth	4.6 ft (1.4 m) unprepared.  18 ft (5.5 m) with snorkel
PROTECTION
Â	T-55AMV
Armor	Turret front: 7.9 in (200 mm)
Applique Armor	Rubber screens and box armor.  Track skirts
Explosive Reactive Armor	1st Generation raises to 700mm-900mm against HEAT 2nd Generation raises to 450mm-480mm KE, 700mm-900mm HEAT
Active Protective System	Russian Drozd available
NBC Protection System	Yes
Smoke Equipment	Vehicle engine exhaust smoke system.  Four 81mm smoke grenade launchers on each side of turret
ARMAMENT
FIRE CONTROL
Â	T-55AMV
Fire Control System	Volna
Main Gun Stabilization	M1 Tsiklon, 2-plane
Rangefinder	KDT-2 laser
Infrared Searchlight	L-4

NOTES

T-55s with "bra armor" (semi-circular add-on armor) have turret protection increased to 330 mm (KE) and 400-450 mm (CE).

Other improvements available include a hull bottom reinforced against mines, better engines, rubber track pads, and a thermal sleeve for the gun.

Optional sights and fire control systems include the Israeli El-Op Red Tiger and Matador FCS, Swedish NobelTech T-series sight, and German Atlas MOLF. The Serbian SUV-T55A FCS, British Marconi Digital FCS, South African Tiger, and Belgian SABCA Titan offer upgraded function. One of the best is the Slovenian EFCS-3 integrated FCS.

A variety of thermal sights is available. They include the Russian/French ALIS and Namut-type sight from Peleng. There are thermal sights available for installation which permit night launch of ATGMs.

VARIANTS

Variants ending with -1 denote replacement of the engine w/V-46 engine from T-72 MBT.

T-55

Original production model. Recognition features:

• Fully tracked.

• Five road wheels (gap between first and second road wheels) with no support rollers.

• Dome-shaped turret over third road wheel.

• Sloped, low-silhouetted hull.

• Bore evacuator at muzzle.

• Infrad headlights.

• Infrared searchlight for gun.

• Straight front infantry handrail.

T-55A

Added an NBC protection system.

T-55M

Added the Volna fire control system (with ATGM launcher), improved gun stabilization and sights, improved engine, new radio, and increased protection. Protection included track skirts, smoke grenade launchers, applique armor, and fire protection.

T-55AM

Added bra armor (an armor band around the turret) for 180° coverage.

T-55AMV

See data above. The -AMV upgrade means substitution of ERA for the bra armor. The T-55AMV's 1K13 sight is both night sight and ATGM launcher sight; however, it cannot be used for both functions simultaneously.

T-55AM2B

Czech version of T-55AMV with Kladivo fire control.

T-55AM2

Variant does not have ATGM capability or Volna FCS.

T-55AM2P

Polish version of T-55AMV but with Merida FCS.

T-55AMD

Variant with the Drozd APS instead of ERA.

T-55AD Drozd

Variant with Drozd but not Volna FCS and ERA.

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