The most massive modification was the medium tank T 55A, produced from 1963 to 1979. At plant number 75 in Kharkov, its production ended in 1967, with the start of the production of the T 64 tank. This tank was equipped with anti-radiation protection inside the hull and tower (podboy) and partially outside (nadboy). The exchange gun was eliminated, and the ammunition reduced by 750 rounds. A new driver’s seat has been introduced. Since 1965, the tank was equipped with tracks with a rubber metal hinge (RMSH). Since 1970, the DShKM anti-aircraft machine gun was installed on the tank, and from 1975 the laser rangefinder of the FTC 1 was installed.
Since 1964, tanks T 55 and T 55A under a Soviet license were produced in Poland and Czechoslovakia. In these countries, about 9 thousand tanks were manufactured, which mainly entered into service with the armies of the Warsaw Pact member countries.
In addition to the current modernization of the T 54 and T 55 tanks, carried out in the course of their mass production, mention should be made of the modernization programs carried out during the overhaul of tanks at enterprises of the USSR Ministry of Defense.
Tanks T 54 and T 55 were actively used in local wars and military conflicts on all continents, with the exception of North America and Australia.
The closest analogue to the T-55A is the Soviet medium tank T-54. In tactics and combat use, they are very similar, but have a number of key differences. Firstly, the T-55A has the best characteristics of the weapon (accuracy, rate of fire, time information). Secondly, the VLD at T-54 is 20 mm thicker, and the tower is 40 mm thicker. Thirdly, the T-54 wins the T-55A on mobility. There are other less significant differences (overview, elevation angle of the weapon, ammunition, etc.), but they do not have a decisive influence on the use of the tank in battle. Like the T-54, the T-55A is a classic medium tank.
His gun is not designed to penetrate the TT and PT-ACS level 9-10 in the forehead, but excellent accuracy makes it possible to target vulnerable zones, and high mobility and rate of fire allow you to bypass the enemy and shoot him in the side and stern. Reservation of the same ST “works” only in motion – it is difficult to get on the mobile and squat tank, and given the strength of the tower, it is difficult to break through.
The main rule of an average tank is not to go into a frontal attack, to do damage and not to receive it. The occupation of key points, competent enemy glare, the detection of artillery can all decide the outcome of the battle. But best of all medium tanks feel in a group. Properly using the focus of the targets and evenly distributing the damage among themselves, medium tanks can break through the direction and quickly decide the outcome of the battle in their favor.
