Footage of a convoy of Russian T-54 and T-55 tanks being transported from the nation’s Far Japanese Primorksy Krai area by rail has raised widespread hypothesis that the autos are set to be deployed to the Ukrainian entrance, with the area internet hosting the 1295th Central Tank Reserve and Storage Base the place massive numbers of Soviet period armoured autos are stored. This could observe the withdrawal of T-62 tanks from reserve storage and main deployments of the category to Ukraine, alongside massive numbers of extra trendy saved T-72s and reportedly reserve T-80s and T-90s as effectively. The place the T-62 first entered service in 1961, the T-54/55 is significantly older having first been deployed in 1948, two years earlier than the Korean Struggle. When getting into service the automobile was effectively over a decade forward of all abroad tank designs, and when the primary T-54/55 was obtained by Western consultants in 1956 for examination it was discovered to be not solely 10 tons lighter than the highest tank in NATO service the American M48A2, but additionally a lot better armed and armoured. This benefit was strengthened 5 years later as the primary T-62s have been launched. By the Eighties, nonetheless, the T-54/55 was thought-about out of date for armour-on-armour engagements due partly to its lack of a smoothbore gun, which the T-62 had been the primary on the planet to pioneer, with armour safety and sensors having additionally fallen far behind trendy requirements.
The T-54/55 is probably the most produced tank in historical past with over 100,000 having been constructed, and enhanced derivatives remaining in manufacturing at this time in China for export to Iraq and beforehand to Pakistan. The newest derivatives the Al Kafil-1 and Al Zarrar boast smoothbore weapons and trendy fireplace controls and armour safety, with the latter additionally utilizing a a lot bigger 125mm gun. This makes them extra succesful than the vast majority of tank lessons in frontline Russian service at this time – together with a lot of its T-72 and T-80 fashions. Though the T-55 design does have vital potential to combine upgrades, nonetheless, these constructed throughout the Fifties and Sixties within the USSR stay extra restricted as a result of their age and out of date base armour. Essentially the most bold improve bundle for the design applied in Russia was the T-55MV-1 which was developed within the Eighties for the Soviet Naval Infantry and included integration of Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armour, entry to new guided rounds, and integration of latest engines and fireplace controls.
Ought to T-54/55 tanks be meant for deployment to Ukraine they may obtain upgrades beneath a bundle modelled on these developed for the Naval Infantry within the Eighties, however seemingly additionally benefitting from integrating of thermal sights in addition to a a lot wanted increase to situational consciousness. Ought to the tanks achieve entry to fragmentation projectiles, that are deployed by T-62s and newer autos, they may doubtlessly considerably contribute to infantry assist operations which has been the first position of tanks on all sides within the Russian-Ukrainian Struggle. Western tanks notably lack entry to such projectiles, which means they might be extra valued by the Ukrainian Army primarily for anti armour missions.
The T-55 is notably at the moment deployed by the Ukrainian Army, which obtained the improved M-55 variant from Slovenia which was closely compensated by German gear transfers. Ukraine can also be set to obtain over 100 equally out of date German Leopard 1 tanks which equally lack smoothbore weapons. For the T-55s on either side, in addition to the Leopards, a significant situation stays their decrease gun calibers than all different tanks working of their militaries which significantly limits the supply of ammunition. Whether or not Russia has vital portions of 100mm ammunition for the T-54/55 stays in query, though Syria, Iran and North Korea are all main operators of tanks from the identical class and will doubtlessly present from their very own stockpiles – with North Korea capable of manufacture additional rounds of that calibre independently. It has additionally been speculated that the tanks may obtain new primary weapons, maybe even 125mm weapons to have the ability to use munitions from the T-72/80/90, which has been accomplished prior to now for T-55 variants and derivatives together with the Sino-Pakistani Al Zarrar, Sino-Bangladeshi Kind 59 Durjoy, and the Chinese language VT-3. Main Russian funding in upgrades however stays unlikely.
The T-54/55 stays probably the most broadly used tank on the planet regardless of having lengthy since been retired from Russian service, with the category having seen vital motion the final decade in Syrian counterinsurgency efforts the place fashions obtained North Korean upgrades together with laser rangefinders, whereas seeing main gross sales made by Serbia to Pakistan to equip its models on the Afghan border. Bringing T-54/55s into frontline service within the Russian Army would however be a extremely uncommon choice, with Russia having a number of doubtlessly extra promising choices together with buying T-72s from states similar to Iran, or T-62s and their many enhanced derivatives produced on a big scale in North Korea. Different explanations provided for the looks of the autos consists of their meant use for coaching in newly mobilised models, or maybe even provision to Syria as help in trade for its T-62Ms or T-72s. The T-54/55 is prized for its very low logistics footprint and nice ease of upkeep, even when in comparison with the T-62 not to mention the extra trendy T-72 and T-90, which may permit the Russian Navy and its associates to discipline a a lot bigger armoured power of counting on the autos. Russia is reportedly set to provide 1500 of its most trendy operational tank the T-90M this 12 months, which though only a fraction of Soviet period manufacturing numbers signifies that armoured models are being expanded considerably. Whether or not the T-54/55 could have a spot on this, and in that case in what capability, stays extremely unsure.
