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Land ForcesRussia

T-55

Main battle tankFielded 1959Pending verification
Land ForcesRUS
T-55
Photo: U.S. Army 18MPB by Sgt. 1st Class Tanisha Karn · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeMain battle tank
Date of introduction1959
ProliferationAt least 53 countries
ManufacturerKhPZ, UVZ (Soviet Union) Bumar-Łabędy (Poland) ZTS Martin (Czechoslovakia)Med[1]
Crew4Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Width3.37 m11 ftMed[1]
Height2.4 m8 ftMed[1]
Combat weight41 tMed[1]
Automotive performance
EngineModel V-55Med[1]
Engine power580 hpMed[1]
Cruising range400 km249 mi · 216 nmiMed[1]
Max road speed48 km/h30 mph · 26 ktMed[1]
Cross-country speed25 km/h16 mph · 13 ktMed[1]
Fording depth1.4 m unprep; 5.5 m snorkelMed[1]
Protection
Hull Armor120 mm hull front at 60° (100 mm after 1949); 79 mm hull upper sides; 20 mm hull lower sides; 60 mm at 0° hull rear; 20 mm hull bottom; 33-16 mm hull roof.Med[1]
Turret Armor205 mm turret front: 130 mm turret sides; 60 mm turret rear; 30 mm turret roof.Med[1]
Applique ArmorAvailableMed[1]
Explosive reactive armorAvailableMed[1]
Active Protection SystemT-55 fitted with the ZET-1 vehicle protection system. It has net structure centred on vehicles main armament and flipper-type side plates.Med[1]
NBC ProtectionYes, PAZ (Protivoatomnaya Zashchita) NBC protection systemMed[1]
Smoke GeneratorTDA exhaust smoke generatorMed[1]
Smoke Equipment2 × 4.76 mm Smoke GrenadesMed[1]
Armament
LoaderManualMed[1]
Maximum elevation+18 degMed[1]
Minimum elevation-3 degMed[1]
Main armamentD-10 Tank Gun, 100 mmMed[1]
Secondary armament1 x QJZ-89 12.7mm Heavy Machine GunMed[1]
Maximum firing range14.6 km9 mi · 8 nmi14,600 m (16,000 yds), or 16,000 m (17,500 yds)Med[1]
Fire control
Laser RangefinderKTD-1 or KTD-2Med[1]
Variants
T-55AIn 1961, development of improved NBC protection systems began. The goal was to protect the crew from fast neutrons; adequate protection against gamma radiation was provided by the thick armour and a PAZ basic NBC protect[1]
T-54/T-55 upgradesn its long service life, the T-55 has been upgraded many times. Early T-55s were fitted with a new TSh-2B-32P sight. In 1959, some tanks received mountings for the PT-55 mine clearing system or the BTU/BTU-55 plough. In [1]
T-55AMupgraded version of the T-55A. It is fitted with add-on composite armor and rubber side skirts. The gun is fitted with a thermal sleeve. It entered service in 1983.[1]
T-55AM-1upgraded version of the T-55AM, powered by a V-46-5M diesel engine, developing 690 hp.[1]
T-55ADfitted with Drozd active protection system. It also has add-on armor. It entered service in 1983.[1]
T-55AD-1fitted wit a V-46-5M diesel engine, developing 690 hp.[1]
Weapons and payload options · 2Confidence · Source
HE fragmentation projectile100 mm ammunition
Med[1]
Quantity
45 total of any 100 mm Projectile Combination
Muzzle velocity
355 m/s
Armor penetration
Yes
Laser beam-riding anti-tank missile.100 mm ammunition
Med[1]
Range
4 km2 mi · 2 nmi
Quantity
8 x 9M117 Bastion ATGM Missiles
Muzzle velocity
400-500 m/s
Guidance
Beam-Riding Laser
Summary

The all-improved T-55 was developed from 1955-58 onward at the Uralvagonzavod plant. It was basically the sum of upgrades performed on the former T-54s, but with full NBC protection called PAZ (Protivoatomnaya Zashchita), studied by the KB-60 design bureau in Kharkov.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
AfghanistanAngolaArmeniaAzerbaijanBulgariaBosnia and HerzegovinaBelarusCentral African RepublicRepublic of the CongoCubaAlgeriaEgyptEritreaEthiopiaGeorgiaGuineaCroatiaIndiaIranIraqIsraelCambodiaLaosLebanonLibyaSri LankaLatviaMaliMyanmarMongoliaMozambiqueMauritaniaNamibiaNigeriaNicaraguaPakistanPeruNorth KoreaRomaniaRussiaRwandaSudanSomaliaSloveniaSyriaChadTogoUgandaUkraineVietnamYemenZambia
Sources
  1. T-55 Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT), U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (Public domain)