Chieftain's Hatch: T-55 Pt 1

[shep854]

Manic strikes again!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBqD7ZRwOtU

 

Eagerly awaiting Pt2!!

[Nikolas93TS]

Hell yeah!

[bojan]

Minor note, it is not T-55A since it is lacking aditional anti-radiation liner on TC hatch and also has hole for bow MG on glacis. It is initial production T-55, that got AAMG in '70s.

Presence of bow MG did not influence amount of main gun ammo, it was 43 in both T-55 and T-55A.

Edited January 20, 2016 by bojan

[Olof Larsson]

Great. I hope that we get to see more common tanks in following videos.

 

For instance Sherman, Pzkw IV and Pzkw V, so that the most common WWII-mediums have been covered (T-34 already done).

And obviously the Cent and M48 to complement the T-55 for the most common early cold war tanks.

[TOW-2]

As usual, great video. Can't wait for part 2!

[Colin]

sigh I guess with Jacques gone the bureaucrats descended on the place to make sure the citizens were "safe"

[Manic Moran]

I blame yak_v, he identified it as an A. That said, you're not the first person to point it out, but curiously, nobody out of the 115,000 Russians who have seen the video seems to have objected. I am in Australia so unable to dig further. Maybe the Russians know something we don't.

 

As an aside, folks may have missed the Achilles videos from a few weeks back.

[JasonJ]

I blame yak_v, he identified it as an A. That said, you're not the first person to point it out, but curiously, nobody out of the 115,000 Russians who have seen the video seems to have objected. I am in Australia so unable to dig further. Maybe the Russians know something we don't.

 

As an aside, folks may have missed the Achilles videos from a few weeks back.

 

Was good!

 

[Markus Becker]

 

I blame yak_v, he identified it as an A. That said, you're not the first person to point it out, but curiously, nobody out of the 115,000 Russians who have seen the video seems to have objected. I am in Australia so unable to dig further. Maybe the Russians know something we don't.As an aside, folks may have missed the Achilles videos from a few weeks back.

 

Was good!

 

This one did and I'm glad I found it in the YT playlist when watching the T-55.

[TonyE]

Hatch!

[Gavin-Phillips]

Cracking video, very well done. Its a crying shame about the DShK heavy machine gun. Surely they could have de-milled it and used it for display purposes?

 

I too have heard about the argument that "T-54's don't have the fume extractor". Well its true that some of the early models which were imported by China didn't feature them, I'd hardly say that it was a great way of identifying a T-54 from a T-55.

 

One thing I am looking forward to seeing (and possibly hearing about) is the T-55's turret interior. I've been told in the past that the T-55 has a partial turret floor where-as the T-54 does not. I would like to see if there is any truth in that at all.

 

Loved the Achilles video too. Keep up the excellent work.

[bojan]

Only initial T-54s did not have fume extractor, T-54A and T-54B had them.

 

When early T-54s were modified to T-54A standard counterweight was added to a muzzle (due the fitting of gun stabilization). Later those got guns got replaced with standard D-10T2S with fume extractor.

[Rick]

I blame yak_v, he identified it as an A. That said, you're not the first person to point it out, but curiously, nobody out of the 115,000 Russians who have seen the video seems to have objected. I am in Australia so unable to dig further. Maybe the Russians know something we don't.

 

As an aside, folks may have missed the Achilles videos from a few weeks back.

Minor thread drift from a sailor. Any combat difference between the M10 and the M18?

[Manic Moran]

 

I blame yak_v, he identified it as an A. That said, you're not the first person to point it out, but curiously, nobody out of the 115,000 Russians who have seen the video seems to have objected. I am in Australia so unable to dig further. Maybe the Russians know something we don't.

As an aside, folks may have missed the Achilles videos from a few weeks back.

 

Minor thread drift from a sailor. Any combat difference between the M10 and the M18?

Opinions varied depending on who used it. Some units flat refused the M18 due to lack of armor. There was one message from Italy claiming that it was not "the superb seventy thousand dollar foxhole that M10 was"

 

Overall, it seemed to depend on what sort of fighting was going on. If memory serves, Third army liked the nimble vehicle, First preferred the M10.

[Burncycle360]

After seeing this I started watching some of the other videos Manic.

 

It's interesting to me just how BAD the ergonomics and crew comfort were on some of these tanks inside, some seem as though they wouldn't be that comfortable on a road, I can't imagine banging around cross country in some of these I'd probably end up with a concussion. And poor T34 loaders...

 

Some of these tanks seem to have such poor visibility and situational awareness it's a wonder they could actually fight from them, I'm starting to see why German commanders tended to fight unbuttoned. It seems as though anything that would reduce crew fatigue would disproportionately increase their effectiveness and survivability by keeping them more alert on watch and enabling further cohesion between the crew members, which I imagine would have been critical if someone is shooting back at you. It makes me wonder how many poor guys ended up getting killed and not having any idea where it came from or what hit them.

 

Out of curiosity, do most tanks have some sort of azimuth indicator for the commander, driver and gunner so the commander can coordinate desired orientations?

Edited January 26, 2016 by Burncycle360

[Stargrunt6]

Just getting into the series, great stuff.

[Mistral]

Indeed, its very well done, and we get to see some unique AFVs. He has put a lot of effort in this, I guess it comes from really liking what you do

[Manic Moran]

FWIW, Part 2.

 

[Nikolas93TS]

Very enjoyable video, thank you!

 

However, main gun ammunition load was not increased by removing the bow machine gun, but by better distribution of ammo by integrating some rounds in fuel tank.

[DKTanker]

Very enjoyable video, thank you! However, main gun ammunition load was not increased by removing the bow machine gun, but by better distribution of ammo by integrating some rounds in fuel tank.

Speaking of which, inside the drivers station, the hole in front of and to the right of the right tiller in the front slope, was that for the bow machine gun? If so, that would definitely show that that removal of the machine gun was not directly related to greater main gun ammunition stowage.

[bojan]

Dave, both T-55 (with bow MG as on video) and T-55A (w/o bow MG) had same 43 rounds main gun ammo load. Ammo load increase was due that front 16-rounds ammo rack/fuel tank, before that (in T-54) there was a separate fuel tank and smaller ammo rack. During modernizations some T-54s got new ammo racks and increased ammo capacity to 43 while keeping bow MG.

So removal of bow MG really had nothing to do with increased ammo capacity, it was removed to increase NBC tightness of the vehicle in T-55A.

Edited February 14, 2016 by bojan

[TonyE]

Hatch is good!

[DKTanker]

Dave, both T-55 (with bow MG as on video) and T-55A (w/o bow MG) had same 43 rounds main gun ammo load. Ammo load increase was due that front 16-rounds ammo rack/fuel tank, before that (in T-54) there was a separate fuel tank and smaller ammo rack. During modernizations some T-54s got new ammo racks and increased ammo capacity to 43 while keeping bow MG.

So removal of bow MG really had nothing to do with increased ammo capacity, it was removed to increase NBC tightness of the vehicle in T-55A.

My quesiton was really about the hole that can be seen from inside the drivers compartment.

[bojan]

Yes, it is a bow MG hole, part of mounting can be seen also.

Edited February 14, 2016 by bojan

[shep854]

FWIW, Part 2.

 

Thanks, Nick! Considering the handles, for the gunner and TC, I'd think it would be nice to have something to grab during a lurch that wouldn't do something unexpected...

Now, HURRY THE FLIP UP WITH THE M47 VIDEO!!!