Chieftain's Hatch: T-55 Pt 1

[bojan]

nwm

Edited February 17, 2016 by bojan

[bojan]

 

Forgot this, from a friend who served on T-55A - handle in loader's position is for a loader to hold on while going on rough ground and using periscope (left hand on periscope, right on handle) and while gun is firing (that is by the manual, most loaders ignore 2nd part). It is usual to reload while standing if using racks on turret walls and sitting if using hull rack.

Handle behind gunner's sight should be actually connected to gunner's sight and is used for removing it. There is a folding handle also for gunner to hold left of him that he should use while using observation periscope (right hand on periscope, left on the handle)

Handle on TC position is mostly used when TC is standing and peaking out of hatch. Friend however served on Polish made tank, Soviet and Czech had some of those fitting on different place/missing however.

Edited February 17, 2016 by bojan

[DKTanker]

Glad you posted that twice, I didn't quite catch it the first time.

[TonyE]

Repetition is good, now we remember.

[bojan]

Glad you posted that twice, I didn't quite catch it the first time.

Damn, wanted to edit post... Hm, posting more than slightly drunk (national holiday so no work ) does not seem like that great idea now...

[sunday]

Superb videos, and thoughtful words - if you manage to bring this tank to the battlefield and your opponent has only a Kalashnikov...

 

Shades of any tank is better than no tank, as King Sargent used to say in the discussions about the Sherman.

[Stefan Kotsch]

It is usual to reload while standing if using racks on turret walls and sitting if using hull rack.

The hull rack ammunition you can not load in a seated position, this is much too cramped. Go to the knee, pull cartridge, stand up and then loaded.

Then press stabilizer release switch with the left hand. After that in standing right hand on the handle, left hand on the periscope. So I know that.

Edited February 17, 2016 by Stefan Kotsch

[bojan]

The hull rack ammunition you can not load in a seated position, this is much too cramped. Go to the knee, pull cartridge, stand up and then loaded.

Then press stabilizer release switch with the left hand. After that in standing right hand on the handle, left hand on the periscope. So I know that.

 

Tnx for correction, he might have remembered incorrectly, he served back in 1970s (and he was a gunner, not loader).

Edited February 17, 2016 by bojan

[shep854]

 

It is usual to reload while standing if using racks on turret walls and sitting if using hull rack.

The hull rack ammunition you can not load in a seated position, this is much too cramped. Go to the knee, pull cartridge, stand up and then loaded.

Then press stabilizer release switch with the left hand. After that in standing right hand on the handle, left hand on the periscope. So I know that.

 

Did you have to spend much time in T-55s?

[Stefan Kotsch]

Yes, 6 years T-55. Then 3 years T-72 and 3 years Leopard 1A5.

[Rick]

Yes, 6 years T-55. Then 3 years T-72 and 3 years Leopard 1A5.

For this ex sailor, would you share your opinions about these three tanks. Thank you.

[urbanoid]

 

Yes, 6 years T-55. Then 3 years T-72 and 3 years Leopard 1A5.

For this ex sailor, would you share your opinions about these three tanks. Thank you.

 

x2

 

Pleasepleaseplease!

[Stefan Kotsch]

In the telegram

 

T-55 = T-34 with extra features (but not the "luxus version"); much maintenance; in uneven terrain a lame duck; backwards too slow; night vision a misery;

T-72 = very reliable; low maintenance, comfortable and convenient; good, but low budget FCS; night vision same misery; backwards too slow, forward fast enough; the "powder keg" has given me food for thought

Leopard1A5 = very reliable, even less maintenance, very comfortable and convenient, excellent FCS, fast forward and backward, but no really armored

 

And all: this horrible noise

 

Actually, I can not add to what has been many already written.

Edited February 18, 2016 by Stefan Kotsch

[shep854]

Thanks, Stephan! Keep up the commentary--and don't be shy about relevant stories!

I almost didn't ask about T-55s, because I thought they may have been before your time...

[richard g]

Let's have more of a practical tanker's opinion of the T55 in some detail please. Stefan K.

[Panzermann]

Thanks, Stephan! Keep up the commentary--and don't be shy about relevant stories!

I almost didn't ask about T-55s, because I thought they may have been before your time...

The DDR never had the budget to fully transition to T-72.

[urbanoid]

No one had. All WP countries with T-72 also had T-55s in active service.

[alejandro_]

backwards too slow

 

This is a problem in all T-64/72/80 when compared to Western models.

[Rick]

Yes, 6 years T-55. Then 3 years T-72 and 3 years Leopard 1A5.

Stefan, any differences in the crew training in the two armies? Thank you.

[L.V.]

 

Thanks, Stephan! Keep up the commentary--and don't be shy about relevant stories!

I almost didn't ask about T-55s, because I thought they may have been before your time...

The DDR never had the budget to fully transition to T-72.

Do you happen to know what was the price tag back then?

Edited February 19, 2016 by L.V.

[dejawolf]

does anyone know whether late T-55A in the 70s and 80s had 50 or 60 round ammunition cans for the 12.7mm gun?

afaik T-55AM could mount both DShK-M and NSV.

Edited February 19, 2016 by dejawolf

[Nikolas93TS]

What dejawolf asked x2

[Panzermann]

 

 

Thanks, Stephan! Keep up the commentary--and don't be shy about relevant stories!

I almost didn't ask about T-55s, because I thought they may have been before your time...

The DDR never had the budget to fully transition to T-72.

Do you happen to know what was the price tag back then?

No. Sorry.

 

The tanks were paid for with the transferable ruble (XTR) of the comecon afaik. That makes a conversion difficult.

[wlewisiii]

Thank for the information, Stefan. I remember while in the 1AD in the early 80's, they brought in a T-55 and a T-62 for us M-60a3 tankers to see. Only talked about the negatives and tried not to mention how the T-72 compared.

 

At 6' (162 cm) tall, I could just see over the lip of the loaders hatch standing on the turret basket on the T-55 and shuddered to imagine trying to load the gun backwards and on the move with all the missing gear and ammo in place.

 

Made me appreciate the tall Patton turret!

[shep854]

No one had. All WP countries with T-72 also had T-55s in active service.

I don't know how accurate the assumption actually was, but I had the impression that the E.European armies were essentially AT fodder for the Sov formations coming after...If that were the case, they really didn't need all the Latest and Greatest.

Edited February 20, 2016 by shep854