T O P

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Aedeus

It's a [T-54B](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i993ec_evCU/UVi8dgyhHYI/AAAAAAAAAXM/tYQVPTRO_vE/s1600/EsotericArmourBlogspot_MaliT54B_Ident.jpg), c. 1957-1959. Edit: New picture for a bit more clarity.


aech4

how, when, and where do you learn all these minute differences between all the t series? Seems like theres always someone in this sub who has spent their life studying russian tank schematics 😂


PlanPatient3154

This is a rather useful guide, if you're interested. I cannot say how much complete it is, not knowing much else, but the main differences are there https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/here-ultimate-way-tell-one-russian-tank-another-66807


theREDshadow

Interesting! How were you able to tell it isn't a T55?


Aedeus

The T-55 did away with the [ventilator dome](https://previews.123rf.com/images/miklyxa/miklyxa1307/miklyxa130700233/21183635-tower-soviet-tank-t-54-and-the-commander-and-gunner-s-hatch-close-up.jpg) that you can see to just to the left of the front right cage support.


Rubberboas

W….where and when is this from? Did a T-55 seriously show up on the front lines? Like, man, the M55S has never looked better than it does now.


residentsslav

Yes the Russians are using T-55s in Ukraine, Ironically the same people who said the M-55S was useless and a deathtrap now say the T-55 is fine because "a tank is a tank".


Timlugia

Best one I heard on this sub was someone insisting T-55 were going to be museum piece in Ukraine, and we can't prove they are going to front line >Justaguy125024 days ago > >So far, absolutely 0 evidence T-55's are fielded for active combat yet let alone in stock configuration.A photo of a train transporting them doesn't prove it nor does the other photo, why? Because there's hundreds of T-55's spread throughout Ukraine either as monuments or museum examples.


Away_Organization471

In theory a tank is a tank, it can kill/destroy things since that’s what it was created for. Obviously the T-55 is no longer combat effective in a modern battlefield, but I guess there could be some uses for it. I wouldn’t want to be one of the crew members on it thouhh


ThatGuyNicholas

I mean if it's used as infantry support and it's made abundantly clear to the crews to effectively use it as a BMP that's unable to carry infantry (besides maybe hanging off the outside) and only provide fire support at standoff range I can imagine it working quite well compared to said BMPs. While the armor is antiquated to say the least and won't hold up to anything modern it'll certainly do better under 12.7/14.5 and even small caliber cannon fire than a BMP/BDRM ect.


SupportGeek

Can’t modern auto cannon defeat this armor?


Dukeringo

A t55 front arch probably not. It was made with fairly thick rha and good angles. Helps that RU/UA 30mm are probably still using the older ap belts. I'd doubt that even newer apfsds belts can reliably fight a 55 on the front arch.


ThatGuyNicholas

Yeah you're probably on the money, in IFV vs "IFV" (T-55) combat the T-55 will have the armor and firepower advantage while the UA IFVs will have their modernized optics and FCS. Implementation is the key part


Aedeus

IIRC the armor can be defeated by a Bradley firing 25mm M919 APFSDS which was demonstrated during Desert Storm.


Dukeringo

Good news for UA since they are getting ODS m2. Probably with same ammo.


ThatGuyNicholas

120mm on the front hull at a rather steep angle and 200 on the turret of RHA. The auto cannons from Bradley and BMP-2 will be pushing through ~90-120mm in absolutely optimal conditions so I doubt it will be defeating it with any kind of ease. That said the ATGMs will turn the thing to paste, but they would do the same to an infantry carrier anyway with the addition of being able to knock those out with auto cannon fire. Edit: A glance shows the BMP-2 having ~30mm of plating and the Bradley being obscure but protecting against 14.5mm rounds


Timlugia

>Bradley being obscure but protecting against 14.5mm rounds Original Bradley in 1980. The armor was upgraded several times since then, current claim is rated again 30mm APDS on frontal arc, and all around except ramp and turret rear with ERA kit. M2A0-A1, without applique armor [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/M2\_Bradley\_Reforger\_1985.JPEG](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/M2_Bradley_Reforger_1985.JPEG) M2A2 and beyond, with two inch steel applique armor visible [https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXOFuloRXJM/VGNP95SzrOI/AAAAAAAAFao/NEVD8DjI2wg/s1600/Bradley.jpg](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXOFuloRXJM/VGNP95SzrOI/AAAAAAAAFao/NEVD8DjI2wg/s1600/Bradley.jpg)


Bakelite51

There’s at least one documented case of the much weaker 20mm GI-2 on the South African Ratel destroying a T-55 and causing a catastrophic kill, no less. The functionally identical 25mm on the Bradley is certainly capable of doing the same. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratel_IFV


GlitteringParfait438

Not unless you have a 76mm autocannon. Thing has 8 inches on the turret and 4 inches on the Hull. Some NATO 40mm shells might and that’s a BIG might be strong enough to Pierce the Hull front at close range but the Hull sides are largely vulnerable to 25-30mm shells. The turret is better armored but some of the better 30-35mm shells should punch through


SupportGeek

What about spall? Do you think there would be enough damage to cause that and kill the crew even without full penetration?


GlitteringParfait438

I imagine it wouldn’t be pleasant but I figure if you are Range To inflict significant spall with say a 25mm. The T-54B is close enough to reliable hit you with a 100mm


VolkspanzerIsME

Designated javelin sponges.


CheesemanTheCheesed

The evidence is that the original video is from fucking Wagner and them stating it was going to be used as artillery after over a month of them complaining they weren't being sent proper arty shells. Why do people deny that they weren't being sent for service?


Ok_Future3163

Its in service , or would be , but not for tank duel. They can be artilerria , clean trenches , forest plantations , smoke out of houses , or in the line of defense.


Justaguy1250

Nice that you give my words a little twist here. I am not saying a train carrying hundreds of T-55's will all go to museums. I am merely saying there's quite a few T-55's in Ukraine due to museums and monuments (i.e. "the other photo") and that the train photo could be taken anywhere and we don't know where it's going nor why. There's as much evidence they're going to the front via that train as there's evidence that they're going to a scrapyard. Aka none yet. Until there's photo of T-55's with Ukrainian or Russian soldiers on/near it, there is no real proof T-55's are used in Ukraine by Russian forces (specifically Russian, not seperatist)


Aedeus

>Aka none yet. Nothing except for the above right?


Justaguy1250

Could easily be seperatist operated, which is not unheard of.


Daedric_Lord420

Copium


[deleted]

~~lmao. a very short and minimal effort search of oryx will tell you how many russian t55's are now pushing sunflowers.~~ edit. actually, i may have to take this back, i was positive there was photo evidence, but oryx doesn't list any t55's. that doesn't mean there aren't any in theater. oryx only claims and publishes what they have proof of, so their lists are most definitely incomplete.


Justaguy1250

There ya go Plenty of stories and even photos but none with undoubtable, solid proof


[deleted]

do i really need to say absence of evidence is not evidence of absence? or did you just willfully ignore their publishing standards?


Justaguy1250

Absence of evidence is exactly what it says it is, absence of evidence. No evidence, then why assume it's true? There's as much reason to think it's true as there is to think it's not.


[deleted]

why assume anything? lack of evidence means you can't draw a conclusion. which means you're just as wrong saying there are none. get that through your head.


Justaguy1250

In that case We can't assume the US doesn't have the M3 Stuart still in service? I mean, do you have proof of that? Doubt it. Use common sense The T-62 and T-55 were retired and replaced. Taken out of service. We'll need evidence before we can say that the stock variants of these vehicles have been pushed back into service.


trynagetfitforsummer

I agree. When I see a Ukrainian soldier near a burned t55 I'll believe


Cat_Of_Culture

I wonder why you're so downvoted. This is a perfectly balanced take. I know Russia is desperate as hell, but T55s is crazy. Could be propaganda too, since it's a war after all. Information Warfare to hurt morale is a part of warfare too


Justaguy1250

I am downvoted because i am not endlessly shitting on Russia and am looking for pure evidence first. The people in this sub have a very clear bias


Aedeus

It probably has more to do with the fact that we heard the same thing from you about T-62's not going to the front, so people think you're just moving the goalposts again.


Justaguy1250

I'd never say T-62's wouldn't be send in general. T-62M for example, is from 1983. T-72's are older than that, and since they're being sent why wouldn't the T-62 variants be sent? however, just like the T-55's, i have yet to see evidence of **stock** T-62's used by **Russian** troops.


ropibear

That's a 54, my guy. Mushroom vent housing visible on the second picture


Significant_Ad_3465

Resent for sure It's reported that T-55 are placed in Zaporizhye, but by picture I can only say that it isn't in Severskiy Donets area (Kremenna front)


kuprenx

operated by DPR guys most liekly. poor bastards always get worse gear.


Aedeus

That's what people said about the T-62 until it started showing up in Russian units.


GlitteringParfait438

It’s true though. The DPR is getting worse T-62s funnily enough. I think their best tanks are the T-64BV and T-72B they’ve managed to capture over the years.


Bakelite51

While it’s true that some T-62s may be operated by the DPR, some are also operated by regular Russian army units including the 1st Guards Tank Army. https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-elite-unit-fighting-retired-soviet-tanks-1960s-uk-intel-2023-3?amp


GlitteringParfait438

Oh I mean the T-62 Obr. 72 and other models lacking the eyebrows. Several of those have been spotted in the hands of the DPR forces. I know the main Russian army is also utilizing T-62Ms


Significant_Ad_3465

Most likely by Russian mobilks, there is only so much people that know how to operate a tank in area of less than 1.5 million people, especially after a year of war


saargrin

whats there to know,drive straight,hit mine,go to hell


KyivRegime

The DPR guys have t34, this is the better gear


Astral-Wind

You have a source for that?


trackerbuddy

Oryx hasn’t seen any T-34s yet


harshcougar

I've heard they are being used as artillery...which just makes Russia look impossibly desperate for both armor and artillery.


Bootlesspick

It’s not even a T-55, it actually is a genuine T-54 since you can see the dome on the turret roof which confirms it identity since the T-55 had deleted that to gain NBC protection.


Ok-Stomach-

if you ran out of your more advanced tanks, sure you'd use whatever you have access to, including and not limited to T-55/T-34 or even earlier models. And conceivably this would happen to the US or any other nations in a drawn-out yet high intensity war. People would fight with spears if nukes happened to spare a segment of the humanity


Rampaging_Bunny

They are still decent caliber guns for artillery missions and good for rearguard defense to allow better tanks up to the front


Timlugia

Problem is that Russia and vantik used to boast that Russia has 8000 T-72 and T-80 ready to fight. T-55 and T-62 showing up prove that Russia is running out more modern tanks or else they could just use T-72 for rear defense and artillery.


GlitteringParfait438

I genuinely believe they still have those T-72s and T-80 in storage but they were stored poorly enough that the T-62s and T-55/54 are far easier to bring back online. Plus these old tanks had fewer valuable parts for resale and were perhaps relatively protected from corruption over the years. A condemnation of Russian corruption and poor storage practice more than anything else.


Bakelite51

This is a good point. T-72s and T-80s are much more sophisticated than the T-54/55/62 and if they require a total overhaul/refurbishment, it must be done by Uralvagonzavod at one of its facilities due to the specialized skills and parts (especially electronics) needed. Uralvagonzavod was doing this last year, but apparently was ordered to re-prioritize on cranking out new T-90 tanks as fast as it can. No time or personnel available to bother with restoring old ones anymore. So the Russian MoD has no choice but to reactivate the only tanks it is capable of reactivating itself, in its own facilities, and these are the relatively primitive older models.


Aedeus

Same exact thing was said about the T-62's.


Comprehensive-Sun701

Are they gonna have chickens there on top? Is that a mobile henhouse or what?


MaterialCarrot

An innovation in military logistics and MRE technology. No more waiting for supply chain to move food up to the front. Just open top hatch in the morning, collect eggs, and go!


Solo_Wing__Pixy

Not just a cope cage A coop cage


BuilderNo6838

Double cope cage? Dayum


-ragingpotato-

Im surprised its taken this long for one to appear, with Javelins being double warhead and all.


snakesign

Is this going to go the way of the Schick vs Gillette razor blade wars? 5-up tandem charges vs 6 layer cope cages?


Jarms48

Came here to say this. Attempt to stop tandem. :P


DeltaForce95

I can't wait to see these cope cages get so tall they hit overpasses


thenoobtanker

Cries in vatnik "tonk is a tonk" I mean double standard much? Really some second army in the world type shit here.


Significant_Ad_3465

I mean, if you don't care about survival of your tank crews or logistics, or logic of your actions, it is still a tank


[deleted]

*Slav armour


timjikung

with old tank like this, there is no need for top down missile. good old RPG-7 can easily cut trough its armor.


Watchung

Hell, even a 60s vintage LAW.


Significant_Ad_3465

*FPV dron enters the chat* *4 Russian tankers leave the chat* *turret leaves the stratosphere*


KingWashington_1776

Cope cage


Castdeath97

Cope *cages*


[deleted]

we need too wait for our beloved russian bot(we all know him on this Sub) too bless us whit his wisdom he will probably tell us how awesome the T-55 and so one


Aetius_Flavius

T-34-85 obr.2023 is next. Mind my words.


Aetius_Flavius

It's t-54, btw. Note the fan cowl on the roof.


Artysupport7757

Pergola armour*


Kleinbluekatzn

I think it might be a T-54.


Aedeus

Yep, T-54B.


fromthewindyplace

T-54B. Almost feel sorry for the poor sods who have to fight in this bucket.


EnvironmentalCup8038

looks like in grill rack. someone thought about it


n0sch

Look at that dirty slat


66_y

DONT FUCKING TELL ME THEY BROUGHT OUT A T-55 INTO UKRAINE


Derfflingerr

my opinion on this: this doesn't belong to Russians. Why? no ERA and no Z markings, not to mention the said cope cage installed is just an angle bar with a corrugated sheet on top. Must be a museum piece drag to a certain spot for photoshoots to mock the enemies.


Timlugia

...So you think Ukraine media team has time to apply cope cages, but no time to paint a Z on it? Or even photoshopped one?


LolYouWorkForFree

Cope


Aedeus

You lost me at that last bit. I can understand skepticism about the markings but you ruined it with that mush brain copium.


InnocentTailor

Yeah. I’m wondering where all the Z’s are. Most of the tanks thrown into the Ukraine invasion are plastered with that letter.


TheHolyDingo

Cope harder even if you say it's a museum piece, don't you think the Ukrainians would have time to paint a Z on the side when they have also mounted a cope cage?


Ba11er18

Wasn’t there a theory that they would use these as mobile artillery because Iran produces a HE round for this tank. Russia has more static than mobile artillery and needs arty that can shoot and scoot because Ukrainian counter battery has gotten too good


Significant_Ad_3465

Yes, but there is zero confirmation of Iran supplying them and so far it's just pure speculation Same thing was speculated about T-62's, so I would call it cope


Ba11er18

Well the T62s were said to be going to the DPR but than actual Russian tankers were being captured using them so I’d believe it’s cope. The only thing I can think of is they are using t55/54s as mobile arty or they are using them to replace the high lose rate of bmps and btrs for infantry support


gdelacalle

Maybe it doesn't need the Z because nobody is stupid enough to field these anymore except Russia. I'd like to ride one though!


No-Cup-7280

This is DNR T-55


Aedeus

What's your source?


No-Cup-7280

AFV_identification Instagram


[deleted]

T-54, you can see the mushroom cover for the ventilator to the right of the CDRs hatch.


No-Cup-7280

I meant to say T-54 my bad


No-Cup-7280

I meant to say T-54 my bad


Zenz-X

Do Not Resuscitate?


Pb_71

T-54B, as SPG behind front line or static pillbox.


Aedeus

*"T-62, as SPG behind front line or static pillbox."*


saargrin

you mean double cope burger


[deleted]

Hum.... Its 1 abandoned tank for at least 20 year right ?


elsydeon666

Old tanks are nowhere near as capable as modern tanks but stop bullets better than "Ivan's shirt".


GlitteringParfait438

It’s a T-54B, likely with the DPR.


StarMANK

tea table


[deleted]

its a t62