T-55AM-2B

[Stuhlfleisch 3,762]

T-55AM-2B of the NVA

 

In 1978 the T-72 was introduced into the NVA as their new MBT, which, even if it was an export-model of the T-72 Ural, was vastly superior to the until now, best MBT the NVA could muster, the T-55AM. The T-55AM on it's own was a modernisation of the by now obsolete T-55A, however, that wasn't enough and the GDR was quick to order a new modernisation-program for the T-55AMs. This was done out of two major reasons, first, upgrading existing tanks is cheaper and easier to acomplish, than to buy and import vast numbers of T-72s. With one T-72 unit costing as much as 4,5 million Mark, while upgrading a T-55AM to T-55AM-2B specifications, costs around 2 million Mark.

The second reason is, that the European theatre is filled with hills and valleys; terrain, which does not favor the restricted cannon-movement of the T-72, which had an elevation of +15° and a depression of -5° with a maximum vertical movement-speed of 3,5°/s, while any variant of the T-55 used by the NVA had an elevation of +17° with the same -5° depression of the T-72, however, the vertical movement-speed of the cannon was 4,5°/s this minor advantage of the T-55, coupled with the cheaper price of the modernisation was reason enough for the GDR to initiate the upgrade program of the T-55AM.

 

For the sake of having a better overview, I will list all of the upgrades of the T-55AM-2B, compared to a standard T-55A. This way, we can better see in what aspects the T-55AM-2B was improved, rather than comparing it to the already upgraded T-55AM.

 

The tracks were replaced with rubber-reinforced steel-tracks, which reportedly lasted two times longer than the original pure steel-tracks.

Standardised compartments for crew-belongings.

Reinforced exhaust-system.

Reinforced planetarly steering-system with 17 plates.

Fire-control and laser-warning system KLADIWO.

Thermal sleeve for the 100mm D-10T2S cannon.

IR-floodlight L-4 with a range of max 1200m.

Smoke-launching system TUTSCHA 902B (8 barrels).

Add-on composite armor on frontal hull and turret-cheeks.

Reinforced hull for improved mine protection.

Rubber-mesh side-skirts.

Improved protection from napalm and other incindiary agents.

Improved fire-extinguishing system and more hand-held fire-extinguishers.

Stronger W-55U engine.

R-173 tank-radio.

ATGM-complex "BASTION".

1 WS TNP-165 gun-sight.

Stabilizer STP-2A.

Laser-rangefinder.

 

Overall, these are just the major improvements and show, that the T-55AM-2B is basically a new tank, sadly only 35 T-55AM-2Bs were fully upgraded when the NVA fell. It was truly the best T-55 of the NVA and with it's ATGM firing-capabilities, it was able to rival the T-72 in terms of firepower.

 

Pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

Specifications:

 

Crew: 4

Lenght: 9m

Widht: 3,27m

Height: 2,35m

Engine: W-55U (615HP)

Elevation: +17° / -5°

Armament: 1x 100mm D-10T2S main-cannon (43 RPG), 1x 12,7mm DschK AA-MG (500 RPG), 1x 7,62mm PKT coaxial-MG (2250 RPG)

 

Ammo:

 

3BM25 - APFSDS

3BK17M - HEAT-FS

BR-412D - APCBC

9M117 - ATGM

OF-412 - HE

I personally think the T-55AM-2B would be an excellent 8.7 MBT for the German tech-tree, mainly because the east-German T-55AM-2B would be incredibly similar to the T-55AM-1 we have in War Thunder already, be it with Warsaw-pact match-maker, or not.

 

 

Thanks for reading!

 

If you spot a mistake, or want to correct something, just let me know.

 

Cheers!

 

Sources:

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-54/T-55

http://panzerregiment4.de/?p=62

http://www.kotsch88.de/f_t-55am2.htm

http://www.militaertechnik-der-nva.de/Bestimmungsbuch/5gepKetFhrmitTurm/59/59.html

"Kampfpanzer der NVA" by Jörg Siegert and Helmut Hanske

 

Edited June 24, 2021 by Stuhlfleisch

[leroyonly 4,310]

Open for discussion. 

[kamikazi21358 998]

+1,  I for some reason really enjoy tanks that are modernised versions of older tanks, I would really enjoy having this in game.

 

As well, I would really like to see East German vehicles, an East German line would solve a couple of issues —

1.  It would give “brawling” tanks to Rank IV Germany, something they lack.  The only West German tank I know of that might somewhat do this is the KPz M41, which I doubt would help as much as say, a T-34 or an IS-2.

2.  Main one would be benefiting Simulator, currently it is literally Russia vs everybody, East Germany can allow another nation of players and vehicles to join Soviet Union.

[Milocat 4,854]

+1 for this with Warsaw Pact matchmaking.  East Germany deserves to be represented as well as west.

[Stuhlfleisch 3,762]

On 07/08/2019 at 16:29, kamikazi21358 said:

+1,  I for some reason really enjoy tanks that are modernised versions of older tanks, I would really enjoy having this in game.

 

As well, I would really like to see East German vehicles, an East German line would solve a couple of issues —

1.  It would give “brawling” tanks to Rank IV Germany, something they lack.  The only West German tank I know of that might somewhat do this is the KPz M41, which I doubt would help as much as say, a T-34 or an IS-2.

2.  Main one would be benefiting Simulator, currently it is literally Russia vs everybody, East Germany can allow another nation of players and vehicles to join Soviet Union.

 

On 07/08/2019 at 20:31, Milocat said:

+1 for this with Warsaw Pact matchmaking.  East Germany deserves to be represented as well as west.

Wholeheartedly agree!

[Borotovas 4,500]

+1

[Yontzee 1,673]

Definitely has a spot in game. +1

[eleks12 1,079]

+1

[_Pixy 196]

East German sub-tree when? +1!

[stuka2689 314]

+1

[GomesPT 309]

+1

[Mako_Reizei1 275]

+1 definitely i want to see this, either with or without warsaw pact it still would be amazing.

[csla1972 849]

+1

So it is basically T-55AM-1 + LWS.

Edited June 8, 2022 by csla1972

[hienapunk 1,064]

On the condition I get a "MONIKA" decal for it.

 

+1