Rickrolled I was!!
The War in the Ukraine
- Thread starter SampanViking
- Start date
Russian T-54 tanks were spotted on the echelons. The Russian army began to use the T-54A and T-54B tanks, two echelons with these tanks were noticed by eyewitnesses. How these tanks will be used is not clear, perhaps they will be used as long-term firing points or as mobile artillery, which was previously done with T-62 tanks. According to the latest data, tanks can be transported for disassembly for spare parts for other tanks. The T-54A tank was put into service in 1955 and was produced until 1957. The tank is equipped with a 100 mm gun with a firing range of up to 14 kilometers and has an ammunition load of 34 rounds, the crew of the tank is 4 people.
The Russian An-26 aircraft got away from 2 MANPADS missiles of Ukraine. The episode of this battle in Ukraine, which was a year ago and appeared only now, surprised many. During the battles for Zmeiny Island, when the Ukrainian army stormed it, a Russian An-26 aircraft appeared and dropped a load of aid to Russian soldiers, while flying at an ultra-low altitude. Surprisingly, Ukrainian units attacked the plane twice with MANPADS, but both missiles missed. The fact is that the An-26 aircraft does not have any protection against missiles, it’s luck, or a small thermal footprint of the engines, is not clear.
The Russian An-26 aircraft got away from 2 MANPADS missiles of Ukraine. The episode of this battle in Ukraine, which was a year ago and appeared only now, surprised many. During the battles for Zmeiny Island, when the Ukrainian army stormed it, a Russian An-26 aircraft appeared and dropped a load of aid to Russian soldiers, while flying at an ultra-low altitude. Surprisingly, Ukrainian units attacked the plane twice with MANPADS, but both missiles missed. The fact is that the An-26 aircraft does not have any protection against missiles, it’s luck, or a small thermal footprint of the engines, is not clear.
T-54 making gun positions in trench warfare is probably good too. Saturating the front line with these before the ''spring offensive'' could help.
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New Atlas has a good take on the T-54/55 but that's already something we should expect. There's likely some upgrade mod kit for them --- this was previously shown in defense exhibits --- and they will be used like assault guns. I remember the PLA has a T-59 modernization kit too long ago.
I heard that the D-10 gun on the T-54/55 has an enormous range for a tank gun up to 16km. That makes it convenient as an artillery vehicle hence assault gun. Plus the gun is capable of firing certain ATGMs up to 6km. My take on this is that the Russians still have an enormous stockpile of it's ammo, same with the Iranians and North Koreans, and they should make good use of them.
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Also for the MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun. They all use the same 9M117 missile but the casing differs quite a bit.
From left to right:
Bastion for the Rapira and the T-55.
The slightly shorter one is for the T-55
In the center is the Sheksna for the T-62
Followed by the Kastet for the BMP-3.
Finally the missile itself.
The latest iteration of the ammunition can penetrate 750mm after ERA, that's pretty good, enough to destroy many of the NATO supplied IFVs while this cant really penetrate this old tank, as well of the thousands of Toyotas and the bast array of othe vehicles we see in this war ofc.
Russian mil bloggers are really happy with the BMP-3 and they love to use it for indirect fire, so if the T-55 are actually (since non have been in the war area) there and they are used for this role its okey-ish.
In fact today I saw a video of Wagner using a MT-12 quite effectively, so why not use basically the same gun with some armour and tracks if it is just sitting there?
Most of the time all tanks basically just shoot at buildings in this war from some km away, you dont really need a good modern tank for that.
Video is a gem. Interview focuses on the technical with images of modernized T-55s for embellishments. These old tanks are geared to do indirect fire which is part of old Soviet doctrine, over direct fire used by modern tanks (16km max from D-10 gun vs. 4km range direct fire of the T-90's gun). Add drone assistance to the equation and we have something else. Seen a good number of videos where tanks are using indirect fire with drone assistance. I should add that Rybar made mention and commended a Ukrainian T-64 that did a good job alone with it's indirect fire tactics combined with shoot and scoot.
Also mentions the T-62 which has an odd caliber. Given the huge number of T-55s built, it would have an enormous advantage over the T-62 when it comes to parts and ammunition supply.
Yes, Ukrainians did use Maxim machine guns. There were captured and trophy ones to verify. If it can be used, it will be used. We have also seen late '40s to '50s AA guns being used by the Russians.
Also mentions the T-62 which has an odd caliber. Given the huge number of T-55s built, it would have an enormous advantage over the T-62 when it comes to parts and ammunition supply.
Yes, Ukrainians did use Maxim machine guns. There were captured and trophy ones to verify. If it can be used, it will be used. We have also seen late '40s to '50s AA guns being used by the Russians.
If they have stockpiles of ammunitions and ready T-55 chassis to send I could say it's a good idea.
If these T-55 are taking places of T-72 in refurbishing and upgrades industrial complex i'm not sure at all about it. Would they be in better shape than mothballed T-72 ???
One thing for sure, it look like they need more firepower and they have troops to man them. It means also that they don't have enough better tanks in stock for these troops presently.
The thing I see most tanks do in the war is to bust fortifications and act as secondary artillery. If that's what you do, a T-55 would do the job equally as a T-62, T-72, T-80 and T-90 with better indirect range. If that's the job you do while under threat of ATGMs, drones and artillery, a T-55 would be a more efficient and expendable choice. If you are considering some kind of military confrontation with NATO directly, you might as well save the modernized T-72s, T-80s and T-90s for that, and use the T-55s for these infantry and assault support roles. NATO is saving their best tanks too and only throwing seconds to Ukraine so they are thinking of the same thing from the other side. The main reason I would only put a modern tank for this conflict is for battle testing it.