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Vietnamese armed forces modernize its fleet of main battle tanks T-55 to standard T 54/55M3 2503124

Armies in the world - Vietnam

Sunday, March 25, 2012, 09:01 PM

Vietnamese armed forces modernize its fleet of main battle tanks T-55 to the standard T-54/T-55M3.

The Vietnamese armed forces modernize its fleet of main battle tanks T-55 with the help of Israeli companies in order to have a battle tank responsive to new threats on the battlefield, and configuration of the country. According to various sources, Vietnam currently has approximately 600 to 850 Russian-made main battle tank T-54/T-55.

Vietnamese T-54/T-55M3 main battle tank

Vietnam People's Army will upgrade about 10 T-54/T-55 tank battalions, each battalion is equipped with 31 tanks. The Army of Vietnam does not have the financial resources to purchase a new battle tank, the solution of an upgrade has been chosen. The basic variant of T-55 represents old technology of main battle tank that is no longer efficient in terms of protection and firing accuracy against new modern armoured vehicles.

The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, and others. The T-55 is based of the T-54, which enter in service with the Russian army in 1956.

In the coming years, about 310 T54/T-55 Vietnamese tanks will be upgraded in terms of protection, mobility, firepower and precion shooting, they will receive the name of T-54/T-55M3.

T-54/T-55M3 will be equipped with a new Israeli explosive reactive armour to increase the protection of the vehicle against anti-tank rockets and missiles. Th upper part of the suspension of each side is protected by armour plates. Smoke grenade launchers are mounted to each side of the turret to create an automatic smoke cloud against laser beam or aim.

The new vietnamese T-54/T-55M3 is upgraded with a new Israeli explosive reactive armour

The new features of the T-54/T-55M3 include:

- A new main armament with the Israeli 105mm M68/L7 which can fire modern ammunition as APDS, APER-T (Anti-personnel tracer), APFSDS, HE, HEAT, Smoke.

- A 60mm mortar mounted on the top of the turret as the Israeli main battle tank Merkava and magach which can be used against infantry in fortification, trenches or buildings.

- A meteo Sensors mast which provides meteorological information’s as direction and speed wind, temperature and atmospheric pressure to increase accuracy coupled with the firing computer system. This equipment could be the MAWS6056B sensor mast designed and manufactured the Swiss Company IRDAM, who would not confirm or deny this information.

- T-54/T-55M3 will be equipped with a new Israeli explosive reactive armour to increase the protection of the vehicle against anti-tank rockets and missiles. Th upper part of the suspension of each side is protected by armour plates. Smoke grenade launchers are mounted to each side of the turret to create an automatic smoke cloud against laser beam or aim.

- A new high power 1,000 hp. engine developed and manufacture in Germany, gearbox and transmission from Ukraine. With this new power pack the mobility of the tank will be increased significantly.

In the end of 2011, the first prototype of the T-54/T-55M3 took part in military exercises, for firing and mobility tests that have shown that the new tank is now able to fire on the move and faster with very good accuracy.

A 60mm mortar is mounted on the top of the turret.