MT-55: Difference between revisions

MT-55A armoured bridgelayer
MT-55A armoured bridgelayer
	MT-55 at speed in Uffenheim in 2015
Type	Armoured vehicle-launched bridge
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Specifications
Mass	36.0 tonnes
Length	9,880 mm (with span)
Width	3,300 mm (with span)
Height	3,350 mm (with span)
Crew	2 (commander, driver)
Engine	V-55 12-cyl. 38.88 liter water-cooled diesel; 580 hp (430 kW)
Power/weight	14 hp/tonne
Suspension	Torsion bar
Operational; range	580 km (On roads)
Maximum speed	50 km/h

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 02:12, 29 May 2017

The MT-55A (Slovak: Mostný tank) is an armoured vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB) tank, manufactured by ZTS Martin in Slovakia. The AVLB is based on a T-55A medium tank chassis, with the turret detached and replaced by a special bridge launching equipment.^[1]

The MT-55A was produced for the armies of the Warsaw Pact (including the Soviet Army), as well as for export clients.

Design and development

The MT-55A was designed and produced by ZTS Martin from 1962 (the former Czechoslovakia was one of the countries that build the T-54/55 series under licence). The development phase ended in 1967 after which five pre-series vehicles were built. Series production started in 1969.^[2]

The transformed T-55A chassis differs only by the arrangement of the compartments in the hull. The bridge tank is proposed for an easy and swift crossing of antitank barriers (trenches) and other obstacles with the purpose of facilitating the passage of mechanised and tank units.^[1]

The bridge initiating equipment is controlled by a system of hydraulic cylinders; the allocation of hydraulic oil can be controlled both manually by mechanical levers and automatically. The pressure of the liquid is provided by high-pressure piston pumps motorized by the tank engine. All mechanisms of the MT-55A used for laying and recovering the bridge can be controlled by the crew from inside the tank with the hatch covers closed.^[1]^[3]

To begin the launching process, the vehicle stops short of the gap; then, the bridge swings ahead and down while its two sections open like scissors.^[1] The MT-55A span is 18 meters long and can support loads of up to 50 tons. Later, the MT-55A was modified with a gap measuring mechanism and infrared equipment for bridge laying in darkness.

Total production of the MT-55A between 1969 and 1983 amounted to 1,762 vehicles, including 183 export versions MT-55KS (from 1971) and 301 hulls for East Germany's BLG-60 programme.

Variants

MT-55 - Pre-series model, equipped with the bridge of the MT-34 bridge-layer. In Western sources, this model is often erroneously referred to as the MT-55L with "long" bridge.
MT-55A - Standard model, as described.
MT-55KS (Kapitalstické Státy) - Export model for "capitalist" non-Warsaw Pact countries. Based on the T-55 both otherwise similar.
PM-55 (Přepravník Mostu) - Wheeled version, based on a Tatra 813 "Kolos" 8x8 truck.^[4]

Operators

Egypt^[5] - MT-55KS
Belarus - MT-55A
the Czech Republic^[3] - MT-55A
Georgia^[6] - MT-55A
India - MT-55KS, known as Bridge Laying Tank MT-55^[7]
Iraq - MT-55KS
Israel: The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) were able to capture a small number of MT-55KSs from their Arab counterparts and used them with some small modifications.^[8] Most of them were captured on the Southern front (Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula) during the Six day war.
North Korea^[9]
Romania^[10] - MT-55A
Russia - MT-55A, known as MTU-55^[6]
Serbia^[11] - MT-55A
Slovakia^[12] - MT-55A
Slovenia
Sri Lanka - In 2000, the Sri Lanka Army bought eight MT-55As from the Czech Republic along with 40 T-55AM2 tanks, 16 VT-55 recovery vehicles, three mobile workshop vehicles, 12 Tatra T815 tank transporters and several RM-70 122 mm multiple rocket launchers.^[13]
Syria^[14] - MT-55KS
Ukraine - MT-55A

MT-55KS bridgelayer in Yad La-Shiryon Museum, Israel.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "T-54 / T-55 Series Tanks". GlobalSecurity. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
^ http://img.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/title/CZK-MT-55A-mostni-tank/t/10857
^ ^a ^b "Bridge Tank MT-55A". Ministry of Defence of Czech Republic. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
^ http://forum.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/t/13328
^ The Arab Republic of Egypt, Tel Aviv University Archived 2007-02-24 at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b Army & Society in Georgia
^ http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=MsOFU3dQt/s=&ParentID=MxMOr7Ttp9I=^{[permanent dead link]}
^ History of the Tiran in IDF service, Archived 2014-09-15 at the Wayback Machine
^ NORTH KOREA COUNTRY HANDBOOK, MARINE CORPS INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY Archived 2007-04-11 at the Wayback Machine
^ Romanian Land Forces Magazine
^ Serbian Armoure Archived 2007-12-08 at the Wayback Machine
^ Slovakia, ArmyRecognition
^ Saferworld's research project on arms and security in EU Associate Countries, Czech Republic Archived 2008-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
^ The Arab Republic of Syria, Tel Aviv University Archived 2006-05-23 at the Wayback Machine

External links

[GS1-1] "T-54 / T-55 Series Tanks". GlobalSecurity. Retrieved 2007-06-07.

[2] ttp://img.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/title/CZK-MT-55A-mostni-tank/t/10857

[MOD1-3] "Bridge Tank MT-55A". Ministry of Defence of Czech Republic. Retrieved 2007-06-07.

[4] ttp://forum.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/t/13328

[5] The Arab Republic of Egypt, Tel Aviv University Archived 2007-02-24 at the Wayback Machine

[GEO1-6] Army & Society in Georgia

[7] ttp://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=MsOFU3dQt/s=&ParentID=MxMOr7Ttp9I=^{[permanent dead link]}

[IDF1-8] History of the Tiran in IDF service, Archived 2014-09-15 at the Wayback Machine

[9] NORTH KOREA COUNTRY HANDBOOK, MARINE CORPS INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY Archived 2007-04-11 at the Wayback Machine

[10] Romanian Land Forces Magazine

[11] Serbian Armoure Archived 2007-12-08 at the Wayback Machine

[12] Slovakia, ArmyRecognition

[SAFE1-13] Saferworld's research project on arms and security in EU Associate Countries, Czech Republic Archived 2008-10-02 at the Wayback Machine

[14] The Arab Republic of Syria, Tel Aviv University Archived 2006-05-23 at the Wayback Machine

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 ==Operators==
-* [[Egypt]]<ref>[http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/Egypt.pdf The Arab Republic of Egypt, Tel Aviv University]</ref> - MT-55KS
+* [[Egypt]]<ref>[http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/Egypt.pdf The Arab Republic of Egypt, Tel Aviv University] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224132431/http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/Egypt.pdf |date=2007-02-24 }}</ref> - MT-55KS
 * [[Belarus]] - MT-55A
 * [[the Czech Republic]]<ref name='MOD1'/> - MT-55A
 * [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]<ref name='GEO1'>[http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/slavic/pdfs/army1099.pdf Army & Society in Georgia]</ref> - MT-55A
-* [[India]] - MT-55KS, known as '''Bridge Laying Tank MT-55'''<ref>http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=MsOFU3dQt/s=&ParentID=MxMOr7Ttp9I=</ref>
+* [[India]] - MT-55KS, known as '''Bridge Laying Tank MT-55'''<ref>http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=MsOFU3dQt/s=&ParentID=MxMOr7Ttp9I={{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 * [[Iraq]] - MT-55KS
-* [[Israel]]: The [[Israeli Defence Forces]] (IDF) were able to capture a small number of MT-55KSs from their [[Arab world|Arab]] counterparts and used them with some small modifications.<ref name='IDF1'>[http://www.idf-armour-group.org/vehicle_info_page_tiran.htm History of the Tiran in IDF service,]</ref> Most of them were captured on the Southern front (Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula) during the [[Six day war]].
+* [[Israel]]: The [[Israeli Defence Forces]] (IDF) were able to capture a small number of MT-55KSs from their [[Arab world|Arab]] counterparts and used them with some small modifications.<ref name='IDF1'>[http://www.idf-armour-group.org/vehicle_info_page_tiran.htm History of the Tiran in IDF service,] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915090425/http://www.idf-armour-group.org/vehicle_info_page_tiran.htm |date=2014-09-15 }}</ref> Most of them were captured on the Southern front (Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula) during the [[Six day war]].
-* [[North Korea]]<ref>[http://www.dia.mil/publicaffairs/Foia/nkor.pdf NORTH KOREA COUNTRY HANDBOOK, MARINE CORPS INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY]</ref>
+* [[North Korea]]<ref>[http://www.dia.mil/publicaffairs/Foia/nkor.pdf NORTH KOREA COUNTRY HANDBOOK, MARINE CORPS INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070411071931/http://www.dia.mil/publicaffairs/Foia/nkor.pdf |date=2007-04-11 }}</ref>
 * [[Romania]]<ref>[http://www.rft.forter.ro/2010_1_i/10-stiri/00.htm Romanian Land Forces Magazine]</ref> - MT-55A
 * [[Russia]] - MT-55A, known as '''MTU-55'''<ref name='GEO1'/>
-* [[Serbia]]<ref>[http://stef124.tripod.com/mt55.htm Serbian Armoure]</ref> - MT-55A
+* [[Serbia]]<ref>[http://stef124.tripod.com/mt55.htm Serbian Armoure] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208124519/http://stef124.tripod.com/mt55.htm |date=2007-12-08 }}</ref> - MT-55A
 * [[Slovakia]]<ref>[http://www.armyrecognition.com/Russe/Slovaquie/Slovaquie_Choix_materiel.htm Slovakia, ArmyRecognition]</ref> - MT-55A
 *[[Slovenia]]
-* [[Sri Lanka]] - In 2000, the [[Sri Lanka Army]] bought eight MT-55As from the [[Czech Republic]] along with 40 T-55AM2 tanks, 16 VT-55 recovery vehicles, three mobile workshop vehicles, 12 [[Tatra T815]] tank transporters and several [[RM-70]] 122&nbsp;mm multiple rocket launchers.<ref name='SAFE1'>[http://www.saferworld.org.uk/images/pubdocs/Beast%20CzechRep.pdf Saferworld's research project on arms and security in EU Associate Countries, Czech Republic]</ref>
+* [[Sri Lanka]] - In 2000, the [[Sri Lanka Army]] bought eight MT-55As from the [[Czech Republic]] along with 40 T-55AM2 tanks, 16 VT-55 recovery vehicles, three mobile workshop vehicles, 12 [[Tatra T815]] tank transporters and several [[RM-70]] 122&nbsp;mm multiple rocket launchers.<ref name='SAFE1'>[http://www.saferworld.org.uk/images/pubdocs/Beast%20CzechRep.pdf Saferworld's research project on arms and security in EU Associate Countries, Czech Republic] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002020701/http://www.saferworld.org.uk/images/pubdocs/Beast%20CzechRep.pdf |date=2008-10-02 }}</ref>
-* [[Syria]]<ref>[http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/Syria.pdf The Arab Republic of Syria, Tel Aviv University]</ref> - MT-55KS
+* [[Syria]]<ref>[http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/Syria.pdf The Arab Republic of Syria, Tel Aviv University] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523183414/http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/Syria.pdf |date=2006-05-23 }}</ref> - MT-55KS
 * [[Ukraine]] - MT-55A
@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 == External links ==
 {{Commons|MT-55 bridgelayer}}
-* [http://panzermodelkit.valka.cz/bridgeaj.htm Panzermodelkit: Bridging tank MT-55A]
+* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070614114202/http://panzermodelkit.valka.cz/bridgeaj.htm Panzermodelkit: Bridging tank MT-55A]
 * [http://img.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/title/CZK-MT-55A-mostni-tank/t/10857 Valka.cz: MT-55A]
 * [http://www.dishmodels.ru/wshow.htm?p=1705 Dishmodels.ru: Walkaround of Russian MTU-55 in Tol'yatti]