‘Spartans’ destroyed Russian T-72 and T-55 tanks

Soldiers of the 3rd “Spartan” Brigade of the National Guard destroyed Russian T-72 and T-55 tanks.

This is stated in their message on the Telegram channel of the brigade.

Tanks were destroyed using FPV drones. Visually, they detonated the tanks’ ammunition.

The destruction of T-72 tanks in various variations is common, while the destruction of T-55 tanks, on the contrary, is a rather rare event.

Damage to one T-55 was recorded on August 5, 2023. And the destruction of an unspecified type of combat vehicle, which may be a T-54 or T-55, was recorded on June 18.

Recall that the return to service of T-54 and T-55 tanks for the needs of the Russian army was reported in March 2023.

Then the analytical team of the Conflict Intelligence Team released photos of the echelon with these tanks, which was heading from the far eastern part of Russia.

According to the CIT, this echelon left the city of Arsenyev, in which the 1295th Central Reserve and Tank Storage Base were located.

Later, in April, the Russians released a video from the war zone that showed a tank similar to a T-54 or T-55.

The Russians most likely use T-54 and T-54 tanks for indirect fire, as well as T-62.

T-54/T-55

T-54 and T-55 Soviet tanks are usually divided under two indices as two different models, but in fact they are part of the same family of combat vehicles. These tanks were constantly modernized and had design changes, conceptually remaining the same tank.

The Soviet T-54/T-55 can be distinguished from the later T-62 by the specific ‘gap’ between the first and second bogie wheels at the front. Another feature is the muzzle brake at the end of the barrel of the D-10T gun and the specific convex ‘cap’ of the radiator on the roof of the turret.

Currently, three armored plants are engaged in the restoration of tanks in Russia, but only one of them specializes in the repair of such vehicles as the T-55 and T-62. This is a 103rd Armored Repair Plant, so the vehicles will be delivered there.

The key disadvantages of the T-54 and T-55 are a critically low level of protection, a lack of rangefinders and ballistic computers, primitive sights, and an inferior gun stabilization system.

It is worth noting that the Armed Forces of Ukraine use the M-55S tanks in Slovenian modernization. During the modernization, the tanks received a new L7 105mm gun with a thermal sleeve and other additional systems.