±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 622
Total: 622
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Home
02: Home
03: Member Screenshots
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: Community Forums
07: Photo Gallery
08: Community Forums
09: Home
10: Community Forums
11: Community Forums
12: Community Forums
13: Home
14: Home
15: Community Forums
16: Photo Gallery
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Community Forums
20: Community Forums
21: Home
22: Community Forums
23: Home
24: Downloads
25: CPGlang
26: Community Forums
27: Community Forums
28: Community Forums
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Community Forums
33: Community Forums
34: Community Forums
35: Photo Gallery
36: Community Forums
37: Your Account
38: Photo Gallery
39: Community Forums
40: Photo Gallery
41: Community Forums
42: Statistics
43: Community Forums
44: Community Forums
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: Your Account
48: Member Screenshots
49: Community Forums
50: Community Forums
51: Community Forums
52: Community Forums
53: Community Forums
54: Community Forums
55: Community Forums
56: Home
57: Photo Gallery
58: Home
59: Community Forums
60: Community Forums
61: Community Forums
62: Community Forums
63: Community Forums
64: Community Forums
65: Photo Gallery
66: Community Forums
67: Your Account
68: Community Forums
69: Community Forums
70: Community Forums
71: Photo Gallery
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Photo Gallery
75: Photo Gallery
76: Community Forums
77: Community Forums
78: Community Forums
79: Search
80: Community Forums
81: Home
82: Community Forums
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Photo Gallery
87: Community Forums
88: Home
89: Photo Gallery
90: Your Account
91: Community Forums
92: Community Forums
93: Community Forums
94: Community Forums
95: Community Forums
96: Home
97: Community Forums
98: Community Forums
99: Community Forums
100: Photo Gallery
101: Community Forums
102: Downloads
103: Community Forums
104: Community Forums
105: Community Forums
106: Community Forums
107: Photo Gallery
108: Downloads
109: Community Forums
110: Community Forums
111: Community Forums
112: Home
113: Community Forums
114: Community Forums
115: Community Forums
116: Downloads
117: Community Forums
118: Photo Gallery
119: Community Forums
120: Photo Gallery
121: Supporters
122: Photo Gallery
123: Home
124: Community Forums
125: Home
126: Home
127: Photo Gallery
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: Photo Gallery
131: Your Account
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: Community Forums
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Community Forums
139: Downloads
140: Home
141: Photo Gallery
142: Downloads
143: Community Forums
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Community Forums
147: Community Forums
148: Community Forums
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: Member Screenshots
152: Community Forums
153: Home
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Community Forums
157: Community Forums
158: Downloads
159: Photo Gallery
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Your Account
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Community Forums
170: Community Forums
171: Community Forums
172: Home
173: Community Forums
174: Photo Gallery
175: Photo Gallery
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: Home
179: Member Screenshots
180: Community Forums
181: Community Forums
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Photo Gallery
190: Community Forums
191: Your Account
192: Community Forums
193: Community Forums
194: Home
195: Community Forums
196: Home
197: Community Forums
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Home
201: Home
202: Community Forums
203: Your Account
204: Community Forums
205: Photo Gallery
206: Downloads
207: Community Forums
208: Photo Gallery
209: Home
210: Community Forums
211: Community Forums
212: Community Forums
213: Community Forums
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: Photo Gallery
217: Community Forums
218: Home
219: Downloads
220: Your Account
221: Community Forums
222: Community Forums
223: Community Forums
224: Your Account
225: CPGlang
226: Downloads
227: Member Screenshots
228: Member Screenshots
229: Community Forums
230: Community Forums
231: Photo Gallery
232: Photo Gallery
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: Home
236: Community Forums
237: Home
238: Community Forums
239: Community Forums
240: Community Forums
241: Community Forums
242: Community Forums
243: Community Forums
244: Photo Gallery
245: Community Forums
246: Downloads
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Member Screenshots
250: Community Forums
251: Photo Gallery
252: Community Forums
253: Community Forums
254: Community Forums
255: Home
256: Photo Gallery
257: Community Forums
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Community Forums
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Downloads
265: Community Forums
266: Photo Gallery
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Community Forums
270: Your Account
271: Photo Gallery
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Photo Gallery
275: Member Screenshots
276: Community Forums
277: Community Forums
278: Community Forums
279: CPGlang
280: Photo Gallery
281: Community Forums
282: Community Forums
283: Community Forums
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Community Forums
287: Community Forums
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: Photo Gallery
292: Home
293: Community Forums
294: Home
295: Community Forums
296: Photo Gallery
297: News
298: Community Forums
299: Downloads
300: Photo Gallery
301: Home
302: Community Forums
303: Photo Gallery
304: Home
305: Statistics
306: Community Forums
307: Community Forums
308: Community Forums
309: Home
310: Community Forums
311: Downloads
312: Member Screenshots
313: Community Forums
314: Community Forums
315: Community Forums
316: Community Forums
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: CPGlang
320: Community Forums
321: Member Screenshots
322: Photo Gallery
323: Community Forums
324: Community Forums
325: Community Forums
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: CPGlang
329: Community Forums
330: Community Forums
331: Home
332: Home
333: Photo Gallery
334: Community Forums
335: Home
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Community Forums
339: Community Forums
340: Community Forums
341: Photo Gallery
342: Community Forums
343: Home
344: Home
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Photo Gallery
348: Community Forums
349: Downloads
350: Community Forums
351: Photo Gallery
352: Community Forums
353: Community Forums
354: Your Account
355: Community Forums
356: Community Forums
357: Photo Gallery
358: Community Forums
359: Photo Gallery
360: Community Forums
361: Home
362: Community Forums
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Community Forums
366: Photo Gallery
367: Community Forums
368: CPGlang
369: Photo Gallery
370: Photo Gallery
371: Community Forums
372: Home
373: Community Forums
374: Community Forums
375: Community Forums
376: Photo Gallery
377: Photo Gallery
378: Community Forums
379: Home
380: Community Forums
381: Community Forums
382: Community Forums
383: Photo Gallery
384: Your Account
385: Search
386: Community Forums
387: Your Account
388: Community Forums
389: Photo Gallery
390: Community Forums
391: Community Forums
392: Community Forums
393: Community Forums
394: Community Forums
395: Home
396: Community Forums
397: Community Forums
398: Community Forums
399: Community Forums
400: Community Forums
401: Community Forums
402: Community Forums
403: Photo Gallery
404: Community Forums
405: Community Forums
406: Home
407: Community Forums
408: Photo Gallery
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Photo Gallery
412: Community Forums
413: Home
414: Community Forums
415: Downloads
416: Community Forums
417: Home
418: Photo Gallery
419: Community Forums
420: Photo Gallery
421: Photo Gallery
422: Community Forums
423: Photo Gallery
424: Photo Gallery
425: Community Forums
426: Community Forums
427: Community Forums
428: Your Account
429: Photo Gallery
430: Community Forums
431: Home
432: Community Forums
433: Photo Gallery
434: Community Forums
435: Photo Gallery
436: Community Forums
437: Community Forums
438: Member Screenshots
439: Community Forums
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Home
443: Photo Gallery
444: Home
445: Photo Gallery
446: Photo Gallery
447: Community Forums
448: Photo Gallery
449: Statistics
450: Photo Gallery
451: Photo Gallery
452: Downloads
453: Member Screenshots
454: Photo Gallery
455: Community Forums
456: Community Forums
457: Community Forums
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: Home
461: Photo Gallery
462: Community Forums
463: Community Forums
464: Community Forums
465: Community Forums
466: Community Forums
467: Community Forums
468: Photo Gallery
469: Community Forums
470: Community Forums
471: Community Forums
472: Community Forums
473: Community Forums
474: Community Forums
475: News
476: Photo Gallery
477: Community Forums
478: Home
479: Photo Gallery
480: Community Forums
481: Your Account
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Photo Gallery
486: Community Forums
487: Community Forums
488: Downloads
489: Community Forums
490: Member Screenshots
491: Statistics
492: Community Forums
493: Community Forums
494: Home
495: Photo Gallery
496: Community Forums
497: Community Forums
498: Community Forums
499: Photo Gallery
500: Photo Gallery
501: Photo Gallery
502: Community Forums
503: Home
504: Community Forums
505: Community Forums
506: Community Forums
507: Photo Gallery
508: Community Forums
509: Photo Gallery
510: Community Forums
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Community Forums
514: Home
515: Community Forums
516: CPGlang
517: Community Forums
518: Downloads
519: Community Forums
520: Home
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Community Forums
524: Community Forums
525: Community Forums
526: Member Screenshots
527: Community Forums
528: Photo Gallery
529: Community Forums
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Photo Gallery
533: Community Forums
534: Your Account
535: Community Forums
536: Member Screenshots
537: Home
538: Your Account
539: Community Forums
540: Community Forums
541: Community Forums
542: Member Screenshots
543: Downloads
544: Community Forums
545: Community Forums
546: Community Forums
547: Community Forums
548: Photo Gallery
549: Community Forums
550: Community Forums
551: Photo Gallery
552: News Archive
553: Community Forums
554: Community Forums
555: Community Forums
556: Community Forums
557: Community Forums
558: Community Forums
559: Photo Gallery
560: Home
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Photo Gallery
564: Home
565: Community Forums
566: Photo Gallery
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Home
571: Community Forums
572: Home
573: Downloads
574: Community Forums
575: Community Forums
576: Photo Gallery
577: Community Forums
578: Community Forums
579: Community Forums
580: Photo Gallery
581: News Archive
582: Photo Gallery
583: Community Forums
584: Community Forums
585: Photo Gallery
586: Downloads
587: Member Screenshots
588: Community Forums
589: Downloads
590: Community Forums
591: Community Forums
592: Home
593: Community Forums
594: CPGlang
595: Home
596: Community Forums
597: Community Forums
598: Home
599: Community Forums
600: Community Forums
601: Community Forums
602: Community Forums
603: Downloads
604: Photo Gallery
605: Home
606: Community Forums
607: Home
608: Community Forums
609: Community Forums
610: Community Forums
611: Downloads
612: Community Forums
613: Community Forums
614: Community Forums
615: Community Forums
616: Home
617: Photo Gallery
618: Photo Gallery
619: Community Forums
620: Community Forums
621: Community Forums
622: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Dirk
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 115
Location: South Africa
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:15 am
Post subject: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme





This tank is a runner.

Enjoy Wink

Dirk
Back to top
View user's profile
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:29 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

Its a T-54 for a start - though it may be more accurate to say it started out in life as a T-54....

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
Dirk
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 115
Location: South Africa
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:05 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

- JimWeb
Its a T-54 for a start - though it may be more accurate to say it started out in life as a T-54....


Thanks for the correction.

According to the following PDF document listing all preserved tanks in South Africa
PDF Document : Preserved Tanks in South Africa
this tank is a T-55L manufactured in Labedy in Poland.

Cheers

Dirk
Back to top
View user's profile
L.Delsing
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Feb 10, 2006
Posts: 960

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:07 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

Hello Dirk,
Nice photo's! If possible, check the constructionnumber on the glacis plate. It is then relatively easy to see who built it and in what year. The only problem, Mostly they use a letter to indicate the year of production and the 1974 I don't know the letter for Polish production so I'am very interested in that.

To see the difference between a 54 and a 55 I always look for the small ventilator on top of the turret. I understand there are more ways to recognise them, but this is for me the easiest one.

regards,
Lesley
Back to top
View user's profile
L.Delsing
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Feb 10, 2006
Posts: 960

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:09 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

By they way, some Polish T-55 c/ns as example how it could be;

T-55 c/n 34A675E = 1971
T-55 c/n 59N1069D = 1970
T-55 c/n 17H41B = 1968
T-55 c/n 11N41C = 1969

The last letter is indicating the year of production
Back to top
View user's profile
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:12 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

The easiest way to identify one is that drivers MG hole in the glacis plate... it stands out like a sore thumb!

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
Hellfish6
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 09, 2006
Posts: 151
Location: Orlando
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:36 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

Is this one of the tanks that ended up with the Rhodesians?
Back to top
View user's profile
Dirk
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 115
Location: South Africa
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:17 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

- Hellfish6
Is this one of the tanks that ended up with the Rhodesians?


Could be one of the Ugandan tanks siezed at Durban, some being shipped to Rhodesia, or war booty from Angola.

So my guess is one of the Rhodesian tanks , as one was retained by the then SADF.

Hope this info is correct Mr. Green

Dirk

PS - Please correct me if this info is wrong
Back to top
View user's profile
Hellfish6
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 09, 2006
Posts: 151
Location: Orlando
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:25 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

I actually thought they all made it to South Africa after Operation Quartz was cancelled - I can't be sure though. Info about anything concerning RSA or Rhodesia is pretty hard to come by around here. I know eight were given to Rhodesia for sure, but no concrete evidence on how many made it back. IIRC Zimbabwe only ever operated Chinese Type 59-IIs, though. Maybe some of them were destroyed/sabotaged before the turnover?
Back to top
View user's profile
Maple_Leaf_Eh
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 517

PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:11 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

I like the sounds of Hellfish6's posting. The Rhodesians had Polish tanks before the ceasefire, and there is a series of photos of the crews listening to the radio station announcing the transition. (Google: Operation Quartz Top Secret) Guys in one-piece coveralls. I'd have to go back to my library to read up on the disposal or dispersion of the tanks. I suspect the RhACR moved them out of the country to keep their so-cooperative neighbour safe from a new government with MBTs. The postwar global armies reference books suggested the Zim forces had Chinese tanks.
Back to top
View user's profile
Esa_Muikku
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 28, 2006
Posts: 26
Location: Tampere, Finland
PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:23 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

Hi!

The tank is a T-55, not a T-54. Hull MG hole is not a proof identification feature in any direction, but the welding seam in the lower part of the glasis is!!
Back to top
View user's profile
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:17 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

I can show you any number of T-54 images with the weld seam... you want to show us a T-55 with the MG hole?

BTW my original point was that it started out in life as a T-54 and all the accounts of the captured FRELIMO tanks speak of T-54s. It obviously went through the polish rebuild facility at some point.

Cool

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
timroberts
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 71
Location: shrewsbury UK
PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:16 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

see here Jim,
This is definitely a t55! with the mg hole, lots had it!

www.bharat-rakshak.com...s/0020.jpg

Actually that T55 in the original post is a new build Polish T55L , not a T54U (Polish rebuild to T55 standard).

If you look at the turret lower edge this is bevelled, that never occured on T54 from any country of manafacture.

I have lots of shots of this tank, that I did not take, I have asked the copyright owner for permission to post here.

Best Wishes

Tim
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:54 pm
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

And people wonder why I just say T54/55

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:12 am
Post subject: Re: Polish T-55L Tanks in an interesting camou scheme

You could argue for hours on whether one is a T-54 ot T-55. The trouble is that many have been through rebuilds and have emerged as T-54 hulls with T-55 turrets and vice versa - its totally confusing and probably the reason why NATO is changing back to the T-54/55 designation.

Anyway to end all this...

The tanks the south africans had were a batch confiscated from a French ship, the “Astor�, which had been transporting a heavy weapons consignment from Libya for Idi Amin in Uganda. Amin’s regime collapsed on the day that the ship docked in Mombasa and it was redirected to Angola. The ship called in to Durban where the cargo, including ten Polish-built T-55LD tanks (part of a batch of 200 T-54s rebuilt in 1975), was seized, South Africa at that point considering itself to be at war with Angola. Two of the tanks were kept by the South Africans for evaluation.

The remaining eight were transported to Rhodesia, together with SADF advisers for the purpose of training Rhodesian crews. The rumour was spread that the tanks had been captured in Mozambique, in order to obscure South Africa’s part in the deal. The tanks, now part of the Rhodesian Armoured Car Regiment - in a newly-formed "E" Squadron - were driven around on tank transporters for several months in order to give the impression that the Rhodesians possessed a large number of heavy tanks. On arrival the T-55s had sported the original Libyan camouflage scheme. Major Winkler ordered them repainted in American camo, which was eminently unsuitable, and finally the South African instructors had them painted in anti-infra-red South African camo, which proved perfect for Rhodesian conditions. The tank crews came from 'D' Sqn RhACR, regular force soldiers who had signed on for a minimum of 3 years. A few of the men had tank experience already, but initially there was a lot of experimenting and reliance on the manuals, until Army HQ arranged for proper training by members of the SADF School of Armour.

Command of 'E' Sqn was given to a Captain Kaufeldt, an experienced tanker from West Germany.

The Soviet-manufactured radios were removed from the tanks and replaced with the South African radios and headsets used on the Eland 90 AFVs. These used a throat-activated microphone system and were far superior to the Soviet models. In Soviet tanks the radios were operated by the loader, in addition to his task on the main gun. The Rhodesians, reasoning that the loader already had enough to keep him occupied, moved the radios to the tank commander's position.

Now looking at the attached images you can see they are different tanks to the one at the museum but more about that particular tank later.

To Be Continued...

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 5
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum