±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: 826
Total: 826
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Home
03: Community Forums
04: Downloads
05: Member Screenshots
06: Community Forums
07: Community Forums
08: Community Forums
09: Community Forums
10: Home
11: Community Forums
12: Photo Gallery
13: Community Forums
14: Photo Gallery
15: Community Forums
16: Your Account
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Community Forums
20: News
21: Community Forums
22: Community Forums
23: Community Forums
24: Downloads
25: Community Forums
26: Community Forums
27: Home
28: Home
29: Home
30: Community Forums
31: Community Forums
32: Home
33: Your Account
34: Downloads
35: Photo Gallery
36: Community Forums
37: Your Account
38: Community Forums
39: Community Forums
40: Community Forums
41: Community Forums
42: Community Forums
43: Community Forums
44: Home
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Photo Gallery
50: Community Forums
51: Community Forums
52: Community Forums
53: Community Forums
54: Community Forums
55: Community Forums
56: Community Forums
57: Home
58: Home
59: Photo Gallery
60: Community Forums
61: Photo Gallery
62: CPGlang
63: Community Forums
64: Community Forums
65: Community Forums
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Downloads
69: Home
70: Community Forums
71: Home
72: Home
73: Photo Gallery
74: Community Forums
75: Home
76: Photo Gallery
77: Community Forums
78: Home
79: Community Forums
80: Downloads
81: Community Forums
82: Your Account
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Downloads
86: Community Forums
87: Community Forums
88: Community Forums
89: Home
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: Photo Gallery
93: Community Forums
94: Photo Gallery
95: Community Forums
96: Home
97: Community Forums
98: Community Forums
99: Community Forums
100: Home
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Home
105: Community Forums
106: Photo Gallery
107: Downloads
108: Photo Gallery
109: Community Forums
110: News
111: Community Forums
112: Community Forums
113: Community Forums
114: News
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Community Forums
118: News
119: Member Screenshots
120: Community Forums
121: Photo Gallery
122: Community Forums
123: Community Forums
124: News
125: Community Forums
126: Community Forums
127: Photo Gallery
128: Home
129: Community Forums
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: Photo Gallery
136: Community Forums
137: Photo Gallery
138: News
139: Photo Gallery
140: Community Forums
141: Home
142: Community Forums
143: Community Forums
144: Community Forums
145: Downloads
146: Community Forums
147: Downloads
148: Community Forums
149: Photo Gallery
150: Community Forums
151: Downloads
152: Community Forums
153: Downloads
154: Community Forums
155: Community Forums
156: Downloads
157: Downloads
158: Home
159: Community Forums
160: Community Forums
161: Community Forums
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Downloads
166: Community Forums
167: Community Forums
168: CPGlang
169: News
170: Photo Gallery
171: Community Forums
172: Home
173: Community Forums
174: Photo Gallery
175: Downloads
176: Community Forums
177: Downloads
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: Home
181: Community Forums
182: Home
183: Community Forums
184: Community Forums
185: Community Forums
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Home
189: Community Forums
190: Home
191: Photo Gallery
192: Photo Gallery
193: Community Forums
194: Home
195: Member Screenshots
196: Photo Gallery
197: Community Forums
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Photo Gallery
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: Downloads
204: News
205: Home
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Photo Gallery
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Community Forums
212: Home
213: Community Forums
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: News
217: News
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: Community Forums
221: Community Forums
222: Home
223: CPGlang
224: Home
225: Community Forums
226: Member Screenshots
227: Photo Gallery
228: Community Forums
229: Home
230: Community Forums
231: Community Forums
232: Photo Gallery
233: Community Forums
234: Community Forums
235: Community Forums
236: Photo Gallery
237: Community Forums
238: Community Forums
239: News Archive
240: Community Forums
241: Downloads
242: Community Forums
243: Community Forums
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: CPGlang
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Community Forums
250: Community Forums
251: Home
252: News
253: Home
254: Community Forums
255: Community Forums
256: Community Forums
257: Community Forums
258: Community Forums
259: News
260: Community Forums
261: Community Forums
262: Photo Gallery
263: Community Forums
264: Community Forums
265: Community Forums
266: Community Forums
267: CPGlang
268: Community Forums
269: Home
270: Community Forums
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Photo Gallery
275: Community Forums
276: Community Forums
277: Community Forums
278: Photo Gallery
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Community Forums
282: Photo Gallery
283: Community Forums
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Community Forums
287: Community Forums
288: Home
289: Community Forums
290: Photo Gallery
291: News
292: Community Forums
293: Community Forums
294: Community Forums
295: Community Forums
296: Community Forums
297: Community Forums
298: News
299: Community Forums
300: Community Forums
301: Community Forums
302: Community Forums
303: Photo Gallery
304: Community Forums
305: Community Forums
306: Community Forums
307: Community Forums
308: Community Forums
309: Community Forums
310: Community Forums
311: Photo Gallery
312: Community Forums
313: Community Forums
314: Community Forums
315: Member Screenshots
316: Community Forums
317: Community Forums
318: Community Forums
319: News
320: Community Forums
321: Community Forums
322: Community Forums
323: Community Forums
324: Photo Gallery
325: Downloads
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Community Forums
329: Community Forums
330: Photo Gallery
331: Photo Gallery
332: News
333: Community Forums
334: Photo Gallery
335: Community Forums
336: Home
337: Community Forums
338: Photo Gallery
339: Community Forums
340: Community Forums
341: Community Forums
342: Community Forums
343: Community Forums
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Photo Gallery
347: CPGlang
348: Community Forums
349: Photo Gallery
350: Community Forums
351: Community Forums
352: Community Forums
353: Photo Gallery
354: Community Forums
355: Home
356: Home
357: Community Forums
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: Community Forums
361: Photo Gallery
362: Home
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Community Forums
366: Photo Gallery
367: Member Screenshots
368: Community Forums
369: Community Forums
370: Community Forums
371: Home
372: Community Forums
373: Community Forums
374: Community Forums
375: Community Forums
376: Community Forums
377: Community Forums
378: News
379: Community Forums
380: Community Forums
381: Home
382: Community Forums
383: Community Forums
384: Community Forums
385: Community Forums
386: Community Forums
387: Home
388: Home
389: Community Forums
390: Community Forums
391: Community Forums
392: Community Forums
393: Community Forums
394: Community Forums
395: Community Forums
396: Photo Gallery
397: Member Screenshots
398: Community Forums
399: Community Forums
400: Photo Gallery
401: Downloads
402: Community Forums
403: Home
404: Community Forums
405: Home
406: Community Forums
407: Member Screenshots
408: Search
409: Community Forums
410: Home
411: Home
412: Community Forums
413: Photo Gallery
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Photo Gallery
417: Downloads
418: Photo Gallery
419: Community Forums
420: News
421: Community Forums
422: Community Forums
423: Home
424: Community Forums
425: Photo Gallery
426: Community Forums
427: Photo Gallery
428: Photo Gallery
429: Home
430: Community Forums
431: Photo Gallery
432: Community Forums
433: Photo Gallery
434: News
435: Downloads
436: Photo Gallery
437: Community Forums
438: Downloads
439: Your Account
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Community Forums
443: Community Forums
444: Home
445: Home
446: Community Forums
447: Photo Gallery
448: Photo Gallery
449: Member Screenshots
450: Home
451: Your Account
452: Home
453: Community Forums
454: Photo Gallery
455: Community Forums
456: Community Forums
457: Community Forums
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: Community Forums
461: Community Forums
462: News Archive
463: CPGlang
464: Downloads
465: Community Forums
466: Community Forums
467: Photo Gallery
468: Community Forums
469: Photo Gallery
470: Photo Gallery
471: Community Forums
472: Photo Gallery
473: Community Forums
474: Community Forums
475: Home
476: Community Forums
477: Community Forums
478: Downloads
479: Photo Gallery
480: Home
481: Home
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Photo Gallery
486: Home
487: Photo Gallery
488: Community Forums
489: Community Forums
490: Home
491: Community Forums
492: Community Forums
493: Photo Gallery
494: Community Forums
495: Community Forums
496: Community Forums
497: Community Forums
498: Photo Gallery
499: Downloads
500: Photo Gallery
501: Community Forums
502: Community Forums
503: Community Forums
504: News
505: Community Forums
506: Community Forums
507: Community Forums
508: Home
509: Community Forums
510: Community Forums
511: Community Forums
512: Community Forums
513: Photo Gallery
514: Photo Gallery
515: Community Forums
516: Community Forums
517: Photo Gallery
518: Photo Gallery
519: Photo Gallery
520: Community Forums
521: News
522: Community Forums
523: Community Forums
524: Community Forums
525: Community Forums
526: CPGlang
527: Home
528: Community Forums
529: Home
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Community Forums
533: Community Forums
534: Photo Gallery
535: Home
536: Community Forums
537: Photo Gallery
538: Community Forums
539: Community Forums
540: Community Forums
541: Home
542: Community Forums
543: Community Forums
544: Photo Gallery
545: Community Forums
546: Downloads
547: Community Forums
548: Photo Gallery
549: Community Forums
550: Home
551: Community Forums
552: Home
553: Community Forums
554: CPGlang
555: Community Forums
556: Community Forums
557: Home
558: News
559: Community Forums
560: Photo Gallery
561: Community Forums
562: Downloads
563: Home
564: Downloads
565: Community Forums
566: Community Forums
567: Photo Gallery
568: Home
569: Community Forums
570: Statistics
571: Downloads
572: Community Forums
573: Community Forums
574: Statistics
575: Community Forums
576: Community Forums
577: Community Forums
578: Photo Gallery
579: Photo Gallery
580: Community Forums
581: Community Forums
582: Photo Gallery
583: Home
584: Community Forums
585: Community Forums
586: Statistics
587: Home
588: Community Forums
589: Community Forums
590: Community Forums
591: Home
592: Home
593: Community Forums
594: Downloads
595: Photo Gallery
596: Community Forums
597: Downloads
598: Photo Gallery
599: Community Forums
600: News Archive
601: Community Forums
602: Community Forums
603: Community Forums
604: CPGlang
605: Community Forums
606: Downloads
607: Community Forums
608: Community Forums
609: Photo Gallery
610: Photo Gallery
611: Downloads
612: Community Forums
613: Community Forums
614: Photo Gallery
615: Community Forums
616: Community Forums
617: Community Forums
618: Photo Gallery
619: Home
620: Community Forums
621: Community Forums
622: Your Account
623: Home
624: Community Forums
625: Community Forums
626: Community Forums
627: Community Forums
628: Community Forums
629: Community Forums
630: Photo Gallery
631: Community Forums
632: Downloads
633: Community Forums
634: News
635: Your Account
636: Community Forums
637: Community Forums
638: Community Forums
639: Community Forums
640: Downloads
641: Home
642: Community Forums
643: Community Forums
644: Community Forums
645: Community Forums
646: Downloads
647: CPGlang
648: Photo Gallery
649: Photo Gallery
650: Community Forums
651: Community Forums
652: Home
653: Community Forums
654: Statistics
655: Member Screenshots
656: Community Forums
657: Community Forums
658: CPGlang
659: Community Forums
660: Community Forums
661: Community Forums
662: Community Forums
663: Community Forums
664: Community Forums
665: Community Forums
666: Community Forums
667: Community Forums
668: Photo Gallery
669: Photo Gallery
670: Community Forums
671: Home
672: Home
673: Home
674: Photo Gallery
675: Photo Gallery
676: Photo Gallery
677: CPGlang
678: Community Forums
679: Community Forums
680: Home
681: Home
682: Community Forums
683: Community Forums
684: Community Forums
685: Community Forums
686: Community Forums
687: Community Forums
688: Community Forums
689: News
690: Community Forums
691: Downloads
692: Community Forums
693: Home
694: Community Forums
695: Photo Gallery
696: Photo Gallery
697: Photo Gallery
698: Photo Gallery
699: Photo Gallery
700: Community Forums
701: Community Forums
702: Photo Gallery
703: Community Forums
704: Community Forums
705: Community Forums
706: Photo Gallery
707: Community Forums
708: Community Forums
709: Home
710: Home
711: Community Forums
712: Home
713: Photo Gallery
714: Community Forums
715: Community Forums
716: Home
717: Community Forums
718: Community Forums
719: Community Forums
720: Community Forums
721: CPGlang
722: Photo Gallery
723: Community Forums
724: Photo Gallery
725: Community Forums
726: Community Forums
727: Photo Gallery
728: Community Forums
729: News
730: Photo Gallery
731: Community Forums
732: Community Forums
733: Community Forums
734: Community Forums
735: Member Screenshots
736: Home
737: Community Forums
738: Community Forums
739: Community Forums
740: Community Forums
741: Community Forums
742: Photo Gallery
743: Community Forums
744: Home
745: Photo Gallery
746: Community Forums
747: Community Forums
748: Community Forums
749: Photo Gallery
750: Community Forums
751: Photo Gallery
752: Community Forums
753: Photo Gallery
754: Community Forums
755: Home
756: Home
757: Photo Gallery
758: Downloads
759: Home
760: Home
761: Community Forums
762: Community Forums
763: Community Forums
764: Community Forums
765: Community Forums
766: Community Forums
767: Community Forums
768: Photo Gallery
769: Community Forums
770: Community Forums
771: Community Forums
772: Community Forums
773: Home
774: Community Forums
775: Your Account
776: Community Forums
777: Community Forums
778: Community Forums
779: Community Forums
780: Community Forums
781: Photo Gallery
782: Community Forums
783: News
784: Community Forums
785: Community Forums
786: CPGlang
787: Community Forums
788: Photo Gallery
789: Community Forums
790: Community Forums
791: Photo Gallery
792: Community Forums
793: Home
794: Photo Gallery
795: News Archive
796: Community Forums
797: Community Forums
798: Downloads
799: Community Forums
800: Community Forums
801: Community Forums
802: Photo Gallery
803: Community Forums
804: Downloads
805: Photo Gallery
806: Community Forums
807: Community Forums
808: Photo Gallery
809: Community Forums
810: Home
811: Community Forums
812: Community Forums
813: CPGlang
814: Community Forums
815: Photo Gallery
816: Community Forums
817: Community Forums
818: Community Forums
819: Downloads
820: Community Forums
821: Photo Gallery
822: Community Forums
823: News
824: Community Forums
825: Photo Gallery
826: 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 (bsmart@xecu.net)
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