T-55M6

[jet_17_49 411]

Summary:

An elongated T-55 with the turret of a T-72B m.1989

 

Description:

At some point during the early post-Soviet period, the Omsk machine factory sought to appeal to armed forces operating the T-54/55 which for budgetary reasons could not replace them. This culminated in the creation of an extensive modernization package for the T-55, the T-55M6, unveiled in 2001, which among other things included a heavy redesign of the tank's hull and the complete replacement of its turret. It turned out to be too extensive for its own good, being even more expensive to buy than a secondhand T-72, and this combined with the fact that the demonstrator was only partially built and lacking some key advertised technologies, prevented it from becoming a commercial success. The demonstrator remains the sole existing example of the tank built to date.

 

The T-55M6 as it was advertised featured the following modifications:

1. A modified T-72B turret with the accompanying 2A46 125mm cannon and 1A40 FCS (the T-64B's 1A33 and the T-80U's 1A45 were offered as alternatives)

2. An elongated hull with an additional pair of road wheels allowing for the installation of a redesigned composite armor UFP

3. A 780hp engine to compensate for all the increased weight

4. Full Kontakt 5 coverage

5. A Black Eagle-ish bustle autoloader with blowout panels and a capacity of 22 rounds (not installed on the demonstrator)

6. A salad of road wheels including some sourced from the T-72 and T-80

 

Specs:

1. General:

- Mass: 43.4T

- Crew: 3

 

2. Mobility:

- Engine: V-46-5MS (780hp)

- Transmission: identical to other T-55s

- Max road speed: +50kph/-7kph

 

3. Protection

- Turret armor identical to T-72B m.1989, composite+ERA UFP of unspecified composition, blowout panels for bustle autoloader

 

4. Weaponry

- 1x 2A46 125mm cannon

- 1x 12.7mm HMG

- 1x PKT 7.62mm GPMG

 

Potential role in game:

Being a horrific amalgamation of parts and polar attributes such as the firepower and FCS of a T-72B, a bustle autoloader and the mobility of a WW2 medium tank, the T-55M6 would likely be a challenge to balance and would probably not be very fun to play at a BR where it isn't outright invincible, but I'd like to see it being introduced to the Soviet tech tree anyway just for the sake of its novelty value if not for anything else (also so that the T59G can have a sibling)

 

Gallery:

Spoiler

 

Sources:

https://en.topwar.ru/25222-osnovnoy-tank-iz-srednego-modernizaciya-t-55.html

https://crib-blog.blogspot.com/p/t-series-tank-variants.html?m=1

 

 

Edited September 15, 2022 by jet_17_49

[kurururocks 210]

Open for discussion

[DMYEugen 688]

Looking at this thing makes me wanna commit crimes.

 

+1 Maybe as a squadron psuedo-equivalent of the Object 122.

Edited September 15, 2022 by DMYEugen

[Bigboi_SaiGon 20]

Hell yeah, +1 for premium/event vehicle.

 

 

[Milocat 4,848]

This would be fun to try out, +1 from me.  Modernized tanks are always interesting.

[eleks12 1,079]

+1 

[de Radio Demon@live 266]

+1 So cursed, yet I also kind of like it. I think it would make a good non tech tree vehicle though I think it's Br will be highly dependent of the hull protection of the UFP at this point because if it's a similar amount for say a T-72A for example then I think it can stay at a Br of 9.7 since the mobility would be inferior to the T-72B but if it has less than even the likes of the T-64A then it's harder to say what Br it would be at. Also this kind of reminds me of the Ukrainian Frankenstein between a T-64 and T-55, but compared to that this is a much better upgrade since it's actually an upgrade of an existing hull rather than a downgrade in it's turret just so they could be a cheaper upgrade for potential buyers. 

Edited September 15, 2022 by de Radio Demon@live

[JamesPond1200@psn 299]

I want ALL the ridiculous modifications to old tanks! +1

[Raiden_Black 1,875]

a rare gem, nice
+1

[YIN67LIV@psn 49]

+1

Interesting, look like a budget T-72B 1989

[Tiijayh 6]

+1

[csla1972 849]

Of course. Second best looking tank after Object 640.

+1

[warner7 81]

Yea +1

[RavenousElf 13]

The good ol's T-54/55, the baking soda of tanks. If You couldn't tell - I like it.