MT-55

Infobox Weapon
is_vehicle = yes
type = Armoured vehicle-launched bridge
origin = flagcountry|Soviet Union
name = MT-55 armoured bridgelayer


caption = MT-55 at the Bundeswehrmuseum Dresden
length = 9,880 mm (with span)
width = 3,300 mm (with span)
height = 3,350 mm (with span)
weight = 36.0 tonnes
suspension = Torsion bar
speed = 50 km/h
vehicle_range = 750 km (On roads), 500 km (Off-road)
primary_armament =
secondary_armament =
armour =
engine = Model V-54 or V-55 12-cyl. 38.88 liter water-cooled diesel
hp = 520/580
kW = 390/430
crew = 2 (commander, driver)
engine_power = 520 hp (390 kW)
pw_ratio = 14 hp/tonneThe MT-55 ( _ru. Танковый мостоукладчик, or tankovyy mostoukladchik) is an armoured vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB) tank manufactured by the Soviet Union, [ [http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/ground.pdf GROUND FORCES EQUIPMENT, Tel Aviv University] ] based on T-55 medium tank chassis, with the turret detached and replaced by a special bridge launching equipment.cite news | title=T-54 / T-55 Series Tanks | url =http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/t-54.htm | work =GlobalSecurity | accessdate = 2007-06-07 ]

Design and development

The transformed T-55 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.

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-55 used for laying and recovering of the bridge can be controlled by the crew from the inside of the tank, with hatch covers closed.cite news | title=Bridge Tank MT-55A | url =http://www.army.cz/scripts/detail.php?id=6076 | work =Ministry of Defence of Czech Republic | accessdate = 2007-06-07 ]

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. The MT-55 span is 18 meters long and can hold up loads up to 50 tons. Later Czechoslovakians modified their MT-55s with gap measuring mechanism and infrared equipment for bridge laying at darkness and named those as MT-55A (Mostní tank).cite news | title= 핀란드군 BLG-60 교량전차 (Bridgelayer) | date=2006-02-14 | publisher=Yahoo! Korea Corp | url =http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/shinecommerce/archive/2006/02/14?m=lc | accessdate = 2007-06-07 | language = Korean ]

In service

Sri Lanka: In 2000 Sri Lanka Army brought eight MT-55A AVLBs from Czech Republic along with 40 T-55AM2 tanks, 16 VT-55 recovery vehicles, three mobile workshop vehicles, and 12 Tatra T815 tank transporters and several RM-70 122 mm multiple rocket launchers. [http://www.saferworld.org.uk/images/pubdocs/Beast%20CzechRep.pdf Saferworld's research project on arms and security in EU Associate Countries, Czech Republic]

Israel: Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) were able to capture some small number of MT-55s from their Arab counterparts and used by the IDF with some small modifications. [http://www.idf-armour-group.org/vehicle_info_page_tiran.htm History of the Tiran in IDF service,] ] Most of these were captured on the Southern front (Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula) of Six day war.

Variants

* MT-55A - Czechoslovakian redesigned version MT-55
* MT-55K - Improved version of the MT-55A
* MT-55L - Version capable of using longer version of the MT-55K bridge

Operators

See also

* Germany: Panzerschnellbrücke 2, based on the Leopard 2 MBT.
* Russia: MTU-72 AVLB, based on the T-72 MBT.
* M60A1 AVLB, based on the M60 MBT

References

External links

* [http://www.tanxheaven.com/ludob/mt-55a/mt-55a.htm Steps of bridge laying, MT-55A Bridge Layer Czech Rep.]
* [http://panzermodelkit.valka.cz/bridgeaj.htm Bridging tank MT-55A]
* [http://www.valka.cz/newdesign/v900/clanek_1130.html www.vojenstvi.cz]