Old Soviet T-55 tanks continue to be used in Syria. During the recent clashes in Southern Idlib, representatives of illegal armed groups managed to destroy one such combat vehicle.
#Syria : video of #TOW strike vs T-55 is out. The tank was destroyed by #AbuTOW on S. #Idlib front few days ago in retaliation for recent escalation by pro-Assad forces. pic.twitter.com/kKvqQU7jeS
— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) July 18, 2021
It is claimed that the "fifty-fifth" belongs to government troops. A video posted on social networks showed this missile attack. The militants used an American-made BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile system.
The tank was sheltered under the roof in an abandoned brick building, the absence of a gate of which was compensated by dense bushes that covered the hull and the tower from prying eyes. At the same time, an experienced observer could notice the protruding barrel of a 100-mm D-10T2C gun with a characteristic ejector.
The guided missile hit the target on the left side, a powerful explosion raised a large cloud of dust and smoke into the air.
As a result, a fire started almost immediately - flames could be seen from the open hatches, then ammunition began to explode. After such damage, the equipment, as a rule, is written off.
Nothing is reported about the fate of the crew, but it is possible that there were no fighters in the armored vehicle at the time of the ATGM hit.
Apparently, the usual T-55 was lost. Previously, cases were repeatedly recorded when modernized samples that had dynamic protection withstood the hits of various cumulative ammunition and remained in service.
By the time the armed conflict in Syria began, more than 2,200 T-55s were registered in the ground forces of this state. During the war, according to various estimates, they lost more than 370 units.
The tanks underwent various modifications, for example, improvised "fire support combat vehicles"were created in the Kurdish detachments.
Alexey Moiseev
