In India, more and more old Soviet T-55s are becoming monuments. For example, last year a decommissioned combat vehicle was installed on a pedestal in the city of Alibag.
Recently it became known that another such "fifty-fifth" took pride of place on the campus of Kendrapara College. It is hoped that it will motivate students to serve in the armed forces of the country.
It is noted that the tank took part in combat operations in East Pakistan in 1971, where Indian troops were confronted by outdated American-made M24 Chaffee light tanks.
Created during the Second World War and armed with 75-mm rifled M6 guns, they were practically powerless against the sufficiently powerful armor of the medium T-55. Therefore, the latter shot them almost with impunity, without losing a single piece of equipment during the clashes. The damage that these tanks delivered from the Soviet Union received was mainly from mines, but the repairmen quickly returned them to service.
In the end, the Indian army won a complete victory on this front, and the entire M24 fleet involved, consisting of more than six dozen vehicles, was destroyed and partially captured in the form of trophies.
In total, according to various sources, India bought about 900 T-55 tanks in the USSR. Deliveries were carried out from the late 60s to the mid-70s. During operation, they underwent modernization, receiving instead of a 100-mm D-10T2S cannon an English 105-mm L7A1.
In the new century, the T-55, which had already been considered obsolete for some time, continued to be operated, but then their withdrawal from the troops began. And yet a certain number continues to remain in the troops, they are used as training vehicles and engineering equipment designed for mine clearance.
Alexey Moiseev
