In 1991, the German company Jung Jungenthal produced a prototype of the upgraded T-55 medium tank. According to this option, it was supposed to improve combat vehicles of this type, which are in service with the Egyptian ground forces.
T-55, a variant from Jung Jungenthal. pic.twitter.com/FVJhckv7dE
— Ivan O'Gilvi (@o_gilvi) January 10, 2022
Projects to finalize the "fifty-fifths" existed in many countries, but for some reason this one is not so well known compared to the others, although many interesting novelties were introduced on it.
As can be seen in the photos, the tank received an additional multi-layered booking of the front part of the hull and turret. According to some reports, the technical solutions used were borrowed from similar equipment that was in service with the GDR army. A niche was welded to the stern of the tower. It was planned to mount two quadruple 76-mm grenade launchers. There were also side screens covering the undercarriage, which, in turn, received new support rollers.
The engine remained the same - a 580-horsepower V-55, but it was "docked" with the LS 63000 automatic transmission from ZF. Since the mass of the tank was already 41 tons, the introduction of the B-46 engine with a capacity of 780 hp from the T-72 tank was considered, which was supposed to increase the maximum speed on the highway, which fell to 48 km/ h. The capacity of the fuel tanks increased to 1200 liters, while they were protected by armored screens.
A 100-mm Soviet rifled D-10 cannon with more fireproof electric drives was preserved on the demonstrated copy. At the request of the customer, it could be replaced with a 105-mm British L7. Loading remained manual, and, accordingly, the crew numbered four people.
With the help of Swiss specialists, the sighting system was thoroughly refined. As a result, the probability of hitting the enemy from the first shot both from the spot and on the move increased.
Tanks modernized with the help of Germany might have been en masse in the Egyptian army, but the military department of this state decided instead to focus on the production of American M1A1 Abrams.
Alexey Moiseev
