Upgraded T-54 Tanks Began to be Delivered in Series to Combat Units

18 Mei 2021

 The 409th Tank Brigade will have received a total of 31 T-54Ms in 2021 (all photos : VPA)

After a period of evaluation and testing, the upgraded T-54B tanks began to be handed over in bulk to combat units.

The People's Army Newspaper said that on May 14, the 409th Tank Brigade - Military Region 1 received four upgraded T-54B (aka T-54M) tanks handed over by the Army Technical Department under the T-54B Improvement Project of the General Department of Engineering.

As planned, in 2021 Military Region 1 will receive a total of 31 improved T-54B main tanks (equivalent to one battalion).

When put into service for training and combat readiness, these tanks will make an important contribution to improving the overall quality and combat strength of the armed forces of the Military Region, especially the ability to maneuver in combat, defensive warfare.

To be ready to exploit and master the improved T54 B tank , before that, Military Region 1 directed the 409th Brigade to send officers to participate in a training class organized by the Ministry of Defense and develop a training plan at the unit; consolidating the technical zone, arranging and gathering tanks and armored vehicles.

At the same time, the unit also actively propagates and educates to raise awareness and responsibility for officers and soldiers in exploiting and using new weapons and equipment; synchronously implement measures to improve the quality of specialized training.

It is known that the work of upgrading Vietnam's T-54/55 tank is done at Z153 Factory. After the evaluation of modernization options as well as field tests with each prototype, the process of mass upgrading T-54/55 tanks took place at an urgent pace.

The upgraded configuration of the T-54/55 conducted by Vietnam still retains the 100 mm main cannon, not the 105 mm M68 as originally proposed, this option is considered more reasonable given their conditions.

To increase the ability to shoot accurately, the D-10T2S cannon is covered with insulation to avoid barrel deformation, and integrates many more modern sensors and sights equivalent to today's most advanced tanks.

Due to the increased weight of the upgraded T-54/55 due to additional armor, it is assumed that these tanks will be equipped with new engines, in addition to the improved crawler mechanism to increase road grip and improve flexibility when changing direction.

It is not clear how many T-54/55 tanks Vietnam will upgrade in total according to the new configuration, but before that foreign media predicted the number would be about 850 units.

After the modernization of the T-54/55 is completed, the next upgrade object will probably be the T-62 tanks with the above configuration (retaining the 115 mm U5TS cannon).

T-62 tank of VPA (photo : Ann Quann)

The above modernized vehicles will be effective assistants for modern T-90S/SK (even T-72MS White Eagle) in high - low configuration often used by many militaries around the world.

(KienThuc)