T-55

The T-55 is a tier 2 Main Battle Tank originating from the Soviet Union, and is sold by Marat Shishkin. It can be unlocked from the PT-85 and leads to the T-62.

Features

 * Heavy armor: this vehicle's armor bounces more shots and takes more hits

Player Recommendations
This tank is best played as a formidable hull down vehicle, but lacks the mobility to exploit breakthroughs. Within its tier, it is one of the least mobile of the MBTs, but makes up for this with strong turret armor and substantial frontal hull armor.

Pros

 * High alpha
 * Excellent turret armor

Cons

 * Lowest upgraded acceleration and top speed of the T2 MBTs
 * Weak side hull armor
 * Poor hull and turret traverse

Upgrade Suggestions
The Improved Laser Rangefinder increases the accuracy of the gun, and leads to improved APDS and HEAT shells. Improved Ready Racks will allow a player to keep a larger volley of fire over the standard setup, allowing it to excel as a defensive lynchpin and armored spearhead.

Retrofit Suggestions

 * Advanced Muzzle Reference System
 * Augmented Optics
 * Improved Gun Breech
 * Improved Pioneer Tool Kit
 * Improved Spall Liner

Commander and Crew Skill Suggestions

 * Commander: Juan Carlos, to improve the aim speed and crew stats.
 * Driver: Spin to Win, Off-Road Driving
 * Gunner: Sharpshooter, Do the Twist
 * Loader: Rapid Fire, Explosive Shells/Preparation

History
Class: Medium Tank Developed: 1956-1962 Service: 1958+ Vehicles Built: cca 80000-100000 Operators: Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia and five dozen other countries The T-54/55 Medium Tank family is, without a doubt, one of the most iconic armored vehicles of all times. Throughout the Cold War, even with the appearance of much more modern vehicles, its distinctive silhouette remained one of the symbols of Soviet armored might. The T-55 itself was developed as an upgrade of the aging T-54 (which was basically a late World War Two design). The early prototype was called Object 155. It was designed at Plant No.183 in Nizhny Tagil by a team led by L.N.Kartsev in the summer of 1957. Its main advantage over rival advanced medium tank projects in the Soviet Union was the relatively low cost of such an upgrade compared to starting production of an entirely new tank model. The upgrade was based on the T-54B with several important improvements, including more shells, better night-fighting and NBC equipment, an automated fire extinguisher system, better smoke generator, engine up-tuned from 520hp to 580hp and several more. Two prototypes were built and tested from the winter of 1957 to the spring of 1958. The tests were generally successful and the vehicle was accepted into service under the designation of T-55 in May 1958. With, according to some sources, around a hundred thousand vehicles built, the T-54/55 series of vehicles is the most produced tank series of all time. It was widely exported and used by dozens of countries and even though it was already quite obsolete by the 1970s, it received numerous upgrades and continues to serve in some countries to this day, participating in many (if not most) third world conflicts.