Inside the Chieftain's Hatch: T-55A Part 1

We're back! Another two-parter, this one on the iconic cold war vehicle.

NA forum thread

Asia

Console (XBox/PS4)

[TheReaperoo]

One of my favorite things about these videos (Besides getting to "see" the tanks) is the Historical, ideological and development processes related to the tank in question. Thanks for providing those! Plus the obvious "Tanker/Professional Opinion" from TheChieftan.

[Riman]

"Dont want the tracks 'Wacking off' against the top" I lost it

[bakomusha]

Stopped playing WoT, but still love these videos!

[tegrin]

"The government didn't want fake guns on tanks" Yep, that pretty much describes the government.

[armedbrit]

"they don't want the tracks whacking off"

I am such a child.

[Marco-clpb]

Stopped playing WoT but damn this video makes me miss the amazing T-54 and Obj-140

[xFictinx]

i fully agree with the open/closed hatch explanation, seems like we only close our hatches in tight terrain or when theres an arty shelling going on

[ZGryphon]

" _This_ is a _rubber bung._ "
"What the hell are you watching in there?"
"Never mind, Ma!"

[mikedietrich]

I just want to say that the videos are great, and your timing couldn't be any better, as I am currently working on a T-55. Your videos are a fantastic source of info for us modelers. Can't wait for Part 2!!!

[Thenomoredreadz]

Very nice content!!! Beautiful series.

[todorralevic]

IMO an interesting addition to these videos would be an in-depth talk on how the suspension, transmission and all that other stuff works. I love the videos but I do sometimes find myself sitting there thinking, 'how does ... work?'

[TheMontanaDave]

The Chieftain is Baaaccckkk! Hell Yeah.

[starfleethastanks]

5:10 he managed to say "wacking off"

[kimcuongho]

about the hatch, this tank was designed to fight in Nuclear - Bio - Chemical contaminated battle field. You don't want to leave you hatch or any thing open in that situation.

[petesheppard]

Somewhere I had gotten the impression that the TC had a rotating cupola, but that the hatch lid forward was simply the preferred position. Apparently I am mistaken.
Thanks, Nick for another great video!! They keep getting better.

[USSWISCONSIN]

Always nice to see you Chief! I show my dad these vids and he likes them as well. Isn't a tank guy but does find interesting. :D

[Uberrandom]

"They didn't want the tracks whacking off" -Nicholas Moran 2016

[Keinlicht]

Kind of funny to note that small but significant difference between eastern and western tank design with the commander's hatch. It shows you how much of an emphasis on crew efficiency and situational awareness western countries had in their tank doctrines.

I guess maybe we thought that if we couldn't outnumber, out armor or outgun the Russian tanks, at least we could out-fight them. Interesting distinction between military cultures.

[LatwPIAT]

Hey! I've been on a 'Nicolas Moran talks about tanks'-kick lately and something caught my... ear, I guess: How sure are you this is actually a T-55A? The design for the T-55A was specifically the design that did away with the bow machine gun, so it'd be strange for a T-55A to have a hole for it. At a guess, it's a CSLA T-55M/T-55AM, which was a T-55 (no letter) refurbished to T-55A standard. That, or a T-54M/T-54AM, a T-54A refurbished to T-55A standard. I'm not that good at telling the 54s and 55s apart.

[justforever]

The wide snorkel was just for training, because the crews didn't like that there was no escape route if the engine died mid crossing. The combat version was smaller simply because they could carry them with the tank, and greater risks were acceptable. The large model just mounts to the hatch, and includes a ladder inside and out. Also can the ramp and pin system be described as "archaic"? Had they been using it for a long time when T-34 adopted it? Primitive, yes, but that doesn't make it necessarily archaic.