Romanian T-55 Tank questions

I'm planning to build one or two 1/35 scale Romanian T-55 tanks and I have a few questions with pictures...

Can somebody tell me what type of tank this is? Is this a T-55AM or is it another type of tank?





These two images are from a decal brand but are they correct?







I hope that somebody can help me...

I wis to use the kits pictured below but are they suitable for the Romanian models mentioned above? Or does somebody have other suggestions?

The machine in the photo is a TR 580 (also known as TR 77) Romanian tank. Its most visible characteristics are the presence of an extra road wheel (six of them on each side, comparing to five in the case of T 55) and the metal side skirts (which differentiate the model form a T 55 A).

TR 580 was a modified variant of T 55 A manufactured in Romania during the 1970s-1980s.

This post has been edited by Agarici on December 03, 2010 09:08 pm

@ Agarici,

Thx for your explanation of the tank on the photo.

Can you also tell me if the other two tanks were used by the romanian army in that livery at the described time?

As far as I know, in December 1989 all the tank models in serial use in the Romanian army (T 55 A, T 55 AM, TR 580/TR 77, TR 850/TR 85 and T 72) were in the streets, for various durations and depending on the garrison location - the exceptions being the T 34/85 (modernized), still in service in some reserve units, and TR 125, not yet produced in series.

You can find images of some of the models here:
http://www.cartula.ro/forum/tancuri-revolu...1989-t6264.html
http://www.cartula.ro/forum/Tr-85-t2983.html
http://www.cartula.ro/forum/Parada-militara-1984-t4789.html
http://www.cartula.ro/forum/55-Romanesc-It...1-35-t6497.html

Note: both the site and the forum are in Romanian.

This is not correct, T-34/85 were also used in the streets in December '89.
I saw a T-34 picture in a city somewhere in Moldova (I believe it was Roman or Buzau).
Than there's also this photo gallery, showing T-34/85 and SU 100 in Sibiu:
http://www.modernism.ro/2010/12/21/zilele-...o-nicu-cherciu/

Looks more like a TR-85 to me. It does not have the usual spoked roadwheels of the TR-77. The chin of the hull armour has some support elements for armour skirts which are not present in TR-77. Also, the turret looks a bit different from a T-55 so it must be a TR-85. The side skirts of the TR-85 also have some ridged patterns that the TR-580 does not have. The TR-77 has smooth sideskirts. The last two toolboxes at the back of the hull look exactly like the ones I've seen at the "TR-800" tank at MMN museum. Those toolboxes were not present on the TR-580 version at MMN museum.

I can post a picture with annotations if you don't understand what I'm talking about.

here is a pictures with a T55! it's make when i was in the army,a while ago!
it's a T55 whit 3 series of modernisation and we are the tank crew!
http://www.worldwar2.ro/forum/index.php?showtopic=791&st=45

Looks more like a TR-85 to me. It does not have the usual spoked roadwheels of the TR-77. The chin of the hull armour has some support elements for armour skirts which are not present in TR-77. Also, the turret looks a bit different from a T-55 so it must be a TR-85. The side skirts of the TR-85 also have some ridged patterns that the TR-580 does not have. The TR-77 has smooth sideskirts. The last two toolboxes at the back of the hull look exactly like the ones I've seen at the "TR-800" tank at MMN museum. Those toolboxes were not present on the TR-580 version at MMN museum.

I can post a picture with annotations if you don't understand what I'm talking about.

Please do that, Mircea, since I'm far from being an expert.

I based my assesment on a more simple and profane fact: the majority of TR 800 (TR 85) out in the streets (at least in Bucharest) in December 1989 had the FCS Ciclop mounted on the barrel, and the tank in that photo does not. Also it's turret seems to me (at least from what I know) similar to that of a T 55.

Vici, thank you for the info, I didn't know about that. Regarding the tank photos, I find those with the S-100 particularily impressive.

Pics from forter.ro or mapn.ro, I don't remember.


Comparison between TR-580 and TR-85. I don't know why it doesn't have a FCS, but then again, it was quite an expensive piece of equipment. Maybe It was removed before entering Bucharest, or damaged by heavy MG in friendly fire incidents. At some point in time, the spoked roadwheels of the TR-580 were replaced with the ones used by TR-85. The tanks I've posted here have the same roadwheels, but back in 1989 I don't think there were TR-580 with these roadwheels.

Thank you, Mircea! Given the detalis you've mentioned, I also consider that the tank in the picture from the begining of the topic it is rather (or at least could well be) a TR 800/TR 85. Another argument would be that, at least judging by the photos from that period, the TR-800's formed the bulk of the tank units present in the streets of Bucharest in December 1989.

My only thought is: were those features highly standardized on all the TR 580s? From what I know the sideskirts could be removed (and mounted back again), couldn't they (and perhaps some other features too, like the roadwheels - or the front hooks for the metal anti-shaped charges sheets, which perhaps could be welded on any chasis) interchangeable between related models?

I haven't seen any TR-580 tank with those metal supports on the lower glacis plate, that's for sure. As for other field modifications, anything is possible with such similar models.

LE: Romanian T-55AM tanks video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMSC7DiY2wE

This post has been edited by Mircea87 on February 26, 2011 11:46 pm