Shortround6
Major General
Oh boy....
And the 1947 T-54 differed how much from the T-44???
Yes the Israelis had identified a number of problems with the 20-24 year old Centurion design by 1967. That does not mean the the issues were resolved in time for the 1967 war. The contract for the new engines and transmissions was placed in April of 1967, however the first re-powered tanks were not completed until May 1970 which leaves ALL the Centurions used in the 67 war with the old engines, transmissions, etc. Hardly superpimped. and a total red herring as far as combat performance in the '67 war goes.
It also means the Israeli tanks of 1967 were not that different than British or NATO tanks of the early 60s.
The later re-powered and upgraded Centurions were intended both increase serviceability and to counter newer Arab tanks than the T-54/55 series. Egypt and Syria started getting T-62s in 1971. The T-62 was revealed to the public in 1965. It was only a matter of time before Soviet client states got better tanks than the T-54/55.
The British retro fitted quite a number of their tanks over the years, in many cases several times. So did many other countries beside Israel.
So did the Soviet Union and client states when it came to things like fire control (like laser range finders).
Spare parts weren't that big a problem for the Israels. They captured about twice the number of tanks that they converted. Buying parts and ammo on the international market shouldn't have been that hard either. The T-54/55 having been used by over 30 nations besides Russia. Buy enough ammo and any one of a number of companies would have tooled up for it. After over 20 years the Russian 100mm ammo was hardly secret stuff.
How about 99,000 It sure did beat any one in 1947, except the tank didn't work with that level of armor. Tank was overweight and nose heavy leading to breaking of the front suspension components and poorer than desired mobility (power to weight).
lets just check the math on this one. 1947 + 20 years is 1967. M-60 went into production in 1960 and the M60A1 went into production in Oct 1962, not quite 20 years.
And to be fair can we paint the Soviets with the same brush? T-62 goes into Production in 1961 with the SAME 100mm front plate the vast majority of T-54/55 tanks had for the last 14 years.
IT IS A WW2 British tank after all!
And the 1947 T-54 differed how much from the T-44???
Yes the Israelis had identified a number of problems with the 20-24 year old Centurion design by 1967. That does not mean the the issues were resolved in time for the 1967 war. The contract for the new engines and transmissions was placed in April of 1967, however the first re-powered tanks were not completed until May 1970 which leaves ALL the Centurions used in the 67 war with the old engines, transmissions, etc. Hardly superpimped. and a total red herring as far as combat performance in the '67 war goes.
It also means the Israeli tanks of 1967 were not that different than British or NATO tanks of the early 60s.
The later re-powered and upgraded Centurions were intended both increase serviceability and to counter newer Arab tanks than the T-54/55 series. Egypt and Syria started getting T-62s in 1971. The T-62 was revealed to the public in 1965. It was only a matter of time before Soviet client states got better tanks than the T-54/55.
Gutting out an old-fashioned and sub-optimal tank chassis and trying to fit it with the latest stuff is not progress, its a makeshift weapon. The Isrealis had to do with what had at hand, with what they could buy abroad. They did the same with Shermans with some rather desperate modifications etc.
The British retro fitted quite a number of their tanks over the years, in many cases several times. So did many other countries beside Israel.
So did the Soviet Union and client states when it came to things like fire control (like laser range finders).
But makes sense if you are on not-to-friendly terms with the USSR and can hardly except spares and ammunition. Not that Isreali Shot Cal had much common with their British Centurion brother...
Spare parts weren't that big a problem for the Israels. They captured about twice the number of tanks that they converted. Buying parts and ammo on the international market shouldn't have been that hard either. The T-54/55 having been used by over 30 nations besides Russia. Buy enough ammo and any one of a number of companies would have tooled up for it. After over 20 years the Russian 100mm ammo was hardly secret stuff.
Define 'vast majority of tanks' in a 100 000 tank production run. Anyway, 'tis what google gave for T-54 armor scheme. Still beat anyone in 1947 though.
How about 99,000 It sure did beat any one in 1947, except the tank didn't work with that level of armor. Tank was overweight and nose heavy leading to breaking of the front suspension components and poorer than desired mobility (power to weight).
Matching the protection of 20 year old Soviet tank in your newest tank model, with doesn't sound very good to me.
lets just check the math on this one. 1947 + 20 years is 1967. M-60 went into production in 1960 and the M60A1 went into production in Oct 1962, not quite 20 years.
And to be fair can we paint the Soviets with the same brush? T-62 goes into Production in 1961 with the SAME 100mm front plate the vast majority of T-54/55 tanks had for the last 14 years.