T-55/Type 59 (Iraqi-Modified)
Notes: Iraqi
T-55s (and Type 59 and 69 tanks) are often found with additional armor on their
hull front, hull sides, and all faces of the turret. This extra armor is not
sophisticated; it is merely sheets of steel interspersed with thin sheets of
rubber. It is, however, a good example of primitive "composite" armor. The Iraqi
T-55s and Type 59s also have somewhat more advanced night vision equipment. On
each side of the turret is a bank of four smoke dischargers.
A rather rare
modification for these Iraqi tanks is the addition of a laser rangefinder. Most
such vehicles are command vehicles or were issued to the Republican Guard.
There were two
versions of the T-55 and Type 59 that had their main guns replaced with a 125mm
gun. One such modification does not have extensive modifications to the turret
beyond what is required to install the gun and its autoloader. It is equipped
with better IR and smoke grenade dischargers, and a large stowage basket extends
over the back and sides of the turret. It has a set of new side skirts.
The second such
modification has the 125mm gun and autoloader. This version has an enlarged
turret with a higher roof, allowing more ammunition storage. This modification
retains stock night vision equipment. It has smoke dischargers, and a large
stowage basket on the turret.
It is probable
that most of these tanks were destroyed in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Twilight 2000
Notes: In the Twilight 2000 timeline, these modifications became more and more
common as the war went on.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Modification 1 |
$580,950 |
D, A |
400 kg |
39 tons |
4 |
22 |
Passive IR (G, C), IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
Modification 2 |
$582,104 |
D, A |
400 kg |
39 tons |
4 |
22 |
Passive IR (G, C), IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
Modification 3 |
$635,993 |
D, A |
400 kg |
39.1 tons |
3 |
22 |
Passive IR (D, G, C), IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
Modification 4 |
$678,513 |
D, A |
400 kg |
40.3 tons |
3 |
22 |
Passive IR (D, G, C), IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor* |
Modifications 1 & 2 |
128/89 |
26/20 |
815+380 |
273 |
Trtd |
T6 |
TF58Sp TS31Sp TR13 HF72Sp HS22Sp HR8 |
Modification 3 |
127/89 |
26/20 |
815+380 |
273 |
Trtd |
T6 |
TF58Sp TS31Sp TR13 HF72Sp HS22Sp HR8 |
Modification 4 |
125/87 |
25/20 |
815+380 |
273 |
Trtd |
T6 |
TF58Sp TS31Sp TR13 HF72Sp HS22Sp HR8 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
Modification 1 |
+1 |
Basic |
100mm D-10T Gun, PKT, DShK (C) |
34x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm |
Modification 2 |
+2 |
Basic |
100mm D-10T Gun, PKT, DShK (C) |
34x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm |
Modification 3 |
+2 |
Basic |
125mm 2A46 Gun, PKT, DShK (C) |
25x125mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm |
Modification 4 |
+2 |
Basic |
125mm 2A46 Gun, PKT, DShK (C) |
34x125mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm |
*In addition to acting as standard spaced armor, the primitive composite armor
reduces penetration by an additional 1 point per die of damage.
T-55/Type 59 Enigma
Notes: The T-55
Enigma is another upgrade of the T-55 and Type 59, but it is a more
comprehensive upgrade than those listed above.
The name Enigma was the name that Coalition Intelligence gave to this
variant; it is however not the tank’s actual Iraqi designation.
The Iraqi designation was not known during the Gulf War and was never
actually discovered. It is unknown how many such conversions were made, though
the Enigma variant is thought to number in the hundreds.
The Enigmas were generally used as command tanks in armored units.
The primary
upgrade on the Enigma is its add-on armor.
The turret front and sides are replete with blocks of composite armor
blocks, so much so that the turret looks much bigger than a standard T-55,
though inside the turret it is the same size.
The add-on armor blocks are tringle-shaped, with the wide end at the
bottom of the turret face. The
Enigma’s appearance is somewhat similar to that of the T-55AM, though the add-on
blocks are much larger. Smaller
blocks of composite armor are found at the rear of the turret and on the glacis
and hull sides. Standard applique armor is found on the hull rear.
Layered on top of the armor on the turret front and sides, and the glacis
and hull sides, are lugs for Kontakt-1 ERA.
Finally, the hull floor and turret and hull roof have a layer of applique
armor. Unfortunately, the Enigma
has the same V-55 520-horsepower engine of the T-55, and the extra armor weight
about 4.6 tons (more if using Kontakt-1 ERA), so mobility is somewhat impaired.
The main gun is
the standard 100mm gun for the T-55, but is stabilized in two planes and
equipped with a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer. An additional coaxial
machinegun is carried; the second coaxial machinegun is normally fed with tracer
ammunition and used by the Enigma’s commander to point out targets for other
tank crews in the unit. The commander also has a heavy machinegun on a pintle by
his hatch; during the Gulf War, some Enigmas were encountered with AGS-17s on
this mount instead. Finally, the Enigma has improved night vision capability and
extra long-range radios.
It is believed
that most Enigmas were destroyed by allied attacks in the 1991 Gulf War and the
2003 invasion of Iraq. Those were
left were used as range targets by allied forces and later by the New Iraqi Army
used for the same thing. Some have
also been placed in museums in the US, Britain, Egypt, and Europe.
Twilight 2000
Notes: Though common in Iraqi tank formations at the beginning of the Twilight
War, attrition was heavy in the earliest battles of the War, as it was known to
allied armored crews that the Enigma was a command vehicle, and the Enigma, with
its add-on armor, had distinctive looks.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
T-55 Enigma |
$732,262 |
D, A |
495 kg |
45.6 tons |
4 |
22 |
Thermal Imaging (C), Image Intensification (G, C), Passive IR (D) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
T-55 Enigma |
102/71 |
28/20 |
815+380 |
273 |
Trtd |
T6 |
TF67Cp TS36Cp TR15Sp HF83Cp HS25Sp HR9 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
T-55 Enigma |
+3 |
Good |
100mm D-10T Gun, 2xPKT, DShK or AGS-17(C) |
43x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm or 200x30mm Grenades |