There are couple of reasons for the handles, that I can think of: 1. If the turret traverse, both mechanic and automatic, are dead - use the handles to rotate the turret in the case of an emergency; 2. A safe place to hold onto while getting in or out of position; 3. The driver has had a bit too much Vodka... again, this is the fifth time this week; 4. A place to hook and store bags with personal items or personal firearms.

We totally need more Chieftain's video!

T-55 still can do some jobs, like Vietnam is useing T-55s as pretty much infantry support guns.

I'd imagine the handles are for the crew to hold onto when driving fast over rough terrain. It gets very bumpy and u dont wanna gash your face open on the interior of the tank.

Holy crap, Chieftain is huge just look at the part where the soviet loader was loading the round and look at his height compared to The Chieftain's

I believe the handle like thing at each crew position are in fact toilet roll holders (who says the Soviets don't think of crew comfort). These were installed in case of accidents caused by witnessing all the tanks around them exploding into different pieces when spotted by an Abrams or Challenger. There were larger ones installed for paper towels( for those larger volume situations) but they were thought to take up to much space inside the vehicle. In both Gulf Wars crews often found it best practice to be out of the vehicle completely before any engagement with Coalition armor began. The T55 looks the way a tank should, kinda sleek in sexy, a great tank for its time and good value for any minor dictator or warlord on a budget.

i`ve driven the pioneers version of that thing once and yes, it IS small. and man the gear, the commander told me to let loose on the gear shift handle when it "snaped" into position. but when you actually this thing starts vibrating as hard as my sisters boyfriend, but its fun. he`s right, it is jerky to drive but cause everything is build sovietically easy you get used to it pretty quick,

So you have first and reverse on the middle row, that's fine for peaking and retread very quickly.

Could literally see the sweat off your arms. How hot was it?

the handles are the ones you find in cars the oh shit handle for if a bomb goes off an explosive goes off the tank doesn't ride sturdy its for something to hold onto haha

The clutch sure is heavy if the engine is not on, as it is hydraulic-assisted... There always seems to be just a hole where the electric clock should be. I also wondered that until I got the manuals of the Finnish Defence Forces for T54 and T55... They are in Finnish, so I do not have to learn russian and their alphabet, or Polish, (as the tank I am buying with my brother is originally Polish T55 AM), or German if from DDR (fortunately I would manage that), so as a Finn, there really is a need to study the drawings and the repair manual in Finnish. The repair manual explains .....everything.... as it is from FDF... They tell how much every job takes either in minutes or hours, what tools are needed for that job etc. Only thing I have not yet found is the type and viscosity of the engine oil. But perhaps someone knows? As the Finnish authorities are a bit hysterical about anything decoed, I made a faux DShKM, but the main gun will be eternal problem, even though it has been decoed by the book...

Periscopes and nvd model number or made please

Porediš 36 tona tenk iz 1955 sa 60 tona abramsom iz 1980?

Ni jedan tenk nije vozilo visoke udobnosti za turističke ture i tenkisti nisu mlakonje.