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russia Removes Soviet T-54/55 Tanks From Storage, Transfers Them to Ukraine

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russia removing from storage Soviet tanks produced in 1946
russia removing from storage Soviet tanks produced in 1946

This tanks were produced after WW II in the 1940-1950s – when Stalin was alive and headed USSR. The removing from storage of these tanks signs of big problems with weaponry in the russian federation amid full scale war with Ukraine that russia calls 'special military operation’

The Russian army is de-mothballing old Soviet tanks T-54 and T-55, accepted for service in 1946. A batch of such tanks was spotted being shipped by rail from russia’s Far East.

This was reported by a group of OSINT investigators with the Conflict Intelligence Team, Ukrinform reports.

Read more: ​Russians Already Use T-34. Though Not the Way Expected (Video)

According to analysts, the train carrying the said equipment recently departed from the city of Arsenyev in the Primorsky Krai, where the 1295th Central Reserve and Tank Storage Base is located. In the photo, analysts recognized Soviet medium tanks of the T-54/55 family. The train carried both old T-54 models and vehicles that may be later models.

The T-54B tank, modernized from the T-54A tank or the T-54B obr. 2023 tank, russia Removes Soviet T-54/55 Tanks From Storage, Transfers Them to Ukraine, Defense Express
The T-54B tank, modernized from the T-54A tank or the T-54B obr. 2023 tank. Main external differences: gun ejector, mushroom-shaped fan cap

It is the first confirmed case where the T-54/55s have been removed from storage.

Among the shortcomings of the T-54 and T-55 tanks are the lack of rangefinders, ballistic calculators, fire control systems, as well as primitive sights and poor weapon stabilization (T-54).

"We cannot name the possible areas of these tanks’ use but, in any case, along with the removal from storage of the BTR-50 APCs and the installation of ship's anti-aircraft guns on MTLBs, this clearly indicates serious issues with armored vehicle supplies in russia," analysts believe.

russia Removes Soviet T-54/55 Tanks From Storage, Transfers Them to Ukraine, Defense Express
Hungarian T-55 tanks with turrets turned back for rail transport, 1985 (L); russian T-54/55 tanks with rear-facing turrets for rail transport, 2023 (R)

Citing satellite imagery, CIT found that at least 191 tanks left the base in Arsenyev between June and November 2022 — probably mostly T-62s. However, their number can be much higher.

The T-54 tank was created based on the T-44 series and entered service in 1946. Serial production continued until 1959, with over 20,000 units produced. It also underwent multiple modifications. It was decommissioned in 1994. The T-55 tank was created based on the T-54 and was produced until 1979.

T-55 tank on storage at 1295th Central Reserve and Tank Storage Base, the town of Arsenyev in the Primorsky Krai, russia Removes Soviet T-54/55 Tanks From Storage, Transfers Them to Ukraine, Defense Express
T-55 tank on storage at 1295th Central Reserve and Tank Storage Base, the town of Arsenyev in the Primorsky Krai, no later than 2011

As reported, since February 24, 2022, Ukraine’s Defense Forces of Ukraine have destroyed 3,557 Russian tanks and 6,887 armored combat vehicles.

As Defense Express reported, The russians Already Redeployed Old BTR-50 APCs to the Frontline, The Next Turn for T-34 Tanks to Emerge There.

Read more: Russia’s Advanced T-14 "Armata" and T-90 Tanks Are Dead. Long Live Soviet T-34