Vietnamese T-55 variants: Off topic from 2.640 thread

[GaryOwen]

Sure, I know thay had at least two T-55 variants (or Chinese copy) based on the footage of the "liberation" of the Presidential Palace:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3543060046731551771#

But I'll stop there at the risk of this thread spiralling too far OT.

Looking at the video, it seems that the second of the two vehicles is actually a PT-76 with a T-55 or Type 59 turret. Look at the running gear.

[oscar19681]

Hmm thats weird! I never seen anything like it before.. But i guess if they win the vietnam war , they might as well PT-77/t-55 hybrid right while there at it..

[Gibsonm]

Looking at the video, it seems that the second of the two vehicles is actually a PT-76 with a T-55 or Type 59 turret. Look at the running gear.

Yes there's 3 discrete vehicles there.

The first one that blocks the gate and the guy (who just happens to have a flag on him) gets off.

The second to the left of the guy with the flag.

These are both T-55s.

The third (after the cut) that makes it through the gate and drives in with the flag on the antenna is a PT-76 / variant (tracks are much thinner than the previous two and the glacis plate is different to the "second" one).

[Companion]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_63_(light_tank)

I think this is what we're looking at.

[Gibsonm]

Agreed for the third one just couldn't remember it, hence the "PT-76 / variant" comment.

The first two vehicles though have MBT tracks.