I know that the Rhodesian's had 8 Polish built T-558LD's, and hvae seen two buiod ups of these tanks. I am in need of more photos than the few that I can find. Can anyone help me with any futher information? I have the Tamiya T-55 and am going to build it as a Rhodesian vehicle. I need more referance amterial to do the project though. HELP!!!!!

That would be T-55 LD not T-558LD. Sorry about that.

Sorry, There is no such animal. It would be a T55 - I think Grame Davidson modelled one in the Osprey Book. Modelling the T55. Green and Sand all beat up with large white 3 digit nos.

Chris

I have seen that one, and the one by Luke Pitt. The LD was a South African or Rhodesian designation. Of which I am not positive. That is the reason for the post.

To expand on this subject, This is what I know. The South Africans impounded a ship that was origanally bound for Uganda, with the said T-55's. His regime fell, and the ship then was bound for Angola. The south Africans were technically at war with them and inpounded said ship. There were ten of the above mentioned tanks on board, which they confiscated. 8 went to Rhodesia, who had no tanks at the time, and 2 were kept for evaluation by the SADF. Where the LD comes in I have no idea, but that was it's designation. They were of Polish manufacture, and re-painted in SADF anti-infrared cammo, after trying other types. Rhodesia also used Eland 90's and Buffel APC's both supplied by South Africa. I need more pictures.

A quick Google search for "Rhodesian T-55".....Voila......

http://www.rhodesia.nl/quartz.htm

http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/modern/t55_gdavidson.htm

Why me thanks go out to you Squire Owsley. Tis a masterful flurry of fingers on ye old keyboard mixed with a magical potion and a glance into the everseeing looking glass.

I cannot divulge the secrets of my powers.....but alas I sense you might already also possess the trickery of Google already.

Already been there, and printed for file cabinet. Thank you though. I am looking for other sources. If they exsist.

Hello Ray.

I really don't want to come of as a [auto-censored] but here I go anyway.)
If it was Polish T-55A's the The Rhodesians received then both models are wrong. Polish T-55A have a noticeably different engine deck, and the covers are different to, see here

http://www66.tok2.com/home2/tankguy/PolishArmy/T55a/t55a-08.jpg

It looks like the tanks were actually Russian built. I may be wrong, if anyone knows better please correct me.

Hello Ray.

I take that back, they are Polish. Here is a link so You can see a lot of the differences there are between Polish and Tamiya's Russian T-55A.

http://www66.tok2.com/home2/tankguy/PolishArmy/t55a.html

See? I am not as stupid as I look. Thank you for your post.