Hello everyone,

I have a quick question and please excuse my ignorance.
Does the 12.7mm machine gun on top of the T-55 tank turret have the ability to rotate around its axis or is it always pointing forward in the direction of the turret canon with only elevation control?
I am doing a tank close combat scene and was wondering if i could direct the gun towards enemy or the entire turret needs to move.

Thanks for your help

Cheers

Hussein

Judging from this photo, it has the ability to rotate:

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7QLoHH2MgnU/WB5n1IBp4_I/AAAAAAAAMCU/hAwTupGvIeYwBrMeq6v16c7JSG7dM_alwCLcB/s1600/10.jpg

Hi Hussein,

It's basically an AA MG with high angle of elevation mounted on a fully rotating platform.

So does that mean that the entire base platform can rotate with the gunner inside it? Or does the machine gun itself rotate at its base only?

I found this photo too, means the gun rotates at the base, but in order to shoot sideways i guess the gunner needs to jump out of the turret and sit on the side right?
The thing is i want to have close combat from the tank's side with the gunner shooting the machine gun to the side.

The mount for the Dshka is opposite to the lid of the loaders hatch. If the hatch opens backwards the MG is pointing forward.
The hatch itself can be rotated so the loader has the hatch lid behind his back and the MG in front. The MG can swing on the pivot so that the loader can aim it without moving his body. For larger sideways aiming the hatch will need to rotate since it gets very difficult to aim and shoot the MG at a 90 degree angle. The turret is too slow to follow an aerial target. The MH`G was deleted since jet aircraft were too fast but when helicopters became a threat it was brought back in service.

/ Robin


Note the hinges of the loaders hatch are facing inwards toward the center of the turret with MG mount pointing outwards.

Robin
Does this mean i can mount the hatch this way:

Yes, the ring that the hatch is mounted on also has the MG mount attached to it. If the MG mount rotates, the hatch rotates with it and is always 180 degrees from the gun mount.

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/yugoslav-special-forces-policeman-shoots-his-rifle-at-opposing-kosovo-picture-id51103347?s=612x612
is this how you'd like to have yout turret hatch positioned?

Hi Hussein
Gino & Marko have already answered your question to me.
I have nothing to add
/ Robin

The design of the MG ring is similar to the T-34/85 commander hatch. https://youtu.be/rTnS0XS2al8?t=55

It can make full 360 rotation.