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T-55 in service with African countries
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
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Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2020 - 03:38 PM UTC
I know this subject has been discussed in past threads and documentation on the subject seems a bit sparse. What I’m looking for is any tanks that might have some type of national markings or vehicle numbers and the like. My interests are more about central and southern African countries. Just wanting to build some stuff off the beaten path.
grunt136mike
Joined: November 24, 2012
KitMaker: 1,896 posts
Armorama: 1,858 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2020 - 04:12 PM UTC
Hi;
Angola; would be my first choice. or any of the other's who were at odds with South Africa !!
CHEERS; MIKE.
Angola; would be my first choice. or any of the other's who were at odds with South Africa !!
CHEERS; MIKE.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2020 - 04:45 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi;
Angola; would be my first choice. or any of the other's who were at odds with South Africa !!
CHEERS; MIKE.
That was one I’m considering, also Chad, Uganda and Mozambique. All of them fielded T-55’ at some point.
gharker
Joined: May 21, 2014
KitMaker: 109 posts
Armorama: 109 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2020 - 05:41 PM UTC
Quoted Text
That was one I’m considering, also Chad, Uganda and Mozambique. All of them fielded T-55’ at some point.
The Miniart Czechoslovak Production has the art for a tank from Chad, it does not have markings.
BootsDMS
Joined: February 08, 2012
KitMaker: 978 posts
Armorama: 965 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2020 - 08:43 PM UTC
Chris,
How about Rhodesia/Zimbabwe? Quite an attractive finish - sort of sandy earth colour over green. I believe these were Polish built, destined for Uganda, (Amin's reign), intercepted by South Africa then donated to what was then Rhodesia.
No markings admittedly, or at least not when I was there, but neatly-stowed NATO-type cam nets around the turret. I've never quite gotten around to modelling one myself but feel that one day I should (I was lucky enough to drive one courtesy of the armoured regiment boys).
'May not be quite what you're after I suspect, but I'm sure other different schemes will be thrown up once the contributors here get their teeth into it.
Brian
How about Rhodesia/Zimbabwe? Quite an attractive finish - sort of sandy earth colour over green. I believe these were Polish built, destined for Uganda, (Amin's reign), intercepted by South Africa then donated to what was then Rhodesia.
No markings admittedly, or at least not when I was there, but neatly-stowed NATO-type cam nets around the turret. I've never quite gotten around to modelling one myself but feel that one day I should (I was lucky enough to drive one courtesy of the armoured regiment boys).
'May not be quite what you're after I suspect, but I'm sure other different schemes will be thrown up once the contributors here get their teeth into it.
Brian
Frenchy
Joined: December 02, 2002
KitMaker: 12,719 posts
Armorama: 12,507 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2020 - 09:13 PM UTC
You can check out Star Decals sets #35-950 and 39-949 for inspiration....
http://www.star-decals.net/35scalemodern.html
Too bad Empire City Decals is long gone....
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/5759
H.P.
http://www.star-decals.net/35scalemodern.html
Too bad Empire City Decals is long gone....
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/5759
H.P.
panamadan
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 1,513 posts
Armorama: 1,449 posts
Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 12:00 AM UTC
vettejack
Joined: November 23, 2012
KitMaker: 1,277 posts
Armorama: 1,254 posts
Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 12:25 AM UTC
In a jokingly sort of way, I think your list would be better edited by assuming all 54 countries (past to present) on the continent were users of T-55's: just subtract the countries who NEVER used the T-55 would be easier to count. 
Frenchy
Joined: December 02, 2002
KitMaker: 12,719 posts
Armorama: 12,507 posts
Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 12:38 AM UTC
African Union troops move alongside one of their tanks just outside of the Somalian capital Mogadishu on May 22, 2012 :
Full size
Interesting stowage
#933 :
#934 :
#935 :
#939 :
#940
# ?
H.P.
Full size
Interesting stowage
#933 :
#934 :
#935 :
#939 :
#940
# ?
H.P.
vettejack
Joined: November 23, 2012
KitMaker: 1,277 posts
Armorama: 1,254 posts
Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 01:47 AM UTC
Quoted Text
You can check out Star Decals sets #35-950 and 39-949 for inspiration....
http://www.star-decals.net/35scalemodern.html
Too bad Empire City Decals is long gone....
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/5759
H.P.
Empire City Decals also produced a T-34/85 decal sheet, under number ECD3501, (of which I have) that almost rivals that of the T-55...for 15 vehicles.
Countries:
Angolan Marxist Army 1980's
Czech 1st Armored Brigade 1945
Egyptian Army in Suez 1956
Finnish 2nd Tank Division 1944
Greek Cypriot National Guard in Cyprus 1974
Lebanese Beirut 1982
North Vietnam 202nd Armored Regiment 1971
Polish 3rd Armored Brigade 1945
Somali Army 1978
Somali Army 1980's
Soviet unknown unit 1944
Soviet 119th Regiment 1944
Soviet unknown unit 1945
Soviet 56th Guards, occupied Germany 1946
Syrian 44th Armored Brigade 1967
Note that this decal set spans 5 decades worth of T-34's.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 02:57 AM UTC
Great collection of pics. Lots of stuff to inspire a few builds. Thanks.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 03:00 AM UTC
Thank you. Nice selection of pics.
ayovtshev
#490
Joined: September 22, 2016
KitMaker: 1,432 posts
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Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 03:06 AM UTC
According to SIPRI Arms Transfers Database/Trade registers:
http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php
a total of 115 ex-Bulgarian T-55 were bought by Eritrea in 2005 and another 150 ex-Bulgarian T-55's were bought by Ethiopia in 1998-1999.
Angola was another big customer for Bulgarian Cold War armor- it received 31 T-55 in 1999.
Uganda also purchased 28 ex-Bulgarian T-55's in 1998.
Bulgarian T-55's were mainly Soviet production vehicles, although there were also some Polish made ones.
HTH
http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php
a total of 115 ex-Bulgarian T-55 were bought by Eritrea in 2005 and another 150 ex-Bulgarian T-55's were bought by Ethiopia in 1998-1999.
Angola was another big customer for Bulgarian Cold War armor- it received 31 T-55 in 1999.
Uganda also purchased 28 ex-Bulgarian T-55's in 1998.
Bulgarian T-55's were mainly Soviet production vehicles, although there were also some Polish made ones.
HTH
ReluctantRenegade
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
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Posted: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 03:28 AM UTC
South Africa seized 10 Polish made T-55s on board a French cargo ship bound for Angola. 2 were retained for evaluation, 8 were transferred to Rhodesia.
Miniart kit No.37068 includes a Rhodesian option. Definitely off the beaten path, but I think these tanks had no insignia/markings at all.
Miniart kit No.37068 includes a Rhodesian option. Definitely off the beaten path, but I think these tanks had no insignia/markings at all.
marcb
Joined: March 25, 2006
KitMaker: 1,244 posts
Armorama: 1,226 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2020 - 09:03 AM UTC
The plastic chairs and canisters are available in plastic.
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/matho-models-35045-plastic-garden-chairs--989883
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/matho-models-35045-plastic-garden-chairs--989883
landshark4
Joined: June 04, 2012
KitMaker: 103 posts
Armorama: 88 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2020 - 02:19 PM UTC
Don't forget the battles in the DRCongo.
BootsDMS
Joined: February 08, 2012
KitMaker: 978 posts
Armorama: 965 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2020 - 09:31 PM UTC
Quoted Text
South Africa seized 10 Polish made T-55s on board a French cargo ship bound for Angola. 2 were retained for evaluation, 8 were transferred to Rhodesia.
Miniart kit No.37068 includes a Rhodesian option. Definitely off the beaten path, but I think these tanks had no insignia/markings at all.
Israel,
These would be the ones I mentioned earlier - though I was informed they were headed for Uganda. There were no markings whatsoever just the camouflage scheme I described and the stowed camouflage nets.
Brian
ttwells
Joined: June 03, 2006
KitMaker: 316 posts
Armorama: 77 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2020 - 10:54 PM UTC
I built a few T55 in AU markings - love the "options" for the subject - and you can really beat them up. I also found this tank pictured (?) in Nigerian service... Vickers MK> III - cool
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/12/military-chiefs-approve-framework-for-exit-of-au-troops-from-somalia/
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/12/military-chiefs-approve-framework-for-exit-of-au-troops-from-somalia/
Frenchy
Joined: December 02, 2002
KitMaker: 12,719 posts
Armorama: 12,507 posts
Posted: Saturday, June 27, 2020 - 11:09 PM UTC
Here's another view :
H.P.
H.P.
18Bravo
Joined: January 20, 2005
KitMaker: 7,219 posts
Armorama: 6,097 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 28, 2020 - 12:10 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I built a few T55 in AU markings - love the "options" for the subject - and you can really beat them up. I also found this tank pictured (?) in Nigerian service... Vickers MK> III - cool
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/12/military-chiefs-approve-framework-for-exit-of-au-troops-from-somalia/
Always wanted to do a Mk 3 just for the cammo alone. Very reminiscent of some Northern Allionce schemes I've seen in Afghanistan.
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