Is the T55 really that bad?

[Yeknom]

In my experience:
Ranging the thing means wasting ammo.
Hitting an M60 almost always results in zero damage or at the very least l.
The BMP-1 seems to be superior in every way except for protection from smaller munitions.

Am I missing some sort of Russian training manual that tells me how to land a shot at 2km in only one or two misses?

Thanks.

[xtremist]

If you use proper ammo type, range setting and aiming, you are an equal opponent to the M60. The bmp gun is almost useless beyond 1000m because of its trajectory, and if you run out of heat rounds, the HE is even worse in every aspect. The Malyutka is a relatively powerful missile, but the aiming is very difficult. So, no, the problem is not with the T55.

[EL]

May I suggest you this guide?

https://gunnerheatpc.com/news/articles/gunnery-guide-t-55a

The gunner sight has a funnel-like range tool, bottom right... fitting an M60 precisely into that funnel so that its bracketed from its tracks to the turret top, the number above that point in the funnel is the exact distance (in hundreds of meters, so for example "12" is 1200m) of that enemy M60. Then ctrl+mouse wheel until you set that range, and the shot should hit, just aiming with the sight's chevron and ignoring everything else in the sight.
Also if the target gets plotted on the map (the "walkie talkie icon" notification) every grid is 1km x 1km so you can at least guess a rough distance between you and the enemy.
Sabot rounds tends to fly more straight and faster, allowing for some inaccuracy in ranging.

[Garm]

Consider that by this time, The T-55A was more or less obsolete and Warsaw PACT forces kept the tanks around for quelling protesters and training new tank crews or in times of war if they ran out of T-72s. To APCs/IFVs, Infantry, and Trucks the T-55A has sharp fangs; while to a Leopard 1 or M60 the T-55A is an old dark with a menacing bark, while to an Abrams and Leopard 2 its a chihuahua.

Give it some time, but you will probably see the East Germans getting something like the T-AM2 which has number of upgrades like improved armor, laser range finder, and the ability to shoot ATGMs out of your main gun. That variant will have the respect of an Leopard 1 or M60 commander. In the mean time, I suggest learning how to operate the T-62 since its similar tank with a bigger gun which should give you an easier time fighting the M60 since the T-62 was mainly built as a response to the heavier armor on the British Chieftain tanks.

However if you insist on fighting the M60 with a T-55, consider that the M60 Patton was built for defensive warfare and its design allow the tank to take advantage of hull down positions and that its turret was designed to deflect incoming hits. Your guns won't be the most accurate at range to make hitting weak spots like the hull ammo storage easy, so you'll need to attack them with bit of thinking. I suggest calling in artillery on the M60's since the shell impacts will rattle their screws and that makes it harder for their gunners to get a bead drawn on you. Alternatively call in smoke on top of their position which will allow you to get up close and personal which is where you are the most dangerous to them. Also keep practicing on the range with the T-55's stadiametric range finder(the marching lines in the lower left of the scope) and for long range shot corrections add or subtract 200 meters from your range as opposed to 100 meters. Finally ammo type matters because while APFSDS rounds shoot really flat and move really fast in the T-55, they are probably better for when you are up close and personal since kinetic rounds are more potent at closer ranges. For long range you better off maneuvering into a better position to engage your enemy, however if you need to; use APHE or HEAT since these rounds have the same effect at all ranges. Your ADPS/APFSDS rounds are silver bullets and should be conserved as much possible until you know you can deliver a killing blow.

Good luck.