TCM Ramses II

     Notes: The Ramses II (originally called T-54E) project has had a long gestation period; the project began in 1987 when a single T-54 was sent to the US for extensive modifications, and production was continually delayed due to budgetary problems and the availability to Abrams and M-60 tanks to the Egyptians.  Production finally took place from 2005-2006, but stopped after 270 Ramses IIs were modified, again due to availability of Abrams and M-60 tanks.

     Modifications were heavy.  First modifications were done to the fire control suite, adding a ballistic computer of modern design and a laser rangefinder.  The gun was updated to a US-type M-68 main gun, with a modified D-10T breech, with electric stabilization.  The hull was also heavily modified, both to accommodate the same engine as on the M-60A3 as well as more fuel; it is much longer in the rear than that of the T-54, and an extra roadwheel had to be added.  Roadwheels are taken from the M-48, replacing the T-54’s roadwheels, the tracks are British-style tracks, and an M-60-type sprocket is used.  US-type return rollers have also been added. 

     The commander, gunner, and driver have additional night vision, in the form of thermal imaging for the driver (accessible by the commander) and additional night vision for the driver and commander.  An M-60A3-type WL/IR searchlight is mounted above the main gun.  At the rear of the turret is a bustle rack for crew equipment.  The crew has an NBC overpressure system, and 6 smoke grenade launchers are found on either side of the turret.  Crew layout is retained.  A slight armor increase has been made, and ERA lugs are found on the turret front, turret sides, hull front, and the new hull side skirts.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: About half of Egypt’s aging T-55 fleet in the Twilight 2000 timeline have been modified to this standard.

     Merc 2000 Notes: Budget cuts have scuttled this program in the Merc 2000 timeline.

T-55 (Egyptian/German-Modified)

     Notes: In the late 1980s (before the Egyptians started domestic production of the M-1A1 Abrams and while they still had few M-60A3s), the Egyptians were looking for upgrades to their T-54/T-55 fleet.  The real-life cost of the T-54E/Ramses II project was getting much higher and proving more troublesome than the Egyptians expected, but their tank fleet was badly outdated.  The Egyptians approached Jung Jungenthal of Germany for assistance in the upgrades, and the Germans responded with two proposals and prototypes.  Though the Egyptians ultimately did not go the German route, the Jung Jungenthal upgrades are applicable to any T-54/T-55 or its Chinese counterpart, the Type 59.

     The Jung Jungenthal upgrade is a package that upgrades the armor, fire control, transmission, and fuel storage.  Appliqué armor has been added to the glacis, turret front, and turret sides, some of it spaced or with a ceramic sandwich added to improve survivability against HE-type warheads.  Side skirts are also added to the hull to further increase protection.  The hull itself is also of a somewhat different shape, though this is primarily to accommodate new fuel tanks rather than an armor change.  The fuel tanks fitted to the upgrade are made of higher-capacity Superflexit bag-type tanks under armor, which are also self-sealing and have a fire suppression system of their own.  Due to the higher capacity of the new fuel tanks, the drum-type long-range fuel tanks would not normally be mounted, though the attachment points and hookups are retained and therefore the drum tanks could still be mounted.  In addition, the rest of the vehicle is also equipped with an automatic fire suppression with a manual backup.

     The fire control suite was not heavily modified to control costs, but includes an electric stabilization system, a basic laser rangefinder and simpler ballistic computer.  The turret ring has also been modified to allow faster traversing.  Each side of the turret has a bank of four smoke grenade launchers, and the upgrade can also inject diesel fuel into its exhaust to form a thick smoke screen.  The main gun can be retained, or may be replaced by a 105mm M-68 rifled gun.  (The turret shape with a 105mm gun is slightly different at the front.)  The coaxial and commander’s weapons can be retained or replaced with an MG-3 and M-2HB respectively if desired.  (The Egyptians did not intend to replace those machineguns.)

     The suspension is largely the same, but hydraulic bump stops have been added and the roadwheels and tracks are replaced with the stronger ones of the T-62.  The original engine is also retained, but the transmission is replaced by a fully automatic transmission.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Some 200 T-54s and T-55s were modified for the Egyptian Army, though one of the last freighters delivering the tanks was sunk early in the Twilight War and 20 of these tanks were lost, never making it to Egypt.

T-62 (Egyptian-Modified)

     Notes:  These are simply standard T-62s fitted with a laser rangefinder, better stabilization, better ballistic computer, and in some cases, an alternate gun.  Side skirts are also added.  They are evaluation pieces and no actual restocking has yet been done.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Most 115mm-armed Egyptian T-62s have had the laser rangefinder and increased stabilization added.  About a fourth have different guns, mostly 105mm.

     Merc 2000 Notes: Most of this work has been cancelled.