>Въетнам вон сколько бомбили и никакого результата...
Upgraded T-55 tanks key to Afghan ground offensive
By David C Isby
Upgraded T-55 main battle tanks (MBTs), recently supplied by Russia to the anti-Taliban United Front (the so-called Northern Alliance) and manned by veteran crews from the forces of the late Ahmed Shah Massoud, are considered key to any successful ground offensive in Afghanistan this year.
In October, Russia announced that 40 upgraded T-55AM MBTs were to be supplied to the United Front. The decision to supply them had been made earlier this year and most, if not all, of the tanks are believed to have been in Afghan hands before 11 September.
The upgraded tanks are readily distinguished from the 1992-vintage T-55s - which make up the bulk of the Northern Alliance's tank force - by their T-80-style commander's windshield on the turret roof. Many Northern Alliance MBTs have been dug-in and used as artillery due to a shortage of fuel and logistic support in recent years.
The 40 T-55AM2s were supplied as part of a large-scale arms-transfer package valued at US$45 million. This also includes up to 80 BMP-1 infantry combat vehicles and several dozen BTR-60 series wheeled armoured personnel carriers.