Possibly because although the original T55 engine is excellent, the transmission isn't. The whole thing is just plain crude. The service clutch is a metal to metal dry multiplate clutch which never fully disengages. If you are stationary, in gear for more than ten seconds the plates get hot, warp and engage themselves. Primary gearbox is simply crude, fan drive is unbelievably noisy, particularly at idle when you can hear the backlash in the gear train banging back and fourth. It also has clutch and brake steering which is just dangerous at the speeds that it is capable of driving. Note that all T55 / T62 in news programs have the fenders rounded off on all four corners, there is a reason for that !
Having said that, it is I believe the worlds most prolific tank family so someone loves them and we must remember that they were built for fighting in wide open spaces, not for the semi urban environment that western armour finds itself in.
David
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30-08-18, 15:38
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