Well, it’s a bit of a false cause fallacy to attribute the conscript system as having any effect on the USSR’s ass-kicking Nazi Germany. The Nazis had the draft as well, of course. In a war that huge, you can’t rely on volunteers. You’ve got to field as many men as possible.

Things are different now. The armed forces of Russia should be a core of highly trained volunteer pros with the best training and equipment they can get. This is what you need against Chechens and such. If there’s ever a titanic war again, conscription will of course be used again.

RE: Oscar in the Med

Yup exactly I was joking 🙂

And its not like Greece has the sophisticated AEGIS destroyers/ cruisers to protect the carrier is it?

RE: Armour, part II

Here’s a treatise on the pure Soviet T-55s (Polish and others not included); regarding the missile issue a Soviet T-55 can launch a Bastion ATGM (AT-10 STABBER, same as that on early BMP-3s) out to 4,000m and penetrate 650mm RHA. Not somethin to snigger at. The improved Arkan (STABBER-B?) on the new BMP-3M (and other vehicles with the BMP-3Ms new unitary turret, like the BTR-90M, BMP-2M, BMD-3M) has a range of 5,500m and can penetrate 700mm RHA, and has a tandem HEAT charge for use against ERA.

The T-54 tank first appeared in 1949 as the replacement for the famous T-34 tank of WW2. It is descended from the T-44, an expected wartime replacement for the T-34, of which around 900 were built (they did not see action in WW2). The T-54 has been continuously changed and modified, and with sufficient changes being made, became known as the T-55.
The T-55 was introduced in 1958 and incorporates all the refinements and improvements of the fully developed T-54 series without being radically different in design or appearance. The T-55 has a fully tracked, five-road-wheeled chassis. This chassis has a space between the first and second road wheels and no return rollers. The T-55 has a low-silhouetted hull with a dome shaped turret mounted over the third road wheel. All T-55’s mount an infrared gunner’s searchlight above, and to the right of the main gun. The main gun has a bore evacuator at the end of the muzzle.
The T-55 uses a new turret, similar to that used on the T-54A, but without the prominent rooftop ‘mushroom’ ventilator dome, and two enlarged ‘D’ roof panels. Internal improvements include the V-55 (580hp) engine, initial stages of the PAZ chemical/radiation protection system, and an increase in ammunition to 43 rounds. This tank does not have a 12.7mm antiaircraft DShKM machine-gun on the loader’s hatch, or the bow mounted machine gun present on the T-54.
The T-55A series appeared in the early 1960s. Production continued in the Soviet Union until 1981 and was also undertaken in China (as the Type 59), Czechoslovakia and Poland. Used in the invasion of Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968, and Syria in 1970, it was the main Arab tank in the 1967 and 1973 wars with Israel. During the 1970s, the T-54 saw combat in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Uganda. The T-55 is the most produced and widely used Soviet tank ever.
The T-55 is armed with a two-plane stabilized 100mm rifled main gun, a bow-mounted machine gun and a coaxial machine gun. The T-55 combines its powerful main gun with a highly mobile chassis with exceptional long-range endurance. Cruising range was increased from 400km to 500km, and can be 715km with the two auxiliary fuel tanks carried on the rear.
The T-55 can ford depths of 1.4 meters without preparation. It has snorkel equipment which enables it to cross depths of up to 5.5 meters at a speed of 2 kilometers per hour. This equipment takes about 30 minutes’ preparation, but can be jettisoned immediately on leaving the water.
The T-55A variant incorporated the complete PAZ/FVU chemical/radiation filtration system. This version is most easily recognized by the larger combings on the commander and loader’s hatches as well as the blister on the driver’s hatch.
Late production T-55As (Model 1970) saw the reintroduction of the DShKM 12.7mm heavy machine gun on the commander’s hatch.
Model 1974 T-55As saw the introduction of the KTD-2 laser rangefinder, which is mounted immediately above the main gun in an armored box.
The OT-55 is a flame-thrower tank armed with the ATO-200 flame projector. The flamethrower is ignited by pyrotechnic charges, and 12 charges are the basic load. The stowage tank contains 460 liters of flammable liquid, and each burst averages 36 liters. The maximum effective range of the system is 200 meters, with the stream having an initial muzzle velocity of 100 m/s.
The T-55M added the Volna fire control system that could fire the Bastion ATGM through the main gun, enhanced gun stabilization and optics, improved engine, and new radio. Protection enhancements included side skirts, smoke grenade launchers, and improved fire protection.
The T-55AM saw the addition of appliqué armor, an armor band around the turret for 180 degrees coverage. These armor panels consist of armored steel boxes filled with penapolyurethane. Cavities in the boxes can be supplemented with water or sand for added protection.
The T-55AD was the designation for some several hundred Soviet Naval Infantry T-55As fitted with the Drozd APS.
The T-55AMV is a T-55AM fitted with Kontakts light ERA, which on the front turret is mounted to form a chevron.
The T-55AMD had the Drozd APS instead of ERA. These also belonged to the Naval Infantry.