Dobromir IZ-55

IZ-55 was accepted for service in 1973, and about 15,000 units were built. It replaced outdated IZ-34 and IZ-44 tanks, as they were rushed into production and had way too high of a maintenance cost for Crimsonia to effectively keep them up. Most features on the IZ-55 also made both obsolete. Now it's not to be said that this tank wasn't rushed either, since it's development started only 2 years after the IZ-44's introduction. It had to use a modified hull of the IZ-44 and a barely different engine. - Introduction of the IZ-55
== About ==
The Dobromir Ilya-Zhivkov-55 (aka. Добромир Илия-Жиков-55), or known simply by its short name the IZ-55, was a Crimsonian main battle tank produced by the Glodzhev Vehicle Factory in the People's Republic of Crimsonia. The IZ-55 began production from 1968 and ended production in 1990, amid shortages of materials required to produce the tank in mass numbers. It was adopted by the Crimsonian People's Liberation Army starting from 1973 until 1990, although it saw use up until the end of the Second Crimsonian Civil War in 1995. The tank saw large use in the Crimsonian-Bistonian War, where they were terrible in performance and was the most common tank to be abandoned by Crimsonian units or destroyed by Bistonian units.
== History ==
=== Development ===
In the year of 1968, not even two years after production of the IZ-44 began, development on the IZ-55 tank began in the Glodzhev Vehicle Factory, in an attempt to catch up with numerous tanks at the time, with modern equipment and better suited turrets for the tank. The IZ-55 in development was largely anticipated to be the most common Crimsonian tank to see on the battlefield, and would replace outdated Crimsonian main battle tanks, such as the IZ-34 and the IZ-44 tanks, which had been used in the 50s and 60s. Although the IZ-55 looked good on paper, in reality that was not the case. Due to the design and features of the tank, it had maintenance costs way too high for Crimsonia to effectively keep them up, and by the time the IZ-55 began production and became one of the main battle tanks in the Crimsonian military, most of the features on the IZ-55 tank were made obsolete.
The IZ-55 would use a modified hull of the previous tank, the IZ-44, and an engine which was barely different from that of the IZ-44 tanks. It was also one of the first Crimsonian tanks to use their own developed ERA reactive armor, which was effective and boosted up performance of the IZ-55 tank. A 130mm gun was fitted into the IZ-55, with a 7.60mm machine gun for the commander, and a mountable 15mm AA gun on the tank. The IZ-55 would fit a crew of around 3 people, and would require minimal training only.
==== Prototypes ====
During the development, only 5 prototypes of the IZ-55 tank was made. Although the Crimsonian military had high anticipation in adopting it as a main battle tank, the performance of the tank was to put it simply, mediocre. Due to its rushed development and poor design, the prototypes were not suitable for combat, but despite the mediocre results and the poor designs, along with the high maintenance costs Crimsonia would do to effectively keep up the IZ-55 tanks, the Crimsonians went ahead and continued the development of the tank, making sure that the results of the tank did not come to the public information or to any allies or enemies outside of Crimsonia. 
=== Production ===
Production of the IZ-55 tank officially began in 1973, and the IZ-55 was revealed by Crimsonian state media the following year. IZ-55 production was slow at first, as only 7 vehicles were built in 1973 and 33 in 1975. 421 were built in 1978 by the Glodzhev Vehicle Factory, and by then it had completely replaced IZ-34 production. The production of the IZ-55 tank was stopped because of a low level of production quality, and due to frequent breakdowns of the tank. Crimsonia in the end would produce around 15,000 units of the IZ-55 despite its high costs and high maintenance costs. By 1990, Crimsonia would stop all production of the IZ-55 and all main battle tanks, as Crimsonia, after the Crimsonian-Bistonian War, did not have the materials needed to build a new arsenal, or never had anything to produce new weapons.
== Usage ==
By The Year of 1984, 1K IZ-55 Tanks were made and were issued to the Crimsonian Military. In 1983, a new tank was produced by Dobromir Vehicle Factory known as the IZ-72. However, the IZ-55 was still in service till 1990 when Crimsonia ran out of resources.
== Armament ==
The Armament in IZ-55 Was a 130mm Gun, 7.60mm machine gun for Commander, and mountable 15mm AA gun. The tank had a crew of 3 - Commander, Gunner, Driver.
The Tank Also had ERA Reactive Armour to Protect Turret against Tank Rounds for Extra Armour.
== In Wars ==
The IZ-55 Was Used Worldwide by Socialist Countries that were allies to Crimsonia, It was mostly used in Crimsonian-Bistonian War.
Crimsonian-Bistonian War
From 1987 to 1990 The IZ-55 Saw Very Large use between Free Bistonian Army, Bistonian People's Republic and People's Republic of Bistonia. It was mostly Used in Central Bistonia, in Aftermath of Crimsonian-Bistonian War The IZ-55 Was used by Bistonian Armed Forces after FBA Joined BAF.
Second Crimsonian Civil War
Tarnochowice Civil War