TR-580, TR-85, TR-800 In the early seventies it is known that Romania approached a number of West German firms for aid in rebuilding her fleet of T-series MBTs to a more modern standard with new lengthened hull, suspension, running gear, engine and other components. To what extent any aid was given is not known but in 1977 the first Romanian 1-55 variant, the TR-580, also variously known as the TR-77 (its export designation), M-77 (or US designation Ml 977), was seen. This had all the features asked for by Romania including a lengthened rebuilt rear hull to accommodate a new 600 hp diesel powerpack. A number of the
TR-77 export models were sold to Egypt and Iraq, but the former country apparently returned many because of the poor standard of workmanship. In the following year the TR-85 (alternative designation US Ml978 ) version was seen. This had many of the features of the TR-580 but with a Chinese pattern 100 mm rifled gun with thermal sleeve, a locally built Chinese Langzhou laser rangefinder module over the gun mantlet and a digital computerised fire control system. The turret was also completely new and the TR-580 diesel engine exchanged for a more powerful 620 hp German model.
Romania The next variant to make its appearance was an upgrade package for the T-55A.This is offered for export only. The rebuild package can also be supplied in a kit form to export customers for local assembly, As far as it is known the only customer may have been Iraq, which is believed to have bought a number of kits during the first Gulf War to upgrade T-55 MBTs at its tank rebuild plant. The latest variant is the TR-800 (also known as TM-800) which is similar to the TR-580 and is believed to be an export version of it. No support vehicle variants are known,
