Posted on 10/08/2006 6:19:14 AM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4
The Russian T-72 tank is the most widely used tank ever. Over 50,000 have been built. More than any model in World War II. Ironically, the T-72 was a stopgap design, intended to provide a replacement for the more advanced T-64, which was not successful. Production began in 1972, and the T-72 entered service in 1976. Compared to the earlier T-62 and T-64, the T-72 was successful. It was reliable, or so it was thought. But in 1982, Syrian T-72s went up against Israeli Merkavas. The Syrians lost badly. In 1991, Iraqi T-72s were helpless against American M-1 tanks, and M-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles. But the T-72 remained popular. Partly because it was so cheap. Cold War surplus vehicles, in good shape, could be had for as little as $100,000. The vehicle was still popular because of its reliability. Most nations never expected to use their T-72s in combat, but it was more useful for them to be in running condition in peacetime, when they could control unruly civilians.
Another reason for the popularity of the T-72 is the large number of upgrades available. While the basic T72 was pretty unimpressive, a few upgrades could turn it into a much more formidable (and expensive) tank. For example, modern, computerized, fire control systems, with laser range finders and night-vision sights, and quality ammunition, transforms a T-72 into a very lethal system. While such a tank would still get blasted by an M-1, if the T-72 spotted the M-1 first, and got a flank shot, it could win. The T-72 is also a very mobile vehicle, about on a par with the famously nimble M-1. But protection is always going to be a problem. The stock T-72 is a 41 ton vehicle that is 23 feet long, 11 feet wide and 7.5 feet high. An M-1 is 62 tons, 32 feet long, 12 feet wide and eight feet high. The extra weight is mostly armor, and from the front, the M-1 is still very difficult to kill. To survive, a T-72 not only needs to accessorize, but requires a well trained crew. Most nations using T-72s, don't like to invest in crew training. But that's what makes the most difference in combat.
The T-72 is surviving into the 21st century because Russia's new T-90 was, again, a fall-back design. The T-80 was supposed to be the successor to the T-72. But like the T-62 and T-64 before it, the T-80 didn't quite work out as planned. So the T-72, with a much improved turret and all manner of gadgets, was trotted out as the T-90. At 47 tons, but it's still 23 feet long, 11 feet wide and 7.5 feet high. Same package, better contents. And with well trained crews, it could be deadly.
I remember preparing to face hordes of T-72's in M-60A1's with 105mm guns that couldn't penetrate the T-72's front slope. We practiced retrograde from one terrain feature to the one behind it until we reached the DIP position.
DIP stood for Die In Place.
Sounds like the T-72 is the B-52 of the tank world. Just keeps on keeping on, mostly because it is used against in situations where capable resistance is unlikely.
That sentance could be more confusing. ;)
Our M1 Abrams Tanks own these things.
The newly designed A-10C “Warthog” made its first flight at Eglin Air Force Base Jan. 20.
Russian motto: Make it work, make it cheap, make a lot.
Wasn't there an announcement a few years ago that the A-10 was being phased out? At the time I thought that was an incredibly stupid decision by the AF. What happened?
And then draft many, many bodies to run them all...
And of course you can do that when you don't care how many of yours die as long as you kill enough of theirs.
Better is the enemy of good enough.-admiral of the Soviet Fleet Sergei Gorshkov.
The Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau has developed a T-72 tank main armament upgrade package which envisages use of a 120mm gun and NATO-standard ammunition.
It is possible to fit the T-72 tank with a 120-140mm main guns; in so doing, the scope of required re-designing is rather small, as these guns have the overall dimensions similar to those of the guns 2A46, 2A46M and KBA3. The breech-part of the offered 120mm KBM2 gun with a quick-replacement barrel has a high degree of commonality with the breech-part of the original gun of the T-72 tank.
In order to be able to use 120mm NATO-standard fixed ammunition, the automatic loader of the gun is installed in an isolated self-contained compartment in the turret bustle. The level of armour protection of the automatic loader compartment is analogous to that of the Leopard and Abrams tanks.
The total allowance of ammunition of the tank includes 40 rounds, of which 22 are positioned in the automatic loader
BTTT
The BUFF would have held it's own even in "Global Thermonuclear War", the mission for which it was designed. I always thought about the only thing it really lacked was a long range air to air missile, for self defense of course. :) It could defend itself against many threats though. It would either jam their fire control, forcing any aircraft that still managed an intercept into it's own gun range, or just preemptively give ground based defenses a Hound Dog or a SRAM up their ... well you know.
9-11, and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The grunts love 'em, the bad guys hate 'em. Upgrading them is cheaper than buying something new, which isn't available right now anyway.
I recall that Russian tankers couldn't be more than 5' 6'' because of the cramped conditions in the T-whatever. Know if that's true of the T-72 and later models?
The A-10 is undergoing an upgrade to the 'C' model now: New A-10C ensures Warthog's long life
Thanks for the post. In 1983-5 my unit 3-12 Cav had M-60A3 Rise/Passive's and the M-1s were being fielded to the border Cav (2nd & 11th ACRs) first. In the mid-70s I was in an M-60A2 awaiting the hordes of Soviet T-62s and East German T-55s. and the T-64 was just being fielded.
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