T-72
There is nothing that raises questions within civilians than seeing and wting to know about military wares.Recently a friend saw Tanks that were placed by Russia and was shocked to see similar structures he saw in his country.He then asked for a differentiation of all the tanks he saw and was wondering if an African country can own such or if wh he saw in his country was really similar to the one he had seen.He made us think of trying to get a thorough description of these tanks.
T-72
The T-72 tank is a main battle tank (MBT) that originated in the Soviet Union. It was designed to be a cost-effective solution for mass production and deployment across the Soviet military and its allies. The T-72 entered service in the early 1970s and has since become one of the most widely produced and exported tanks in the world.The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that has been widely used around the world since its introduction in the early 1970s. It was created to be a cost-effective alternative to the more advanced T-64 and to complement the T-62. The T-72 has seen action in numerous conflicts and has been continuously upgraded over the years to maintain its effectiveness on the modern battlefield.
Some key features of the T-72 include its powerful 125mm smoothbore gun, composite armor, and relatively low profile. It has been produced in various variants, with different armor protection, engines, and fire control systems. The tank has been exported to many countries and has been license-produced in several of them.
Despite being considered somewhat outdated compared to more modern designs, the T-72 remains in service in numerous countries due to its reliability, simplicity, and low cost. However, it has been criticized for its relatively poor crew survivability and vulnerability to modern anti-tank weapons.
Here are some key features and characteristics of the T-72:
Armament: The T-72 is typically armed with a 125mm smoothbore main gun, which is capable of firing various types of ammunition, including armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds, high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds, and high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) rounds. It also has a secondary armament consisting of a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a roof-mounted 12.7mm machine gun.
Armor: The T-72 features composite armor, which combines steel with other materials like ceramics or plastics to enhance protection against anti-tank weapons. While effective against older anti-tank munitions, the armor of early T-72 variants was found to be vulnerable to modern anti-tank missiles and kinetic energy penetrators. Subsequent variants have seen improvements in armor protection.
Mobility: The T-72 is powered by a V-12 diesel engine, providing it with good mobility both on and off-road. It has a maximum road speed of around 60 km/h (37 mph) and a range of approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) on internal fuel.
Crew: The tank typically has a crew of three: a commander, a gunner, and a driver. The commander is responsible for overall operation and coordination, the gunner aims and fires the main gun, and the driver maneuvers the tank.
Variants and Upgrades: Over the years, the T-72 has been produced in numerous variants and has undergone various upgrades to improve its capabilities and address its weaknesses. These upgrades have included improvements to firepower, armor protection, and electronics.
Export: The T-72 has been exported to numerous countries around the world and has seen action in various conflicts. It has been license-produced in several countries, further expanding its global presence.
While the T-72 is considered somewhat outdated compared to more modern tanks, it remains in service in many countries due to its reliability, simplicity, and relatively low cost. However, its effectiveness on the modern battlefield can be limited by its vulnerabilities to advanced anti-tank weapons and its lack of certain modern technologies found in newer MBTs.
T-80
The T-80 is not a modified T-72; rather, it's a separate main battle tank that shares some design lineage with the T-64, but it's distinct from both the T-64 and the T-72. Here's a breakdown of the T-80:
Development: The T-80 was developed by the Soviet Union as a successor to the T-64. It was intended to be a more advanced and capable tank, featuring improvements in firepower, mobility, and protection. Development began in the late 1960s, and the tank entered production in the late 1970s.
Features: The T-80 introduced several innovations, including the use of a gas turbine engine for propulsion, which provided higher power output and better performance compared to the diesel engines used in earlier Soviet tanks. It was also equipped with a 125mm smoothbore gun, similar to those found on the T-64 and T-72, but with improvements in accuracy and firepower.
Armor and Protection: The T-80 featured composite armor, similar to that used on the T-64, providing improved protection against enemy fire. Some variants of the T-80 also incorporated reactive armor, which further enhanced its survivability on the battlefield.
Variants: Like other Soviet tanks, the T-80 had several variants, including the original T-80, the T-80B, T-80BV, and later models such as the T-80U and T-80UD. These variants featured various upgrades to firepower, armor, and other systems, keeping the T-80 competitive with contemporary tanks.
Service: The T-80 entered service with the Soviet Army in the late 1970s and saw combat during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. It was also exported to several countries and has been used in various conflicts around the world. While the T-80 was initially the primary tank of the Soviet Union, it was later supplemented and replaced by newer designs such as the T-90.
In summary, while the T-80 shares some design elements with the T-64 and T-72, it is a distinct tank in its own right, featuring unique characteristics and capabilities that set it apart from its predecessors.
T-90
While the T-90 and T-72 share some design elements and are both Russian main battle tanks, the T-90 is not simply a modified version of the T-72. The T-90 is a distinct tank with several key differences and improvements compared to the T-72. Here's an overview of the T-90:
Development: The T-90 was developed as a successor to the T-72 tank series and was designed to incorporate various improvements in firepower, protection, and mobility.
Features: The T-90 features a more powerful engine compared to the T-72, providing increased mobility and better performance on the battlefield. It is armed with a 125mm smoothbore gun, similar to the T-72, but with improved accuracy and fire control systems. The T-90 also incorporates advanced composite armor, explosive reactive armor (ERA), and other protective measures to enhance its survivability.
Variants: The T-90 has several variants, including the original T-90, T-90A, T-90M, and others. These variants feature various upgrades and improvements, such as enhanced armor protection, improved firepower, and modernized electronics systems.
Service: The T-90 has been adopted by the Russian military and has also been exported to several other countries. It has seen combat in various conflicts, including the Chechen Wars, the Syrian Civil War, and the conflict in Ukraine.
Export: The T-90 has been exported to several countries, including India, Algeria, and Iraq. It has been marketed as a cost-effective and reliable main battle tank suitable for a wide range of operational environments.
Overall, while the T-90 shares some design lineage with the T-72, it represents a significant evolution and improvement over its predecessor. With its advanced technology, firepower, and protection, the T-90 is considered one of the most capable main battle tanks in the world today.
