T-72

The T-72 is a family of Soviet main battle tanks that first entered production in 1971. About 20,000 T-72 tanks have been built, and refurbishment has enabled many to remain in service for decades. The T-72A version introduced in 1979 is considered a second-generation main battle tank.

Uralvagonzavod, Heavy Vehicles Factory

Type

Main Battle Tank

Role

Soviet Union

Country of Origin

1973-present

Introduction

approx 25000

Note

The T-72 is extremely lightweight, at forty-one tonnes, and very small compared to Western main battle tanks. Some of the roads and bridges in former Warsaw Pact countries were designed such that T-72s can travel along in formation, but NATO tanks could not pass at all, or just one-by-one, significantly reducing their mobility. The basic T-72 is relatively underpowered, with a 780 hp (580 kW) supercharged version of the basic 500 hp (370 kW) V-12 diesel engine originally designed for the World War II-era T-34. The 0.58 m (1 ft 11 in) wide tracks run on large-diameter road wheels, which allows for easy identification of the T-72 and descendants (the T-64 family has relatively small road wheels). The T-72 shares many design features with other tank designs of Soviet origin. Some of these are viewed as deficiencies in a straight comparison to NATO tanks, but most are a product of the way these tanks were envisioned to be employed, based on the Soviets' practical experiences in World War II.

The technical characteristics ​​may have minor differences according to the different manufacturers of the given product. The manufacturers reserve the right to make changes to the specified parameters.

Mass:  41.5 tonnes (45.7 short tons), 44.5 tonnes (49.1 short tons) (T-72B)

Length:  9.53 m (31 ft 3 in) gun forward; 6.95 m (22 ft 10 in) hull

Width:  3.59 m (11 ft 9 in)

Height:  2.23 m (7 ft 4 in)

Crew:  3 (commander, gunner, driver)

Armour:  Steel and composite armour with ERA

Main armament:  125 mm 2A46M/2A46M-5 smoothbore gun

Secondary armament:  7.62 mm PKT coax. machine gun and 12.7 mm NSVT or DShK anti-aircraft machine gun

Engine:  V-12 diesel - V-92S2F (T-72B3 & T-72B3M) - 780 hp (580 kW) / 1,130 hp (840 kW) for V-92S2F

Power/weight:  18.8 hp/tonne (14 kW/tonne)

Transmission:  Synchromesh, hydraulically assisted, with 7 forward and 1 reverse gears

Suspension:  Torsion bar

Ground clearance:  0.49 m (19 in)

Fuel capacity:  1,200 L (320 U.S. gal; 260 imp gal)

Operational range:  460 km (290 mi), 700 km (430 mi) with fuel drums

Maximum speed:  60 km/h (37 mph)

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