T-72 A, G and Ml Series, CIS

T-72, A, B (export) and M series

CIS

Developed in the late sixties the T-72 was the standard tank successor to the T-55 MET and by 1981 had largely replaced it on the Soviet tank factory production lines, It offers comparable protection and firepower capabilities to the T-64/80 models but is slower and less agile.

The fully stabilised 125 mm 2A26M smoothbore gun uses a 22-round carousel-type autoloader that places the projectile and charge in the breech in a single movement. The system is difficult to reload and almost impossible to fire manually if it fails. A total of 39 main armament rounds are carried.

A number of early T-72 models have been noted. T-72 (pre-production) - the preproduction model with T-64A 125 mm 2A26 gun/autoloader system. Most rebuilt with some of the later T-72M features. T-72 - standard model built in several series. The T-72 has an optical coincidence rangefinder sight assembly on right of turret. T-72A - export version of T-72. Not to be confused with later Former Soviet Army T-72A model. T-72B - export version of late model T-72. Not to be confused with later Former Soviet Army T-72B model. T-72K - command tank version of the T-72B with extra radio, second antenna on turret roof and land navigation system. T-72M - upgraded T-72 with laser rangefinder assembly replacing coincidence rangefinder and increased main gun ammunition supply. Support vehicles - A total of three support vehicles have been based on the T-72 chassis: the three-man 35 000 kg BREM-1 armoured recovery vehicle with a large hydraulic crane mounted on the left-hand side of the vehicle, a full-width dozer blade at the front and large cargo platform on the rear of the hull just behind the crew positions; 44 500 kg IMR-2, IMR-2M CEVs with front mounted variable shape dozer blade and centrally mounted hydraulically operated crane on the rear of the hull with various tool attachments; and the two-man 40 000 kg MTU-72 armoured bridgelayer with a 20 m span foldable bridge.

Specification

First prototype: 1969-70 First production: former Soviet Union 1971-77 Current users: Bulgaria (T-72B), CIS, Hungary (T-72B), India (T-72B), Iraq (T-72B), Libya (T-72A/T-72B), Russia, Syria (T-72A/T-72B) Crew: 3 Combat weight: 41 000 kg Ground pressure: 0.83 kg/cm2 Length, gun forwards: 9 53 m Width: 3.46m Height (without AA gun): 2.19m Ground clearance: 0.43 m Max. road speed: 60 km/h Maximum range (with external tanks): 700km Fording: unprepared 1.2 m; prepared 5.5m Gradient: 60% Side slope: 40% Vertical obstacle: 0.8 m Trench: 2.8m Powerpack: Multi-fuel V-46V-12 diesel developing 780 hp and coupled to a manual transmission Armament: (main) 1 x 125 mm gun (39 rounds); (coaxial) 1 x 7.62 mm MG; (anti-aircraft) 1 x 12.7 mmMG; (smoke dischargers) non (T-72M 1x12)

Russian T-72MMBT.