T-72 Main Battle Tank

T-72M1

Type

Mount

Typical Ammo Load

125mm 2A46M/D-81TM smoothbore gun

Turret; auto and manual loading

44.
APFSDS-T, HEAT, Frag-HE

7.62mm PKT machine gun

Coaxial to main gun

2,000

12.7mm NSVT AA machine gun

Turret top

300

T-72B

Type

Mount

Typical Ammo Load

125mm 2A46M/D-81TM smoothbore gun

Turret; auto and manual loading

39.
APFSDS-T, HEAT, Frag-HE

AT-11 anti-tank guided missiles.
SACLOS; infrared laser-beam rider

Gun-launched

6.
AT-11, AT-11B

7.62mm PKT machine gun

Coaxial to main gun

2,000

12.7mm NSVT AA machine gun

Turret top

300

GENERAL DATA
Â	T-72M1	T-72B
Alternative Designations	Russian T-72A	T-72S (export), SMT (Soviet Medium Tank) M1988
Country of Origin	Poland, Czech Republic	CIS (formerly USSR)
Role	Main battle tank
Date Of Introduction	1975	1985
Crew	3
Combat Weight	45.7 tons (41.5 mt) without ERA	49.1 tons (44.5 mt)
Ground Pressure	12.8 psi (0.90 kg/cmË›)
Dimensions (LxWxH)	30.18 x 11.78 x 7.19 ft (9.2 x 3.59 x 2.19 m)	30.18 x 11.75 x 7.19 ft (9.2 x 3.58 x 2.19 m)
PERFORMANCE
Â	T-72M1	T-72B
Engine	780 hp (582 kw) diesel	840 hp (626 kw) diesel
Range	286 miles (460 km).  435 miles (700 km) with extra tanks	311 miles (500 km).  559 miles (900 km) with extra tanks
Road Speed	37 mph (60 km/h)
Cross Country Speed	22 mph (35 km/h)
Swim Speed	N/A
Fording Depth	3.9 ft (1.2 m) unprepared.  16.4 ft (5.0 m) with snorkel
PROTECTION
Â	T-72M1	T-72B
Armor	Turret front: 19.7 in (500 mm).  22 in (560 mm) against HEAT	Turret front: 20.5 in (520 mm).  37.4 in (950 mm) against HEAT
Applique Armor	Side of hull, over track skirts, and on turret top
Explosive Reactive Armor	1st or 2nd Generation ERA available	Kontakt or Kontakt-5 ERA
Active Protective System	Arena or Drozd available	Arena available
NBC Protection System	Yes
Smoke Equipment	Vehicle engine exhaust smoke system.  Six 81mm smoke grenade launchers on each side of turret	Vehicle engine exhaust smoke system.  Eight 81mm smoke grenade launchers on left side of turret
ARMAMENT
FIRE CONTROL
Â	T-72M1	T-72B
Fire Control System	?	1A40-1
Main Gun Stabilization	2E28M, 2-plane	2E42-2, 2-plane
Rangefinder	TPD-K1 laser	TPD-K1M laser
Infrared Searchlight	Yes

NOTES

The turrets of older former Soviet Union tanks rotate much slower than those on US and NATO tanks. It takes more than 21 seconds for T-70-series tank turrets to rotate through a full 360°.

The T-90-series tank turrets can rotate a full 360° in just 6 seconds, which is as fast as the US M1 Abrams and M2 BFV.

A variety of thermal sights is available. They include the Russian Agava-2, French SAGEM-produced ALIS and Namut sight from Peleng.

VARIANTS

Note that some countries have inventories of T-72, T-72M and T-72M1, with different versions of each variant. Also, many variants were upgraded or modified. Some T-72M1s do not have smoke grenade launchers or track skirts. Some T-72s/T-72Ms have smoke grenade launchers. More reliable discriminators are armor and rangefinder/FCS.

T-72

Original production model. Recognition features:

• Fully tracked.

• Six large die-cast, evenly spaced road wheels with three support rollers.

• Sharply sloped upper glacis with V-shaped splash guard.

• Rounded turret mounted midway on tank.

• Single snorkel mounted on left side of turet.

• Engine exhaust on top of back deck.

• Bore evacuator 1/3 way from muzzle.

• Infrared light to right of main gun.

• New design turret machine gun; no provision for firing from within tank.

• Integrated fuel cells and storage containers, giving streamlined appearance to fenders.

T-72M

Original Polish and former-Czechoslovakian T-72-series tank from which Polish/Czechoslovakian T-72M1 was derived. T-72M differs from T-72 in replacing the right-side coincident rangefinder with a centerline-mounted TPDK-1 LRF.

T-72A

An improved version of the basic T-72. Overall, its offensive capabilities are similar to the basic T-72, but it is much better protected.

The Russian variant differs from T-72 with the TPDK-1 LRF, added track skirts, additional armor on the turret front and top, provisions for mounting reactive armor, smoke grenade launchers, internal changes, and a slight weight increase.

The Russian export version and Polish/Czechoslovakian counterparts are called T-72M1. See data above.

T-72AV / T-72M1V

T-72A versions with Kontact ERA.

T-72AK/7T-2M1K

Commander's variant with additional radios.

T-72AM/Banan

Ukrainian T-72A upgrade with ERA, a new engine, and additional smoke grenade launchers. The T-72AG upgrade has a 1200-hp engine, Shtora-1 ATGM jammer, and 1G46 (T-80U) FCS with thermal night sights.

T-72B

T-72B with Kontakt ERA

See data above. The T-72B is the second main variant from the original Russian T-72 tank (after T-72A). The T-72B's 1K13-49 sight is both night sight and ATGM launch sight. However, it cannot be used for both functions simultaneously. Thermal gunner night sights are available which permit night launch of ATGMs.

T-72M1M

T-72M1 variant upgraded to T-72B standard.

T-72M2/Moderna

Slovakian T-72M upgrade with new engine and fire control, SFIM thermal sight, laser warning receiver, ERA, and 2 x 20mm AA guns on turret

T-72M4CZ

Czech variant with TURMS FCS with thermal sight, new engine, increased protection ERA, and 48t weight. T-72M3CZ is a less radical upgrade-- for instance existing engine is modified.

T-72MP

Ukrainian upgrade with a 1,000-hp engine, added armor, Shtora-1, and SAGEM FCS and thermal sights.

M-84

Former Yugoslavian tank upgraded to T-72M1 standard, but with indigenous sights. With an upgraded engine, the tank is M-84A. A Croatian improved version of M-84 is M-84A4/Sniper, with improved fire control and thermal night sights. A Slovenian upgrade uses the state-of-the-art and the well-marketed EFCS-3 FCS.

PT-91/Twardy

Polish upgrade tank with ERA, laser warning receiver, smoke grenade launchers, and Tiger fire control system. Sights include a thermal gunner night sight.

T-72BK

Commander's variant with additional radios.

T-72BM

Version with Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor. This system is being fielded and is available for export.

T-72S/Shilden

Russian export T-72A upgraded to be comparable to the T-72BM standard. Although similar to the T-72BM, it may have less turret front protection. The early T-72S tank has Kontakt ERA.

T-90

Successor to T-72BM. This tank has been tentatively approved for production and adoption as a standard tank, alongside the T-80U, for the Russian army. The T-90 uses the gun and 1G46 gunner sights from T-80U, a new engine, and thermal sights. Protective measures include Kontakt-5 ERA, laser warning receivers, and the SHTORA infrared ATGM jamming system.

More T-72 Art

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