Kirov IS Series

     Notes:  The IS series of heavy tanks were designed to counter the German 88mm guns on the Tiger tanks and field guns.  The IS series is named after a transliteration of Josef Stalin (Iosif Stalin), and is sometimes called the JS series for this reason.  Despite its heavy armor, the IS series was not designed to battle German tanks (at least not on purpose); the IS series was instead designed to combat strongpoints and entrenched positions, and act as a sort of assault gun.  The IS series was also intended to be more mobile than the KV series of Russian heavy tanks; the KV was continually criticized for being underpowered and having treads that were not wide enough for rough or sloppy terrain, and for being too expensive to build and maintain.  The IS-1 appeared in mid-1943, but had a short service life; it was quickly replaced by the IS-2, and the IS-3 was first used during the Russian Invasion of Germany in 1944.  IS-2s and 3s were used by the Russians until about two decades after World War 2, and some were used by other countries as late as nearly 1980.  Many were dug in as fixed pillboxes along the Soviet-Chinese border.  (It is believed that some working examples are still in service in North Korea and Cuba!)  Even today, the occasional working museum piece can be found here and there.

 

IS-1

     When Kliment Voroshilov fell out favor with Stalin due to the failures of his KV series of heavy tanks, his designs were handed over to the Kirov design bureau.  In the meantime, the Russians needed a new heavy tank quickly, if only as a stopgap measure.  Voroshilov’s upcoming design, the KV-85, was re-engineered into the IS-85, and then the name changed to the IS-1.  The primary changes were greatly improved protection including sloped armor, and an improved, better-shaped (in a ballistic sense) turret similar to that of the T-34 as opposed to the large, blocky turret of the KV-85.  Though still underpowered, the IS-1 had a 510 horsepower engine, better than that of the sluggish KV-85.  However, the IS-1 was a stopgap design, and was low-rate production for only a short time before being replaced by the more capable IS-2.  Most IS-1s were upgunned with the 122mm A-19 gun in early 1944.

 

IS-2

     As stated before, the IS-1 was a stopgap measure, but development of the IS-2 began before the production of the IS-1.  The primary reason for the IS-2 version was the installation of a more powerful gun and installation of heavier and better-sloped armor.  At first the BS-3 100mm gun was considered as it fired AP shells with better penetration, but ultimately, the 122mm A-19 was installed, due to the heavier caliber and the fact that the primary role of the IS-2 was as an assault breaker and bunker-buster.  The machinegun layout of the IS-2 is also quite different; one is a coaxial, the other is in the rear of the turret, while the commander has a heavy machinegun.  The A-19 was also a rather common gun in the Soviet inventory, as opposed to the BS-3, which was barely out of development.  The A-19 used a separate projectile and powder charges, which resulted in an increased loading time (only 4 rounds per minute in short bursts, and 2 per minute sustained) and a marked reduction in the amount of rounds able to be carried internally.  Reloading was also awkward due to a poor ammo storage configuration.  This was later rectified with the introduction of the D-25T gun, which had a much faster-loading drop breech and simplified acquisition of targets.  The glacis and lower front hull were also simplified in construction and had better armor sloping.  (Though this version is sometimes called the IS-2M, the proper designation is the IS-2 Model 1944.  The earlier version is the Model 1943.)  The actual IS-2M is an early 1950s development, with larger external stowage bins on the hull, larger dust skirts, and a few automotive updates; for game purposes, it is identical to the IS-2 Model 1944.

 

IS-3

     The IS-3, introduced in late 1944, featured a comprehensive update to its armor package, particularly in the glacis.  The turret also had a hemispherical one-piece cast turret with a shape that improved protection, along with an actual increase in armor thickness.  The turret had a lower profile than that of the IS-2; though this increased the overall height of the IS-3, it also seriously reduced the working headroom in the turret – beginning the Russian trend towards using smaller troops in their tanks.  It is a matter of debate as to whether the IS-3 actually saw combat service in World War 2 – some say small numbers were used against the Germans, some say it saw service against the Chinese in Manchuria, and some say it played a part in the invasion of Korea at the end of World War 2; there are just as many sources that say none of these were true.  Regardless, the IS-3 was unknown to the West until September of 1945, when it took part in a parade in Berlin.

     That low-profile turret severely limited the depression of the IS-3s main gun and coaxial machinegun; in fact, the IS-3 could barely depress its main gun and coaxial at all.  It also dramatically reduced the amount of machinegun ammunition which could be carried.  However, the height of the tank was reduced by some 300mm. The glacis has a distinctive pointed profile which earned it the nickname of Shchuka (Pike) among Soviet troops.

     In the early 1950s, IS-3s were upgraded to the IS-3M configuration.  This involved the addition of side skirts and generally thickened armor.  Most combat use of the IS-3M was in the Middle East; some were used by the Egyptians as late as 1973, though most were out of service after the 1967 war.  The Israelis also used some captured examples as late as 1973, where they served as dug-in fixed pillboxes along the Jordan River.  The IS-3s involved in the 1967 War were reportedly immune to hand-held rocket launchers as large as 90mm recoilless rifles from the front and side, and the Israelis’ M-48A2 were unable to penetrate the frontal armor of the IS-3M.  Unfortunately, engine breakdowns were common as they were not suited to the climate, the slow rate of fire was an impediment, and the poor fire control and stabilization made accurate shooting difficult.  The additional weight of the armor also slowed the IS-3 and made it less agile.  However, the IS-3Ms had been fitted with rudimentary night vision equipment, and fared better in night combat than during the day.

 

Intermediate IS designs

     IS series upgrades extended shortly before the end of World War 2 and shortly afterward.  The IS-4 was designed in tandem with the IS-3 by a different design bureau to compete with the IS-3 design.  In the end, both were built, though only 250 IS-4s were built, all during World War 2, as the IS-4 was discontinued at the end of World War 2.  The IS-4 was longer than the IS-3, with six pairs pf roadwheels instead of five.  The extra room was unfortunately not used to mount a larger turret, but instead used to store additional fuel and main gun ammunition.  The IS-4 was a heavy design that used the same engine as the IS-3, and was therefore slower and less agile than the IS-3.

     The IS-5 and IS-6 never made it off the drawing board; the IS-7, however, did make it to the prototype stage in 1946, with three built.  It was a monster heavy tank, weighing 68 tons and having a more powerful engine.  The IS-7 was to mount a vehicular version of a 130mm naval gun with an autoloader and stabilization in the elevation axis; in addition, a total of 8 machineguns were to be mounted, including the commander’s machinegun, two bow machinegun, a coaxial, a rear turret machinegun, machineguns on each side of the enlarged turret, a loader’s machinegun, and a remote-firing rear machinegun.  Armor was also to have been upgraded, and the crew would consist of five members. Active IR would be provided for the gunner.  In the end, the IS-7 was abandoned as impractical.

     The IS-8 and IS-9 again never made it off the drawing board, but the next version, the IS-10 renamed the T-10, did, and into production.

 

T-10

     Originally the IS-10, this heavy tank did not reach the production lines until 1952.  By then, Josef Stalin was both dead and discredited, and the IS-10 was therefore re-named the T-10.  It featured a long hull with seven pairs of roadwheels, a large turret with a new gun, an improved diesel engine, and increased armor protection.

     Though not roomy by Western standards, the turret of the T-10 was larger inside and out than the rest of the IS series.  This turret housed an improved version of its predecessors, the 122mm D-25TA.  Two machineguns were provided, with both the commander’s and the coaxial machineguns being DShKs.  The overall larger size of the T-10 meant that it could carry more main gun ammunition and fuel than the rest of the IS series, and a more powerful 700-horsepower engine helped correct the power problems with the heavy IS-4.  In addition, while the armor gave more protection, it was more advanced and lighter than that of the IS-4, and the engine, though more powerful, was also lighter.  The gunner had primitive IR vision, and suspension in elevation axis as well as a coincidence rangefinder and a telescopic sight.

     The T-10M was an update of the T-10; it used a longer M-62-T2 gun with a huge five-baffle muzzle brake.  The main gun was stabilized in two planes, the coaxial DShK was replaced with a KPVT (which allowed it to function as a ranging machinegun if necessary), and it had a collective NBC system for the crew. 

     In 1963, the T-10s were equipped with deep-wading snorkel systems, and in 1967, APDS and HEAT ammunition was devised for their main guns.

     Though the T-10 was used by the Soviets until the 1967, and by Egypt, Syria, and North Vietnam until as long as ten years later, even the Soviets had to acknowledge that by the mid-1950s the T-10 was obsolete.  As more T-54s, T-55s, and T-62s became available, the T-10 gradually slipped down the food chain, finally being withdrawn or moving to Mobilization-Only status. By 1993, almost no T-10s remained in any sort of Soviet or Russian service.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

IS-1

$534,082

D, A

500 kg

44 tons

4

20

Headlights

Enclosed

IS-2 1944

$607,122

D, A

500 kg

44.37 tons

4

20

Headlights

Enclosed

IS-2 M-1943

$629,072

D, A

500 kg

46 tons

4

22

Headlights

Enclosed

IS-2 M-1944

$633,238

D, A

500 kg

46.5 tons

4

22

Headlights

Enclosed

IS-3

$639,022

D, A

500 kg

46.5 tons

4

25

Headlights

Enclosed

IS-3M

$707,842

D, A

500 kg

48.55 tons

4

26

Active IR (G)

Enclosed

IS-4

$672,478

D, A

500 kg

52.3 tons

4

29

Headlights

Enclosed

T-10

$593,212

D, A

500 kg

52 tons

4

32

Active IR (G)

Enclosed

T-10M

$625,922

D, A

500 kg

52.5 tons

4

33

Active IR (G)

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

IS-1/IS-1 1944

93/65

23/15

525+730

220

Trtd

T6

TF 53  TS17  TR11 HF66  HS14  HR9

IS-2 M-1943

102/71

25/16

520+270

260

Trtd

T6

TF58  TS22  TR16  HF73  HS16  HR10

IS-2 M-1944

101/71

25/16

520+270

263

Trtd

T6

TF62  TS22  TR16  HF77  HS16  HR10

IS-3

101/71

25/16

520+270

263

Trtd

T6

TF77  TS28  TR24  HF96  HS20  HR18

IS-3M

98/68

24/15

520+270

276

Trtd

T6

TF84  TS25  TR23  HF105  HS21  HR19

IS-4

93/65

23/14

585+270

296

Trtd

T6

TF77  TS28  TR24  HF96  HS20  HR18

T-10/T-10M

104/73

26/16

600+270

305

Trtd

T6

TF86  HS26  HR24  HF108  HS22  HR19

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

IS-1

+1

None

85mm D-5T85 Gun, DT, DT (C), DT (Bow)

36x85mm, 2520x7.62mm

IS-1 1944

+1

None

122mm A-19 gun, DT, DT (C), DT (Bow)

28x122mm, 2520x7.62mm

IS-2 M-1943

+1

None

122mm A-19 gun, DT, DShK (C), DT (Rear),

28x122mm, 2330x7.62mm, 945x12.7mm

IS-2 M-1944

+1

None

122mm D-25T gun, DT, DShK (C), DT (Rear),

28x122mm, 2330x7.62mm, 945x12.7mm

IS-3

+1

None

122mm D-25T gun, DT, DShK (C), DT (Rear),

28x122mm, 1000x7.62mm, 945x12.7mm

IS-3M

+1

Basic

122mm D-25T gun, DT, DShK (C), DT (Rear),

28x122mm, 1000x7.62mm, 945x12.7mm

IS-4

+1

None

122mm D-25T gun, DT, DShK (C), DT (Rear),

32x122mm, 1000x7.62mm, 945x12.7mm

T-10

+1

Basic

122mm D-10TA gun, DShK, DShK (C)

38x122mm, 1600x12.7mm

T-10M

+1

Fair

122mm M-62-TA gun, KPVT, DShK (C)

38x122mm, 700x14.5mm, 800x12.7mm

 

Morozov T-34

     Notes:  The T-34 was perhaps the best tank of World War 2, and quite the rude shock to the Germans during their invasion of Russia and subsequent Russian invasion of Germany.  It introduced concepts that are now standard such as sloped armor and elimination of shot traps, and was designed for ease of operation and especially, ease of production – the result being a tank capable of taking on even the Tiger and Panther tanks, could be built in huge quantities quickly, and crews easily trained.  It was designed to replace both the T-26 light tank and the BT series of heavy tanks, unifying the concept of the infantry tank and a tank designed to fight other tanks, and do both better than its predecessors.  The design of the T-34 goes back to 1934, and it first appeared on the battlefield in 1940; by 1996, it was still in large-scale use with 27 countries, and small numbers are still in use here and there in the world as I write this (late July 2009).

 

The T-34/76

     The design concept of the T-34 was for the tank to be light and fast, yet mount a more effective main gun than most Soviet designs and still have decent armor protection.  The need for decent armor protection in a lightweight tank led the designer, Mikhail Koshkin, to go back to prototype versions of the BT series and the sloped armor they used to increase the armor protection without a great increase in weight.  Originally, Koshkin envisioned the T-34 to use less than an inch of armor maximum and a 45mm main gun, but by 1939, it was obvious to Koshkin that these concepts weren’t good enough against modern tank designs and the rapid armored vehicle evolution that was taking place, and the design changed radically before it left the drawing board.  Armor was almost doubled in maximum thickness, and the main gun was to be the then-new high-velocity L-11 76.2mm gun.  The 483-horsepower V-2 diesel engine was also a new idea in an era when most armored vehicle ran on gasoline; a diesel engine was chosen because it greatly reduced the possibility of the T-34 going up in flames if hit in the fuel tanks as well as increasing range and performance in cold weather.  The suspension was a very simple design pioneered by Christie in the US, but that was largely discarded by the Allies and the Axis powers by World War 2.  The Christie suspension was simple to build and maintain, and used wide “slack treads” that had large roadwheels instead of return rollers and tight treads.  The Christie suspension also decreased the height of the T-34.  T-34s usually carried external auxiliary fuel tanks; unlike later Soviet designs, the T-34’s auxiliary tanks were on the sides of the hull instead of the rear in sets of two on each side.  Ammunition stowage was horrible; only 9 ready rounds could be carried in the turret, and the rest were stowed under the floor and in bins in several areas of the tank.  This meant that there were usually hurried unpacking of main gun ammunition, with floor plates hurriedly pulled up and ammunition boxes laying all over the place, exacerbating the cramped interior conditions.

     The initial early production versions of the T-34 (commonly called the T-34 M-1940 or later, the T-34/76A) were hampered by a shortage of the diesel engines, and they instead had the MT-17 gasoline engines used by the BT tank, along with a difficult-to-use transmission that resulted from the fact that the MT-17 was a modified aircraft engine.  Radios were in short supply, and only tanks used by company commanders and up had them.  (The costs below assume the T-34 has a radio; if it doesn’t, subtract $500 from the price of the tank.) The L-11 main gun did not develop the hoped-for velocity and was a bit slow to reload.  The turret had room only for two men, so the commander had to double as the gunner or the loader had to also fire the main gun.  The main gunsights were in fact located at the commander’s station rather than in the place where a gunner would normally be, with the loader having relatively poor sights. The hull had space for a bow machinegunner/radio operator. 173 of these early-production T-34s were built.

     This quickly led to the main production version of the T-34 during World War 2, the T-34 M-1941 (or T-34/76B).  Production of the V-2 diesel engine and its simpler associated transmission had quickly ramped up, and all T-34 Model 1941s had these engines and transmissions.  The T-34 M-1941 used the improved F-34 76.2mm high-velocity gun and had heavier armor.  The turret was enlarged to allow the T-34 to have a loader and gunner, greatly increasing the rate of fire for the main gun. One of the famous stories about the T-34 M-1941 was its production at Stalingrad during the siege of that city; T-34s were literally rolling off the production lines unpainted with crews jumping into them at the end of the production line and driving them straight into combat.  The engine and transmission were simpler to build, and the F-34 gun also had two-thirds the parts of the L-11 gun; production time for the T-34 was cut in half as a result.  Nonetheless, the T-34 had its weaknesses, the most common being the unreliable transmission, with many T-34s going into battle carrying a spare transmission on their rear deck; others included a cramped interior, poor ammunition stowage arrangement, a loud engine, that two-man turret that made the T-34’s turret undermanned, and poor driver visibility.

     The next version, the T-34 M-1942 (T-34/76C) primarily incorporated improvements to make manufacturing cheaper and quicker without compromising the good features of the T-34 M-1941, and also had a much more reliable transmission.  By 1943, the design was largely frozen to keep up rapid production, but the T-34 did continue to evolve.  The T-34 M-1943 (T-34/76D, E, and F models) used a larger hexagonal turret that gave the loader more room to work (though the commander still had to double as the gunner), increasing rate of fire for the main gun.  The T-34 M-1943 had a manually-rotating turret for the commander, a hatch for the loader, and larger hatches; the Germans called it the “Mickey Mouse” version because when viewed from the front with both turret hatches open, the T-34 M-1943 resembled the cartoon character.  The T-34/76E, however, eliminated the commander’s cupola, but added a ring of vision blocks and the commander and loader entering the turret through an enlarged commander’s hatch.  The T-34/76F returned to the two-hatch turret, but without the commander’s cupola.

     The T-34/57 was a rare (only 324 built) version, designed as a tank destroyer.  It used the same design as the T-34 M-1942, but mounted a high-velocity 57mm main gun (either a ZiS-4 or ZiS-4M).  A few were available for the Battle of Moscow in 1941, but most were produced between 1943 and 1944.

     Nailing down which World War 2 version of the T-34/76 was seen can be difficult; they were continually updated during the war, and most T-34s had a mix of old and new features as older tanks were refurbished and updated, and battle-damaged T-34s were restored to working order.  Some also used appliqué armor made from scrap metal; I have used the intended layout of these armor plates below, but individual T-34s with appliqué armor may not have been equipped with the entire intended appliqué armor setup.  T-34s with appliqué armor were appended with the suffix s ekranami (sometimes simply called “ES”) which translates roughly to “with screens;” they were called screens because the appliqué armor was produced in a tight-knit waffle pattern to save steel and weight.  This appliqué armor adds 2 points of armor to the glacis, turret front, and turret sides, and weighs 500 kg; it costs $1870 for a full set of plates.

     When the Germans were able, they happily used captured T-34s; the Germans called these the Panzerkampfwagen T-34 (r), and sometimes sported sheet-metal VISMODs to make them resemble Tiger or Panther tanks, reducing the chance of friendly fire.  These T-34s could be any of the various models of the T-34s used during World War 2.

     In mid-1944, production of the T-34/76 ended, replaced by the T-34/85.

 

T-34/85

     Despite the success of the high-velocity 76.2mm gun, the German 88mm and long-barreled 75mm guns still out-ranged the T-34’s main gun, and penetration of the frontal armor of the Tiger and Panther tanks was a matter of luck more than anything else.  At first, the Soviets began to design a new tank to replace both the T-34 and the KV-1 heavy tank called the T-43 which had 70% parts commonality with the T-34.  The T-43 prototypes, however, proved to be a bit slow and none-too-agile; the T-43 had heavier armor and a heavier 85mm D-5T gun adapted from an antiaircraft gun.  The T-43 was quickly cancelled in favor of a T-34 armed with the same 85mm gun, called the T-34/85 M-1943.  The 85mm gun had a long barrel and could almost match the range of the German 88mm gun; it could easily handle a Tiger, though it was still no match for a Panther from the frontal arc.  The T-34/85 M-1943 had a relatively roomy turret, a side-effect of the new gun; the turret was roomy enough that if the T-34/85 was equipped with a radio, it could be mounted in the turret within easy reach of the commander; unfortunately, the T-34/85 was still hampered by a two-man turret crew.  The T-34/85 again The T-34/85 M-1943 had only a short production run from February to March of 1943, replaced by the T-34/85 1944.

     The T-34/85 M-1944 had a number of changes, the primary change being the replacement of the main gun by the easier-to-manufacture and longer ZiS-S-53 gun.  The turret had an improved layout; it was roomier, and the radio was moved back to the hull with controls placed in the commander’s cupola.  The main gun had a gunner and a loader.  The armor was again thickened, particularly on the turret front, and the gunner was given a coincidence rangefinder and a telescopic gunsight. 

     After World War 2, further improvements were made to the T-34/85.  One of the first was the replacement of the ZiS-S-53 main gun with the ZiS-S-54, which had gyroscopic stabilization in the elevation axis.

     The T-34/85 was produced in large numbers until well after World War 2, and is known to have seen action as late as May 1995 when an upgraded Serbian T-34/85 M-1944 attacked UN outpost in manned by British combat engineers.  In the Kosovo War, T-34/85s were used as decoys to draw fire from NATO aircraft.  They were occasionally seen during the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001-2002. Several African countries still use them.  China produced the T-34/85 for a short time, calling it the Type 58, though such production soon stopped when the Type 59 became available.  T-34/85 production largely ended in 1950, though low-rate production continued until 1964.

 

T-44

     In late 1944, a rare variant of the T-34 was introduced: the T-44.  Initially meant to be merely a T-34/85 with a more powerful 512-horsepower engine, thicker armor, and a torsion bar suspension, the 85mm gun was replaced before production with a 100mm D-10S gun, a modified naval gun.  The turret of the T-44 proved to be a poor fit for this larger gun, and the already cramped turret became far worse in that respect.  The heavier gun and armor also dramatically increased the weight of the tank and effectively negated the advantage of the more powerful engine.  Production was always conducted at a low rate, and after World War 2, production stopped as the T-54 was already being developed.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

T-34/76 M-1940 (Early)

$216,432

G, A

400 kg

26 tons

4

16

Headlights

Enclosed

T-34/76 M-1940

$127,344

D, A

400 kg

26 tons

4

16

Headlights

Enclosed

T-34/76 M-1941

$172,746

D, A

400 kg

26.5 tons

4

16

Headlights

Enclosed

T-34/76 M-1942

$175,600

D, A

400 kg

28.5 tons

4

16

Headlights

Enclosed

T-34/76 M-1943

$202,321

D, A

400 kg

30.9 tons

4

16

Headlights

Enclosed

T-34/57

$188,050

D, A

400 kg

28.25 tons

4

16

Headlights

Enclosed

T-34/85 M-1943

$203,091

D, A

400 kg

31.5 tons

4

18

Headlights

Enclosed

T-34/85 M-1944

$217,400

D, A

400 kg

32 tons

5

18

Headlights

Enclosed

T-34/85 M-1945

$219,574

D, A

400 kg

32 tons

5

20

Headlights

Enclosed

T-44

$233,545

D, A

400 kg

33.9 tons

5

22

Headlights

Enclosed

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

T-34/76 M-1940 (Early)

132/92

33/21

480+360

279

Trtd

T4

TF22  TS12  TR6  HF28  HS10  HR5

T-34/76 M-1940 (Early)

132/92

33/21

480+360

209

Trtd

T4

TF22  TS12  TR6  HF28  HS10  HR5

T-34/76 M-1941

127/89

32/20

480+360

216

Trtd

T4

TF30  TS16  TR8  HF37  HS13  HR7

T-34/76 M-1942

123/86

31/19

610+360

232

Trtd

T4

TF37  TS19  TR11  HF46  HS16  HR9

T-34/76 M-1943

116/81

29/18

790+360

252

Trtd

T4

TF40  TS20 TR12  HF50  HS17  HR10

T-34/57

124/87

31/19

610+380

230

Trtd

T4

TF37  TS19  TR11  HF46  HS16  HR9

T-34/85 M-1943

114/80

29/17

810+380

256

Trtd

T4

TF50  TS25  TR16  HF63  HS21  HR13

T-34/85 M-1944/M-1945

113/79

29/17

810+380

260

Trtd

T4

TF59  TS26  TR17  HF66  HS22  HR14

T-44

113/79

29/17

642+380

292

Trtd

T4

TF61  TS27  TR17  HF68  HS23  HR14

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

T-34/76 M-1940 (Early)

None

None

76.2mm L-11 gun, DT, DT (Bow), DP (Turret Rear)

76x76.2mm, 2898x7.62mm

T-34/76 M-1940

None

None

76.2mm L-11 gun, DT, DT (Bow)

76x76.2mm, 2898x7.62mm

T-34/76 M-1941/M-1942

None

None

76.2mm F-34 Gun, DT, DT (Bow)

77x76.2mm, 4420x7.62mm

T-34/76 M-1943

None

None

76.2mm F-34 Gun, DT, DT (Bow)

100x76.2mm, 4420x7.62mm

T-34/57

+1

Basic

57mm ZiS-4 gun, DT, DT (Bow)

103x57mm, 4420x7.62mm

T-34/85 M-1943

None

None

85mm D-5T gun, DT, DT (Bow)

55x85mm, 2394x7.62mm

T-34/85 M-1944

None

None

85mm ZiS-S-53 gun, DT, DT (Bow)

60x85mm, 1890x7.62mm

T-34/85 M-1945

+1

Basic

85mm ZiS-S-54 gun, DT, DT (Bow)

60x85mm, 1890x7.62mm

T-44

+1

Basic

100mm D-10S Gun, DT, DT (Bow)

58x100mm, 1890x7.62mm

 

Morozov T-54/55

     Notes:  One of the oldest continually used armored vehicles in the world; the prototype T-54 was first produced in 1946 and production began in 1947. One of the oldest continually used armored vehicles in the world; the prototype T-54 was first produced in 1946 and production began in 1947.  Since then it has been continually improved, and there were almost 50 variants available in the world by 2000, in addition to the numerous variants of the Chinese version of the T-55, the Type 59.  It is the archetypical Russian tank, small, light, easy to produce and maintain, and available almost anywhere.  Though it would be over five years before the existence of the T-54 and T-55 were known in the West, the appearance of these tanks spurred development in the West of tanks such as the M-60 series, the Chieftain, the Leopard 1, and the AMX-30.  So many T-54s and T-55s were built in so many countries worldwide that exact production figures are unknown, but at least 100,000 were built.  Though the versions below include only Soviet and Russian versions, there are dozens of other T-54 and T-55 versions built all over the world, and even more home-grown modifications.  Ammunition for its main gun has likewise been continually improved over the years, and in some versions, the T-55 can fire ATGMs through the main gun tube.  They were continually upgraded during and after production, and upgrade kits are still being sold and devised; it is likely that, despite its inferiority to even 1970s-era tanks, that the T-55 will be around for a long time to come. The T-54/55 has been in continuous combat somewhere in the world from 1955 on, from the Vietnam War to the current Tigray War in Ethiopia.

     The T-54 and T-55 introduced the slightly-oval, saucer-shaped turret that became a hallmark of Soviet and Russian tanks for decades to come.  The turret has hatches on the deck for the commander and loader; the addition of a loader crewmember was greatly welcomed to Soviet tankers more accustomed to the T-34 series.  The hull is a basic sort of affair, with the turret in the middle of the hull and a Christie suspension that used roadwheels with large spokes to reduce weight and slack treads.  The driver is on the front left of the hull.

 

The T-54

     By the end of World War 2, the T-44 variant of the T-34 was in low-rate production, with its 100mm gun.  However, even before the first T-44 prototype was produced, it was realized that the 100mm D-10S (or any gun of a similar caliber) was an uncomfortably-tight fit in any turret that could fit on the T-34’s hull, and that due the size of the T-34 series’ turret ring, the size of the turret could not be increased very much.  In October of 1944, designers at the Uralvagonzavod facility at Nizhny Tagil began work on the larger T-54, with the first prototype being built in February of 1945.

     The first T-54 used an enlarged T-44 hull, with an almost identical drive train.  The new V-54 diesel engine, however, was slightly more powerful at 520 horsepower, and had a transmission that, while still manual, gave the driver somewhat less of a workload.  A tradeoff was made between fuel capacity, armor, and ammo carrying capacity.  More main gun ammunition could be carried, but machinegun ammunition was cut by more than half.  The internal fuel capacity grew, and the armor a got little bit thinner. The tradeoffs were deemed worth it – the T-54 had a more powerful main gun than almost any main battle tank in the world at the time.

     The main gun was a 100mm D-10TK, an upgraded version of the D-10S of the T-44.  The T-54 had a pair of bow machineguns.  The T-54, unlike earlier Soviet designs, had external auxiliary fuel tanks that could be pre-connected to the T-54’s fuel system, keeping the crew from having to exit the T-54 and empty the contents of the auxiliary tanks into the main fuel tanks.

     However, this was not to be the final prototype/limited production version of the T-54.  After field trials, several design changes were made.  These included an updated main gun, the LB-1, and the addition of a coaxial machinegun as well as a commander’s machinegun.  Fuel capacity was further increased, and numerous small changes were made to the electrical system, transmission, and suspension to increase reliability.  Armor was heavier on the turret front and sides.  In total, some 1490 modifications were made; low-rate production lasted from 1947 to 1949.  This version was called the T-54-1.

     And yet, this was still not the production form of the T-54.  Some armor improvements were made (particularly on the hull sides, turret and hull decks, and the floor armor).  The turret became more circular than oval, and rails were added to the sides of the turret for the crew to tie their equipment to.  The pair of fender-mounted bow machineguns were removed, replaced by a single bow machinegun that was to be fired by the driver.  The transmission was further modernized and wider tracks fitted.  This version was the T-54-2.  The T-54-3, which replaced the T-54-2 in production in 1951, had a reshaped turret without any side undercuts and an improved telescopic sight for the gunner, and it had another rare feature for tanks of the time – it could generate a smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into its exhaust.  At the same time, a command version of the T-54-3 was built (the T-54K); the only difference was the addition of a second radio. The T-54-3 was the first major production version of the T-54. (The T-54-2, T-54-3, and T-54K are otherwise identical for game purposes.)

     In the early 1950s, there were several personnel changes at Nizhny Tagil, including the chief designer, who was replaced twice by March of 1953.  The new designer for the T-54 decided to make several changes to the T-54’s design, resulting in the T-54A, which entered service in 1954. Foremost of these was the replacement of the main gun with the new D-10TG, which was a D-10T stabilized in the vertical axis.  The driver was also given an IR vision block which could replace his central vision block as needed; this was paired with IR headlights.  The main gun of the T-54A was originally to have a small counterweight at the muzzle, but this idea was discarded and the main gun was fitted with a fume extractor instead.  The radio of the T-54A was updated.  The engine received several improvements, including in the radiator and oil pump.  The T-54A had a fire extinguishing system which required only a pull on a small handle in the turret.  A bilge pump was also added (earlier models of the T-54 proved to be leaky when fording).  A command version, the T-54AK, was designed based on the T-54A; this version had an additional, long-range radio added in the turret, an inertial navigation device, and a small 0.5kW APU.  The additional equipment in the turret and hull required that the main gun ammunition load be reduced by five rounds.

     In 1957, the T-54B version began production.  The T-54B had two-axis main gun stabilization (changing the designation of the main gun to the D-10T2S), and an IR searchlight was added forward of the commander’s position; he or the gunner could aim the searchlight.  The T-54B was also the first Soviet tank able to use APFSDS ammunition.  A T-54BK command tank version was also built, which was a T-54B with the additional equipment found on the T-54AK.

 

The T-55

     After the Soviets gained the atomic bomb, they found out that the T-54 could survive a 15-kiloton blast at a range of only 300 meters from the center of the explosion.  Unfortunately, while the T-54 would survive, the crew would be dead from the radiation and concussion.  A lot of good that does.  This began the road to the improved T-55, which entered service in 1958.  The T-55 was radiation shielded, and had a collective NBC system.

     But the Soviets did not stop there, not by a long shot.  They installed the 581-horsepower V-55 diesel engine, which also had fuel injection and a new, more efficient fuel filter.  The hatches over the engine compartment were modified to allow easier access.  The engine was equipped with an electric starter that made starting the T-55 in cold weather easier, and the crew was also given a heater.  Ammunition rearrangement and the new smaller engine allowed main gun ammunition storage to be increased dramatically; 18 of these rounds were actually stored in the center of the hull fuel tanks.  The commander and gunner had night vision at last, but the commander’s machinegun was deleted, since it was felt that it was not effective against fast jet aircraft and helicopters did not have the important place on the battlefield they have today.  The T-55’s turret armor was thicker than that of the T-55, but frontal armor was actually reduced to save weight, and the armor on the rear of the hull was also reduced.  The main gun, the same as on the T-55B, was also stabilized in two dimensions.  The T-55 was essentially a modernized T-54, but to “wow the West,” it was given a new designation of T-55.  A command variant, the T-55K, was also built starting in 1959; this had an additional long-range radio, 0.5 kW APU, and more advanced night vision for the commander.  The additional equipment meant that the main gun ammunition load had to be decreased, and the bow machinegun had to be removed.

     Also in 1959, some T-55s had fittings added so they could mount the PT-55 mineclearing flail system or the BTU or BTU-55 dozer blade.

     In 1961, deployment of the T-55A began.  While the NBC protection of the T-55 was effective against gamma rays, it did little to stop energetic neutrons. The POV plasticized lead lining was added to address this deficiency.  An indication that you are looking at a T-55A are the crew hatches; they are noticeably larger and bulged.  (A side effect of this was in increase in protection to the crew from fragments and bullets.)  The collective NBC system was also improved, with more efficient filtration.  The coaxial SGMT machinegun was replaced by a PKT machinegun, and the bow machinegun was completely deleted from the design; in its place, six main gun rounds were stored.  The hull is 16cm longer, allowing for an increase in glacis armor.  Unfortunately, this made the T-55A heavier than its predecessors.  A T-55AK command version was also built, with the same extra equipment as the T-55K, and the same reduction in main gun ammunition.  The T-55A could fire the new BM-8 APFSDS round, which had a longer-rod penetrator.

     Some T-55Ks served as a testbed for the Uran TV apparatus.  This system used a video camera to reconnoiter the battlefield for higher headquarters.  The vehicle had a data-capable radio which transmitted the pictures to a BTR-50PU command vehicle up to two kilometers away; the BTR-50PU had a powerful data-capable which took up most of the rear area’s space and the electrical bus in the BTR-50PU.  The BTR-50PU retransmitted the pictures to higher headquarters. This system proved to be fragile and data transmission was slow (about 6 Baud), and the T-55K using the device could in many circumstances return to headquarters and make a report in person more quickly.  The Uran system did not survive the testing phase.

     The T-55A was upgraded several times during its service.  In 1965, new tracks were fitted which had a longer life than the old tracks; this also required the fitting of a new drive sprocket.  In 1970, the commander’s machinegun was restored.  In 1974, a laser rangefinder was fitted to the T-55A, as well as an improved telescopic gunner’s sight.  Also in 1974, radios were upgraded, as was the night vision suite.  Optional rubber side skirts and a driver’s windshield could be fitted. Lugs for ERA were also added in the 1974 model.

     In 1983, the T-55M model was introduced.  The major change was the installation of the Volna fire control system, which added thermal imaging for the gunner, allowed the laser rangefinder to double as a laser designator, and allowed the T-55M to launch the new 9K116-1 (AT-10) Bastion ATGM through its gun barrel.  In addition, stabilization of the main gun was improved (though not enough to be reflected in the Twilight 2000 rules) and the engine installed was the same V-55U engine of the T-62, developing 620 horsepower. Radios were also updated.  Protection was increased with the addition of side skirts and appliqué armor for the glacis, turret front, and turret sides.  On each side of the turret four smoke grenade launchers were added, and the interior of the T-55M had an automatic fire detection/suppression system.  A cheaper version of the T-55M, the T-55AM2, was also designed; this is a T-55M without the Volna FCS or ATGM capability.

     The T-55M6 starts with a T-55M5, but is a more radical upgrade. The chassis is longer by one roadwheel, allowing it to mount the turret of a T-72B, complete with 125mm 2A46M main gun, the autoloader for the main gun, and additional ammunition storage to increase the amount of ammo carried to the same as the T-72B. The turret is further modified by giving it the armor suite of the T-80U.  The T-72M6 may be armed with a fire control system allowing it to use the 9K120 Svir or 9K119 Refleks missile.

     The T-55MV is a version the T-55M which has lugs for Kontakt-1 ERA on the turret front, front third of the turret roof, and glacis. It is otherwise the same as the T-55M for game purposes.  The T-55MV-1 is the same as the T-55MV, but has a V-46-5M 691-horsepower engine installed.  The T-55M5 is the same as the T-55MV-1 but replaces the Kontakt-1 ERA with Kontakt-5, and has hunter-killer sights for the commander and gunner,

     Trying to help make the T-55 more survivable, the Soviets devised an appliqué armor package for the T-55’s turret.  Called bra armor or horseshoe armor, this is simply a large block of cast steel that fits over the front and sides of the turret, with appropriate holes and cutouts to fit the main gun, coaxial machinegun, and sights.  Hits to the front of the turret are 85% likely this additional armor; hits to the sides of the turret are 50% likely to hit this armor.  At the same time, the armor of the hull floor was thickened somewhat.  This version of the T-55 is designated the T-55AM; it is based on the T-55M.  (The designation T-55AM is sometimes used for a version of the T-55A with the DShK machinegun moved over to the loader’s hatch; this version is the same as the T-55A 1970 or 1974 version except for the position of the machinegun.) The T-55AMV is a version of the T-55AM that has lugs for ERA on the glacis, turret front, turret sides, hull sides, and the forward one-quarter of the turret front; this version dates from the early 1980s and does not use the bra armor package.

     Two later versions (circa mid-1990s or so), the T-55AMD and T-55AD, replaces the ERA lugs and system with the Drozd active protection system.  This system includes a small, short-range radar system on the turret roof to detect incoming missiles and rockets (it doesn’t work fast enough to stop tank and autocannon rounds) and launches special rounds in the path of the missile that quickly break up into a cloud of tungsten pellets, destroying the missile before it can hit the tank.  The Drozd system has six of these rounds available, and the special rounds are 50% likely to stop the incoming missile; the missile will be destroyed about 10 meters from the tank.  (The primary problem with the Drozd is in the limitations of its radar system and not the special rounds.)  The T-55AMD is based on the T-55M; the T-55AD has the Drozd system, but not the Volna FCS or ATGM capability.

 

Various T-54/55 Versions…

     The Afghanis bought T-55s from Russia and Type 59s and Type 69s from China in the 1960s and 1970s. To keep them running during the Taliban period, non-functioning tanks were heavily cannibalized, resulting in Afghani T-55s turning into a hodgepodge of T-55, Type 59, and Type 69 parts, resulting in sort of chimera tanks. For game purposes, Afghani T-55s are T-55As/AKs, but have parts from many tanks and sometimes even whole turrets or chassis being replaced with other variants of the T-55/Type 59/Type 69. (Most of the Afghani T-55s were actually destroyed by US forces during the initial invasion of Afghanistan.)

     The Argentinian company TENSA modernized some T-55As for Peru in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Modernizations included applique armor for the turret, rubber side skirts, a laser rangefinder for the main gun and coaxial machinegun, and a mast-mounted retractable 1-meter weather sensor on the turret that senses humidity, wind characteristics, and heat-related mirages.  This data is used by the gunner, who has a small computer to consolidate information for a main gun shot. The TENSA variant also has a new 700-horsepower engine.

     In the 1960’s, the Russians experimented with a version of the T-55 called Ob’yekt 155ML which had an armature on the rear of the turret mounting three 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) missile launchers.  The commander had sighing and control equipment by his station on the turret deck, and the commander’s machinegun was moved to the loader’s position. This version was not proceeded with beyond test versions; some of the reasons were the relatively short range of the Malyutka compared to the main gun and the lack of any space for reloads of the missile launcher. This vehicle should not be confused with the T-55ML, which was an unsuccessful variant of the T-55M, and for which I have no information to go on.

     The Digna is a Sudanese copy of the T-55A.  The Sudanese use a great deal of locally-sourced parts, and there has been a problem with parts not necessarily being interchangeable enough.  This is due to manufacture being subcontracted to the many machine shops of Sudan.

 

Flamethrower Tanks: The OT-54 and TO-55

     Both the T-54 and T-55 were modified into flamethrower tanks.  The OT-54 was the first, modified from the T-54A, and first saw service in 1954.  The second, the TO-55, first saw service in 1960, and was based on the basic T-55 chassis.  The OT-54 used the ATO-1 automatic flamethrower; the TO-55 used the ATO-200 automatic flamethrower.  In both cases, however, the specifications of the flamethrower are basically the same.  The flamethrowers fire short bursts of flaming jellied gasoline, about one every three seconds, until the gunner takes his thumb off the trigger or the flamethrower runs out of fuel.  Both carry 460 liters of jellied gasoline, and the flamethrower is mounted coaxial to the main gun in place of the coaxial machinegun.  The bow machinegun is also deleted.  The ATO-1 has a base T2K range of 40 meters, while the ATO-200 has a base T2K range of 50 meters; both flamethrowers have enough fuel to allow for 13 bursts.  The flamethrower’s fuel tank and equipment are mounted in the front right hull, next to the driver, where six rounds for the main gun are normally stored.  (This must make the driver feel real good…)

 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The T-55AMD and T-55AD are very rare in the Twilight 2000 timeline.  T-55s and T-55As in Russian service are found primarily in Category 2 and 3 units, though in other armies they can be main-force tanks.  In Russian service, T-54s are mostly found in Category 3 or Mobilization-Only units; elsewhere in the world, they can still be found in front-line units, though this is also rare.  Few OT-54s exist anymore in the Twilight 2000 timeline; TO-55s are a little bit more common. Stock T-55s/T-55/T-55As/T-55Ms and their variants are the most common T-55s in Soviet service, except that the T-55M6 does not appear in the Twilight War, and the T-55K Uran does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

T-54

$392,908

D, A

462 kg

35.5 tons

4

16

Headlights

Enclosed

T-54-1/2/3/K

$418,092

D, A

463 kg

39.15 tons

4

16

Headlights

Enclosed

T-54A

$572,284

D, A

463 kg

36 tons

4

16

Active IR (D)

Enclosed

T-54AK

$575,690

D, A

463 kg

35.9 tons

4

17

Active IR (D)

Enclosed

T-54B

$592,962

D, A

463 kg

36 tons

4

16

Active IR (D), IR Searchlight

Enclosed

T-54BK

$596,368

D, A

463 kg

36 tons

4

17

Active IR (D), IR Searchlight

Enclosed

T-55

$728,780

D, A

465 kg

36 tons

4

14

Active IR (D, C, G), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55K

$789,780

D, A

464 kg

35.9 tons

4

14

Active IR (D, G), Passive IR (C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55K Uran

$1,050,738

D, A

461 kg

36.3 tons

4

19

Active IR (D, G), Passive IR (C), Uran TV Cameras (G, C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55A (1961)

$733,252

D, A

472 kg

38 tons

4

16

Active IR (D, C, G), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55AK (1961)

$794,252

D, A

472 kg

37.9 tons

4

16

Active IR (D, G), Passive IR (C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55A (1970)

$749,060

D, A

472 kg

38 tons

4

16

Active IR (D, C, G), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55AK (1970)

$810,060

D, A

471 kg

37.9 tons

4

16

Active IR (D, G), Passive IR (C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55A (1974)

$1,041,060

D, A

472 kg

38 tons

4

16

Passive IR (D, G, C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55AK (1974)

$1,102,060

D, A

471 kg

37.9 tons

4

16

Passive IR (D, G, C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55M

$960,242

D, A

471 kg

40.5 tons

4

16

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55MV-1

$994,044

D, A

470 kg

40.5 tons

4

21

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D, G, C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55M6

$993,904

D, A

490 kg

42.5 tons

3

25

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-54AM2

$822,242

D, A

560 kg

40.5 tons

4

16

Passive IR (D, G, C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55AM

$960,242

D, A

473 kg

44.4 tons

4

18

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55AMV

$969,844

D, A

473 kg

40.5 tons

4

16

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55AMD

$1,016,674

D, A

476 kg

40.7 tons

4

20

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55AD

$878,674

D, A

476 kg

40.7 tons

4

20

Passive IR (D, G, C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

OT-54

$652,284

D, A

462 kg

36.6 tons

4

19

Active IR (D)

Enclosed

TO-55

$808,780

D, A

465 kg

36.6 tons

4

17

Active IR (D, C, G), IR Searchlight

Shielded

Ob’yekt 155ML

$990,310

D, A

465 kg

36.3 tons

4

19

Active IR (D, C, G), IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-55A (TENSA)

$966,460

D, A

472 kg

39 tons

4

 

Passive IR (D, G, C), IR Searchlight

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

T-54

122/86

31/18

530+380

225

Trtd

T6

TF51  TS17  TR13  HF63  HS12  HR8

T-54-1/2/3/K

115/80

29/17

545+380

237

Trtd

T6

TF54  TS18  TR13  HF63  HS12  HR8

T-54A/AK/B/BK/OT-54

121/85

31/18

545+380

228

Trtd

T6

TF54  TS18  TR13  HF63  HS12  HR8

T-55/T-55K/TO-55/K Uran/Ob’yekt 155ML

128/90

33/19

680+380

246

Trtd

T6

TF57  TS19  TR14  HF60  HS12  HR6

T-55A/AK (All Versions)

112/78

29/17

680+380

260

Trtd

T6

TF57  TS19  TR14  HF66  HS13  HR6

T-54M/AM2/AMV/AMD/AD

109/77

28/17

680+380

254

Trtd

T6

TF60  TS21  TR14  HF70  HS15  HR6

T-55MV-1

126/88

35/25

680+380

269

Trtd

T6

TF60  TS21  TR14  HF70  HS15  HR6

T-55M6

122/85

34/24

680+380

269

Trtd

T6

TF122Cp  TS29Sp  TR22  HF72Sp  HS17Sp  HR6

T-55AM

102/72

26/16

680+380

278

Trtd

T6

TF90*  TS51*  TR14  HF70  HS15  HR6

T-55A (TENSA)

134/94

37/26

680+380

260

Trtd

T6

TF65Sp  TS21Sp  TR15  HF66  HS15  HR6

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

T-54

+1

None

100mm D-10T, 2xSGMT (Fenders)

34x100mm, 3800x7.62mm

T-54-1

+1

None

100mm LB-1, SGMT, SGMT (Fenders), DShK (C)

34x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-54-2/3/K

+1

None

100mm LB-1, SGMT, SGMT (Bow), DShK (C)

34x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-54A

+1

Basic

100mm D-10T, SGMT, SGMT (Bow), DShK (C)

34x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-54AK

+1

Basic

100mm D-10T, SGMT, SGMT (Bow), DShK (C)

29x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-54B

+1

Fair

100mm D-10T, SGMT, SGMT (Bow), DShK (C)

34x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-54BK

+1

Fair

100mm D-10T, SGMT, SGMT (Bow), DShK (C)

29x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-55

+1

Fair

100mm D-10T, SGMT, SGMT (Bow)

45x100mm, 3800x7.62mm

T-55K

+1

Fair

100mm D-10T, SGMT

37x100mm, 3800x7.62mm

T-55K Uran

+1

Fair

100mm D-10T, SGMT

30x100mm, 3000x7.62mm

T-55A (1961)

+1

Fair

100mm D-10T, PKT

45x100mm, 3800x7.62mm

T-55AK (1961)

+1

Fair

100mm D-10T, PKT

37x100mm, 3800x7.62mm

T-55A (1970)

+1

Fair

100mm D-10T, PKT, DShK (C)

45x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-55AK (1970)

+1

Fair

100mm D-10T, PKT, DShK (C)

37x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-55A (1974)

+2

Fair

100mm D-10T, PKT, DShK (C)

45x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-55AK (1974)/AM2/AD

+2

Fair

100mm D-10T, PKT, DShK (C)

37x100mm, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-55M/AM/AMV/AMD

+2

Fair

100mm D-10T, PKT, DShK (C)

38x100mm, 5xAT-10 ATGM, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-55MV-1

+2

Fair

100mm D-10T, PKT, DShK (C)

38x100mm, 5xAT-10 ATGM, 3000x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-55M6

+3

Good

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

38x125mm, 6x9M119 Svir or 9K119 Refleks ATGM (not both), 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

OT-54

+1**

Basic**

100mm D-10T, ATO-1 Flamethrower, DShK (C)

28x100mm, 13xFlamethrower Bursts, 500x12.7mm

TO-55

+1**

Fair**

100mm D-10T, ATO-200 Flamethrower

39x100mm, 13xFlamethrower Bursts

Ob’yekt 155ML

+1

Fair

100mm D-10T, 3x9M14 Malyutka Launchers, SGMT, SGMT (Bow)

45x100mm, 3x9M14 Malyutka ATGM, 3800x7.62mm

T-55A (TENSA)

+3

Good

100mm D-10T, MAG, M2HB (C)

34x100mm, 4000x7.62mm, 1000x12.7mm

*The bra armor on the turret front and sides is not guaranteed protection; incoming rounds are 85% likely to hit the front bra armor and 50% likely to hit the side bra armor.  If the bra armor is not hit, armor for the TF is 60 and 21 for the TS.  On the positive side, floor armor for the T-55AM is AV 6.

**The Fire Control and Stabilization figures do not apply to the flamethrower.

 

Morozov T-62

     Notes:  After the appearance of the T-54 and T-55, the West responded with new tanks of their own; these tanks, like the M-60, Chieftain, Centurion, Leopard 1, and M-48 had better armor, maneuverability, and fire control than the T-55.  In addition, the Soviets realized that the 100mm D-10T gun of the T-55 could not penetrate the frontal armor of these newer Western tanks.  Soviet 100mm HEAT ammunition could, but the Soviets, due to their limited manufacturing capabilities, could not manufacture 100mm HEAT ammunition quickly in large quantities or at a reasonable cost. The Soviets also knew that the new Western 105mm guns could easily out-do the Soviet 100mm gun.  (The main reason the Soviets knew all this was the defection of an Iranian officer to the Russians; he drove his then-new M-60A1 tank across the border to the Soviet Union.)

     At first, the Soviets decided that the simplest solution was to re-gun the T-55 with a newer 115mm gun called the U-5TS (later called the 2A20).  It was quickly discovered that the T-55’s turret was not up to snuff with the recoil and power of the U-5TS.  This meant that a larger turret was required, which meant that a larger turret ring was needed, which meant that a larger hull was necessary to mount the new turret – and you have the T-62, an evolutionary upgrade of the T-55.

     The T-62, though produced from 1961 to 1975 and in service in Russia until the mid-1990s, did not have the great success of the T-55.  It was never produced in the huge numbers of the T-55; real-world production costs were over twice those of the T-55, and the APFSDS ammunition for the new gun was also quite expensive at the time.  The T-62 was deemed an improvement over the T-55, but not a big enough improvement for most countries to immediately begin replacing their T-55s with the T-62.  Most Warsaw Pact and other possible export customers passed on the T-62 until they were essentially out of date and could be had at a relatively cheap real-world cost.  The only countries that built the T-62 under license were Czechoslovakia, from 1975 to 1978, and North Korea, who obtained a license in 1980 are reportedly still producing them.  During production in the Soviet Union, the T-62 was built at plants in both the Ukraine and near the Ural Mountains, and the Ukrainians still build upgrade kits for the T-62 today.  Today, over 20 countries are in fact using the T-62; most of these are Third World countries who got them cheap in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

 

The First-Generation T-62s

     The actual first “T-62s” were the prototype Ob’yekt 165 versions; these were simply stretched T-55s hulls with a new turret ring, a new 100mm D-54TS gun, an automatic spent shell ejector, and upgraded stabilization and fire control.  The few that entered field testing were quickly withdrawn.

     The first true T-62 entered service in 1961.  It was equipped with the new U-5TS Rapira gun; this was the first smoothbore gun employed in large numbers by any army in the world.  The main gun was stabilized in two planes, and fire control consisted of a coincidence rangefinder with telescopic day/night sight.  Though a small tank, the T-62 carried a respectable main gun ammunition load; unfortunately, the machinegun ammunition situation was the opposite.  (This went along with Soviet doctrine of the time – tanks were supposed to fight tanks and not meant to support infantry.)  The commander’s cupola was slightly raised, but non-rotating, and had no commander’s machinegun; it has four vision blocks to the front, and two facing opposite directions in the turret hatch.  The commander has a small hand-trained spotlight mounted externally near his hatch, and a large searchlight is mounted over the main gun.  On the right side of the turret, in a small armored box, is a Geiger counter.  The V-55A diesel engine developed 581 horsepower, which gave the T-62 decent mobility due to the light weight of the tank.  A smoke screen can be laid by the T-62 by injecting diesel fuel into its exhaust.  Much larger fuel tanks were fitted; these are under the armor of the right fender, but if you hit the T-62 in that fender from slightly below, the armor thickness is only about half that of the rest of the hull sides. External fuel tanks can also be fitted at the rear.  It should be noted that, while overall, the armor of the T-62 is about 5% thicker than that of the T-55, the armor on the T-62’s sides near the floor and on the armor on the turret and hull decks is actually a little thinner than that of the T-55.

     Two command versions of the T-62 were built.  The T-62K, introduced in 1964, had an additional long-range radio fitted, as well as a 1kW APU.  To make room for this additional equipment, ammunition for the main gun and coaxial machinegun had to be decreased.  The T-62K was for use by commanders at company and battalion levels.  The T-62KN, for use at higher than battalion levels, was outfitted like the T-62K but also had inertial navigation.

     In limited issue to T-62 crews was the ZET-1 armor system, first deployed in 1964.  This was a stretchable screen with about the strength of a chain-link fence but with a tighter net-like structure that was used on the front of the tank to pre-detonate HEAT rounds.  Another part of the system was a set of thin steel-backed rubber side skirts that flipped upwards for suspension maintenance.  Unfortunately, the side skirts were not ready for prime time, as they tended to get ripped off the tank in wooded terrain; also in wooded terrain, the net armor up front would become clogged with vegetation, eventually reaching the point where the driver could not see.  (In open terrain, the ZET-1 system actually proved to be quite effective.)  The system was withdrawn in early 1964.  The frontal screens work like spaced armor, but are only 50% likely to stop 2d6 of penetration; the rest of the time, they stop only 1d6 of penetration.  The side skirts add 1 AV to the hull side armor.  The entire system weighs 500 kg and costs $1000.

     In 1967, the T-62’s rear deck was modified to ease access to the engine.  This version is called the T-62 M-1967; for game purposes, it is identical to the T-62, T-62K, or T-62KN (whichever applies). 

     The T-62 had a number of problems, not all of which were ever addressed.  The turret itself carries only 4 ready rounds; the rest are in front of the engine compartment and alongside the driver.  Turret rotation was slow; a 360-degree turn of the turret took 21 seconds, almost twice that of Western tanks of the time.  To reload the main gun, the gun must be elevated to +3.5 degrees; since the sights elevate and depress with the gun, the gunner can’t look for new targets during the reloading of the main gun, and the sudden change in elevation of the main gun to 3.5 degrees is a signal to an alert enemy that the T-62 is reloading and relatively vulnerable.  The fact that the turret could not be traversed during reloading did not help matters.  Though the main gun can hit at 4000 meters during the day, the relatively primitive night vision equipment limits the main gun’s range to 800 meters.  Though the T-62 is capable of 4 rounds per minute when it is stationary, and fire on the move is possible, the tight confines of the turret and the bouncing around of the tank meant that reloading while on the move was very difficult.  Perhaps the biggest problem with the T-62 was the automatic spent case ejection system.  The port was never properly aligned with the main gun’s breech, which led to lots of cases missing the port and hitting the sides instead.  Case ejection was violent, and spent shells could laterally ricochet off the edges of the port and injure the turret crew.  (Later, a deflector would be added to protect the commander, but this did not help the gunner or loader.)  The poor design of the case ejection system also tended to cause the turret to gradually fill with carbon monoxide from the main gun rounds.  That small hatch for case ejection, though spring-loaded, also meant that the T-62 could not be completely NBC sealed; the crew would have to wear full MOPP gear in an NBC environment.  Finally, though the T-62 had relative agility for a Soviet tank, it still could not keep up with the then-new BMP-1 IFV.

 

The Second-Generation T-62s

     Some problems with the T-62 were later addressed and either fixed or partially fixed; some never got fixed because the production lines were already well-established and making major changes was deemed to be too costly, especially since the T-62s successor (the T-64) was already in service and the successor to the T-64 (the T-72) was already in the initial design phases.

     The first of these new modifications was noticed in the West in 1972, and called the T-62 M-1972.  (It, like most of the Soviet designs, was probably in service 2-5 years earlier.)  The T-62 M-1972 had a DShK machinegun, but it was installed on a pintle in front of the loader’s hatch.  This meant that the T-62 finally had an antiaircraft machinegun, but using it was problematic since it meant that the loader had to do double duty as a gunner for the machinegun and a loader for the main gun.  New, longer-lasting tracks (the same as those on the T-72) were fitted, which also meant that a new drive sprocket had to be added.  Special equipment meant that deeper fording could be done without having to resort to a snorkel attachment (though not as deep a level of fording as if a snorkel was used).    The T-62 M-1975 was similar, but added a KTD-1 or KTD-2 laser rangefinder to the gunner’s equipment (mounted in an armored box over the main gun next to the searchlight), and upgraded the night vision suite.  The bolts for the commander’s cupola, which tended to work loose, were also countersunk and covered with caps; the pintle mount for the DShK could also be shifted to the commander’s cupola, and usually was.

     In 1983, the T-62M was introduced.  First seen by the West in Afghanistan (and at first called by them the T-62E), the T-62M had the Volna fire control system, which included an upgraded night vision suite for the gunner, as well as a laser rangefinder that could double as a laser designator.  Like the T-55M, this allowed the use of an ATGM fired through the gun tube; this ATGM was a variant of the AT-10 Stabber (9K117 Bastion), one that had a special housing to allow it to be used with the larger-diameter gun.  The missile is the 9K117-1 Sheksna, or the AT-12 by the West. The version of the Volna system fitted to the T-62M also had a ballistic computer. The commander’s auxiliary sights were also upgraded, making them the equal to the gunner’s sights (though the commander could not launch an ATGM or use the gunner’s thermal imager).  The main gun received a thermal sleeve, updated radios, and the V-55U diesel engine developing 620 horsepower.  On each side of the turret, four smoke grenade launchers were added.  The new equipment, unfortunately, took up enough room that main gun ammunition load had to be slightly decreased.

     Protection-wise, the T-62M also received several changes.  The T-62 was fitted with the BDD appliqué armor package, which increased the belly armor, added armored side skirts (backed with rubber), a large steel plate bolted to the glacis, and bra armor similar to that of the T-55AM.  The BDD armor package also included a liner to absorb energetic neutrons from nuclear explosions.  While the T-62M is more survivable, it is also much heavier, negating the advantages given by the more powerful engine.

     Variants of the T-62M include the T-62M-1, with a 690-horsepower V-46-5M engine.  The T-62M1 (not to be confused with the previous version of the T-62) has a revised, more effective hull armor layout, but no Volna FCS or ATGM capability.  The T-62M1-1 (gets confusing, doesn’t it?) is the same as the T-62M1, but with the V-46-5M engine.  The T-62M1-2 is a T-62M1 without the BDD armor package.  The T-62M1-2-1 is a T-62M1-2 with the V-46-5M engine.

     Command versions of the T-62M were also built; the T-62MK is for the most part similar to the T-62M, but has no ATGM capability (though it does have a thermal imager for the gunner).  The T-62MK has an additional medium-range and long-range radio, and a 1kW APU.  Inertial navigation equipment is also fitted.  Like the T-62K, the T-62MK has a lower ammunition load.  The T-62MK-1 is the same, but uses the V-46-5M engine.

     The T-62MV replaces the bra armor of the T-62M with lugs for ERA and the Kontakt-1 ERA package (the ERA itself is not included in the price below).  These lugs are on the glacis, hull sides, the turret front, and the forward one-quarter of the turret roof.  The T-62MV-1 is the T-62MV with the V-46-5M engine.  The T-62M1V is the T-62MV without the Volna FCS.  The T-62M1V-1 is the T-62M1V with a V-46-5M engine.

 

The Third-Generation T-62s

     In the late 1980s, the last major upgrade by Russia to the T-62 was made.  The T-62M was used as a base; the bra armor was removed, and instead, the Drozd active protection system was installed. This system includes a small, short-range radar system on the turret roof to detect incoming missiles and rockets (it doesn’t work fast enough to stop tank and autocannon rounds), and launches special rounds in the path of the missile that quickly break up into a cloud of tungsten pellets, destroying the missile before it can hit the tank.  The Drozd system has 20 of these rounds available, and the special rounds are 50% likely to stop the incoming missile; the missile will be destroyed about 10 meters from the tank.  (The primary problem with the Drozd is in the limitations of its radar system and not the special rounds.)  This model is called the T-62MD; a version with the V-46-5M engine is called the T-62-MD-1.

 

The TO-62

     The TO-62 is the same idea as the TO-55, but on a T-62 chassis.  The coaxial PKT machinegun is replaced with an ATO-220 automatic flamethrower; the flamethrower fires one burst every three seconds as long as the trigger button is depressed.  The ATO-220 flamethrower fires at lower pressure and uses less fuel on each burst; therefore, though the fuel tank still carries 460 liters, more bursts are available, but the base T2K range is 25.

 

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

T-62

$745,850

D, A

500 kg

40 tons

4

16

Active IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62K

$747,250

D, A

500 kg

39.5 tons

4

16

Active IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62KN

$767,250

D, A

500 kg

39.5 tons

4

17

Active IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62 M-1972

$775,800

D, A

500 kg

40.1 tons

4

16

Active IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62 M-1975

$1,067,800

D, A

500 kg

40.1 tons

4

17

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62M

$1,048,542

D, A

500 kg

43.8 tons

4

20

Thermal Imager (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62M-1

$1,048,834

D, A

500 kg

43.9 tons

4

20

Thermal Imager (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62M1

$833,174

D, A

500 kg

41.1 tons

4

17

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62M1-1

$833,574

D, A

500 kg

41.2 tons

4

17

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62M1-2

$1,033,734

D, A

500 kg

40.8 tons

4

19

Thermal Imager (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62M1-2-1

$1,034,174

D, A

500 kg

40.9 tons

4

19

Thermal Imager (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62MV

$1,044,072

D, A

500 kg

40.8 tons

4

19

Thermal Imager (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62MV-1

$1,044,472

D, A

500 kg

40.9 tons

4

19

Thermal Imager (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62M1V

$1,071,702

D, A

500 kg

40.7 tons

4

18

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62M1V-1

$918,898

D, A

500 kg

40.8 tons

4

18

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62MK

$1,071,702

D, A

500 kg

43.3 tons

4

22

Thermal Imager (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62MK-1

$1,072,062

D, A

500 kg

43.4 tons

4

22

Thermal Imager (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62MD

$1,111,340

D, A

500 kg

40.8 tons

4

21

Thermal Imager (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-62MD-1

$1,111,740

D, A

500 kg

40.9 tons

4

21

Thermal Imager (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

TO-62

$825,850

D, A

500 kg

40.6 tons

4

17

Active IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor*

T-62/K/KN/M-1972/M-1975/TO-62

109/77

28/17

960+400

314

Trtd

T6

TF60  TS20  TR15  HF66  HS14  HR8

T-62M/MK

105/74

27/16

960+400

326

Trtd

T6

TF90**  TS50**  TR15  HF70  HS16  HR8

T-62M-1/MK-1

114/80

29/17

960+400

350

Trtd

T6

TF90**  TS50**  TR15  HF70  HS16  HR8

T-62M1

111/77

28/17

960+400

323

Trtd

T6

TF60  TS20  TR15  HF73  HS18  HR9

T-62M1-1

120/84

30/18

960+400

328

Trtd

T6

TF60  TS20  TR15  HF73  HS18  HR9

T-62M1-2/MV/MD

113/79

29/17

960+400

304

Trtd

T6

TF60  TS20  TR15  HF70  HS16  HR8

T-62M1-2-1/MV-1/MD-1

122/86

31/18

960+400

326

Trtd

T6

TF60  TS20  TR15  HF70  HS16  HR8

T-62M1V

112/78

28/17

960+400

320

Trtd

T6

TF60  TS20  TR15  HF70  HS16  HR8

T-62M1V-1

121/85

30/18

960+400

325

Trtd

T6

TF60  TS20  TR15  HF70  HS16  HR8

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

T-62

+1

Fair

115mm U-5TS gun, PKT

40x115mm, 2500x7.62mm

T-62K/KN

+1

Fair

115mm U-5TS gun, PKT

36x115mm, 1750x7.62mm

T-62 M-1972

+1

Fair

115mm U-5TS gun, PKT, DShK (L)

40x115mm, 2500x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-62 M-1975/M1/M1-1/M1V/M1V-1

+2

Fair

115mm U-5TS gun, PKT, DShK (C)

40x115mm, 2500x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-62M/M-1/M1-2/M1-2-1/MV/MV-1/MD/MD-1

+3

Fair

115mm U-5TS gun, PKT, DShK (C)

33x115mm, 5xAT-12 ATGM, 2500x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-62MK/MK-1

+3

Fair

115mm U-5TS gun, PKT, DShK (C)

34x115mm, 1750x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

TO-62

+1***

Fair***

115mm U-5TS gun, ATO-220 Flamethrower

34x115mm, 20xFlamethrower Bursts

*Turret and hull deck armor for most of the T-62 series is only 3.  However, floor armor for the T-62M series is 6.

** The bra armor on the turret front and sides is not guaranteed protection; incoming rounds are 85% likely to hit the front bra armor and 50% likely to hit the side bra armor.  If the bra armor is not hit, armor for the TF is 60 and 20 for the TS.

***The rangefinder and fire control bonuses do not apply to the flamethrower.

 

Morozov T-64

     Notes:  The T-64, despite the relatively small numbers in which it was produced, was a rather radical advance in tank design; it is similar to the technological leap that the T-34 made in World War 2.  The design of the T-64 sprang from two seemingly diametrically-opposed desires of the Red Army: the desire to dispense completely with heavy tanks as a class, and yet keep the protection and heavy armament that those heavy tanks provided.  The result was a design much more advanced in the mid-1960s than the West realized – one so advanced that until the T-90 series, subsequent Soviet and Russian tanks have merely been evolutionary upgrades of the T-64’s design.  The T-64 entered Soviet service in 1966, and was first identified in the West in 1970.  It has long been replaced by later designs in the Russian Army, and was never exported, even to other Warsaw Pact armies, and deployments outside the Soviet Union did not even start until 1976.  The Russians still employ some 3000 of the latest versions of the T-64 in lower-readiness units in 2009; the Ukrainians have almost 2000 in service, though most of theirs have been improved even beyond the capabilities of the last Russian versions.  The T-64 is also still used by Belarus and Uzbekistan.  The chief designer, Alexander Morozov, received the Lenin Prize for the T-64.  Production of the T-64 (in all versions) ended in 1987, though upgrading of the T-64 continues in Ukraine, and several T-64s have been modified for other duties ranging from engineer vehicles to recovery vehicles to even odd variants like heavy APCs.

 

The First T-64: The T-64R

     Morozov began with a new turret and hull design, but still using a version of the 115mm U-5TS gun called the D-68.  The main gun, however, was fed by an autoloader, dramatically increasing the rate of fire.  The autoloader was fed by a double-row carousel-type rack in the floor of the turret; the autoloader gunner would select the ammunition type, and the autoloader would rotate the carousel to the appropriate place, retrieve the ammunition and ram it into the breech, then close the breech.  After the round was fired, the autoloader opened the breech, removed the spent shell, and put it back into the carousel.  The autoloader carousel holds 30 rounds; additional rounds are carried to the right of the driver. Fire control was also updated from that of the T-62, including a high-magnification coincidence rangefinder that could be dialed in faster than that of the T-62.  The Night vision suite was a bit more advanced than that of the T-62; another difference was that the searchlight was on the left side of the main gun instead of over the gun.

     As one of the problems with the T-62 was its inability to keep up with the BMP-1, the T-64 was equipped with 5TDF 700-horsepower engine; unlike previous designs, this was a multi-fuel engine.  The 5TDF was also more compact than comparable Western tank engines of the time.  The suspension was also very different from previous designs; the primary shock absorbers for the roadwheels were actually inside the hull floor, with the first, second, and sixth roadwheels having additional external shock absorbers to further smooth the ride.  The suspension also used shorter torsion bars than standard tank designs of the period.  This not only gave the T-64 a smoother ride, it made the T-64’s suspension considerably lighter (and unfortunately, more complicated and prone to problems).

     The armor package was also innovative; it consisted of an outer and inner layer of steel plate, with ceramic in between the two.  The ceramic armor itself, inside the steel, was encased in a thin layer of aircraft-quality aluminum.  This form of spaced armor (sort of a very early form of composite armor) gave the T-64 superior protection against HEAT rounds; at the time, most anti-armor rounds were in fact HEAT rounds.  The side skirts (called Gill armor) actually sprang out when hit; this gave a bit of additional protection against HEAT rounds (though not enough to register with the Twilight 2000 rules).

     While the T-64 was a large advance in tank design, it did have its problems.  One of the biggest problems was the new autoloader.  The T-64, like most Soviet tanks, was very cramped inside, and the new autoloader didn’t really take into account just how small the turret’s interior was.  The result was an autoloader that was prone to jamming and worse – all it took was a hanging sleeve for the autoloader to grab the gunner’s arm and shove it into the breech; some gunners on the early T-64 actually suffered from injuries so severe they required amputation of the limb, and some were killed by the autoloader.  If the autoloader broke down, reloading the main gun was an ergonomically horrible concept – you might be lucky to get off one round a minute.  Like most Russian tanks, a hull-down position was difficult to take, as the main gun could depress to only -6 degrees (that’s about the maximum depression for almost every Russian built tank since the T-34, in fact).  This is due to the small size of the turret.  Like most Soviet/Russian tank designs, the amount of machinegun ammunition was nothing to write home about, but on the T-64, the machinegun ammunition supply was skimpier than virtually any other Soviet or Russian tank.

     Another problem was the complicated suspension; roadwheels could actually travel enough to damage them, the torsion bars, or the shock absorbers.  The transmission used two clutches instead of one, making driving a difficult task, and the steering system was so sensitive that driver’s could easily oversteer the T-64, to the point that track throwing became a problem.  The Gill armor track skirts were also a problem; their mountings proved to be quite fragile and the individual plates that composed the skirts could easily be ripped off the T-64R as it moved through wooded terrain.  (Many crews removed them to keep them from getting damaged, or rattling around if they were damaged but not totally ripped off their mountings.)

     Nonetheless, some 600 of these early T-64s were built and put into service.  However, as problems and complaints mounted, virtually all of these early versions were rebuilt using improvements resulting from these initial problems as well as improvements that the Morozov team had also come up with.  To avoid confusion with later versions, this early T-64 was re-designated the T-64R.

 

The First “Real” T-64s

     Design work on upgraded versions of the T-64 began at about the same time as large-scale production of the T-64R started in 1965.  The then-new D-81T 125mm gun was to be fitted to this new version, which was given the designation “T-64,” and the original T-64 becoming the T-64R.  The serious problems with the autoloader of the T-64R at first led the Morozov team to dispense with the autoloader, but it was quickly realized that the combination of the larger main gun and a fourth crewmember would severely limit the amount of main gun ammunition that could be carried.  Therefore, the designers had to almost completely redesign the autoloader, and it became an almost totally-reliable mechanism (there was still the occasional jamming of the mechanism, and every now and then the autoloader would still grab the gunner, but such problems dropped to the point that accident rates were acceptable).  The new autoloader had a capacity of 28 main gun rounds; it still used the turret floor-based carousel system, and additional rounds were still carried to the right of the driver.

     The Gill armor, unfortunately, was still used, with its attendant problems.  The suspension, transmission, and engine remained the same.  The armor package was changed somewhat, with heavier steel being used for the outer layer of the armor, and a layer of fiberglass added to the armor package in between the ceramic interior and the aluminum jacket around the interior of the armor package.  Some concessions were made to the storage of equipment; starting at the front left side and moving to nearly the center of the turret side, three boxes were added tor crew gear and tools.  A compartment was added near the front right fender for the same purpose.  The hatches were also widened.

     The T-64 had a collective NBC system for the crew, as well as considerable radiation shielding based largely on lead-impregnated plastic and foam contained in a small space between the armor and the interior walls of the tank.  The T-64 could use a snorkel to conduct deep fording if necessary. 

 

The T-64A

     Design work on an upgraded T-64 began, like the T-64 and T-64R, almost as soon as the T-64 started rolling off the production lines, and first entered service in 1967.  The T-64A featured an upgraded fire control system with a better coincidence rangefinder (not enough to be reflected in the Twilight 2000 rules), and better stabilization (again, not enough to be reflected in the game rules).  The radios were also updated, as was the night vision suite.  Perhaps the most noticeable change was the commander’s station; the commander was given a rotating cupola with a machinegun that could be aimed and fired from within the turret.  The commander also had sights and stabilization for his machinegun equivalent to that of the main gun and coaxial machinegun.  The commander also had full controls for the main gun and coaxial machinegun, should he see a target that the gunner had overlooked.  The front of the T-64A had provisions for the attachment of a KMT-6 mine plow.

     At the same time, a command version of the T-64 was produced, called the T-64AK.  It differed in having an additional long-range radio, plus another longer-range radio that could be used only when the T-64AK was halted, as it required the erection of a 10-meter telescopic antenna mast.  The commander’s cupola was equipped with a PAB-2AM artillery aiming circle to assist in calling for artillery strikes quickly.  The T-64AK also had a TNA-3 inertial navigation system.  The additional equipment could be powered during a halt by a 1 kW APU. The T-64AK is not equipped with a commander’s machinegun.

     In 1976, a modernized versions of the T-64A and AK began to appear.  The 1976 modernizations included the use of the improved D-81TM gun (later renamed the 2A46-1), along with an associated modified stabilization system, improved autoloader, and sights. (These modifications produce no changes by Twilight 2000 rules.) In 1981, a cluster of six smoke grenade launchers was added to each side of the turret, and the troublesome Gill side skirts were replaced by simpler, yet tougher rubber side skirts backed by aluminum. (In game terms, the T-64A M-1981, in addition to adding the smoke grenade launchers, merely adds $1000 to the price of a standard T-64A or AK.) In 1983, the T-64AM and AKM versions appeared; these versions have all of the preceding improvements, plus the replacement of the engine by the 6TD 1000-horsepower diesel engine, making the T-64AM and AKM very fast and agile indeed, especially since the transmission and steering mechanisms were updated at the same time.  The new engine, however, made the T-64AM and AKM rather fuel-hungry in relation to its predecessors. 

     In 1985, The T-64A series was equipped with lugs for Kontakt-1 ERA on the glacis, hull sides, turret sides, and turret front (and the front quarter of the turret roof), resulting in the T-64AV and T-64AVK.  These versions were also equipped with new smoke grenade launchers, being a pair of 4-round clusters on the left side of the turret.  The T-64AM and AKM were also equipped with ERA lugs, resulting in the T-64AVM and T-64AVMK.  For game purposes, these are otherwise the same as base vehicles, but cost $1500 more (and that’s only for the lugs and framework).

 

The T-64B

     At about the same time that the modernizations of the T-64A and AK began, a new upgrade of the T-64 also began service: The T-64B.  In some ways, the T-64B was same as the T-64AM and AKM that would eventually appear, but it also had several new systems not found on the T-64A.  The T-64B used the original T-64 engine and the associated transmission and steering system; however, it had the new commander’s cupola, the provisions for the mounting of a mine plow, the replacement of the Gill side skirts by rubber/aluminum side skirts, and the addition of smoke grenade launchers.  Armor was also upgraded, particularly on the glacis and turret front and sides. The armor layout and composition was also redesigned, yielding even more protection.

     However, there is an important difference between the T-64A’s gun and the T-64B’s gun: the T-64B’s main gun can fire the 9M112 Kobra (AT-8 Songster) ATGM through it, and has the appropriate associated fire control equipment for the use of this ATGM. The gunner loads the Kobra into the gun tube, and has to leave his station, remove the Kobra from its stowage position, and load it manually into breech to do it, then return to his station and aim, fire, and control the ATGM.  The Kobra cannot be used with the autoloader.  Associated equipment added to the T-64B includes a radio transmitter to control the Kobra (mounted in front of the commander’s cupola), a thermal imager, a higher-magnification day sight, and special stowage provisions for the missiles.  In addition, the gun tube is replaced by one designed for use with the ATGM, a radio command unit and ballistic computer have been added to the main gun fire control equipment, and the main gun has a crosswind sensor.  The main gun ammunition is limited to those rounds that fit into the autoloader, but some internal rearrangement has allowed the coaxial machinegun ammunition amount to be increased.  A command tank version, the T-64BK, was also built, similar in concept to the T-64AK but with the improvements of the T-64B. 

     In 1981, the smoke grenade launchers were replaced with ones that used only four barrel clusters on each side of the turret.  In 1983, the engine was upgraded to the then-new 1000-horsepower 6TD, yielding the T-64BM and T-64BKM.  Versions of the T-64B and BK were produced with lugs for Kontakt-1 ERA on the glacis, hull sides, turret sides, and turret front (and the front quarter of the turret roof) were produced, resulting in the T-64BV and T-64BVK tanks.  Versions with ERA lugs have all eight smoke grenade launchers on the left side of the turret.  Versions with the 6TD engine are called the T-64BMV and T-64BMVK.

     A pair of lower-cost versions of the T-64B were also produced: The T-64B1 and T-64B1K.  These are essentially the same as the T-64B and T-64BK, but do not have the capability to fire the 9M112 Kobra ATGM.  Versions of the T-64B1 and T-64B1K with 6TD engines were not produced (at least not by the Russians).  Versions with ERA are called the T-64B1V and T-64B1VK.

 

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

T-64R

$916,196

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

34 tons

3

20

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-64

$935,898

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

38 tons

3

20

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-64A

$1,074,044

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

38.1 tons

3

18

Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-64AK

$1,095,244

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

38 tons

3

19

Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-64AM

$1,094,800

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

38.7 tons

3

18

Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-64AKM

$1,116,000

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

38.6 tons

3

19

Passive IR (D, G, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-64B

$1,382,746

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

40 tons

3

19

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-64BK

$1,403,946

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

39.9 tons

3

20

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-64BM

$1,384,766

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

40.7 tons

3

19

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-64BKM

$1,405,966

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

40.6 tons

3

20

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-64B1

$1,369,056

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

40.6 tons

3

19

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-64B1K

$1,390,046

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

40.5 tons

3

20

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

T-64R

142/99

36/22

1000+400

377

Trtd

T6

TF65Sp  TS22  TR12  HF81Sp  HS18Sp  HR10

T-64/A/AK

130/91

33/20

1000+400

399

Trtd

T6

TF69Sp  TS22Sp  TR12  HF86Sp  HS18Sp  HR10

T-65AM/AKM

172/120

44/26

1000+400

544

Trtd

T6

TF69Sp  TS22Sp  TR12  HF86Sp  HS18Sp  HR10

T-64B/BK/B1/B1K

124/86

31/19

1000+400

419

Trtd

T6

TF72Sp  TS24Sp  TR12  HF90Sp  HS18Sp  HR10

T-64BM/BKM

163/114

42/25

1000+400

571

Trtd

T6

TF72Sp  TS24Sp  TR12  HF90Sp  HS18Sp  HR10

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

T-64R

+2

Fair

115mm D-68 gun, PKT, DShK (C)

40x115mm, 1250x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-64

+2

Fair

125mm D-81T gun, PKT, DShK (C)

36x125mm, 1250x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-64A/AM

+2

Fair

125mm D-81T gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

38x125mm, 1250x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-64AK/AKM

+2

Fair

125mm D-81T gun, PKT

34x125mm, 1250x7.62mm

T-64B/BM

+3

Fair

125mm D-81T gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

28x125mm, 8xAT-8 ATGM, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-64BK/BKM

+3

Fair

125mm D-81T gun, PKT

28x125mm, 4xAT-8 ATGM, 2000x7.62mm

T-64B1

+3

Fair

125mm D-81T gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

36x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-64B1K

+3

Fair

125mm D-81T gun, PKT

32x125mm, 2000x7.62mm

 

Uralvagonzavod T-72

     Notes:  The T-72 was in some ways a successor to the T-64, in some ways an upgraded T-64, was also developed in parallel to most of the T-64 series.  Though the T-64 was an excellent tank ahead of its time, it was expensive to build, the engine was difficult to maintain, and the roadwheels were prone to cracking. The main gun also never really lived up to expectations (especially in the early models of the T-64). Yet at the same time, the T-64 was expensive and labor-intensive to build. The Soviets never exported the T-64, and barely allowed the T-64 to be stationed outside of the Soviet Union.

     The Soviets, therefore, began working on a tank that was more advanced and took advantage of newer technology, yet was also less expensive to build and could be built using more modern methods.  This led to the T-72. The T-72 was a great success, exported far and wide many variants, and even license-produced in several countries.  It was the most common Soviet and Warsaw Pact tank until the fall of the Iron Curtain.  Design work on the T-72 began in 1967, and mass production in 1971.  In most of the hot spots in the world today, you stand a good chance of running into a T-72 or one of its variants.

 

The T-72 Ural

     The original production version of the T-72 was the T-72, called by the Soviets the Ural.  It went into Soviet service in 1971, and Warsaw Pact service in 1973.  The Ural was basically the Soviets' “plain vanilla” version of the T-72 – it had an optical coincidence rangefinder with magnification, limited night vision and a relatively underpowered (for its weight) V-46-6 780-horsepower diesel engine that is actually a supercharged version of the World War 2 T-34's engine.  This engine is relatively smoke-free, and does not have the severe vibration that sapped the endurance of T-64 crews. 

     Though lightweight by NATO standards, it was the heaviest tank the Soviets had produced at the time since the heavy tanks of World War 2, and is relatively narrow.  The narrow track was designed on purpose – it allowed the T-72 to drive over the very narrow bridges found in much of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.  Compared to other Soviet and Russian tanks, the roadwheels of the T-72 are rather large; this was another deliberate design choice; the roadwheels of the T-64 and T-80 are much smaller, and the large roadwheels of the T-72 allow for quick identification by friendly (and unfortunately, enemy) forces.  Despite the low vibration and simpler transmission of the T-72, crews had a different reason to dislike the T-72 Ural: the suspension.  The T-72 employed a rather simple suspension with semi-flexible torsion bars and shock absorbers and roadwheels with a very limited amount of travel.  In a word, the ride sucked – very bouncy, and apt to slam the crew around inside the tank.  (Hold on tight.)  The interior of the tank is also quite small – the T-72 was designed for tankers that were only 1.6 meters tall (5' 4”).

     The T-72 was supposedly designed for fording; it was designed to be able to drive in water 2 meters deep, or 5 meters with a snorkel.  However, the T-72 Ural was so leaky that crews were supplied with emergency rebreathers in case the tank flooded and stalled underwater.  If the engine stalled underwater, the crew had six seconds to get the engine restarted, or it would have to be abandoned – and that happened too often for the Soviets' liking.  The Soviets issued orders that fording to snorkel depth should be avoided as much as possible – but such fording was not disallowed, as it was considered important to operational mobility.

     The T-72 was designed for the nuclear battlefield.  The radiation protection of a T-72 is virtual proof against energetic particles.  The interior of the entire tank is equipped with a synthetic fabric liner made from a boron compound impregnated with lead, which can stop even the radiation from a neutron bomb explosion occurring 300 meters away and prevents most damage from EMP.  The T-72 was the first Soviet tank to have an NBC overpressure system, with a collective NBC system and MOPP suits as a backup.  The autoloader design does a good job of preventing fumes from the fired ammunition from entering the interior of the tank.  The driver's compartment, commander's compartment, and gunner's compartment are all isolated from each other by bulkheads, so if NBC protection fails in one compartment, the others are not contaminated.  On the right side of the turret is a small armored box that contains a radiac meter that also triggers an alarm inside the tank if radiation is detected.

     Though all the vision blocks of the T-72 Ural are too small, the driver's vision blocks are way too small – when the T-72 is buttoned up, the driver has a hard time of seeing where he is going, and the commander constantly has to help him correct his steering.  The driver can replace his forward vision block with an equally-small IR vision block.  He steers using tillers, similar to those on a US M-113, which means the driver needs a lot of upper body strength, as they double as brakes.  He has a conventional gas pedal, but one of those hands that are needs to use the tillers also has to shift the 7-speed, semi-automatic transmission.  The glacis has a V-shaped ridge on it; this is a splash guard for the driver, and is also an easy recognition feature.  Another recognition feature is the streamlined appearance of the fenders; the right fender contains the fuel tank. (Gee, the driver is surrounded by fuel and main gun ammunition – fun!)  Each crew compartment, the ammunition stowage, and the engine compartment have automatic fire detection and extinguishing systems.

     On the T-72 Ural, only the glacis is made from composite armor.  The turret is of one-piece cast steel, and the rest of the armor package is a mix of cast and rolled steel plates.  The T-72 Ural did not have the side skirts that are typically found on later models.

     The T-72 Ural had a serious defect that was never really corrected except on some upgraded models built by other countries.  The ammunition for the main gun was stored, as is Soviet design philosophy, in a carousel in the floor of the turret and in a box beside the driver – but the Soviets skimped on the protection for the ammunition.  A penetrating hit to the ammunition stowage is very likely to cook off the ammunition and blow the turret completely off – leading US troops who encountered them in Desert Storm and the invasion of Iraq in 2003 to call the T-72 the “jack-in-the-box.”

     The T-72 uses the 2A26M2 125mm main gun, a slight modification of the T-64's D-81T main gun.  The main gun is equipped with a heavy thermal sleeve; in fact, the gun and thermal sleeve are so strong that the crew can use the main gun as a ram that will punch through as much as 400mm of reinforced brick.  The main gun also has a fume evacuator.  The autoloader is a simpler design than that of the T-64, but the gunner has to raise the gun three degrees past the normal maximum elevation for the autoloader to be able to feed ammunition to the main gun.  The autoloader can carry 22 rounds.  While the gun is reloading, the gunner can still aim as new targets, as the sights are vertically independent of the main gun.  Beside the main gun on the right side is a white light/IR searchlight, and on the other side is the coaxial machinegun.  The commander has a machinegun mounted externally on his cupola, and there is no provision for firing his machinegun from under armor protection.  The ammunition for the T-72's main gun uses separate projectiles and propellant charges, and this slows the loading time somewhat.  Turret rotation is slow, with 21 seconds being required for a full 360-degree turn.  There are some stowage boxes on the exterior of the turret, but no bustle rack; the crew ends up doing a lot of jury-rigged stowage of their gear.

     There are several variants of this basic form of the T-72.  The T-72K Ural-K is the command version; it has an additional medium-range and long-range radio as well as an inertial navigation system, a mil ring (used to aid the commander when he called for artillery support) inscribed on the inside of cupola, and a 1kW APU to power things when the engine is off. This additional equipment takes up part of the stowage space normally used for main gun ammunition.  The T-72 Ural-1 improved the armor package somewhat and moved the searchlight to the left side of the turret beside the coaxial machinegun.  The T-72 M-1975 was the “cheap export” version, with reduced armor protection, different composition for the composite armor on the glacis, and none of the protection against nuclear explosions of the T-72 Ural.  (Interesting note: Soviet vehicles, aircraft, and weapons that were downgraded in capability for export are sometimes called “Monkey Models,” particularly in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s).

 

The T-72A

     By the mid-1970s, it was realized that the T-72 Ural design was falling behind the times a little; in response, they introduced the T-72A in 1979, and was produced until 1985.  The Soviets dramatically improved the armor package, increasing the armor protection on almost every face of the hull and turret. In the early 1980s, lugs were added for ERA on the glacis, hull sides, turret sides, turret front, and the front quarter of the turret roof, and adding side skirts (made from plastic enclosed in aluminum) and extra armor protection for the front fenders (especially around the fuel tank, which had the same plastic plates as the side skirts, but with thicker aluminum).  The size of the fuel tank was also enlarged.  The T-72A’s ERA lugs were originally designed for Kontakt-1 1st-generation ERA, but later the lugs were modified for use with Kontakt-2 2nd-generation ERA.  (Versions with lugs for ERA are designated the T-72AV, or AVK for the command version.) Externally, the most noticeable difference in armor protection on the turret – the turret sides have ceramic sandwich spaced armor, as does the turret roof – but the frontal turret armor’s thickness is so greatly increased that it noticeably bulges outwards on either side of the gun mantlet, so much that the T-72A was nicknamed the “Dolly Parton” after the buxom country-western singer.  This frontal turret armor not only has an external layer of thicker steel, but has composite armor. On either side of the turret near the turret rear sides are a cluster of six smoke grenade launchers; like most Soviet and Russian armored vehicles, it can also lay a thick, oily smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into its exhaust.  The T-72A has special screen for the engine that greatly decrease the possibility that Molotov cocktails or ruptured external fuel tanks will pour fuel into the engine compartment.

     The fire control system was also greatly upgraded, with a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer for the gunner that could also be accessed by the commander if he needed to fire the main gun with his override controls.  The hull was still leaky in fording, but not as much, and strong bilge pumps were installed to further help the situation.  The size of the vision blocks was enlarged, and the commander has wide-angle vision blocks.  The driver has a single wide-angle vision block straight forward (with a corresponding wide-angle IR vision block to replace the day vision block).  The main gun has been replaced with the 2A46 125mm gun, which is improved primarily in the mechanical department; it has a slightly higher rate of fire (not enough to simulate with Twilight 2000 v2.2 rules) and an improved interface with the autoloader.  Performance-wise, it is identical for game purposes to the 2A26M2.

     As with the T-72 Ural, a command version of the T-72A was built, the T-72AK.  It has the same additional equipment as the T-72 Ural-K.

     An export variant of the T-72A was also built, called the T-72M.  The Poles and the Czechs were also given licenses to produce and export the T-72M (and also the T-72M1 and M1K), but also produced many for domestic use, often with their own upgrades. (T-72 identification can often be a bit confusing.)  The T-72M has generally downgraded armor protection and no ballistic computer; like the T-72 M-1975, is also does not have the anti-radiation protection of the T-72A, and the radios are generally inferior and have shorter range.  The T-72M also uses an improved version of the T-64s Gill side skirts, but they are not much better than those used on the T-64.  Later, a version designated the T-72M1 was produced for export, with heavier armor than the T-72M on the glacis and turret front and the same anti-radiation protection as the T-72 Ural and T-72A; lugs for Kontakt-1 ERA could be added upon request.  In addition, the plastic/aluminum sandwich side skirts replaced the Gill skirts.  To reduce defense spending, the Soviets also used some T-72M1s and T-72M1Ks in lower-priority units.  A command version of the T-72M1 was also produced, the T-72M1K, with generally the same additional equipment as the T-72AK (except for inferior radios).  There is also a T-72M1M, which is a T-72M1 upgraded to T-72B standards (see below).

    

The T-72B

     The T-72B had a number of changes large and small, and was first issued to Soviet troops in 1985.  Large changes included the use of a new version of the 2A46 gun and appropriate new sights, laser rangefinder/designator, and ballistic computer; this allows the T-72B to use the 9M119 Svir (AT-11 Sniper) ATGM, which is laser beam-riding and fired through the T-72B’s main gun.  The T-72B also has a collimator designed to be used from inside the tank.  The T-72’s autoloader can load both conventional and ATGM rounds; the autoloader can hold 23 rounds.  The T-72B uses different rounds than earlier versions of the T-72 – the rounds have separate projectiles and combustible bagged charges, and the autoloader is redesigned to load both the projectiles and the charges.  The fire control system for the ATGM includes a thermal imager; the commander can access the thermal imager – unless the gunner is about to fire an ATGM, because the sights for the ATGM and the thermal imager are linked.  Gun stabilization is also improved. 

     The front of the turret bulges even more than the T-72A, prompting US troops to nickname it the “Super Dolly Parton;” this is primarily due to the addition of additional composite appliqué armor.  (The frontal turret armor is thicker than even that of the T-80 series that partially replaced it.) The glacis also received an armor upgrade.  Lugs for ERA on the turret front, turret sides, glacis, hull sides, and the forward quarter of the turret roof have lugs for ERA are sometimes fitted; these lugs are generally for use with Kontakt-5 2nd-generation ERA, and when equipped with ERA, the T-72B is called the T-72BM.  If the T-72B is equipped with 1st-generation Kontakt-1 or Kontakt-2 ERA, the tank is called the T-72BV.  Main gun ammunition stowage is rearranged, not only for carriage of the ATGM rounds but to allow the stowage of new, long-rod penetrators. 

     The engine is replaced with the superior V-84 840-horsepower V-84-1 engine.  The V-84-1 is a multifuel engine; it can use diesel (meant to be the primary fuel), gasoline, jet fuel, benzene, kerosene, and even liquid rocket fuel which does not require refrigeration.  This means that the engine compartment is larger than that of earlier T-72s.  Fording capability has been made safer, though 10 minutes of preparation over and above the time for erection of the snorkel are required for deep fording.  An automatic fire/explosion detection/suppression system has been installed to help to protect the crew, particularly against hits to the main gun ammunition.  The front of the T-72B is fitted with mounting equipment to allow the use of the KMT-6 mine plow.  The cumbersome tiller steering system has been replaced with a steering yoke, brake pedal, and gas pedal.

     Variants of the T-72B include the T-72BK command tank, which is the T-72B with the additional equipment of T-72AK.  A less expensive, less complicated alternative is available, called the T-72B1; this is essentially identical to the T-72B, but has no capability for using ATGMs.  Though designed primarily for export, some lower-priority Russian and Ukrainian units still use it. 

     The T-72S Shilden was designed specifically for export and though built (at first) by the Soviet Union, Russia and Ukraine; it is not used by those countries or by members of the former Warsaw Pact. The T-72S is a T-72A brought up to T-72BM standard; though the tank has armor levels which are largely the same as the T-72BM, the turret front has the armor of a T-72A instead of using the heavier armor of the T-72BM.  Like the T-72A, the autoloader of the T-72S holds 22 rounds instead of the 23 rounds of the T-72BM.  The T-72S has side skirts made from Gill panels instead of the plastic/aluminum sandwich of the T-72BM.  The T-72SK is a command version of the T-72S, and has additional equipment which is the same as the T-72BK and T-72AK.  The T-72S1 is the same tank without the ability to fire ATGMs.

     The T-72B3 is similar to the T-72B, but uses the newer Sosna-U gunner’s sight and digital frequency-hopping radios. They have an improved autoloader (not able to be simulated in the Twilight v2.2 rules, but it is designed to accommodate the new longer rounds).  However, it retains the older V-84-1 840 horsepower engine of older models of the T-72, and lacks the GLONASS navigation system, as the GLONASS system used in other models of the T-72 was deemed unreliable.  It was thought that it would ease production to simply remove it from the T-72B3, and the GLONASS system also uses foreign (mostly French) technology, and some of that technology was embargoed as early as 2011. The T-72B3 uses Kontakt-5 ERA.

     The T-72B3M is an upgraded T-72B3.  It uses Relikt ERA on the sides of the hull and the front of the turret and the glacis. The T-72B3M has an 1130-horsepower V-92SF engine, with an automatic transmission. The gunner and commander have a digital display for use with the vehicle’s weapons. The commander also has access to a rear-view day/night camera. The T-72B3M is often referred to (incorrectly) as the T-72B4.

     In Ukraine, Russian T-72B3s and T-72B3Ms are often seen with slat armor above the turret, to try to thwart top attack weapons.  However, the largely jury-rigged slat armor seems to be rather ineffective, especially against weapons like the Javelin that have tandem warheads. Tank crews did not like the overhead slat armor, as impeded the commander’s sight and made the commander’s machinegun difficult to use, particularly against aircraft and drones.  Some of such slat armor was removed in the field by the T-72B3 and T-72B3M crews, usually without authorization.

 

Other Versions of the T-72

     The T-72AG is the result of a Polish-made upgrade package, to upgrade T-72s, T-72As, and T-72Bs to a higher standard, including some of the upgrades done to the T-80UD.  The upgrade package includes a new engine of 1000 or 1200-horsepower. There is an upgrade to vison devices, with either an image intensifier or thermal vison.  The tank also uses 9M119M Invar missiles, which are upgraded Polish-made equivalents of the 9M119 Svir.  They are laser guided. The T-72AG uses Kontakt-5 ERA. The T-72AG features better main gun stabilization (not able to simulate using T2K 2.2 rules). However, since the T-72AG used components of the T-80UD, which is found only in Russia and Ukraine, the T-72AG had no real success in the international arms market, and the stats below are merely for completeness.

     The T-72AM Banan is an upgraded T-72A by bringing it up to T-72M standards.  It also replaces the standard engine, using instead a 6TD-2 engine with 1250 horsepower. The T-72AM also has 10 smoke grenade launchers instead of 12. This upgrade is Ukrainian in origin, and the Ukrainians use the T-72AM.

     The T-72MP is another upgrade package, designed by the Czech Republic for export. It includes a 6TD-1 1250-horsepower engine.  It uses Kontact-1 ERA or the Czech-designed Nozh ERA. It has a new French-upgraded fire control system, but this upgrade is not fully implemented on the T-72MP since the tank still has the original T-72 one-plane gun stabilization. (It does make the gunner’s life easier, though, as it uses multifunction displays for the gunner and commander.)

     The T-72-120 is an upgrade package for the T-72AG or MP.  The main gun is replaced with KBM-2 L/48 120mm NATO-compatible main gun; it is fed by a variant of the T-72 series autoloader. This autoloader is fed from the turret bustle (also new), and this autoloader is a variant of that found of the French Leclerc tank. The turret bustle carries 20 rounds, with the rest of the ammunition found inside the rear of the vehicle ahead of the engine. The T-72-120 also has advanced gun stabilization.  The T-72-120 was not successful in the export market due to the high RL costs of the upgrade, and eastern European nations had tanks that did not use 120mm NATO ammunition.

     The T-72UA1 is a simple upgrade package for the T-72B built by the Czech Republic. It saw sales to Ethiopia and Ukraine, but between the two countries, with 72 packages sold to Ethiopia in 2011 and 99 in 2012. 30 were sold to Ukraine in 2014 after tank losses in Donbass. On the T-72UA1, the original engine is replaced with 5TDFMA two stroke diesel developing 1050 horsepower.  The engine has enhanced cooling features for use in hot climates, and the interior is cooled by an air conditioner with NBC filters. The T-72UA1 can be fitted with Kontakt-1 or Nozh ERA.

     The T-72E (E for Export) is an upgraded Polish version of the T-72B, and it was developed at the same time as the T-64E upgrade. The T-72E uses Kontakt-1 ERA on the hull front, while the turret front, sides, and front third of the turret are protected by Nozh ERA. The original engine is replaced by a 5TDFMA-1 multifuel engine with 1050 horsepower. The T-72E is equipped with an air conditioner with NBC filters and sighting systems that consist with an integral laser rangefinder.

     The T-72AMT is an advanced upgrade featuring the Kombat ATGM instead of the 9M119 ATGM, an armor upgrade, and an improved fire control system along with new main gun stabilization systems.

 

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

T-72 Ural

$1,066,506

D, A

418 kg

41 tons

3

17

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72 Ural-K

$1,067,115

D, A

418 kg

40.9 tons

3

20

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72 Ural-1

$1,104,079

D, A

418 kg

41.4 tons

3

17

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72 M-1975

$1,090,516

D, A

419 kg

39.9 tons

3

17

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded*

T-72A

$1,157,278

D, A

431 kg

41.5 tons

3

15

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72AK

$1,178,703

D, A

430 kg

41.4 tons

3

17

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72M

$1,056,455

D, A

422 kg

39.9 tons

3

15

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded*

T-72M1

$1,196,350

D, A

500 kg

40.1 tons

3

15

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72M1K

$1,197,895

D, A

500 kg

40 tons

3

17

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72B

$1,015,751

D, G, AvG, A

432 kg

44.5 tons

3

18

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72BK

$1,037,126

D, G, AvG, A

430 kg

44.4 tons

3

20

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72B1

$936,186

D, G, AvG, A

434 kg

44.1 tons

3

17

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72B3

$1,009,316

D, G, AvG, A

434 kg

44.1 tons

3

20

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72B3M

$1,101,425

D, A

443 kg

44.1 tons

3

24

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72S

$1,097,119

D, G, AvG, A

443 kg

44.2 tons

3

18

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72SK

$1,098,498

D, G, AvG, A

443 kg

44.1 tons

3

23

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72S1

$1,096,498

D, G, AvG, A

443 kg

43.7 tons

3

17

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72AG (1000 hp)

$1,114,921

D, G, AvG, A

434 kg

44.5 tons

3

24

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Image Intensifier (D, G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72AG (1200 hp)

$1,116,163

D, G, AvG, A

445 kg

44.5 tons

3

24

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Image Intensifier (D, G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72AM

$1,103,677

D, A

445 kg

42.5 tons

3

24

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72MP

$1,062,050

D, A

442 kg

43.1 tons

3

24

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Image Intensifier (D, G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72-120

$1,144,812

D, A

441 kg

42.9 tons

3

24

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Image Intensifier (D, G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72UA1

$1,076,212

D, A

435 kg

44.5 tons

3

24

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72E

$1,076,212

D, G, AvG, A

435 kg

42.7 tons

3

22

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-72AMT

$1,117,839

D, A

435 kg

42.7 tons

3

22

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Image Intensifier (D, G), Passive IR (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

T-72 Ural/Ural-K

134/94

34/21

1000+400

423

Trtd

T6

TF104  TS27  TR19  HF130Cp  HS20Sp  HR12

T-72 Ural-1

133/93

34/21

1000+400

427

Trtd

T6

TF108  TS27  TR19  HF134Cp  HS20Sp  HR12

T-72 M-1975

138/97

35/22

1000+400

410

Trtd

T6

TF101 TF25  TR13  HF126Cp  HS19Sp  HR12

T-72A/AK

133/93

34/21

1200+400

427

Trtd

T6

TF123Cp  TS26Sp  TR19  HF140Cp  HS22Sp  HR12**

T-72M

138/97

35/22

1200+400

410

Trtd

T6

TF108Cp  TS24Sp  TR19  HF136Cp  HS20Sp  HR12

T-72M1/M1K

138/97

35/22

1200+400

410

Trtd

T6

TF112Cp  TS24Sp  TR19  HF138Cp  HS20Sp  HR12

T-72B/BK

130/91

33/21

1200+400

438

Trtd

T6

TF128Cp  TS29Sp  TR19  HF148Cp  HS24Sp  HR12**

T-72B1/B3

131/92

33/21

1200+400

435

Trtd

T6

TF128Cp  TS29Sp  TR19  HF148Cp  HS24Sp  HR12**

T-72B3M

138/95

34/22

1200+400

509

Trtd

T6

TF128Cp  TS29Sp  TR19  HF148Cp  HS24Sp  HR12**

T-72S/SK

131/92

33/21

1200+400

435

Trtd

T6

TF123Cp  TS29Sp  TR19  HF148Cp  HS24Sp  HR12**

T-72S1

132/93

33/21

1200+400

435

Trtd

T6

TF123Cp  TS29Sp  TR19  HF148Cp  HS24Sp  HR12**

T-72AG (1000 hp)

155/109

39/25

1200+400

518

Trtd

T6

TF128Cp  TS29Sp  TR19  HF148Cp  HS24Sp  HR12**

T-72AG (1200 hp)

173/121

44/28

1200+400

611

Trtd

T6

TF128Cp  TS29Sp  TR19  HF148Cp  HS24Sp  HR12**

T-72AM

188/132

47/30

1200+400

531

Trtd

T6

TF123Cp  TS26Sp  TR19  HF140Cp  HS22Sp  HR12**

T-72MP

186/131

46/29

1200+400

531

Trtd

T6

TF108Cp  TS24Sp  TR19  HF136Cp  HS20Sp  HR12

T-72-120

185/130

46/29

1200+400

531

Trtd

T6

TF128Cp  TS29Sp  TR19  HF148Cp  HS24Sp  HR12**

T-72UA1

154/108

38/24

1200+400

452

Trtd

T6

TF128Cp  TS29Sp  TR19  HF148Cp  HS24Sp  HR12**

T-72E/AMT

159/112

39/25

1200+400

452

Trtd

T6

TF128Cp  TS29Sp  TR19  HF148Cp  HS24Sp  HR12**

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

T-72 Ural/Ural-1/M-1975

+1

Fair

125mm 2A26M2 gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

45x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72 Ural-K

+1

Fair

125mm 2A26M2 gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

39x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72A

+3

Fair

125mm 2A46 gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

44x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72AK

+3

Fair

125mm 2A46 gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

39x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72M/M1

+2

Fair

125mm 2A46 gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

44x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72M1K

+2

Fair

125mm 2A46 gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

39x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72B/S/B3/B3M/AG/E

+3

Good

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

38x125mm, 6x9M119 Svir ATGM, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72BK/SK

+3

Good

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

38x125mm, 6x9M119 Svir ATGM, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72B1/S1

+3

Good

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

45x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72AM

+3

Good

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

38x125mm, 6x9M119M Invar ATGM, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72MP

+3

Fair

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

38x125mm, 6x9M119 Svir ATGM, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72-120

+3

Good

120mm KBM-2 gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

45x120mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72UA1

+3

Good

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

38x125mm, 6x9M119 Svir ATGM, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-72AMT

+4

Good

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

38x125mm, 6xKombat ATGM, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

*These versions have no radiation protection other than their armor; against radiation, these versions should be considered to be “Enclosed.”

**Hull Floor armor is 8; Turret Roof armor is 8Sp.

 

LKZ/Omsk T-80

     Notes:  The T-80 is an evolutionary development of the T-64 and T-72 and was the first production tank to be equipped with a gas turbine engine, beating the M-1 Abrams by a couple of years.  (Though the Abrams was designed to use a gas turbine engine, and prototypes of the M-1 prototypes had gas turbine engines, the M-1 did not reach production status until after the T-80 did.)  The T-80 began production in 1976, after seven rears of development and prototypes.  The T-80, however, was not produced in the huge numbers that the T-72 was; the T-72 was simply a less complicated tank that was easier and cheaper to produce and maintain, and not as fuel-hungry as the T-80.  The Soviets (and later the Russians) therefore placed a much higher priority on the T-72 (and later the T-90), despite the higher performance and better fire control of the T-80.  The engine of the T-80, in particular, proved to be troublesome to develop, took more time and money to build (in real life money), and required more fuel to feed it, and this led to some later versions of the T-80 that reverted to diesel engines.  In addition, the T-80 shared the T-72’s tendency towards catastrophic explosions of the tank when hit due to inadequate protection of the main gun ammunition.  The Soviets and Russians once had a force of 4839 T-80s, but now only about 1900 are believed to be in service, due to poor performance and losses in Chechnya and Ukraine.  Many of the other T-80s were bought by other countries.

     The T-80, when it was first seen by the West, was thought to be simply a variant of the T-72.  For that matter, the T-80 can also be mistaken for the T-64 from some angles or at long distances.  However, the T-80 is very different in several ways, most noticeably the length of the engine compartment, which is almost a meter longer.  There are also several ports and blisters on the T-80’s turret for the different sights and sensors, and the side skirts and fenders look a bit different.

     The T-80 has had several export customers, and updated versions are still built in Ukraine.  Export customers include the usual cast of characters, such as Pakistan, Syria, and Yemen; it also includes China, some former Soviet republics such as Belarus and Kazakhstan.  Some unusual customers also bought the T-80 after the Iron Curtain fell, including South Korea and Cyprus; the British also have an unnamed amount of T-80Us, bought through a cut-out company in Morocco before the fall of the Soviet Union; they bought these for research into Soviet designs, and later used them as OPFOR vehicles.  One was sold to the US, who used it for the same reason; in 2003, the US bought four more T-80UDs from Ukraine, and these five vehicles are now used as OPFOR vehicles as well.  The T-80 was also evaluated by Turkey and Greece, who were looking for replacements for their aging tank forces; in the end, though, the Turkish went with the US M-1 and Israeli Sabra, and the Greeks with the Leopard 2A5.

     The Ukrainians later made many improvements to the T-80 after the fall of the Soviet Union, and have exported it more widely than the Russians.  One of the more major upgrades resulted in a new tank, the T-84, which will be found under Ukrainian Tanks.

 

The T-80

     Development of the T-80 centered around its gas turbine engine.  Development of gas turbine engines in the Soviet Union goes back to 1949, but these first gas turbines were of poor quality, but still installed in tanks called the Obyekt 278, and gave the Soviets nothing but mechanical problems and rather short range, though when the experimental tank worked, it was quite fast for the time.  Several other turbine-powered vehicles were also tested, but were also disappointing.  Later, the T-64T experimental prototype was built, but testing stopped in 1965, giving the same mixed results as the Obyekt 278; however, this time, development continued, and eventually resulted in the T-80.

     Since the T-80 is based on the T-64, it has essentially the same layout as the T-64 – driver in the center front, commander on the right side of the turret, and gunner on the left.  The overall shape is almost identical to the T-64 as well.  Design components were also taken from the T-72, such as the crew compartments separated by bulkheads, composite and sandwich armor, and the fire control system, which is similar to that of the T-72.  The crew is protected by an NBC overpressure system with a collective NBC system backup.  The main gun is 125mm 2A46-2, a version of the 2A46 of the T-72 that is modified primarily for the different, high-capacity autoloader of the T-80 (which holds 28 rounds).  The main gun is equipped with an improved version of the T-72 Ural’s fire control system, which includes a ballistic computer and a laser rangefinder.  The night vision suite is also based on that of the T-72 Ural. This initial version of the T-80 is not equipped with a commander’s machinegun as standard, though some had them retrofitted in service.  Near the front of the turret on each side is a cluster of four smoke grenade launchers; the T-80 can also lay a smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into its exhaust.

     Of course, the primary difference between other Soviet/Russian tanks is the gas turbine engine, which is much improved over earlier Soviet gas turbine engines.  This engine produces 1000 horsepower and high acceleration, but of course sucks fuel as a prodigious rate, so the T-80 continues to carry external auxiliary fuel tanks (and rather large ones at that).  The T-80’s engine also tends to overheat in high-temperature environments; the Soviets therefore did not send the T-80 to units stationed in the southern republics of the Soviet Union.  The engine is a multi-fuel engine, able to burn diesel, low-octane gasoline, and several jet fuels.  The engine is highly-resistant to dust and dirt, and along with the T-80’s relatively low weight, makes the T-80 quick and agile; the speed of the T-80 alarmed NATO so much that it was partially responsible for the development of a new generation of antitank weapons and ammunition.  The transmission is also improved, making the driver’s task easier; the transmission has less gears and the driver has a simple steering yoke with gas and brake pedals.

     The T-80K is the command version of the T-80; like most such Soviet and Russian tanks, it has an additional medium-range and long-range radio, an inertial navigation system, a 1kW APU, and a mil ring inscribed inside the commander’s cupola to assist in calling for artillery fire and air strikes.  The T-80K, however, was not produced in large numbers.  A very few T-80Vs were produced; these versions are equipped with lugs for 1st-generation Kontakt-1 or Kontakt-2 ERA.  As these lugs were not added until 1985, and by then most “plain vanilla” T-80s had been upgraded to later standards, the T-80V is quite a rare bird.  In fact, these early T-80s are now rare in service anywhere, as virtually all of them have been upgraded to more advanced versions.

 

The T-80B

     For reasons I haven’t been able to find out, the T-80B came next in development instead of the T-80A, preceding the T-80A by four years.  The T-80B entered service in 1978, equipped with a new turret that housed new fire control equipment and a new autoloader to allow the use of the 9M112-1 Kobra (AT-8 Songster) ATGM through its main gun.  The autoloader is able to load the Kobra ATGM as well as conventional rounds.  In addition, the composite armor of the glacis and turret front was modernized (reputedly after a sample of Chobham armor was stolen from a West German lab), giving it additional strength without a large increase in weight.  The new fire control system includes a thermal imager for the gunner, which the commander can also access from his cupola (however, note that the commander cannot use the thermal imager if the gunner is firing an ATGM), an improved ballistic computer, and a radio transmitter for the beam-riding Kobra ATGM.  Though the commander has override controls for the main gun, he does not have the equipment to fire an ATGM.  The T-80B also included a commander’s machinegun on a pintle mount.

     Later modifications included a more powerful 1100-horsepower gas turbine in 1980, better stabilization for the main gun in 1982, and lugs for 1st-generation ERA in 1985.  The new engine does not have the hot-weather handicaps of the earlier 1000-horsepower engine.  A command version, the T-80BK, was also built.  The upgraded versions are balled T-80BMs (or T-80BMKs, as appropriate.)  The commander’s machinegun of the T-80BM can be aimed and fired from within the turret.   A version without the equipment for the firing of ATGMs, called the T-80B1 was built (primarily for export, but also used to an extent by the Soviets and later, the Russians), as well as a command version, the T-80B1K; these never received the later upgrades in Soviet and Russian manufacture, though some did get them (or better) from the Ukrainians after the Iron Curtain came down.

     1982’s T-82A basically uses the turret and upgrades of the T-80B and applies them to older T-80s, bringing them up to T-80B standards.  They also received the same progressive upgrades of the T-80B, in the same time frame.  Therefore, you have the T-80A, T-80AK, T-80AM, and T-80AMK.  For game purposes, they are identical to the T-80B variants (except that there were no export variants of the T-80A), except that the hulls look a little different.

 

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

T-80

$1,108,854

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

42.5 tons

3

19

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-80K

$1,128,354

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

42.4 tons

3

21

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-80B

$1,289,442

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

42.9 tons

3

20

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-80BK

$1,308,942

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

42.8 tons

3

22

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-80BM (1980)

$1,290,442

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

43 tons

3

20

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-80BM (1982)

$1,303,346

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

43 tons

3

20

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-80BMK (1980)

$1,309,942

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

42.9 tons

3

22

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-80BMK (1982)

$1,322,846

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

42.9 tons

3

22

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-80B1

$1,151,342

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

42.9 tons

3

22

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

T-80B1K

$1,170,842

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

42.8 tons

3

22

Passive IR (D, G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

T-80/K

155/108

39/25

1100+740

517

Trtd

T6

TF110Cp  TS25Sp  TR17  HF138Cp  HS21Sp  HR14

T-80B/BK/B1/B1K

153/107

38/25

1100+740

522

Trtd

T6

TF122Cp  TS29Sp  TR22  HF152Cp  HS21Sp  HR14

T-80BM/BMK

166/116

41/27

1100+740

694

Trtd

T6

TF122Cp  TS29Sp  TR22  HF152Cp  HS21Sp  HR14

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

T-80

+2

Fair

125mm 2A46-2, PKT

42x125mm, 1250x7.62mm

T-80K

+2

Fair

125mm 2A46-2, PKT

39x125mm, 1250x7.62mm

T-80B/BM (1980)

+3

Fair

125mm 2A46-2, PKT, NSVT(C)

36x125mm, 6xAT-8 ATGM, 1250x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-80BK/BMK (1980)

+3

Fair

125mm 2A46-2, PKT, NSVT(C)

30x125mm, 6xAT-8 ATGM, 1250x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-80BM (1982)

+3

Good

125mm 2A46-2, PKT, NSVT(C)

36x125mm, 6xAT-8 ATGM, 1250x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-80BMK (1982)

+3

Good

125mm 2A46-2, PKT, NSVT(C)

30x125mm, 6xAT-8 ATGM, 1250x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-80B1

+3

Fair

125mm 2A46-2, PKT, NSVT (C)

42x125mm, 1250x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

T-80B1K

+3

Fair

125mm 2A46-2, PKT, NSVT (C)

39x125mm, 1250x7.62mm, 500x12.7mm

 

Uralvagonzavod T-90

     Notes:  The T-90 is a development of the T-72, particularly an experimental variant of the T-72 called the T-72BU (sometimes called the T-88), which had an improved version the sights and gun of the T-80, a new diesel engine, and thermal imaging as standard.  The T-90, therefore, is an evolutionary development of the T-72BM with some of the better features of the T-80, and several further improvements of its own as well as upgraded armor and features based on lessons learned in Chechnya.  It should be noted that the T-90 was originally intended to be only an interim tank, until the next generation of Russian tanks (such as the Black Eagle and “T-95”) were ready for production; in practice, however, this next generation of tanks has been greatly delayed by budgetary problems, and the T-90 has proven to be very popular on the export market.  The T-90, therefore, will probably be around for a while, and be fielded in larger numbers than initially expected.

     After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russians announced in 1992 decided that it could no longer afford two separate production lines in two cities producing two different tanks (the T-72 and T-80 series).  The Russians had sort of a “build-off,” with Uralvagonzavod producing the latest T-72BM with some extra bells and whistles, and Omsk producing the experimental T-80BU variant.  In the end, though, it came down to cost – Uralvagonzavod could produce the T-72BM cheaper and faster than the T-80BU, and the high fuel consumption and relative complexity of the gas turbine engine was also a negative point for Omsk.  The Russians also looked at competing NATO and Israeli designs.  The conflicts in Chechnya also weighed heavily on the Russian Army’s mind, as both the T-72BM and T-80 series had proved inadequate in Chechnya.

     The Russians, in essence, rejected both designs for continued production, but ended production at Omsk and tasked Uralvagonzavod with developing a greatly-improved version of the T-72BM.  The T-90 resulted (though it was, in prototype stage, called the T-72BU).  The T-90 improves the T-72BM in almost all areas – armor protection (including dramatic increases in top and floor armor), used a conventional diesel engine instead of a gas turbine (despite the lower horsepower of the initial T-90 engines), an improved version of the T-80’s fire control system, an autoloader and ammunition storage bins with much more protection, and ERA as standard.  Later, even more features would be added.  Ironically, the Russians have sold far more T-90s to other countries than to the Russian Army; the Indians build a version under license, and Algeria and Venezuela also use the T-90.  (It’s not that the Russian Army doesn’t want more T-90s – they just don’t have the budget for more.)  At least another dozen countries are looking hard at the T-90, as in real-world money, the T-90 is much less expensive than competing NATO designs.

 

The Original T-90

     The T-90 began low-level initial production in 1993; as it was based on a prototype of an upgraded T-72BM that was called the T-72BU, the first T-90 prototypes were referred to as T-72BUs, causing for a short time some confusion in the West.  The T-90 blended together the T-72BM with the fire control system of a version of the T-80, the T-80U.  The ERA lugs of the T-72BU were replaced with those of the T-80U, which were designed for 3rd-generation Kontakt-5 ERA.  The ERA lugs allow installation on the glacis, hull sides, turret front, turret sides, and the forward one-quarter of the turret roof.  The ERA on the turret is installed in a distinctive “clamshell” layout, which makes the turret of the T-90 appear to be saucer-shaped, though underneath the ERA, the turret is still rounded.  Some armor upgrades were also made, particularly to the turret and hull decks and the floor of the hull.  Ironically, these first T-90s were considered a bit underpowered; the T-90 is heavier than the T-72BM, but uses a version of the same 840-horsepower V-84-1 multifuel engine that powers the T-72BM, called the V-84MS.

     The T-90 is armed with the same 2A46M-2 125mm main gun as the T-80B, but is paired with the Agave fire control system of the T-80BM.  This includes a laser rangefinder and a good ballistic computer; in addition, the main gun is fully stabilized in both planes.  The main gun can fire conventional ammunition as well as 9M119 Refleks (AT-11 Sniper) ATGM, which is laser-guided.  (The T-90 has a laser designator separate from the laser rangefinder for this purpose.)  The thermal imager of the Agave system is accessible by the commander, unless the gunner is preparing for or guiding a missile shot.  The main gun is fed by an autoloader that can load both conventional rounds and their charges and the Refleks ATGM.  The autoloader holds 22 rounds, with the rest of the ammunition being kept in armored bins on either side of the driver.  The autoloader itself is also protected by an armored ring.  A coaxial machinegun is to the right of the main gun, and the commander has a machinegun which can be aimed and fired from under armor.

     Like most Russian tanks, the T-90 is a bit cramped inside, but some concession has been made to crew comfort and to taller tank crews, and the T-90’s interior is a bit larger than previous Russian tanks.  (The use of more advanced armor, which does not have to be as thick to provide the same protection, also helps this situation.)  The crewmembers are separated by armored bulkheads; the ammunition on either side of the driver is also separated from the driver’s compartment by armored bulkheads.  The T-90 has an NBC overpressure system and radiation shielding, with a collective NBC system backup.  The T-90 is the first Russian tank design where an APU is fitted to all variants; this APU is 1kW.  The T-90 also has an NBC detection and analysis system to assess such threats. It is rumored that some or all T-90s in Russian service have air conditioning, though this is not confirmed; air conditioning is an option for export customers.

     The T-90 is fitted with the Shtora-1, which is a “soft-kill” vehicle protection system.  The Shtora-1 consists of sensors and equipment mounted atop the turret and control systems mounted inside the turret and hull; the primary controls for the Shtora-1 on the T-90 are at the commander’s station.  The Shtora-1 system includes an electro-optical jamming system to jam wire-guided ATGMs (on a roll of 12+ on a d20, the difficulty to the ATGM gunner is increased by one level; outstanding success indicates that the incoming missile pre-detonates before it can hit the T-90).  A laser warning system is also included with the Shtora-1; when the T-90 is being lased by a laser designator, an alarm sounds inside the T-90, and a pair of smoke grenades are automatically launched to help obscure the T-90 to the laser beam.  The laser warning system can also be triggered manually by the commander. The smoke grenades can also be triggered by the gunner manually if he feels it is necessary; the T-90 has six smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret.   The Shtora-1 also includes a pair of IRCM lights (one on the turret on each side of and above the main gun) that emit coded, pulsed IR beams to decoy IR-guided munitions; their effectiveness is the same as listed for the electro-optical jammer above, and both have a 360-degree range of protection, as well as 180-degrees upwards.  They can also temporarily blind IR sights and image intensifiers; this is successful on a roll of 8 on a d20 for IR sights and 5 for image intensifiers.  The T-90 can mount a white light/IR searchlight above the main gun, though in practice this searchlight is rarely employed or even mounted.  A computer is provided to tie all of this information from the Shtora-1 and other sensors together.

     A command version of the T-90 was built, called the T-90K. Like most such Russian tanks, the T-90K has an additional long-range and medium-range radio and a mil ring inscribed inside the commander’s cupola.  However, the T-90K has a GPS system with an inertial navigation system as a backup, and a small fire direction computer to assist the commander to accurately direct supporting artillery and mortar fire and air strikes.  As the T-90 is already equipped with an APU, the T-90K did not need to be specially fitted with an APU.  Though the amount of main gun ammunition is reduced, this reduction is not as much as previous Russian command tanks.

     An export version of the T-90 was built, called the T-90E; this version differs only in the use of a more powerful 950-horsepower diesel engine, and is usually fitted with radios that are requested by the buyer. Basically, the T-90E is a better version of the T-90. No command version of the T-90E was built, and the T-90E itself received few orders – the superior T-90S was available soon thereafter. The Russians themselves also never used the T-90E.

 

The T-90A “Vladimir”

     In 1999, the T-90 underwent a change in turret construction, with the original cast turret being replaced with an all-welded turret. It is possible that this modification makes the turret interior roomier, but it is likely that armor protection was increased in the process. This version is sometimes called the T-90M, though this not a proper designation (the T-90M is another version of the T-90); it is often referred to in Russian service as the T-90 Vladimir, in honor of the T-90’s chief designer Vladimir Potkin, who died shortly before the new turrets began to be installed. Originally, the official designation was T-90A; however, as the original version went out of production shortly before the T-90A went into production, the T-90A is simply called “T-90.” The new turret also includes a pair of thermal imagers designed by Thales of France – one for the gunner and one for the commander. The T-90A also has a different engine – a 1000-horsepower V-92S2. The T-90A also has an interesting feature – a short-range, low power EMP generator. This generator, located in the front lower hull, is used to sweep the ground ahead of the T-90; when the EMP encounters a magnetic mine or one with an electrical fuze within ten meters, the EMP generator will detonate the mine on a roll 14 or better on a d20.  Note that the mine must be in a 20-degree radius of the front of the T-90. The EMP device is also not a mine detector – if the device does not detonate the mine and the mine does not actually go off, the T-90’s crew will not know that the mine is there. (Unless the mine goes boom.)

     As with the T-90, a command version of the T-90A was built, the T-90AK (though, as with the T-90A, this version is today called the T-90K, or sometimes the T-90K Vladimir).

     The T-90A and AK are sometimes, but not always, fitted with the Arena active defense system. The Arena is an update of the Drozd system sometimes found on the T-62, T-64, T-72, and T-80. It works basically in the same way as the Drozd – the system uses a small, short-range radar system on the turret roof to detect incoming missiles and rockets (it doesn’t work fast enough to stop tank and autocannon rounds) and launches special rounds in the path of the missile that quickly break up into a cloud of tungsten pellets, destroying the missile before it can hit the tank.  The Arena has 6 of these rounds available, and they are 75% likely to destroy the incoming missile about 10 meters from the T-90.  The Arena system protects the T-90 in a 180-degree dome around the tank. These versions of the T-90 are called the T-90AD and T-90ADK. (Of course, today these tend to be called the T-90D and DK.)

 

The T-90S

     The T-90S is an export version of the T-90A and is the one most often exported to other countries. The T-90S can be had with a choice of an 840-horsepower V-84MS engine, a 950-horsepower V-92S1 diesel engine, or a 1000-horsepower V-92S2 diesel engine. As with the T-90A, a command variant is also available, the T-90SK. The T-90S can have the customer’s fit of radios, computers and software, sights, night vision devices, and navigation equipment. If any of these differ from their standard T-90, those devices are typically installed by the receiving government. So far (as of September 2009), the T-90S has not been exported with the Arena system installed.

     The Indians license-build their own version of the T-90S, called the T-90 Bhishma.  This version is found under Indian Tanks. This is due to the Bhishma being a more comprehensive upgrade of the T-90S than the standard T-90S.

 

The T-90M

     The T-90M did not appear in quantity in the Russian Army until 2021, though the first 10 examples were delivered in 2017. The T-90M is improved in a number of areas, perhaps most of important of which are the armor suite and engine. The steel armor in the T-90’s armor has been increased in effectiveness due to the use of better steel; Western analysts believe the armor protection under the ERA has been increased in effectiveness from 10-15%. The engine has been replaced with a new one of 1130 horsepower, along with an increase of torque. Another significant improvement is in the main gun and fire control, with a 15-20% increase in fire control capabilities and increase in range due to a longer barrel. A rearrangement of main gun ammunition as well as the use of more compact electronics and radio models allows for an increase of ammunition carried (though the autoloader has the same amount of ammo in it, 22 rounds). It also uses the more effective Relikt ERA instead of the Kontakt-5 used on previous models of the T-90, with the Relikt being effective against tandem warheads and also a significant increase in protection against APxDS rounds.

     Other improvements include the use of smoke grenade launcher rounds with anti-laser aerosol to help thwart against laser designators and missiles which have SACLOS guidance. An RWS with a 6P7K machinegun has been added to the turret roof. (The turret roof seems a bit crowded to me…)

     The T-90M has been observed by Western analysts with what appears to be mast-mounted sensors. It is possible this version of the of the T-90M is designed as a scout vehicle or a command vehicle; I have assigned this version the totally made-up designation of T-90M-2, as it is thought to be more likely that it is a scout vehicle rather than a command vehicle.  (I’ll bet there is a T-90MK running around somewhere in Russia.) A third possibility is that the mast is being put on new T-90Ms to allow sighting of the main gun for use while almost totally behind cover with the AT-11 ATGM; this is possible since the mast is only about a meter high when deployed.

     The T-90AM is a rebuild of the T-90A to T-90M standards. It does not have the armor improvements of the T-90M, but other components are the same as the T-90M.

     The T-90MS Tagil (also known as the Proryv or T-90SM) is an export version of the T-90M. For the most part, it is like the T-90M, but has a lesser electronics suite inside.  This mostly affects the main gun ammunition storage; the T-90MS comes with a removable turret bustle that holds eight rounds instead of having the revised storage of the T-90M. The bustle is actually an external bustle – it is not accessible from the turret. This bustle has blowout panels on the outside bustle roof like those of the M1 Abrams series. An interesting feature is also installed for export customers – four cameras that give the TC a 360-degree view around the tank. The thermal cameras are also upgraded. The Russians will also install a version of the US’ Blue Force Tracker system that will match the destination country’s BMS. A day/night camera is added to the turret roof in case both the TC’s and gunner’s primary sights are knocked out – this actually happened to a Challenger 2 tank during the invasion of Iraq. The T-90MS has an air conditioner. The APU has been upgraded to one with 7kW capacity.

     There is also a version of the T-90MS that is designed for export to countries in the Middle East or other countries wishing for a reliable tank in desert conditions. It differs from the standard T-90MS in having a modified engine, air filter and sand screens for desert operations, and using a NSVT on the RWS instead of a 6P7K. This version of the T-90MS may be fitted with bar/slat armor on the turret and the rear of the tank. India has expressed great interest in this design.

 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: In the Twilight 2000 timeline; only the T-90 and T-90K are available; they are used only by Russian forces and are found only in very small numbers (the Russians had about 85 at the beginning of the Twilight War).

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

T-90

$1,404,763

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

46.5 tons

3

17

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90A

$1,477,897

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

47.1 tons

3

17

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90K

$1,555,064

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

46.4 tons

3

19

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90AK

$1,628,198

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

47 tons

3

19

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90AD

$1,516,951

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

47.2 tons

3

18

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90ADK

$1,667,252

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

47.1 tons

3

20

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90E

$1,423,939

D, A

500 kg

46.7 kg

3

17

Thermal Imaging (G), Passive IR (D, C), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90S (840hp)

$1,476,673

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

46.8 tons

3

17

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90S (950hp)

$1,477,489

D, A

506 kg

47 tons

3

17

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90S (1000hp)

$1,602,713

D, A

509 kg

47 tons

3

17

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90SK (840hp)

$1,626,974

D, G, AvG, A

500 kg

46.7 tons

3

19

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90SK (950hp)

$1,627,790

D, A

506 kg

46.9 tons

3

19

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90SK (1000 hp)

$1,764,867

D, A

509 kg

46.9 tons

3

19

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90M

$3,281,997

D, A

574 kg

46.9 tons

3

23

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90AM

$2,463,743

D, A

566 kg

47.1 tons

3

23

Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90M-2

$3,559,582

D, A

581 kg

46.9 tons

3

24

2xThermal Imaging (G, C), 2nd Gen Image Intensifier (C), Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90MS

$3,479,512

D, A

578 kg

46.9 tons

3

23

2nd Gen Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), 4 CCD Cameras (Corners/C) WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

T-90MS (Desert)

$3,618,406

D, A

582 kg

46.9 tons

3

23

2nd Gen Thermal Imaging (G, C), Passive IR (D), 4 CCD Cameras (Corners/C) WL/IR Searchlight (Optional)

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

T-90/K

125/87

32/20

1200+400

376

Trtd

T6

TF144Cp  TS42Sp  TR22  HF180Cp  HS30Sp  HR18*

T-90A/AK/AD/ADK

140/98

36/22

1200+400

464

Trtd

T6

TF151Cp  TS44Sp  TR23  HF180Cp  HS30Sp  HR18*

T-90E

139/97

36/22

1200+400

437

Trtd

T6

TF144Cp  TS42Sp  TR22  HF180Cp  HS30Sp  HR18*

T-90S/SK (840hp)

120/84

31/19

1200+400

378

Trtd

T6

TF151Cp  TS44Sp  TR23  HF180Cp  HS30Sp  HR18*

T-90S/SK (950hp)

134/94

34/21

1200+400

440

Trtd

T6

TF151Cp  TS44Sp  TR23  HF180Cp  HS30Sp  HR18*

T-90S/SK (1000hp)

153/113

45/31

1200+400

443

Trtd

T6

TF151Cp  TS44Sp  TR23  HF180Cp  HS30Sp  HR18*

T-90M/MS/M-2

166/116

46/32

1200+400

450

Trtd

T6

TF163Cp  TS48Sp  TR25  HF195Cp  HS32Sp  HR19**

T-90AM

165/116

46/32

1200+400

450

Trtd

T6

TF151Cp  TS44Sp  TR23  HF180Cp  HS30Sp  HR18*

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

T-90/E

+3

Good

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

37x125mm, 6xAT-11 ATGM, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-90K

+3

Good

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

34x125mm, 6xAT-11 ATGM, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-90A/S

+4

Good

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

37x125mm, 6xAT-11 ATGM, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-90AK/SK

+4

Good

125mm 2A46M gun, PKT, NSVT (C)

34x125mm, 6xAT-11 ATGM, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

T-90M/M-2/AM

+5

Good

125mm 2A46M-5 gun, 6P7K, 6P7K (RWS), NSVT (C)

41x125mm, 6xAT-11 ATGM, 5000x7.62mm, 800x12.7mm

T-90MS

+5

Good

125mm 2A46M-5 gun, 6P7K, 6P7K (RWS), NSVT (C)

43x125mm, 6xAT-11 ATGM, 3000x7.62mm, 600x12.7mm***

T-90MS (Desert)

+5

Good

125mm 2A46M-5 gun, 6P7K, NSVT (RWS), NSVT (C)

43x125mm, 6xAT-11 ATGM, 3000x7.62mm, 850x12.7mm***

*Armor for the hull floor and hull deck is 11; armor for the turret deck is 11Sp.

**Armor for the hull floor and hull deck is 12; armor for the turret deck is 12Sp.

***The external turret bustle carries 8 rounds and is removable, in which case the ammo carried is limited to 35 rounds of main gun ammunition. This ammunition is not accessible from the turret.