davecb@uunet.uucp (David Collier-Brown) (03/19/91)
From: David Collier-Brown <nexus.yorku.ca!davecb@uunet.uucp>
U.S.S.R.: T-72, Main Battle Tank.
Used by:
U.S.S.R., Iran, Iraq, Syria.
Description:
Based on experimental T-70, introduced in parallel to
the unexported/unsucessfull T-64. 2-man turret with
autoloader. Low, well-armoured vehicle with a small
turret.
Stats:
3 crew (commander, gunner, driver),
120mm frontal armour (250mm equivalent), possibly composite on
uprated T-72G versions (350-400mm equivalent)
2.2m high, 3.3m wide, 6.3m long, 40,000 kg
70kph, 500km range, 700hp.
1 * 125mm smoothbore gun, 1 * 7.62mm coaxial, 1 * 12.7mm AA,
Kobra ATGW.
Penetration: 450mm/1000m (APDS), 500mm (HEAT)
Variants:
T-80 with 1000hp gas turbine. Recovery vehicle.
Comparative values (from Dunnigan: a Merkava has a firepower and
protection of 10):
firepower: 9
protection: 10
ground pressure: 255
hp/wt: 23
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Ray Bonds, "Modern Soviet Weapons", New York (Prentice-Hall), 1986
James F. Dunnigan, ``How to Make War'', New York (William Morrow) 1988.
C.F. Foss, ``Jane's Main Battle Tanks'', London (Jane's), 1983.
C.F. Foss, ``Jane's Armoured Personel Carriers'', London (Jane's), 1985.
R.G. Lee, ``Introduction to Battlefield Weapons Systems'', Oxford (Pergamon),
1981 [UF 500 L43]
Charles Messinger, ``Tanks and other Armoured Vehicles'', London (Penguin), 1990
Richard E. Simpkin, `Antitank'', Oxford (Pergamon), 1982
``Red Armour'' Oxford (Pergamon), 1984