How much does the tank weigh. How much does a tank weigh Modifications and prototypes

The weight of the tank ranges from 26 to 188 tons, depending on the thickness of the armor and the nature of the combat equipment.

Tank - armored tracked vehicle with cannon armament. There are two groups of tanks:

The weight of the tank ranges from 26 to 188 tons.

• Combat (main). The main characteristics of such models are impressive firepower, high resistance to breakage and excellent movement speed.
• Lungs. They are used as a rapid reaction weapon, as well as for reconnaissance purposes. As a rule, such machines have less power and thickness of protective armor. Light tank models can be transported to their destinations by water, air or rail transport.

Let's compare the mass of several models of combat vehicles.

How much does the T-90 tank weigh?

The model is an improved version of the T-72 tank. It has high combat and technical characteristics that allow it to withstand battles in any climatic conditions.

The weight of the T-90 tank is 46.5 tons.

The weight of the T-90 tank is 46.5 tons. The combat vehicle is equipped with a 125-mm launcher designed to hit all types of targets, as well as an aiming system and a thermal imager. The tank has a high rate of fire, excellent speed (60 km), and the crew includes three people.

How much does the T-34 tank weigh

The T-34 is a true military legend. The production of the first "thirty-fours" began in 1940, and by the beginning of 1941, about 1225 units of equipment were in service with the USSR. The T-34 model tank changed and improved its design several times during the war years. specifications. Therefore, the mass in different years the release was also not the same:

• Release of 1940 - 26.3 tons
• Release of 1941 - 28 tons
• Release of 1942 - 28.5 tons
• Release of 1943 - 30.9 tons

At the same time, in the total mass of the combat vehicle, the weight of the tracks is about 1150 kg. When comparing the weight of the tank turret of 1940 and 1942, there is a noticeable upward trend - from 3200 to 3900 kg. The crew of the T-34 includes a gunner-radio operator, driver, loader and commander.

Tank "Maus" was created in 1943 and its weight was about 188 tons. This is a real "heavyweight" of German tank building, the length of the gun which reached 2.5 m. And the total length of the combat "Mouse" was about 11.5 m! The vehicle's ammunition included two twin guns (128 mm and 75 mm). The capacity of the Maus fuel tank is 2650 liters. The number of crew members is five people.

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Despite the impressive size and weight of the Maus tank, almost all the free space inside was occupied by numerous instruments and parts. So the crew of the combat vehicle had to be placed "according to the residual principle."

According to the results of field tests, the Mouse achieved good performance: speed of 20 km / h, overcoming a climb, a vertical obstacle 76 cm high at an angle of 30 degrees, crossing a water trench 2 m wide.

True, all the efforts spent on creating and improving the types of this model were in vain. At the end of 1944, on the orders of Hitler, work on heavy tanks was stopped, and in the spring of 1945, prototypes of type 205 were prepared to defend the training ground in case of capture by the Red Army. Two surviving type 205 tanks after the war were transported to Leningrad, and from there to the tank training ground in Kubinka.

How much does the AT-2 tank weigh

The game World of Tanks is a great opportunity to at least "virtually" control tanks and other military equipment. The AT 2 tank is a Tier 5 combat unit of the British tech tree (PT-ACS class).

General characteristics of the "battle monster": weight 44 tons, gun 57 mm, 26 rounds per minute, speed 20 km/h. The crew includes four people. The tank can be used to push through the flanks of enemy units. However, at the same time, you should take care of your cover from the side of the allies. The accuracy of the AT 2's gun is low, so using the tank for long-range attacks is not recommended.

The weight of the AT-2 tank is 44 tons.

Now you know how much the tank weighs, and as you can see, its mass depends on the modification. In addition, to determine the weight of the tank, it is not necessary to weigh it, but it is enough to calculate the mass, taking into account the density of the metal and the weight of the combat equipment.

The main Soviet tank T-72, which appeared in the early 70s of the last century, became one of the most massive vehicles in the world - Uralvagonzavod assembled at least 30 thousand copies of the tank. In addition, a number of states had licenses for the production of vehicles, which were at least several thousand tanks.

Soviet-made equipment was supplied to many states and took part in all more or less significant armed conflicts. Tanks T-72 proved to be excellent in these battles. For example, during the battles of 1982 in the Bekaa Valley, not a single case of penetrating the frontal armor of a Soviet tank was recorded.

A bit of history

The reason for the creation of the T-72 was the protracted introduction of the T-64, the new main tank of the Soviet Army. The car was equipped with the original 5TDF diesel engine with oncoming piston movement, for the assembly of which a special production facility was launched in Kharkov. However, the potential of the plant ensured the production of cars only in peacetime, any increase in the production of cars led to a shortage of power plants.

As an alternative, a version of the tank with a simpler B-45 diesel engine, which was mastered by industry, began to be considered. The tank was supposed to be produced at a plant in Nizhny Tagil.

The first developments of the Morozov Design Bureau for equipping the T-64 tanks with the V-45 diesel engine date back to 1961. As a result, by 1967, three machines were built under the designation "object 436", which underwent a complex of intensive tests. After that, the engine and transmission were put on a modernized T-64A tank.

So the "object 438" was born, which was tested in 1967-68. On the basis of the Order of the Minister of Defense Industry, a batch of “object 439” machines was assembled, which were slightly different from their predecessors. Tests have shown the identity of the characteristics of vehicles with V-45 and 5TDF diesel engines.

But for a number of reasons, "object 439" did not go into production in Nizhny Tagil.

One of the reasons is called competition between tank builders from different design bureaus. In the Urals, they decided to create a new machine based on the nodes of their own “object 167”, supplemented by an automatic loader. But some of the solutions for the hull and turret were borrowed from the T-64, although the parts were not interchangeable. The resulting machine received the designation "object 172M", which became the T-72, which received the prefix "Ural".

In 1973, Uralvagonzavod assembled the first production batch of 30 tanks, and full-fledged production began the following year. The launch of the T-72 series became possible thanks to Marshal Grechko, who actively lobbied for the interest of Uralvagonzavod. The parallel production of the T-64A and T-72, machines of the same level and purpose, which had an extremely low degree of unification, is nonsense for Soviet military equipment.

Modifications and experimental versions

On the basis of the T-72 machine, several dozen experimental and serial modifications were created. Immediately after the start of serial production, projects appeared to re-equip the tank with another gun. In the first half of the 70s, a single tank "object 172MN" was created, distinguished by the installation of a rifled 130-mm gun model 2A50. At the same time, experiments were underway to install a smoothbore 125 mm gun 2A49. These cars were not included in the series.

An interesting experiment was the “object 186”, equipped with a 16-cylinder diesel engine with an X-shaped arrangement of cylinders. The motor developed power up to 1200 hp, but turned out to be extremely unreliable.

For the commanders of tank formations, the commander's version of the vehicle with the designation T-72K, equipped with a set of navigation equipment and radio stations, was intended. To work from the spot, the station used an additional antenna 10 m high, which provided communication at a distance of 300 km. The installation of energy-intensive equipment has led to a reduction in the number of stacks and the transportable ammunition load is 31 rounds.

In 1979, the T-72A tank went into production, which differed from its predecessor in improved sights, a modernized gun, a launcher, a modified diesel engine and other components. On the basis of the upgraded version, the T-72AK command vehicle was built with an ammunition load reduced to 36 rounds. For the operation of the extended electronic complex, an autonomous generator set driven by a small engine was used.

For export, the T-72M variant was offered, which differed in the turret protection scheme and ammunition load. A little later, in 1982, it was replaced by the T-72M1, equipped with an additional 16 mm thick sheet mounted on the front of the hull. The combined turret armor also received sand-filled internal bars.

Since 1985, T-72AV tanks with hinged dynamic protection containers began to enter the domestic market, and a little later, the production of T-72B began. The machine is distinguished by a modernized cannon adapted for launching anti-tank guided missiles, as well as an 840-horsepower V-84-1 diesel engine. Due to the change in the protection scheme, the shape of the tower became more rounded. The commander's version of the machine became known as the T-72BK.

In the early 90s, tanks began to install built-in dynamic protection, borrowed from.

The new version received the designation T-72B of the 1989 model, there is an unofficial index - T-72BM. The export version of the T-72B began to be designated as T-72S (or T-72M1M).

Subsequently, modernization programs were developed to the T-72B2 standard, and then B3. The main emphasis in the improvement is made on the use of modern electronic and sighting equipment, as well as the installation of systems active protection.

In addition to battle tanks, a number of auxiliary and engineering vehicles were built on the basis of the T-72. Among them are the BREM-1 evacuation tractor, the MTU-72 bridge laying machine. The T-72 chassis served as the basis for the MSTA-S self-propelled gun.

Design

The hull of the T-72 tank is made by welding from rolled and cut-to-size sheets of armor steel. The upper frontal hull sheet has a combined protection scheme. The thickness of the sheet is 200 mm, which corresponds to 550-600 mm of conventional armor (located at the same angle to the normal). The sheet includes outer and inner steel layers, between which fiberglass is placed. The bottom sheet is made of ordinary armored steel with a thickness of 85 mm.

The side armor of the T-72 is installed vertically, has a thickness of 80 mm in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe habitable compartments and 70 mm in the area of ​​​​the engine compartment. Inner part Armor in habitable compartments has a coating that protects against damage by neutron radiation. A bulldozer blade is installed under the lower frontal sheet, which allows you to dig a protective trench for installing a tank. Depending on the hardness of the soil, excavation takes 20-25 minutes.

For additional protection, four flat shields made of light alloy based on aluminum are installed on the sides of the T-72.

Before the start of hostilities, the shields are retracted forward at an angle of 60⁰, protecting the side armor of the tank from being hit by cumulative ammunition. This design was later abandoned in favor of a solid screen made of fabric-reinforced rubber.

Starting with the version of the T-72AV tank, which went into production in 1985, additional dynamic protection from separate containers began to be installed on the frontal part of the hull and turret. Also, an additional 20 mm armor sheet was installed, laid on the upper main hull sheet.

The T-72 tank has a cast turret with variable wall thickness. Armor protection of the usual type, the frontal part has a thickness of up to 280 mm. Later, with the start of production of the T-72A version, combined armor with the installation of sand rods began to be used. The use of such armor improved resistance to projectile hits. At the same time, there was a change in the shape of the front of the tower, where ledges (“cheekbones”) appeared.

The crew of the T-72 tank includes three people. The workplace of the driver is located in the center of the hull in the bow. Above the mechanic there is a separate hatch made in the top plate of the hull. The seat is lowered almost to the very floor, which ensures the sitting position of the mechanic.

On many foreign designs the driver is placed in a reclining combat position, which negatively affects the comfort of work.

Three internal fuel tanks are located on the sides of the driver's workplace. The tank is controlled by two levers and pedals.

The T-72 turret houses two crew members of the tank, with the gunner on the left and the commander on the right. On the roof of the tower there is a rotary commander's cupola, equipped with a pair of observation devices. Outside the combat situation, the commander sits on the turret of the vehicle, covered with a removable shield. To ensure communication there is a VHF radio station. There is a narrow passage between the tower and the control compartment.

Theoretically, a person can go there, but in fact, this requires some training. The experience of the combat use of the T-72 tank showed that it was impossible to pull out a wounded driver through this passage. Evacuation is carried out through a standard sunroof.

In the aft part of the machine body there is a power compartment, with a transversely mounted engine. As a power unit on the T-72 tanks, a 780-horsepower V-shaped 12-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine V-46-6 is used, equipped with a centrifugal air blower driven by a crankshaft. The motor has forced liquid cooling. Structurally, the diesel engine is a development of the V-2 tank engine, which was tested on the T-34 and BT-7.

In the course of subsequent upgrades, the V92S2 diesel engine was used, built on the same cylinder block, but equipped with a turbocharger. The power plant power has grown to 1000 hp. The engine compartment of the T-72 tanks allows you to seal the joints and overcome water barriers up to 5 m deep along the bottom. Additional equipment is pre-installed on the machine.

Various grades of diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, low-octane grade A-72 gasoline, as well as mixtures of these grades of fuel can be used as fuel.

Inside the T-72 tank are fuel tanks that can hold 705 liters of fuel. Outside, four barrels with a capacity of 200 or 275 liters can be mounted.

The engine of the machine is started using an electric starter, which, when the engine is running, acts as a generator. When the starter is operating, a voltage of 48V is used, in the remaining circuits a voltage of 22-29V is considered the norm. Four batteries are used to power the starter.

The transmission of the T-72 tank includes a guitar that transmits torque to two onboard gearboxes. On the output shafts of the boxes of the machine, final drives are installed that transmit rotation to the drive wheels. The tank guitar is a single-speed step-up gearbox equipped with places for installing a compressor, generator and cooling fan radiators.

Onboard gearboxes T-72 are built on the basis of planetary gears, provide seven forward speeds and one reverse speed. Gear shifting control is hydraulic, the box includes a side clutch. The use of spaced boxes allows you to control the rotation of the tank by turning on a low gear in a lagging track. This provides seven different turning radii for the machine.

An additional final drive is also built according to the planetary scheme, it serves to reduce the speed of the drive wheel. Despite the identity of the transmission scheme, the nodes of the T-64 and T-72 tanks are not interchangeable.

The chassis of the T-72 tank is equipped with individual torsion bars, supplemented by hydraulic vane shock absorbers on the first two front and last rear rollers. The torsion bar is located across the tank throughout the entire width of the hull. On the torsion bars of the machine, balancers are installed with two-disk road wheels with external shock absorption in the form of a rubber bandage.

To limit the travel of the T-72 suspension, there are bumpers against which the balancers rest.

Rollers have a paired scheme, made of aluminum alloy. Each side of the machine has six road wheels. The drive wheels are located at the rear, equipped with interchangeable gear rims. At the front, cast idlers are used, equipped with a crank to provide track preload. The caterpillar belt of the lantern gearing is made up of 97 links having a width of 580 mm.

There is a variant of the caterpillar with an open joint or with a rubber-metal assembly (RMSh). Due to the different design of the tracks, the gear rims of the drive wheels differ. The upper branch of the caterpillar rests on three rollers equipped with an internal shock absorber.

The main armament of the T-72 tank is the 125 mm D-81TM cannon (later the 2A46 model began to be used), equipped with a barrel with a smooth inner channel. The gun has a built-in two-axis electro-hydraulic stabilizer, which allows aimed fire on the move. The vehicle's ammunition load (44 shots, on early models - 39) includes various shells, as well as missiles. The upgraded 2A46M-5 gun, which uses more effective ammunition, was used on the T-72B modification.

The electromechanical automatic loader installed on the tank allows firing at a frequency of up to 8 rounds per minute. Shells and charges are located separately in two tiers on a horizontal tray, the loading angle is constant.

The sleeve has a design that partially burns out when fired - only the bottom remains of it, which is thrown out. Due to the ejection of the remnants of the sleeve, it was possible to reduce the gas contamination of the internal volume of the T-72 tank during firing. 22 shells and charges are stacked on the trays of the automatic loader. The rest of the machine's ammunition is placed in stacks mounted in the turret and hull. As the shells are spent, the crew puts the ammunition in the trays of the machine.

When switching to manual loading, the firing rate is reduced to 2 rounds per minute. A stabilized sight with a built-in rangefinder (a conventional optical one was used on early machines) allows you to fire in the daytime at a distance of 4000 ... 5000 m. The firing range at night is up to 2000 m.

An infrared searchlight is used to illuminate targets at night.

On the early T-72 vehicles, it was installed on the front of the turret to the left of the gun, but then it was moved to a point located above the coaxial machine gun embrasure. The modernization was carried out in order to increase the safety of the driver, as there were cases of fatal injuries caused by a searchlight. When using additional sighting equipment, the T-72 gun allows firing high-explosive fragmentation projectiles at a distance of 9 ... 10 km.

In one installation with a gun, a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun with belt feed is installed. One tape includes 250 cartridges. In total, eight tapes are stored in the T-72 tank. The machine gun allows you to fire at a distance of up to 1800 m (using a rangefinder sight). To protect against attacks from the air, there is a 12.7 mm Utes machine gun mounted in a special installation on the commander's cupola of the vehicle. The installation has a sight that allows firing at ground targets.

The machine gun has a belt feed, in one tape there are 60 rounds. Carried ammunition includes five tapes. Inside the tank, one 5.45 mm AKMS assault rifle was fortified, as well as a signal 26 mm rocket pistol. For close defense there are 10 fragmentation grenades F-1. To clear roads from mines, a KMT-5 or 6 trawl is used.

Specifications

Comparison of technical characteristics with the British Challenger 1 tank shows that the Soviet vehicle had a weight of 20 tons less. In addition, the "Englishman" used a rifled gun with a caliber of 120 mm, incapable of launching missiles. And the prevalence of the Challenger (only 420 vehicles were built) cannot be compared with the T-72.

The American Abrams, equipped with a gas turbine engine, is noticeably superior domestic car in speed, inferior in range. On the M1 version, a 105 mm rifled gun was used, which was inferior in performance to the Soviet smoothbore. Later, a 120 mm smoothbore gun was installed, equalizing the chances of rivals. A big plus of American vehicles is the air conditioning system in the fighting compartments, which reduces crew fatigue on marches.

Despite its venerable age, the T-72 Ural tank remains in demand.

This is facilitated by numerous modernization programs that allow you to improve the performance of the machine. Moreover, there are modified versions of the tank offered for export to NATO countries.

An example is the Ukrainian T-72-120 tank equipped with a 120 mm KBM-2 smoothbore gun. And this development is far from unique. Therefore, we can say with confidence that the T-72 will last in combat formation for more than a dozen years.

Video

Soviet main battle tank of the T-72 family. The tank was created in the process of improving the T-72A. Experimental design work was carried out from 1981 to 1984. Adoption took place in 1984. Serial production started in 1985.

Main tank T-72
USSR

Its development began in 1967, when the first experience of operating the T-64 revealed insufficient reliability of the engine, running gear, and loading mechanism. on the T-64. In the same goal, an experimental model of such a tank was manufactured and tested.

In the hall of further work, in 1968-69 goals, comparative tests of T-64A tanks with a V-45 engine and an ejection cooling system were carried out (development design office in Kharkov) and samples with a V-45 engine, an automatic gun loader for 22 shots and a fan cooling system (development of a design bureau in Nizhny Tagil). The latter showed better results.

In November 1969, B-46 engines with a power of 573 kW (780 hp) and a running gear of a new design were installed on these machines. The sample manufactured with the indicated changes was assigned the index “object 172M”. In 1973, after military trials, it was put into service under the brand name T-72 and soon received the name "Ural".

In accordance with the terms of reference, the combat and technical characteristics of the T-72 are kept at the level of the T-64A tank. Despite the fact that it was four tons heavier than the “sixty-four”, the difference in mass was reflected in the characteristics of maximum speed, power reserve and cross-country ability, since the capacity of the fuel tanks increased by 100 liters, the engine power increased by 80 hp. , and the track width - by 40 mm. The tank was improved during series production. In 1979, the upgraded T-72A model was adopted, and in 1985, the T-72B tank.

Consider the latest modification in more detail. The tank has a classic overall layout with a crew of three and a transverse engine. The driver is in the department of control along the axis of the tank. Despite the large angle of inclination of the upper frontal part of the hull, it is placed in a sitting position in a combat position, since the lower part of the seat is installed in a special stamping of the bottom. The reserved volume of the control compartment is 2.0 cubic meters. m.

In the fighting compartment to the right of the gun is the tank commander, to the left is the gunner. At the bottom of the fighting compartment, a rotating autoloader conveyor is installed, the shape and dimensions of which allow crew members to move inside the vehicle from the fighting compartment to the control compartment and back. The use of an automatic loader made it possible to obtain the value of the reserved volume of the fighting compartment of 5.9 cubic meters. m. and the height of the tank on the roof of the tower up to 2226 mm.

The engine compartment occupies a volume of 3.1 cubic meters. To accommodate the engine, the thickness of the hull sheets in the MTO area was reduced to 70 mm. Compared to the T-64A tank, the design of the rear part of the hull has been changed and the length of the MTO has been increased due to the use of a fan cooling system and an input gearbox connecting the engine to the onboard gearboxes. The total reserved volume of the tank is 11.0 cubic meters.

The main armament is a special tank 125-mm smoothbore gun 2A46M - launcher. It differs from the gun of the T-64BV tank by the presence of a mechanism for catching and ejecting pallets. The design of the gun allows you to replace the barrel tube in the field without dismantling it from the tower. A mechanism has been introduced into the shutter, which provides for the opening of the wedge manually in two cycles, which significantly reduced the effort expended. To improve the accuracy of shooting, the cylinders of the two recoil brakes are fixed symmetrically with respect to the bore in the upper right and lower left corners of the breech. The design of the recoil devices ensures that the recoil is not slowed down before the projectile leaves the bore and allows them to be checked in a short time.

To align the zero line of sight without the crew members leaving the tank, the gun is equipped with a built-in alignment control device. Shooting is carried out with separate-sleeve loading artillery rounds with armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation shells and shots with a guided missile, which has a combat cumulative part. All artillery rounds have a single charge with a partially burning cartridge case. After the shot, the cartridge case tray is automatically thrown out through a special hatch in the turret roof during the next loading of the gun.

The ZUBK14 shot consists of a 9M119 guided missile and a throwing device. It has the same dimensions as a conventional artillery round, so its loading into the autoloader's conveyor cassette does not differ in any particularities. The gun ammunition is placed in the rotating conveyor of the automatic loader (22 shots) and in the non-mechanized ammunition racks of the hull and turret (23 shots).

The 9K120 guided weapon system provides guided missile firing during the day from a standstill and from short stops at ranges from 100 to 4000 meters. It has an anti-interference semi-automatic missile control system based on a laser beam. The fire control system includes the 1A40-1 sighting system, created on the basis of the TPD-K1 laser rangefinder sight of the T-72A tank. The field of view of the sight is stabilized in the vertical plane. For firing from a tank gun with an artillery round at night and a guided missile during the day, the 1K13-49 targeting device is used, which is part of the 9K120 guided weapon system. It can work in active or passive modes.

The gun is equipped with a weapon stabilizer 2342-2 with an electro-hydraulic drive for vertical and electric horizontal guidance, which reduced the fire hazard in the tank compared to an electro-hydraulic drive. with manual control from the commander of the slipper). Ammunition for the coaxial machine gun is 2000 rounds, for the anti-aircraft machine gun - 300 rounds.

The armor protection of the frontal part of the hull and turret is a multi-layer combined armor barriers that provide invulnerability from most types of armor-piercing sub-caliber and cumulative shells of tank (anti-tank) guns. High resistance to cumulative ammunition was achieved by installing hinged dynamic protection. 227 containers were installed on the sneaker, of which 61 were on the hull, 70 on the turret and 96 on the side screens. Since 1988, built-in dynamic protection has been used on serial T-72B tanks.

The body of the slipper is welded, its upper frontal part is inclined at an angle of 68 degrees from the vertical. The tower is cast, its frontal part has variable angles of inclination from ten to twenty-five degrees. The sides of the hull are protected by anti-cumulative screens. The tank is distinguished by a high level of anti-radiation protection due to the use of undercutting and overcutting, a collective protection system and local protection of crew members.

The survivability of the tank on the battlefield is increased due to the low silhouette, the use of a TDA and the 902B “Tucha” dm system for setting smoke screens, a napalm protection system and high-speed fire-fighting equipment 3ETs1Z “Hoarfrost”. The tank has a camouflage color and is equipped with equipment for self-digging and for hanging a KMT-b mine trawl.

The machine is equipped with a V-84-1 multi-fuel four-stroke high-speed diesel engine, liquid-cooled, supercharged from a driven centrifugal supercharger. In addition, inertial (wave) supercharging is used. Engine power is 618 kW (840 hp). It is adapted to work on diesel fuel, jet fuel (T-1, TS-1. T-2) and motor gasoline (A-66, A-72). The launch is carried out with the help of an electric starter, an air starter system, as well as from an external current source or from a tug. For an emergency start of a cold engine in winter, there is an intake air heating system.

The mechanical planetary transmission consists of an input gearbox, two final gearboxes and two final gearboxes. It has a hydraulic servo control and its own oil system. The suspension system uses an individual torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers of lever-blade type on 1, 2 and 6 padding nodes of each side. The track roller discs are made of aluminum alloy. The track rollers have external rubber coating, and the supporting rollers have internal shock absorption. To protect the caterpillar from dropping when the tank turns, restrictive disks are welded on the drive wheels.

The tank is equipped with underwater driving equipment that allows it to overcome water obstacles up to five meters deep and about 1000 meters wide. The tank uses the Abzats communication complex, which includes a VHF radio station R-173, a radio receiver R-173P, an antenna filter unit and a throat amplifier. The radio station operates in the frequency range of 30-76 MHz and has a memory device that allows you to prepare ten communication frequencies in advance. It provides a communication range of at least 20 km both on the spot and on the move over medium rough terrain.

Modifications of the T-72 tank

T-72 (1973)- basic pattern.

T-72K (1973)- command tank.

T-72 (1975)- export version, differed by the design of the armor protection of the frontal part of the tower, the PAZ system and the ammunition package.

T-72A (1979)- modernization of the T-72 tank. Main differences: laser sight-rangefinder TPDK-1, gunner's night sight TPN-3-49 with illuminator L-4, solid onboard anti-cumulative screens, 2A46 gun (instead of 2A26M2 gun), 9025 smoke grenade launcher system, napalm protection system, system road signaling, night device TVNE-4B for the driver, increased dynamic speed of the rollers, V-46-6 engine.

T-72AK (1979)- command tank.

T-72M (1980)- export version of the T-72A tank. It was distinguished by the armored design of the turret, the ammunition package and the collective protection system.

T-72M1 (1982)- modernization of the T-72M tank. It featured an additional 16 mm armor plate on the upper hull front and combined turret armor with sand cores as filler.

T-72AV (1985)- a variant of the T-72A tank with hinged dynamic protection.

T-72B (1985)-modernized version of the T-72A tank with a guided weapon system.

T-72B1 (1985)- a variant of the T-72B tank without the installation of some elements of the guided weapons complex.

T-72S (1987)- export version of the T-725 tank. The original name is the T-72M1M tank. Main differences: 155 containers of hinged dynamic protection (instead of 227), the armor of the hull and turret was kept at the level of the T-72M1 tank, a different set of ammunition for the gun.

Production and export deliveries

Serial production of the tank is organized at a plant in Nizhny Tagil. From 1979 to 1985, the T-72A tank was in production. On its basis, an export version of the T-72M was produced, and then its further modification - the T-72M1 tank. Since 1985, the T-72B tank and its export version T-72S have been in production.

Tanks of the T-72 series were exported to the countries of the former Warsaw Pact, as well as to India, Yugoslavia, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Kuwait, Algeria and Finland. Based on the T-72 tank, the BREM-1, tank bridge layer were developed and put into mass production MTU-72, IMR-2 engineering clearing vehicle.

Characteristics of BREM-1: Weight - 40 t, crew - 3 people, armament - 12.7 mm machine gun, crane capacity - 12 tc, winch pull - 25 tc (with chain hoist 100 t), engine power - 618 kW (840 hp), maximum speed- 60 km/h.

Even before the mass production of T-62 tanks began, the chief designer of the Ural Carriage Works L. N. Kartsev proposed to improve the model by installing a new engine, more powerful and more promising. That is how the T-72 tank appeared. Characteristic vehicle marked it as a large armored vehicle.

A bit of history

In the summer of 1961, the first two copies of the tank were built, and they were tested in an accelerated mode - first at the factory, then at the test site. The object was modernized, but, despite all its advantages, the plant did not receive official permission to produce a new tank. Year after year, certain changes were made to the model:

1. First, the crew of the T-72 tank was thought out, which consisted of three people - the commander, gunner and driver.
2. The tank was equipped with a cannon with an automatic loader and armor protection based on the scheme of the Research Institute of Steel.
3. The undercarriage of the model was planned to weigh no more than 40 tons.

But these changes were not accepted, only two onboard gearboxes were left.

Tank layout features

The T-72 is a tank that features a classic design, when the power compartment is located at the stern. Management is concentrated in the bow of the vehicle, here are the fuel tank, tank rack, driver's control instrument panel, and electrical equipment.

The control compartment consists of a mechanic's seat, which controls the T-72 tank. There is a sunroof above the driver's seat. A device was installed in the armor plate shaft to monitor the situation. The driver sits while driving, which is ensured by the well-thought-out design of the seat itself in the bottom of the tank.

fighting compartment

The fighting compartment in the tank has a place in the middle part of the hull and the turret, which is separated from the power compartment by a special partition. The thoughtfulness of the design ensures convenient movement of crew members from compartments to compartments. Convenience and ergonomics are the main differences that the T-72 tank can boast of. Its characterization as a warship is also impressive:

1. The tank is equipped with a 125 mm smoothbore gun in the turret, an automatic loader and fire control devices.
2. To the right of the gun is a commander's seat, and to the left is a gunner.
3. On the right side of the cannon there is a PKT machine gun, and above it, on special mounts, the base tube of the rangefinder sight is held.
4. The commander's workplace is attractively equipped: it consists of an electric gun stopper, a vertical guidance tank, a radio station, a special device through which the landing socket is connected from the outside, and a cardan drive of the commander's tower.
5. The commander's tower is covered with a lid with a plate torsion bar.
6. The commander's cupola is equipped with two TNP-160 observation devices and a TKN-3 commander's device.

The fighting compartment is also equipped with devices and mechanisms that provide ease of use of the tank.

Force branch

The aft part has a power compartment. The engine of the T-72 tank is located on the left side, and between it and the partition for the engine there is a cooling system, an oil filter, an expansion tank valve. The air purifier is installed on the right side. The hull has a stern sheet where the cooling system is located. Also, the power compartment is equipped with additional and main oil tanks, which contribute to engine lubrication. The power compartment is closed with a lid. The fuel consumption of the T-72 tank per 100 km is as follows:

• when driving on the ground - 260-450 l;
• on a paved road - 240 liters.

Case features

One of the most popular Soviet tanks is the T-72 tank. Its characterization as a combat one would be incomplete if one does not describe the features of the hull. The body of this model is a rigid box, which is welded from armor plates. Here are the bow, sides, stern, bottom, ventilation and motor partitions, as well as the roof of the power compartment.

The frontal sheet is a multilayer combined barrier made of steel and fiberglass, the thickness of which provides a wear-resistant coating. The sides of the hull are reinforced with vertical armor plates, supplemented with protective strips in the middle part. Their purpose is to increase the internal volume of the hull and install a tower on them. Along the entire perimeter of the sides, brackets are welded on which the guide wheels are attached.

T-72 is a popular tank of the USSR, which inspired respect throughout the world. The stern of his hull is a stern armor plate. A fan baffle is installed as protection. It is a spiral casing equipped with removable front and side sheets. There is a cooling fan in the casing, and the main purpose of the baffle is to organize the air flow. The sides of the tank are supplemented with side screens having a thickness of 3 mm and made of aluminum alloy. To maintain the condition of the tank while moving through difficult terrain, the screens can be put in the stowed position - press them against the side dust shields. When the T-72 is in combat, the dust shields can be deployed forward at an angle of 60 degrees.

How is the tower set up?

To create it, a shaped casting of armored steel was used, a roof was welded to it on top, as well as heads that protect the base tube of the rangefinder sight. The tower is characterized by a monolithic structure, the wall thickness of which varies. The front part is equipped with an embrasure where the cannon is installed, the side surfaces are equipped with arc cheeks, which play an important role in armoring the hull walls.

To the right of the gun, there is a loophole where a coaxial machine gun is located. To the left of the gun there is a bracket where a night sight illuminator is attached in combination with a tube through which an electric drive is supplied to the gun. The left half of the roof has a hatch base where the gunner is located. hydraulic and manual mechanism. All this distinguishes the T-72 tank, the characteristics of which allow us to draw a conclusion about the combat qualities of the armored vehicle.

Tank armament

The turret of the tank is equipped with a D-81TM smoothbore gun, another machine gun is paired with it, and they are stabilized in two guidance planes. The gun barrel is a pipe that connects to the casing, clutch, breech and blowing mechanism. It, in turn, consists of six nozzles. The shutter of the gun has a semi-automatic mode of operation. T-72 is the following:

• when firing armor-piercing sub-caliber and HEAT rounds the range is 4000 m;
• when using high-explosive fragmentation shells, its value reaches 5000 m;
• when shooting at night, it is 800 m;
• if the projectiles are fired sideways using high-explosive fragmentation projectiles, the firing range can reach 9400 m.

It should be noted that with automatic loading, the gun has a combat rate of up to 8 rounds per minute, with manual loading - 1-2 rounds per minute.

The T-72 is equipped with a monocular stereoscopic rangefinder sight equipped with additional independent stabilization of the field of view. With the help of the sight, the target range is measured in the range of 1000-4000 m with an accuracy of 3-5 percent. If shooting is carried out at night, a special night sight with an illuminator based on an IR filter is used.

The commander's tower is equipped with an anti-aircraft mount, which allows you to shoot at air and ground targets. In the case of the T-72 TTX of the tank the following: firing at distant air targets is carried out at a distance of up to 1500 m, at ground targets - up to 2000 m. Anti-aircraft installation the tank consists of:

• machine gun NSV 12.7 mm;
• cradles with anti-recoil device;
• anti-aircraft sight;
• a handle that allows you to aim the gun horizontally and vertically;
• magazine for shells;
• balancing mechanism.

Main projectiles

One of the most powerful combat armored vehicles in Russia of all time is the T-72. The armament of the tank assumes the presence of the following shells:

• AKMS assault rifle 7.62 mm;
• signal pistol;
• 10 hand grenades.

The tank has a two-plane electro-hydraulic armament stabilizer, which is combined with an optical rangefinder sight. The main tasks of this complex are the following:

1. Automatically hold the cannon and machine gun in a certain position when the tank is moving.
2. Aim the stabilized cannon and machine gun by smoothly adjusting the pointing speed.
3. Aim an unstabilized gun in a horizontal plane.
4. Create target designation from the tank commander to the gunner.
5. Emergency turn the tower from the driver.

With the help of the stabilizer, angular velocities are provided, on the basis of which the gun is guided vertically in automatic mode. With the composition of the tank ammunition - 39 rounds for the cannon, 2000 rounds for the PKT machine gun, 300 rounds for the machine gun, 12 rounds for the signal pistol and 300 rounds for the anti-aircraft machine gun.

Charging Features

The T-72 tank has an electromechanical complex that automatically charges the gun. It consists of a rotating conveyor, a cassette lifting mechanism, a pallet removal mechanism, a rammer, an electric gun stopper, a memory device and a control panel.

The battle tank of the USSR is equipped with a rotating conveyor, which is mounted on the body of the vehicle and includes a frame, an electromechanical drive, a deck, a mechanism for closing the dispensing window with shutters, a stopper and a manual drive. The frame accommodates 22 cassettes, it is a one-piece welded structure. The cassette is a welded two pipes and is needed to accommodate a shot of different types.

Features of the power plant

The device of the T-72 tank assumes the presence of a modified power plant. It is a 780 hp diesel engine, which is complemented by a liquid cooling system and a driven centrifugal supercharger. The mass of the engine is 980 kg, it is installed in the power compartment. The multi-fuel engine can run on diesel of different brands, gasoline and kerosene. But the main type of fuel is diesel. The tank engine power supply system consists of 4 internal and 5 external fuel tanks.

To ensure the purification of the air that enters the engine cylinders, the tank is additionally equipped with a two-stage air cleaner that removes dust from the dust collector. Cleaning is performed in several cycles, after which 99.8 percent clean air enters the engine.

The device of the T-72 tank assumes the presence of a lubrication and cooling system. The lubrication system is circulating and combined, and the cooling system is liquid and closed, it is supplemented by forced circulation. A special heating system warms up the engine and maintains its systems before starting.

The T-72 tank is equipped with a hydraulically controlled mechanical transmission, which includes a guitar and two gearboxes. A guitar is a gear reducer that transmits torque to gearboxes.

Chassis and equipment

The combat weight of the T-72 tank is 44.5 tons, while the undercarriage is six dual-slope rubber-coated road wheels and three single-slope rollers, a rear drive wheel, a steering wheel with a crank mechanism. The tank has an individual which is enhanced by hydraulic shock absorbers and six road wheels. The caterpillars have small links with the number of tracks in them 97.

Of the additional devices on the tank, one can note a radio station and designed for four subscribers. The radio works as a transceiver and telephone, providing a communication range of up to 20 km. The radio station operates on the 1261 operating frequency, while the signal is received and transmitted on a common frequency.

Protective systems

Despite the fact that the weight of the T-72 tank was impressive, it was equipped with additional systems that protected the armored vehicle from weapons. mass destruction. The systems are able to protect the tank and its internal equipment from shock waves, radiation during nuclear explosion, ensuring the safety of the crew when exposed to poisonous substances or biological weapons.

Protection against the shock wave is carried out by thoughtful armor, as well as high-quality sealing. Inside the tank, a special reliable material is used, while the fighting compartment and control compartments are reliably sealed. The protection system acts as a light and sound alarm, controls the level of radiation and excess pressure inside the tank and the presence of toxic substances outside it.

The fire-fighting system consists of three two-liter cylinders filled with fire extinguishing composition, as well as three pipelines that connect the cylinders and compartments, and nine thermal sensors. A special multi-action system serves as a reliable smoke protection. It runs on diesel fuel.

From additional equipment T-72 tanks include a system for underwater driving, which allows you to overcome water obstacles at a depth of 5 m and a width of up to 1000 m. This equipment also includes life jackets, gas masks designed for all crew members.

Modifications of the T-72 tank

In total, over the years of production, the tank was presented in eight main modifications: and their varieties. In addition, it was actively sold abroad to countries such as Czechoslovakia, Poland, the GDR, Hungary and Bulgaria. As of 2007, these armored vehicles were in service with a number of countries - Azerbaijan, Algeria, Vietnam, Libya, Macedonia, Kyrgyzstan and many others. The T-72 tank was actively used in many countries as the basis of a large number of engineering, special and combat vehicles.

T-72 is a Ural tank, which for a long time was considered one of the most powerful and reliable not only in the USSR, but also in the world. Modernized versions are still being produced in many countries, while control systems and power equipment are constantly being improved.

In 1973, the Soviet army received new tanks that fully meet the requirements of modern warfare and the army doctrines of the USSR.

Photo tank T-72 "Ural"

Although the machine was a compromise, it had high combat effectiveness, and most importantly, manufacturability. This factor made it possible to produce the tank in mass quantities in the event of a "hot" war. The machine received the working title T-72 "Ural" or Object - 172M.

The T72 tank can be called a long-liver. Full-fledged production of the model started in 1973, and ended in 1992. Despite the fact that it is no longer produced, the combat vehicle has not been withdrawn from service with the Russian Federation.

Modifications of already released samples are being carried out.

The latest versions of the T-72B3 are almost as good as the T90 in terms of their tactical and technical parameters. Over the entire period of operation, it was produced within 30,000 units, not counting those produced by other countries: Poland, Yugoslavia, India, etc.

The history of the creation of the T-72 tank

After the introduction of the T-64A into mass production, the key shortcomings of this machine were instantly revealed. First of all, problems with the engine and chassis. There were also complaints about the automatic loader. For example, in order for the driver to move to the fighting compartment, it was necessary to turn the turret 90 degrees relative to the tank's motion vector and remove part of the ammunition rack.

But main problem there was a high cost and difficulty in setting up production at other factories in the country. This was the price of innovations applied by Kharkov engineers.

For the above reasons, the development of a new tank began, similar in combat effectiveness, but with a lower price and high manufacturability.

If we talk about the combat effectiveness of the tank, then the car showed itself perfectly in numerous conflicts of the 20th century in most of the Earth. Speaking about the operating experience in the USSR and Russia, these are: Afghanistan, Chechnya, South Ossetia. It was these machines that were the basis of the "tank fist", which, according to the Soviet command, was supposed to reach Western Europe, regardless of losses.

Foreign production

The T-72 is in service with 40 countries of the world, but only a small part of them are engaged in licensed production. For the most part, the exploiting countries are the former Soviet republics, the countries of the Middle East, India, Finland, and Poland. On the this moment Ural modifications are actively used in Syria on both sides.

The T-72 is in service with 40 countries around the world.

Some optimistic publications claim that the export "seventy-two" adequately fought the American "Abrams". In fact, this is not so. More technically advanced A1M1s destroyed T-72M1s in batches during the Iraq War.

An interesting fact is the possibility of deliveries of the T-72 to North Korea. According to some sources, the local designers, through reverse engineering, were able to copy the tank and start production. At the same time, the first models were equipped with a 115-mm gun and had 4 crew members, which indicates the absence of AZ. Later versions began to be equipped with them.

Producing countries:

Design features

The T-72 tank is made according to the classic Soviet scheme with the division of the intra-armor space into three parts: the control compartment, the fighting compartment and the MTO (engine-transmission). In front of the vehicle, behind the main armor, there is a driver's seat and traffic controls.

There are 3 crew members in total. The rest are located in the fighting compartment in the center of the tank. This is the commander and gunner. Installed in the stern power point and transmission elements.

There is also an automatic gun loader for 22 rounds. Unlike the T-64, the T-72 is not attached to the turret, and there is no need to dismantle part of the ammo rack to get to the control compartment. After the shot, the internal space is cleaned of powder gases by exhausting the fan out.

The turret has a hatch for dumping a pallet of spent cartridges, which burns out during a volley. If the AZ carousel runs out of shells, it is possible to load the gun manually. This function is performed by the commander.

The average rate of fire is 6-8 rounds per minute.

The tower is driven by hydraulic and manual drive. In the upper left part is the main hatch for loading and unloading the crew. A lantern is installed on the front. Inside the tower there are observation devices, including sights, vision devices, night vision devices. In the latest modifications, thermal imagers began to appear. For stabilization, a two-plane stabilizer is used.

Armor protection of the T-72 tank

The armored hull of the tank is welded, assembled from sheets of durable rolled homogeneous steel, as well as sheets with a combined layer of fiberglass. Armor - differentiated. It means that it is unevenly distributed on the sides. This makes the design easier. This concept can be traced on all modern tanks.

The thickest armor is in the front. It consists of two armor plates converging in a wedge at different angles:

• the angle of inclination of the upper frontal part is 68 degrees, the lower one is 60;
• VLD in the context resembles a "sandwich" of 3 layers: the upper one is 80 mm steel, the middle one is 105 mm fiberglass, the inner one is 20 mm armor;
• NLD - 85 mm plain armored steel without additional layers.

This arrangement of armor allows you to withstand the hit of sub-caliber shells with armor penetration of 450 mm and cumulative shells with an indicator of 600 mm.

All other reservations are made entirely using homogeneous sheets. On the sides:

• 80-mm sheets cover the crew and ammunition rack;
• 70 mm armor covers the MTO;
• double detail covers the stern of the tank.

In order to increase security, 3-mm aluminum screens are hung on the sides of the tank. The main task is to cover important parts from cumulative grenades and shells. The screens have two positions: combat and marching. In the first case, they open forward at an angle of 60 degrees.

Subsequently, dynamic protection began to be hung on the tank. In various modifications, it was: Contact-1, Contact-5 and Relic. It was planned to install active protection complexes (KAZ) "Arena". But such a module will appear only on versions B3 in 2018. There was also the practice of welding additional armor plates up to 30 mm thick.

The first versions of the T-72 had a significant drawback - the armor of the cast turret was monolithic. In the T-72A, this was corrected in the frontal projection, a combined layer appeared. In the T-72B model, the filler was changed to reflective elements. Modules for shooting smoke grenades were additionally installed on the tower.

Armament

In front of the tower is a gun with the index 2A26M.

• gun caliber - 125 mm;
• length is 50.5 calibers.

The gun is smooth-bore, it is possible to launch guided missiles using the Svir system. The main set of used shells consists of sub-caliber, high-explosive fragmentation and cumulative. The gun has a separate-sleeve loading, carried out by means of an AZ or a tank commander.

A 7.62-mm PKTM machine gun coaxial with a cannon acts as an additional weapon. To suppress manpower, light armored vehicles and low-flying targets, a 12.7-mm Utes machine gun mounted on the roof of the tower is used. In order to reduce the cost of production, a remote control system is not provided.

For firing, the commander has to lean out of the hatch on the tower, which is a disadvantage.

Mobility

The patency of the tank was at a high level. On rough terrain, the maximum speed of the T-72 is 30 km / h. The undercarriage resembles that of the T-62. It has 3 support rollers and 6 support rollers, on each side. The driving and steering wheel is located at the rear. The suspension itself is individual, torsion bar.

An interesting addition is the presence of a device for self-digging.

Using this device, the crew is able to dig a trench in 30 minutes. The device was placed on the NLD, which gave greater security.

Initially, the T-72 was equipped with a V-46 engine with a capacity of 780 l / s. The engine was a direct development of the famous V-2, first used on the T-34. It has 12 cylinders and a V-shape.

Able to run on diesel, kerosene and gasoline.

In later modifications, more advanced power units. The fuel system consists of 4 internal tanks and 5 external ones. One internal tank is located in the aft part of the fighting compartment, the rest are around the mechanical drive. Volume - 705 l. This layout is a hallmark of the Soviet tank school.

External tanks are integrated into the right fender. Volume - 495 liters. In addition, during long forced marches, additional tanks are installed on the tank. They are hung from the stern. Depending on the size, this is 400-500 liters.

The transmission consists of:

• multiplier, through which the moment is transmitted to the gearbox;
• pairs of gearboxes, each connected to friction clutches on the sides of the tank, which makes it possible to control the machine;
• planetary gears.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the T-72 tank (TTX)

Modifications

Soviet and Russian modifications:

	T-72	First production model
		Export Option
		Evolutionary development of the first model. Better armor, other control systems, engine, etc. Prefix K-commander
		Export version
		1985 modification. Installed KUV "Svir". Gun 2A46M delivered
		Tank adopted under the name T-90
		Last modification. The latest SLA was installed, combat performance was improved, the engine was changed, and thermal imagers were added. In the future - KAZ "Arena"

foreign options.