Function: Soviet and Warsaw Pact Cold War main battle tank (MBT).





Description: Where the T-64 was never exported from the Soviet Union the T-72 was a parallel design intended for distribution throughout the Soviet Bloc as well as exported through arms sales to other nations. Similar to the T-64, the T-72 has the low, round turret made from cast steel as well as the 2A46M 125mm smoothbore cannon, which, at the time, was the largest mounted on an MBT. In addition, the T-72 mounts a 12.7mm antiaircraft machine gun in the commander's station and a single 7.62mm machine-gun coaxial to the main gun. Though outclassed by the T-80 and T-90 tanks which followed it, the T-72 is currently still in service with the Russian army as well as being produced for export.





General Characteristics, T-72 Main Battle Tank



Manufacturer:

Malyshev HMB Plant, Kharkov, Ukraine



UKBM Nizhny Tagil, Russian Federation





Transmission:

Automatic





Engine:

V-12 air cooled diesel producing 840 horsepower





Length. Gun Forward:

31.70 feet (9.66 meters)





Width:

11.75 feet (3.58 meters)





Height:

7.20 feet (2.19 meters)





Combat Weight:

44.5 metric tons





Cruising Range:

310 miles (500 kilometers); 403 miles (650 km) with additional fuel tanks





Speed:

Maximum: 37 mph (60 kph)



Cross Country: 21 mph (35 kph)







Obstacle Crossing:

Trench: 2.85 meters

Slope: 32 degrees





Fording:

Without preparation: 3.9 feet (1.2 meters)



With Snorkel: 16.5 feet (5 meters)





Crew:

A three-man crew composed of a driver, gunner, and tank commander





Armament:

Main: 125mm 2A46M main gun



Secondary: One 12.7mm NSV antiaircraft machine gun (commander's station); one 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun; 9K120 Svir (NATO designation AT-11 SNIPER) cannon launched, laser guided Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) (T-72S, SK, BM)





Ammunition:

45 125mm cannon rounds (combination of kinetic energy (SABOT), High Explosive Anti Tank (HEAT) shaped charge, High Explosive-Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), cannon launched AT-11 ATGM)



300 12.7mm machine gun rounds



2,000 7.62mm machine gun rounds





Introduction Date:

1971











Variants:

T-72: Original production version from which all variants are derived. Fielded in 1971, equipped with 780 horsepower diesel V-12 engine. Tank is equipped with a 7.62mm PKT machine gun coaxially mounted on the right side of the cannon and a 12.7mm NSV machine gun mounted in the commander's cupola.



T-72A: Basic Russian model. Differs from basic T-72 in that it incorporates a laser rangefinder, track sideskirts, additional armor on the turret top and front, smoke grenade launchers and is slightly heavier. Went out of production in 1985.



T-72AV: A model equipped with first generation explosive reactive armor.



T-72B: Entered production in 1985. Incorporates increased frontal armor in the turret. Known in the U.S. as the "Dolly Parton" version. Additionally, engine output is improved to 840 horsepower. The T-72BK is the command variant of the T-72B with additional communications equipment.



T-72BV: T-72B model equipped with first generation ERA.



T-72BM: T-72 B model with Kontakt-5 second generation explosive reactive armor. All T-72s produced for export are currently being built to this standard.



T-72M: Polish-Czechoslovakian version of the basic T-72 tank. The T-72M differs from the T-72 in that the coincident rangefinder has been replaced with a laser rangefinder. Went out of production in 1985.



T-72M1: Export version of the T-72M. Equivalent to the Soviet built T-72A. Produced in Poland and Czechoslovakia. Went out of production in 1985.



T-72M1V: M1 model equipped with reactive armor. Equivalent to the T-72AV.



T-72S: T-72A model upgraded to be on comparable with the T-72BM though lacking increased turret armor. May be equipped with first generation ERA. T-72SK is the command variant with additional communications equipment.



T-72CZ: Czechoslovakian M1 models upgraded with western automotive, fire control and weapon system components.