Т-72б (1989 г.)

The 1989 T-72B or T-72BM is a modification of the Soviet T-72B main battle tank. Since 1989, the T-72B has been fitted with the new-generation Contact-5 tank protection system, similar to that fitted to the T-80U tank. The name of the modernisation is unofficial. The Contact-5 upper dynamic protection is of a different design; it is a single structure with the tank's HLD, rather than detachable containers. On the turret, the dynamic protection consists of large plates mounted at an angle. The T-72B (1989) is armed with a 2A46M-1 125 mm smoothbore gun stabilised in two planes. The gun has excellent ballistics, high accuracy and good armour penetration of shells, and, together with the laser rangefinder, allows firing at long ranges. The tank is equipped with an automatic loader, providing a stable reloading time of 7.1 seconds, without requiring the skills of a loader. However, this is longer than on NATO tanks, so it is worth firing for sure. The first stage loader consists of 22 shells, which is enough for long continuous firing, but if they run out, there will be a very long transfer of shells from the hull floor or aft recess to the mechanised stowage. Horizontal guidance speed of 24°/sec will allow to react in case of sudden appearance of the enemy, but the vertical guidance speed of 5°/sec is rather weak and when moving on hills or other terrain, the gun may not have time to quickly aim at the enemy. It is recommended to keep the enemy in your sights. The vertical pointing angles, as with all Soviet tanks, are in the range of -6° to +13°, which will not allow you to play off hilly terrain. The tank has an IR searchlight ‘Luna’ with the help of which in night battle you can illuminate the place with a searchlight and detect the enemy. However, it should be remembered that the enemy also sees this searchlight and can hide. It should be noted that the tank does not have a thermal imager, which greatly affects the effectiveness of the tank on the battlefield. By the mid-1980s, there was an objective need to modernise the T-72 main battle tank to modern combat performance. The fact is that the vehicle seriously lacked firepower and a modern fire control system, and its defence, which was not bad at the time of its creation, was becoming obsolete due to the emergence of new powerful weapons. The large tank modernisation programme implied a comprehensive improvement of the T-72 in all key characteristics. In the early 1980s, the Svir guided missile system was developed for Soviet tanks, with the missile guided by a beam and launched through the gun barrel. At the same time, work was underway to develop the first generation of the Contact-1 dynamic defence system. Both of these innovations were in demand when modernising the T-72. The tank received a new combined hull armour: the package on the upper frontal part increased in size, and its composition was redistributed towards more steel. A new cast turret was also fitted with an increased overall size, where ‘reflective sheets’ were used as filler. Due to the increased weight, the tank required a new engine, which allowed the tank to retain the good running characteristics of the basic model. The modernised version of the tank was designated the T-72B and was adopted into service in December 1984. It was this modification that became the basis for a large number of versions and modernisations, making the T-72 the most mass-produced Generation II tank in the world. In its modernised form, the tank continues to serve in the army of Russia and many other countries In 1989, the tank underwent another modernisation to the T-72BM version. The 1989 modification of the T-72B is distinguished, first of all, by the installation of the second-generation Contact-5 dynamic defence system. The defence blocks on the frontal part of the hull form a single plane with it, unlike the Contact-1 defence. The containers on the turret are placed at an angle to each other, forming a recognisable silhouette, seen many times at military parades and in news reports. ‘The Contact-5 provides a significant increase in the tank's protection in the frontal projection against both shaped charge and sub-calibre ammunition.