AA AA AM aA PUBLICATIONS COMPANYCopyright © 1992 by CONCORD PUBLICATIONS CO. 603-609 Castle Peak Rood Kong Nam industrial Building 10/F. B1, Tsuen Wan New Teritories, Hong Kong All ights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without ‘the prior written permission of Concord Publications Co. We welcome authors who can help expand our range of books. f you Would lke to subrmit material, please feel free to contact us. We are always on the look-out for new, unpublished photos for this series, It you have photos or slides or information you feel may be useful to future volumes, please send them fo us for possible future publication, Full photo credits will be given upon publication. ISBN 962-361-031-9 Printed in Hong Kong Front Cover T-648s on winter exercise, camoutlage painted with an uncommon patter of ight grey over the usual dark olive green. (Sovfota) Back Cover T-20U of the 4th Guards Katomirovets Tank Division on its way to Moscow during the 1981 coup. Thoy have the standardized three color Paint scheme which consists of the basic dark groan, oversprayed with sand and small black “crow feet’. (Dr. Udo Bauer via Thomas Anderson) ‘Acknowledgements Tho author would like to express his thanks to many fiends for the help on this Book, Special thanks to Michael Jerchel for his helpful comments on T-72 evolution and the excellent deta photos Of the T-208Vs of the 8ih Guards Combines Arms Aimy duting ther ‘withdrawal from Germany in 1992, To Stephen “Cookie” Sewel for his ‘many helpful comments ang help in Russion transiations. To George Balin, James Loop. fuss Voughan, Chvstopher Foss, Udo Bousr ond ‘Thomas Anderson for help with photos. Thonks algo to L.Col, Wiliam Beabe, director of the Marine Corps Alt Ground Museum at Quantico, and the staff at the 24th Infontry Division Musoum at Ft Stewart, GA for help in photographing their kaa} T-72s, Thanks 08 10 many other friends who helped in the preparation of this book. eS eeIntroduction This book presents a photographic description of the two most sophisticated and secret of the post-war Soviet main battie tank designs, the T-64 and the T-80. Neither of these tanks have been exported until recently, making them far less well known than their stablemate, the T-72. An earlier book in this series (1004 1-72: Soviet Main Battle Tank) covered the 1-72 tank, Since this earler book was released, a great deal of new information about the 7-72 has been released, including accurate information about Soviet tank designators, as well as information on more recent variants, This book provides this information as an update to the earlier book. ToB4h ‘The T-64 tank was the most radical advance in world tank technology in the 1960s, as much a breakthrough as the T-34 tank had been in 1940. The 7-64 was the first series-manufactured main battle tank to employ non- metalic armor, and the firs to use an autoloader. in spite of iis modest weight of 38 metric fons, it was armed with a very potent 125mm gun, at a time when 55-ton NATO tanks were stil armed with 105mm guns. Its armor was quite thick for the time, and its road speed was very impressive. Indeed, all Soviet main battle tank design until the early 1990s has been only an evolutionary outgrowth of the T-64 design. The T-64 stemmed from two distinct sources, the desire of the Morozov design bureau to explore new tank technologies with a series of test-bed vehicles, and the decision to end heavy tank production by the Khrushchev administration in 1960, By the time of Khrushchev's ouster in 1964, the T-64 design was approaching maturity, and the Soviet Ground Forces desired a new tank with the long range firepower and thicker armor formerly found in the cancelled heavy tanks. The 1-64 tank was an effort of the Morozov design bureau, relocated to Kharkov from Nizhni Tagil in the late 1950s, which had been responsible for the earlier 7-34, 1-54/55 and T-62 designs. Morozov began work on the new design in the lote 1960s, examining two new approaches fo the tank question: a conventional tank design, the Objekt 430 series thot would later emerge as the T-64, and the more radical Obiekt 775 missile tank. The new ‘Obiekt 439 tank design was based around the D-68 11mm smooth-bore gun. This did not offer a radical change in performance trom the 116mm gun on the new T-62 tank, about to enter service with the Soviet tank force. But there were two other significant changes in the 1-64 armament system compared to the T-62, The T-64 used an ‘cutoloader, giving it a theoretical rate of fire of 10 rounds per minute. versus 4 rounds per minute for the 1-62. Secondly, the T-64 was fitted with a TPD-438 coincidence rangefinder. giving It superior accuracy at longer ranges. Compared to the 1-62, the effective range of the gun fring APFSDS kinetic energy projectiles was 1.1km vs 0.9m, while for HEAT shaped charge projectiles it wos 900 meters vs. 600 meters. The T-64 was designed to accompany the new BMP infantry vehicle into the field, mecning that its top speed. had to be increased. A new two-stroke opposing cylinder, multi-fuel engine, the TDF, was designed, similar in conception to the Folrbanks-Morse locomotive engines that the USS had received via Lend-Lease from the United States during World War 2. The STDF was a very compact engine. with five pairs of horizontally opposed cylinders. This engine was more compact than the similar engine employed on the British Chieftain at this time: the Chieftain employed a vertical engine layout. The engine was fitted with a governor to limit excessive wear, Which restricted the vehicle's top speed to 60km/h (37mph). In order to cary the maximum amount of armor, every effort wos made to keep down vehicle size and weight. A light-weight suspension system was used, employing internal shock absorbers instead of the traditional rubber rim, a type of wheel fist used on the KV-1 tank of 1939. The suspension used shortened torsion bars, with the Ist, 2nd and 6th roadwheels having an additional telescopic hydraulic shock absorber, This suspension saved several tons of weight compared to more conventional suspensions. The armor of the T-64, called "Combination-k” was a mixture of conventional steel and ceramic inserts. The ceramic inserts added superior protection against HEAT shaped charge projectiles, which at the time were the preferred type of ammunition used by NATO tanks. Another unusual innovation in the design was the incorporation of “gil” armor panels over the suspension, which were sprung outward during combat to reduce the effectiveness of HEAT projectiles when fired against the suspension area. The T-62’s angled steel armor offered the equivalent of 200mm of steel against APFSDS and HEAT; the T-64 armor was equivalent to 410mm of steel ‘against APFSDS and 450mm of steel against HEAT warheads. The Obiekt 775 design was even more radical. The Soviet premier, Nikita Khrushchev, had an infatuation with missiles. preferring them to more conventional weapons, There was some fear that he might cancel main battle fonks as he had cancelled heavy tanks. A missile armed tank was insurance by the designers that this would not hoppen. The Obiekt 775 only had a two man crew. both in the turret, The gun was a short tubed rocket launcher. It could fire either a radio-guided anti-tank projectile with a HEAT warhead, or a rocket propelled general purpose projectile with a high-explosive-fragmentation warhead, The gun system was fully automated and the commander also served as the gunner. The dtiver was located in the right side of the turret, and his station automatically rotated so that he would always face forward. A similar system was later attempted in the ‘American/German MBI-70 design. 8y placing the driver in the turret, the hull could be made considerably lower ‘and more ammunition cattied. The basic ammunttion load was 24 guided missiles and 48 general purpose rounds, fed in by a semi-automatic loader.The Obiekt 775 prototype was ready for trials in 1962. The prototype suffered from serious reliability problems which doomed its further development, The Soviet Ground Forces ordered the Obiekt 430 design to be accelerated. Several different design alternatives were studied with various types of suspensions, engine layouts ‘and other changes. Following Morozov’s retirement, the design team was headed by Nikolai Shomin. However, the design bureau decided to proceed with another missile carrier which was intended to complement the 1-64 tank. The new Obiekt 287 missile canier, also on the T-64 chassis, would offer long range firepower. This design was iso quite novel, The vehicle had a pop-up launcher in the fear of the hull which was armed with 15 radio- command guided missiles. To the front sides of the launcher were fwo small unmanned containers armed with 73mm 2A28 Grom low-pressure guns (the same as on the BMP-1) to provided short-range self-defense, each with 32 rounds of 73mm ammunition. The crew of the Obiekt 287 was two men. a driver and a commander/gunner with the engine in front, The project was eventually judged a failure. The missles proved to be susceptible to jamming. and the loading system was difficult to operate and not reliable, Further work was undertaken on, another missile camer based on the T-62 tank. called the IT-1, but it 100 never entered quantity production Production of the T-64 tank was authorized to begin on a limited scale in 1965-66, based on the Obiekt 432 Gesign with its 115mm gun. Full scale production was delayed by problems with the vehicle's reliability and the new transmission. Among the more serious reliability problems was the gun autoloader. Nicknamed the "Korna” (Basket) system, the 30 rounds of split ammunition were stowed In “L” shaped containers with the projectile horizontally at the bottom and the casing vertically around the rim of the turret basket. The gunner traversed the ‘autoloader to the desired ammunition type. and the projectile was fed in. Afler fring, the casing was slipped back into the empty carousel slot. The autoloader operated in very cramped spaces, and besides having reliability problems, sometimes snagged on the crew's loose-fitting overalls, slamming the crewman into the breech as well. The transmission had a pair of single-stage planetary clutches, and oversteering led to significant wer IOss, PON RBout 600 ofthe inital version of the T-64 were produced. n subsequent years, they were redesignated T-6ah to alistinguish them from the later production versions of the series with the standard 125mm gun. in the late 1960s, Shomin proposed a substantial mocemization program for the T-64, substituting the new D-81 125mm gun for the 0-68 115mm gun used on the early versions of the tank. This vehicle, codenamed Obiekt 434, entered trials in 1967 and was accepted for service in 1969, The new gun reduced the ammunition load to 38 rounds, compared to 40 in the T-64R. The original production batches of the T-64 were otherwise similar to the original T-64R. The T-64 went through a series of evolutionary improvements os is recounted below. -64R - This is the pre-seties production type with the D-68 11mm gun. Ammunition was 40 rounds, of which 30 were in the Korzina autoloader. Total production was about 600 tanks. 7-64 This was the initial production version with the 125mm D-81T gun. This version had the ZIP tool stowage bin on the right front side and no rear turret stowage bin, Most of these were later modernized as T-64A (rebuild). T64A - The T-64A was the fist major production series of the T-64 family. it Incorporated a number of changes from the initial T-648 and 1-64. The ZIP tool stowage box on the right front fender was replaced by an additional fuel cell. A substitute ZIP tool stowage box was added behind the turret. The T-64 had a variety of other intemal improvements added. Total production was over 1400. T-64A(rebuill) - The 7-644 (rebuilt is a rebuilt T-64 or T-64A. incorporating the new improvements found on later 1-64 models, This includes substitution of a rubber side skirt for the gill armor, addition of glacis plate hull armor applique, stowage improvements and other small changes. T-64B - The T-64B was redesign of the 7-64 to incorporate @ new generation of hull and turret amor which was not as bulky as the Ist generation Combination K armor on the T-64A. while offering the same or better protection. The 1-648 also introduced the new 9M112 Kobra radio-command guided anti-tank missile (AT-8 Songsten. This missile requites @ radio-command antenna box, which is fitted Immediately forward of the ‘commander's right turret station, A new gunner's sight was fitted which Included a laser rangefinder, making the fight hand portion of the coincidence rangefinder unnecessary. The T-64B carries 36 rounds of conventional ‘ammunition and 6 Kobra missiles, compared to 37 rounds of 125mm ammunition on the T-64A. This version was called SMT M1980/2 by NATO. When fitted with smoke mortars, it was dubbed SMT M1981/1 7-648 - The T-6481 is an upgrade to the 1-648, although details of specific improvements are lacking. It may distinguish between new-bulld T-64Bs, and tanks rebuilt to T-64B standard on the basis of older T-64As during periodic rebuilding, The 1-6481 is an uncommon type with only about 400 built compared to over 1200 1-648. T64BV/T-6481V - The -V designator identifies tanks retrofitled with explosive reactive armor (ERA). This type of ‘armor was developed under the direction of V.N.Bryzgov at the Nil Research Institute of the Main Armor Directorate at Kubinka in the Moscow suburbs. 7-64 Command Tanks - There are three command tank versions of the 1-4 series. These types are identified by °K’ suffix after the usual designation. The command types have an adaltional command radio compared to the usual radio fit, and usually have ¢ land navigation device, less ammunition and an additional extemal radio antenna storage tube. The three main command types of the T-64 family are the T-4AK, T-64B1k and T-643V1K. The T-64AK was not fitted with the usual 12.7mm NSVT machine gun over the commander's station. Adalifionaltypes on other variants may also have existed in the past, but have been consolidated into these types by 1990. T-72 Up The T-72 tank was developed by a team at Nizhni Tagll headed by Valeriy Venediktov. Because of its roots at the Ural plant at Nizhni Tagll, the 1-72 is sometimes nicknamed the "Ural" tank. The main aim of the program, codenamed Obiekt 172, was to develop a less expensive alternative to the highly complicated and expensive T- 64. While the 1-64 tank wos intended 10 supplement the more numerous medium tanks such os the T-55 and T-62 which were stil in parallel production, the 1-72 was intended to entirely replace the T-55 and 1-62 In the Soviet Ground Forces. The smaller numbers of the more sophisticated 1-64 (and later T-80) tanks were deployed with high readiness units such as those in Germany. The T-72 was also intended for export while the T-4 and T-80 were not. Since the original Concord book on the T-72 has appeared, additional information of 1-72 designations has ‘appeared. The designations given in the original Concord book were mainly “exported” designators, given to Variants of the tanks exports abroad, The designators used within the Soviet Ground Forces have now been declassified and are listed below. Polish/ Export Soviet Czechoslovak STANAG(NATO) L724, r72 172 112 1728 172 12 7-12 1726 724 172M ‘SMT M1980, SMT_M1980/1 72M 1724 T-72M1 ‘SMT M1981/3, SMT_M1984 172MM 1-728 - ‘SMT M1988(Super Dolly Parton) 1-728,-7281 17281 : FST-1, SMT_M1986 : 2 - ‘SMT M1990. The export designation T-72M2 (1-72 with NDZ armor/super Dolly Parton turret) is how known fo be T-72M1M for export, and 1-728 in the Sovie! Amy. The 1-725 is a new export tank with the 1K13 sight associated with the 9K120 Svir tube-fired anti-tank guided missile, ond the improved V84 engine and corresponds to the Soviet T-72B1 ‘Another new variant of the T-72, called SMT M1990 by NATO, has been seen fitted with the 2nd generation reactive armor of the T-80U, but the designation of this vehicle is not yet certain, These variants are all shown in new photos in this book. 7-80 The 7-80 tank was developed by Nikolai Shomin’s design team at the Morozov Design Bureau in Kharkov under the codename Obiekt 219. The 1-80 tank was intended to offer superior automotive performance to the +72 family, It did so by the introduction of the new SM-1000 gas-turbine engine, developed by the V.Ya.klimov NPO, ‘and manufactured by the Kirovskly Plant in St. Petersburg, The T-80 uses an Improved version of the D-81TM gun seen on the late-model 1-72 variants, 1-80 - This is the basic production version of the tank. It is sometimes nicknamed the “Kobra”, due to Its use of the 9M112 Kobra tadio-command guided missile, This is a relatively uncommon type, and only a few hundred were bull T-80B - Sometimes nicknamed Beryoza (birch Tree), this is the fist major redesign of the T-80 family with o modified turet. The turret incorporates a new generation of Compostte K ceramic armor which offers better protection against APFSDS kinetic energy penetrators, The turret has an equivalent protective level of 500mm steel compare to 410mm in the earlier models and the T-64, This is the most common variant of the T-80, with over 3,800 in service with Soviet tank units west of the Urals as of 1990, The T-808K is the command tank variant. T-BOBV - The T-80BV is the T-808 fitted with Ist generation explosive reactive armor. The T-B0BVK is the ‘command tank version. There Is also late production type with a new turret similar to the SMT M1989, but fitted with the turbine engine and Ist generation ERA. This is probably the T-80U. 7-80D - Soviet documents refer to a T-80D. Nothing definite is known of this variant though it may refer either to ‘an initial diesel powered version of the 1-80, or a 7-80 equivalent of the T-55AD Drozh anti-missile air defense vehicle. 7-80U/T-80UD - This is the latest version of the T-80 family, sometimes called the SMT M1989. This version has two significant changes from the earrler T-80 family, including a new turret with an improved frontal armor package with 2nd generation reactive armor. This variant is equipped with the 9K120 Svir laser guided antitank missle in place of the older Koora, The standard version is ftted with the 6TD diesel engine. a 6-cylinder derivative of the SIDF engine found in the T-64 family, There have been reports that a version of this tank exists with the older gas- furbine engine. but equipped with the modified turret and 2nd generation reactive armor. In the photos here, this version is referred to as the T-80UD.Parallel to the T-64 program was the Obiekt 755 ‘missile tank. The two-man orew corfiguration permitted ' particularly low hull, and low overall profile, In the background isthe Obiekt 287 prototype. The initial testbeds for the T-64 differed In many details from the ype for the T-64 6 fay close to the production vehicles production vehicle. Notice the suspension, which is completely citferent, except forthe glacis plate which lack some ofthe proclcton features such land the coincidence rangefinder, which on this test-bed fs imbedded Inthe as the V-s jonvard parton ofthe turet roo vehicleThe T-64 remained in service untl the 19805, though most wore upgraded to the T-64A (rebuild). This vehicle shows the Ccharactoristc foatures- the 125mm gun without the thermal sleeve ‘andthe right fender ZIP container. When the T-64 was first spoted by NATO inteligence in Germany in 1970, t was misidontiied as This overhead view shows the characteristic features of the standard production T-64Ahe thermal sloeve over the gun tube, the deletion of the right fender ZIP, and the adcition of a new ZIP tool stowage container on A frontal view of a T-64A. This vehicle has complete stowage. although the “gl” armor panels are not tite‘The large tbe fitted behind the turrt i part of the PYT deop wading system. One tube ited over the rear engine port, while another fis into an pening In the gunners hatch A T-64A moving at speed. In this view, the turret i traversed tothe rear The stoo [Another overhead view of the T 64A. This shows two details often ‘obscured by stowage- the pattern of the rear turret ZIP box’s hatch and tne provision for stowing spare track links fon the reas let turret side,This overhead view shows a T64A fited with the KMT-6 mmine rakes, These mine rakes wore an olaboratr types used on the T-55 series, but adapted Darul tank has portions of ts gun thermal sleove removes. The T-64AK is the command version of the T-64A. In this view, the addtional antenna is seen fully erected with the guide wires holding it ‘down, Other detaldflerences are the absence of the commander's NSVT 127mm machine gun, and the adkitional small racho antenna added just beyond the let front comer of the commander's cupola. Notice that this vehicle has both sets of OPVT wading tubes stowed- the engine tube behind the turret. and the turet tube to the rear ofthe turret ZIP stowage [A T-64A fitted with KNT-6 mine rakes. When using mine rakes, the front dust guards are sometimes removed to prevent damage,4A in the fold in Czechoslovakia in the mid-1980s. This tank has waite stripes painted over it, forming a cross when viewed from above with the arms joining on the center of the turret root. This particular marking is & very common one during Soviet exercises, often being used lo distinguish “aggressor” forces. This vel samoutlage painted, and has an interesting marking painted on the searchlight cover a red star with white or yoliow wreath. Baroy evident are the fold-out “gli” armor panels on the sides ofthe suspension. {An interesting overhead view of a T-64A tank park. The nearest vei has K€ min aes, As nrg he at a etn has ‘armor panels fit, not al that common @ practoe afar the early A heavily slowed T-64A with the stowed for transport. The barrel is held down by tow eabie to prevent the turet fram swinging during lranspor.blocks are attachedT-648 Tankrear dock 0 don‘A close-up of a T-64A rebuild, This vohcl is classified as ‘2 T-64A even though it was obviously based on an ckier T-64 ‘as is evidant from the right fender ZIP box cover evident in the foreground ofthis photo, and the grab-iron arourd the base of the tuet. The thickness of the adced glass plato applique can be seen by noting the edge a the cut-out infront of he civers viewport. ‘A close-up of the mounting for the NVST 12.7mm ‘machine gun. The machine gun is absent in this view. This ‘mounting remotely controlled rom inside the turret ‘Another characteristic of the T-64A rebuilds: the added biack rubber skiting panel. This panel was intonded to Koop ‘down dust as well as act as a stand-off panel to detonate small caliber ani-tank rocket and missie warheads, A tront view ofthe T-G4A rebuild atthe Moscow museum. ‘This view shows the pattorn of the added gladls plate armor panel on the bow of the vehicle.The Moscow museum vehicle has some ofthe stowage containor covers ‘removed showing the plain insides, 7-648 rebuild uring wargamos in Hungary in 1989. This vehicle not only has the basic rebuild features Such as the added glacis armor, but aso the 12 smoke mortars. In front of the tank is a Soviet afficar tothe let and @ Hungarian ofeer (in camoutage ‘coverals) 10 the right, ‘A T-64A rebuild tank orew talking to NATO observers during 1989 wargames in Hungary. Note how the added glacis armor has cut-out fr theAT-84A robulld moving off @ railroad car during 1989 wargames, This tank is from @ Guards unit simulating am aggressor force judging from tha white idonifeation Lund Another T-64A rebuild during summer exercises. This vohicle is an older T-64 with the initial gun-tube minus the thermal sleeve, turret grab rom and fender ZIP boxes. ‘An overhead view of @ T-648 tank. This variant had a new turret of siighy aiferent shape on the front. In addon, the turet had a layer of piastc ant-ralation liner adds ovar the 1p of the roof and the rear ofthe turret, The main feature of this vatlant was the addition of a guidance Control box for the Kobra missile in front of the commander's station, ‘obscured by the commanders NVST machine gun inthis view. ‘A T-648 tank during maneuvers in the late 1880s. This ean be identiied by the small pattorm located in front of the ‘commander's cupela, although the guidance box itsel is absent. Several other detail are worth noting. The side par. Pers are labeled, trom lof to right: MASLO (Oi): ZIP (Tools) TOPLIVO (Fuel). The vahicie tactical number is 445, while on the rear stowage box isa uni tactical Insignia 180V2 in atria le. Inverted triangles are usually the sign of company sized formations. This tank has the white bands of a wargame aggressor force.A close-up of the turret of a T- 64B. The later production 7-648 possibly the T-64B1 series), had Additional plastic ant-ragiation tiner ‘added to the turet roof and the turet rear sides, This can be seen by caretuly studying the photothe small circular plugs characteristic of this ‘material are evident - ~ ‘A detaied front view of a T-648 turet. The most distinctive feature of his variant is the enlarged gunners sight which contains a laser angelindet, Also evident in front of the commander's cupola Is witing leading down to where the Kobra contra box i fited-ne box Is not present in this Vio. The other characterstic ofthe T-64B-the new ure, ia more sublie change, notceable by the slight plateau effet ofthe front edge of - the turret root, The T-64B also carry fewor smoke grenade launchers than ‘rear view of a T-648 engine deck. The vehicle is heavily siowed, the rebuilt T-644. ands tte wth four racks for spare track lis on the lf rear tuto side, oie [Another T-648 turret shot. In this view, the added glacis pate applique Is evident. as wall as tho other charactorstieshe enlarged gunners sight and th electrical condut forthe Kobra guidance box. Canvas covers are placed over the side bort numbers, The Kobra box is attached to the two Cortical posts behind the right turet stowage box, and the small flat plate Jocated in font ofthe commanders cupola.A fine character study of a T-648 on wargame manouvers in 1989. Ths vehicl has the Kobra control box fited infront of the commanders station. The other typical T-648 features are present as wel including the ineased glacis armor, enlarged gunner’ sigh, and smoke mortar ortiguretion: Note also the use ofa T-55/T-62 fuel pannior instead ofthe more usual 200 iter drums. A T-648 on exercise in Hungary ln 1989. The small attachment point for the Kobra guided missile control box is evident in front of the ‘The T-648 was first seen at tho May 1985 Vielory Parada in Moscow, commander's cupola, This was the ist time that the T-64 of any variant had been cispiayed al Moscow, and a reminder of how secret this tank had Been for many years. Photos of the T-64 did not begin appearing in the Soviet press unti this time. These vehicias have the characteristic T-G4E: features except that their turet stowage is aiferent. This turet stowage pattern appears to be the syle found on the T-648V with reactive armor, these vehicle may have been from the Kubinka NIIBT in the Moscow euburbs whore ERA experiments were going on atthe time, A rear detall view of a T-€48 showing the rear engine gil and the rear of the turret stowage box. The two sem-cicular attachments on the turret box are forthe turet OPVT wackng tube.A T-648 fitted with the Kobra radio-command guidance sight. When the missile i launched, tis tracked by the gunners enlarged sight via an IR beacon on the missile tselage, The funne's sight automaticaly tracks the missile relative to the target, and transmits flight alterations to the ‘missile via the radio contol box in front of the commander's station, probably In the 20-35 GHz range. This missile has 4 range of km, ed can pert up t6 800mm of steo! armor, suticlent to deteat any tank armor of the early 1980. ‘A T-648 moving at speed and kicking up mud. Ths vehicle also has “The seme tank, bort number “326° with the turret traversed tothe ra command box ted This shows some detals of he rear stowage bin 1B on the move, This vehicle has the engine OPVT the roar of the stowage bin rather than the normal location ontop. In the late 1980s, he T-68 began to appear with Kubinka explosive Wve armor (ERA), This variant is designated T-68BV, the V standing for rol of “explosive, This overhead view shows the pattem.Another overhead view of a T-648V showing the armor layout, This ‘one is unusual in that the hull side bricks aro also shown. These are not ‘commonly fitted in peacetime as itis nuisance to service the suspension ‘whan they are present, and they tend to get knocked of i raveing in rough view of the let turret BV. Ths shows the mod: RY aL U DI) SS Te (On some of the later T-648V tanks, the smoke mortars were deleted. and a sighty diferent patirn of ERA bricks was used as seen here,Soviet Explosive Reactive 'AT-64BV showing the ERA brick arrangement. Notice how far the root are spaced trom the turet roo, Also note that the final row of bricks inthe eray are ofa diferent cross-section A frontal view of a T-S8BV showing tho an ERA bricks. This view is also ineresting is Kobra conto! box A detail view of a T-64BV showing the arrangement of the ERA bricks on the hull front Another frontal view ofthe T-64BV. This angled view acconts the fact that the outer bricks are not filed fish to the gacis plate. Notice also that the upper row of bricks use the wedge shape rather than the more ‘common brik shape.Another close-up of a T-648V turret. This provides a good ook atthe Kobra contol box. Notice also that a regimental insignia has been painted on the forward row of turret ERA A close-up of a T-64BV turer, also showing the Kobra control box. A T-64BV showing the enlarged Gunner's sight characteristic of thisA detal side view of the KMT:6 mine rake on a 64. This is probably the improved KMT-5Me versionWas usually mounted on the small panel seen to the left of the guiner's This T-72M1 displayed in Baghdad before the 1901 Gull War shows the dazzier located on the turet roof between the commander and the gunners hatches, The PRC manufactured dazzler ‘as mountes on Iragl tanks. The dazzler {sa miniature strobe beacon which femits 2 bright light ona similar frequency fo that used by the tracking beacon on wire guided missiles such {as the Mian, HOT, and TOW. This is intended 10 confuse the missile guidance tracker as to where the trissile is located relative tothe target. ‘The system did not work well in the Gult War as the coalition forces were already aware of this trick bofore tho wat broke out[A major fuss ensued when a visiting US Congressional was shown this T-72B al the 2ath Motor Rille {garison in Lvov. Instead of the usual single layer of ERA bricks, two or three layers were fitted. This caused ‘considerable alarm since t was presumed that it one layer of ERA is good, two or thre layers must be much better. Infact. 's doubtful thatthe subsequent layers of ERA would function in ‘such an arrangement. anc this appears to have been a case of ‘Soviet “asormatsiya” rater than a real armor ft Another view of the tiple layer ERA on the 7-728, view showing a T-728 withthe ERA bricks attachad tothe side. The T-64BV, 1-728 and T-608V can all have side bricks attached, but they are ‘often et of in peacetime for canvenionce An overhead view of a 1-728 showing the layout of the ERA pack ago. The 7-728 already has the most any Soviet AA trontal view of the T-7261 ita with the 1K frotoalled FST-1 by US Army inieligence, and In 1990, some T-72B1s began to be fitted with the 2nd version also has the 1K 13 a ‘a8 the T-72B1. In the ‘nt, evident ‘amoke mortar called SMT M1990 b 3 designation is Pty ore of his new tank typeaes a because the two rear fuel tanks look tke a" since iis stil armed withthe Kobra~ Ludthe 79th Guares Tank Division, 6th Guards Combined Arms Army during thal wihcrawal from Jena, Germany in 1992. (Michaol Jerchel) ‘A detail view of the tank commander's cupola, showing the NSVT ‘machine gun mounting minus its weapon. (Michael Jerchel) ‘An overhead shot of a T-208V showing the tank gunners hatch and the dealin ront of (Michael Jerche!) ig ~~ ‘A dtal viow ofthe rear turtet stowage of a T-B0BV. The basic tem is the snorkel tube for deep wading, Between the snorkel lube and the turret ‘ear is a combing forthe attachment ofthe snorkeling equipment. (Michael serch!)‘Anathr view ofthe left tua sido from the front showing the pattern of {he reactive armor as well as the gunners sight above. (Michael Jorchel) ‘A deta view of the reactive armor layout on a T-S0BV on the right side ofthe ture. In this viow, the tut is traversed tothe rear, so some of the ‘engine deck deal can be seen immediately below. (Michas! Jerche) ‘An overall view of the ight turret side of T-B0BV showing the layout ofthe reactive armor brick. In this view, te Iuret is pointed rearward, so Gotails of the engine deck are also evident. The large screened area Immediately under the searchlight is one of two ai intakes forthe turbine engine. (Michael Jerchel) ‘An interosting viow ftom the rear side ofthe turret showing the layout ‘of the reactive armor bricks and other deal. (Michael Jerchel)During the August 1891 coup attempt against Ge from the 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Motor ill and T-B0U tanks from the 4th Guards Kateri Naro-Fominsk, were sent into the strets of Mo 4th Guards Kantemirovets Tank Dhision, (A hav, T-72 tanks ion based in Kalininets, jets Tank Division based ow. Here, a T-80U of the ander Petrochenko) ‘A head-on view of T-S0U tank. Like most T-80US, it olor camoulage scheme introduced in the late 19 Petrochenko) 0s. (Alexander T-20Us at a nin Moseo 2 battalion of Major lyin went over ‘coup, the T-20Us remained largely street inter during the 1991 Yeltsin's side during the ral, neither acting against Yeltsin, ing the ant-coup forces (Alexander Petrocnerko) A T-80U of the 4th Guards Katemirovets Tank Divis street in Moscow during the coup. cat al Finland Station in 1917 or November 7 parade in Mk A close-up of a tank commands ‘Tank Division during the coup, ‘annual parade and many area, making them unenthusiast 1941 (Alexard The division is fs conscript troops eo Ironically, the T-B0U tank wil probat this histor event, much 9s the armored ihe T-34 tanks which took part in the from the sth Guards Kantemirovets a show unit, used in tho 1 fram the Moscow participants in the coup. (AlexancA roar view of the T-80. The T:80 turbine engine requires a large exhaust por at the rear The engine ait intake is inmeciately behind the A clear view of why the 7-80 is sometimes called “Mickey Mouse", the wide space of the two roar fuel drums. This vehicle has an unueval large mast mounted over the fear ofthe turret. would appear to be either 2 wind sensor or laser detector, but such evieo is not commonly seen on the T-8 ‘8-80 on the move, heavily stowed. The characteristic feature ofthe T-80 is the new readwheel- larger than a T-64's, small than a T-72'. The commanders machine gun cradle i a simple manual tye, not the remote contra type found on the T-64“The 7:80 was rebuilt with reactive armor, as the T-B0BV. I 's sil unclear what features estingulsh the T-80 and T-808, A turret close-up of a T-B0BV showing the reactive armor layout Caretu inspection of the photo wil locate the Kobra guidance bo on the far ight side ofthe tute, as woll asthe enlarged gumers eight. AnotheT-B08V on summer wargames wth the Northern Group of Forces in Poland in the late 19806,SS © Steven J. Zaloga 1988 t BOS 1A 900d close-up of he T-80BV side skins The many small bo! ed for he attachment of ERA ‘An overhead view of the T-80BV. The large device Immediately tothe rear and below the commanders cupola is a pair of covers fited over the engine ar intake. These cavers have tubes which are then attached to a pair of OPVT wading snorkels A close-up shot of the ERA bricks on the T-B0BV. The marking painted on the brick covers has an arrow pointing forward and the Cyrilic letter °Z" (resembling the nut 8 Zapad (orwardAnother good view of the TOBY side skits. These side skits are made ofthe usual black ruboerzed material, but have steel reinforcement behind them to bear the weight ofthe ERA bricks. ‘A T-B0BV during summer wargames. Its camoutlage painted, but the scheme may have been one of the unofficial local schemes used by Soviet festern Group of Forces in Germary ‘A detalec close-up view of the bow of a T-B0BV encrusted with mud after summer wargames. The unusual skits on the bow ofthe T-80B\V may ave been intended to Keep down dust, b ay provide some tional stard-ff protection trom smal calberanti-ank rocketsT-B0BV very clearly shows the bow front. The eu ose were Intended to or RA bricks wren driving through heavy brush, jsents the fact that the‘rear view of a T-S0BV with the metal strap forthe 200 ter drums loose. On the engine deck is a cradle fora third 200, Iter érum, a reflection of the heavy fuel consumption of the T tanillad numbers on the An useful overhead view of a camouflage painted T-80BV This schome is essentially the came as the one shown wath tho -80U on parade in Moscow later inthis book. Note that there i @ canvas cover over the engine air intake, ‘An extreme rearview of a T-80BV. The strange wrinkling of the side sks is due to the steel reinforcement behing the rubber skits for attaching the ERA bricks, A close-up view of a T-808V road-whee! showing the torsion bar arm land attachment dotais. (Michael Jorene)‘close-up showing the shoe T-808V. (Michael Jere — .e-up view ofthe i sprocket ofa T-80BV. A detail view of the stowage of a T-808V's right turret Side. Starting from the right, thera are two 12.7mm ammunition boxes, flowed by two engine deck snorkel combings. These sd together They are attached over the gular engine ait intakes Immediately behind the turret when deep wading o prevent water tram rushing into the engine compartment. Behind these are the snorkel tube and 28. On lop ofthe snorkel are the side skits which nd sensor and position light on the top turret. During tring, the small doors on the Wind Sensor open up, measuting any cross-wind. (Michael derche!)eal vaw imme iank commander below it. (Michael Jrche! Another rearview fom the left side showing the uneitching beam and the engine exhaust por. (Michael Jercnal) ‘A deta view of the ERA layout on the glacis plate of a T-B0BV, (@fichael Jerche) the machine gun mount 19 rear detail shot showing the lower rear hull detail, ally complex atchment racks for the rear fuel drums. (Wichael Jerehel) {view ofthe ltt turret side from the front showing the layout ofthe reactive armor bricks (Michael Jerchel)‘detail view ofthe reactive armor array on the root ofthe T-BOBV as A detail shot showing how the reactive armor bricks are attached to well asthe Kobra missle guidance box in font ofthe command's station. the extension brackets onthe righ ure sie. (Michaol Jorehel) Note that the bricks on the gun mantel ave contained in 2 sheet metal ray (Michael Jorchel) This overhead view of an intermediate type between the T-808 and T '80U shows the final turret contquration belore the definitive T-80U. I is [An overhead view of the new T-80, aso known as the SMT M1989. noticeably wider at tho rear than the normal T-BOBV. and has a diferent This vehicle uses a new gunners hatch similar o the type seen in he final guaner’s hatch and diferent smoke mortar arrangement. it also reverts production T-808V. The main dstinguishing features ofthis vanant are the back to a narrow gunner’ sight and does not have the Kobra contol box Rew engine deck and the new, 2nd generation ERAVapplique armor Present. I also uses the modihad commander's cupola wih remote contol NSVT machine gun found on he ater T-80U. ‘A pa of T-80Us on maneuver in 1989. Tho T-B0U was introducod due to the high fuel consumption and other problems associated with the SM-1000 {a5 lurtne engine in the T-B06 familyCareful examination of the commander's cupola reveals thatthe T-20U has gone back to the ‘control machine gun station found on the T-64 as opposed to the manually operated type found an the T-72 and 1-808. The major diferonce between the T-80U commanders cupola is that i has @ new, enlarged sighting optic under the machine gun. This overhead view of a T-80U ofthe 4th Guards Kantemirovets Tank Division “Imeni Yuri Andropov" shows the new appique/ERA layer characteristic of this vession. i's believed that his appique is a new generation of ERA, but details 60 far ae lacking A view of the T-80Us of the 4th Guards Tank Division on parade in Moscow in 1990 when thoy first ‘appeared. They ate finshed inthe new three tone camoullage scheme frst adoptes in the inte 19808 as the fst standardized Soviet vehicle camoutiogeA close-up ofthe engine dock area ofthe T-80U showing the ‘gril work ovat the naw 6TD engine The turet uses w Witerent ‘unner's hatch than that found on the normal 7-208, ‘Another overhead view of the rear engine dack, showing addtional deta of the panels futher tothe rear. This deck has & ‘Similar layout to that on the T-64, though the detals are cfernt. ‘A rear view of the T-B0U engine deck showing the much larger gil assombly found on ths vanart ‘An overhead view of the T-80U. On fst glance the engine ack looks very similar to that of the T-64, but this impression fadas on clase comparison{A T-0U In the Moscow The applique panals on the hl si stops to make it easier for the erew to clamber aboard tho‘A trontal view ofthe T-80U showing the new armor array, Atal shot ofthe complicated protective covers over the searchlightson the T-80U, A detailed side view of the right turret front and the ‘applique armor panels on the right hull rot. This view clearly shows the similarly between the T-80U's ‘machine-gun mounting and that of the older T-64, right down 19 the larger ammunition box. Two spare ammunition boxes are cariad futher to he rear on the turret sideAnother rearview of the T-80U operating in the Moscow This ar shot shows the rear engine gril to good etfect as woll as some ofthe panel detail onthe hul rear. Athough bit murky, this shot shows the attachment brackets for the unditching beam underneath the engine exhaust gil. The beam isnot presont inthis view,= ‘A view under the OPVT snorkel showing the extra track link stowage ‘A view from the ll side showing the track stowage and details under on the turret Back as well as rectangular containers which are probably the OPVT snorkel Additional panels of 2nd generation reactive armor. ‘A rare view showing tho OPVT snorkels in operation on the T-80U. The snorkel contiguration on the T-G0U is more similar to that on the T-64 than the T-808. T-80U tanks of the 4th Guards Kantemirovets Tank DDnsion an their way to Mascaw during the 1991 August coup ‘attmpt against the Gorbachev government. (Dr. Udo Bauer via Thomas Anderson)AA closo-up of @ T-80U during the 1991 coup, (Or. Udo Bauer via Thomas Anderson) T-80Us on their way 10 Moscow during the coup. The vehicles have the fuel tanks stowed up on the roar gino dock instead of over the rear fenders as is more commonly the case with turbine powered T-80Bs. (Dr. Udo Bauer Via Thomas AndersorPha Oe a ISRAELS CHARIOT OF a FDAP IAS PUBLICATIONS COMPANYLU Ry a Beller eee CSOMCORD