T-62: the potential for use in the special operation "Z"
A few years ago, a lot of T-62M went to Syria, where they performed well. Source: yuripasholok.livejournal.com
Tank of the second echelon
Propagandists from Ukraine are diligently dispersing numerous fakes about the forced use of obsolete by the allied forces tanks T-62. They say that modern cars were knocked out by the notorious "holy Javelins", and Russia has to remove the cars of the Soviet era from conservation. No one seriously intends to discuss this nonsense, but the idea of using the T-62 as a second-tier combat vehicle should be considered separately. First of all, because the LDNR troops quite successfully use the BMP-1. Moreover, they use light armor for a completely different purpose - to storm settlements, and sometimes as an artillery installation.
At the same time, armoring an infantry fighting vehicle, at best, corresponds to the realities of the early 70s of the last century. In Russia, several thousand T-62 tanks are stored in the mobilization reserve (according to some sources, up to 2 vehicles), so why not use this armada in the interests of a special operation?
With the development of the offensive of the allied forces in the Donbass and further to the West, the issue of control of the liberated territories will become acute. Ukrainian nationalists in their most frostbitten guise will not stop even after the capitulation of the Kyiv regime and will annoy with terrorist activity. The T-62 in any version can perfectly play the role of a security vehicle for important objects in the rear, as well as replace modern equipment at checkpoints. Where the machines of the T-72, T-80 and T-90 series are impractical to use, a simple and unpretentious "sixty-two" will fit quite well.
Source: yuripasholok.livejournal.com
A little about the specifics of the T-62. It’s worth starting with the fact that the modification of the T-62M, which was put into service in 1983, reached the level of the early T-64A and T-72 in terms of combat effectiveness. Except, of course, firepower. The T-62 was equipped with the world's first smoothbore 115 mm cannon, inferior in power to the 125 mm gun. An additional sandwich of armor plates and polyurethane foam plates was welded onto the upper frontal sheet of the "M" modification.
A characteristic feature of the T-62M was the famous "Ilyich's eyebrows" - massive armored blocks on both sides of the gun embrasure. The sides were covered with rubber-fabric screens 10 mm thick. The experience of Afghanistan was taken into account in strengthening mine protection. In the area of the driver, additional 20-mm armor was welded from the lower bow inclined sheet to the second pair of torsion bars. The honored V-55U diesel engine was boosted from 580 hp. With. up to 620 l. With. In 1985, the T-62MV appeared, from which additional armor was removed from the nose and replaced with dynamic protection "Contact". Along with the previous modification, the MV version is quite successfully fighting against gangs in Syria.
Part of the T-62MV was equipped with dynamic protection on the side projections. The remaining modifications differ in insignificant details, which in the realities of a special operation can be ignored. For example, a V-46-5M diesel engine with a capacity of 690 liters was installed on some tanks. With. And, of course, a modification of the T-62D with the Drozd active defense system, capable of destroying ATGMs and RPGs approaching at speeds up to 700 m/s. However, there are big doubts that at least one tank with a functional KAZ of this series remains in Russia.
The T-62 has a glorious combat story. Tanks managed to make war in Afghanistan, in Chechnya and even in South Ossetia in 2008. It is noteworthy that in the North Caucasus, militants armed with completely modern anti-tank systems opposed the vehicles. In particular, the T-62M was in service with the 160th Guards Tank Regiment under the command of Colonel A. Budanov.
Tank crews successfully fought terrorists, received hits from ATGMs, but remained on the move. And near Tskhinval, tankers of the 42nd Guards Motorized Rifle Division repeatedly destroyed Georgian T-72s. Of course, not on the forehead, but when they hit the sides from an ambush. There is no particular sense in considering the use of the T-62 in the Arab-Israeli conflicts, since the vehicles were used against tanks equal to themselves, which cannot be found in Ukraine. The 105-mm cannons of the Centurions and the M48 cannot be compared with the tank guns of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Later, the enemy had 115-mm and 120-mm guns, but here the T-62s fought with dignity, and if they were defeated, it was due to the low level of the Arab command.
Golden mean
As we remember, the Ukrainian command for a long time craved the German Leopard-1 tanks. So, the T-62 strikes the frontal armor of this vehicle from a distance of 3 km, and the Germans still need to get close to a distance of 1,5–2 km in order to break through a domestic tank. Of course, no one in their right mind would have allowed the tanks decommissioned back in 2013 to enter the first line of attack in Ukraine, but this example clearly shows the balance of forces. The T-62, in case of its hypothetical use in a special operation, in addition to security functions, can be used as a self-propelled gun. Why, for example, is this tank worse than the 122-mm regimental self-propelled guns "Gvozdika", which very often in Ukraine works with direct fire? And this means that he exposes his thin armor to return fire.
The only downside is the lower accuracy of the smooth-bore tank gun against the 122-mm rifled "sniper rifle" self-propelled guns. But this can be compensated by a shorter firing distance. The difference in the lethal effect on the target between the described calibers is not fundamental if the fire is not fired at tanks. The T-62 can also fire indirect fire - in some cases this can be useful. They learned how to hit on a hinged trajectory from the BTR-82A gun. In addition, the T-62 in urban environments can become an inexpensive and effective anti-sniper weapon. weapons.
T-62MV in the Patriot park. Source: patriotp.ru
It is important to understand that the T-62 can partially replace modern vehicles in non-tank areas. Simply because the resource of the undercarriage of the equipment is not rubber, and over time, the warring tanks and infantry fighting vehicles will go for major repairs. Ideally, it would be good to replace most of the outdated BMP-1 and even BMP-2 with the T-62M / MV. At least for the duration of the special operation. It is clear that the resource of the BMP motors is higher than that of the T-62, and the latter will run out of steam faster, but during the period of positional confrontation this may not be so critical. Infantry on the march is still placed on the armor, so let the weighty main caliber and much more serious armor be a bonus to this. During the offensive, it is more reliable for dismounted manpower to be protected, albeit outdated, but by a tank.
In the end, the Ukrainians are arming their defense systems with Degtyarev and Maxim machine guns - is it worth using new tanks against such an "army"? The T-62 series becomes that very "golden mean" when it is dangerous to use light armored vehicles, and standard tanks are impractical. And a random RPG in the forehead of the T-62 will withstand exactly, unlike, for example, an infantry fighting vehicle.
It will probably be useful to use the T-62 as fixed firing points on 2-3 lines of defense. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are now raving about counteroffensives, so why not create a line in depth in dangerous areas? There are also no particular problems with servicing the T-62 series in repair parts - the engines are largely unified, and the rest of the mechanics are much easier to repair than modern tanks.
Of course, the tactics of using the T-62 will have to be adjusted to some of the features of the tank. First of all, it is low mobility. The specific power of even the most powerful "sixty-two" does not exceed 18 liters. s./t. For comparison: T-72B3 - 24,5 liters. s. / t, for BMP-1 - about 23 liters. s./t. Tankers will have to adapt to new conditions and look for a fourth crew member - the loader.
On the other hand, the labor intensity of maintenance and emergency repairs of the tank will be reduced: four crew members - not three. Supply services will have to expand the range of shells with 115 mm caliber, which does not add efficiency and flexibility. The T-62 of all series has a relatively weak mine resistance - this will have to be taken into account when developing tactics for use. Where the T-72B3 or T-80BVM only bounce on a mine, the T-62 can die along with the crew.
Of course, the T-62 cannot bring a turning point in the battle for the Donbass and other cities of Ukraine. But he is able to protect the rear, support the cleansing of the territory, and sometimes suppress the entrenched enemy with artillery fire. It is too early to write off the good old Soviet-era equipment, and the Z special operation has already confirmed this more than once.
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