Disadvantages of the T-72B tank, ways of their garage field correction and tactics of using the tank in modern combat
To date, the Russian army has a great many different armored combat vehicles (BBVs). According to the main combat tanks the picture is as follows. The most powerful are the T-90A and T-90 tanks. However, their number is small. There is also a number of fairly powerful T-80U tanks. Recently, the T-72B3 tank, which is a completely stupid attempt to modernize the T-72B and T-72BM tanks with the aim of bringing their combat qualities to the T-90A level, began to enter the troops. For some positions, it really succeeded. For others, no improvement is observed. Well, in some places, there was a rollback to the level of the base T-72 Ural and T-72A. Most of the tanks are T-72B, T-72BM and T-80BV, of which the T-72B (M) is the most numerous. All this technology of the 80s to date, of course, is outdated, although it was once considered the best in the world. Also still found are the old T-72A (B), T-80B and even the fossils T-55AM (B) and T-62M (B). This article will focus on the T-72B.
What should tankers do in case of a “big” war? When will it take on this tank to take part in a city battle against enemy infantry, armed to the teeth with the most modern anti-tank weapons? Or in the field / desert to resist the latest "Abrams" or, God forbid, "Type-99A2"? Of course, in most cases, the crew alone can do little here. But if it is far from the strict eyes of the authorities, and there is at least some engineering factory nearby, then you can still do something ...
The main battle tank T-72B is well known to all. He took part in almost all wars since its inception and established itself as a reliable and powerful combat vehicle. The 45-ton monster has demonstrated the ability to withstand dozens of hits of anti-tank missiles and grenades, while maintaining its combat capability and continuing to search for the enemy with a long barrel of its 125-mm gun. Its effectiveness is also no doubt. However, the tank is not without flaws, some of which can be fatal for him in the conditions of modern combat.
Disadvantages T-72B
Layout Very close fighting compartment. The commander is simply sandwiched between the cannon, the commander’s complex, the back of the seat and the starboard with instruments and shells. The gunner is somewhat more spacious. The driver seems to be good, but he has another misfortune - the gun covers his hatch and if at the time of the destruction of the tank it turns out to be above the hatch, the mechanics won't get out. And it is necessary to get out quickly - why, it will be explained below. Of course, unlike the T-80 tanks in the T-72B, a mechanic can crawl through the combat compartment and climb out of one of the tower hatches, but because of the same crowding, in the event of a fire or injury to the mechanic, you should not really count on it. The lion's share of this closeness is given by the fuel tanks placed right in the fighting compartment along with the people, as well as the 45 extremely fire-dangerous artillery rounds and separate-cartridges loading missiles. Of these, 22 are located in AZ. The remaining 23 are literally literally around the entire perimeter of the hull and tower. Some of them are inserted into the fuel tanks-racks. They are fuel-filled tanks with sockets into which shells and charges are inserted. In the case of penetration of armor, it is often this one that is affected - the non-mechanized part of the ammunition. The most fire-hazardous element among all this explosive mixture is the caprine charges. These charges have no local protection, except for thin walls of shelving tanks and flammable fuel jackets, and they light up even from the fire of an ordinary lighter within a few seconds! It is not difficult to imagine in which hell the crew could end up if the tank armor was broken through. And to get out of it will be extremely difficult because of the same crowding. When charges ignite, tremendous energy and temperature is released. If the hatches are closed, the tower tears off. All this happens very often all of a sudden, which does not leave the crew a chance for salvation. It burns, evaporates, it breaks into pieces. It happens much more often in comparison with Western and old domestic tanks. This situation, of course, in the most negative way acts on the psyche of the crew members, forcing them to sometimes leave a completely serviceable and efficient tank.
1A40-1 fire control system was considered quite simple at the time of the appearance of T-72B in 1985. Today it is completely obsolete. For example, American and French tanks had a similar MSA as far back as the 60s of the 20th century. The 1A40-1 OMS has a digital ballistic computer and a laser range finder. The SLA takes into account many parameters, however, only the range to the target and the type of ammunition are automatically processed. The remaining parameters (angular velocity of the target and the tank, wind, air temperature, charge, etc.) must be entered manually. Naturally, no one will do this in battle. The TPD-K1 gunner's sight and the 1K13-49 device have an increase of 8x, which by modern standards is no longer enough. The TPN-3-49 night sight, in the passive mode, sees only 800 meters. If you turn on the IR illuminator, you can see the enemy on 1200 meters, but the tank itself will glow in the enemy’s night gears. The commander is even worse. His TKN-3M device has an increase in all 5x by day and 4,2x by night. At the same time, the range of vision at night, even in active mode, does not exceed 500. The commander has a very vague idea of the tactical situation on the battlefield, since has only voice information from the radio station P-173. As a result, shooting even at daytime over a range of 2000-2500 m is difficult. Especially with moving targets. At a distance over 2000, all hope is mainly on the 9K120 Svir missiles, which, by the way, do not differ in flight stability. This situation makes a decisive day battle on the T-72B at a distance more than 2000 m with modern MBT and wheeled BRM (AMX-10, Ruikat, etc.) with tank guns, a very dangerous undertaking. And the presence of missiles does not necessarily give T-72B an advantage here - their low accuracy is confirmed time after time by launches during tank biathlon competitions. They can not hit the target even with 2000 m. As for the night battle, if you still want to live, it is better to not get involved in a night battle on T-72B with modern imported armored vehicles. Also on T-72B it is very easy to “get lost” in an unfamiliar place. During the New Year’s storming of the Terrible 1995, the terrible system of command control of Russian tanks revealed all its flaws. Nobody really knew the city. There were no normal maps. Militants deliberately changed the signs with house numbers and street names in order to confuse and complicate the orientation of the terrain. As a result, many tanks, often one by one, rode around the city here and there, not knowing where their own, where others are and where the exit was. Until then, until you become a victim of a successful shot. For comparison: the Abrams TIUS tank М1А2 called FBCB2 gives its commander an exact map of the area, coordinates, location of its tanks and the location of the enemy detected. Up to the current technical parameters of each individual machine.
Frontal projection protection. There are no questions in principle here. The forehead of the T-72B tank, tightly lined with elements of 4C20 KNDZ "Contact-1", is really concrete. To break through it, even with modern anti-tank weapons (PTS), is almost unreal. But there is also a fly in the ointment - the lower frontal part (NLD). Unlike WLD, NLD is only a monolithic armor plate 80 mm thick, located at a certain angle. The elements of KNDZ "Contact-1" at T-72B are located on the NLD from above, only in one row. Of course, the probability of getting into NLD is somewhere at the level of 1%, but still unpleasant. Especially since these very TCPs are becoming more and more accurate from year to year and VLD is relieved from short distances in general.
Side projection protection. Characterized by the phrase: powerful but unreliable. It is a monolithic armor plate 80 mm in thickness, from which at a distance of the caterpillar width there is an 10-mm rubber-fabric screen. On which, in turn, are the elements of 4C20 KNDZ "Contact-1". All this looks seriously and seems to be the best onboard protection among all domestic mass-produced MBTs. However, there are serious drawbacks:
- Elements 4С20 cover the screen not to the full length, but only to the MTO. Next comes the bare screen + side armor with a reduced level of protection;
- the on-board screen in the T-72B is too short. It does not reach the bottom of the case. As a result, it is quite likely that the vehicle gets into the side of the tank below the screen. Large track rollers to some extent shield the board, but in this case there is no particular hope for them;
- the main drawback. The 10-mm rubber fabric side screen is too frail, and it has a weak attachment to the body. Even under the weight of elements of KNDZ he bends. Tearing off this screen about any obstacle is easier than ever. In the case of contact with the TCP, it usually just falls off. Partially or wholly. It is impossible to control the condition of the onboard screens in combat from inside the tank. If you lose the screen, then the equivalent of protecting the side view of the tank becomes equal to the thickness of the side plate - 80 mm. Exactly like a German tank "Tiger" 2MV times. Even RPGs of the Great Patriotic War are easily penetrated by such armor: “Bazooka”, “Faustpatron”, “Pantsershrek”. How many chances in a city battle with a T-72B tank with torn off screens, it is not difficult to imagine. In Abrams and Merkava, onboard projection protection is much more powerful and reliable. The eternal desire to save mass, moreover, due to the vital elements, not one crew of T-72B tanks and other domestic tanks of such a formation have already sent to the world.
Fodder protection. Yes, yes, it is not always possible to keep the forehead of the tank turned to the enemy. Especially when the enemy is everywhere, which is often the case in urban combat with poorly adjusted interaction with infantry. The fodder projection protection of the T-72B is none. Just none. Located under a slight inclination to the outside, an armor plate with a thickness of 45mm will only protect against rifle-and-machine-gun fire. Even a BMP or BTR with a small-caliber automatic cannon that is behind is death for the T-72B. Needless to say, such protection is easily affected from any RPG. Do not think that the crew will save the engine located in the stern. Firstly, there were cases when the TCP hit from the stern punched through all the MTO right through the engine and flew into the fighting compartment. Secondly, even if it protects. After that, he obviously will not work, and there is no auxiliary power unit for T-72B. The defeat of the engine will immediately turn the "Lizard" into a fixed block of metal. With all the consequences. Protection of the stern of the tower is at the world level, but it also does not cast thoughts on reliability and security. In general, from the stern of the T-72B is an indecently easy target. Which, incidentally, is typical of many, even modern tanks.
Protection of the upper hemisphere. There are no questions to the protection of the upper front hemisphere. It is better than most modern tanks. The protection of the upper rear hemisphere is rather weak. Nothing to do with it - this is typical for almost any tank.
Firepower. No claims to the artillery unit. 125-mm gun is quite accurate and very powerful. The stabilizer is great. However, in urban combat you need to be careful - do not shoot down lampposts with a gun. This will quickly kill the stabilizer. Claims are only to AZ. It does not allow placing shots longer than 700 mm, which imposes a limitation on the power of the BOPS. The possibilities of the maximum possible for the stock T-72B of the ZBM-44 projectile are still sufficient today. But enough at the limit. Next rocket. The range of their launch is small, and the accuracy and stability is not very good. On the other hand, these are empty cavils, since most modern tanks have no missiles at all. But the ZPU "Rock" can really be criticized. She has no remote control. Armor cover is also absent. This means that in a city battle you can forget about the powerful 12,7-mm machine gun NSVT. It is necessary to open the hatch, as you immediately get a queue of AKM or "lemon". But the NSWT in the city is needed. A large elevation angle allows you to hit the enemy's manpower on the upper floors of buildings, and the high power of fire allows you to pierce the walls of houses, striking the enemies hidden behind them.
Summarizing all the above drawbacks, it can be stated with regret that the T-72B tank is well suited for a decisive tank battle on a collision course and for defeating single objects. But pretty bad in urban combat. Loaded with a variety of machine guns and dull heavy armor around the circle "Abrams" and "Merkava" here will be better. Not to say that invulnerable than T-72B, but somehow reliable, or something.
Power point. B-84-1 engine, hp 840 coupled with a seven-speed manual gearbox, it can reach speeds in 60 km / h, but does not provide the ease of operation and driving characteristics that modern Western tanks have. Quickly turn on 180 degrees in a narrow lane T-72B can not. On the other hand, this characteristic of mobility does not have a direct relationship to purely fighting qualities. But T-72B has a good cross and it can withstand / lift a lot.
The rest of the claims to this wonderful tank no. But in the modern battle with these shortcomings something needs to be done. After all, go to the authorities and ask to change to T-90A (to which many of the shortcomings of T-72B are exactly the same) will not work.
Events
Measures to prepare the old T-72B for combat with enemy special forces armed with the Vampire RPG-29, as well as with М1А2SEP, Merkava-MK.4 and Apache helicopters, can be:
a) clean and clean. Throw away all unnecessary trash (rags, bottles, wrenches) from the inside;
b) carefully configure the LMS. Carry out the alignment of devices in order to eliminate any mismatch between the axes of the gun and the sights. For the mechanical part, it is necessary to exclude even the slightest backlash (especially with this 12,7-mm NSVT machine gun), which have the most negative effect on accuracy. To achieve the perfect work of all mechanisms;
c) adjust ammunition. It makes no sense to chase in the number of shells for a much more cumbersome "Abrams". The ammunition should consist of 22 shots in AZ + 2 (backup) from the bottom of the body. Total 24 shot. Composition: 10 - BOPS (maximum possible length), 10 - OFS, 4 - missiles. From cumulative shells get rid completely;
d) to alter the fuel system so that it was possible to pour water into the tanks-racks. Empty nests for shots filled with red brick chips or expanded clay and closed with plugs. AZ in the corners gets a local anti-cumulative "shirt" with a good equivalent. Places inside the tank becomes much more;
e) go to the store and buy a widescreen car GPS-navigator with Navitel maps. Fix the device at the commander's workplace and connect a GPS antenna mounted on the roof of the tower to it. Of course, he will not give information about where his and where enemies. But this device will give the exact coordinates of the location, it will show where the street is, where is what, what is the shortest route of departure / passage. As they say, bezrybe and cancer fish. This alone can save a life;
f) clean all three zabeshenny zip drawers and fill them with red brick scrap or expanded clay. A neat metal strip is welded to them along the contour with a crescent. Normal to paint. Attach metal chains to the strip with a pitch of 50-70 mm, by analogy with the Merkava. Chains should lightly touch the roof of the MTO, but not drag along it. Very serious protection (against cumulative TCP) of the stern and rear of the sides of the tower is ready;
g) ensure that all elements of the Contact-4 20C1 KNDS are equipped with the full number of them;
h) in the front, on the NLD, below the row of DZ elements, attach two rubber-fabric screens in the manner of how it is made in T-80 tanks. From them, these screens will do;
i) remove and throw out the rubber-fabric side screens. Rather, remove and set aside, after having previously dismantled the elements of the DZ 4C20 placed on them. Instead of perversions to make according to drawings or on templates metal screens 15-20 mm thick on folding loops. They can be made from ordinary structural steel st. 45. Now almost at any factory there is a so-called. thermal cutting machine (in common "plasma"), on which these parts can be easily cut. In their lower part, these screens should rest on the stops made of a Dy-40 pipe with a rubber boot and a bolt thread. Only when welding such stops to the board, it is necessary to make sure that they are not in the zone of dynamic motion of the road wheels. On these, full-fledged, smooth and shiny screens with fresh paint, you should mount the elements of the DZ 4C20. Mount tightly, without gaps and to the stern. That is, the elements of the DZ should be closed the entire board entirely to the stern. To the bottom of the screen fasten rezinotkanevuyu "skirt", cut from the old screens. It should fall at least below the hubs of the road wheels;
k) remake mounting rear barrels. They do not need to be removed, since the extra fuel, taking into account the water in the shelving tanks, will not hurt. But we need to move them below - in front of the rear body armor. First, they will not interfere with the gun. Secondly, the protection of the cardboard poop will be somewhat enhanced;
l) weld the mount to the “Rock” ZPU. Attach a shield cut from a metal sheet 5-7 mm thick to the fastening on bolts. In this shield there should be narrow embrasures under the body of the machine gun and for its sight;
m) do not spare for the tank the best engine and transmission oils. Use the same as used in modern imported trucks. Try to replace the old Glushak. Glushak better to put on the T-90A. With it, the engine will “whisper”.
T-72B reworked this way will turn into a monster capable of defeating any opponent. The cost of such alterations is unlikely to exceed 100-150 thousand rubles. In terms of overall protection, survivability and reliability, such a self-made T-72B will be at the level of Merkavy-MK.4 and much better than a half-dressed T-90A. The work is mainly welding and plumbing, as well as wiring and commissioning.
Tactics of use of T-72B
A) In the night battle with the "Abrams", "Leopards" and "Types" in any case not to get involved. It is almost certain death.
B) In daytime combat, if possible, choose either long-range (more than 3000) and work with rockets, or, conversely, short (closer than 1500 m). At medium distances, the T-72B with its MSA does not do anything else. Try to choose static targets.
C) Against the infantry, sheltered in the houses, actively apply not only OFSy, but also BOPSy, shooting through them through the walls.
D) Be necessarily sober in battle. Alcohol intoxication can lead to a fatal error.
D) Forget about all kinds of fireproof suits. Firstly, it is very stuffy in them, which will have an appropriate effect on working capacity. Secondly, they are so hampering movement that in the event of a fire from the close fighting compartment T-72B will not get out. To be in a T-shirt and sports pants. On the feet or sneakers, or nothing (barefoot). A suit from burning charges will not save. All the same, or burn, or disperse there, like potatoes.
E) In the event of a helicopter attack, first try to hide by putting a smoke screen. Use URO against them only as a last resort. If this does not distract from the process of finding shelter.
G) Use 12,7-mm machine gun NSVT in the city very carefully. Even despite the shield cover, the commander remains vulnerable behind and from the sides.
Information