Steel beasts of Syria. T-72
T-72 is the most common a tank (except for tanks of the T-55 series) after the Second World War; according to some estimates, up to 30 cars were manufactured. This tank has a rich combat history in different parts of the world. In Syria, he owes his fame to the participation in the Battle of Darayya, which was quite detailed and was captured on camera. On the Internet, a large number of videos are distributed, which show how the tower flies off due to an explosion of ammunition in the car after a rocket grenade hit. As a result, the video of the highest flying T-72 turret and the most destroyed T-72 tank was recorded in Syria.
Nevertheless, it remains at the forefront of the civil war of Syria and, undoubtedly, is the most popular tank in Syria. So popular that even a captured T-72 is seen by insurgents as a priceless treasure. It is believed that about 300 tanks are in service with the Republican Guard and the elite 4 division of the Syrian Arab Army.
Although it is generally believed that Syria is armed with roughly 1500 T-72 tanks, the country actually purchased a little more than 700 T-72 tanks in three (or formally four) batches. The first batch consisted approximately of the X-NUMX T-150 "Ural" ordered in the Soviet Union and delivered at the end of the 72-ies, in total around the 70 T-300A tanks (modernization of the T-72 tank. Main differences: laser sight-rangefinder TPDK-72 , the TPN-1-3 gunner's night sight with the L-49 illuminator, solid on-board anti-cumulative screens, the 4А2 gun (instead of the 46А2М26 gun), the 2Б system for launching smoke grenades, the protection against the launch, the company, the same time, the company, the company, the same time, the company, the company, the company, the company, the company, the company, the company, the company, the heading driver, increased dynamic speed of the rollers, engine ü B-902-4) of the second batch delivered in 46 year. The order from the 6 tanks T-1982M252, stationed in Czechoslovakia, was partially executed as the country split into two states. If the 72 tank was supplied by Czechoslovakia in 1, the order was continued by Slovakia and the remaining 194 T-1992M58 tanks (modernization of the T-72М tank. It differed with an additional 1-mm armor plate on the upper front hull and combined tower armor with sand cores as filler) were supplied in 72 year.
Tank T-72 "Ural" (photo below) is an export version, developed at the end of 70-s; In addition to Syria, countries such as Algeria, Iraq and Libya also received tanks of this type. Syria wanted very much to get T-72 tanks after the T-62 tank showed bad results in the 1967 and 1973 wars. The combat history of T-72 in 1982 in Lebanon remains the object of discussion, some sources claimed that these tanks destroyed everything, from M60 to Merkava, and even American M1 Abrams.
The most common opinion is that most T-72 tanks were returned to Syria as a reserve and only a few T-72 fought MXXUMX and Israeli modifications of the Magach tank near the town of Rashaya. Most experts agree with the good combat capabilities of the T-60 tanks, and one officer was later awarded for his actions on this tank.
Hafez Asad is even credited with the famous phrase when he called the T-72 Ural "the best tank in the world." In a gesture of appreciation, Hafez presented (or rather traded) the captured Magach-5 tank to the Soviet Union, which conducted its intensive tests. Especially Soviet specialists were interested in the Blazer dynamic protection mounted on the Magach-5 tank.
Subsequently, Syria indirectly, but still received great benefits from this deal, received in 1982 year a total of 300 modernized tanks T-72A. What puts Syria in a special position here, since the Soviet Union did not permit the export of the T-72A tank even to the most trusted Warsaw Pact countries, who received only the less advanced version of the T-72M1. The first country besides the former Soviet Union that bought the T-72A tanks was Hungary in the 1996 year, which bought them from Belarus through the 14 years after Syria got its own!
Syrian tanks T-72A, made just a year before delivery, came straight from the warehouses of the Soviet Army. In Syria, these tanks became known under the designation T-82, 82 designated the year of delivery. This name is used even today, and the designations T-72A and T-72AV are not used for this tank in Syria. To avoid discrepancies, this article uses only the generally accepted non-Syrian designation.
The appearance of T-72A can be distinguished from the variant T-72M1 by the presence of anti-radiation lining on top of the tower. This can be seen in the photo below, which shows the T-72AB tank (a variant of the T-72А tank with the “Contact” mounted dynamic protection) with the dynamic protection removed.
The 300 T-72A tanks were divided between the Republican Guard and the 4 armored division. The T-72 in service with the guards could always be seen in the desert coloring, while the T-72 tanks from the 4 armored division were usually painted in a smooth green color. These "green" tanks operated alongside a small number of "desert" T-72 tanks.
A large number of armored evacuation vehicles BREM-1 (mainly for the Republican Guard) were also purchased; To date, preserved in sufficient quantities. In fact, BREM-1 is the only machine of this type that is used in Syria for its intended purpose. Other machines of this type are either stored in warehouses or used as weapon platforms.
Along with the T-72A tanks, Syria also received the BM44 "Mango" modern anti-tank shells for the 125-mm guns of the T-72 tank. It is believed that these shells were never exported to other countries of Soviet influence. Currently, it is used along with the obsolete anti-tank projectile BM23 "Hairpin". Full ammunition standard Syrian tank T-72 can be seen in the photo below.
All Syrian T-72A tanks were later upgraded to AB standard; The goal of the upgrade was to increase the level of protection of the T-72A against RPGs by installing Dynamic Protection (DZ) Contact-1 units. In contrast to the modernization of the T-55MB, which was conducted in Ukraine, the modernization of the T-72A tanks took place in Syria. DZ Kontakt-1 was purchased in one of the republics of the former Soviet Union (most likely in Ukraine) and allegedly installed by a contractor from Armenia. Upgrading to AB standard, however, did not change anything in the Syrian designation T-82.
Although almost all the tanks received their DZ Kontakt-1 installed according to the documentation, but at least in some of the T-72AB tanks you can see the excellent arrangement of DZ blocks on the turret. This change most likely originates from the Armenian contractors responsible for installing the remote sensing system.
The X-NUMX of the T-252M72 tank became the latest addition to the Syrian fleet of tanks and, although this option is less advanced compared to the T-1AB option, these are nevertheless the newest tanks of Syria, since they left the factory ten or so after the Syrian T-72AB. Since most were delivered in the 72 year, sometimes these tanks are called Syrians as T-1992. However, the original designation T-92M72 is also used in Syria, which leads to some confusion around the Syrian designation system. The local designation of the T-1 “Ural” tank used in some parts of the country, the T-72, adds additional confusion.
Although it is assumed that all the tanks were distributed in the units of the Syrian Arab Army, most of them can now be seen under the authority of the Republican Guard. T-72M1 tanks replaced the damaged T-72AV, which the guard has lost in recent years.
At the beginning of this decade, most of the T-72M1 fleet was listed for upgrading in Russia to the T-72M1M standard. However, after the start of the civil war, these plans were not destined to come true along with other ambitious modernization programs of the Syrian military.
Below we see a photo of the tank, which gives an idea of the difference in the track rollers T-72M1 and T-72 "Ural". The green track rollers were removed from the T-72 “Ural” tank after this T-72M1 received combat damage. In addition, this tank T-72M1 differs additional homemade protective elements.
In agreement with the Italian company Galileo Avionica 122 of the T-72 tank, the TURMS-T fire control systems (Tank Universal Reconfiguration Modular System T-series - Tank Universal Modular Reconfiguration of the T series) were upgraded from 2003 to 2006 years.
Oddly enough, instead of installing the 122 fire control system on its state-of-the-art T-72AV and T-72M1 tanks, Syria chose to install the TURMS-T system on different types of tanks, T-72 Ural, T-72M1 and T-72АВ. The exact reason for this is unclear even today. The installation quality of the TURMS-T varies from tank to tank; apparently, the worst quality systems were installed on the T-72 “Ural” tanks.
The optical range finder of the TPD-2-49 installed on the T-72 "Ural" was closed, not completely removed, because then you would have to fill in something with a gap in the armor, not to mention the useless and expensive work.
Surprisingly, the T-72 "Ural" and T-72M1 were the only tanks that received a panoramic sight, also included in the system TURMS-T. Since the upgrade of all T-122 72 tanks by installing a panoramic sight was too expensive, only a limited number of T-72 tanks received this system. Special mount-support provided installation 12,7-mm machine gun NSV on the tank T-72. The gunner’s sight originally mounted on these tanks was removed as it became redundant and blocked the TURMS-T system.
Interestingly, tanks equipped in Syria with the TURMS-T system, received the prefix "S" to their designation, as a result, the variants T-79S / T-72S, T-82S / T-72AVS and T-92S / T-72X1S appeared. At first glance, this may seem confusing, but “S” here means Saroukh (صاروخ - rocket). This indicates that all these tanks are capable of launching an 9M119 (M) guided anti-tank missile through a cannon. The 1500 of these missiles was purchased in the 2005 year. However, not a single missile was in the captured T-72 TURMS-T tanks, quite likely due to the fact that the need for 9M119 (M) missiles in the Syrian civil war remains minimal and all of them are stored in warehouses.
Of the total initial number of 122 tanks with the TURMS-T system, about a hundred remain in service. Since these tanks are undoubtedly the most modern variants in Syria, most of them are based on the Republican Guard at the strategic height of Jebel Qasiyun near Damascus. A number of T-72M1 tanks equipped with a panoramic sight were given the task of tracking the activity of the militants in the villages around Jebel Qasiyun Mountain. In one of the photos you can see the tank T-72 with a gun directed towards the village of Moadamya.
Some T-72 tanks with the TURMS-T system also took an active part in the fighting in and around Damascus in the early days of the Syrian civil war, when several tanks were lost. Several tanks could be seen in Damascus and its environs, even in 2013, but their use in Damascus was apparently minimal. Several T-72 tanks with the TURMS-T system, attached to the 4 armored brigade, were deployed at roadblocks throughout the country and at least two of them were destroyed near the Jassim national hospital.
It is assumed that out of the X-NUMX tanks purchased, the T-700 approximately 72 are in good condition. Rumors of additional supplies of T-300 in recent years continue to spread today. Although on the battlefields more and more T-72ABs painted in green camouflage continue to appear, there is no credible evidence of new supplies. With the availability of a significant number of T-72 and T-55 tanks, anti-aircraft installations on the truck chassis used for fire support, there is no real need to procure new batches of T-62 tanks to participate in the war. The budget of Syria is limited, the acquisition of new weapons is difficult and the UR-72 (UR-77 "Meteorit" is a Soviet demining plant. Built on the basis of the self-propelled howitzer 77С2 "Gvozdika") and BM-1 (RSZO "Smerch") have absolute priority here.
In the early days of the war, many T-72 tanks were destroyed when they were used as rams when breaking through city streets. The use of advanced weapons, such as RPG-29 and M79 Wasp the opposite side did not work on the advantage of T-72. As a result, the T-72 fleet suffered the most significant losses compared to the T-55 and T-62 tank fleet losses.
At that time, the use of rocket launchers in Darayya looked beautiful on camera, this led to unjustified human casualties with controversial results. The militants here were suppressed only after the infantry was deployed in the currently destroyed neighborhoods.
A tank was also used in situations where a simple T-55 or T-62 would have been enough, which again resulted in unjustified losses. At the moment, tanks T-72 "Ural" is becoming more rare. Among the entire T-72 series, the T-72M1 is the most numerous variant in service with the Syrian military, followed by the T-72AB tank.
However, recruits are still being trained in T-72 tanks. All tank schools are filled to capacity, as the percentage of losses in tank crews is high and the need for skilled mechanics to quickly repair battle-damaged T-72 tanks is high.
The tank T-72, however, can be seen on all fronts. City of Deir-ez-Zor, formerly a base only for T-55 tanks, due to the redeployment of the 104 Brigade of the Republican Guard is now home to many T-72 operating in its vicinity. Some T-72AV tanks, equipped with the TURMS-T system, are currently assigned to the Suqur al-Sahara unit (desert falcons), and several tanks participated in battles with the Islamic state near the Shaer gas field.
A limited number of T-72 tanks also operated near the city of Aleppo. All of these tanks along with the BREM-1 vehicles are in service with the 4 armored division. They mainly operated in the vicinity of Al-Lairamun at the end of 2013.
Due to intensive operation, many T-72AV tanks were soon left without onboard screens (bulwarks) closed by DZ Kontakt-1 units. Indeed, the Republican Guard tank crews have complained a lot about this. One hit from the RPG often leads to the fact that the onboard screen falls off, leaving the tank on this side almost without protection. A number of T-72AV tanks were subsequently used as sources of DZ Kontakt-1 units, but Syria could still receive (even today) a limited number of such blocks from one former Soviet republic.
Many groups also exploit the T-72 tank, of which the Islamic State is undoubtedly the largest operator, having X-NUMX T-13 Ural and 72 T-6AB tanks. Six T-72 "Ural" and three T-72ABs joined the ranks of the Islamic state after the grouping of Liwa Dawood, the largest tank operator from all militant groups at that time, turned to the Islamic state.
At least one T-72 tank was later upgraded by installing new mud shields, bulwarks and installing DZ blocks using a different scheme, in accordance with which a large area of the tank side screens was closed. This T-72 participated in the attack on the 93 brigade in Northern Syria.
Another notable operator is the Jaish al-Islam grouping, which bought two T-72 tanks from a corrupt officer from the 4-nd elite armored division and captured at least six more vehicles of which one is T-72M1 TURMS-T. The use of their T-72 tanks by the Jaish al-Islam grouping can be considered quite revolutionary compared to other groups participating in the Syrian civil war. This is the only group in Syria that employs various types of armored vehicles and infantry in a single armored unit and thus fully utilizes their potential. At least one T-XNUMHAV has been upgraded by the Jaish al-Islam grouping by installing additional protection on the front front sheet and in the stern.
The grouping of Liwa Dawood, which went over to the side of the Islamic state, has the dubious fame of participating in the second tank duel in Syria, which was filmed on the Internet. As a result, the T-72AB tank was completely destroyed (its remains are shown below) by fire from the T-72 Ural tank of the Liwa Dawood group. Although the presence of multiple ATGM complexes in the conflict area cannot contribute to an increase in the number of such duels, however, T-72AV tanks are rushing to leave the area after learning of the possible appearance of T-72 Ural.
Poor ammunition protection almost always leads to a fire and an explosion inside the turret, after which it simply flies away from the hull. Since the crew is sitting on the right above the 125-mm shells, their undermining inevitably leads to the death of everyone in the tank.
Most of the Syrian T-72 tanks lost their 12,7-mm NSV machine guns during the civil war. Since the commander must pop out of the turret for firing, after which he becomes vulnerable to enemy fire, these machine guns are rarely used and are often removed and installed on pickups and other cars. Some NSV were subsequently used to shield T-72 tanks from combat groups with anti-tank grenade launchers. Such tactics can very often be seen in the fighting in the city of Jobar.
A limited number of T-72 tanks were upgraded by installing protective screens for the commander firing from a NSV machine gun. Purchases of these screens, apparently, went along with blocks of DZ Kontakt-1. One of these screens is shown below in the photo.
In order to solve the problem of weak booking and in order to increase the level of protection of the T-72 tank against RPGs and ATGM, several programs were launched. These programs first touched the T-XNUMHAV tanks of the Republican Guard, most of which received lattice screens filled with bricks. Plain bricks are sometimes used as a replacement for the DZK Kontakt-72 units; The actual combat value of this replacement is highly questionable.
While these first upgrades were very simple and varied from tank to tank, Syria has currently implemented a program to upgrade its “precious” T-72 tanks throughout the country. At least, there are three main options that can still be divided into many sub-options.
The first upgrade consists of several metal sheets mounted around the turret, and one large metal sheet on each side, reinforced with shell shells from the 125-mm gun of the T-72 tank. In some cases, you can also see sandbags around the tower.
The second upgrade is to install lattice protection on the frontal inclined sheet, around the tower, in the rear of the hull, which provides all-round protection 360 degrees. This type of protection can also be seen on T-72 “Ural” tanks equipped with the TURMS-T system, operating near the city of Aleppo.
The third modernization is undoubtedly the most advanced and efficient; for the first time, it could be seen at the end of August 2014. It consists in installing additional protection on the side screens, frontal sheet and around the turret of the T-72M1 tank. All this is complemented by lattice screens and metal chains, which also provide all-view coverage in 360 degrees.
Several cars were immediately thrown into battle in the city of Jobar, where at least two of them were destroyed. Other tanks with similar modifications involved in the area of the city of Aleppo. However, the real combat capabilities of the new reservation kit remain unknown. It is expected that some more T-72 tanks will receive a similar reservation kit.
At least one T-72M1 tank with the TURMS-T system also received such protection, although in a slightly different configuration.
Tank T-72. His military merit is open to debate, and his legacy is undeniable. He is equally loved and hated by both friends and enemies. Regardless of the outcome of the civil war, this tank has already left its mark on the battlefields in Syria and other countries. But his career is not over, in the future he will play many more roles.
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