TR-85

TR-85 M1
A TR-85M1 during a multinational exercise in Germany, 2014.
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originRomania
Service history
In service1986–present
Used byRomanian Land Forces
WarsRomanian Revolution of 1989
Production history
DesignerInstitute 111
Direcția Tancuri și Auto
Designed1978–1986
ManufacturerMechanical Factory Bucharest (part of ROMARM military consortium).
Produced1986-1990 (TR-85)
1997-2009 (TR-85M1 upgrade)[1]
No. built617[2]
VariantsTR-85, TR-85 M1, DMT-85 M1
Specifications (TR-85M1 Bizonul)
Mass50 tonnes (55.12 tons)[3]
Length9.92 m (32.5 ft) (with gun forward)
Width3.43 m (11.3 ft)
Height2.38 m (7.8 ft)[4]
Crew4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader)

Armorturret: 320 + 20 mm add-on composite armour (580mm of RHAe)
hull: 200 mm composite armour
Main
armament
100 mm gun A-308
41 rounds
Secondary
armament
7.62 mm coaxial PKT machine gun
4595 rounds
12.7 mm DShK AA machine gun
750 rounds
81 mm smoke grenade launcher (20 grenades)
2 four-barreled flare launchers
EngineModel 8VS-A2T2M C.N. ROMARM S.A, 8-cyl., turbo charged direct injection diesel
860 hp (640 kW) at 2300 rpm
Power/weight17.2 hp/tonne
TransmissionTHM-5800 hydromechanic (4 fwd, 2 rev gears)
SuspensionTorsion bar with eight telescopic hydro-gas shock absorbers
Operational
range
400 km (250 mi)
Maximum speed 60 km/h (37 mph)

The TR-85 is a main battle tank designed for the armed forces of Romania. Based on the TR-77-580, the TR-85 tank was developed from 1978 to 1985 and produced from 1986 until 1990. A modernization program was initiated in March 1994 to upgrade the TR-85 tanks to NATO standards. The result was the TR-85M1 Bizonul ("Bison") third-generation main battle tank, currently the most modern tank in service with the Romanian Land Forces. Although a further development of the T-55, the TR-85M1 uses a T-block powerpack (similar to the one used in the Leopard 1) based on a V8 German 830 hp (620 kW) diesel engine, an improved turret, a locally-designed "Ciclop" fire control system (with cross-wind sensor, laser rangefinder and night vision), new 100 mm BM-412 Sg armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS-T) projectiles and a fully redesigned suspension with 6 road wheels on each side, protected by metal side skirts. Combat weight is 50 tons.

  1. ^ "Romania pursues replacement MBT | Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  2. ^ Szajkowski, Bogdan; Gow, James (4 June 1993). Encyclopaedia of Conflicts, Disputes, and Flashpoints in Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Successor States. Longman Group. ISBN 9780582210028 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "TR-85-M1 Main Battle Tank" (PDF). romarm.ro. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Tancul TR 85 M1 - Bizonul". forter.ro. Retrieved 5 February 2023.