| T-72 | |
|---|---|
 T-72B3M in Alabino during rehearsals for the 2017 Moscow Victory Day Parade. | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1973–present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | List
|
| Production history | |
| Designer | Leonid Kartsev-Valeri Venediktov |
| Designed | 1967–1973 |
| Manufacturer | Uralvagonzavod, Heavy Vehicles Factory |
| Unit cost | US$0.5–1.2 million in 1994–1996,[1] 30,962,000–61,924,000 rubles (US$1–2 million) in 2009,[citation needed] US$0.5 million in 2011[2] |
| Produced | 1973–present |
| No. built | approx. 25,000 [3][4] |
| Specifications (T-72A[7][8]) | |
| Mass |
|
| Length |
|
| Width | 3.89 m (12 ft 9 in) |
| Height | 2.73 m (8 ft 11 in) |
| Crew | 3 (commander, gunner, driver) |
| Armour | Steel and composite armour with ERA |
Main armament | 125 mm 2A46M/2A46M-5[6] smoothbore gun |
Secondary armament | |
| Engine |
|
| Power/weight | 18.8 hp/tonne (14 kW/tonne) |
| Transmission | Synchromesh, hydraulically assisted, with 7 forward and 1 reverse gears |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
| Ground clearance | 0.49 m (19 in) |
| Fuel capacity | 1,200 L (320 U.S. gal; 260 imp gal) |
Operational range | 460 km (290 mi), 700 km (430 mi) with fuel drums |
| Maximum speed | 60 to 75 km/h (37 to 47 mph) 4 km/h (2.5 mph) (reverse) |
The T-72 is a family of Soviet main battle tanks that entered production in 1973.[9] The T-72 was a development based on the T-64 using thought and design of the previous Object 167M.[10][11] About 25,000 T-72 tanks have been built, and refurbishment has enabled many to remain in service for decades.[12][13] It has been widely exported and has seen service in 40 countries and in numerous conflicts. The Russian T-90 introduced in 1992 and the Chinese Type 99 are further developments of the T-72.[14][15] Production and development of various modernized T-72 models continues today.
- ^ "Сравнение характеристик ЗРК С-300 ПМУ-1 и Пэтриот" [Comparison of the characteristics of the S-300 PMU-1 and Patriot air defense systems] (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
- ^ "Ethiopia signs deal to purchase 200 tanks from Ukraine: official". Reuters. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
- ^ "T-73". Tankmuseum.org. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ^ "T-72 main battle tank (1972)". Tanks-encyclopedia.com. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
- ^ "T-72B(M) Main Battle Tank". Armor.kiev.ua. Archived from the original on 2016-05-23. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
- ^ "05.10.14 -723". Militaryparitet.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide". Inetres.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
- ^ Foss, Chris (2005). Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005–2006. Jane's Information Group. p. 101. ISBN 0-7106-2686-X.
- ^ "T72 Tank". Fas.org. Archived from the original on 2014-10-19. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
- ^ Suvorov Victorovich, Sergey (2001). 'Сергей Суворов - Танк Т-72 Вчера, Сегодня, Завтра'. Moscow, Russia: TankoMaster. OCLC 76960839.
- ^ S.V., Ustyantsev; D.G., Kolmakov (2013). Т-72/Т-90. Опыт создания отечественных основных боевых танков [T-72/90 "Experience in the development of domestic main battle tanks"] (in Russian). Nizhniy Tagil, Russia: Uralvagonzavod. ISBN 978-5-91356-210-4.
- ^ Christopher Foss: Jane's Armour & Artillery 2009–2010.ISBN 978-0-7106-2882-4 p. 102.
- ^ Gady, Franz-Stefan (3 October 2018). "India to Procure 1,000 Engines for T-72 Main Battle Tank Force". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
- ^ Szulc, Tomasz (September 2012). "Nowe Czołgi Naszych Wschodnich Sąsiadów: T-90MS I Opłot-M". Nowa Technika Wojskowa (9): 12–24.
- ^ Foss, Christopher F., ed. (2011). Jane's Armour and Artillery 2011–2012 (32nd ed.). London: Janes Information Group. pp. 5–6. ISBN 978-0-71062960-9.