T-72M
To replace the T-55 series in frontline Soviet units, the Red Army commissioned the T-64 design, which was intended to produce a lightweight tank with good armor, speed, and a 115mm gun. To reduce crew size, the loader was replaced with an automatic version. While the T-64 went into production, the tank's engine was unreliable and broke down too easily, and the 115mm gun was thought to be inadequate against newer NATO tanks. Attempts to modify the T-64 with a larger and more reliable engine failed, but a modification of the earlier T-62 was more successful. This new design--something of a combination of the T-62 and T-64--went into production as the T-72.
The T-72 replaced the T-55 in Red Army frontline units and supplemented the T-62. Crews liked its speed and its 125mm gun, which could defeat any NATO tank before the advent of the Chobham-armored types like the M1 Abrams, and its armor protection was continually upgraded, which gave it better chances of survival, even in combat with Western tanks armed with depleted uranium shells. It was far from a perfect tank, however: like most Soviet tanks, it was very uncomfortable as a result from its low profile, visibility for the driver was poor, and the autoloader, while reliable, was slow. In combat (mainly in the Beka'a Valley against Israel in 1972, and in Iraq against the US in 1991), the T-72's long reload time left it at a disadvantage against manual-load Merkavas and M1s; moreover, the ammunition storage on the T-72 left it vulnerable to catastrophic explosions.
Despite its drawbacks, the T-72 remained in full production until the development of the T-80, and was exported to 40 countries around the world. Many of these export versions were downgraded, and lacked the superior ceramic/steel armor of Soviet T-72s. However, the survivors have been extensively upgraded with newer armor, laser rangefinders, and improved reactive armor. The T-72 remains a significant part of the modern Russian Army, and have seen action in Chechnya, Georgia and Ukraine.
This T-72M formerly belonged to the East German Army. The Volksarmee upgraded their T-72s by adding additional smoke launchers, a searchlight, and improved frontal armor. After the unification of Germany and the disbandment of the Volksarmee, the T-72s became redundant, and many were donated to museums. This one went to the Museum of the Regiments in Calgary, Alberta, where I saw it in 2006.
T-72M
To replace the T-55 series in frontline Soviet units, the Red Army commissioned the T-64 design, which was intended to produce a lightweight tank with good armor, speed, and a 115mm gun. To reduce crew size, the loader was replaced with an automatic version. While the T-64 went into production, the tank's engine was unreliable and broke down too easily, and the 115mm gun was thought to be inadequate against newer NATO tanks. Attempts to modify the T-64 with a larger and more reliable engine failed, but a modification of the earlier T-62 was more successful. This new design--something of a combination of the T-62 and T-64--went into production as the T-72.
The T-72 replaced the T-55 in Red Army frontline units and supplemented the T-62. Crews liked its speed and its 125mm gun, which could defeat any NATO tank before the advent of the Chobham-armored types like the M1 Abrams, and its armor protection was continually upgraded, which gave it better chances of survival, even in combat with Western tanks armed with depleted uranium shells. It was far from a perfect tank, however: like most Soviet tanks, it was very uncomfortable as a result from its low profile, visibility for the driver was poor, and the autoloader, while reliable, was slow. In combat (mainly in the Beka'a Valley against Israel in 1972, and in Iraq against the US in 1991), the T-72's long reload time left it at a disadvantage against manual-load Merkavas and M1s; moreover, the ammunition storage on the T-72 left it vulnerable to catastrophic explosions.
Despite its drawbacks, the T-72 remained in full production until the development of the T-80, and was exported to 40 countries around the world. Many of these export versions were downgraded, and lacked the superior ceramic/steel armor of Soviet T-72s. However, the survivors have been extensively upgraded with newer armor, laser rangefinders, and improved reactive armor. The T-72 remains a significant part of the modern Russian Army, and have seen action in Chechnya, Georgia and Ukraine.
This T-72M formerly belonged to the East German Army. The Volksarmee upgraded their T-72s by adding additional smoke launchers, a searchlight, and improved frontal armor. After the unification of Germany and the disbandment of the Volksarmee, the T-72s became redundant, and many were donated to museums. This one went to the Museum of the Regiments in Calgary, Alberta, where I saw it in 2006.