SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - The Death of an SAA T-72 Tank *Video*

Feuer Frei! · 03-27-13, 09:05 PM

Skybird is correct.

The only thing i can imagine being advantageous in crew survivability is the ammo containers being isolated. That is imo the only real reason why you would say crew survivability comes into it.
But, with the T-72 it's problematic since it has an autoloader for the main gun. Reason is the 125mm main gun of the T-72 uses a semi-combustible propellant case for its ammunition. That is, when the round is fired, most of the case burns during the shot, and only a small stub at the base is ejected.
But because of the way the autoloader on the T-72 was designed, this combustible ammunition was arrayed on a carousel at the bottom of the turret basket, and exposed. That’s bad for the ammo, and really bad for the crew if there is any explosion aboard.

Here are some videos of a Syrian Tanker, giving his personal views on the T-72.
Part 1:

Part 2:

The T-72 was commonly referred to as the 'Beast from the East'.

There were many versions of the T-72 tank built.
Iraqi T-72's were built from 'kits', shipped in from Russia for example.
Export versions were armoured with low-grade steel. The T-72B quickly followed, which had even thicker armour and was soon fitted with Kontakt-1 Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) as extra protection against anti-tank missiles.
By using heavy flying plates each side of an explosive charge this new ERA generated enough energy to shatter the sabot rounds fired by NATO tanks. When the USSR fell apart both Germany and the USA obtained T-72B tanks and tested their own tank guns on them. To their surprise and alarm the T-72B was almost invulnerable to 120mm sabot fire.

The latest models have an improved gun made with machinery imported from Germany, and can fire longer sabot shells; their penetrating power is now at least as great as NATO tank guns. T-72Bs can also fire a range of gun-launched missiles, letting them attack tanks and helicopters out to 5 kilometres. Because of its automatic loader the T-72 only needs a crew of three, instead of the four found in western tanks.

Tanks are considered useless in Urban environments.

03-27-13, 09:05 PM	#8
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	Skybird is correct. The only thing i can imagine being advantageous in crew survivability is the ammo containers being isolated. That is imo the only real reason why you would say crew survivability comes into it. But, with the T-72 it's problematic since it has an autoloader for the main gun. Reason is the 125mm main gun of the T-72 uses a semi-combustible propellant case for its ammunition. That is, when the round is fired, most of the case burns during the shot, and only a small stub at the base is ejected. But because of the way the autoloader on the T-72 was designed, this combustible ammunition was arrayed on a carousel at the bottom of the turret basket, and exposed. That’s bad for the ammo, and really bad for the crew if there is any explosion aboard. Here are some videos of a Syrian Tanker, giving his personal views on the T-72. Part 1: Part 2: The T-72 was commonly referred to as the 'Beast from the East'. There were many versions of the T-72 tank built. Iraqi T-72's were built from 'kits', shipped in from Russia for example. Export versions were armoured with low-grade steel. The T-72B quickly followed, which had even thicker armour and was soon fitted with Kontakt-1 Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) as extra protection against anti-tank missiles. By using heavy flying plates each side of an explosive charge this new ERA generated enough energy to shatter the sabot rounds fired by NATO tanks. When the USSR fell apart both Germany and the USA obtained T-72B tanks and tested their own tank guns on them. To their surprise and alarm the T-72B was almost invulnerable to 120mm sabot fire. The latest models have an improved gun made with machinery imported from Germany, and can fire longer sabot shells; their penetrating power is now at least as great as NATO tank guns. T-72Bs can also fire a range of gun-launched missiles, letting them attack tanks and helicopters out to 5 kilometres. Because of its automatic loader the T-72 only needs a crew of three, instead of the four found in western tanks. Tanks are considered useless in Urban environments. __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS Last edited by Feuer Frei!; 03-27-13 at 09:15 PM.