T-72B3 Obr. 2016: Upgrades for the Modern Age

[Ariesv 692]

 

The T-72 is perhaps the most iconic tank produced during the late 20th century. The Soviet Union alone built more than 20,000 of them during the Cold War and they still serve as the primary main battle tanks of many nations today. However as time and technology have moved forward, so has the T-72. It has gone through several upgrades and modifications over its long history and the start of the 21st century is no different in this regard. In an effort to bring their aging T-72B's up to modern standards for reasonable cost the Russian Federation launched an upgrade program in the early 2010's that sought to improve the firepower, mobility, and protection of their existing tanks. This upgrade program moved in incremental stages; initially the tanks were simply given better fire control systems and main guns. However in 2016 the tank received much more comprehensive upgrades. It is this model, T-72B3 Obr. 2016, that I am suggesting be added to Warthunder.

 

Firepower

The T-72B3's (henceforth assumed to be the Obr. 2016 variant for brevity's sake) main gun is the 2A46M-5 smoothbore cannon first mounted on the T-90A. It is notable for reducing shot dispersion by ~15% compared to earlier models. The gun can be depressed 6 degrees and elevated 14 degrees. The gun is stabilized by the 2E42-4 "Zhasmin" hydro-electromechanical stabilizer; also first used on the T-90A. This two-plane stabilizer is capable of rotating the turret at a speed of 40 degrees per second and elevating the gun at 3.5 degrees per second.

The fire control system installed in the T-72B3 is one of its biggest upgrades. The SOSNA-U sighting complex brings both a ballistic computer and second generation thermal imaging to the T-72B. Despite being able to see through the gunner's sight, the tank commander still does not have his own dedicated CITV; which is a drawback compared to most western designs. The biggest downside of the system itself, however, is its rather disappointing 3x-6x magnification range. If the gunner wishes to get more magnification, they must use the 8x optical sight carried over from the T-72B; which lacks thermal imaging. 

The T-72B3 also received an updated autoloader that allowed it to accept longer apfsds rounds such as Svinets-1 and Svinets-2; although in all other respects it is the same as that of the T-72B. Thus the ammunition the T-72B3 can and is likely to fire ranges from earlier Soviet rounds such as Mango and Vant up to the more modern Svinets. For reference, Vant has a penetration of ~550mm at 0 degrees at 2km and Svinets-1 has a penetration of ~600mm under the same conditions. However given that my source also lists Mango having a 2km penetration of ~500mm it is likely that these penetration stats will be lower if these shells are implemented in order to maintain consistency.   

Spoiler

2A46M-5 smoothbore cannon

Spoiler

SOSNA-U sight

 

View through the gunner's eyepiece

Spoiler

Autoloader

 

Mobility

The T-72B3 recieved a huge boost to its mobility with the addition of the V-92S2F turbocharged engine. This engine is rated for 1130 hp; thus giving the 46 ton T-72B3 an impressive hp/weight ratio of 24.5. The tank also received a new automatic transmission which together with the new engine allows it to move cross country at speeds of 60km/h on dirt roads; therefore in mobility it is equivalent to the T-80BV. However it share's both the preceding T-72B's lack of neutral steering and a reverse speed of 3.5 kph; reducing its mobility somewhat compared to its western counterparts. 

Spoiler

 

Modified exhaust port on the T-72B3

 

Protection

 In most respects, the protection of the T-72B3 is identical to that of the T-72B from 1989. The glacis and turret makeup remain the same layered design with kontakt 5 placed on top. Thus for the turret and hull the protection figures both remain in the 600-700mm range against kinetic and ~900mm against chemical using Warthunder's stats for kontakt 5. The most notable difference from the T-72B is the removal of the IR spotlight and its replacement with a kontakt 5 wedge. Another wedge is also added to the gunner's side; which was initially left bare. The T-72B3 also retains the 8 smoke grenade launchers mounted on the T-72B.

The side protection is radically different from previous tanks however. The rear of the tank near the engine is protected by slat/cage armor which is effective against some common infantry-portable anti-tank weapons. The sideskirts however implement explosives developed for Relikt ERA to provide a formidable barrier to more dangerous weaponry such as atgm's. The skirts themselves are constructed from steel and rubber with compartments to hold the explosive elements within them. All told, it is estimated that the sideskirts could provide nearly 1000mm of heat protection across a 44 degree arc, however this value drops as the impact angle approaches normal and the ERA becomes less effective. 

Spoiler

Note the extra block of K5 above the driver and the Relikt and slat side armor

Spoiler

Interior compartment of a side-skirt section meant to hold the explosive elements.

 

Citations:

http://fofanov.armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/ARM/apfsds/ammo.html

http://www.military-today.com/tanks/t72b3.htm

https://thesovietarmourblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/t-72-soviet-progeny.html

https://thesovietarmourblog.blogspot.com/2017/12/t-72-part-2.html

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/t-72b3.htm

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Alabino05042017-40.jpg

https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-4f9172fb84a6c6a4cefc5d96e956ce50

Edited June 24, 2020 by Ariesv

[leroyonly 4,311]

Open for discussion. 

[Ariesv 692]

Thanks!

[eleks12 1,079]

+1

[MonkeyBussiness 1,228]

+1 , any words on the extra bag of ERA that can be mounted with the relikt on the side ?

[Ariesv 692]

50 minutes ago, MonkeyBussiness said:

any words on the extra bag of ERA that can be mounted with the relikt on the side

Based on the research I did that appears to be part of either the late '16's or T-72B3 Obr. 2017. I cut it out of this suggestion because I wasn't too sure which variant(s) had it. Honestly I think it would work great as an add-on armor upgrade.

[WulfPack 1,693]

+1

 

[LeMemeAesthetic 266]

+1

[User94998549 2,838]

+1

[MonkeyBussiness 1,228]

On 27/06/2020 at 03:47, Ariesv said:

Based on the research I did that appears to be part of either the late '16's or T-72B3 Obr. 2017. I cut it out of this suggestion because I wasn't too sure which variant(s) had it. Honestly I think it would work great as an add-on armor upgrade.

it can stop tandem shaped charge so it would be pretty usefull against heli and IFV , correct me if i'm wrong but aren't the ERA on the side of the hull on the T-72B3 2016 , T-80BVM and T-90M the same ?

Edited July 2, 2020 by MonkeyBussiness

[GoddePro 1,147]

well

as 10.7 is now the max br, I reckon this thing will probably have to go to 11.3-7

but still, I would like to see it in-game eventually. +1

On 27/06/2020 at 11:47, Ariesv said:

Based on the research I did that appears to be part of either the late '16's or T-72B3 Obr. 2017. I cut it out of this suggestion because I wasn't too sure which variant(s) had it. Honestly I think it would work great as an add-on armor upgrade.

that's 2S24 Light ERA, and afaik it is currently part of the combat standard for all Russian tanks. So if the latest B3 models were to be doing war games or something else like that they would probably be fitted with 2S24

[Kuky_HR 1,160]

They can also add Yugoslavian T72. M84 or Croatian M95 degman.

[Milocat 4,857]

Interesting modification!  It's quite recent but I don't see why this couldn't be added to the game now or in the near future.  +1 as a new vehicle.

[Raldi92 2,923]

+1

[PvtNewb 12]

+1, I can't see why this can't be implemented in the future

[Pedormi 3]

Would be great to have some modern tank in russian high br, The T-80U does the job but it's weak an many points compared to other Nato tanks that are way more modern than it. Would be great to have a Sprout too, successing the Object 685 and a wheeled fast mover such as the BTR-90, same on american side even if their tree is pretty full would be cool to have a Stryker, French side and chineese are really in need too. And for germans a Leo 2A6 won't bother.

 

[GoddePro 1,147]

3 hours ago, Edormi said:

Would be great to have some modern tank in russian high br, The T-80U does the job but it's weak an many points compared to other Nato tanks that are way more modern than it. Would be great to have a Sprout too, successing the Object 685 and a wheeled fast mover such as the BTR-90, same on american side even if their tree is pretty full would be cool to have a Stryker, French side and chineese are really in need too. And for germans a Leo 2A6 won't bother.

 

seeing how gaijin basically just announced the T-72B3 2011, I see this vehicle as possibly even being more likely than getting T-90A

[WulfPack 1,693]

o7

[ALIEN109 1,321]

 

[Ariesv 692]

I know it's the dev server, but it amused me that the K5 and Relikt ERA is currently just Kontakt 1. 

[leroyonly 4,311]

As the T-72B3 model 2016 has been added as per update 1.101 Raining Fire,

 

Moved to Implemented Suggestions.