The T-72 'Ural Tank' is a Russian MBT that entered initial production in 1971 and full production in 1974. It was developed as a simple, easy to manufacture complement to the then new (and somewhat unreliable) T-64 and to replace scores of obsolete T-54/55s and T-62s. When the T-64 main battle tank entered service with the Soviet (as it was then) Army, it was one of the most sophisticated MBTs in the world. Unfortunately, it was unreliable. Its powerplant, a five cylinder engine called the 5TDF, was prone to breakdowns, as was the associated transmission. Its suspension, a sophisticated hydropneumatic type, was also prone to breakage. Its armor protection was a significant improvement over its predecessor(sp), the T-62, but this was kept secret and thus could not be appreciated by commanders in the field. Top Soviet Army personel were concerned that the T-64 was too sophisticated a vehicle for the conscript Soviet Army. The Uralvagon Design Bureau was given permission to take their T-62 and add many improvements such as a 125mm gun (as on the T-64) and an automatic loader different from the one on the T-64, which was necessary as the turret was not big enough for a third crewman. The Soviet Military Industrial Commission (VPK) fully authorized the development of the simpler tank in 1967 under the designation Obiekt 172. Such items as the engine and autoloader that had proved troublesome on the T-64 were replaced with simpler alternatives in the Obiekt 172. Initial prototypes used parts from the T-64 production line at the Uralvagon factory, but quite a few (such as the suspension) were also removed and replaced with simpler systems. The final product had a conventional layout, with the driver at the front and center of the hull, the commander on the right side of the turret, gunner to the left of the commander, and the engine to the rear.

     Early models of the T-72 were equipped with the TPD-2 coincidence gunner's sight and the 2A26 125mm gun, but the coincidence sight was removed on later models. The gunner was then equipped with the TPN1-49 sight (1K13-49 on the T-72BM and T-90) and the TPD-K1 laser range finder.The gun replaced by the improved 2A46M (D-81TM) 125mm gun. The TPD-K1 laser range finder was also added. The gunner has passive light intensification integrated into this sight, but the commander is sometimes issued NVGs like the PNV-57 face mask set for use outside the vehicle. Infrared night vision is also available, but only by means of active infrared searchlights. The automatic loader provides a rate of fire of around eight rounds per minute under ideal conditions. A manual backup is provided, but the rate of fire is limited to two rounds per minute. KE (kinetic energy), HE (high explosive), and HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) rounds are carried onboard, as well as guided missiles on some models of the T-72. Main gun ammunition ranges from 39 rounds to 46 rounds (all of the seperate loading type) depending on the variant. The primary guided missile used the the T-72 is the 9K120 Svir which is similar to the 9K119 Refleks round used on the T-80U. This is a laser guided (beam riding specifically) anti-tank missile (with a secondary anti-helicopter role) designed to engage armor at a maximum range of 5000m. This makes up for the mediocre fire control on the T-72, which only allows shooting to a maximum of 2000m. The 9K120 is fired with a smaller propellant case than the other ammunition types, since using the normal Zh40 propellant case kicks up too much dust and hampered missile guidance. Each round costs around $45,000, making the 9K120 many times the cost of conventional ammunition. Mounted coaxially with the main armament is a single 7.62mm PKT MG. The commander has a 12.7mm NSVT HMG mounted on his cupola. A number of 81mm System 902A smoke grenade launchers are mounted on the turret, the positions of which vary depending on the variant.

     The T-72 has a torsion-bar suspension system with six large-diameter aluminum road wheels. The earliest T-72s had a V-46-6 780 hp engine evolved from the V-2 500 hp engine used on the T-34. As weight increased over the evolution of the design, the engine was replaced with a V-84 840 hp engine in the T-72B, since the improved armor package added three tonnes. Newer variants (few of which are actually in service) have demonstrated more powerful engines, including 1,000 hp units. Improved torsion bars and suspension arms were also added. Basic range is about 500 km (420 on the T-72BM), but this can be extended with the addition of two 200 liter gallon fuel drums to 700 km (600 km on the T-72BM). Though the transmission on the T-72 is more reliable than that on the T-64, it has a reputation for making the vehicle difficult to recover if damaged.

     Armor protection was also increased through the service of the T-72. The T-72 (41 metric tons combat loaded) utilizes layered composite and steel armor to provide protection against a wide spectrum of threats, high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) weapons being the one the Soviets focused a great deal of attention on. The layered armor provides 410mm equivalent protection against kinetic energy (KE) rounds and around 500mm against HEAT rounds. Not long after the introduction of the T-72, the Soviets introduced the T-72A (Obiekt 176, 41.5 metric tons combat loaded), which introduced inproved armor protection. Protection against KE rounds increased to 500mm, and protection against HEAT increased to 560mm. Next came the T-72B (Obiekt 184, 44.5 metric tons combat loaded), with further increased turret armor (at least 950mm RHA equivalent against HEAT rounds, and around 550mm against KE rounds). Explosive reactive armor (ERA) packages were also introduced to provide even more protection against HEAT. Initially, Kontakt-1 ERA was used, but this was later replaced on the T-72BM with advanced Kontakt-5 ERA. Though exact protection is classified, the US Army did some tests with a T-72 equipped with this armor. It could reportedly shatter the M829 depleted uranium armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot - tracer (APFSDS-T) round, the famed 'Silver Bullet' of the Gulf War. A full PAZ NBC protection system is fitted. Anti-radiation cladding can be found on almost every model, including export variants. To supplement the smoke grenade launchers, the engine is fitted with a smoke generating system. In order the jam NATO anti-tank missile systems, the Soivets developed the Shtora-1 electro-optical jammer. It emits specially modulated pulses of light to confuse certain kinds of guided anti-tank missiles, especially SACLOS guided types. It is offered for export. During the Gulf War, Iraqi T-72s were equipped with special 'dazzlers' with the same role as the Shtora-1 system. These may have been exported from China, and were not successful due to a system called 'Hard Hat' applied to American anti-tank missiles.

     Efforts to improve upon the T-72BM eventually led to the T-90, which is more like the T-80U and T-80UM in firepower. It also comes closer to matching Western tanks in terms of fire-on-the-move capability and armor protection than previous Russian tank designs.

     There isn't a great deal to say about the T-72 in combat. In basically every major theater in which it has fought (Chechnya and the Middle East) it has faired rather poorly. It was used first against the Israelis by the Syrians. The Syrian tankers didn't fare well, and it has been reported that several T-72s were actually captured with their engines running. Next, the T-72 was operated by the Iraqi army against the Coalition forces in 1991. These tanks didn't do well against American M1A1s and British Challengers. When hit, the T-72 had a tendency to lose its turret (or at least burn violently if the autoloader wasn't blown up), which would be blown about 300m into the air or so. Their primitive fire control (especially lack of suitable night vision) severely limited their capabilities. Finally, the Russians deployed T-72s in Chechnya, which didn't perform any better. During street fighting in Grozny, many T-72s were blown apart by rebel RPGs fired at the vulnerable top of the tank. As a result of the T-72's poor showing, many nations have been reluctant to buy them as of late. The only export order I can recall is the sale of a number of PT-91s (Polish modified T-72s) to Malaysia. Quite a few nations are persuing upgrade programs so that their T-72s can still be potent into the 21st century. However, I think this is more because of dwindling defense budgets since the end of the Cold War than the fighting ability of the T-72.

Note: Poland has recently acquired Leopard 2A4 MBTs from Germany. These are a great deal better than T-72s. They are also upgrading current T-72s with the 120mm gun from the Leopard 2.

     A great number of upgrades are available for the T-72 series, both from Russia and other countries. These upgrades typically try to bring the armor protection, firepower, and mobility of the T-72 closer to its Western counterparts. However, these seem more like stop gap programs than long-term solutions. Many countries still operate the T-72, but a number of the large users, such as Russia, need a vehicle with greater capability than the T-72 (upgraded or not) can provide. The Russians aren't stupid; they know the T-72 is basically a generation or two behind Western vehicles. They also have enough experience losing T-72s in Chechnya to know it is a dead end design. They are developing the technologies now for their next generation main battle tank (though it may not end up being a tank as we know it), but financial constraints are their major stopping block. Until they can get more money for their domestic programs, they will have to either progress slowly or work with another country jointly (India or China for example).