{image}{roFollowing the russian doctrine pf armour warfare, the T-80 is a living example of that. Very low profile, very fast, and capable of deep fording (6 mts), with a more than respectable punch with its 125 mm gun. A very good design, altough is not so protected as its western counterparts, because it's supposed that russian armour offensives are executed in mass numbers.
The T80 MBT series began its development in Kirov Works, Leningrad, in 1970, when the first untis were built. Since then, a lot of variants and improvements in a number of versions: T 80, T 80B, T 80 BK, T 80 BV, T 80 BVK, and the last T-80 U, and T 80 UD. As many russian tanks, the crew is reduced to three men because the gun is automaticly fed, also is capable of firing a guided missile with estimated 4000 m range, an AT-8 "Songster", or an AT-5 "Spandrell". Succesive versions were improved in several ways, mainly ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour). The T-80 U in the picture has a Turbine Gas engine. lo}
