T-72B (1989)
The 1989 T-72B or T-72BM is a modification of the Soviet T-72B main battle tank. Since 1989, the T-72B has been fitted with the new-generation Contact-5 defense system, similar to the T-80U tank. The name of the modernization – “BM” is unofficial. The Contact-5 upper dynamic protection is of a different design; it is a single structure with the tank’s HLD, rather than detachable containers. On the turret, the dynamic protection consists of large plates mounted at an angle.
The T-72B (1989) is armed with a 2A46M-1 125 mm smoothbore gun stabilized in two planes. The gun has excellent ballistics, high accuracy and good armor penetration of shells, as well as, together with a laser rangefinder allows to shoot at long ranges. The tank is equipped with an automatic loader, providing a stable reloading time of 7.1 seconds, without requiring the skills of a loader. However, this is longer than on NATO tanks, so it is worth shooting for sure. The first stage loader consists of 22 shells, which is enough for long continuous firing, but if they run out, a very long transfer of shells from the hull floor or aft recess to the mechanized stowage will follow.
The horizontal turret guidance speed of 24°/sec will allow to react in case of sudden appearance of the enemy, but the vertical guidance speed of 5°/sec is rather weak and when moving on hills or other terrain, the gun may not have time to quickly aim at the enemy. It is recommended to keep the enemy in your sights. Vertical aiming angles as with all Soviet tanks are in the range of -6° to +13°, which will not allow you to play from hilly terrain. The tank has an IR searchlight “Luna” with the help of which in night battle you can illuminate the place with a searchlight and detect the enemy. However, it should be remembered that the enemy also sees this searchlight and can hide. It should be noted that the tank has no thermal imager, which greatly affects the effectiveness of the tank on the battlefield.
By the mid-1980s, there was an objective need to modernize the T-72 main battle tank to modern combat performance. The fact is that the vehicle seriously lacked firepower and a modern fire control system, and its defense, which was not bad at the time of its creation, became obsolete due to the appearance of new powerful weapons. The large tank modernization program implied a comprehensive improvement of the T-72 in all key characteristics. In the early 1980s, the Svir guided missile system was developed for Soviet tanks, with the missile guided by a beam and launched through the gun barrel. At the same time, work was underway to develop the first generation of the Contact-1 dynamic defense system. Both of these innovations were in demand when modernizing the T-72. The tank received a new combined hull armor: the package on the upper frontal part increased in size, and its composition was redistributed towards more steel. It was also fitted with a new cast turret with increased overall size, where “reflective sheets” were used as filler. Due to the increased weight, the tank required a new engine, which allowed the tank to retain the good performance of the basic model.
The modernized version of the tank was designated the T-72B and was adopted for service in December 1984. It was this modification that became the basis for a large number of versions and modernizations, which made the T-72 the most mass-produced 2nd generation tank in the world. In its modernized form, the tank continues to serve in the army of Russia and many other countries
In 1989, the tank underwent another modernization to the T-72BM version. The 1989 modification of the T-72B is distinguished, first of all, by the installation of the second generation Contact-5 dynamic protection system. The blocks on the frontal part of the hull form a single plane with it, unlike the Contact-1 protection. Containers on the turret are placed at an angle to each other, forming a recognizable silhouette, not once seen in military parades and news reports. “The Contact-5 provides a significant increase in the protection of the tank in the frontal projection, and against both shaped charge and sub-caliber ammunition.
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The author of the engine: https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198022702128
When creating the tank, I relied on the T-72 of this author: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3298528665
Required items:
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Cannons Pack — Steam Workshop
Cannons Pack Ricochets and Penetrations — Steam Workshop
DPKits — Steam Workshop
FOLK MOD — Steam Workshop
New Legend Mod Continuation — Steam Workshop
Smoke Screen Discharger — Steam Workshop
The Machine Guns Pack — Steam Workshop
The Modpack — Steam Workshop
