Tank T-72: characteristics and photos. T-72 "Ural" - the main battle tank of the USSR

A little history

In the summer of 1961, the first two copies of the tank were built, and they were tested in an accelerated manner - first at the factory, then at the test site. The facility was modernized, but despite all its advantages, the plant did not receive official permission to produce a new tank. Year after year, certain changes were made to the model:

1. First, the crew of the T-72 tank was thought out, which consisted of three people - a commander, a gunner and a driver.
2. The tank was equipped with a cannon with an automatic loader and armor protection based on the design of the Steel Research Institute.
3. The chassis of the model was planned to weigh no more than 40 tons.

But these changes were not accepted, only two onboard gearboxes were left.

In Nizhny Tagil, after the video about the tank at the crossroads, they remember other cases of “revelry” by the military.

Police officers from Nizhny Tagil, and along with them thousands of Runet users, are studying a video that looks more like a computer game rather than a recording from a regular DVR. On one of the city roads, without slowing down either in front of a meter-long snowdrift or in front of shocked car drivers, a tank jumps out.

Fortunately, the driver noticed the combat vehicle and prudently gave way to the tank. And, as the local military now assures, he obeyed not only instinct, but also the rules of the road, since the tank that drove across the flow, they say, did not violate anything: it was something like “interference on the right.”

NTV correspondent Inna Osipova

I was impressed and realized that it’s not for nothing that the T-90S tank is called flying. Motorists have now become convinced of this, as an armored vehicle almost flew into them at full speed on a busy highway.

It is unlikely that after this Alena will have any doubts that our tanks are fast. The T-90S took a little over a second to cross the route. The video immediately became an Internet hit. Everyone was interested in how appropriate tank maneuvers are on the roadway?

As the owner of the vehicle, Uralvagonzavod, commented, the tank was heading to the training ground and was driving at the “green signal” of the traffic light, which means it did not violate the rules. In this place, it turns out, there is a tank route. The traffic police nevertheless began an inspection.

Sergey Pleshko

, traffic police department of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the Sverdlovsk region: “The task, together with the Nizhny Tagil traffic police officers, was also set to check all available exits from Uralvagonzavod, check and hold working meetings with all plant managers in order to exclude unauthorized crossings of the roadway.”

Military equipment is not uncommon on Ural highways. There were also road accidents involving armored troops. A few years ago, in the village of Oktyabrsky, a tank failed to make a turn and demolished the corner of a residential building. Eyewitnesses assured that the tanker was drunk.

A few minutes before the accident, the tank was parked near a local general store. The video footage shows how a soldier with two bottles of vodka gets into a combat vehicle, but it is not even on the first try that he manages to get going. The owner of the house that fell under the onslaught of a tank, himself a reserve officer, could not recover for a long time after such non-combat maneuvers.

Oleg Petrov

, owner of the house: “I’m just a little confused. The wife is shocked. And, thank God, at least she’s alive.”

And last fall, motorists were frightened by the appearance of an Mi-8 helicopter, which flew literally one and a half meters above the cars. The helicopter, as it turns out, belongs to the Air Force. The pilots practiced aerobatics techniques over the track. No violations were found.

Traffic inspectors can only urge civil transport drivers to be more vigilant on the roads. You never know where military equipment will come from, from the ground or from the air.

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Tank layout features

The T-72 is a tank characterized by a classic design, with the power compartment located at the stern. The control is concentrated in the bow of the vehicle, where the fuel tank, storage tank, driver's control panel, and electrical equipment are also located.

The control department consists of a mechanic's seat, who controls the T-72 tank. There is a hatch above the driver's seat. A device is installed in the armor plate shaft to monitor the situation. The driver sits while driving, which is ensured by the well-thought-out design of the seat itself in the bottom of the tank.

Motorcycle catalog on Quto

This can actually happen if you use AI-98, because at idle high-octane fuel burns more quietly, that is, relatively speaking, worse, and sometimes even ignores the spark. 30 caliber Fire control system and observation devices main armament for direct shooting telescopic sight T143E2 periscope sight M10E10 for indirect shooting azimuth indicator T19 vertical guidance quadrant M9 gunner's quadrant M1 observation devices direct indirect driver hatch periscope M13 1 assistant driver hatch periscope M13 1 commander observation blocks 6 V commander's cupola, hatch periscope M15 1 gunner no periscope M10E10 1 left loading hatch no right loading hatch, pistol loop no Engine manufacturer and model Continental AV-1790-3 type 12 cylinders, 4-stroke, V-shaped 90 cooling air ignition magneto volume 1791.

Combat compartment

The fighting compartment in the tank is left with space in the middle part of the hull and turret, which is separated from the power compartment by a special partition. The thoughtfulness of the design ensures convenient movement of crew members from compartments to compartments. Convenience and ergonomics are the main differences that the T-72 tank can boast of. Its characteristics as a combat vessel are also impressive:

1. The tank is equipped with a 125 mm smoothbore gun in the turret, an automatic loader and fire control devices.
2. The commander's seat is located to the right of the gun, and the gunner sits to the left.
3. On the right side of the gun there is a PKT machine gun, and above it the base tube of the rangefinder sight is held on special mounts.
4. The commander's workplace is attractively equipped: it consists of an electric machine gun stopper, a vertical guidance tank, a radio station, a special device through which the landing socket is connected from the outside, and a cardan drive for the commander's tower.
5. The commander's turret is covered with a cover with a plate torsion bar.
6. The commander's cupola is equipped with two TNP-160 observation devices and a TKN-3 commander's device.

The fighting compartment is also equipped with instruments and mechanisms that ensure ease of operation of the tank.

Description TTX T-90

The tank is not unique in its design and arrangement of internal components. The internal space is conventionally divided into three compartments.

At the rear of the body is the MTO (Engine and Transmission Compartment). In the middle is the fighting compartment with seats for the tank commander and gunner. The first is to the left, the second is to the right of the gun.

At the front of the machine is the control compartment. There are controls for the armored vehicle and the driver's seat.

Appearance of the T-90 tank

Security

The entire tank is made of armor based on composite materials. Armor plates are connected by welding. The front frontal part is made according to the sandwich principle and consists of several layers.

For additional protection, dynamic protection is attached to the outside of the case. In the latest modifications it is “Relic”. The installation of “Curtains-1” is provided. There is a system for setting up a smoke screen.

Tank tower

Power department

The aft part has a power compartment. The engine of the T-72 tank is located on the left side, and between it and the partition for the engine there is a cooling system, an oil filter, and an expansion tank valve. An air purifier is installed on the right side. The hull has a rear sheet where the cooling system is located. The power compartment is also equipped with additional and main oil tanks, which help lubricate the engine. The power compartment is closed with a lid. The fuel consumption of the T-72 tank per 100 km is as follows:

• when driving on the ground - 260-450 l;
• on paved roads - 240 liters.

Tiger 1

5 volt, 200 amp, powered by auxiliary engine batteries 2 pieces, 12 volt Communications radio SCR 508 or 528 in turret basket interphone 6 stations and external auxiliary output RC-298 Fire protection system 3 stationary 10-pound carbon monoxide fire extinguishers 2 separate 5- pound fire extinguisher with carbon monoxide Driving characteristics highest speed 22 mph, highway towing force 91. Installation of a heat exchanger with a heat transfer degree of 0.8 0.85 1 at a gas temperature in front of the turbine of 900-950 C reduces specific fuel consumption to 200-220 g l.

Case Features

One of the most popular Soviet tanks is the T-72 tank. Characterizing it as a combat weapon would be incomplete without describing the features of the hull. The body of this model is a rigid box, which is welded from armor plates. Here are the bow, sides, stern, bottom, ventilation and engine partitions, as well as the roof of the power compartment.

The front sheet is a multi-layer combined barrier made of steel and fiberglass, the thickness of which provides a wear-resistant coating. The sides of the hull are reinforced with vertical armor plates and are supplemented with protective strips in the middle part. Their purpose is to increase the internal volume of the hull and install a tower on them. Along the entire perimeter of the sides, brackets are welded onto which the guide wheels are attached.

The T-72 is a popular tank of the USSR that inspired respect throughout the world. The stern of its hull is a stern armor plate. A fan baffle is installed as protection. It is a spiral casing equipped with removable front and side sheets. The casing contains a fan for the cooling system, and the main purpose of the partition is to organize air flow. The sides of the tank are supplemented with side screens, 3 mm thick and made of aluminum alloy. To maintain the condition of the tank while driving through difficult terrain, the screens can be placed in a stowed position - press them against the side dust shields. When the T-72 tank is in combat, the dust shields can be deployed forward at an angle of 60 degrees.

CHAPTER 4. FUEL ECONOMY

CHAPTER 4.

FUEL ECONOMY

I will never forget... We received a radiogram from the 19th division: “Attaken by 30 enemy tanks. There is no fuel. HELP, HELP, HELP!”, after which the connection stopped.

(F. Mellenthin, military leader of the Third Reich) [16].

The fuel efficiency of engines and the cruising range of tanks, the provision of tanks with fuel in battle, the disruption of offensive operations and tank battles due to a lack of fuel, the destruction of communications supplying fuel to tank armies and fuel production plants - these issues daily occupied the minds of military leaders and government officials of the warring countries in during the Second World War.

Yu.P. Kostenko [17] quoted German tank generals who argued that “resolving logistics issues often required more effort from the command than carrying out a combat mission.”

The Reich Chancellor and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Nazi Germany, A. Hitler, considered his generals short-sighted if they did not agree with his plans to seize Hungarian oil reserves and oil refineries, he complained [18].

In his memoirs [17], Kostenko pays special attention to the issues of providing fuel to tank units. Analyzing the materials of the meeting of the senior leadership of the Red Army on December 23-31, 1940, six months before the start of the war, he drew attention to the speech of the hero of the Civil War, Marshal of the Soviet Union S.M. Budyonny. The wise commander said in his short speech:

“In Belarus, I had to transport fuel for the 5th Mechanized Corps by air (apparently, the events of major maneuvers are described. - Author’s note). It’s good that there was no one to fight with there. On the roads from Novogrudok to Volokovysk, 75% of the tanks were stopped because of fuel. The (district) commander said that he could only send fuel by plane...”

Yu.P. Kostenko added his comments to this speech:

“After reading the transcript of S.M.’s speech. Budyonny, I involuntarily remembered 1941, when German “Junkers” continuously bombed junction railway stations in Belarus and Ukraine, “Messerschmitts” destroyed even single vehicles on highways and country roads, and the question of what happened to thousands of our tanks in the initial period of the war disappeared by itself.

After all, personnel with enormous difficulties and huge losses could still be withdrawn from encirclement, and history knows such cases. But to remove tanks from encirclement without fuel - I have never heard of this” [emphasis added].

The state of affairs discussed by the speakers at the meeting fully corresponds to the state in which the Red Army entered the war on June 22, 1941, since in such a short period of time - from the moment of the meeting to the start of the war - it was impossible to seriously change the situation in the army for the better,” Kostenko wrote.

The entire experience of the Second World War and subsequent wars testify to the need to save fuel in the troops, especially in connection with the complete motorization of the armed forces of the main states of the world. What lessons did we learn from that war when creating an armored shield in our native Fatherland? Let's consider this issue in more detail.

• According to military tests VI-1978 , the advantage of T-72 diesel tanks in terms of power reserve (with two 275-liter barrels connected to the tank’s fuel system) in comparison with T-80B gas turbine tanks when the tanks moved non-stop until the fuel was completely exhausted was 1 ,77 times! (Due to the design features of the tank, the barrels of the T-80 are not connected to the fuel system [6], although the operation manual provides for their connection). During the same tests, it was established that in order to complete a daily march as part of a tank company over long distances, T-80B tanks require 3 special ATs-5.5-375 tank trucks of increased capacity, and for tanks with diesel engines - only one regular ATMZ-4 tanker ,5-375 [10].

• Even more striking data were obtained from the results of controlled military operation of the T-80B, T-80BV and T-72B tanks when comparing hourly fuel consumption (l/h) and travel fuel consumption (l/km). After processing a significant number of waybills in various areas of tank operation, stunning figures were obtained: the T-80BV, T-80B tanks are inferior to the T-72B tank in hourly fuel consumption by 3.0-4.2 times, and in terms of travel fuel consumption by 2. 2-3.7 times! [eleven]. Similar figures were announced by central television [19]. “...No efforts of designers and even decisions of the party and government could save the gas turbine from excessive gluttony...despite the term “total fuel consumption of the power plant per combat day” invented by the developers, designed to confirm the comparability of gas turbine engines with conventional engines. The consequence was a smaller power reserve, and attempts to make up for it using fuel reserves (the T-80 had one and a half times the volume of internal tanks than the T-64 and T-72) ate up the weight gain, cramped the fighting compartment and worsened the survivability of the tank due to the fire hazard of the “kerosene barrel,” which could not be compensated for by improved external protection” [20]. British General Reid, who witnessed the combat use of M1A2 tanks by the US Army in the Kuwait theater of war in 1991, also testified that gas turbine Abrams consumed fuel 4 times more than diesel British Challenger tanks. This required the supply of fuel for American tanks using long convoys, tanker columns and other cargo vehicles. It should be taken into account that the AGT-1500 gas turbine engine of the M1A2 tanks is much more economical than the T-80 tanks’ GTD-YOOOT (202 g/hp.h versus 240 g/hp.h) [21].

• With the increase in the power of power plants and the advent of high-precision weapons over the past decades, the role and importance of auxiliary equipment in ensuring the combat readiness of armored and other mechanized units has increased significantly.

Fig.2 Diagram of the fuel system of the T-72/T-90 tank

Fig.3. Diagram for connecting barrels to the standard fuel system of T-72/T-90 tanks

To maintain the readiness of tanks for battle, a certain number of so-called auxiliary vehicles are provided in the structure of units. With their help, maintenance of combat vehicles, replenishment of ammunition, delivery of fuels and lubricants and refueling of combat vehicles are ensured. An interesting analysis of the dependence of the combat effectiveness of combat vehicle units on logistics was carried out by Yu.P. Kostenko in the book “Tanks (tactics, technology, economics)” [17]. Let's use a few excerpts from this book:

1) “If an increase in ammunition requires an increase in auxiliary equipment in an arithmetic progression, then an increase in the volume of fuel required to refuel a unit’s combat vehicles requires an increase in the number of auxiliary vehicles in a geometric progression . This is explained by the fact that ammunition is needed only for combat vehicles, and fuel is needed for everyone, including auxiliary vehicles, as well as for the tankers themselves.” It is not difficult to perform a simple calculation to determine the number of tankers required to provide a daily march for a column of T-80U tanks, which has set as its goal to cover the distance that a column of T-90 tanks moving to the full depletion of fuel can overcome. Omitting the arithmetic calculations, we give an answer that takes into account the fuel consumption increased by 4 times and the power reserve of the T-80U by a third less than the T-90:

A column of T-80U tanks requires 5-6 times more tankers than a column of T-90 tanks!

As V. Berezkin writes [22], it was necessary to re-equip the tanker fleet, which was an unexpected discovery for the General Staff. It turned out that even during the exercises, the fuel and lubricants service was not able to ensure the supply of fuel to all T-80 tanks, “... and what the actions of operational maneuver groups with thousands of combat vehicles, called upon to carry out a “rapid breakthrough to great depth” in wartime, would look like - was also imagined completely foggy. There was nowhere to get refueling trucks in a planned economy (the situation with vehicles in the army and in the national economy was not the best anyway), and it was not possible to order them urgently due to the insufficient production capacity of the automobile industry. In the end, they simply tried to forget about the problem.”

Connecting barrels (option 1) to the fuel system on T-72B and T-90 tanks

Model of the T-90S tank (Uralvagonzavod BTT museum). The model clearly shows the device for connecting barrels (option 2) to the fuel system of the T-90 tank

In 2008, this annoying issue for the Ministry of Defense was resolved very simply.

«The entire army fleet of fuel trucks and gas stations has been sold. It is ordered to refuel only at TNK gas stations

(“Tyumen Oil Company.” - Author’s note), said Colonel General Leonid Ivashov, president of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems [23].

The leadership of the Ministry of Defense “... perceives the army as a profit-making company

", the general was indignant.

Of course, the combat readiness of tank units has been seriously damaged.

Under the current conditions, it will become completely impossible to fight with T-80 tanks, which require a huge number of gas tankers and also helicopter tankers.

2) “...NATO does not envisage conducting major battles against the main forces of the opposing side during its invasion of Western Europe, but envisages the systematic destruction by all possible means of auxiliary vehicles, and only after disrupting the supply of tank troops with fuel and ammunition, begin the destruction of combat vehicles, which in addition time will lose to a large extent their “potential”.

The Afghan Mujahideen quickly learned this truth. In the program “Military Program” dated April 29, 2007, shown on Central Television, its presenter Alexander Sladkov voiced long-known facts: “The supply columns in Afghanistan suffered greater losses than the columns of military equipment.” It turns out to be a strange situation. In wartime, tankers not protected by armor must arrive at the refueling site for T-80 tanks moving on the march before the tanks themselves! It can be argued that gas turbine tanks are more vulnerable to any threat of disruption to their fuel supply than diesel tanks.

This is what connecting two barrels to the fuel system of the T-80U tank looks like. Despite the efforts of the crew, installing and connecting the third barrel turned out to be an impossible task for him.

Connecting barrels to the fuel system on the T-80U tank. The third barrel is not installed

• In an effort to reduce the gap in power reserve with the Ural T-72 tank, they began to install three two-hundred-liter fuel barrels on the T-80 tank, sharply worsening the maintenance of the tank. At the same time, the fire hazard of the tank increased, since the middle barrel was located above the MTO, and if it was damaged, burning fuel could easily get inside the tank. In addition, the T-80 began to look like a caricature, and on the advice of Marshal A.Kh. Babajanyan, the third additional barrel of fuel had to be removed [b]. However, the unacceptably low power reserve of the T-80 tank returned the third barrel to its place. The T-80U operating manual contains instructions for connecting three barrels to the tank's fuel system.

It should be noted that when operating the T-80 tank in areas with a hot climate and high dust levels, the second (middle) barrel is not installed. During winter operation of the T-80 in snowy areas or in the presence of blizzards, the middle barrel and fittings for connecting the barrels to the fuel system also cannot be used due to fire safety conditions when thawing snow and ice in the air cleaner cyclones using engine exhaust gases directed by the deflector in the direction of travel of the tank (see Fig. 1).

When installing two barrels, you must additionally have another set of “branching” equipment to connect the barrels to the tank’s fuel system.

The creation of two groups of external tanks located on both sides of the tank and the installation of a middle barrel on the roof behind the turret force the crews to abandon the labor-intensive laying of a complex route over the roof of the MTO. None of the officers who served on the T-80U with whom we had to communicate had ever seen equipment for connecting barrels to the fuel system. Which means I didn’t use it. Therefore, the borrowed design of equipment for connecting barrels to the fuel system of the T-72 tank, invented by UKBTM designer I.K. Gusev, turned out to be of little use for the T-80 tank.

During military tests, the determination of the power reserves of these tanks was calculated by the commissions by arithmetic addition of the actual distance traveled by the tank until the fuel was completely exhausted from the standard tanks and the estimated distance that the tank could cover additionally if there were 400 or 600 liters of fuel in the internal tanks (the capacity of two or three barrels 200 l each) . At the same time, the commissions that lobbied for the T-80 tank did not take into account the time spent by the refueling device pumping fuel from barrels into the tanks of the fuel system (and with a pump capacity of 75-80 l/min it is more than 10 minutes), artificially inflating the tactical speed values T-80 (T-80U).

On Ural tanks, starting with the T-72, equipment conveniently mounted behind the stern for connecting barrels to the fuel system allows, first of all, to exhaust fuel from the barrels and unload the most loaded rear road wheels and torsion bars, while eliminating the inconvenient and time-consuming operation of manually pumping fuel from barrels into tanks on the march, to avoid fires in the logistics department if the tightness of the barrels is broken, for example, when they are shot through.

The installation of a medium barrel on a T-80B tank is shown, but the barrels are not connected to the fuel system

When T-80 tanks move along country forest roads with narrow passages between trees, fuel barrels can be damaged

The T-80U and tanks like the T-64 (T-84) do not have all these advantages.

It would be correct if the T-80U tank's performance characteristics excluded the line about the power reserve with barrels. Developers of the T-80U should look to the M1 Abrams tank (which does not have barrels installed), and not to the T-90 tank. After all, if the chassis of the T-80 tank is overloaded, is it reasonable to add additional load to the rear axle weighing 600 kg? Moreover, in anticipation of a battle, the crew will be forced to throw all three barrels filled to the top with unnecessary and even “harmful” fuel.

To quickly deliver fuel to a convoy of T-80 tanks on the march on a difficult route, the designers adapted the tank for refueling from an air tanker - a Mi-6TZ helicopter [2, 27]. But this technology is not used in military practice, because Providing fuel for the refueling helicopter itself, with a total power plant power of 11,000 hp, including two D-28V turboshaft engines, is an equally complex task [28].

On the contrary, in a number of countries and even regions of Russia, as evidenced by a number of publications [10, 29], fuel tankers are not used at all for refueling tanks (for example, in India and even on the Chukotka Peninsula of Russia, located next to the neighboring state - the USA, refueling produced from barrels).

Apparently, when tanks are used in combat, refueling them (including with low-quality fuel from barrels) will puzzle a large number of military leaders, but will quickly resolve the issue in favor of diesel tanks. Based on the experience of operating the T-80U in India, fuel poured into tanks from barrels and the use of diesel as the main fuel turned out to be unacceptable for gas turbine engines (the engine could only run on aviation kerosene) [24]. Delving deeper into the study of the operational documentation of the T-80U tank, we noted that the gas turbine engine fuel equipment requires gentle handling. When draining fuel (for example, when dismantling an engine), it is necessary to preserve the fuel equipment of the gas turbine engine almost immediately (within 24 hours) with hot oil due to its susceptibility to intense corrosion due to the hygroscopicity of kerosene. For the T-90S tank, it is allowed not to preserve the engine for one month.

Reference:

1) The duration of refueling the fuel system of tanks is:

Tank T-80U - 16-18 min. (without additional barrels with a total capacity of 600 liters!) at a pressure at the inlet to the filling device of 3.5 kgf/cm2 [24]; 28 min. at a pressure at the inlet to the filling device of 1.5 kgf/cm2 (based on the results of tender tests of tanks in Greece in 1998) [8]; tanks T-72 (T-90) - 15.1 minutes (full filling of all tanks and additional two two-hundred-liter barrels!) with a closed jet [25];

2) Due to the fact that refueling of the fuel system of T-80U tanks is carried out under pressure, the fuel tanks experience significant stress, which results in: destruction of the internal tanks along the weld seams (according to the controlled military operation of tanks, there are 7 times more such cases, than on tanks like T-72 [26]);

3) T-80 internal tanks are made of expensive stainless steels that do not require anti-corrosion coatings. Similar tanks of the T-72 (T-90) tanks are made of ordinary carbon steel and have a bakelite coating.

The fuel equipment of a diesel tank engine is less demanding in terms of the type and quality of fuel. Testers of the T-90 tank, A. Bakhmetov and D. Mikhailov, already known to the reader, say: “All stages of the test were difficult for the tank, but what awaited it in the desert of Central Asia cannot be compared with the others. Ambient temperature 45-50°C in the shade. Throughout the hundred-kilometer running route, there was a layer of loess dust of 10-20 cm. During movement, the layer of dust rose several hundred meters, and from the tank itself only the cannon and mud flaps of the tracks were visible... During the day, the tanks covered from 350 to 480 km, so They worked out, as on concrete, on all types of fuel . Moreover, in the military district where the tests were carried out, there was no kerosene for the engine of the T-90 tank. There was only RT kerosene (jet fuel), the use of which was not permitted by the tank’s operating instructions .

After discussion together with representatives of the design bureau, we made the decision to run on RT kerosene at our own risk. We were fulfilling the point of the test program, but the representatives of the design bureau clearly took risks, but, obviously, were confident in their brainchild. The risk was also that very heavy loads were placed on the tank’s engine in conditions of dust and high ambient temperatures, even when operating on “native” diesel fuel, and here is aviation kerosene...” [30]. It is pleasant to note that the planned tests for complete fuel depletion were completed successfully (the engine of the T-90S tank runs on diesel fuel and aviation kerosene of certain brands. RT grade kerosene is not approved for operation of the V-92S2 engine due to its low lubricating properties. - Note. ed.).

Considering that during military operation the gas turbine engine operates in idle mode (in parking lots) up to 50% of the time [2], the T-80U tank began to be equipped with an auxiliary gas turbine engine GTA-18 - a very expensive and complex unit, the cost of which is approximately 2. 5 times higher than the cost of the main diesel engine of the T-90S tank [8]. The need for its use is caused by the desire to reduce the operating time of the main engine in the “idle” mode when recharging the batteries and to increase the useful life of the GTD-1250.

The second important event was the development of an automated idling gas (SMG) system. When the engine is operating in this mode, the crew, however, is deprived of the opportunity to turn on the filter-ventilation unit while parked [24].

From the march to refueling. The second T-72A tank has a damaged log for self-pulling, but the barrels are intact

A column of T-72 Ural tanks on the march. Refueling in the field

Without denying the usefulness of these measures for reducing fuel consumption during the operation of the T-80 in the army, we read with great surprise in the article by V.A. Paramonov and V.P. Filippov [15], that in competitive tender tests with modern NATO tanks in Greece in 1998, “the T-80U tank showed the best... fuel-economic characteristics” (?!) (taking last place in terms of range - 350 km - Note . ed.).

Yu.A. Leikovsky (JSC KADV, Kaluga), advertising the effectiveness of the above introduced technical measures to reduce the operating costs of T-80U fuel, went even further, pointing out that in these tests the advantage of the T-80U compared to the Leopard-1AV, “Challenger 2” and “Leclerc” was 2-2.5 times (?!) [31].

On December 2, 2006, in the “Smotr” program, V. Morozov (aircraft engine design bureau named after V.Ya. Klimov) devoted 20 minutes to praising the T-80U tank, citing unreliable data about the supposedly equal fuel efficiency of gas turbine and diesel tanks (meaning, of course, tanks type T-72). What is surprising is the eclecticism of all these statements, the lack of consistency and unity in the attempt to assign to the T-80 tank the same undeserved “achievements” in the dramatic improvement in the fuel efficiency of the gas turbine engine.

What audience is this, to put it mildly, unreliable information uttered from high stands intended for? What is the purpose of these speeches? Who cooks them?

The answer is obvious.

Direct comparative tests of the T-90S and T-80U tanks to determine the power reserve have not been carried out, however, we can confidently assume that the advantage of the T-90S in comparison with the T-80U in terms of power reserve will be at least 30% during military tests. This is again confirmed by the results of tender tests of tanks in Greece, in which the cruising range of diesel tanks with turbocharging turned out to be 1.28-1.43 times higher than that of the T-80U tank, including the Ukrainian T-84 tank - in 1.28 times [8].

And yet, what are the range capabilities of the T-90 tank? These data were published in an article by A. Bakhmetov and D. Mikhailov, participants in the T-90 state tests [30]. They write that the T-90 with a fully charged fuel system (1700 l), including two barrels with a capacity of 275 l each connected to the fuel system, traveled 728 km along a highway with hard asphalt concrete! Similar results in foreign tank building are unknown . Apparently, realizing the futility of competing with diesel tanks in the power reserve, the former chief designer of the Omsk KBTM B. Kurakin put forward the thesis: “We should abandon such concepts as power reserve, product maintenance and replacement of fuels and lubricants in systems and components of vehicles during combat operations” [ 32].

Near East. Abrams tanks advancing in the desert are pulled to the highway for fuel replenishment

Near East. British Challenger 2 tanks with additional barrels installed

All opponents of the T-90 tank focus the reader’s attention on a striking figure, showing the advantage of the gas turbine engine over ... the Kharkov (?) two-stroke diesel engine 6TD-2 in oil consumption by 10-20 times [15, 31]. In fact, the oil consumption of a gas turbine engine is very low, while that of a two-stroke Kharkov engine is increased. But Tagil tanks have no problem in this matter either. Their oil range is 2-3 times greater than the fuel range, and the amount of oil to be filled into an empty T-90 tank is only 45 liters (taking into account the reserved minimum allowable amount of unused oil in the tanks).

For the Ukrainian T-84 tank, the oil reserve is 2-3 times lower than that of the T-90 [8].

Speaking about the low “consumption” of oil in gas turbine engines, one cannot ignore the high cost and scarcity of approved oils for tank gas turbine engines in Russia.

Even at the manufacturer of tank gas turbine engines - JSC CADVI, according to our information, when testing engines, instead of the main brands of oils - IPM-10, LZ-240 - they often use a less expensive and scarce backup oil - B-ZV. Apparently, the provision of IPM-10 oil to T-80 tanks in the troops may also face a shortage problem.

From the materials we presented, the conclusions suggest themselves:

In future wars, if, God forbid, this happens, the country whose tanks, planes, and ships will not lose the ability to move will win.

Analyzing the level of improvement of modern main battle tanks, K. Romasev came to the correct conclusion: “ Even the strongest tank without fuel is worse than the weakest with fuel ” [33].

Near East. Refueling T-90S

How is the tower built?

To create it, a shaped casting made of armored steel was used, a roof was welded to it on top, as well as heads that protect the base tube of the rangefinder sight. The tower is distinguished by a monolithic structure, the thickness of the walls of which varies. The front part is equipped with an embrasure where the gun is mounted, the side surfaces are equipped with arc cheeks, which play an important role in armoring the hull walls.

To the right of the gun there is an embrasure where the coaxial machine gun is located. To the left of the gun there is a bracket where the night sight illuminator is attached in combination with a tube through which the electric drive is supplied to the gun. The left half of the roof has a hatch base where the gunner is located. The tower rotates by hydraulic and manual mechanisms. All this distinguishes the T-72 tank, the characteristics of which allow us to draw a conclusion about the combat qualities of the armored vehicle.

Fuel and lubricant consumption for tanks, self-propelled guns, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers

Indicators that determine climate are air temperature, relative humidity, as well as the prevailing direction and strength of wind, solar radiation, and amount of precipitation.

The climatic zoning of a territory is based on air temperature and humidity, which have the most significant impact on metals and other materials. The criteria for determining the zoning of the territory are the average monthly temperature in the coldest (January) and warmest (July) months of the year, as well as the relative air humidity at 13:00 in July. Thus, according to the results of long-term observations, the cold climatic zone occupies 67.35% of the territory, moderate - 22.96%, warm humid - 0.7%, hot climatic zone - 9.62%.

To determine the coefficient for calculating the operating hours before repair and write-off of vehicles during intensive use, it is prescribed to use the table.

Physiographic conditions

Depending on the altitude above sea level, the terrain according to the operating conditions of weapons and military equipment facilities is divided into:

flat - 500 m;

hilly - from 500 m to 1000 m;

mountain - from 1000 m to 2000 m;

alpine - over 2000 m.

Conditions in mountainous and high-mountain areas are characterized, in comparison with lowland areas, as the altitude increases above sea level by a decrease in air temperature, a decrease in atmospheric pressure and air density, significant fluctuations in air temperature during the day, as well as frequent fogs and deep snow cover in winter.

They represent difficult terrain, while the maximum permissible steepness of the roads is 12%, ascents and descents in some areas are 15-40%.

In desert-sandy areas, the operating conditions of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are determined by climatic and soil factors.

Climatic conditions are characterized by high ambient temperature, combined with low relative humidity and intense solar radiation, sharp temperature fluctuations during the day.

Ground and soil conditions are characterized by high air dust, sand and dust storms, and a poorly developed road network.

The subtropical and tropical zones are characterized by:

increased relative air humidity;

high ambient temperature;

sharp fluctuations in ambient temperature during the day, with heavy dew falling at night;

content in the air of a large amount of ozone, salts of the seas and oceans;

the presence of a large number of different biological pests (rodents, termites, forest bugs, ants, mosquitoes, etc.).

Time of year and day Ecological

— autumn-winter — daytime — environmental pollution

— spring-summer — night

intensity depends significantly

metal corrosion processes

Socio-political

— the state of the country’s economy — the attitude of society towards the army

— state of financing of the Armed Forces — military doctrine of the country

— legal protection of the highest level — level of education

Taking into account operating conditions, the values ​​of correction factors and the procedure for their application are applied to reduce the operating hours of machines until the next major overhaul or write-off

Tank armament

The tank's turret is equipped with a D-81TM smoothbore cannon, and another machine gun is paired with it, and they are stabilized in two guidance planes. The gun barrel is a pipe that connects to the casing, coupling, breech and blowing mechanism. It, in turn, consists of six nozzles. The gun bolt has a semi-automatic operating mode. The firing range of the T-72 tank is as follows:

• when firing armor-piercing sub-caliber and cumulative projectiles, the range is 4000 m;
• when using high-explosive fragmentation shells, its value reaches 5000 m;
• when shooting at night it is equal to 800 m;
• if the shells are fired side-by-side using high-explosive fragmentation shells, the firing range can reach 9400 m.

It should be noted that with automatic loading, the gun has a combat rate of fire of up to 8 rounds per minute, with manual loading - 1-2 rounds per minute.

The firing range of the T-72 tank is ensured by a monocular stereoscopic sight-rangefinder, equipped with additional independent stabilization of the field of view. Using the sight, the target range is measured in the range of 1000-4000 m with an accuracy of 3-5 percent. If shooting is carried out at night, a special night sight with an illuminator based on an IR filter is used.

The commander's tower is equipped with an anti-aircraft installation, which allows you to shoot at air and ground targets. In the case of the T-72, the performance characteristics of the tank are as follows: firing at long-range air targets is carried out at a distance of up to 1500 m, at ground targets - up to 2000 m. The anti-aircraft installation of the tank consists of:

• from an NSV 12.7 mm machine gun;
• cradles with a recoil device;
• anti-aircraft sight;
• a handle that allows you to aim the gun horizontally and vertically;
• magazine for shells;
• balancing mechanism.

What is the fuel consumption of the T 80?

With a boost pressure of 1.5-2.0 ata
, which is used on most modern diesel engines, the maximum gas pressure and temperature are relatively low. At the same time, the operating severity characteristic of diesel engines, as a rule, decreases, since with an increase in air pressure and temperature at the end of the compression stroke, the combustion process improves and the ignition delay period decreases. Therefore, such supercharging does not require significant changes to the engine design.

The main weapon of the tank is a KwK 36 L/56 rifled gun with a caliber of 88 mm. The barrel length was 56 calibers. Thanks to the hydraulic drive, the gun could fire in a complete circle in the horizontal plane. The vertical guidance range varied from -8 to +15 degrees.

The destruction range was 4 km, with the advent of the new TZF 9b monocular sight - 5 km. The ammunition consisted of 92-94 shells. Since 1945, this figure has been increased to 120 ammunition.

The Tigers had two, less often three, MG-34 machine guns. On later models, its modifications were used - 34/40, 34/S, 34-41. Firing from the front machine gun was carried out by the radio operator, and from the coaxial machine gun by the gunner. The destruction range is up to 1200 m, the total ammunition load is 4500 rounds.

Basic projectiles

One of Russia's most powerful armored combat vehicles of all time is the T-72. The tank's armament requires the following shells:

• AKMS assault rifle 7.62 mm;
• signal pistol;
• 10 hand grenades.

The tank has a two-plane electro-hydraulic weapon stabilizer, which is combined with an optical rangefinder sight. The main tasks of this complex are the following:

1. Automatically hold the cannon and machine gun in a certain position when the tank moves.
2. Aim the stabilized cannon and machine gun, smoothly adjusting the aiming speed.
3. Point an unstabilized gun in a horizontal plane.
4. Create target designation from the tank commander to the gunner.
5. Emergency turn of the turret from the driver.

With the help of a stabilizer, angular velocities are provided, on the basis of which the gun is aimed vertically in automatic mode. The tank's ammunition load includes 39 rounds for the cannon, 2000 rounds for the PKT machine gun, 300 rounds for the machine gun, 12 rounds for the signal pistol and 300 rounds for the anti-aircraft machine gun.

Requirements for a modern tank engine - What is the consumption of the t 34

Diagram of a three-shaft gas turbine engine Ford-705 1 low-pressure compressor; 2 intercooler; 3 high pressure compressor; 4 heat exchanger; 5 combustion chamber; 6 high pressure turbine; 7 additional combustion chamber; 8 power turbine; 9 low pressure turbine; 10 intercooler fan. In the fall of 1941, light tanks T-60 and then T-70 were put into service, on the basis of which one of the most popular self-propelled artillery guns of the Soviet army, SU-76, was created.

Charging Features

The T-72 tank has an electromechanical complex that automatically charges the gun. It consists of a rotating conveyor, a cassette lifting mechanism, a pallet removal mechanism, a rammer, an electric machine gun stopper, a storage device and a control panel.

The USSR battle tank is equipped with a rotating conveyor, which is mounted on the vehicle body and includes a frame, an electromechanical drive, a flooring, a mechanism for closing the dispensing window with flaps, a stopper and a manual drive. The frame houses 22 cassettes; it itself is a one-piece welded structure. The cassette consists of two welded pipes and is needed to accommodate different types of shots.

An excursion into the history of the creation of the tank

Tank T-72

The rearmament of USSR tank formations began almost immediately after the war. In 1946-47, production of the T-54 began. In the early 60s they began to be replaced by the T-64 and its modifications. However, new research into armor, armament and engine assembly quickly made the new vehicles obsolete.

It was during this period that a change in classification began. New developments have made it possible to combine speed, protection and a powerful weapon. Accordingly, the medium tank became the main combat tank, becoming the basis of tank formations.

Features of the power plant

The design of the T-72 tank assumes the presence of a modified power plant. It is a 780 hp diesel engine, which is complemented by a liquid cooling system and a centrifugal supercharger. The engine weighs 980 kg and is installed in the power compartment. The multi-fuel engine can run on different brands of diesel, gasoline and kerosene. But the main type of fuel is diesel. The tank's engine power system consists of 4 internal and 5 external fuel tanks.

To ensure the purification of the air that enters the engine cylinders, the tank is additionally equipped with a two-stage air purifier that removes dust from the dust collector. Cleaning is carried out in several cycles, after which 99.8 percent purified air enters the engine.

The design of the T-72 tank requires the presence of a lubrication and cooling system. The lubrication system is circulating and combined, and the cooling system is liquid and closed, complemented by forced circulation. A special heating system warms up the engine and maintains its systems before starting.

The T-72 tank is equipped with a mechanical transmission with hydraulic control, which includes a guitar and two gearboxes. A guitar is a gear reducer that transmits torque to gearboxes.

What caliber is the coaxial machine gun installed in modern tanks?

The fuel supply system of a multi-fuel engine must also have a number of features. An increase in the ignition delay period necessitates an automatic change in the starting point of fuel supply. The position of the maximum fuel supply limiter must be variable in order to compensate for the change in its density and the difference in leakage depending on viscosity by changing the volumetric portion of the fuel. The pressure created by the fuel priming pump increases to 2.5-5 kg/cm
2 in order to eliminate the possibility of the formation of gasoline vapors in the suction cavity of the high-pressure pump and to improve the filling of the above-plunger volume. For this purpose, the fuel pumping system is made flow-through. A special sealing and drainage system is provided to prevent gasoline from entering the oil. When operating on gasoline, the plunger pairs of the fuel pump do not require special lubrication, but a lubricant supply is required to the cam shaft and pushers.

Chassis and equipment

The combat weight of the T-72 tank is 44.5 tons, while the chassis consists of six dual-slope rubber-coated road wheels and three single-slope rollers, a rear drive wheel, and a idler wheel with a crank mechanism. The tank has an individual torsion bar suspension, which is reinforced by hydraulic shock absorbers and six road wheels. The tracks have small links with 97 tracks in them.

Additional devices on the tank include a radio station and an intercom designed for four subscribers. The radio works as a transceiver and telephone, providing a communication range of up to 20 km. The radio station operates on 1261 operating frequencies, while signal reception and transmission are carried out on a common frequency.

General information - What is the consumption of t 34

Diagram of a piston providing automatic adjustment of the compression ratio 1 outer cup; 2 insert; 3 upper oil cavity; 4 pressure reducing valve, 5 lower oil cavity; 6 calibrated hole; 7 check valves. I beg you, the cost of modifying the car we will drive today exceeds 50 million rubles, and fuel consumption is calculated per kilometer traveled.

Protective systems

Despite the fact that the weight of the T-72 tank was impressive, it was equipped with additional systems that protected the armored vehicle from weapons of mass destruction. The systems are capable of protecting the tank and its internal equipment from shock waves and radiation during a nuclear explosion, ensuring the safety of the crew when exposed to toxic substances or biological weapons.

Protection against shock waves is provided by thoughtful armor, as well as high-quality sealing. A special reliable material is used inside the tank, while the fighting compartment and control compartments are reliably sealed. The protection system acts as a light and sound alarm, controls the level of radiation and excess pressure inside the tank and the presence of toxic substances outside it.

The fire-fighting system consists of three two-liter cylinders filled with fire extinguishing agent, as well as three pipelines that connect the cylinders and compartments, and nine temperature sensors. A special multiple-action system provides reliable protection against smoke. It runs on diesel fuel.

Among the additional equipment of T-72 tanks, we can note the underwater driving system, which allows you to overcome water obstacles at a depth of 5 m and a width of up to 1000 m. This equipment also includes life jackets and gas masks designed for all crew members.

How much fuel does a tank consume?

Of the large number of different filters, the most promising is the centrifugal one, which has a high throughput with a high cleaning efficiency, a constant resistance that does not depend on the degree of contamination, and the ability to operate for a long time without maintenance. To start the engine, it is more advisable to use compressed air, introducing it directly into the engine cylinders or using special pneumatic or hydraulic starters.

Modifications of the T-72 tank

In total, over the years of production, the tank was presented in eight main modifications: T-72, T-72M, T-72M1, T-72S and their varieties. In addition, it was actively sold abroad to countries such as Czechoslovakia, Poland, East Germany, Hungary and Bulgaria. As of 2007, these armored vehicles were in service with a number of countries - Azerbaijan, Algeria, Vietnam, Libya, Macedonia, Kyrgyzstan and many others. The T-72 tank was actively used in many countries as the basis for a large number of engineering, special and combat vehicles.

The T-72 is a Ural tank that has long been considered one of the most powerful and reliable not only in the USSR, but also in the world. Modernized versions are still produced in many countries, with constant improvements in control systems and power equipment.

Prospects for modernization

At its core, the T-90 tank is already a modernization of the T-72. Yes, they changed the control system on it, installed a different engine, changed the gun and installed modern dynamic protection. But the base remained the same and the same T-72B3 are not much worse than the latest T 90 variants, whose fuel consumption was much higher. Modernization has reached its climax and hit the ceiling. This does not allow us to count on further work in this direction.

See also the article Tank KV-2 and its performance characteristics

Tank on parade

It is because of this impasse that active testing of the T-14 Armata is now underway. It can be called a new round of domestic tank building. A crew in an armored capsule, a decent control system, a high-power engine - all this allows us to call this platform the tank of the future. The picture is spoiled by only one fact: all these developments were already partially used in the USSR.

See also the article Russian tank T-14 “Armata” and its description