The T-80 tank, a famous Soviet and Russian fighter - history of creation, characteristics, design and combat route

The T-80 is a tank that was mass produced in the Soviet Union. The vehicle was characterized by a single gas turbine propulsion system, and for a long time it was the main tank of the Soviet Army. It was on this model that for the first time in the world an integrated anti-submunition defense was used.

The model was adopted for service in 1976, and after the collapse of the USSR it became the main battle tank of the Russian Army. The production was entrusted to three enterprises - the initial versions were created by SKB-2 on the basis of the T-64A tank and were supplied by the Kirov Plant.

The T-80U modification was produced by the Omsktransmash plant. The T-80UD version with a diesel engine was produced by the KhZTM (V.A. Malyshev Kharkov Transport Machine Building Plant). It was replaced by the T-90 tank.

History of development

The first tests on the use of the gas turbine system on the tank were conducted while the Object 167T was still under development. The Klimov NPO (Research and Production Association) was in charge of this work. The T-64 was taken as a base. Then there was the Obiekt 219 sp 2, which was very different from the T-64.

Engineers found that the increased power of the internal combustion engine, increased weight and changes in dynamic parameters require major changes in the design of the undercarriage. Developers had to create updated wheels, change rollers, modernize tracks.

Hydraulic shock absorbers and torsion shafts were developed. The turret underwent changes. It was decided to retain the gun, types of ammunition and loading mechanism from the previous T-64A tank. The armor protection elements and a number of components remained unchanged. Serial production of the tank lasted for 2 years (from 1976 to 1978).

Modifications of the T-80

The designers have created and put into production six major modifications and a large number of developments with single production volumes. The following models deserve maximum attention:

T-80B. It was adopted in 1978, its weight is more than 42 tons. The vehicle is equipped with 1G42 laser sight, 2E26M stabilizer, 2A46-2 cannon. The turret armor was also strengthened, and after 1980 the 1100 hp GTD-1000TF internal combustion engine was installed.

T-80BV. The designers improved the T-80B by equipping it with Contact protection and more serious armor plating of the frontal armor. The vehicle was adopted for service in 1985, its combat weight was 43.69 tons.

T-80U. It was adopted for service in 1985. This design has the same hull armor as the T-80BV. The updated turret is stronger, it has a cellular filling. The vehicle is equipped with the Reflex system, the accuracy of hits is ensured by the 1G46 laser sight.

T-80UD. This is an updated version of the T-80U, which is equipped with a two-stroke diesel engine with 6 cylinders. The 6TD engine has an output of 1000 hp and is capable of running on different types of fuel. It is equipped with an anti-aircraft machine gun with remote control. The weight of the vehicle is 46 tons. It was adopted into service in 1987. Approximately 800 units were produced in four years.

T-80BVM. This is an updated modernization of the T-80BV variant. The tank is equipped with a 2A46M-4 cannon, the designers have improved the GTE-1250 engine and equipped the mechanic with a TVN-5 observation device. The vehicle is characterized by increased controllability due to the installation of radio station "Aqueduct".

The arrival of new technologies and revolutionary breakthroughs in the world of electronics allowed for many modifications. The 1992 version of the T-80UM had an Agava thermal imager, R-163-50U radio station, and was characterized by radio-absorbing coating. The T-80UE-1 version was equipped with an air intake device, which helps to overcome fords with a depth of up to two meters.

Technique based on the tank

The excellent parameters and reliability of the T-80 allowed the creation of a number of technical units. Rescuers and special services are assisted in their work by the highly protected vehicle «Ladoga».

The armored repair vehicle BREM-80U has excellent performance.

Firefighters have a SPM in their service.

For operational trenching they use excavator BTM-4M.

Msta-S self-propelled gun proved itself in battles.

Characteristics

• Length - 6,682 m
• Height - 2,193 m
• Width - 3,525 m
• Clearance - 0,45 m
• Obstacle to be overcome - 1 m
• Specific power - 24 hp/t
• Specific soil pressure - 0,84 kg/cm²
• Ditch surmountable - 2,85 m
• Slope of the lifting surface - 32 deg
• Number of units produced - ~10000 pcs.

Construction description

The T-80 tank is characterized by decent mobility, in addition to shells and conventional ammunition, it is capable of firing missiles. Additional protection helps it not to lose combat capability during the use of weapons of mass destruction.

Thanks to the gas turbine internal combustion engine, the tank is able to reach speeds of up to 70 km/h on the highway. With the use of additional hinged fuel barrels, the range on the highway reaches up to 600 kilometers. The crew consists of the driver, gunner and commander.

About the device

The tank conceptually does not differ from dozens of other prototypes. In addition to assembly units in the form of hull, turret, running gear, transmission, internal combustion engine and electrical equipment, the designers have separately allocated communication equipment, observation and aiming devices, and a collective defense system. This tank has heating, smoke grenade launcher, and equipment for driving under water. Tankers can install an effective mine trawl.

The layout is classic: the driver mechanic is located in the front of the vehicle. The combat compartment is located in the center of the vehicle, the power units are located in the aft part. The hull of the vehicle is a welded armored box, which includes the nose, two sides, stern, bottom and roof.

The turret is a shaped armored steel casting with a roof. A gun embrasure is provided in the front part. The turret is mounted on a ball bearing, it is dislocated in the annular recess of the hull plates.

Powerplant

The designers used the GTD-1000TF internal combustion engine. It is equipped with a two-stage turbocharger. The power of the engine is 1100 hp. Fuel consumption ranges from 70 liters per hour at low speeds to 230 liters at maximum load.

The engine with gearbox weighs 1050 kg. The internal combustion engine resource is 1000 hours, the guaranteed resource is half as long. The tank can be refueled with aviation kerosene, diesel fuel of L and Z grades. A-72 gasoline is a good option.

Synthetic aviation oil or a backup version of IPM-10 is used as a lubricant for the propulsion system. The air system of the T-80 works thanks to the AK-150SV pump, it creates pressure up to 166 kg/cm². The APU-71 device helps to start the engine. This takes about 55 seconds and half as long for purging.

Transmission

It is mechanical in the tank, friction elements are activated by hydraulics. The transmission can be divided into two parts, they are united by an on-board gearbox and a gearbox. Each on-board gearbox has four forward and one reverse speed. The weight of the gearbox together with the gearbox is 0.85 tons.

About the undercarriage

It is a tracked propulsion system with the driving wheels located at the stern. The track is made of steel and is equipped with a rubber-metal joint. The rubberized treadway and chain locking ensure reliable traction of the tracks.

One track has 80 tracks, its width is 0.58 m and total weight is 1.77 tons. The 12 support rollers are a double disc design with external shock absorption. The design includes 10 single band support rollers. The suspension of the first, second and sixth rollers has shock absorbers.

Electrical equipment

The machine has its own single-wire DC network, with the body acting as a minus. For voltage generation is responsible GS-18MO unit, the generated voltage of 28.5 volts is enough to power all the devices and recharge four acid batteries 12ST-85R. Their total capacity is 340 Ah.

The intensity of rotation of the generator shaft is within the range from 4300 to 9000 revolutions per minute. For starting the internal combustion engine an aviation starter of GS-12TO brand is used.

Communication and observation devices

The tank is equipped with the R-123M radio station. In camping conditions and in combat, the crew can communicate using the R-124 intercom system. For daytime observation, the tank is equipped with TPNO-160 (five units).

The gunner can use the TNPA-65 device (the commander has two of them). Five-fold amplification is given by the TKN-3B device. The electronic binocular device TVNE-4B will help the driver mechanic. He uses GPC-59 as a direction finder.

Other equipment

A number of headlights are used to move at night, among which are FG-127 and FG-125. The tank is equipped with a collective defense system that allows it to survive a nuclear or chemical attack. There is a device for radiation and chemical reconnaissance.

There is a built-in fire extinguishing system for safety. It comes with a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. Survival in battle is helped by the system of launching smoke grenades. With the help of built-in bulldozer equipment, the vehicle is able to dig in independently.

Armament

The main weapon in combat is the 2A46M-1 smoothbore gun (caliber 125 mm). Thanks to the automatic loader it is possible to achieve an intensity of 7 shots per minute.

The maximum aiming range is 4 km (we are talking about an armor-piercing shell). Fragmentation projectile is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 5 km. But the maximum flight of the projectile is 10 km. The tank can take 36 rounds into combat.

PKT machine gun is paired with the cannon: it is possible to hit live forces at a distance of up to 1.6 km. The ammunition set for combat is 2,000 rounds. The T-80 is equipped with the Utyos anti-aircraft machine gun. It is capable of engaging ground and air targets; the combat kit is 300 rounds.

The crew arsenal includes an AKMS assault rifle, grenades and a signal pistol. The fire control system has a positive effect on combat effectiveness.

Evaluation of the T-80

Opinions are contradictory. If we consider disadvantages, we should mention high fuel consumption, high cost, far from perfect mechanism of shell loading. Quite often the vehicle flies into the air due to detonation of ammunition from an RPG shot.

Riflemen remain dissatisfied with insignificant angles of elevation and declination of the gun. The designer L. Kartsev stated that the general designer of the Kirov plant N. Popov was able to convince the government to adopt a far from the best machine.

There are also positive assessments: the director of Spetsmash LLC noted the machine's operational readiness in severe frost. Thanks to the GTE power turbine, the tank's internal combustion engine will not stall even if it comes into contact with a rocky mountain. The vehicle has excellent cross-country capability and smooth running.

Compare the T-80BVM and the Leopard-2

The former Syrian Defense Minister spoke well of this vehicle. M. Tlas stated that the T-80 is superior to the German Leopard-2. The latter has been in service for more than 20 years, while the Russian machine has been in service for only 4 years. The German tank is taller, longer and wider, it is heavier by almost 17 tons! The Russian design has only three tankers, the German one has four.

In terms of armor protection they are roughly equivalent and are equipped with dynamic protection. The caliber of the T-80's cannon is 5 mm larger (125 vs. 120). The arsenal of the smoothbore cannon of the updated Russian vehicle has 3 more shells (45 vs. 42). The T-80 has a more practical gas turbine internal combustion engine, while the Leopard has a diesel engine. By the end of 2023, there will probably be real footage of direct combat between these vehicles.

Operators

There are approximately 200 T-80s in service with the Russian Army. These are the "U", "BVM" and "BV" modifications. Nothing is known about the stockpiles. Quite a lot of vehicles are in the tank forces of the AFU (Ukraine). According to modest estimates, there are about 170 units in service, nothing is known about the number of vehicles transferred by allies.

Six years ago, Cyprus had 82 T-80Us in service. 40 T-80U units are in the arsenal of the Republic of Korea.

The tank is no longer in service in Angola, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Belarus. About 315 vehicles are in the Pakistan Army. 

In 1992, several units were acquired by England in a roundabout way. Four tanks were transferred to the USA by Ukraine - the equipment was needed for technical research.

Participation in military conflicts

The work of the tank could be observed for the last 30 years. In October 1993, six units of the T-80UD fired on the building of the Russian Armed Forces. A year later, the vehicle became an active participant in the First Chechen War - dozens of vehicles were destroyed with a conventional RPG-18.

Combat operations showed both the advantages and disadvantages of the T-80. The participation of this tank in the Second Chechen War is controversial. In winter 2015, a modification of the T-80BV was seen during the war in Yemen.

The maximum use of most modifications of the T-80 is described during the SWO. These tanks are available on both sides of the conflict, there are hundreds of destroyed units, many vehicles were simply abandoned on the battlefield. Detonation, turret detonation, mortar hit - there are a lot of such cases.

Tank in culture

The abundance of produced models allows you to use the fighting machine in the movie. In 1997 A. Nevzorov's movie "Purgatory" was released, showing the events during the storming of the city of Grozny in Chechnya. The Chechen field commander, played by Russian actor Dmitry Nagiyev, offers tank driver Grigorashchenko to switch to his side.

Connoisseurs noticed that the filmmakers used two T-80s, but concealed it with a single license plate. This model appears in documentary films. As an example, we can call "Strike Force. Bite of the cobra." About this machine tells the TV channel "History". T-80 is seen in a games:

• Armored Warfare: Project Armata. Almost all modifications of T-80 are present in the entertainment.
• War Thunder. The player can choose a lot of modifications and adapt the toy to the winter quest.
• Call to Arms. Models T-80UD and T-80BV are present in the arsenal of the army of the Russian Federation, with their help fight and terrorists.

The tank can be seen in military parks and at exhibitions in Russia and CIS countries. Tver, Togliatti, St. Petersburg, Cherepovets - in these and other cities you can be photographed against the backdrop of the T-80.