T-72A

This page is about the Soviet medium tank T-72A. For other versions, see T-72 (Family).

T-72A

T-62M-1

T-72B

T-72A

T-62M-1

T-72B

USSR

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.3	9.3	9.3

Class:

Medium tank

Research:220 000

Purchase:620 000

Show in game

Description

The T-72A is a rank VI Soviet medium tank with a battle rating of 9.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic".

General info

Survivability and armour

Composite armour

Balanced protection against all types of ammunition

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

ESS

Creation of a smoke screen in the direction of movement of the vehicle

Self-entrenching equipment

Creation of ramparts and trenches in soft ground

Armourfront / side / back

Hull110 / 80 / 40

Turret125 / 102 / 65

Crew3 people

Visibility75 %

• Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)
• Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	60 mm (68°) 16 mm add-on steel plate (68°)	80 mm Top 20 mm Bottom	40 mm	30 mm frontal roof 20 mm engine deck roof
Turret	280 - 200 mm Turret front (variable angles) 150 - 400 mm Gun mantlet (variable angles)	240 - 130 mm	75 mm	45 mm
Cupola	100 mm (variable angles)	100 mm (varible angles)	100 mm (variable angles)	45 mm

The T-72A's hull armour is practically the same as the T-64A's; textolite middle sandwiched between two RHA plates. The difference is that the T-72As upper glacis is angled at one degree further back than that of the T-64A and the use of Quartz core instead of Hard Hardness Rolled Armor (HHR) in the turret. Like the T-64 and T-80 line, the T-72A has a carousel-type autoloader centred under the turret. This means that a penetrating hit to the centre of the tank has a high chance of leading to an ammunition detonation and subsequent launch of the turret. This is however slightly less likely to happen with the T-72As type of autoloader, where the charges are stored horizontally (as "=") in comparison to the T-64/-80 type, where the charge sits vertically and is easier to hit.

Spare ammunition not inside the 22 round carousel is however spread more randomly around the fighting compartment. Therefore, bringing only 23 rounds (for 1 in the gun and 22 in the carousel) limits the chance of the spare ammo detonating in the case of i.e. a turret hit. There are two diesel tank ammo racks within the tank - one to the right of the driver and one between the engine and fighting compartment (with some loose ammo above it). It doesn't take much to realize that like most Soviet MBTs, the T-72A is rather explosive if extra ammo is taken, so great care is needed when showing the hull. The driver should also be aware of having only 3 crew members; if one is knocked out they should be sure to return to an objective point as soon as possible to get a new one.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB67 / 5 km/h

RB and SB60 / 5 km/h

Number of gears7 forward

1 back

Weight41.0 t

Engine power

AB1 488 hp

RB and SB780 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB36.3 hp/t

RB and SB19.0 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)		Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse	Stock	AoA	Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	67	5	40.2	0.8	1209	1,488	30.07	36.29
Realistic	60	5			690	780	17.16	19.02

The T-72A is a slow and sluggish tank which has poor acceleration and handling. It has really poor reverse speed as well as hull traverse. However, it has a powerful engine which makes it capable of pulling and pushing enemy tanks as well as move through rough terrain with ease. It does not have enough horsepower to climb over steep elevations. Speed wise, it has a decent top speed (~60-70km/h) which under specific situations it is able to be reached.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 771 → 6 263

RB3 734 → 6 202

SB4 844 → 8 045

Total cost of modifications186 300

307 000

Talisman cost2 700

Crew training175 000

Experts620 000

Aces2 100

Research Aces1 010 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

160 / 200 / 240 %

226 / 226 / 226 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 Suspension Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 350 Brake System Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 350 Filters Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Transmission Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440 Engine Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440	Improved Parts Research: 2 300 Cost: 12 000 310 Dozer Blade Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 Improved FPE Research: 2 600 Cost: 14 000 350 Crew Replenishment Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Smoke grenade Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 ESS Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440 T-72A (1983) Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440	Horizontal Drive Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 125mm_ussr_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 310 Adjustment of Fire Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 350 125mm_ussr_3BM12_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 350 Elevation Mechanism Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Laser rangefinder Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Artillery Support Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440 125mm_ussr_3BM15_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 440

Armaments

Laser rangefinder

Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder

Main armament

125 mm 2A46 cannon

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Autoloader

Automatically feeds projectiles into the breech. The speed does not depend on the skills of the loader

Ammunition44 rounds

First-order22 rounds

Reload7.1 s

Vertical guidance-6° / 13°

The T-72A has the powerful 2A46M 125mm smoothbore cannon. It has a powerful selection of rounds, each with different uses and similarities between same types.

125 mm 2A46M					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	44	-6°/+13°	±180°	Two-plane	19.0	26.3	32.0	35.4	37.6	7.10	7.10	7.10	7.10
Realistic					11.9	14.0	17.0	18.8	20.0

Ammunition

• 3BK12M: this is the starting ammunition which can be seen as poor when in frontal engagements against modern MBT's. However, the decent explosive filler as well as not loosing penetration over distances makes it a decent round for sniping. However, the speed in said round is not fast and will be hard to aim at long distances. It is able to hullbreak light armored vehicles such as SPAA
• 3BM9: this is a tier I steel core APFSDS which has the highest muzzle velocity over all the APFSDS seen. However, the weight as well as penetration make it unreliable when facing top tier MBT's frontally.
• 3BM15: this is a tier 2 tungsten core APFSDS which has slightly less muzzle velocity compared to the 3BM9. However, this is the highest pen shot seen in the T-72A with increased weight over the 3BM9.
• 3BM22: this is a tier 4 APFSDS which has same ballistic performance as the 3BM15. However, penetration is reduced for a greater weight.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
3BK12M	HEATFS	440	440	440	440	440	440
3OF26	HE	42	42	42	42	42	42
3BM9	APFSDS	321	317	303	285	268	249
3BM15	APFSDS	440	430	420	410	405	400
3BM22	APFSDS	425	420	415	405	393	380

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
3BK12M	HEATFS	905	19	0.05	0.1	2,530	65°	72°	77°
3OF26	HE	850	23	0	0.1	5,240	79°	80°	81°
3BM9	APFSDS	1,800	3.6	N/A	N/A	N/A	72°	76°	78°
3BM15	APFSDS	1,780	3.88	N/A	N/A	N/A	76°	77°	80°
3BM22	APFSDS	1,760	4.83	N/A	N/A	N/A	76°	77°	80°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the T-72A

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
44	41 (+3)	39 (+5)	22(+22)	0 (+44)	No

Note:

• The T-72A uses two-piece ammunition, composed of propellant bags (orange) and projectiles (yellow). Both have separate racks.

Machine guns

12.7 mm NSVT machine gun

Ammunition300 rounds

Belt capacity60 rounds

Reload5.0 s

Fire rate700 shots/min

Vertical guidance-4° / 75°

7.62 mm PKT machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition2 000 rounds

Belt capacity250 rounds

Reload8.0 s

Fire rate700 shots/min

12.7 mm NSVT
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Pintle	300 (150)	700	-4°/+75°	±180°

7.62 mm PKT
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	2,000 (250)	700	N/A	N/A

Usage in battles

The T-72A play-style is near identical to the T-64A (and with that, Soviet MBTs from here on). One of the key differences between the two vehicles is the T-72A's stronger armour. The quartz core composed turret will also bounce many shots and can even eat up some of the strongest ATGMs. In terms of armament, the T-72A boasts the very powerful and accurate 2A46M that Soviet high-rank tankers will quickly become familiar and fall in love with. Make sure to research the 3BM15 sabot rounds as soon as you can (after Parts and FPE of course), as the stock round has mediocre penetration for a sabot.

List of enemies notes (all of the tanks at the battle-rating with access to APFSDS will be able to penetrate your hull frontally):

• XM-1/XM-1: despite having thin composite armor, the 3BK12M is not recommended to be used with them
• Leopard A1A1: killable by all anti-tank munitions.
• AMX-30B2/AMX-30B2 BRENUS: killable by all anti-tank munition. DM23/33 have enough armor penetration to penetrate T-72 frontal plates
• Leopard 2K: killable by all anti-tank munition with exception of turret manlet when using 3BK12M
• AMX-32:killable by all anti-tank munition
• AMX-40: killable by all anti-tank munition with exception of turret manlet and lower frontal plate when using 3BK12M
• Strv 103: killable by all anti-tank munition. Depending on the hull angling, HEAT-FS might ricochet. APFSDS is recommended to be used when facing it always

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Mounts the same powerful 125 mm 2A46 gun as on the T-64 and T-80 (though an earlier version)
• Low profile, small target compared to other countries' main battle tanks
• Early unlocked laser rangefinder makes sniping long distances easier
• Has both smoke grenade launchers and ESS
• Due to thick frontal armour and correct angling, able to deflect most rounds from counterpart tanks of other countries
• Very accurate gun due to the high muzzle velocity of the APFSDS rounds, very effective long-range sniper
• Autoloader continues working even if fighting a fire or replacing a crew member, ready to use upon the fire being extinguished or the gunner having been replaced

Cons:

• Ammo carousel means your first stage rounds all are centred below the turret; can be easily detonated through a hit to the hull
• Very slow reverse speed and traverse speed, a problem in situations where you cannot back away from an attacking enemy
• 3-man crew makes tank able to be knocked out easier; once one crewmember is knocked out, you have to be very careful not to get hit again
• Gun depression inadequate for most hull-down situations, e.g. sniping from a hill or down a valley
• Driver's port is still a weakness
• Poor top speed
• Inferior optics with only one 8x zoom level
• 1st APFSDS modification is inferior to most contemporary rounds and 3BM22 is a Rank IV modification
• Its 2A46 125 mm gun is an early type; the stock ammunition is lacklustre and it cannot fire ATGMs like the T-64B, T-80B, and T-80U
• Glacis armour is not reliable until the addon armour plate is unlocked (a tier IV modification)

History

Development of the T-72 began shortly after the production of the T-64 highlighted several problems which negatively impacted production rates. Among these problems was an unreliable engine, which couldn't be produced at the high rates needed for a smooth production of the T-64 to take place.

In response, the Uralvagonzavod plant began working on a modified version of the T-64, which would use a more reliable and readily available engine, in order to provide the army with a tank fit for mass-production. Apart from this, changes were also made to the armor layout, in order to simplify production and decrease costs. This work resulted in the creation of the Object 172.

Development of the Object 172 continued, and after some trials, the vehicle entered service with the Soviet Army in August 1973, receiving its official designation T-72. Shortly afterwards, the vehicle was permitted for mass production, following the issuing of an official decree in 1974.

The T-72 was also heavily exported to and produced by nations of the Warsaw Pact as well as other countries worldwide, although these vehicles received certain downgrades compared to native Soviet models. Despite this, the T-72 quickly became one of the most widely used tanks in the world, participating in more conflicts than a single devblog could ever cover.

Since production began in 1974, over 20,000 T-72 tanks were built across several modifications in the Soviet Union/Russia alone, with production of more modern variants still ongoing today, even in other countries as well.

- From Devblog

The T-72 series tank was developed as a direct prototype of the T-64 mechanical issues correction. In 1962, while working on the corrections of production problems, specially engine and firepower, a new prototype was developed with the 2A46M 125mm smoothbore gun and the V-45K diesel engine. This prototype was renamed to Object 172. While being in an unclear political process, decree number 326-113 was issued, freeing Uralvagonzavod from the production of the T-64A. The first batch was produced and set under the name of "Object 172M". It was tested again in 1972 and accepted to service under the name of T-72. License production was sold to multiple countries as well as unit batches to Warsaw pact nations and exported to other countries such as India, Syria, Finland, Iraq and Yugoslavia. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, some of the independent countries kept the tanks such as Ukraine.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the T-72A from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #88 - Pages of History section at 05:01 discusses the T-72.

The Shooting Range #132 - Metal Beasts section at 00:35 discusses the T-72A.

M1 Abrams vs T-72A vs T-80B - War Thunder Official Channel

High-explosive power discusses the T-72A at 1:50 - War Thunder Official Channel

Tank Chats #110 discusses the T-72A and its' development alongside the T-64 as well as it's usage. "The Tank Museum"

See also

• T-72B - A later modification of the T-72
• XM-803, MBT/KPz-70 - American and German main battle tanks at a similar BR.
• M48 Super - An equivalent German MBT.
• M60A3 TTS - An American MBT at a similar BR.
• AMX-32 - An equivalent French MBT.
• Chieftain Mk 10, Challenger Mk.2/3, Vickers Mk.7 - British MBTs with a similar BR.

External links

• [Devblog] T-72A: The Globetrotter