Difference between revisions of "T-80U"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
The '''T-80U''' is a Rank VI Soviet medium tank with a battle rating of 10.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in [[Update 1.87 "Locked On"]].
+
<!--''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.''-->
 +
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 +
{{break}}
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.87 "Locked On"]].
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat?''
+
<!--Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat?
  
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.-->
 +
 
 +
The armour protection of the {{PAGENAME}} is exceptional, especially if the incoming round hits one of the Kontakt-5 ERA plates. The strongest parts of the tank are the turret front and a majority of the upper front plate. It does however have some weaker areas, the most important being the driver's hatch, the immediate areas of the turret surrounding the gun and its breech, and its lower frontal plate. These weak spots are however pretty small targets at range, and thus by hiding them properly, the risk of being hit can be minimized. Owing to its very low profile, a hull-down T-80U is a small target in itself; the weaker parts of its armour are even smaller. 
 +
 
 +
Fuel tanks on either side of the driver can soak up some shrapnel and add to the overall survivability. However, as with all Russian auto-loaded MBTs, there are only three crew members so a well-placed shot is capable of causing a crew knock-out. It's also worth noting that the placement of the ammo rack, below the turret in a carousel-style setup, leaves the T-80U particularly vulnerable to side shots causing ammunition detonation. The protection of the T-80U is very similar to the T-64B in terms of the size and placement of the weak areas. The sides of your tank should always be protected, and when engaging an enemy, your front armour should always be aligned directly towards him to reduce the risks of a shot penetrating your weaker side. The tank does however have some Kontakt-5 ERA on its upper front skirts, meaning that you have some extra protection against kinetic penetrators, and a lot against chemical shells, until the ERA bricks are detonated (leaving the area vulnerable for another hit).
 +
 
 +
Like mentioned above, the T-80U also benefits from the typical low silhouette Russian tankers will be accustomed to, with the vehicle being significantly smaller than its competitors. This allows the T-80U to be hidden behind small terrain deformities which other MBTs would otherwise be visible. It's also harder for an enemy tank commander to immediately tell which area is the most vulnerable.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forward and backward.''
+
<!--''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forward and backwards.''-->
 +
The mobility of the {{PAGENAME}} is actually much better than that of the [[T-80B]], despite the U model weighing three tons more. This is thanks to the improved engine mounted in the{{PAGENAME}} which has a stock engine power of 1,106 hp, going up to 1,250 hp once the appropriate modules have been researched. It has a maximum speed of 69 km/h (43 mph) forward and 9.7 km/h (6 mph) in reverse.  The one downside is the traverse in neutral, taking around 19 seconds for a full 360° spin, but this can be greatly reduced if the tank is already in at least in 3rd gear.
 +
 
 +
As with most Russian MBTs, the reverse speed (9.7 km/h (6 mph)) does leave the tank vulnerable in situations where a fast retreat would be preferable. The commander should always be aware of his immediate surroundings and have a plan to get out of the area in case of an debilitating hit.
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
=== Main armament ===
 +
<!--''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''-->
 +
{{main|2A46M-1 (125 mm)}}
  
=== Main armament[edit | edit source] ===
+
The T-80U is armed with the same 125 mm cannon found in the [[T-80B]], with its 3BM42 "Mango" round proving competitive against other Rank VII offerings. As with previous vehicles of the family, the main gun is auto-loaded, so the loss of a crew member does not affect the loading times and the 6.5-second loading speed is competitive when compared to the 120 mm guns on the Leopard 2A5 and M1A1 Abrams. One notable perk of the auto-loader mechanism is that the gun will be reloaded even if the gunner is knocked out, if you're fighting a fire, or repairing. It does however also come with the drawbacks of a reload time that cannot be improved, the large ammo carousel concentric with the turret, and the chance of a single penetrating shot detonating the ammo racks.
  
: ''Main article'''''''[[2A46M-1 (125 mm)]]'''''
+
As with the T-80B and T-64B, the T-80U can launch 9M119 missiles out of its gun. These can prove useful for shooting over hills to hit a hiding enemy, or to engage helicopters or low-flying aircraft.
 +
[[File:T-80U No.864 in Vietnam.jpg|500px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' No.864 engaged in combat in Vietnam]]
  
{| class="wikitable"
+
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="6" |[[2A46M-1 (125 mm)|125 mm 2A46M-1]]
+
|-
 +
! colspan="6" | [[2A46M-1 (125 mm)|125 mm 2A46M-1]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
 +
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance
 +
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" |Capacity
+
| colspan="3" |36|| -5°/+15°||±180°||Two-plane
! rowspan="1" |Vertical 
 
guidance
 
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal
 
guidance
 
! rowspan="1" |Stabilizer
 
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="3" |36
+
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
| -5°/+15°
 
|±180°
 
|Two-plane
 
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="6" |Turret rotation speed (°/s)
+
! style="width:4em" |Mode
 +
! style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
|-
!Mode
+
|''Arcade''||27.4 ||37.8|| __.__ ||__.__ || __.__
!Stock
 
!Upgraded
 
!Prior + Full crew
 
!Prior + Expert qualif.
 
!Prior + Ace qualif.
 
 
|-
 
|-
|''Arcade''
+
|''Realistic''|| 14.3 |17.1||20.2|| __.__ || __.__ || __.__  
|22.8
 
|__.__
 
|__.__
 
|__.__
 
|__.__
 
 
|-
 
|-
|''Realistic''
+
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|14.3
 
|__.__
 
|__.__
 
|__.__
 
|__.__
 
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" |Reloading rate (seconds)
+
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 +
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="1" |Stock
+
|6.5||6.5||6.5||6.5
! colspan="1" |Prior + Full crew
 
! colspan="1" |Prior + Expert qualif.
 
! colspan="1" |Prior + Ace qualif.
 
 
|-
 
|-
|6.5
 
|6.5
 
|6.5
 
|6.5
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
===== Ammunition[edit | edit source] =====
+
===== Ammunition =====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
+
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
! colspan="8" |Penetration statistics
 
! colspan="8" |Penetration statistics
 
|-
 
|-
Line 86: Line 86:
 
!2000m
 
!2000m
 
|-
 
|-
|3BM22
+
|3BM22||APFSDS||425||420||415||405||392||380
|APFSDS
+
|-
|425
+
|3BM42||APFSDS||479||477||470||462||453||445
|420
 
|415
 
|405
 
|392
 
|380
 
 
|-
 
|-
|3BM42
+
|3BK18M||HEATFS||550||550||550||550||550||550
|APFSDS
 
|479
 
|477
 
|470
 
|462
 
|453
 
|445
 
 
|-
 
|-
|3BK18M
+
|3OF26||HE||47||47||47||47||47||47
|HEATFS
 
|550
 
|550
 
|550
 
|550
 
|550
 
|550
 
 
|-
 
|-
|3OF26
+
|9M119||ATGM||650||650||650||650||650||650
|HE
 
|47
 
|47
 
|47
 
|47
 
|47
 
|47
 
 
|-
 
|-
|9M119
 
|ATGM
 
|650
 
|650
 
|650
 
|650
 
|650
 
|650
 
 
|}
 
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
+
 
 +
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
! colspan="11" |Shell details
 
! colspan="11" |Shell details
 
|-
 
|-
 
! rowspan="2" |Ammunition
 
! rowspan="2" |Ammunition
! rowspan="2" |Type of 
+
! rowspan="2" |Type of <br>warhead
warhead
+
! rowspan="2" |Velocity<br>in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Velocity
+
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br>Mass in kg
in m/s
+
! rowspan="2" |''Fuse delay''<br>''in m:''
! rowspan="2" |Projectile
+
! rowspan="2" |''Fuse sensitivity''<br>''in mm:''
Mass in kg
 
! rowspan="2" |''Fuse delay''
 
''in m:''
 
! rowspan="2" |''Fuse sensitivity''
 
''in mm:''
 
 
! rowspan="2" |''Explosive Mass in g(TNT equivalent):''
 
! rowspan="2" |''Explosive Mass in g(TNT equivalent):''
 
! rowspan="2" |''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
 
! rowspan="2" |''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
Line 153: Line 115:
 
!100%
 
!100%
 
|-
 
|-
|3BM22
+
|3BM22||APFSDS||1,760||4.83||N/A||N/A||N/A|||76°||77°||78°
|APFSDS
 
|1,760
 
|4.83
 
|N/A
 
|N/A
 
|N/A
 
 
|76°
 
|77°
 
|78°
 
 
|-
 
|-
|3BM42
+
|3BM42||APFSDS||1,700||4.85||N/A||N/A||N/A|||78°||80°||81°
|APFSDS
 
|1,700
 
|4.85
 
|N/A
 
|N/A
 
|N/A
 
 
|78°
 
|80°
 
|81°
 
 
|-
 
|-
|3BK18M
+
|3BK18M||HEATFS||905||19||0.0||0.1||2,790|||65°||72°||75°
|HEATFS
 
|905
 
|19
 
|0.0
 
|0.1
 
|2,790
 
 
|65°
 
|72°
 
|75°
 
 
|-
 
|-
|3OF26
+
|3OF26||HE||850||23||0.1||0.5||5,780||+0°||79°||80°||81°
|HE
 
|850
 
|23
 
|0.1
 
|0.5
 
|5,780
 
| +0°
 
|79°
 
|80°
 
|81°
 
 
|-
 
|-
|9M112
+
|9M112||ATGM||400||27.5||0.0||0.01||3,600||+0°||80°||82°||90°
|ATGM
 
|400
 
|27.5
 
|0.0
 
|0.01
 
|3,600
 
| +0°
 
|80°
 
|82°
 
|90°
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
===== [[Ammo racks]][edit | edit source] =====
+
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
+
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Full
+
|-
ammo
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo
!1st
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br />  rack empty
rack empty
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br />  rack empty
!2nd
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br />  rack empty
rack empty
+
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy
!3rd
+
|-
rack empty
+
|| '''45''' || 28&nbsp;''(+1)'' ||6||10|| style="text-align:center" | No
!Visual
 
discrepancy
 
 
|-
 
|-
|'''45'''
 
|__
 
|__
 
|__
 
|no
 
 
|}
 
|}
Only First Stage:28-20
 
  
=== Machine guns[edit | edit source] ===
+
Only First Stage: 28-20
 +
 
 +
==== Optics and night vision ====
  
: ''Main articles'': '''''[[NSVT (12.7 mm)]]''''', '''''[[PKT (7.62 mm)]]'''''
+
The T-80U has two night vision modifications. The first modification "NVD" is unlocked at tier 3 and grants access to an image intensifier for each crew member. The second modification "NVD Upgrade" is unlocked at tier 4 and replaces the gunner's image intensifier with a thermal imager.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
! colspan="7" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="3" |Type of optic
 +
! rowspan="3" |Magnification
 +
! colspan="5" |[[Night Vision Devices]]
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" |Image Intensifier
 +
! rowspan="2" |{{Annotation|Thermal Imager<br>Resolution|The higher the resolution the clearer and more detailed the image is}}
 +
! rowspan="2" |Notes
 +
|-
 +
! {{Annotation|Resolution|The higher the resolution the clearer and more detailed the image is}}
 +
! {{Annotation|Light Mult|By how much the image intensifier amplifies the existing light, primarily useful for comparing image intensifiers}}
 +
! {{Annotation|Noise Level|How much noise is present in the image (how grainy the image is)}}
 +
|-
 +
! Gunner's Sight
 +
| X2.7 - X12 || 1600 x 1200 || 9.0 || High || 500 x 300 || Thermal imager unlocked by "NVD Upgrade" mod (tier 4), replaces image intensifier.
 +
|-
 +
! Commander's View
 +
| X6 || 1600 x 1200 || 9.0 || High || Not Fitted || Image intensifier unlocked by "NVD" mod (tier 3)
 +
|-
 +
! Driver's View
 +
| X1 || 1600 x 1200 || 5.0 || High || Not Fitted || Image intensifier unlocked by "NVD" mod (tier 3)
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Night_Vision_Devices#Infrared_Spotlights|IR Searchlight]]
 +
|-
 +
! Max Range
 +
! Beam Width
 +
! Location / Notes
 +
|-
 +
| 1,400 m || 8.2° || Searchlight mounted on turret front, just right of the gun. Light moves up and down with main gun.
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
=== Machine guns ===
 +
<!--''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft, but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''-->
 +
{{main|NSVT (12.7 mm)|PKT (7.62 mm)}}
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
Line 245: Line 192:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" |Fire rate 
+
! rowspan="1" |Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
(shots/minute)
+
! rowspan="1" |Vertical <br> guidance
! rowspan="1" |Vertical 
+
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal <br> guidance
guidance
 
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal 
 
guidance
 
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="4" |300 (150)
+
| colspan="4" | 300 (150) || 700 || -10°/+60° || ±180°
|700
 
| -10°/+60°
 
|±180°
 
 
|}
 
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
Line 263: Line 204:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
 
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" |Fire rate 
+
! rowspan="1" |Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)
(shots/minute)
+
! rowspan="1" |Vertical <br> guidance
! rowspan="1" |Vertical 
+
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal <br> guidance
guidance
 
! rowspan="1" |Horizontal 
 
guidance
 
 
|-
 
|-
| colspan="4" |1,250 (250)
+
| colspan="4" |1,250 (250) || 700 || N/A || N/A
|700
+
|}
|N/A
+
 
|N/A
+
== Usage in battles ==
|}
+
<!--Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).-->
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
 
 +
Learning to use terrain to hide the lower front plate and hull if possible is key to surviving. Like any other tank at the top rank, do not let enemies see your side armour. This is especially true for the T-64/T-80 line since their ammo is stored vertically and makes it very easy to hit. Since the Russian MBTs are relatively small, you can also use teammates as cover.
 +
 
 +
The {{PAGENAME}} is a fantastic sniper due to the great penetration and small turret, so that is also a viable option as long as you keep your eyes open on your flanks. The most dangerous enemy to the {{PAGENAME}} are helicopters, although the Kontakt-5 will usually protect against one missile. However, it is still ERA, and will be blown off after it is detonated. Since the interior of the tank is so compact, this makes it easy for good pilots to knock you out in 2-3 rapid missile shots. To avoid helicopters, stay close to buildings or hide next to trees/large bushes and wait for an anti-air vehicle or plane to take it out. Another option is to use the ATGM or range finder to shoot down the enemy yourself.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they can be substituted with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
+
<!--Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".-->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
*
+
* Effective armour, especially against chemical munitions. The Kontakt-5 ERA mounted to the tank's frontal arc and its turret means that even helicopter-launched ATGMs may fail to penetrate.
 +
* Good stock ammunition, very good 3BM42 unlockable. Has access to 3OF26 HE-Frag-FS ammunition which does short work of enemy MBTs if the shell detonates above the turret roof or frontal deck.
 +
* Nimble tank for its size and tonnage - a fully upgraded T-80U is much more responsive than the T-80B. It still isn't as quick as a Leopard, however, and its reverse speed is punishing along with the lack of neutral steering.
 +
* Low silhouette - if you can find a sufficiently flat area behind a hilltop or a wide enough ditch, a hull-down T-80U is hard to spot and harder to hit.
 +
* Its autoloader, as with the other tanks in the T-64, -72 and -80 lines, ensures that ammunition will be loaded even when replacing crew, repairing, or extinguishing a fire!
 +
* Accurate gun, and its muzzle velocity combined with the laser rangefinder permits easy long-range shots with little lead required to hit moving targets.
 +
* Gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles can be used as multipurpose munitions for tanks and helicopters alike.
 +
* Great turret protection
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
*
+
* Rather easy to hit weak spots at closer ranges - some of them possibly leading to a one hit knockout.
 +
* Poor survivability from side shots due to the massive ammunition carousel mounted in the centre of the hull.
 +
* Relatively low reverse speed, hard to retreat from a threatening situation.
 +
* The cramped interior, with the crew placed tightly together, means that the tank is easily disabled if a shot penetrates.
 +
* ...and the spare ammunition not carried in the autoloader is distributed around the hull and turret - meaning a penetrating shot might ignite a round carried as a spare, setting off the carousel.
 +
* Poor gun depression of -5° due to the low turret height. This makes it difficult to shoot over hills and other obstacles, especially on maps with rough terrain.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's devblog entry (if applicable) and the ingame encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''-->
 
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's devblog entry (if applicable) and the ingame encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''-->
Work on improving the existing T-80 MBT begun as early as the mid 1970s, with the design bureau in Leningrad, which was responsible for the production of the T-80, starting work on a joint project to further enhance the T-80’s capabilities.
+
Work on improving the existing T-80 MBT begun as early as the mid-1970s with the design bureau in Leningrad. Here, developers were responsible for the production of the T-80 and started working on a joint project to further enhance the T-80’s capabilities.
  
In the early 1980s, the first prototypes were being built, and after extensive testing and design tweaking, the new tank was considered ready for production and was accepted by the Soviet military under the designation T-80U.
+
In the early 1980s, the first prototypes were being built and after extensive testing and design tweaking, the new tank was considered ready for production. The resultant tank was accepted by the Soviet military under the designation T-80U.
  
The T-80U received turret and upper frontal enhancements as part of its new construction, and was equipped with a second generation ERA protection system known as Kontakt-5. In contrast to the previous generation of dynamic protection, Kontakt-5 increased the tank's protection against HEAT and armour-piercing shells. The modifications also affected the armament of the tank - the T-80U is equipped with a new 1A45 fire control system and Reflex ICBM, which used more advanced 9M119 guided missiles. Subsequently, the tank was equipped with a new, more powerful GTD-1250 gas turbine engine which helped compensate for the increased weight of the vehicle and improved its dynamics.
+
The T-80U received turret and upper frontal enhancements as part of its new construction along with being equipped with a second generation ERA protection system known as Kontakt-5. In contrast to the previous generation of dynamic protection, Kontakt-5 increased the tank's protection against HEAT ''and'' armour-piercing shells. The modifications also affected the armament of the tank - the T-80U is equipped with a new 1A45 fire control system and Reflex ICBM, which used more advanced 9M119 guided missiles. Subsequently, the tank was equipped with a new, more powerful GTD-1250 gas turbine engine which helped compensate for the increased weight of the vehicle and improved its dynamics.
  
 
The T-80U had been factory produced in Leningrad in 1987, but in 1989, its production was moved to Omsk. Work on upgrading the T-80 was carried out in Kharkov, but there, they constructed their own vehicle equipped with a diesel engine, which was designated ‘T-80UD’. The latter would evolve into further developed Ukrainian derivatives of the T-80.   
 
The T-80U had been factory produced in Leningrad in 1987, but in 1989, its production was moved to Omsk. Work on upgrading the T-80 was carried out in Kharkov, but there, they constructed their own vehicle equipped with a diesel engine, which was designated ‘T-80UD’. The latter would evolve into further developed Ukrainian derivatives of the T-80.   
  
T-80Us served with the Soviet military until the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, and have since continued serving with the Union’s successor states to this day. The vehicle also saw service abroad with some other countries as well, primarily with South Korea and Cyprus. Overall, around 700 T-80Us have been produced since 1985, but the vehicle never saw any combat action.
+
T-80Us served with the Soviet military until the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and have since continued serving with the Union’s successor states to this day. The vehicle also saw service abroad with some other countries as well, primarily with South Korea and Cyprus. Overall, around 700 T-80Us have been produced since 1985, but this vehicle has yet to be put into any actual combat situations.
  
''- From [https://warthunder.com/en/news/6051-development-t-80u-making-contact-en Devblog]''
+
''- From [[wt:en/news/6051-development-t-80u-making-contact-en|Devblog]]''
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
<!--''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''-->
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
Line 317: Line 270:
 
* ''other literature.''-->
 
* ''other literature.''-->
  
* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/6051-development-t-80u-making-contact-en [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> T-80U: Making Contact]
+
* [[wt:en/news/6051-development-t-80u-making-contact-en|[Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> T-80U: Making Contact]]
  
 
{{USSR medium tanks}}
 
{{USSR medium tanks}}

Revision as of 21:34, 11 November 2019

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
T-80U
ussr_t_80u.png
T-80U
AB RB SB
11.3 11.3 11.3
Class:
Research:350 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:950 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage T-80U.jpg


The T-80U is a rank VII Soviet medium tank with a battle rating of 11.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.87 "Locked On".

General info

Survivability and armour

The armour protection of the T-80U is exceptional, especially if the incoming round hits one of the Kontakt-5 ERA plates. The strongest parts of the tank are the turret front and a majority of the upper front plate. It does however have some weaker areas, the most important being the driver's hatch, the immediate areas of the turret surrounding the gun and its breech, and its lower frontal plate. These weak spots are however pretty small targets at range, and thus by hiding them properly, the risk of being hit can be minimized. Owing to its very low profile, a hull-down T-80U is a small target in itself; the weaker parts of its armour are even smaller.

Fuel tanks on either side of the driver can soak up some shrapnel and add to the overall survivability. However, as with all Russian auto-loaded MBTs, there are only three crew members so a well-placed shot is capable of causing a crew knock-out. It's also worth noting that the placement of the ammo rack, below the turret in a carousel-style setup, leaves the T-80U particularly vulnerable to side shots causing ammunition detonation. The protection of the T-80U is very similar to the T-64B in terms of the size and placement of the weak areas. The sides of your tank should always be protected, and when engaging an enemy, your front armour should always be aligned directly towards him to reduce the risks of a shot penetrating your weaker side. The tank does however have some Kontakt-5 ERA on its upper front skirts, meaning that you have some extra protection against kinetic penetrators, and a lot against chemical shells, until the ERA bricks are detonated (leaving the area vulnerable for another hit).

Like mentioned above, the T-80U also benefits from the typical low silhouette Russian tankers will be accustomed to, with the vehicle being significantly smaller than its competitors. This allows the T-80U to be hidden behind small terrain deformities which other MBTs would otherwise be visible. It's also harder for an enemy tank commander to immediately tell which area is the most vulnerable.

Mobility

The mobility of the T-80U is actually much better than that of the T-80B, despite the U model weighing three tons more. This is thanks to the improved engine mounted in theT-80U which has a stock engine power of 1,106 hp, going up to 1,250 hp once the appropriate modules have been researched. It has a maximum speed of 69 km/h (43 mph) forward and 9.7 km/h (6 mph) in reverse. The one downside is the traverse in neutral, taking around 19 seconds for a full 360° spin, but this can be greatly reduced if the tank is already in at least in 3rd gear.

As with most Russian MBTs, the reverse speed (9.7 km/h (6 mph)) does leave the tank vulnerable in situations where a fast retreat would be preferable. The commander should always be aware of his immediate surroundings and have a plan to get out of the area in case of an debilitating hit.

Armaments

Main armament

Main article: 2A46M-1 (125 mm)

The T-80U is armed with the same 125 mm cannon found in the T-80B, with its 3BM42 "Mango" round proving competitive against other Rank VII offerings. As with previous vehicles of the family, the main gun is auto-loaded, so the loss of a crew member does not affect the loading times and the 6.5-second loading speed is competitive when compared to the 120 mm guns on the Leopard 2A5 and M1A1 Abrams. One notable perk of the auto-loader mechanism is that the gun will be reloaded even if the gunner is knocked out, if you're fighting a fire, or repairing. It does however also come with the drawbacks of a reload time that cannot be improved, the large ammo carousel concentric with the turret, and the chance of a single penetrating shot detonating the ammo racks.

As with the T-80B and T-64B, the T-80U can launch 9M119 missiles out of its gun. These can prove useful for shooting over hills to hit a hiding enemy, or to engage helicopters or low-flying aircraft.

T-80U No.864 engaged in combat in Vietnam
125 mm 2A46M-1
Capacity Vertical
guidance
Horizontal
guidance
Stabilizer
36 -5°/+15° ±180° Two-plane
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode Stock Upgraded Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 27.4 37.8 __.__ __.__ __.__
Realistic 17.1 20.2 __.__ __.__ __.__
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock Prior + Full crew Prior + Expert qualif. Prior + Ace qualif.
6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5
Ammunition
Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of 

warhead

Penetration in mm @ 0° Angle of Attack
10m 100m 500m 1000m 1500m 2000m
3BM22 APFSDS 425 420 415 405 392 380
3BM42 APFSDS 479 477 470 462 453 445
3BK18M HEATFS 550 550 550 550 550 550
3OF26 HE 47 47 47 47 47 47
9M119 ATGM 650 650 650 650 650 650
Shell details
Ammunition Type of 
warhead
Velocity
in m/s
Projectile
Mass in kg
Fuse delay
in m:
Fuse sensitivity
in mm:
Explosive Mass in g(TNT equivalent): Normalization At 30° from horizontal: Ricochet:
0% 50% 100%
3BM22 APFSDS 1,760 4.83 N/A N/A N/A ° 76° 77° 78°
3BM42 APFSDS 1,700 4.85 N/A N/A N/A ° 78° 80° 81°
3BK18M HEATFS 905 19 0.0 0.1 2,790 ° 65° 72° 75°
3OF26 HE 850 23 0.1 0.5 5,780 +0° 79° 80° 81°
9M112 ATGM 400 27.5 0.0 0.01 3,600 +0° 80° 82° 90°
Ammo racks
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
3rd
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
45 28 (+1) 6 10 No

Only First Stage: 28-20

Optics and night vision

The T-80U has two night vision modifications. The first modification "NVD" is unlocked at tier 3 and grants access to an image intensifier for each crew member. The second modification "NVD Upgrade" is unlocked at tier 4 and replaces the gunner's image intensifier with a thermal imager.

T-80U Optics
Type of optic Magnification Night Vision Devices
Image Intensifier Thermal Imager
Resolution
Notes
Resolution Light Mult Noise Level
Gunner's Sight X2.7 - X12 1600 x 1200 9.0 High 500 x 300 Thermal imager unlocked by "NVD Upgrade" mod (tier 4), replaces image intensifier.
Commander's View X6 1600 x 1200 9.0 High Not Fitted Image intensifier unlocked by "NVD" mod (tier 3)
Driver's View X1 1600 x 1200 5.0 High Not Fitted Image intensifier unlocked by "NVD" mod (tier 3)
T-80U IR Searchlight
Max Range Beam Width Location / Notes
1,400 m 8.2° Searchlight mounted on turret front, just right of the gun. Light moves up and down with main gun.

Machine guns

12.7 mm NSVT
Pintle mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate 
(shots/minute)
Vertical 
guidance
Horizontal 
guidance
300 (150) 700 -10°/+60° ±180°
7.62 mm PKT
Coaxial mount
Capacity (Belt capacity) Fire rate 
(shots/minute)
Vertical 
guidance
Horizontal 
guidance
1,250 (250) 700 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

Learning to use terrain to hide the lower front plate and hull if possible is key to surviving. Like any other tank at the top rank, do not let enemies see your side armour. This is especially true for the T-64/T-80 line since their ammo is stored vertically and makes it very easy to hit. Since the Russian MBTs are relatively small, you can also use teammates as cover.

The T-80U is a fantastic sniper due to the great penetration and small turret, so that is also a viable option as long as you keep your eyes open on your flanks. The most dangerous enemy to the T-80U are helicopters, although the Kontakt-5 will usually protect against one missile. However, it is still ERA, and will be blown off after it is detonated. Since the interior of the tank is so compact, this makes it easy for good pilots to knock you out in 2-3 rapid missile shots. To avoid helicopters, stay close to buildings or hide next to trees/large bushes and wait for an anti-air vehicle or plane to take it out. Another option is to use the ATGM or range finder to shoot down the enemy yourself.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Effective armour, especially against chemical munitions. The Kontakt-5 ERA mounted to the tank's frontal arc and its turret means that even helicopter-launched ATGMs may fail to penetrate.
  • Good stock ammunition, very good 3BM42 unlockable. Has access to 3OF26 HE-Frag-FS ammunition which does short work of enemy MBTs if the shell detonates above the turret roof or frontal deck.
  • Nimble tank for its size and tonnage - a fully upgraded T-80U is much more responsive than the T-80B. It still isn't as quick as a Leopard, however, and its reverse speed is punishing along with the lack of neutral steering.
  • Low silhouette - if you can find a sufficiently flat area behind a hilltop or a wide enough ditch, a hull-down T-80U is hard to spot and harder to hit.
  • Its autoloader, as with the other tanks in the T-64, -72 and -80 lines, ensures that ammunition will be loaded even when replacing crew, repairing, or extinguishing a fire!
  • Accurate gun, and its muzzle velocity combined with the laser rangefinder permits easy long-range shots with little lead required to hit moving targets.
  • Gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles can be used as multipurpose munitions for tanks and helicopters alike.
  • Great turret protection

Cons:

  • Rather easy to hit weak spots at closer ranges - some of them possibly leading to a one hit knockout.
  • Poor survivability from side shots due to the massive ammunition carousel mounted in the centre of the hull.
  • Relatively low reverse speed, hard to retreat from a threatening situation.
  • The cramped interior, with the crew placed tightly together, means that the tank is easily disabled if a shot penetrates.
  • ...and the spare ammunition not carried in the autoloader is distributed around the hull and turret - meaning a penetrating shot might ignite a round carried as a spare, setting off the carousel.
  • Poor gun depression of -5° due to the low turret height. This makes it difficult to shoot over hills and other obstacles, especially on maps with rough terrain.

History

Work on improving the existing T-80 MBT begun as early as the mid-1970s with the design bureau in Leningrad. Here, developers were responsible for the production of the T-80 and started working on a joint project to further enhance the T-80’s capabilities.

In the early 1980s, the first prototypes were being built and after extensive testing and design tweaking, the new tank was considered ready for production. The resultant tank was accepted by the Soviet military under the designation T-80U.

The T-80U received turret and upper frontal enhancements as part of its new construction along with being equipped with a second generation ERA protection system known as Kontakt-5. In contrast to the previous generation of dynamic protection, Kontakt-5 increased the tank's protection against HEAT and armour-piercing shells. The modifications also affected the armament of the tank - the T-80U is equipped with a new 1A45 fire control system and Reflex ICBM, which used more advanced 9M119 guided missiles. Subsequently, the tank was equipped with a new, more powerful GTD-1250 gas turbine engine which helped compensate for the increased weight of the vehicle and improved its dynamics.

The T-80U had been factory produced in Leningrad in 1987, but in 1989, its production was moved to Omsk. Work on upgrading the T-80 was carried out in Kharkov, but there, they constructed their own vehicle equipped with a diesel engine, which was designated ‘T-80UD’. The latter would evolve into further developed Ukrainian derivatives of the T-80.

T-80Us served with the Soviet military until the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and have since continued serving with the Union’s successor states to this day. The vehicle also saw service abroad with some other countries as well, primarily with South Korea and Cyprus. Overall, around 700 T-80Us have been produced since 1985, but this vehicle has yet to be put into any actual combat situations.

- From Devblog

Media

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the vehicles;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links


USSR medium tanks
T-28  T-28 (1938) · T-28 · T-28E
T-34-76  T-34 (Prototype) · T-34 (1940) · T-34 (1941) · T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-34 (1942) · T-34E STZ · T-34E
T-34-57  T-34-57 · T-34-57 (1943)
T-34-85  T-34-85 (D-5T) · T-34-85 · T-34-85E
T-34-100  T-34-100
T-44  T-44 · T-44-100 · T-44-122
T-54  T-54 (1947) · T-54 (1949) · T-54 (1951)
T-55  TO-55 · T-55A · T-55AM-1 · T-55AMD-1
T-62  T-62 · T-62M-1
T-64  Object 435 · T-64A (1971) · T-64B
T-72  T-72A · T-72AV (TURMS-T) · T-72B · T-72B (1989) · T-72B3 · T-72M2 Moderna
T-80  T-80B · T-80U · T-80UD · T-80UK · T-80UM2 · T-80BVM · Object 292
T-90  Т-90А · T-90M
Trophies/Lend-Lease 
Germany  ▂T-III · ▂T-V
Great Britain  ▂МК-IX "Valentine"
USA  ▂M3 Medium · ▂M4A2