T-90 in Comparison to Western Armour

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eckherl

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Without ERA it looks suspiciously alike the Type 85 II (chinese). I'm pretty sure the Chinese have copied every other tank they've made ... is the Type 85 a copy of the T90?
Actually the Chinese came out with the all welded turret design in the mid eighties for this tank and all future tanks. You will find that the late T-90 welded turret resembles the Ukrianian T-84 turret, most likely because Russia already had this in the works on giving the T-80 this upgrade for turret protection, Ukrainians just followed thru with it after the Soviet collapse. There were alot of Russians in military circles who wanted to just keep the T-80 series and grow on that design, most likely the same group that thougt the BMP 3 sucked and did not know how to implement into the land force structure.
 

FutureTank

Banned Member
If they press them into any type of service then it may be a hand off to the folks that they gave assistance to in the conflict, lets face it thermal imaging devices do burn out and if you do not have replacement components then it isn`t nothing more than a piece of junk, Russia has access to some of the best thermal technology that is currently available for T series tanks and they have nothing to gain. Same would hold true for the armor protection value of this vehicle, the ERA is not that spectacular and keep in mind that it has a cast turret design dating back to the cold war era, T-80UD and T-90 series offers better protection values. I think what Russia may be inclined to better research from their war booty would be the tactical communication and GPS equipment that was on the vehicles.

Also didn`t alot of the Russian units that entered the fight just come off of a large training exercise that was being conducted just on the other side of the border, could explain some of the equipment issues due to the vehicles not coming from war stocks. Either way Russia still has plenty of T-80 and late series T-72s that are in storage, I actually have photos that are a year old showing Russian tankers busting caps on T-80 BV`s that are in mint condition instead of their T-80U`s that would be used in case of a need for conflict. So you are correct inregards to some of the premier Russian units when you state that they have two sets of vehicles at their disposal.
Of course the T-72 SIM-1 (by the way a suggestion in one forum is that its Sim-1, or Siman-1, meaning Mark.1 in Hebrew) is not meant for the front line service what with thousands of later upgraded T-72s still in Russian stores, never mind T-80s. However, I can not imagine the Russian Army dumping 41 tanks somewhere to rust either. The parts for the thermal imagers can be freely obtained in Israel.

The tanks are probably not going to go to the 42nd division which had complained before the conflict that its supposedly all-professional personnel were being issued with museum pieces of equipment, including T-62Ms from the Afghanistan war. It seems to me that issuing them to the South Ossetian or Abkhazian troops would be too much of an insult, besides their technical vulnerabilities being known to the Georgians only too well.

I'll keep an eye on these, but I can't imagine this sort of waste of money still goes on in the Russian Army that 41 tanks will be left to rust somewhere after the money expended in securing them (reportedly 2.5 billion roubles a day?).

Did you see the images of all the upgrades being off the tanks and examined in the previously mentioned Institute?
 

eckherl

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Of course the T-72 SIM-1 (by the way a suggestion in one forum is that its Sim-1, or Siman-1, meaning Mark.1 in Hebrew) is not meant for the front line service what with thousands of later upgraded T-72s still in Russian stores, never mind T-80s. However, I can not imagine the Russian Army dumping 41 tanks somewhere to rust either. The parts for the thermal imagers can be freely obtained in Israel.

The tanks are probably not going to go to the 42nd division which had complained before the conflict that its supposedly all-professional personnel were being issued with museum pieces of equipment, including T-62Ms from the Afghanistan war. It seems to me that issuing them to the South Ossetian or Abkhazian troops would be too much of an insult, besides their technical vulnerabilities being known to the Georgians only too well.

I'll keep an eye on these, but I can't imagine this sort of waste of money still goes on in the Russian Army that 41 tanks will be left to rust somewhere after the money expended in securing them (reportedly 2.5 billion roubles a day?).

Did you see the images of all the upgrades being off the tanks and examined in the previously mentioned Institute?
I think that they are parading them around to to give the U.S, Israel and Ukraine the middle finger so to speak, they have a good thermal package from Thales that is just as good if not better. What a shame to see perfect tanks that were abandoned instead of putting up a fight, goes to show what happens when good equipment is given to untrained crews.

I guess Russia should be content that there wasn`t assholes like me roaming around in that county side, we would of hit them when we had a advantage, night time. Did we ever get our Humvees back.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
I don't think you did. Though I never saw an article that explained what happened to them afterwards. Great pictures by the way. You should post photos from your collection more often. Would you mind if I uploaded them to the picture gallery here?
 

eckherl

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
I don't think you did. Though I never saw an article that explained what happened to them afterwards. Great pictures by the way. You should post photos from your collection more often. Would you mind if I uploaded them to the picture gallery here?
Go ahead, I will also contribute additional pictures now that I have finally organized them in proper folders.
 

DavidDCM

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Is anything more known about the modernizations that the Georgian tanks received? We all saw photos of those Sim1 tanks during the conflict and they did not look like the upgrades where extensive. If not the IR searchlight had been replaced by two ERA bricks I would not even have suspected them to have thermals, because the "new" sight looks exactly like the old IR-sight (TPN-3) of regular T-72s.

But future tank, you got to ask the question whether it would really be more cost effective for Russia to put them into service. If not only the thermals but also other systems in the tank have been replaced with non-Russian stuff that would have to be bought from foreign sources than it might proof very costly for Russia to keep these things running and not cost-effective in comparison to just using their own stuff.
 

FutureTank

Banned Member
Is anything more known about the modernizations that the Georgian tanks received? We all saw photos of those Sim1 tanks during the conflict and they did not look like the upgrades where extensive. If not the IR searchlight had been replaced by two ERA bricks I would not even have suspected them to have thermals, because the "new" sight looks exactly like the old IR-sight (TPN-3) of regular T-72s.

But future tank, you got to ask the question whether it would really be more cost effective for Russia to put them into service. If not only the thermals but also other systems in the tank have been replaced with non-Russian stuff that would have to be bought from foreign sources than it might proof very costly for Russia to keep these things running and not cost-effective in comparison to just using their own stuff.
See this forum http://www.waronline.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=358577&sid=1dff3cdc63852730402bc52203170049 for pictures of the components removed from the Georgian T-72s. Its in Russian, but it doesn't take much to guess what bit does what.

These are combat-ready tanks we are talking about. Russians blew up about 20 of the older T-72s in place without bothering to cart them off. I would think that these tanks would last at least some time without needing major repairs. They could be used as the thermal imaging use in the T-80/90 units if nothing else to save on using new equipment. If they don't want them, I'll get one to drive to the shops :) I always have problems finding a parking space ;)

By the way, the word is that T-64s can be had for USD$100,000. Of course be prepared for a complete engine overhaul, and don't forget to ask for a spare transmission :(
 

eckherl

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Is anything more known about the modernizations that the Georgian tanks received? We all saw photos of those Sim1 tanks during the conflict and they did not look like the upgrades where extensive. If not the IR searchlight had been replaced by two ERA bricks I would not even have suspected them to have thermals, because the "new" sight looks exactly like the old IR-sight (TPN-3) of regular T-72s.

But future tank, you got to ask the question whether it would really be more cost effective for Russia to put them into service. If not only the thermals but also other systems in the tank have been replaced with non-Russian stuff that would have to be bought from foreign sources than it might proof very costly for Russia to keep these things running and not cost-effective in comparison to just using their own stuff.
All modifications were internal, FCS, GPS and advanced communication equipment similar to SINGARS, compliments of the U.S.
 

metalkat 77

New Member
Well I'm not from Russia but I have unde4rstand, about russian military technology is design to suport hard conditiosn I mean conditions in some conflict the infrastruture get devastated the russian gear can operate whithout manutinance or reposition of parts wich could broke in the batle.

Talking about the tank well people say that the T-90 is superior at his american counterpart the only tanks which have the capability to meke them sweet are the Leopard 2-A and Merkava experts in this issue say there are the only tw tanks which they kick their bot, But lets the experete handle this about the technisism my opinion is only in about I was documentated.
 

DavidDCM

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
See this forum http://www.waronline.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=358577&sid=1dff3cdc63852730402bc52203170049 for pictures of the components removed from the Georgian T-72s. Its in Russian, but it doesn't take much to guess what bit does what.
Very interesting link. Thanks for posting it :)

In the picture showing the head of the thermal you can see very good that it's different sight than the original Russian one but still has the same overall shape and size. I put the site into the translator of babelfish.altavista.com and it worked quite well :D
 
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nikola_281

New Member
Occidental tanks? You mean like accidental tanks?
Well, he means the Western tanks.

Small advice Templario, next time say it that it was your opinion (unless you are the world wide known expert on armour technology and things you are saying can be considered as universal truth) or refrain yourself from such kind of comments as you are risking to trigger another great flame war.

Regards,

Nikola
 

T-80UB

New Member
SIM-1's and Humvees

I think that they are parading them around to to give the U.S, Israel and Ukraine the middle finger so to speak, they have a good thermal package from Thales that is just as good if not better. What a shame to see perfect tanks that were abandoned instead of putting up a fight, goes to show what happens when good equipment is given to untrained crews.

I guess Russia should be content that there wasn`t assholes like me roaming around in that county side, we would of hit them when we had a advantage, night time. Did we ever get our Humvees back.
Highly unlikely to be commissioned to service -for this they would need to be up(down-)graded to one of the modifications currently in service. Quite possibly will be given to South Osstians or Abkhazians.

Those mysterious Humvees were taken by Russian special forces well inside Georgia proper while port of Poti and and military base near Zugdidi were occupied.Immediate reports said they carried some interesting satellite communication equipment. Fancy toys...
 

eckherl

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Highly unlikely to be commissioned to service -for this they would need to be up(down-)graded to one of the modifications currently in service. Quite possibly will be given to South Osstians or Abkhazians.

Those mysterious Humvees were taken by Russian special forces well inside Georgia proper while port of Poti and and military base near Zugdidi were occupied.Immediate reports said they carried some interesting satellite communication equipment. Fancy toys...
I agree with you totally, that is what I was trying to convey to Futuretank in a few of my posts. Thanks, that is what I figured happened to the Humvees, initially I figured that they surely would of removed all sensitive items, but that doesn`t seem to be the case with my jarhead companions.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Highly unlikely to be commissioned to service -for this they would need to be up(down-)graded to one of the modifications currently in service. Quite possibly will be given to South Osstians or Abkhazians.

Those mysterious Humvees were taken by Russian special forces well inside Georgia proper while port of Poti and and military base near Zugdidi were occupied.Immediate reports said they carried some interesting satellite communication equipment. Fancy toys...
Hi. I notice you're new around here. Welcome to defencetalk. Please do read the rules and enjoy your stay. :)

Oh and by the way, I wasn't aware that a UB variant existed of the T-80 tank.
 

T-80UB

New Member
T-80ub

It's T-80UB "Burlak"- one of the versions reportedly being developed as an upgrade for currently serving T-80's.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Google came up blank. Do you have any sources by any chance? I'm very curious. And why a different mod, when the T-80U already has upgrades for it such as the UM, UM1 and UD mod? Is it a Russian project or a Ukranian one?
 

T-80UB

New Member
T-80ub

Big "sorry"-been completely offline for a few days.... You are right, there"s nothing Googleable- I'chose this name basing on a couple of printed articles in Russian press and conversations with armour experts.
 
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