Why the T-72 Tank Is the Backbone of the Russian Army 

The 4km/h maximum reverse speed is a lethal vulnerability.

Gotta admit they have some sweet looking tanks.

Best looking tank ever

The T-72 is more of a successor to the T-62 instead of the T-64, it is was chosen due to its price, operational costs and most importantly, reliability. It is an en masse tank, it is a shame post soviet countries couldn't keep the T-80 operational, it is a more advanced tank, with versions having active protection systems, it got a bad rep due to the Chechen wars, but that's mostly due to the doctrine used, no matter the tank, sending them into a city with rubble everywhere without infantry support is a death sentence.

Wow, I didn't know Scarlett Johansson narrated tank videos, pretty cool.

Well sort of. The T72 didnt really evolve from the T64. At the time of introduction the T64 was a high end product with basically all the tech the UdSSR could realistically muster. That resulted in maybe the best tank at the time but also in a lot of reliability and money issues since it was freaking expensive. The T72 was later developed as a much cheaper and reliable teched down version meant to operate alongside the T64 and later the T80 which were both for their times the best armor the UdSSR could field. Later the T72 went into a parallel development one keeping the T72 name the other being named T90. Overall the biggest advantages of the T72 is its very low price and a dangerous gun even to modern mbts. In UdSSR doctrine it was imagined that a unit of 12 T72s and T80s would take on 4 Leopard 2s and while losses would be high the fight would be won in the end.

The m1 Abrams’s is 43 years old so what’s your point?

Soviet tanks are for attacking to any target at and behind the defence line, but not duelling necessarily with the opposing tanks, even it is better to avoid and flank, and Western tanks to counter them.... so, design principles are different. If you are attacking tank, you need good mobility not to be easy target. Mobility has got two dimensions 1- speed 2- Cross-country capability that you need to be fast moving target not to be acquired easily and cross country mobility that attacking axis will not be predicted correctly to concentrate the defence or set an defensive ambush. And, being lightweight also needed to use any bridge to keep the momentum of blitz and not to create choke points at the river crossings since north and east Europe flat and cut by rivers across. However, attacking with speed brings disadvantages, one can not comfortably acquire target visually because at fast advancing tank, dynamics of changing of environment, shapes, lights disable some of the cognitive capacity of the observer, and usually attackers meet their targets at short distances long after their target spots them visually and audibly . So, for Soviet tanks long distance shooting and accuracy less needed, but for Western tanks it is crucial that they can make some hits until attacking tank acknowledges and spots and countering back with firing. All mechanics of battle ground shapes the designs, so each of them having their own features with some use and logic.

5:31 they just destroyed their machine gun mount. Who knows what else was damaged or destroyed.

Video fails to mention the difference in frontal composite armor between the T-72A and T72B developed in the early 80s. T-72B’s frontal composite armor is NERA style and has about 40% more RHA equivalent compared to the T-72A.

what you call a self entrenching blade at about 5 minutes is a mine clearing device ( probably kmt 7)

Every year, Russian hold a contest called Tank bathalon which participates by Rissia, China, Vietnam, Venezuela etc…In which T72B3 is the tank of choice…Funny enough, in firing contest, in stationary position, this tank need 3-4 shoots before it can hit a stationary (as well) target at 1700m range with amble time to aim…companied with alot of break down in the middle of the even. . How they would perform in real conflict is up your imagination…

5:30 What the hell was that supposed to be? Lool that gunner was badly hurt there! 😭😭😭 lol

Maybe russian tank is obsolete but looks sexy & intimidating

Why is there a range distance diffrence between Day and Night? Would be because of night sight range? And the driver nearly had their barrel go into the ground after taking flight and damaging, much the crew in the turret got banged around. That's unless it's just manned by the derived only.

You're showing a T-80 on the thumbnail and in several shots during the video, even a T-90M at one point. The T-64 was produced in Kharkiv and the T-72 in Uralvagonzavod, they were never produced in the same factory, and never were ment to, they were meant to be produced in tandem. When talking about the self entrenching system, you're showing a T-80 and circled around the blade that is meant to clear minefields. You also showed a T-64 exhaust when talking about the T-72 latest engine. The cope cages were never made to counter top attack ATGM but to disable small shaped charges of RPGs (like all cage armour) being fired from top of buildings in urban environments, this experience came from the conflict in Syria. Very poorly researched video, considering the amount of information out there regarding the T-72.

since word on the street says there will be leopard 2 & abrams will fight t72 we will watch closely the outcome did the shorter dart apds can pen leo2 or m1 abrams and how many m829a3 ammo (long dart) did the they bring on the field which ammo can pen kontakt5 now?

You should have compared with the variants that other countries upgrade as well

A point that I learnt is that every piece of military equipment is made fit-to-purpose according to the military doctrine and combined arms strategy. And this is why the T-72 was madr. It has its own deficiencies like any other thing, however, keep in mind that those defeciencies are not relevant in the strategic application context.

In short, Old Weapon system, easily countered by Modern Weapons. Don't get me wrong, a Musket can kill you in 1 shot, just like the T-72. But, in the age of Drones and Guided Missiles, . . . . It is like a Samurai charging at Machine Guns. Brave yet destined to lose.

Meanwhile, a dozen of top tier German Leopard tanks being destroyed by standard RPGs in a single battle in Syria. lol

Drone renders tanks and other armoured vehicles more vulnerable in the battle field.

The Western powers or any other army should not underestimate the T 72 tank, Indian Army have more than 2400 units of this machine and another 2000 plus T90s, and have interest to purchase the T14 Armata , in any war it will not depend only on tanks to win war, its combination of armour, artillery, infantry and air power.

No mention of the thermal imaging system, digital fire control system, and battlefield awareness system. In our time, a good tank is not only about the balance of firepower, horsepower and armor protection, it must incorporate the modern electronics. That's where the newer Western tanks shined.

Strength in numbers? That ought to be comforting to the souls who crew them.

I think it speaks for itself, that Ukraine soldiers would much rather have western tanks than T-72's that has also been delivered them from the west. I don't hear "No, not the Abrams, Challengers and Leopards, we need T-72 tanks urgently!!" 😄

Ok, what happened at 5:34? Is the man dead? Does anybody know?

It's a soldier tank, meant for mass production and low cost of maintenance. It doesn't have all blows and whistles as western tanks, but it's deadly and damn effective.

t72 was only protected against 1st generation TOW missiles; Current upgraded ammo will flip the turret half way to Moscow, even though reactive armor, there isn't a tank in existence, including the Abrams and Leapoard 2, that can take a hit from a modern TOW tandem or even triple shaped charge, you might be able to hit something easier with nlaw or javlen, but if you want to absolutely fucking wreck something hit it with a TOW, which has enough power to neutralize reactive armor and then still punch through the front of hull or turret, it doesn't have to rely on top attack, and it is impossible to jam, alert to, or otherwise interfere with wire guided missiles, although they do have a slew of disadvantages as well

5:32 tanks rammed his Canon into the ground lol!

Find building destroy tanks. Lady you need update on how easy it is to blow up t-72b3 tank.

5:33 someone needs a doctor after that jump

Literally obliterated in Iraq.

You forgot how the t72 has an auto eject launcher when it gets hit from a Javelin.

The tank on the video title shot is a T 80 btw

Because it works, tausend are really to jus, easy to understand, and reapers. Have a great gun.!

Because you can remove the gun and add a Plow ? Or snow plow ?

Does it need a periscope, remote machine gun and a turret bustle for excess ammo?

Very good tank for its time. Now its still a good tank, but not gpod enough for western nato tanks. T90 is.

مجهود رائع ... اتمنى عمل فيديو للمقارنة بين المدرعات العربية و الإسرائيلية ... تحياتي

the t 72 seems to be workin pretty dam good for this war

My God.......look how long the barrel is on the Russian tanks. I know I know....hydraulics.....but still, at that length it's hard to believe that even hydraulics can handle it. Is it stabilized?

>why t72 is backbone >thumbnail shows t80 yep a+ journalism

5:32 look how the MG gets flipped over 😂

Why does the thumbnail have a pic of a T-80?

look at the t-72 as the successor of the t 34 that was build in masses if you ask me then this is not a "MBT" it is a medium tank while tanks like the t-90 are more like heavy tanks, makes sense if you ask me sending like a team of cheap t 72 with a t 90. That is the old soviet doctrine that we are looking at, if you ask me. If they still use the same baseline tactics, then blowing up the leading tank (t-90) might send the others in total disarray.

How did they get Scarlet Johansson to narrate this?

The 72 stands for the height in meters the turret flies up?

Fix the reverse speed

T-72B3M is my favorite

So the T72 is essentially a lightly armored vehicle with a heavy tank cannon mounted on top.

Is Jennifer Lawrence on the narration?

4:20 isn’t that the T64 auto loader ?

Because its a damn good tank simple as that

You describe the tank but didn't really explain why it's the backbone of their forces

you save the entire history of the T-72 but did not answer your own question which is why we were watching the video.....

Too bad for the crew, it's a magnet 🧲 for all sorts of Anti Tank Guided Missiles.

I sure as shit wouldn't want to fight one with just a rifle and molotovs

Built in large numbers, hence plentiful!

With t72b3m, 5 of it will be cost of leopard 2. Russia only needs 2 to defeat one leopard. So the quantity works. Hence til a formidable tank to face on the battlefield.

16 round a mini if necessary.

Because of the availability in abundance

Great video with no western propaganda. Rare to see :)

That is if those 7,000 T-72’s haven’t been scrapped for parts or corruption yet!

Why don't the Russians further improve/modify their existing T-72s, like for e.g. can an existing T-72 chasis be merged with T-14 turret with improved armaments, sensors and better crew protection can be economic option. No doubt the T-72 is a good tank and with the existing stock and logistics can be more easily deployed.

Максимальная скорость Т72Б3 84км/ч! (Рекорд скорости на Танковом Биатлоне 2019 года)

So why? I’m still waiting for the answet

Thanks

Isnt the thumbnail a T-80U

The frog eaters had every intention to Nuke the Fulda Gap if the comrades came to say hi

It's an awesome Battle Tank that's why Russia upgrade on the T72 and the T80 way to go Russia keep up the good work from Australia 🦘

Mobile death trap

*depicts a T 80 in thumbnail*

That's a T-80 on the thumbnail

Operational cost means it needs to be replaced quickly because it is easily destroyed and pointless

Thats a T-80 in the thumbnail

It's a bird , it's a plane, it's a UFO !! Nah , just another Russian T-72 turret flying overhead in Ukraine... 🤣🤣🤣

There really is no need to say T72 quite so many times.

Turret launching door stop

Literally a t80 in the thumbnail

The T72 was no match for the first generation Abrams, Challenger and Leopards during gulf war I and 2 . The T72 was built to be used as per Soviet military doctrine , with massed armored formations supported by thousands of infantry.. In isolated battles they stand no chance against modern western tanks and ATGMs.. They do have some advantages like mobility due to their light weight, but it comes at a cost. I pity those poor Russian soldiers who have to go to battle in these iron coffins

Same tank wiped out in Iraq by Mr Abrams

And of course they show a t80 in the thumbnail

when you have a ton of them you use them...

The answer is because they are cheaper and easier to build...less than $1 mil. And my guess is the Soviets build almost all of them, the Russians just modernized them.

Tienen un arsenal viejo y no parece que puedan renovarlo. No les queda más remedio que usar lo que tienen.

"attacking friendly forces"...?? Well, that's from your viewpoint. From Russia's (or USSR's) viewpoint, the wording would be -"...attacking unfriendly forces". Almost every tank's (both Western & Russian), top armor is weak with respect to top-attack anti-tank missile system.

They call it the moving Russian fireworks. One hit and it explodes..

The main reason ALL Russian tanks are inferior to Western tanks is optics / thermal-imaging. If you cannot see the enemy at night, you're gonna be toast. Other shortcomings are fire-control systems, battlefield awareness and comparative armour deficiency. Terrible reverse-gear speed is another common handicap.

Should be putting remote control on this tank 🤣🤣

How many do they have left ?? They keep getting taken out by $400 drones armed with a $100 grenade.

thats a t-80u in the thumbnail

T-80U on preview pic.

Just give me 300 Leopard 2 A4 and all Ts history will gone

Was the evolving not from T-62? And the the T-64 evovled in T-80?

The T-72 was meant to be a modern equivalent to the T-34, Cheap and easy to produce and replace. While the Abrams, Challenger, Leapards and Leclerc’s are the 21st century equivalent to the Tiger or Centurion tanks. The T-90 / Armata -T-14 are the Russian Abrams / leopards.

Military TV saying Tanks have a capacity of 3 crew is like Car TV saying a car has the capacity of 1 driver.

I thought it was a plane?

Stugna tow and phagot Don’t waste the javelins for tanks any Ore Use them on the self-propelled artillery and grabs rocket systems Russia has tens of thousands of Gratt rockets and they can inquire about 6 to 12,000,000 artillery shells I don’t know that you liked them out but get prepared for spring it’s gonna be rough I’m gonna let them fire in their load keep firing and then I’m going in

Russia is always adding to its BTG operation. Russia is always protecting its troops. I'm not sure why people hate on the T72. Russia's armored BTG unit is durable and fast and can be maintained. And most importantly, self sufficient.