Post by magnum on Dec 11, 2019 21:36:29 GMT
The T-64 was intended to be used in elite ‘Guards’ regiments where the T-72 was intended to be the low cost mass produced tank that the majority of the conscript army would field.
The T-64 was way ahead of its time…so far ahead that the technologies it pioneered were not mature enough which left it mechanically and electrically unreliable. I mention Electrically as that was one of its biggest flaws, the Russians have never really been known for high quality electronics, Even more so in the early 1960s.
By contrast, the much cheaper, simpler and more rugged T-72 went on to prove itself a match for most 2nd gen Tanks and when upgraded with composite and reactive armor, even slightly more survivable than the T-64. Due to the much wider export of T-72s, there was much more of a market for foreign electronic upgrades. companies like Catherine providing high quality thermal sights and others advanced fire control systems. The more open and simpler nature of the T-72 also proved easier to upgrade than T-64s. So upgraded, the T-72 was superior in just about every conceivable metric to the T-64.
The T80 can be thought of as an upgraded T-64 and the break up of the Soviet Union, poor performance of the T-80 in the Chechen wars, and worsening relationship with Ukraine where the vast majority of T-80 components and T-80s were built, pretty much doomed the series.
However taking the best part of the T-72 (the hull) and mating it to the best part of the T-80 (the turret) while Keeping the T-72s simpler and more reliable auto loader gives you the T-72BU (later renamed to T-90 to distance itself from the poor performance of the T-72 in Iraq for export markets.) it is actually a very serviceable gen 2.5+ Tank (we won’t get into the distractions of tank generations here as they become meaningless once upgrades are in place and ignore the first actual tanks as a generation, it needs revamping.)
You will find most T-64s and T-80s rusting away in scrap yards or kept as strategic reserve (don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty in service), but many more T-72s are still serving, many 40+years old.
By contrast, the much cheaper, simpler and more rugged T-72 went on to prove itself a match for most 2nd gen Tanks and when upgraded with composite and reactive armor, even slightly more survivable than the T-64. Due to the much wider export of T-72s, there was much more of a market for foreign electronic upgrades. companies like Catherine providing high quality thermal sights and others advanced fire control systems. The more open and simpler nature of the T-72 also proved easier to upgrade than T-64s. So upgraded, the T-72 was superior in just about every conceivable metric to the T-64.
The T80 can be thought of as an upgraded T-64 and the break up of the Soviet Union, poor performance of the T-80 in the Chechen wars, and worsening relationship with Ukraine where the vast majority of T-80 components and T-80s were built, pretty much doomed the series.
However taking the best part of the T-72 (the hull) and mating it to the best part of the T-80 (the turret) while Keeping the T-72s simpler and more reliable auto loader gives you the T-72BU (later renamed to T-90 to distance itself from the poor performance of the T-72 in Iraq for export markets.) it is actually a very serviceable gen 2.5+ Tank (we won’t get into the distractions of tank generations here as they become meaningless once upgrades are in place and ignore the first actual tanks as a generation, it needs revamping.)
You will find most T-64s and T-80s rusting away in scrap yards or kept as strategic reserve (don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty in service), but many more T-72s are still serving, many 40+years old.
