The T-80 turned out to be a complete disaster. T-80 turned out to be a complete disaster Capacity of fuel tanks t 80

The T-80 tank is a prime example of how heavily armored vehicles can hide serious flaws. At one time, the Russian military command considered the T-80 a high-class vehicle, but these tanks suffered heavy losses in battles with militants equipped with light weapons during the first Chechen war. After that, he never managed to restore his reputation.

That shouldn't have happened. The T-80 tank was the last main battle tank designed in the Soviet Union. It was the first soviet tank, equipped with a gas turbine engine, and as a result he was able to travel on roads with a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour, and also had a high power density per unit weight, which was 25.8 horsepower per ton.

Thanks to this, the standard T-80B tank became one of the fastest and most maneuverable tanks produced in the 1980s.

The fighting prowess of the Chechen rebels and the failed Russian tactics are more responsible for the loss of T-80 tanks than their design. However, he had significant shortcomings. Ultimately, the T-80 was too expensive, and besides, it consumed too much fuel. After some time, the Russian military made a choice in favor of the more economical T-72 tank.

The T-80 was a further development of its predecessor, the T-64 tank. As the most modern model of the late 1960s and early 1970s, the T-64 differed from the simpler vehicles favored by the Soviets, such as the T-54/55 and T-62.

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The National Interest 01/25/2018 For example, the T-64 was the first Soviet tank to have an automatic loader instead of a loader, and as a result, the crew was reduced from four to three people. The second innovation of the T-64, which created a certain trend, was the use of composite armor, in which layers of ceramics and steel were used, and as a result, the protection of the tank was increased in comparison with the use of steel sheets alone.

In addition, the T-64 was equipped with light steel road wheels of small diameter, while the T-55 and T-62 used large rubber-coated rollers.

The first T-64A model launched into mass production was produced with a 125-mm 2A46 "Rapier" cannon, which became so popular that it began to be installed on all subsequent Russian tanks - up to the T-90. It is noteworthy that in the end the weight of the T-64A was only 37 tons, which is quite small for a tank of this size.

But as remarkable as these innovations were, it must be admitted that the T-64 had a capricious 5TDF engine and an unusual suspension, which often broke down. For this reason, the Soviet Army specifically sent such tanks to those units that were stationed near the Kharkov plant where they were manufactured.

But that's not all. There were rumors that the new automatic loading system would tear off the hands of gaping tankers who were located too close to it. This is quite likely, given the tiny interior of the T-64 tank.

Solving the problems of the T-64A, the Soviets began to think about creating a new tank with an engine equipped with a gas turbine. Gas turbine engines have a high throttle response and a good power/weight ratio. They start easily in cold weather without preheating, which is important in harsh Russian winters. And besides, they are lightweight.

On the downside, gas turbine engines consume a lot of fuel and are more susceptible to dirt and dust, which is the result of increased air intake compared to conventional diesel engines.

The original basic model of the T-80 tank was put into service only in 1976, much later than planned. The Soviet tank industry was busy fixing the shortcomings of the T-64 tanks, and preparing for the production of the T-72 because it was a cheaper fallback. At the same time, the Soviets were ramping up production of the T-55 and T-62 tanks for their Arab allies, who had lost hundreds armored vehicles during the war doomsday in 1973.

The first T-80 models also had their problems. In November 1975, Andrei Grechko, then Minister of Defense, banned the further production of these tanks due to too much fuel consumption and a slight increase in firepower compared to the T-64A. And only five months later, Grechko's successor Dmitry Ustinov allowed mass production of this new tank to begin.

The construction of the first T-80 model lasted only two years, since it was surpassed in its characteristics by the T-64B tank, which had new system fire control, which allowed firing from the main gun with 9M112 Cobra missiles. Even more important point was that the T-80 cost almost three and a half times more than the T-64A.

The base model was replaced in 1978 by the T-80B tank. It was considered the most modern and high-class tank in the East, and therefore most of the T-80B was sent to the places of the highest risk - to the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany.

For its high speed, it was nicknamed the "Channel tank". In the Soviet war games, it was assumed that the T-80B could reach the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in five days - provided they did not run out of fuel.

The new Soviet tank borrowed a lot from the T-64. In addition to sub-caliber, cumulative and anti-personnel fragmentation shells its 125-mm 2A46M-1 smoothbore gun could launch the same 9K112 Cobra missiles.

Since anti-tank guided missiles were significantly more expensive than conventional tank rounds, this tank's ammunition load included only four missiles, but 38 rounds. Rockets were designed to shoot down attack helicopters and hit vehicles with ATGM systems installed on them outside the firing range of conventional T-80B tank shells.

A 7.62-mm PKT machine gun coaxial with a cannon and a 12.7-mm NSVT "Utes" machine gun on the commander's turret made up the anti-personnel armament of this tank.

The T-80 could already boast of modern composite armor, but even more armor protection was provided by the dynamic protection complex (KDZ) "Kontakt-1". Equipped with horizontal layers of such armor, the T-80 tanks (the latest T-72A models had a similar KDZ configuration) were called the T-80BV.

In 1987, instead of the T-80B, the T-80U began to be produced, although according to total they have not surpassed their predecessors.

The T-80U tank was equipped with the Kontakt-5 dynamic protection system. It was an improved version of the Kontakt-1 KDZ, which consisted of hinged containers with explosives, while the Kontakt-5 system had a set of factory-made outward-facing plates to deflect the attacking ammunition. The "Kontakt-1" system is only effective against HEAT projectiles, while the "Kontakt-5" system also protects against kinetic armor-piercing shells with a detachable pallet.

Inside the T-80U, instead of the 1A33 fire control system, which was equipped with the T-80B models, a more modern 1A45 system was installed. Engineers replaced the Cobra missiles with laser-guided 9K119 Reflex missiles. This is a more reliable weapon, with a longer range and greater power of destruction. In the T-80 tank, seven 125-mm shells were placed more than in the T-80B.

However, the T-80U tank was not produced for long. His new GTD-1250 power plant still consumed too much fuel and was difficult to maintain. Instead, they began to produce the diesel model T-80UD. It was the last version of the Soviet-made T-80 tank. It was also the first model to be seen in action outside the range...if by "action" we mean the shelling of the Russian parliament from a tank gun in October 1993 during the constitutional crisis.

In December 1994, the war against the separatists began in Chechnya, where the T-80 was used for the first time ... and it became a disaster of epic proportions for him.

When rebels in Chechnya declared independence, Russian President Boris Yeltsin ordered troops to return this former Soviet republic into Russia by force. The created group included T-80B and T-80 BV. The crews were not prepared to fight on T-80 tanks. They did not know about his gluttony and sometimes completely burned the fuel supply at idle.

The offensive of the Russian armed forces on the Chechen capital city of Grozny was more like a bloody massacre for the attackers. Between December 31, 1994 and the evening of the next day, about a thousand soldiers died and 200 pieces of equipment were destroyed. The most modern Russian tanks T-80B and T-80BV as part of the Russian advancing group suffered terrible losses.

Although T-80s are well protected from direct frontal hits, many tanks were destroyed in catastrophic explosions and their turrets flew off after numerous shots. Chechen fighters from RPG-7V and RPG-18 grenade launchers.

It turned out that the automatic loader T-80 "Basket" had a fatal flaw in the design. In the automatic loading system, the finished projectiles were stored upright and were only partially protected by road wheels. A shot from an RPG directed above the road wheels into the side of the tank often caused detonation of the ammunition load and led to the collapse of the turret.

In this regard, the T-72A and T-72B were similarly punished, however, they had a slightly higher chance of surviving a side hit because their automatic loading system used a horizontal arrangement of ammunition that was below the rims of the road wheels.

The second significant drawback of the T-80, like the previous ones Russian tanks, was associated with the minimum angles of vertical elevation and declination of the gun. It was impossible to shoot from the tank at the rebels, who fired from the upper floors of buildings or from basements.

In fairness, it must be said that the cause of large losses was the poor training of the crews, lack of training and disastrous tactics. Russia was in such a hurry to start hostilities that T-80BV tanks entered Grozny without filling the containers of dynamic protection with explosives, which made this protection useless. It was even said that some soldiers sold explosives in order to earn extra money on top of their meager pay.

By that time, the Russian army had completely forgotten the hard lessons of fighting in urban conditions during the Second World War. During cold war only special forces units and the Berlin garrison were trained to conduct such battles. Without expecting significant resistance, Russian troops entered Grozny, while the soldiers were in infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. Their commanders got lost on the streets because they didn't have the right cards.

Since Russian troops were reluctant to get out of their vehicles and clear buildings room by room, their Chechen adversaries, who knew the shortcomings of Russian armored vehicles from their service in the Soviet Army, were able to turn tanks and armored vehicles into crematoria.

It is easy for the Russian command to shift the blame for the Chechen catastrophe on flaws in the design of the T-80, hiding miscalculations in operational planning and shortcomings in tactics. But in the end, it was the lack of money that caused the cheaper T-72 to replace the T-80, becoming the main vehicle for Russian exports and for military operations after the Chechen war.

When broke up Soviet Union, Russia lost the plant in Kharkov that produced the T-80UD, which became the property of Ukraine. The plant in Omsk, where the T-80U was made, turned out to be bankrupt, while the Leningrad LKZ no longer produced the earlier T-80BV model.

It no longer made sense for Russia to keep three types of tanks in service: T-72 (A and B), T-80 (BV, U and UD) and T-90 (modernized version of T-72BU). Financial expenses and the problems of supplying spare parts were too great. All these models had one 125-millimeter 2A46M gun and missiles of the same characteristics, launched through the gun barrel. But they all had different engines, fire control systems and chassis.

To put it simply, these tanks had the same capabilities but very different parts instead of having the same parts and different capabilities. Since the T-80U was much more expensive than the T-72B, it was only logical that financially troubled Russia chose the T-72.

However, Moscow continued to experiment with the T-80. Specialists installed an active defense system on it, which used a millimeter-wave radar to track incoming missiles and apply countermeasures. As a result, in 1997, the T-80UM-1 "Bars" appeared. However, it was not put into production, probably due to budgetary constraints.

Russia did not use T-80s in the second Chechen war in 1999-2000, and did not use them during the brief conflict with Georgia in 2008 (as far as we know). So far, T-80 tanks have not participated in the war in Ukraine.

InoSMI materials contain estimates exclusively foreign media and do not reflect the position of the editors of InoSMI.

The T-80 is a Soviet-made main battle tank. It is the first tank in the world to be equipped with a single gas turbine power plant. It has been in service with the Soviet Army since 1976. The first serial samples that were created on the basis of the T-64 in SKB-2 were produced at the Kirov Plant in Leningrad. They are part of the Armed Forces of such states as South Korea, Ukraine, Russia and others. The T-80U modification was manufactured at the Omsktransmash plant, and the T-80UD at the Malyshev plant in Kharkov. In turn, the T-80UD also has modifications - Ukrainian BM "Oplot" and T-84.

1. Photos

2. Video

3. History

The debut "Kirov" gas turbine tank of a new generation, designated "object 219 sp 1", was produced in 1969 and outwardly looked like an experimental gas turbine tank T-64T, manufactured in Kharkov. The car was equipped with the one developed at the NPO. V.Ya. Klimov, engine GTD-1000T. The development with the designation "object 219 sp 1" differed from the predecessor prototype by significant changes in the chassis. In particular, carrier and support rollers, new guide and drive wheels, hydraulic shock absorbers, tracks with rubber-coated tracks and torsion bars with improved characteristics were developed. The shape of the tower has also changed. With the T-64A, this tank was combined with ammunition, a cannon, a loading mechanism (not the same as on the T-72 and its modifications), armor protection, as well as individual systems and components.

4. Tactical and technical characteristics

4.1 Dimensions

• Case length, mm: T-80 - 6780; 6982; T-80U - 7012; T-80UD - 7020
• Length with gun forward, mm: T-80 - 9656; T-80B (T-80BV) - 9651; T-80U - 9556; T-80UD - 9664
• Hull width, mm: T-80 - 3525; T-80B (T-80BV) - 3582; T-80U - 3603; T-80UD - 3755
• Height on the roof of the tower, mm: T-80 - 2300; T-80B (T-80BV) - 2219; T-80U, T-80UD - 2215
• Clearance, mm: T-80, T-80B (T-80BV), T-80U - 451; T-80UD - 529.

4.2 Booking

• Type of armor: anti-ballistic, cast and rolled combined and steel
• Dynamic protection: T-80U, T-80UD - Contact-5
• Active protection: T-80UD - "Shtora".

4.3 Armament

• Gun brand: T-80 - 2A46-1; T-80B (T-80BV) - 2A46-2 / 2A46M-1; T-80U - 2A46M-1 / 2A46M-4; T-80UD - 2A46M-1
• Gun type: smoothbore gun
• Gun caliber: 125 mm
• Barrel length, calibers: 48
• Gun ammunition: T-80 - 40; T-80B (T-80BV) - 38; T-80U, T-80UD - 45
• Angles HV, degrees: −5…+14°
• Firing range, km: ATGM: 5.0, BOPS: 3.7
• Sights: night periscope TPN-3-49, optical sight-rangefinder TPD-2-49
• Machine guns: 1 × 7.62 mm PKT, 1 × 12.7 mm NSVT
• Guided weapons: T-80B (T-80BV) - 9K112-1 "Cobra" / 9K119 "Reflex"; T-80U - 9K119 "Reflex" / 9K119M "Reflex-M"; T-80UD - 9K119 "Reflex".

4.4 Mobility

• Make and type of engine: T-80 - GTD-1000T (gas turbine); T-80B (T-80BV) - GTD-1000TF (gas turbine); T-80U - GTD-1000TF / GTD-1250 (gas turbine); T-80UD - 6TD (diesel)
• Engine power, l. s.: T-80, T-80UD: 1000; T-80B (T-80BV): 1100; T-80U - 1100/1250
• Highway speed, km/h: T-80, T-80B (T-80BV), T-80U - 70; T-80UD - 60
• Cross-country speed, km / h: T-80 - 50; T-80U - 60
• Power reserve on the highway, km: T-80, T-80B (T-80BV) - 500; T-80U - 450; T-80UD - 560
• Power reserve over rough terrain, km: 250
• Specific power, l. s./t: T-80 - 23.8; T-80B (T-80BV) - 25.8 (25.17); T-80U - 21.74 / 27.2; T-80UD - 21.7
• Suspension type: individual torsion bar
• Specific ground pressure, kg / cm²: T-80 - 0.83; T-80B (T-80BV) - 0.865; T-80U - 0.93; T-80UD - 0.924
• Climbability, degrees: 32°
• Overcoming wall, m: 1.0
• Crossable ditch, m: 2.85
• Crossable ford, m: 1.2 (1.8 with preliminary preparation; 5.0 with OPVT).

4.5 Other parameters

• Combat weight, t: T-80 - 42; T-80B (T-80BV) - 42.5 (43.7); T-80U, T-80UD - 46
• Layout scheme: classic
• Crew, people: 3.

5. Modifications

• 219 cn 1 - modification of the T-64A with the introduction of a gas turbine engine GTD-1000T
• 219 sp 2 - a pre-production sample with a new undercarriage
• 219 sp 2 - T-80 main battle tank.
• 219A - experimental main tank T-80A. The development was carried out simultaneously with the "Object 478". Subsequently, it was supplemented with hinged dynamic protection.
• 219AC - T-80U main battle tank. Equipped with a 2A46M-1 gun; smoke grenade launcher 902B "Cloud"; PPO 3ETs13 "Hoarfrost"; combined armor with dynamic built-in protection; weapon control system 1A45 "Irtysh" (electronic BV, PRN TPN-4S, laser rangefinder sight 1G46, combined night sight TPN-4 "Buran-PA", stabilizer 2E42) and KUV 9K119 "Reflex". Subsequently, engines KUV 9K119M "Invar" and GTD-1250 were used
• 630A - the main tank T-80UK. Commander's version of the T-80U. Equipped with Agava-2 thermal imager; R-163K and R-163U radio stations, Shtora-1 system, TNA-4 navigation system, advanced atmospheric parameter sensor, AB-1-P28 autonomous power plant, HE shell remote detonation system
• T-80UE - T-80UM variant, intended for Greece; equipped with advanced controls and hydrostatic transmission
• 219AM-1 - the main tank T-80UA. An improved version of the T-80U.
• 219AC-M - the main tank T-80UM. An improved version of the T-80U, equipped with: radar-absorbing coating, R-163-50U radio station, Agava-2 thermal imager
• 219AS-M1 - the main tank T-80UM1 "Bars". T-80UM variant equipped with GTD-1250G engine, 2A46M-4 gun, complex active protection"Arena-E", TVN-5, R-163UP, "Shtora-1", R-163-50U, air conditioning system, "Velizh"
• 640 - the main experimental battle tank T-80UM2
• 291 - equipped with an auxiliary power unit GTA-18, fire-fighting equipment PPO "INEY", a night vision device for a driver's mechanic TVN-5 "Mango", a thermal imaging sight "Agava-2", a 2A46M-4 gun of 125-mm caliber, KUO 1A45M (IUS 1V558 , STV-2E42M, PDPN-1G46M) and a new self-digging blade included in the protection scheme. The radio absorbing coating RPZ-86M was also used. First, the Progress-2 thermal imaging sight (T01-P05) was installed on the tank, and later the T01-K05 Buran-M. The loading mechanism was adapted to accommodate BPS projectiles 750 mm long
• 219R - T-80B main battle tank. Equipped with a 2A46-2 gun, a 902A Tucha smoke grenade launcher, a 9K112-1 Cobra KUV and a 1A33 SUO (it includes BV 1V517, a 2E26M stabilizer, a set of sensors, a 1G43 shot resolution unit, and a 1G42 laser rangefinder sight). Increased turret armor. Subsequently, it was equipped with a GTD-1000TF engine, a turret unified with the T-64B and a 2A46M-1 gun
• 219RV - T-80BV main battle tank. T-80B equipped with dynamic hinged protection "Contact"
• 219AS-1 - the main tank T-80UE-1. Improved T-80BV. Equipped with a modernized SLA 1A45-1 and a turret from decommissioned T-80UD. In addition, a few more updates have been installed.
• 219M - improved T-80BV
• 219RD - experimental modification of the T-80B, equipped with a diesel engine A-53-2 (2V-16-2)
• 219E - an experimental modification of the T-80B, equipped with a complex of electro-optical active protection against precision weapons"Curtain-1"
• 630 - the main tank T-80BK. Commander's version of the T-80B, equipped with an additional installation of radio and navigation equipment
• 644 - experimental modification of the T-80, equipped with a V-46-6 diesel engine
• 478 is an experienced main tank. T-80 chassis, Object 476 turret, 6TD diesel engine
• 478M - project of the main tank. Improved "Object 478". Equipped with a 12CHN diesel engine and the Shater active protection system
• 478B - the main tank T-80UD "Birch". Equipped with an anti-aircraft machine gun with remote control; diesel engine 6TD and mounted DZ. Then - the built-in remote sensing.
• 478BK - an experimental modification of the T-80UD, equipped with a welded turret.
• 478D - an experienced main tank based on the T-80UD, equipped with a control system missile weapons"Aynet"
• 478DU - Ukrainian experimental main tank based on the 478D object with an improved chassis. Developed in Ukraine.
• 478DU1 - T-80UD variant for export. Designed in Ukraine
• 478DU2 - the main tank T-84. Upgraded T-80UD, equipped with a new remote sensing system and the Shtora-1 system. Designed in Ukraine
• T-84-120 "Yatagan" - a variant of the T-84 for export to Turkey, equipped with a 6TD-2 engine, a 120 mm cannon, a built-in DZ "Knife" and a welded turret with an AZ in the aft niche. Designed in Ukraine
• 478DU9 - the main tank T-84U. Upgraded T-84. Designed in Ukraine
• 478DU10 - the main tank of the BM "Oplot". Upgraded T-84U. Designed in Ukraine
• 478DU3 - modernized T-80UD. Designed in Ukraine
• 478DU4 - modernized T-80UD, equipped with an improved gearbox Developed in Ukraine
• 478DU5 - modernized T-80UD, equipped with air conditioning. Designed in Ukraine
• 478DU6 - modernized T-80UD. Designed in Ukraine
• 478DU7 - modernized T-80UD. Designed in Ukraine
• 478DU8 - modernized T-80UD. Developed in Ukraine.

6. Vehicles based on a tank

• Ladoga - vehicle with a high degree of protection
• BREM-80U - armored recovery vehicle
• Msta-S - self-propelled gun mount
• Pion - self-propelled gun mount
• S-300V - SAM
• SPM - fire truck
• PTS-4 - floating conveyor

7. In service

• USSR - entered service with the states formed after 1991
• Russia - The Russian Army, as of 2013, operates 4,000 T-80Us and T-80BVs. 3000 cars are in storage. It is planned to abandon the tanks by 2015
• Coastal troops Navy Russian Federation - as of 2013, 160 T-72, T-55M and T-80 tanks
• Angola - an undetermined number of T-80s
• Belarus - 69 T-80B
• United Kingdom - a number of T-80U, acquired in an undiscovered manner for strategic research
• Egypt - 20 T-80U and 14 T-80UK
• Yemen - 66 T-80
• Cyprus - 82 T-80U
• Republic of Korea - 80 T-80U
• Pakistan - 320 T-80UD
• USA - 4 T-80UD, 1 T-80U
• Uzbekistan - an indeterminate number of T-80BV
• Ukraine - 165 T-80s in storage.

8. Combat use

• October 4, 1993 six T-80UD tanks of the 12th Guards Tank Regiment of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya tank division shot down the White House
• Grozny was stormed during the first Chechen war. During the second Chechen war were not used
• In January 2015, T-80Bs were used in an armed conflict between government forces and Shiite rebels in Yemen.
• The OSCE mission in the same month found 10 T-80 tanks in eastern Ukraine, located in the territory controlled by the rebels.

Main battle tank T-80- the world's first serial tank with a gas turbine power plant. Developed in SKB-2 LKZ since 1968 on the basis of the main tank T-64A. The Leningrad NPO named after V.I. V.Ya.Klimova, who was engaged in the development of the engine. The tank was put into service on August 6, 1976. Serial production was carried out at LKZ (1976-1990), KhZTM (1985-1991) and OZTM (since 1985). The production of T-80 tanks has been completed. T-80 tanks began to enter the troops in the late 1970s, primarily in the western military districts and foreign groups of troops. The intense thermal resource of the gas turbine complicated the use of these tanks in hot climate zones, so they were not delivered to the southern military districts.

According to the location of mechanisms and equipment inside the tank T-80 divided into three departments: management, combat and power. The control compartment is located in the bow of the hull. It contains the driver's seat, in front of which on the bottom of the body there are steering control levers, a fuel supply pedal and an adjustable nozzle apparatus pedal. Behind the seat in the bottom of the hull is an emergency exit hatch. In 1984, the attachment of the driver's seat to the beam was introduced instead of the attachment to the bottom.

The fighting compartment is located in the middle part of the tank and is formed by a combination of the hull and the turret. The turret has a 125 mm smoothbore gun. The hull contains a cabin docked with the tower. In the cockpit there is a loading mechanism (MZ), which provides for the placement, transportation, filing and sending of shots, as well as catching and placing the extracted pallets. To the right of the gun is the seat of the tank commander, to the left - the gunner. There are seats and footrests for the commander and gunner, as well as removable guards that ensure their safety during the operation of the stabilizer, the MOH and when firing from a cannon. To the right of the gun, a PKT machine gun coaxial with it, a R-123M radio station (on later production tanks - R-173) and an MZ control panel are installed. Above the tank commander's seat in the turret there is a commander's cupola with a hatch.

Behind the walls of the cabin there is an annular conveyor of the loading mechanism. The power compartment is located in the aft part of the tank hull. It has a gas turbine engine installed longitudinally. Output of power to the shafts of onboard gearboxes is carried out from both ends of the output gearbox of the engine. Each onboard gearbox is mounted in a block with a coaxial planetary final drive carrying the drive wheel.

Gas turbine engine GGD-1000T with a capacity of 1000 l, s. It is made according to a three-shaft scheme with two mechanical independent turbochargers and with a free turbine. The main components of the engine are centrifugal compressors of low and high pressure, combustion chamber, compressor axial turbines, axial power turbine, exhaust pipe, gearboxes and gearbox.

The roof of the power compartment is removable and consists of a fixed front part and a rear lifting part, which is connected to the front one using hinges and a torsion bar. The roof opens with the effort of one person and is locked with a tie in the raised position. In the front part of the roof there are entrance shutters, closed from above with removable metal meshes.

The main armament of the tank is located in the turret - a smooth-bore 125-mm 2A46-1 gun, equipped with a two-plane weapon stabilizer 2E28M2 and a hydroelectromechanical automatic loader of approximately the same design as on the T-64 tank. The gun is installed in the tank turret on trunnions. The embrasure of the turret is closed in front by armor, bolted to the cradle and covered from the outside with a cover. The mass of the swinging part of the gun without armored mask and stabilizer is 2443 kg. Ammunition consists of 40 rounds of separate-sleeve loading with a partially burning sleeve. Shooting is carried out with high-explosive fragmentation, armor-piercing sub-caliber and HEAT shells. Direct shot range sub-caliber projectile with an initial speed of 1715 m / s for a “tank” target is 2100 m.

For firing from a cannon, an optical stereoscopic sight-rangefinder TPD-2-49 is used. The sight has independent stabilization of the field of view in the vertical plane and allows high precision determine the range to the target within 1000-4000 m. Data on the range to the target is automatically entered into the sight. Corrections are also automatically entered for the speed of the tank and data on the type of selected ammunition. For shooting at night, the TPN-1-49-23 sight is used.

Auxiliary armament consists of a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun coaxial with a cannon and a 12.7 mm NSVT machine gun in an open anti-aircraft machine gun mount. ZPU is designed for firing at air and ground targets at ranges up to 2000 m. The installation provides circular firing at machine gun pointing angles in the vertical plane from -5 "to +75". Installed on the commander's cupola. For firing from a machine gun, 12.7 mm caliber cartridges are used: armor-piercing incendiary B-32 and armor-piercing incendiary tracer BZT-44.

The caterpillar mover consists of caterpillars with a rubberized treadmill and RMSH, track rollers with rubber tires and support rollers with external shock absorption, all-metal guide wheels and drive wheels, worm-type tensioners. Suspension - individual, torsion bar, with misaligned torsion shafts, with hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers on 1, 2 and 6 suspension units.

Modifications
T-80(object 219sp2) - the basic version. Combat weight 42 tons. Crew 3 people. Serial production at LKZ from 1976 to 1978

T-80B(object 219R, 1978) - guided weapon system 9K112-1 "Cobra" and SUO 1A33 (laser rangefinder sight 1G42, tank ballistic computer 1V517, stabilizer 2E26M, shot resolution unit 1G43 and a set of sensors), gun 2A46-2, smoke grenade launcher 902A "Cloud". Improved turret armor. since 1980 - the GGD-1000TF engine with a power of 1100 hp. and a turret unified with the T-64B, since 1982 - the 2A46M-1 "Rapier-3" cannon.

T-80BV(1985) - T-80B with a set of hinged dynamic protection installed on the turret and hull.

T-80U(object 219AS, 1985) - a complex of guided weapons 9K119 "Reflex" and a weapon control complex 1A45 "Irtysh" (laser rangefinder sight 1G46, electronic ballistic computer, stabilizer 2E42, sighting and observation complex of the commander TPN-4S, combined active passive night sight TPN-4 "Buran-PA"), 2A46-M1 cannon, 45 rounds of ammunition (of which 28 in the loading mechanism), improved multilayer combined armor with built-in dynamic protection, 902B smoke grenade launching system, PPO 3ETs13 "Hoarfrost" system, built-in self-digging equipment, KMT-6 mounted track trawl. Since 1990 - the GTD-1250 engine with a power of 1250 hp, the 9K119M guided weapon system. Combat weight 46 tons.

T-80UD(object 478B "Birch", 1987) - 6-cylinder two-stroke turbo-piston diesel engine 6TD with a capacity of 1000 hp, anti-aircraft machine gun installation with remote control. Since 1988 - built-in dynamic protection.

T-80UM(1992) - Agava-2 thermal imaging device for observation and aiming. radio absorbing coating, R-163-50U radio station.

T-80UK- commander's version of the T-80UM. A system for remotely detonating high-explosive fragmentation projectiles with an electronic remote contact fuse, a Shtora-2 optical-electronic suppression complex, R-163-U and R-163-K radio stations, a TNA-4 navigation system and an AB-1- autonomous power generator P28.

According to the data declared by the Soviet side at the Vienna talks on the limitation of conventional arms in Europe, in 1990 European territory USSR, as well as in units stationed in Eastern Europe, there were 4839 T-80 tanks of all modifications. After the collapse of the USSR, almost all of them ended up on the territory of Russia and Ukraine, while the production of the T-80UD, carried out in Kharkov, also ended up abroad. Their production continued in Ukraine under the designation, mainly for export. In 1996, a contract was signed for the supply of 320 such machines to Pakistan. At the same time, 175 tanks were made again, and 145 were sent from the presence of the armed forces of Ukraine.

Rosoboronexport also actively offered T-80U tanks for export. In service with the army of Cyprus is 41 fighting machine of this type (the value of the contract is 175 million dollars). The South Korean army has received 80 T-80U tanks to pay off the Russian debt to this country. In both cases, deliveries were made from the presence of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

As part of the Soviet Army T-80 did not take part in hostilities. Tanks T-80B and T-80BV were used by the Russian Army during the military operation in Chechnya in 1995-1996. During the second Chechen campaign, T-80 tanks did not take part in hostilities.

As of January 1, 2010, T-80 tanks various modifications are in service in Belarus (92), Cyprus (41). Pakistan (320), Russia (4500, status unclear), Ukraine (271) and South Korea (80).

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE T-80B TANK
COMBAT WEIGHT, t: 42.5.
CREW, people: 3.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS, mm: length - 9651, width - 3582. height (on the roof of the tower) - 2219, ground clearance (on the main bottom) - 451.
ARMAMENT: 1 gun 2A46M-1 caliber 125 mm. 1 PKT machine gun, caliber 7.62 mm, 1 anti-aircraft machine gun NSVT caliber 12.7 mm, 8 launchers 81 mm caliber for launching smoke grenades.
AMMUNITION: 38 shots, 300 rounds of 12.7 mm caliber, 1250 rounds of 7.62 mm caliber.
AUTOMATIC LOADER: hydroelectromechanical, with constant loading angle.
WEAPON STABILIZER: two-plane electro-hydraulic 2E26M.
GUIDED WEAPONS: 9K112-1 Cobra, with TUR 9M112 with radio control and optical feedback. AIMING DEVICES: laser range finder 1G42, periscopic night sight TPN-3-49.
RESERVATION, mm: anti-shell combined.
ENGINE: GTD-1000TF, made according to a three-shaft scheme with two mechanical independent turbochargers and a free power turbine; power 1100 hp (809 kW).
TRANSMISSION: mechanical, planetary; consists of two units, each of which includes an onboard gearbox, an onboard gearbox and hydraulic servo drives of the motion control system.
RUNNING GEAR: six double rubber-coated road wheels on board, five single rubber-coated support rollers, a rear-mounted drive wheel with removable gear rims (lantern gear), idler wheel; individual torsion bar suspension. hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers on the suspension of the 1st, 2nd and 6th track rollers; each track has 80 tracks.
MAX SPEED, km/h: 70.
POWER RESERVE, km: 600.
OVERCOME OBSTACLES: elevation angle, deg. - 32; moat width, m - 2.85; wall height, m ​​- 1, ford depth, m - 1.2 (with OPVT - 5 m).
COMMUNICATIONS: R-123M radio station. intercom R-124.

Main battle tank T-80 and T-80B

General view of the T-80 tank produced in 1977

Longitudinal, transverse sections and plan view of the T-80 tank produced in 1977. The turret is monolithic.

Object 219R sb-3 (1983)

Object 219R sb-3 (1983) Top view. Tower with sand cores.

History reference

After the cessation of work on heavy tanks of the Leningrad Design Bureau Kirov plant were engaged in the creation of a rocket tank based on the Kharkov "object 432". In 1967, work on the tank was stopped, which was a serious blow to the team and chief designer J. Ya. Kotin.

By this time, preparations were underway for the mass production of the T-64 tank at tank factories, the Kirov Plant was instructed to prepare the mass production of this tank. The idea of ​​installing a gas turbine engine on the T-64 tank arose, attempts to install a gas turbine engine on a tank were made earlier, but these were modifications of the existing engines developed for helicopters. In those years, the gas turbine engine was considered a fairly promising engine, the development of a specialized tank gas turbine engine began at the Leningrad NPO named after V. Ya. Klimov under the leadership of S. P. Izotov.

In 1968, Zh.Ya. Kotin took up the duties of deputy. Minister of the Ministry of Defense, his place was taken by N. S. Popov.

March 1974 Sea trials of the first tank "Object 219" produced in 1974

The decision to create a gas turbine tank was made by the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR on April 16, 1968. From that moment, the history of the T-80 tank began. Already in May 1969, a new gas turbine engine was installed on a prototype tank. In 1970 The Kaluga Motor-Building Plant was entrusted with the development of serial production of the GTD-1000T tank engine, developed by NPO named after. V. Ya. Klimova.

The machine was put into service in 1976 and became the first in the world serial tank with the main power plant based on a gas turbine engine. Three main tanks began to be in service - T-64, T-72 and T-80. In terms of combat characteristics, they differed slightly from each other.

Fighting compartment T-80.

The design of the T-80 used used elements of the T-64A tank: gun, ammunition, loading mechanism. The first T-80s were equipped with turrets similar to those installed on the T-64A. A monolithic cast tower was installed on the "object 219-sb2SB".

Improvement of the SLA of the tank "Object 219" was carried out in the direction of increasing the accuracy of measuring the range and, as a result, reducing the time for preparing a shot. The work was carried out on an initiative basis together with the Krasnogorsk Central Design Bureau and the State Optical Institute. S. I. Vavilov (GOI) as part of the modernization of the standard optical tank sight-rangefinder TPD-2-49 along the path of pairing a laser rangefinder with it. The work from OKBT was headed by Deputy Chief Designer I. A. Madera, from the Central Design Bureau - by K. Z. Tsiganer, from the GOI - by I. F. Balashov. By the time the main fundamental decisions were worked out, the work met with support from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Defense. As a result, by joint efforts, it was possible to create a quite successfully working design of the TPD-K1 quantum rangefinder sight (code "Toros").

Layout of stabilizer nodes 2E28M2

Windshield wiper for the protective glass of the rangefinder sight TPD-K1

The volume of field tests TPD-K1 on tanks T-72, "Object 219" and T-64A, conducted from December 26, 1974 to March 15, 1975, included stationary tests, field, firing, shelling tests of the tank "Object 219", special and mileage tests. The TPD-K1 and the electric block were installed in tanks at the standard mounting points for the TPD-2-49 rangefinder sight and differed only in the location of the power supply unit and the range output unit, depending on the availability of free space in the combat compartments.

Additionally, it was necessary to refine the armor protection of the head of the rangefinder sight: on the towers of all tanks, the entrance window of the sight shaft was expanded, and the right entrance window was drowned out. The test results showed a reduction in the preparation time for the first shot by 1.5-2 times, an increase in the effective range when firing from a standstill by 500 m, while on the move by 300 m, and a significant simplification of the range measurement process.

On the T-80B, the control system 1A33 "Ob", developed on the T-64B, was adopted without changes.

Thus, in terms of individual structural elements, the T-80 was unified with the previously released T-64A and T-64B tanks.

The layout of the T-80 tank is similar to that adopted on the T-64A. Improved visibility from his seat was achieved by installing three viewing devices instead of one.

T-80B (1978) - installed upgraded gun 2A46–2, a new fire control system (FCS) 1A33, the 9K112 guided weapon system has been introduced, and protection characteristics have been improved. Since 1980, a GTD-1000TF engine with a power of 809 kW (1,100 hp) has been installed.

The undercarriage of the T-80 was designed specifically for this tank, and unlike the T-64, it contains road wheels with an outer rubber band. Caterpillar track, made of stampedelements connected to each other parallel, those. double The use of suchcaterpillars reduced vibrations,transmitted from the running gear totank hull, and significantly reducednoise level generated by movement.

In the period of the mid-70s, diesel engines with a power of 1000 hp had not yet been created. and more, therefore, a number of high-ranking officials, primarily D.F. Ustinov, saw the prospect of tank building in the gas turbine engine.

The T-80 tank with a gas turbine engine arose as an alternative to the T-64 tank with5TDF engine. PTherefore its designer N.S. Popov tried in every possible way to prevent the organizationproduction of the 6TD-1 engine, which was developed in the late 70sand its installation in the T-80 tank. In the highest circles of the country there was a constant discussion - which of the engines is better. It was obvious that the gas turbine engine is significantly inferior to the piston engine in terms of cost, has largetravel fuel costs, which requires additional costsfor its transportation and large volumes in the tank to accommodate it.

But few could resist D. F. Ustinov - one of the first persons of the state. For D. F. Ustinov wasthe important fact is that American tank"Abrame" was preparedthe answer is in the form of a Soviet T-80 tank.

And few people asked the economic aspect of this issue. The cost of one experimental GTD-1000T for the period of 1970 was 167 thousand rubles. the cost of a whole T-64 tank at that time was 174 thousand rubles. that is, in the T-80, only the engine cost as much as a whole T-64 tank, while the main characteristics, except for the maximum speed, the tanks were similar.

For the period of adoption in 1976, the cost of the T-80 exceeded the cost of the T-64A three times - 480 and 140 thousand rubles, respectively.

By the beginning of the 80s, the cost of serial production of gas turbine engines, due to mass production, had dropped to 100 thousand rubles. But the cost of the T-80B compared to the T-64B equipped with the same FCS and produced in the same period of time was 2 times higher. But, the economic characteristics did not change the determination of D. F. Ustinov to focus on the T-80 as a single tank for the army. Opinion of D.F. Ustinov was not supported by many, including the head of the GBTU A.Kh. Babadzhanyan, who replaced him in 1980 Yu.M. Potapov, but did not openly express their opinion.

By the end of the 80s in Soviet army(east of the Urals) there were about 100 T-80 tanks, 3700 T-80B tanks and 600 T-80BV tanks. In GSVG in 1987 there were 2260 T-80B and T-80BV tanks and about 4000 thousand T-64A, T-64B and T-64BV. Tanks T-64 and T-80 formed the basis of the Soviet tank troops.

More « The history of domestic tank building in the post-war period.

On the this moment T-80BV tanks make up a significant part of the Russian tank forces and need to be modernized. In the absence of a mass-produced engine with a capacity of 1200 hp at the moment in the Russian Federation. the modernization of the T-80B is quite reasonable. Existing developments to improve firepower, such as the 45M complex, the active protection complex, introduction of hydrostatic transmission (GOP) of the turning mechanism, the reserves of the modernization of the loading mechanism provide the T-80B with great potential for modernization. It is also rational to equip T-80B tanks with turrets of decommissioned T-80UD tanks with more advanced protection and weapons systems. The direction chosen in the Russian Federation for the modernization of the existing tank fleet until 2015, instead of expensive purchases new technology at UVZ opens up prospects for the modernization of the T-80B and T-80U.

Firepower

On all modifications of the main battle tank T-80, a 125 mm smoothbore gun of the D-81 type, unified with domestic tanks, is installed as artillery weapons.

The fighting compartment is similar in layout to the fighting compartment of the T-64 tank. In addition to 28 shots in the mechanized ammo rack, there are three shots within the fighting compartment (7 shells and charges for them are placed in the control compartment).

Ammunition for the gun consists of 38 shots. 28 shotscatches are placed in the conveyor and by type fit into anyratio. 10 shots placed in non-mechanizedlaying and are completed only with high-explosive fragmentation and kumu-lazy shots.

The fighting compartment contains: 1 projectile - vertically on the cabin floor, behind the back of the commander's seat; 1 sleeve - on the floor of the front right side of the cab; 2 shells and 2 shells - at the partition between the middle fuel tanks.

In the department of management are placed: 5 shells and 7 shells - in the tank rack; 2 shells - on the bottom of the tank rack.

Sleeves installed in the fighting compartment must be covered with covers.

The ammunition load of the coaxial PKT machine gun includes 1250 rounds of ammunition, equipped in five belts (250 rounds each) and stacked in their magazines.

Five stores included in the ammunition are located in the fighting compartment of the tank:

one store - on a machine gun;

three shops - in the niche of the tower on the right;

one store - on the front right side of the cab.

Ammunition for anti-aircraft installation consists of 300 rounds,

equipped with three belts (100 rounds each) and packed in regular magazines, which are located:

one shop - on an anti-aircraft installation;

two shops - on the right side of the stern of the tower.

Ammunition for the AKMS assault rifle includes 300 rounds of ammunition loaded into 10 magazines (30 pieces in each). Stores are stacked in two bags and placed; one bag - in a rack in the tower, behind the back of the commander's seat; the other is in a rack in the tower, in front of the commander, above the radio station. F-1 hand grenades (10 pcs.) Are stacked in five bags and placed in a rack in the tower, in front of the commander, above the radio station. On the cockpit shelf, behind the back of the commander's seat, there is an expelling charge for emergency ejection of the 9M112M product. Ammunition for the rocket launcher (12 signal rockets) is packed into two cartridge belts, which are placed in a rack on the wall of the commander's cabin.

The T-80 tank and its modifications are equipped with MZ similar to those used on the T-64 tanks.

The first T-80 tanks were equipped with a gunner's sight TPD-2-49 with an optical base rangefinder, with independent stabilization of the field of view only in the vertical plane. Later, the development of a tank sight with a laser rangefinder began. The task was to develop the designs of the laser rangefinder and its installation in the TPD2-49 tank sight-rangefinder, the development was carried out by the Central Design Bureau of the Krasnogorsk Mechanical Plant. Zverev.

It was possible to place a laser rangefinder module and elements of its interface with the optics of this sight in the body of a serial sight. The sight of the first stage was named TPD-K1. The specialists of the Kirov plant took an active part both in the "binding" of the modernized sight to the tank, and in the creation of the sight itself. With this sight, the tank was put into service, but the most common modification of the T-80 was the T-80B with the 1A33 Ob control system and the 9K112 guided weapon system, completely borrowed from the T-64B. More about the SLA 1A33. The gunner also has a TPN3-49 night sight with an image intensifier I - generation and target identification range in passive mode 850 m and in active mode with illumination up to 1200 m.

The TPD-K1 sight was later used in the T-72A and T-64A tanks. The task of the T-80B gunner comes down to pointing the sight mark at the target, measuring the range, choosing ammunition and firing a shot.

A 7.62 mm PKT machine gun is paired with the cannon. For firing at air targets, there is a 12.7 mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the base of the tank commander's hatch.

The ZPU on the commander's turret is made in the old fashioned way, without any electric drives. Moreover, whether or not an anti-aircraft machine gun is needed to rotate commander's cupola the tank commander must rotate the entire structure together with the ZPU, and this is approximately 300 kg of mass, and even the NSV-12.7 Utes machine gun protrudes from the axis of rotation by one and a half meters, that is still a lever.

Protection

Strengthening the protection of the T-80B was carried out through the use of rolled armor of increased hardness of the BTK-1 type for the frontal and side parts of the hull. The frontal part of the hull had an optimal ratio of three-barrier armor thicknesses similar to that proposed for the T-72A.

During the development of the tank, there were attempts to create a cast turret from steel with increased hardness, which were unsuccessful. As a result, the design of the turret was chosen from cast armor of medium hardness with a poured core similar to the turret of the T-72A tank, and the thickness of the armor of the T-80B turret was increased, such turrets were accepted for serial production from 1977.

Further reinforcement of the armor of the T-80B tank was achieved in the T-80BV, which was put into service in 1985. The armor protection of the frontal part of the hull and turret of this tank is fundamentally the same as on the T-80B tank, but consists of reinforced combined armor and hinged dynamic protection "Contact-1". During the transition to serial production of the T-80U tank, some T-80BV tanks of the latest series (object 219RB) were equipped with towers of the T-80U type, but with the old FCS and the Cobra guided weapon system.

To provide protection against high-precision weapons that hit the tank, as a rule, from the upper hemisphere to the engine compartment area (all of them are mainly with thermal homing heads), the exhaust manifold guide grille was made in a box shape. This made it possible to somewhat remove the exit point of hot gases from the aft armor plate and actually "deceive" the homing aids. In addition, the set of underwater tank driving equipment (OPVT) available on the machine was placed at the stern of the tower, thus covering a significant part of the MTO roof.

The inner walls of the fighting compartment and the control compartment were covered with a layer of lining from polymer material. He does double protective function. When hit in a tank by kinetic and armor-piercing high-explosive anti-tank ammunition it prevents small armor fragments from scattering inside the body, which are formed on the inner surface of the armor. In addition, thanks to a specially selected chemical composition, this lining significantly reduces the effect of gamma radiation on the crew. For the same purposes, a special plate and an insert in the driver's seat (protecting it from radiation when overcoming contaminated terrain) serve.

Protection against neutron weapons is also provided. As is known, these particles with zero charge are most effectively retained by hydrogen-containing materials. Therefore, the lining, which was mentioned above, is made of just such a material. The fuel tanks of the engine power supply system are located outside and inside the vehicle in such a way as to surround the crew with an almost continuous anti-neutron belt.

Also, to protect against weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical and bacteriological) and to extinguish fires arising in the vehicle, a special semi-automatic collective protection system (SKZ) installed in the tank is designed. It includes: a radiation and chemical reconnaissance device (PRKhR), ZETs-11-2 switching equipment, a filter-ventilation unit (FVU), a sub-pressure meter, an engine stop mechanism (MOD), closing seals with actuators and permanent hull and turret seals. The system operates in two modes: automatic and manual - by commands from the control panel (in exceptional cases, to extinguish fires by command from the P11-5 panel).

In the automatic (main) mode, when radioactive or chemical air contamination is detected outside the tank (using the PRHR device in the constant air monitoring mode), a command is sent from the sensors of the system to the actuators of the closing seals and the filter-ventilation unit is turned on, creating an excess pressure of purified air in the habitable compartments . At the same time, sound and light alarms are activated, notifying the crew of the nature of the contamination of the area. The efficiency and reliability of the system's operation has been proven during special tests with simulations of situations of air contamination that are close to realistically possible.

The fire-fighting equipment is connected to the CPS through the ZETs-11-2 switching equipment and can operate automatically or from the buttons on the consoles of the driver and commander. In automatic mode, the equipment is triggered by a signal from the temperature sensors of the ZETs-11-2 equipment. At the same time, the supercharger is turned off and the HVU valves are closed and the MOD is activated. As a result, air access to the MTO is stopped. Then the squib cartridge of one of the three cylinders with a fire extinguishing composition is blown up and through the sprayer it is filled with the corresponding (place of fire) compartment of the tank. After extinguishing the fire, the HVU supercharger automatically turns on with the opening of the valves, which contributes to the rapid removal of combustion products and fire extinguishing composition from the habitable compartments of the tank. In this case, an electrical signal is removed from the MOD, which makes it possible to start the engine.

The listed design solutions serve to protect the crew and internal equipment of the tank in case of hit by various anti-tank weapons. In order to reduce the likelihood of their hit, thermal smoke equipment was installed on the T-80, for setting up TDA smoke screens and smoke grenade launchers of the 902B Tucha system. The tank is equipped with equipment for self-digging and for hanging a mine trawl.

Mobility characteristics

Power point

The power plant consists of a gas turbine engine and systems that ensure its operation: fuel, control, oil, air cleaning, air and special equipment. To special equipment power plant include systems for blowing dust and vibration cleaning, a device for spraying fuel and blowing nozzles, thermal smoke equipment.

T-80 tank with gas turbine engine from 1976 produced in Omsk with an engine that producedKaluga Motor Plant of the Ministry of Aviationindustry. The development of this engine wasimplemented LNPO them. Klimov in the period 1968-1972.

The engine had the symbol GTD 1000T. Power it upwas 1000 hp on the stand, which corresponded to 795 hp. intank, specific effective fuel consumption in benchconditions - no more than 240 g/e.l.s.h. In tank conditions - 270 g / e.l.s.h. The warranty period is 500 hours, engine life is 1000 hours.

GTD 1000T engine -three-shaft, with two-stage centrifugal-centrifugalcompressor, two single-stage compressor turbines,annular countercurrent combustion chamber, freesingle-stage power turbine with adjustable nozzle.

The working cycle of a gas turbine engine consists of the same processes as the cycle of a piston engine - intake, compression, combustion, expansion and exhaust. However, unlike piston engines, in which these processes proceed sequentially in the same place (in the cylinder), in GTE they are carried out simultaneously and continuously in different places: intake and compression processes in compressors; combustion - in the combustion chamber; expansions - in turbines; release - in the outlet pa-tube.

The power take-off to the driving wheels of the machine is carried out from a free turbine through the engine gearbox and transmission. The frequency of rotation of the rotor of a free turbine, depending on the position of the fuel supply pedal and soil resistance, can vary from zero to 26650 rpm.

The engine in the power section of the machine is installed in a monoblock with units and system nodes, which speeds up and simplifies assembly and disassembly work.

The monoblock is mounted along the longitudinal axis of the tank on three supports: two rear yokes and a front suspension support. On the T-80 tank, the time to replace the engine is 5 hours, each gearbox - 4.5 hours. (Final report on military operation of the 3rd company in the PriVO).

On the T-72 tank, the engine replacement time is 24 hours. (Report 38 of the Research Institute of BTT, “Control over the course of military operation of T-72 tanks in the BVO). The replacement time for each gearbox is 10.5 hours, the guitar is 17.7 hours (Manual for the military repair of T-72 tanks).

Fuel system

The fuel system includes eight internal and five external fuel tanks, pumps, filters, valves, taps, pipelines and control drives.

To refuel the fuel system, fuel grades T-1, TS-1, RT, as well as diesel fuel L, 3, A are used. The main fuel is T-1 and TS-1. It is allowed to mix diesel fuel with fuel T-1, TS-1 and RT in any proportion. General stock fuel in the booked volume is 1110 liters, external tanks - 700 liters, additional barrels 400 liters.

Air cleaning system

The air cleaning system is designed to clean the air entering the engine, the high-pressure turbine nozzle, for blowing the power compartment units.

The air cleaning system includes air intake louvers of the roof of the power compartment with a protective mesh, an air cleaner and radiator unit, a fan for blowing units, two fans for dust extraction and oil cooling, an air duct for blowing units,

two air ducts for ejection of cooling air and dust, hatch of the bulkhead of the power compartment, air filters for the nozzle apparatus of the high-pressure turbine and pressurization of the support cavities.

Transmission

The transmission of the machine is mechanical, with a hydraulic servo control system, based on that used on the T-64, adapted for the gas turbine engine.

Chassis

The design of the chassis T-80contains track rollers with outer rubber, a caterpillar track made of stampedelements connected to each other parallel, those. doublerubber-metal hinge, whilestamped track elements in placescontact with road wheels (i.e. on the tracktrack) are made with a rubber band.

The suspension of the tank is individual, torsion bar, with hydraulic shock absorbers. It consists of 12 suspension units and 6 shock absorbers.

The placement of the torsion bars is parallel, for the entire width of the machine body, with the starboard torsion bars forward, while the left and right side torsion bars are not interchangeable.

Shock absorbers - hydraulic, piston, telescopic type, double-acting. The tank has six shock absorbers (three on each side): on the first, second and sixth suspension units.

Tactical specifications
Parameter	Unit of measurement	T-80B
Full mass		42,5
Crew	people
Specific power	hp/t	25,8
Engine (GTE-1000T)	hp	1000
Tank width
Ground pressure	kgf / cm 2	0,86
Temperature mode of operation	°С	40…+55 (with power reduction)
Tank length
with gun forward	mm	9651
corps	mm	6982
Tank width
along the caterpillar	mm	3384
removable protective screens	mm	3582
Tower roof height	mm	2219
Support surface length	mm	4284
Ground clearance	mm
Track width	mm
Travel speed
Average on a dry dirt road	km/h	40…45
Maximum on paved road	km/h
In reverse gear, maximum	km/h
Fuel consumption per 100 km
On a dry dirt road	l, up to	450…790
On paved road	l, up to	430…500
Power reserve:
on main fuel tanks	km
with extra barrels	km
Ammunition
Shots to the cannon	PCS
(of which in the conveyor of the loading mechanism)	PCS
Cartridges:
to machine gun (7.62 mm)	PCS	1250
to machine gun (12.7 mm)	PCS
Aerosol grenades	PCS

Used materials:

“A tank that defies time. To the 25th anniversary of the T-80 tank. Team of authors: M. V. Ashik, A. S. Efremov, N. S. Popov. St. Petersburg. 2001

“Motors and destinies. About time and about myself. N.K. Ryazantsev. Kharkov. 2009

The forties and fifties of the last century was a real "finest hour" for turbine power plants. The turbine engine won an easy victory over the piston engine in the aircraft industry and tank builders also began to produce the first drawings of tanks with similar power plants. And this is not surprising: this engine has much more high performance, compared to traditional diesel or gasoline engine; having the same weight, a gas turbine engine is much more powerful, and this increases the speed of the tank and allows you to install more powerful weapons on it.

The Soviet Union is the first country in the world to establish serial production tank, which was a gas turbine engine (GTE). Although I must say that it took several decades. Drawings of tanks with gas turbine engines began to appear in the late 40s, and the T 80 battle tank was put into service in 1976. But the task was not easy. The first turbines were imperfect and ill-suited for use as tank engines.

In Kharkov, in 1963, a modification of the T-64 tank was created, on which a gas turbine engine was installed, but this tank did not go into series. Despite all the advantages of gas turbine engines, there were problems that could not be solved in the 60s. The main difficulty in using a gas turbine power plant was to clean the air from dust. If the aircraft turbine encounters this problem only during landing and takeoff, then the tank engine operates in completely different conditions and the tank column often travels in a continuous cloud of dust. Also, gas turbine engines had higher fuel consumption than traditional engines. In the 50-70s of the last century, numerous drawings of tanks with gas turbine engines were created, but most of them remained at the project stage.

In 1969, the development of a new tank began at the Kirov Plant, on which a gas turbine engine was installed. The tank was developed on the basis of the T-64, but after the first tests it became clear that the drawings of the tank required significant changes. First of all, this applied to the chassis of the car. It took seven years to develop all the changes, and in 1976 the main tank T 80 was adopted. This tank was in service with the USSR army for more than 20 years, now it is the main battle tank of the Russian armed forces. This machine went through many conflicts and wars, was involved during the CTO in Chechnya.

Battle tank T-80. Description

Like any other Soviet tank, the main tank T 80 had a classic layout, inside it housed a crew of three. The mass of the vehicle was 42 tons, the frontal parts of the tank were made of multilayer armor. This made it possible to increase the security of the tank without increasing the thickness of the armor and adding extra weight. The tank engine had a special air purification system from dust, which made it possible to retain 97% of dust particles. The use of the GPA made it possible to seriously improve the technical characteristics of the new tank, the speed and maneuverability of the vehicle were seriously increased. One of positive features Because of gas turbine engines is their "illegibility" in terms of fuel, gasoline, aviation kerosene, diesel and other fuels can be used to refuel the T-80. Fuel consumption is relatively small. The internal structure of the tank and the conditions for the crew are well thought out - driving the tank is very easy and convenient.

The tank is armed with a 125-mm smoothbore gun (firing range up to 5 km), the ammunition load includes 40 shells (later modifications have 38 and 45 shells), both sub-caliber, and cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation. Later modifications of the vehicle were able to fire Cobra and Reflex missiles (firing range 4 and 5 km). The armament also includes an anti-aircraft machine gun and a PKT (7.62 mm).

The Soviet main tank T 80 had the following modifications: T-80U, T-80B (T-80BV), T-80UD and T-80U-M1 Bars, although the latter is a completely Russian tank created in Russia after the collapse of the USSR. Below is a table describing all the main characteristics of the T-80 and its modifications.

TTX of the main modifications of the T-80 tank

Modification	T-80		T-80B (T-80BV)	T-80U	T-80UD
Plant-developer	Kirovsky plant				Kharkov plant
Adopted	1976		1978	1985	1987
Weight	42		42,5	46	46
Dimensions
Length, mm	6780		6982	7012	7020
Width, mm	3525		3582	3603	3755
Height, mm	2300		2219	2215	2215
Clearance, mm	451				529
Availability and type of protection
Dynamic	Not		"Contact-1"	"Contact-5"	"Contact-5"
Active	Not				"Curtain"
Armor	cast and rolled, combined
Armament
A gun	2A46-1		2A46-1	2A46-1/4	2A46-1
Firing range, m	0-5000
	40		38	45	45
Crew	3
Power point
engine's type		gas turbine			Diesel
Power, hp		1000	1100	1250	1000
		70			60
Cross country speed		40-45
Specific power hp/t		23,8	25,8	21,74	21,7
Fuel reserve, l		1840
Fuel consumption l/km		3,7
suspension type		Torsion

Modifications T-80U and T-80UD are the most advanced versions of this tank. T-80U was created in 1985 in Leningrad, and T-80UD - in 1987 in Kharkov. And the T-80U-M1 "Bars" was already created in Russia, after the collapse of the USSR. These vehicles received the most advanced fire control system, their protection was improved (by increasing the thickness of the armor and installing dynamic protection). At the same time, the weight of the car increased slightly. The T-80UD is distinguished by a more powerful engine (diesel 1000 hp), a new turret with improved armor and an improved fire control system. Ammunition was increased.

All modifications of the T-80 tank use an automatic engine control system, which significantly reduces fuel consumption. The visibility for the crew has been improved.

T-80U-M1 "Bars"

I would like to separately talk about the latest modification of this very interesting machine - about the famous Russian "flying" tank T-80U-M1 "Bars", which was created in the early 90s in Russia.

The creators of the Russian "Bars" aimed to improve the protection of the tank, increase its maneuverability and provide it with a lighter and more advanced weapon system. The aiming systems and visibility of the crew members have also been significantly improved. The tank weighs 47 tons. The layout is classic. The tank can fire guided missiles, firing range up to 5 km. Ammunition consists of different types shells.

The Russian "Bars" is equipped with the same reliable and proven 125-mm 2A46M cannon (firing range up to 5 km), ammunition - 45 rounds. The rigidity of the barrel was increased and this improved the accuracy of fire. The fire control system installed on the tank takes into account many characteristics: the range to the target, its speed, the speed of the tank itself, wind strength, charge temperature. All this significantly improves the accuracy of shooting and allows you to send the projectile right on target. The control system allows the tank commander to shoot as well. T-80U-M1 gives great review for all crew members. The tank can be equipped with a night sight or a thermal imager. The thickness of the armor has been increased, with a slight increase in the mass of the tank.

Tank protection also corresponds to the best world analogues. It consists:

• combined multi-layer armor of the upper front of the hull and turret;
• built-in dynamic protection (VDZ);
• complex of active protection "Arena";
• KOEP "Shtora-1".

The installation of an active protection complex increases the survivability of the tank several times, even without increasing the thickness of the armor and maintaining the weight of the tank. Especially when participating in local conflicts, when the main means of destruction are hand grenade launchers. The experience of using "Bars" during the CTO in Chechnya confirmed this. We can safely say that the T-80U-M1 is one of the most protected tanks modern Russia. Built-in protection provides better protection against projectiles.

This tank has an engine with a maximum power of 1250 hp. Its specific power is 27.2 hp/t, which is a record. No wonder the Bars is called the "flying tank", it is distinguished by excellent speed and maneuverability. Below is a description of the T-80U-M1 tank. The engine management system can significantly reduce fuel consumption.

The T-80U-M1 automatic loader contains 28 rounds of ammunition and this ensures a fast rate of fire.
Below is a table describing the parameters of the tank.

Modification	T-80U-M1 "Bars"
Adopted	1976
The weight	47
Dimensions
Length, mm	7010
Width, mm	3603
Height, mm	2202
Clearance, mm	450
Availability and type of protection
Dynamic	There is
Active	There is
Armament
A gun	2A46-1
Firing range, m	0-5000
Ammunition, number of shells	40
Power point
engine's type	gas turbine
Power, hp	1250
Maximum highway speed	70
Specific power hp/t	23,8
Fuel reserve, l	1840
Fuel consumption l/km	3,7

At the same time, the Russian "Bars" is easy to operate, the arrangement of the fighting compartment is extremely well thought out and convenient. For this tank, Russian specialists developed a unique air conditioning system, which makes driving machines easy and convenient. It can be said that the Russian tank T-80U-M1 is the best of all modifications of this machine.

Video about the T-80 tank

T-80U-M1 "Bars"

The T-80 tank is in service with Russia and a dozen other countries. The tank took part in many wars and conflicts, including in Chechnya and the Caucasus. How many more years this tank will be in service in Russia, no one can say.

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