T-72 Combat Experience 1990s
"Operation Desert Storm" in the Persian Gulf (1991)
Restoring his army after years of war with Iran, the Iraqi leadership in the late 1980s, with the technical assistance of the USSR decided to organize the production of the licensed version of the T-72M1. This tank was locally called "Assad Babil" ("Lion of Babylon"). The main difficulty in the production of tanks was to establish the release of quality gun barrels. This problem had not been solved completely. According to some sources, about 100 of these tanks were built.
As for the fleet in existence in 1988-1989. these tanks were modernized to enhance the protection of the upper frontal parts of the hull of the tank. This was achieved by welding additional armor plate thickness of 30 mm with an air gap of the same size. This measure was taken by the Iraqis after learning opportunities tank protection from destruction of ammunition 120 mm rifled tank gun British L11A5, installed on the Iranian tanks "Chieftain", seized by Iraq during the war.
This led to no penetration by English 120mm tank gun shellsat a distance of 1000 m. In addition, the T-72 was equipped with automatic fire-extinguishing systems French. Many tanks installed generator optical interference in China, similar to the design of the Soviet "Curtains."
T-72 tanks were used by the Iraqis during the invasion of Kuwait. The whole world saw video footage chronicles: T-72M1 Republican Guard on the beaches of Kuwait, with directed seaward gun barrels. Then the Iraqis feared retaliation United States, but it was followed by almost half a year.
Iraqi machine could possibly resist their contemporaries, American tanks M1 and M1IP, but these tanks were withdrawn by American command in the second tier, and fight the T-72 faced the latest at the time, the M1A1NA M1A1 with depleted uranium armor. Of course, with overwhelming air superiority Iraqi tank crews had a hard time. But the Americans, having met fierce resistance from Iraqi territory, did not go into the country.
Operation Desert Storm was the first conflict to see the extensive use of depleted uranium [DU] munitions and armor. The new DU rounds gave coalition forces a marked operational advantage. Unit histories from the Gulf War contain many anecdotes attesting to the effectiveness of DU "silver bullets," as they were called by US tankers. One armor brigade commander described looking on in "amazement" as his soldiers -- who in training had never fired at targets beyond 2,400 meters (1.5 miles) -- routinely scored first-shot kills on targets out to 3,000 meters (1.9 miles) and beyond. DU armor gained an equally impressive reputation.
A story illustrating DU's offensive and defensive renown involved an M1A1 "Heavy Armor" tank that had become mired in the mud. The unit (part of the 24th Infantry Division) had gone on, leaving this tank to wait for a recovery vehicle. Three T-72's appeared and attacked. The first fired from under 1,000 meters, scoring a hit with a shaped-charge (high explosive) round on the M1A1's frontal armor. The hit did no damage. The M1A1 fired a 120mm armor-piercing round that penetrated the T-72 turret, causing an explosion that blew the turret into the air.
The second T-72 fired another shaped-charge round, hit the frontal armor, and did no damage. This T-72 turned to run, and took a 120mm round in the engine compartment and blew the engine into the air. The last T-72 fired a solid shot (sabot) round from 400 meters. This left a groove in the M1A1's frontal armor and bounced off. The T-72 then backed up behind a sand berm and was completely concealed from view. The M1A1 depressed its gun and put a sabot round through the berm, into the T-72, causing an explosion.
The conflicts in the former Yugoslavia
Another hot spot, where the T-72 were involved became Yugoslavia, torn by civil war, where the tanks with their Yugoslav version of the M-84 actively used by the warring parties.
It should be noted that the direction in this region Ukrainian peacekeeping contingent was also armed with the T-72B in the white "peacekeeping" color. Ukrainian military commanders decided not to risk with the armament of the Ukrainian army tanks T-64, and was sent to a hot spot proven long-term operation of the machine production in Nizhny Tagil.
Conflicts on the territory of the former USSR
After the division of the Soviet army tanks T-72 got the newly formed armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan. And then the former Soviet tanks had to fight against each other. By 1991 there were stationed in Azerbaijan Soviet 4th Army had 1,310 tanks, armored vehicles and heavy artillery, stationed in Armenia and 7th Army 955 units of heavy weapons (including tanks 325 and 120, respectively). Therefore, the extent of the use of the T-72 by both sides were quite significant.
Another hot spot was Tajikistan. Stationed here Russian 201st Motorized Infantry Division, equipped with tanks T-72, T-72AV and T-72B leads a column of food, guarded strategic objects, and do everything to stabilize the situation. In addition, the border guards imparted his tanks fire fighters thwarted attempts to break into Tajik territory.
Also, the T-72 as part of the Tajik troops actively fought against the armed forces of the Islamic opposition.
Operation in the North Caucasus
In 1994, T-72 of various modifications had already engaged in battle on the territory of Russia. In late November, the T-72 Chechen opposition with a hastily assembled teams of crews entered Grozny. The ill-prepared assault failed, and in addition to T-72 tanks Shali tank regiment, the separatists have at their disposal about two dozen similar machines.
A not very well organized so-called "assault" of the Chechen capital, was "organized" by the Russian army in December 1994. In Grozny this consisted of T-72, T-72A and T-72B. Most large losses suffered tankers 131st Maikop brigade, whose tanks were trapped near the train station.
According to the Russian General Staff to the middle of March 1995 the total number of personnel of the illegal armed groups, without taking into account the potential reserves in mountain areas, numbered more than 9 thousand. People, of whom the mercenaries and volunteers from near and far abroad, accounted for more than 3.5 thousand people.
On their arms had: tanks - about 22 units, BMP (APCs) - 32-36 units, Field artillery pieces and mortars - 35-42 units, Plants MLRS BM-21 - 5-7 units, ZSU (TAL ) - 16-18 units. At the same time the beginning of the month of February was an increase in the number of armored vehicles twice, guns and mortars - an average of 10-12 units at the expense of repair that has been established for a number of industrial settlements, including Shali and Gudermes, as well as supplies from Azerbaijan through the territory of Dagestan. Should also take into account the presence of a number of tanks with defects of various kinds, used as stationary gun emplacements.
The first operation revealed the extent of degradation of what was then the Russian army. Tank crews were poorly trained, part of the technology was out of whack. Many participated in the battles of tanks that were not equipped with reactive armor. The report summarizes the experience of fighting in the North Caucasus in the first campaign, stated: "However, the current system of logistics, state of combat and special training of troops in peacetime for various reasons were not able to provide quality content AME in storage and get ready for combat application.
"A significant number of faults were identified during the preparation for shipment of parts and units in areas of operational mission, was due to understaffing lower formations and units for peacetime and extremely low training of personnel, and that affected the quality of the content and preparation of vehicles, led to premature their failure.
"Tanks were sent as part of departments and units of the presence of military districts, not supplemented with on site Terms of consumables and spare parts, which then had to serve in combat areas to central depots and warehouses.
"State forces and means of technical support to the beginning of the operation was characterized by low staffing, and insufficient equipment of mobile facilities maintenance, resulting in the performance of mobile repair of CB was reduced by almost 50% ".
However, not even fully equipped for battle T-72 saved the lives of their crews, maintaining contact with numerous anti-tank weapons. They also covered the armor infantry. Acting as mobile pillboxes, they caused serious damage to the militants.
In March 1995, Kubinka [the tank center] held official events with participation of the Ministry of Defence on the first results of the Chechen conflict. When equipped with tanks with dynamic protection when used correctly, the loss of armored vehicles were sharply lower. This seemingly obvious conclusion has been reaffirmed subsequently in numerous battles, until the withdrawal of troops from Chechnya.
In late summer 1999, during effort to repel aggression groups of international terrorists in Dagestan, T-72 were again thrown into battle. In the mountains they have demonstrated exceptional survival. So during one of the battles caught in the Russian army export T-72M1 equipped with dynamic protection curtain "Contact", with the inscription on the gun barrel "Come - let's talk," endured more than a dozen hits from RPG and SPG-9. However, the tank under its own power reached the position of Russian troops.
The second Chechen campaign differed more than a careful application of armored vehicles that immediately affected the amount of loss. In September of 2000, Chief of the Ministry of Defense Armored Directorate Colonel General Sergei Maiev said that during the anti-terrorist operation in Chechnya tanks were lost "several tens of times less than in the last war, only 9 vehicles".
Russian tankers creatively used the possibility of military vehicles. Thus, during the fighting in the North Caucasus was used original tactical mode of action of troops: "Tank carousel." This method includes the output of two or three tanks on the designated line, support the advancing fire departments with the employment of munitions available in the autoloader, departure to the rear to reload, the output of the line of the next group of tanks. Thus managed to reduce the residence time of the tanks under fire fighters and avoid losses.
Peacekeeping operations in Sri Lanka and Somalia
In 1997, the Indian Army has participated in peacekeeping operations on the island of Sri Lanka. However, extremists Front "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam" were not going to lay down their arms, and Indian peacekeepers were involved in the fighting. As a result, there was a need for heavy armored vehicles, in particular, T-72 tanks. Here play a much more positive adaptation of the combat vehicles for transportation in the air, in contrast to Western peers. In the area of combat operations in the Jaffna peninsula T-72M were transferred IL-76 aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
This not only covered the peacekeepers, but also sometimes used to transport infantry, which moves on the armor of tanks. And although the "Tigers" used antitank weapons, real losses tanks were only on a land mine explosions.
Given Lankan experience, the Indians did not forget to bring a T-72M1 and later, when they were invited to participate in the peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
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