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T-72 Combat Experience - 2000s

Operation "shock and awe" in Iraq (2003)

In 2003, US troops invaded Iraq. In service with the Iraqi army were about 900 tanks T-72, T-72M and T-72M1 (according to other sources - 700 vehicles). Not upgraded in almost two decades, these machines were hard pressed to resist the latest tanks of the anti-Iraq coalition, which had total air superiority. But even the old "semdesyatdvoyki" of the Republican Guard assessed the command of the multinational force as a real threat.

After the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi authorities were in no hurry to remove the T-72 weapons. Together with the American "Abrams" formed the basis of the tank fleet of the newly formed armed forces. It was reported that Iraq planned to buy another 2 thousand modernized T-72 US$6 billion.

Operation in South Ossetia (2008)

A crucial role during the peace enforcement Georgian aggressors in the war in August 2008 was played a tank units armed with T-72. This feat made the crew of the T-72B (M) 141st tank battalion. Breaking the location of the base of the Russian peacekeepers, tankers kept their fire for few hours. When the ammunition was exhausted in the tank was only tank commander Sergei Myl'nikov. Sergeant personally sat at the controls of the tank and intense maneuvering, went straight to attacking, drawing them into a rout.

Presidential Decree of 19 September 2008, Sergeant Sergey A. Mylnikov awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation with the award of "Gold Star".

The war in Libya (2012)

Another hot spot which used T-72 tanks, broke out in 2012, the civil war in Libya. The leadership of this country planned to implement a large-scale modernization of the tank fleet, but they failed to do so in the battles participated old T-72 and T-72M. Despite the fact that in the sky of the country completely dominated by NATO aircraft, pro-government forces used tanks almost to the end of the war, including in urban environments.

It is worth noting that some of the T-72 was also in combat formations of the armed opposition.

T-72 in Southern Sudan (2012)

In 2012, T-72 were also engaged in an armed conflict between Sudan and South Sudan. Moreover, the T-72M1 with dynamic protection used by both sides.

The conflict in Syria

Another place where nizhnetalskie [Nizhni Steel] tanks, as they say, rocked antiquity, became Syria. The armed forces of the country had used in a lot of time fighting the T-72. At the time, the Syrians with the help of Italian experts managed to modernize 122 tanks, entered service the 105th Tank Brigade presidential, stationed near Damascus. But these tanks so far they have not shown themselves. The brunt of the fighting fell to the non-upgraded T-72, as well as "semdesyatdvoyki" passed a budget "upgrade" is limited, mainly installing hinged armor.

In the global network laid a huge number of video frames, where even the old T-72 can withstand multiple hits rocket-propelled grenades. Syrian tankers generally spoke very highly of their tanks.

Conversely, in informal conversations warlords insurgency recognized that the Russian T-72 tanks equipped with reactive armor, gives them a lot of trouble. Sometimes they just do not know how to deal with them. T-72 can withstand multiple hits from the hand-held antitank grenade launchers and is in working condition.

Moreover, according to available information, even opposition fighters were forced to be subjected to special tests at the government army captured Russian-made tanks. They just fired him from the RPG. After 13 hits the tank was fully operational - it received injuries were not critical. And one of the commanders of rebel group also complained about the tanks. According to him, during the battle for the Russian tanks was made 15 shots from an RPG, but it has not been destroyed.

Syrian military and especially note maintainability of the Russian T-72. An overwhelming number of repairs carried out in the field, often in the absence of regular machines maintenance and repair. Then in the course are various means at hand, with the help of which one can even change the tank gun near the front line without sending the car to the rear. This once again demonstrates the outstanding qualities of the T-72 - really very belligerent modern tank in the world.