Basic Information

Name

T-80B Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Designation

T-80B

Alternate Designation

T-80B

Equipment Type

Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Manufacturer

LKZ and Omsk Transmash, Russia

Date of Introduction

1978

Description

The T-80B is the primary production variant of the T-80 family. It is an MBT that features upgrades over the basic T-80. It is primarily designed to fight tanks, self-propelled artillery, and other armored vehicles. However, it is also intended to be used in the suppression and destruction of fire systems and live forces. The T-80B has a box-shaped hull with a steep glacis and a short steep belly plate forming an angular nose. There are three driver’s vision blocks in the middle of the glacis, and six unevenly spaced roadwheels per side with torsion bar suspension. The drive sprocket is to the rear and the idler to the front. The tracks are supported by five evenly spaced return rollers. The suspension and return rollers are covered by an optional rubber or armored skirt that covers the full length of the hull and reaches the top of the roadwheels. The engine is to the rear and center of the turret, and the rectangular exhaust grill is to the rear center of the vehicle with two rectangular air inlet valves on the top center of the hull behind the turret. The turret is round, and additional ERA can be added to improve protection to the front or sides. The main gun has a thermal sleeve with a central bore evacuator and a co-axial MG is installed to the right of the armament. The driver is to the front middle of the hull with a single-piece hatch, which opens up and swings to the right. The commander is seated on the right of the turret with the gunner to his left, two single-piece hatches that open to the front of the tank provide both with access.

Ground Specifications

Crew 3

Engine Gas Turbine (1100 hp)

Armor The T-80B is protected by a third iteration Soviet laminate armor that is known as Combination K

Active Protection Arena

Variants

T-80 (1976) Initial model, with a 1,000-hp gas turbine engine, coincidence rangefinder, and no missile capability. This model does not have fittings for explosive reactive armor. The turret is from the T-64A, and thus retains the use of the old coincidence rangefinder. Characteristics of this type are the V-shaped water deflector on the front glacis, coincidence rangefinder in front of the commander's cupola, and Luna searchlight mounted in the same position as a T-64. Around 250 were produced, as the tank's armor was essentially obsolete when introduced. Turret vs APFSDS – 380 mm, hull vs APFSDS – 500 mm (without reactive armor). This was, in effect, a pre-production model. It reportedly was fitted with an early version of the Shtora APS.

T-80BV (1985) T-80B with explosive reactive armor Kontakt-1.

T-80UM: Russian version, with new Buran thermal imaging sight in place of the Luna IR.

Object 219A: Early T-80U (Object 219AS) variant It has the T-80U's turret, but not the Kontakt-5 ERA. Instead, it uses the old Kontakt-1/3 system; some 219As did not have ERA at all. Often misnamed T-80A. T-80U (1985): Further development with a better turret, Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor, improved gunsight, and 9M119 Svir missile system. In 1990 a new, 1,250-hp, engine was installed. Overall protection with Kontakt-5 against APFSDS/HEAT is 780/1,320 mm RHAe.9K119M with antitank guided missile 9M119M installed since 1990. Some of the tanks in the commander version (T-80UK) are equipped with Shtora-1 APS, and thermal imaging night sight TO1-PO2T (detection range/target classification range = 6,400/4,600 meters at night). The basic thermal night sight of the T-80U is within the limits of 1,750/1,500 meters.

T-80UD Bereza (1987) Ukrainian diesel version with 1,000-hp 6TD engine and remote-controlled antiaircraft machine gun.

T-84 (1999) Further Ukrainian development of T-80UD with 1,200-hp diesel and new welded turret.

T-80BVD (2002): KMDB's upgrade standard for Ukrainian T-80BVs. Changes include the 6TD diesel engine, remote-controlled commander's machine gun, and better optics. None were produced.

T-80UM2/Black Eagle (prototype: cancelled): Several Russian prototypes were shown at trade shows, with a longer chassis and extra pair of road wheels, and very a large turret with a separate ammunition compartment.

T-80BVM (2017) Up to 3,000 units, installed "Relikt" ERA, PNM Sosna-U gunner sight (as in the T-90, T-72B3), the improved 125mm gun 2A46M-4, the upgraded gas turbine engine, and the upgrades of various other systems. More than 120 are already in the service.

System

Alternative Designation T-80B

Type Main Battle Tank

Manufacturer LKZ and Omsk Transmash, Russia

Family T-80 Series

Crew 3 ea

Total Built The T-80B is the first variant produced in quantity. Russia: 5,391

Maximum Effective Range (Road) 335 km

Driver's Vision Blocks 3 ea

Dimensions

Length (Gun Forward) 9.65 m

length (Hull) 6.98 m

Width 3.58 m

Height 2.22 m

Weight, Combat 43.7 tons

Ground Pressure INA

Automotive

Engine Name GTD-1000T

Engine Type Gas turbine engine

Engine Power 1,100 hp

Power to Weight Ratio 25.8 hp/ton

Cruising Range 335 km

Speed, Maximum Road 70 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 55 km/h

Speed Maximum Swim Not Amphibious

Gradient 60 %

Side Slope 40 %

Vertical Step 1.0 m

Trench 2.85 m

Fording Depth (No Preparation) 1.8 m

Fording Depth (With Preparation) 5.0 m

Cold Start Ability Yes

Deep Water Snorkel Available

Communications

R-173

Frequency Range 30.00 - 75.99 MHz

HF Output 30 W

Modulation FM

Display Digitial

Entry of Frequency Keypad

Present Channels 10

Digital Transmition INA

Sensitivity 1.5 uV

Range 50 km

Operational Voltage 27+-2 V

Weight 43 kg

Size 428 × 222 × 238 mm

Receiver R-174/GRR-5

Main Principle Superhet with RF-stage; ZF/IF 455 kHz; 2 AF stage(s)

Wave Bands Wave Bands given in the notes.

Loudspeaker Permanent Magnet Dynamic (PDyn) Loudspeaker (moving coil)

Dimensions (W.H.D) 307mm x 335mm x 206mm

Net Weight 27.7 kg

Note Receiver for mobile purposes, 1.5 - 18 MHz in four ranges, AM/CW (BFO), 200 kHz xtal calibrator. Set compartment (CY-615/URR) consists of two chassis: model R-174/GRR-5 receiver and model PP-308/URR power supply plus speaker unit. Tubes only one times listed.

Main Gun

System

Name 1 x L48 2A46M-1 Smoothbore Cannon

Type 125 mm smoothbore Gun

Manufacturer Spetstekhnika Design Bureau

Max Rate of Fire 6-8 rds/min

Maximum Range 4,000 m

Manually Load Time 1-2 rds/min

Maximum Elevation +14 deg

Minimum Elevation -5 deg

Traverse Range 360 deg

Autoloader Yes, Carousel-Type Autoloader

Fire on the Move Yes, Main Gun

Evacuator Type Central Bore

Thermal Sleeve Yes

Barrel effective Full Life Charge 800 rds

Breech Mechanism Semi-automatic horizontal sliding breech block

Mazimum Pressure 5,100 bar

Loading System Korzina electric and hydraulic automatic loading system

Carousel Reloading Time 13-15 minutes

Note The L48 2A46M-1 It has been extensively developed into 10 different variations and remains the primary armament of Russian frontline tanks.

Ammunition (Option 1)

Type High Explosives (HE)

Caliber 125 mm

Muzzle Velocity 850 m/s

Maximum Effective Range 5,000 m

Armor Penetration INA

Max Dispersion 0.23 mrad

Tungsten Rods 450 ea

Charge A-IX-2 (73% RDX, 23% aluminium powder, phlegmatized with 4% wax) 3.0 kg

Projectile Weight 23 kg

Round Weight 33 kg

Basic Load 36 total rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles

Variants 3VOF22/3OF19, 3VOF36/3OF26, 3VOF128/3OF82

Ammunition (Option 2)

Type Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS)

Caliber 125 mm

Muzzle Velocity 2,050 m/s

Effective Range 2,000-3,000 m

Armor Penetration 1,000 mm

Muzzle Energy 15-24 MJ

Projectile Weight 11 kg

Projectile Dimesnion 900 mm

Basic Load 36 total rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles

Variants 1.1 3VBM3/3BM9/10 1.2 3VBM6/3BM12/13 1.3 3VBM7/3BM15/16 1.4 3VBM8/3BM17/18 1.5 3VBM9/3BM22/23 1.6 3VBM10/3BM29/30 1.7 3VBM11/3BM26/27 1.8 3VBM13/3BM32/33 1.9 3VBM17/3BM42 (3BM44 "Mango") 1.10 3VBM19/3BM42M (3BM44M "Lekalo") 1.11 3VBM20/3BM46 (3BM48 "Svinets") 1.12 3VBM22/3BM59 (3BM59 "Svinets-1") 1.13 3VBM23/3BM60 (3BM60 "Svinets-2") 1.14 3VBM?/3BM69 "Vacuum-1" 1.15 3VBM?/3BM70 "Vacuum-2"

Ammunition (Option 3)

Name 3VBK27/3BK31 "Start"

Type High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)

Caliber 125 mm

Muzzle Velocity 915 m/s

Max Dispersion INA

Maximum Effective Range 3,000 m

Charge INA

Charge Weight 1.62 kg

Projectile Weight 18.4 kg

Armor Penetration Estimated at 800 mm triple charge HEAT

Basic Load 36 total rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles

Variants 3VBK7/3BK12, 3VBK10/3BK14, 3BK12M, 3BK14M, 3VBK16/3BK18, 3BK18M, 3VBK17/3BK21, 3BK21B, 3VBK21/3BK25, 3VBK25/3BK29 "Breyk", 3VBK25M/3BK29M

Tank Commander’s Weapon System

System

Name 1 x NSV (Russian НСВ Никитина-Соколова-Волкова) 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun

Type Heavy Machine Gun

Caliber 12.7 mm

Manufacturer "Metallist", Uralsk, Kazakh SSR, Crvena ZastavaSerbia

Length (Total) 1,560 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 25 kg

Weight (On Tripod) 41 kg

Weight (50-Round Belt) 11 kg

Action Gas Operated

Muzzle Velocity 845 m/s

Max Rate of Fire 700-800 rds/min

Feed System 50-Round Belt

Sights Iron Sights

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 12.7 mm

Cartridge 12.7×108mm

Muzzle Velocity 845 m/s

Effective Firing Range (vs. Air Targets) 1,500 m

Effective Firing Range (vs. Ground Targets) 2,000 m

Basic Load 500 ea

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name 1 x 7.62mm PK (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun)

Type General-Purpose Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62 mm

Function in use as a front-line infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon with Russia's armed forces.

Manufacturer Degtyaryov plant

In Service 1961-present

Proliferation 1 Million +

Length (Total) 1,203 mm

Length (Barrel) 605 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 9 kg

Weight (Tripod Only) 7.7 kg

Action Gas-operated, open bolt

Max Rate of Fire 650 rds/min

Feed System Non-disintegrating metal 50 round belts in 100 and 200/250 round ammunition boxes

Sights Tangent iron sights (default); Optical, Night-vision, Thermal and Radar sights

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×54mmR

Muzzle Velocity 825 m/s

Effective Range (Iron Sights) 1,000 m

Effective Range (With Sight Adjustments) 100-1,500 m

Basic Load 1,250 ea

Anti-Tank Guided Missile

System

Name Kobra (AT-8 Songster)

Type SACLOS Anti-Tank Missile System

Caliber 125 mm

Manufacturer KB Tochmash

In Service 1976-present

Proliferation Widely Proliferated throughout Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, India Iran, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan

Variants 9M112M, 9M112M2, 9M124

Weight 23.2 kg

Effective Firing Range 100-4,000 m

Guidance System SACLOS Radio

Warhead Weight 4.5 kg

Muzzle Velocity 125, which increases to 800m/s at its peak m/s

Flight Time to a 4,000 Meter Targetsec 9-10 seconds

Armor Penetration 600mm of RHA

Hit Probability 80 %

Basic Load INA

Note Fired from the T-64 and T-80 Family of Russian Tanks

Fire Control

Name 1A33 FCS

Computerized FCS Yes

Thermal Sight Tank Commander Yes, the T01-KOIR

Commander Day Mode Sight 10⁰ FOV and ×5 magnification

Thermal Sight Gunner Yes

Main Gun Stabilization Yes, 2E26M electro-hydraulic dual plane stabilisation system

Main Gun Stabilization Deployment Time 2 minutes

Range, Day Sight 1,000 m

Range, Thermal Sight 2,600 m

IR Searchlight Yes, L-4A "Luna" IR Searchlight

TNPO-160 Periscopes 2 ea

TNPA-65 Periscopes 2 ea

Protection

Hull Armor 440–450 mm

Armor Type The T-80B is protected by a third iteration Soviet laminate armour that is known as Combination K

Turret Armor Protection equivalent to 550mm

Applique Armor Yes, Hull side; track skirts

Explosive Reactive Armor Yes, Kontakt-1 System

Active Protection System Arena Available

Mine Clearing The KMT-5 mineclearing plow-roller set consists of two plows and two roller sections of three rollers each. This combination is attached to the front of a tank hull. Stretched between the roller sections is a "dogbone" assembly which consists of a light chain and small roller weights. Using a dragging motion, the "dogbone" covers the exposed area between tank tracks, thus exploding tilt-rod mines. The flexibility of the KMT-5 allows the use of plows or rollers depending on the terrain, type of soil and fuse types encountered.

Self-Entrenching Blade Yes, The system can withstand approximately nine explosions that have a capacity of five to six kg. It is fitted with a quick-release disconnect unit to allow the tank driver to release the set rapidly. One other capability is that the KMT-5 may be used during night operation, using the luminous lane-marking device (PSK equipment) which marks the clear lane at night with a luminous substance.

NBC Protection Yes, ZETS-11-2 detection system collective overpressure system

Smoke Equipment Yes, two banks of four 81 mm Toucha 902B grenade launchers that fire the ZD-6 smoke grenade

Smoke Grenade Range 250-300 m

Smoke Screen 30 m wide and 10 m high for 60 seconds per grenade.

IR Signature The exhaust is box-shaped and designed to direct heat away from the tank

Anti-Radiation Material Installed as a inside protective layer

Personal Breathing Apparatus Equipment

Automatic Fire Extinguisher System Yes

Image Sources

Notes https://simons-tanks.blogspot.com/2015/12/revell-t-80b.html; https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237135; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ParkPatriot2015part2-35.jpg;