Basic Information

Name

T-64 Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Designation

T-64

Alternate Designation

T-64; T-64B

Equipment Type

Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Manufacturer

—

Date of Introduction

1964

Description

The T-64 (T-64B) is a Soviet second-generation main battle tank introduced in the early 1960s. It was a more advanced counterpart to the T-62: the T-64 served tank divisions, while the T-62 supported infantry in motorized rifle divisions. It introduced a number of advanced features including composite armor, a compact engine and transmission, and a smoothbore 125-mm gun equipped with an autoloader to allow the crew to be reduced to three so the tank could be smaller and lighter. In spite of being armed and armored like a heavy tank, the T-64 weighed only 38 tons (42 short tons; 37 long tons).

Ground Specifications

Crew 3

Mobility Type Tracked

Main Weapon 125-mm smoothbore gun

Engine Diesel (700 hp)

Active Protection Yes

NBC Protection Yes

Max Speed 60.0 km/h

Range 600.0 km

Variants

T-64A Production version of base tank. Tank has a history of reliability problems, and lacks the high armor protection, track skirts, a fcs and ATGM launch capability for t-64b.

T-64B The T-64B is a redesign of the T-64A, which became the main service version of the vehicle.

T-64BK The T-64BK is a command variant of the T-64B. It is designed for local command of armored vehicles at the tactical level. It is equipped with additional communications equipment for this purpose.

T-64BVK The T-64BVK is an up-armored version of the T-64BK. It includes the same equipment as the T-64BK and includes the additional armor from the T-64BV.

T-64U version 1 (v1) The T-64U is available in two versions. Version 1 is an upgraded T-64A or T-64B, designed to provide the T-64 with enough protection and modern systems to maintain its battlefield efficacy.

T-64U Version 2 (v2) The T-64U v2 is a second upgrade option for the T-64 MBT offered by the Malyshev plant. It is thought to be identical to v1 with the exception of the power pack.

BM Bulat The BM Bulat is the most comprehensive upgrade of the T-64B, it gives the T-64B the technology required to perform on a modern battlefield.

T-64, 2017 The T-64, 2017 is believed to be based on the T-64BV. It is an upgraded vehicle designed to provide modern night-fighting capabilities as a capital vehicle on the battlefield.

T-64MV The T-64MV is an upgrade developed and manufactured in Uzbekistan by the country’s own defense industry to improve the capabilities of its armed forces.

BREM-64 The BREM-64 is an ARV based on the hull of a T-64. This ARV is still used in former Soviet eastern block states, such as Ukraine. For the ARV application, the T-64 turret was removed from the T-64 and replaced by a steel superstructure. A swiveling crane with a folding jib with a capacity of 2,500 kg was added to the left-hand side of the superstructure. The vehicle carries two winches; the main winch had a basic pulling capacity of 25 tons while the secondary winch had a capacity of 2.5 tons. Vehicle stability was provided by a front-mounted hydraulically operated dozer blade, which could also be utilized to clear battlefield obstacles and prepare sites.

System

Alternative Designation T-64; T-64B

Type Main Battle Tank

Family T-64 Family

Crew 3 ea

Maximum Effective Range 600 km

Note The T-64 became the primary MBT of Soviet forces until it was replaced by the T-80 and T-72.

Dimensions

Length (Gun Forward) 9.23 m

Length (Hull) 6.54 m

Width 3.41 m

Height 2.17 m

Weight, Combat 39 tons

Ground Pressure INA

Automotive

Engine Name 5TDF Diesel

Engine Type Diesel

Engine Power 700 hp

Cruising Range 600 km

Speed, Maximum Road 60 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 50 km/h

Speed Maximum Swim Not Amphibious

Gradient 60 %

Side Slope 40 %

Vertical Step 0.8 m

Trench 2.72 m

Fording Depth (Without Preparation) 1.4 m

Fording Depth (With Preparation) 5.0 m

Main Gun

System

Name 1 x D-81T (aka 2A46) 125 mm Smoothbore Gun

Type Smoothbore Gun

Caliber 125 mm

Weight (Barrel) 1,073 kg

Max Rate of Fire 8 rds/min

Manual Load Time 1-2 rds/min

Autoloader Yes, Carousel-Type Autoloader

Fire on the Move Yes, Main Gun

Maximum Elevation +14 Deg

Minimum Elevation -6 Deg

Traverse Range 360 Deg

Evacuator Type Central bore evacuator

Automatic Loader Yes

Thermal Sleeve Yes

Effective Full Charge (EFC) Life 600 rds

Breech Type semi-automatic horizontal sliding breech block

Loading System Korzina electric and hydraulic automatic loading system

Carousel The carousel can accommodate 28 two-piece rounds of ammunition, and rotates automatically after each round is fired

Carousel Load Time 13-15 min

Rate of Fire 6-8 rds/min

Basic Load Time 27 min

Maximum Effective Range (Day) 2,000 m

Maximum Effective Range (Night) 600 m

Ammunition (Option 1)

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

Caliber 125 mm

Muzzle Velocity 2,050 m/s

Projectile Length 900 mm

Projectile Weight 11 kg

Effective Range 2,000 m - 3,000 m

Maximum Range 4,000 m

Armor Penetration 1,000 mm

Muzzle Energy 15-24 MJ

Basic Load 36 Total Rounds any combination of 125mm Projectiles

Note Entered service in 2005[5] Utilising a new sabot. Reported to be uranium alloy. For 2A82/2A82-1M cannon on T-80UM-2/T-14s.

Ammunition (Option 2)

Type High Explosives (HE)

Purpose High explosive fragmentation fin stabilised. General purpose rounds, for use against infantry, bunkers and light vehicles and other "soft" targets.

Caliber 125 mm

Proectile Weight 23 kg

Round Weight 33 kg

Muzzle Velocity 850 m/s

Max Dispersion 0.23 mrad

Maximum Effective Range 5,000 m

Tungsten Rods 450 ea

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

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

Basic Load 36 Total Rounds any combination of 125mm Projectiles

Ammunition (Option 3)

Type High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)

Name 3VBK27/3BK31 "Start"

Caliber 125 mm

Charge Weight 1.62 kg

Projectile Weight 18.4 kg

Muzzle Velocity 915 m/s

Max Dispersion INA

Maximum Range 300 m

Armor Penetration Estimated at 800 mm triple charge HEAT

Basic Load 36 Total Rounds any combination of 125mm Projectiles

Anti-Tank Guided Missile

System

Name 1 x 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

Basic Load 4-6 ea

Weight 23.2 kg

Warhead Weight 4.5 kg

Guidance System SACLOS Radio

Effective Firing Range 100-4,000 m

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

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

Armor Penetration 600mm of RHA

Hit Probability 80 %

Variants 9M112M, 9M112M2, 9M124

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

Coaxial Weapons System

System

Name 1 x PKT (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun)

Caliber 7.62 mm

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

In Service 1961-present

Manufacturer Degtyaryov plant

Proliferation 1 Million +

Length (Overall) 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 Iron SIghts

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×54mmR

Muzzle Velocity 825 m/s

Effective Range (Iron Sights) 100- 1,000 m

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

Maximum Firing Range 3,800 m

Basic Load 250 ea

Auxiliary Weapon System

System

Name 1 x Type 54 DShK Heavy Machine Gun

Type Heavy Machine Gun

Caliber 12.7 mm

Proliferation over 1 Million

Length (Total) 1,625 mm

Length (Barrel) 1,070 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 34 kg

Weight (on Wheeled Mounting) 157 kg

Max Rate of Fire 600 rds/min

Range Finder Type Optical

Action Gas-Operated, Flapper Locking

Sights Iron/Optical

Feed System 50 Round Belt

Turret single seat and placed at the rear of the vehicle roof. It is sharp-pointed at the front.

Variants DK, DShKM, DSHKS, Type 54 HMG

Fire on the Move Yes

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 12.7 mm

Cartridge 12.7x108 mm

Muzzle Velocity 850 m/s

Effective Range 2,500 m

Armor Penetration API: 21 at 500 m & 13 at 1000 m (RHA)

Basic Load 300 ea

Fire Control

Name 1A33

Computerized FCS Yes

Thermal Sight Tank Commander Yes, TKN-3V combination day/night binocular periscopic

Thermal Sight Gunner Yes, TPN1-49-23 night sigh

Main Gun Stabilization 2-Plane, 2Eh26M armament stabiliser

Fire on the Move Yes

Rangefinder two-axis stabilised IG42 laser rangefinder sight

Ballistic Computer 1V517 Tank Ballistic Computer

Vision Blocks 1 x TPNO-16, 2 x TPNA-65 day vision blocks

PZU-5 monocular periscopic sight Available

Searchlight L-2AgM infra-red searchlight

Sight Type 1G21 sight with Laser Telemetry

Wind Sensor 1B11 cross-wind sensor.

Protection

Hull Armor Cast and welded steel armor.

Turret Armor Cast armor welded together

Armor Protection (Front) 370-440 mm of RHA against KE rounds and 500 mm to 575 mm of RHA against HEAT rounds

Applique Armor Available

Self-Entrenching Blade KMT-4 roller or the KMT-6 track width mine plough,

Explosive Reactive Armor No Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA)

Active Protection System Yes

Mine Clearing Roller-plow available

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment 902A "Tucha-1" smoke grenade launcher in two groups of four, on each side of the gun

IR Signature INA

Automatic Fire Suppression Systems. Available, PPO fire detection and suppression system,

Image Sources

Notes https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B0%D0%BB_-_%D1%8D%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%85%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8._%D0%91%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%85%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0.201206261911_IMAG0572.jpg; https://armyrecognition.com/military-products/army/main-battle-tanks/main-battle-tanks/t-64-main-battle-tank-russian-army; https://en.topwar.ru/27235-t-84-protiv-t-90s-protivostoyanie-v-azii.html;