T-72 Main Battle Tank

T-72 Main Battle Tank. . First produced in the Soviet Union in 1973, the T-72 series of main battle tanks remains in service today in numerous nations. Conceived as a less costly and complex alternative to the T-64, it did retain some of the innovative features of its predecessor. Most notable was the automated main gun loading system, eliminating the need for the fourth crewman and allowing for a noticeably lower height, an important advantage on the battlefield. The main armament is a 125mm smooth-bore gun. Mounted coaxially with that gun is a 7.62mm machine gun, and a separate 12.7mm gun would be mounted on the turret., Depending on the version, the T-72 weighs an average of 43 tons. Its V-10 engine can provide speeds up to 45 MPH on the road. Approximately 25,000 T-72s of various models were built by Russia and the former Warsaw Pact nations, and the T-72 has played a role in virtually every major conflict in the last half-century., The Museum of American Armor’s example is the T-72M, an export version that saw service with the Iraqi Army and was captured by American forces during Desert Storm in 1991. It was dedicated by the Armor Museum to honor those Americans who served during Desert Storm and the War on Terror., This presentation is made possible through the generous support of those who join us in honoring all Americans who have served.