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Forums - Research / Post-WW2 |
This Post WW2 forum is intended for asking and discussing reference or historical related issues pertaining to any time after WW2 (1945+) subjects. |
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| Subject: | Re: T-72-120???? |  |
| Date: | Aug 27, 2002 |
| From: | Saul Garcia | |
Hi Billy,
Do you think I speak German? ;-)
Here you go!
Saul Garcia
A well-known fault of the already 30 year old auto-loader's principle was
the accommodation of the ammunition in a magazine inside the tank hull.
Despite the position in the center of the tub, within an area which was
situated deep in the hull, a high danger of fire and a following explosion
of the ammunition were very possible, in particular because of the
inflammable cartridge cases within the T-72 in real engagements.
This T-72 was therefore equipped by the Charkover design engineering
department "Morosov " with a completely new autoloader, which differs
fundamentally from the autoloader of the T-64, T-80 and previous T-72. It is
the Ukrainian version of a modernization and advancement of the T-72.
The vehicle's weight rose to 48 tons. There are modifications particularly
to the armament, to the fire control system, to the chassis or drive and to
the armor protection. The battle tank was armed with 120 mm smoothbore
cannon, of French construction. It can also fire the same ammunition as the
German 120 mm Rhinemetal cannon. The bottom part of the new cannon
corresponds essentially to that of the Russian D-81 125 mm cannon. By
modifying a connecting piece is possible to replace the 120 mm barrel with a
125 mm barrel or even larger barrels {e.g. to exchange 140 mm}.
The autoloader keeps constant load angle with electric drives. In the turret
bustle there is a magazine with a capacity of 22 shots. A further 20 shots
are accommodated in the tank hull. The loading installation is designed in
such a way that it can be fitted to enhance the combat capabilities of the
turret of the T-72.
In the afore-mentioned picture we see very well the arrangement of the large
ammunition capacity in a turret display. This is obviously intended for the
accommodation of the loading direction and the modules for the projectile
and propellant. A separation of the ammunition in the magazine from the
combat area inside by an explosion-containing bulkhead is intended for
security (blow up panels-Saul). Here there are doors to access the
ammunition. This relatively small opening is partitioned rather simply than,
for example, the quite large ammunition door in the leopard 2, which must
offer sufficient work area for the loader. The turret has an ejection hatch,
which points on the fact that the case stubs are ejected while loading
automatically from the turret. The original T-72 loader used case catching
frameworks seen in the picture in a tilted up position.
The projectile and propellant holders of the magazine are accessible not
only from the inside but also from the outside. It is possible to use this
magazine for large caliber cannon of newer construction without a
substantial expenditure since the cassettes in the magazine (for the use of
the divided ammunition of the 125 mm of cannon) can be modified to suit the
newer ammunition. Also projectile types with special length can be
accommodated simply. In particular, this is useful for guided missiles.
A part of the ammunition still is in the combat area inside, since the
capacity of the magazine is naturally limited. Also in the leopard 2 and in
the M1 Abrams a considerable part of the 120 mm cartridges are accommodated
in the combat area, causing a fire danger.
In an emergency operation, as well as with the ammunition, the crew in the
quite small turret of this T-72 surely would substantial problems with the
handling of the large 120 mm cartridges. Here divided charges {separate
projectile & propellant} are probably more appropriate. |
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