Object 187 N°3 (1994) - On unbeaten tracks

Аkagi · August 8, 2025, 10:07pm

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Hello !

Today, I’d like to suggest the addition of one of the most flavorful variants of the famed 187, which is the third prototype in its late configuration. Unlike its early form, this one is equipped with a more powerful powerpack, namely the GTD-1500G.

The vehicle in its late configuration as it was parked outside the Kubinka tank museum years ago. It and other vehicles have now been moved to a different location.

History

Spoiler

On the 4th of June, 1986, Soviet engineers of Uralvagonzavod’s UKBTM started working on a state-mandated program named “Совершенствование-72Б” (“Improvement-72B”). As its name suggets, the goal of the program was to develop a successor to the T-72B. Thus began work on the 188, initially known as T-72BM and then as Improved T-72B and that would later enter service as the T-90.

However, the 188 was a very conservative solution and didn’t feature anything ground-breaking that would set it much apart from the T-72B, despite it being a new tank. Trials of the 186 were already ongoing by that time and featured novelties that the 188 could only dream of, such as a new turret and a new engine.

In this context, 1 year later, in early June 1987, UVZ’s engineers started working on their own program named “Совершенствование-88”. The rivalry with competing tank KBs such as Kharkov’s and its 477 only made the situation more tense as UVZ had to catch up with “future tank” projects that were popping up in the Union. The new tank received the index 187.

The 477 (here 477A) was arguably the most advanced Soviet project at that point, despite teething problems

The task to develop the tank was given to deputy head designer Shelgachev who would soon be under the leadership of Potkin, who became the head designer of the UKBTM on December 1st, 1987.

Development was very quick as the first prototype was built and readied by August 1988. This tank was in a way very similar to the 188 as it only featured few improvements to the T-72B. In fact, the first prototype only had 2 big differences. It used the V-84MS engine, which is identical to the V-84M but gets air-cooled exhaust, reducing its IR signature. Proving its worth, this engine would then be used on the 188. It would also introduce a new hull layout reducing the size of the driver’s weakened zone.

Deputy head designer Shelgachev at his desk, mastermind of the famous “Совершенствование-88” (“Improvement-88”)

As anticlimactic as it sounds, that’s where the story of the first prototype ends. It would then be disassembled and its parts used to build the third prototype after covering 3000 km. This is however where it gets interesting, as the third prototype was the first one to introduce more important technologies.

Fun fact : The engine bay cover plate, which was made out of titanium, was stolen. That’s why the tank is shown with a rusty metal plate above its engine.

First of all, it retains the new hull layout while also introducing a new welded turret, using 40 mm steel plates on its outer shell and composite armor similar to the T-72B. However, that turret was very different from the later turret that you’ve likely seen on some T-90S and the T-90A. This one was smaller and featured different welds, etc…

A good look at the new hull layout and the turret

The main difference as you could have guessed lies in the engine compartment of the tank. Now, you may know the third prototype as the “turbine-powered one” but this has not always been the case. This very vehicle was full-blown test bed, even more so than other 187s. As such, it used early on a 2V-12-2 (A-85-2) engine producing 1200 hp. That very engine would later be used in later 187 prototypes. It is also known that the 1500 hp 2V-12-3 (A-85-3) was trialed on the 187 N°6.

The 2V-12-2 (A-85-2) was a rather compact yet powerful engine

After that, not much is actually known about the third prototype. It is not known if the tank ever received the GTD-1250 powerpack, as often seen on less-than-accurate source. From my own personal sources, I can’t say that it ever got this engine. In fact, GTD-1250 trials were done on one T-80 in 1985-86, in parallel to 8 others using the GTD-1500 powerpack.

However, what is known is that the tank did receive the GTD-1500G powerpack.
In November 1991, “Совершенствование-88” shifted to the development of a new tank indexed 195, still under the leadership of Shelgachev until 1997. The initial technical and tactical requirements called for 2 variants of the T-95 tank (the 195 was officially called T-95 in its specification), one using a 1500 hp engine named 195G and the other using a traditional Diesel engine named 195D. As the 195G was abandoned, 195 became the only name and ended up using the A-85-3 engine.

While the project was still ongoing and despite the T-90 already having been chosen over the 187, the third prototype was still used as a test bed for the GTD-1500G powerpack, which is a GTD-1500 with hydrostatic steering (“G” stands for hydrostatic).

On August 15, 1994, the third prototype was trialed with that engine at the UKBTM proving grounds and this is where its story ends. It is not known for how long the tank was used after that but it has been in storage for a long time now.

The GTD-1500 powerpack, with its izdelie 39 gas turbine, had an output of 1500 hp

In the end, the third prototype was stored alongside the fourth, fifth and sixth prototypes at the Kubinka museum. They were moved multiple times and, back then, there was hope that the third prototype would be restored and used as static display by 2016 but that never happened.

Specifications

Crew : 3

Driver
Commander
Gunner

APS : Shtora-1
ERA : Kontakt-5

Armament

One 125 mm gun 2A66

Ammo

Spoiler

Anker-1 (DU) (rumored to be ~ 20 L/D, performance should be slightly better than 3BM42)
Anker-2 (WHA) (rumored to be ~ 20 L/D, performance should be slightly better than 3BM42)
3BK29
3OF26
9M125

Sights : Unknown
Elevation : +14°/-5° (estimated)

Dimensions

Weight : ~ 46 t
Length : ~ 7 m
Width : 3,6 m
Height : ~ 2,2 m

Mobility

Engine : GTD-1500G (1500 hp)
Top speed : 70 km/h / -11 km/h (estimated)
Transmission : 4 forward / 1 reverse

Armor

Spoiler

Considering the tank was meant to feature the latest technology available, it would be fair to imagine that it used the latest hull array available at that time which is the fifth one.
In the late 1980s, it is known that the side armor of tanks was reduced from 80 and 70 mm to a straight 70 mm to deal with the added weight of more steel-heavy front arrays. This is not included in-game but could be for the 187.

As for the turret, while it is known that the 187 was trialed with ceramics in the turret at some point, it is not known which turret (3-4 or 5-6) and as such can be left to “balance” it. It’s either that or the T-72B’s array.