- Yes, for China
- Yes, for Russia
- Other
- No
G’day once again lads. There are to say the least, a ton of vehicles the world has to offer, some of which are already in game, but in different variants, one of them being the T-90 series, where I am suggesting the Vietnamese T-90S!
Description:
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The Vietnamese T-90S is a modern main battle tank that significantly enhances the capabilities of the People’s Army of Vietnam compared to its older tanks like their older T-54’s for example. This tank is operated by the 201st Tank Brigade and is considered the most advanced in the Vietnamese military. The T-90S is equipped with the advanced protection system Shtora-1 and modern communication and navigation tools, making it quite deadly compared to other Asian countries near Vietnam.
Vietnam received its first batch of T-90S tanks in late 2018, with a total of 64 units delivered by 2019. These tanks were acquired through a contract signed with Russia in 2016.
History:
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The Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN) relied heavily on the T-54 and T-55 tanks for many years. These tanks, supplied by the Soviet Union during the Vietnam War, were instrumental in the conflict, including the famous moment when a T-54 tank crashed through the gates of the Presidential Palace in Saigon in 1975.
However, by the late 20th century, these tanks were becoming outdated compared to modern armored vehicles. By the 1990s and early 2000s, the T-54/55 tanks were showing their age. Technological advancements in tank design and armament had left the T-54/55 behind, and the PAVN recognized the need to modernize its armored forces to maintain combat effectiveness. The tanks lacked modern fire control systems, advanced armor, and night-fighting capabilities, which were becoming standard in newer tank models. Vietnam’s initial efforts to modernize its armored forces included upgrading existing T-54/55 tanks. These upgrades involved improving the tanks’ firepower, mobility, and protection. For example, the T-54M variant featured enhanced armor, a new fire control system, and improved night vision capabilities. However, these upgrades could only extend the service life of the T-54/55 tanks so far.
Recognizing the limitations of upgrading older tanks, Vietnam began exploring options for acquiring new main battle tanks. The decision to procure the T-90S tanks from Russia was part of a broader military modernization plan aimed at enhancing the PAVN’s capabilities. The T-90S tanks offered significant improvements over the T-54/55, including advanced fire control systems, superior armor protection, and the ability to engage targets effectively in all weather conditions. In 2016, Vietnam signed a contract with Russia to acquire 64 T-90S and T-90SK (command variant) tanks. The first batch of these tanks arrived in Vietnam towards the end of 2018. The T-90S tanks are now operated by the PAVN’s 201st Tank Brigade and are as of now still in service.
Armaments:
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125mm 2A46M smoothbore fully stabilized gun with 42 rounds, capable of firing the 3BM42, 3BK18M, 3OF26 shell and at last the 9M119 “Refleks” gun launched missile. According to Rosoboronexport, it has a firerate of 7 to 8 rounds a minute thanks to its autoloader.
1 coaxial PKTM machine gun 7.62mm with 2000 rounds
1 6P49 AA machine gun 12.7mm with 300 rounds
Specifications:
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The T-90S has a length of 9.63 meters including the barrel and 6.86 meters for the hull. It has a width of 3.78 meters and a height of 2.22 meters. It’s weight is around 46.5 tons and uses a V-92S2 engine generating 1000hp, giving it a HP/T ratio of 21,5, a speed offroad of 35-40 km/h and 60 km/h on road. In terms of armour and optics, its the exact same found on the T-90s right now ingame, still having the Kontakt-5 as ERA and its composite armor.
Sources:
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Vietnam Strengthens Armed Forces with Advanced Russian T-90S MBTs Main Battle Tanks
Video footage shows Vietnamese T-90S/SK MBTs fitted with Shtora-1 APS
Russia completes delivery of T-90S/SK tanks to Vietnam
https://xilef-1.jimdosite.com/t-54-b/
T-54 tanks after the modernization process began to return to the Vietnamese army
https://roe.ru/pdfs/pdf_1874.pdf