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Welcome to the suggestion for the T-72B3 obr. 2014! This is a variant of the T-72B3 built for and used during the Tank Biathalon hosted by the Russian military. The major difference between it and the T-72B3 obr. 2016 (with the UBH package) in-game is that it has a stabilized commander’s panoramic sight with thermal vision, but doesn’t have add-on Relikt or slat armor. Due to this, it could be either a modification that removes the UBH package’s add-on armor, or a foldered vehicle under the T-72B3.
This vehicle has gone by a few different names, including T-72B3M, T-72B3 mod. 2014, and erroneously, T-72B4. For the sake of clarity and conformity with a few other Russian MBT suggestions on the forums, I’ll be using the name T-72B3 obr. 2014 for this post.
Overview
A T-72B3 obr. 2011 during the 2013 Tank Biathlon.
In the early 2010s, Uralvagonzavod began working on an upgrade for the T-72B3 then entering service with the Russian Ground Forces. This was largely intended to be for the annual Tank Biathlon held by the Russian military. The most major upgrade would be a stabilized PK-PAN sight with 4× - 12× zoom, 360° rotation, and 2nd generation thermal imaging. Prior to this, the commander would only have thermal imaging by viewing through the gunner’s sight, but with the new sight, the commander could look for and acquire targets much quicker, and most importantly, independently of the gunner.
The PK-PAN sight was mounted to the right of the gunner’s Sosna-U sight, and behind the commander’s cupola. Another major change was the addition of the 1,130 hp V-92S2F engine paired with an automatic transmission, intended to help the tank in the race section of the Tank Biathlon, but also improve its mobility in general. The tracks also received new grousers, which improved reliability and helped reduce the tank from tipping when turning.
A T-72B3 obr. 2014 on display during the 2014 Tank Biathlon.
In July of 2014, the new tank, the T-72B3 obr. 2014, was showcased at MILEX 2014 in Minsk, Belarus. A month later, in August, at least a couple of the tanks participated in the Tank Biathlon, and the Russian crews using it would ultimately place first, with the accuracy and target acquisition score being improved compared to the earlier T-72B3 model used prior. The T-72B3 obr. 2014 would appear once again for the 2016 Tank Biathlon, but would seemingly disappear until three were lost during fighting in Ukraine in 2022. Although the T-72B3 obr. 2014 was produced in small numbers, it would pave the way for further modifications of the T-72B3, with obr. 2016 models featuring the V-92S2F engine, but the PK-PAN sight would not appear until the debut of the T-90M in 2017.
A T-72B3 obr. 2016 in Moscow, 2018.
Specifications
Crew: 3
Length: 9.5 m
Width: 3.59 m
Height: 2.26 m
Main armament: 125 mm 2A46M-5 (×45 rounds, ×22 in carousel)
Secondary armament: 7.62 mm PKT machine gun (×2,000 rounds) & 12.7 mm 6P49 (×300 rounds)
Engine: 1,130 hp V-92S2F
Maximum speed: 65 km/h
Maximum range: 500 km
Sources
- Модернизированный Т-72Б3 полностью рассекречен на "Танковом биатлоне-2014"
- Модернизированные «семдесятдвойки» получили «командирскую панораму» « « Военно-патриотический сайт «Отвага» Военно-патриотический сайт «Отвага»?
- Танковый биатлон на Чебаркуле « « Военно-патриотический сайт «Отвага» Военно-патриотический сайт «Отвага»
- Gur Khan attacks!: Т-72Б3 "Special edition"
- Upgraded tank T-72B (T-72B3 with additional options). MILEX 2014
