Recently I upgraded my T-80b and was disappointed by the lack of dynamic protection KONTAKT-1, or rather it is there, but in negligible quantities. Looking at the T-64 (9.7) you involuntarily ask yourself the question “Where is my protection?” In fact, the tanks differ only in the engine and transmission. And searching the Internet I came across historical images of a past era. In historical photographs you can see the presence of Kontakt-1 on the sides and in the lower sheet of the tank.
If the T-64B which has 9.7 has Kontakt-1, why doesn’t the T-80B have it? There are many photos where these tanks don’t have any dynamic protection blocks at all. These photos are usually taken in peacetime or during tank maintenance. In combat or during training and demonstrations, the tanks are already covered with armor blocks.
IIRC - ERA block application isn’t an exact specification that crews or depots had to follow religiously without fail. You will find variations over time as to what blocks go where, how many, etc.
Gaijin probably went for an ‘average’ example.
The priorities would be to cover the ‘main’ areas where possible with the blocks and ensure that they didn’t interfere with existing elements on the tank. Sticking them on the mudguards/flaps for example is just ASKING for them to be torn off on foliage/bits of tree - so a lot of images show those areas with somewhat less in the way of ERA blocks.
The sides are rubber - so will ‘flop around’ if the weight of ERA blocks is added to them. The LAST thing you want is one of those being chewed up by the tracks. You can actually see this in your T-80 images.
As for on the lower glacis - again, probably a case of them getting regularly ripped/bashed whenever going cross-country. Most crews would likely not bother refitting them in peacetime.
For starters, of tank pictured you’ve posted only two are T-80, both with excessively bent side skirts overloaded with ERA. Which is likely the reason why ERA was limited on factory/workshop installations to upper strip only. I wouldn’t be surprised if its the same tank taken from two different angles, given conveniently matching garages in the background.
2nd pic is T-64, recognizable by single driver visor and relatively small, all-steel roadwheels. It also have rigid frame as mounting point for ERA.
3rd is some slapdash improvised ghetto mod on T-54/55, recognized by entirely different turret shape and five roadwheels with characteristic gap between 1st and 2nd. Garages also match, so might be shenanigans of some bored tank/technical crews in single unit.
