The Russian T-72 tank, a Cold War relic that is popular around the world, has endured mass destruction during the conflict in Ukraine. Russia thought that it could use the tank in massive numbers to not only replace newer tanks but to overwhelm the Ukrainians in frontal attacks.
Russian T-72 tank from Ukraine War. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Russia believed that since the armored vehicle was easy to operate, it could allow more soldiers to learn the operation ropes. That has proven to be a fool’s errand, as many Russian personnel have met untimely deaths in the smoking hulls of T-72s.
The T-72 Has Spread All Over the World
The T-72 is nearly 50 years old, but many countries operate it. It is likely the most popular tank in the world. Twenty-five thousand have been produced over the years. They can also be made in countries other than Russia.
Around 35 different armies operate the T-72. India has more than 1,000 of the models. They call their T-72 variant the “Ajeya.”
Drones and Anti-tank Missiles Have Made It Pay the Price
But this is outdated.
It can easily succumb to anti-tank missiles and drone attacks. FPV (First-person View) drones are especially deadly against the T-72. On April 13, the Ukrainian army destroyed a T-72 “Ural” tank in the Pokrovsk sector. The Hyzhaky Vysot UAV battalion used a Nemesis bomber drone to take out the T-72. A video of the engagement can be found here.
The T-72 was first built by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and introduced in 1973. Over the last decades, it has undergone several rounds of modernization with updated variants. The T-72B3 and T-72B3M are popular models.
Part of a Cold War Plan for Armored Domination
The idea behind the T-72 was to dominate American forces and their NATO allies. The T-72 would try to punch holes in the frontlines should a battle have sparked during the Cold War. Then, Russian dismounted infantry, delivered by massive numbers of armored personnel carriers, would stream through the gaps. This spearhead would be supported by attack helicopters, fighter jets, and enormous artillery strikes.
Russia has tried these worn-out tactics during the war against Ukraine, and they have sustained incredible losses. At least 1,200 T-72s have been lost in battle, and that was an estimate made last year. Hundreds more have been turned into smoking ruins or otherwise disabled since then.
The Javelin Scores the Most Points
Vladimir Putin’s forces have been undeterred by the losses. The answer is to bring more obsolete T-72s out of storage and send them to the front. Ukraine is happy to make the invaders pay on the battlefield. Javelin anti-tank missile systems have been busy blunting the attacks. Russia has tried numerous unsuccessful frontal assaults and must keep the T-72 rearward to serve as mobile artillery in overwatch formation to protect infantry in the trenches.
The Javelin can exploit the T-72’s greatest weakness, the top of the turret. A “fire and forget” system that one soldier can operate, the launcher is used to fire the missiles to a height above the tank. Then, the precision-guided 5-inch shaped charged warhead swoops down to hit the top of the tank. The T-72 has no defenses for this system. The Russians have tried to fit “cope cages” to protect the vehicle, but this practice has been ineffective.
Low Rate of Fire Is Another Problem
The T-72 has a low profile, and its crew quarters are cramped, making it difficult to load the main gun quickly. So, the Russians installed an auto-loader, but this doesn’t work that well, and the crew finds it challenging to deliver rounds down range without delays.
T-72 Tank. Image: Creative Commons.
Iraqi Army T-72M main battle tanks. The T-72M tank was a common Iraqi battle tank used in the Gulf War.
The other danger is that the gun rounds can “cook off” in the auto-loader or storage. A small hit from an anti-tank missile or drone can spark a blaze that sets off the ammunition. This is what Russian soldiers who are unluckily assigned to the T-72 fear the most.
Overall, the T-72 has light armor. This shield is only eight inches thick. The tank is not very fast, so its ability to lead a lightning attack through gaps in the frontlines is limited. It can only reach around 37 miles per hour on roads. The engine is not that powerful, and the tank often gets stuck in the mud when temperatures thaw. The main gun is not bad. The T-72 features a 125mm smoothbore.
Russian generals have always gambled on their Soviet-era tactics. They envisioned a significant breakthrough in the Ukrainian lines where the T-72 could rush to the rear and create an axis of attack that would punish the enemy and force the Ukrainians to fall back. The Russians wanted to keep repeating that gambit, but Ukraine pushed back easily.
Now Russia has a choice to make: Keep bringing the tank to the front lines by dusting off old models in storage and trying the lightning assaults, or send the T-72 to the rear and keep it in reserve to rotate into battle sparingly. But the Ukrainians are ready with their FPV drones, which are floating tank-killers. Javelins and other anti-tank missiles are tailor-made for the T-72 as well.
Other countries are noting that their T-72s may now be obsolete. They have learned lessons from the mechanized fight in Ukraine and Russia and may need to rethink tactics and whether they need upgrades with better top and side armor.
Plus, there needs to be an answer for drones. The T-72 has struggled mightily, and it may just be the biggest problem on the battlefield for Russia’s armored forces.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
