Tank T-72 COBI 2625 (DDR/USSR) - Armed Forces 1:35

You know that:

• Development of the T-72 tank began in 1967 as a replacement for the T-64 model, which suffered from cracked chassis and low engine power.
• Serial production began in 1971 and continues to this day.
• The new tank was supposed to be an answer to modern German and American machines and serve as the main striking force of the Warsaw Pact states.
• However, it was not a big surprise for the Americans, because as early as 1971, the technical documentation got into the hands of the CIA through the Polish officer Ryszard Kuklinski.
• Several other factories in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia produced the tank with or without a license. Because the Soviet Union never shared the complete documentation necessary for production, many parts made outside of Russia were not interchangeable. The quality and repeatability of production is also questionable. Many spare parts made in Russia simply could not be used simply because they did not fit in place. The cause was a phenomenon commonly known as the "Russian Schlendrian". For this reason, most countries equipped with T-72 tanks produced their own spare parts.
• Despite all the imperfections, the T-72 tank is a dangerous opponent thanks to the improved optics and fire control system.
• The low structural weight of the tank was chosen deliberately so that the tanks were able to drive over bridges in the Warsaw Pact countries, which were often not in good condition.
• For cases when it was not possible to cross a water obstacle by dry route, the tank could be equipped with a 5 m snorkel for deep wading. In the event that the engine goes out underwater, the crew has only 6 seconds to restart it before it floods.
• Another point of interest is the inner lining of the tank with material containing boron, which is supposed to shield possible radiation.
• The internal space of the tank is cramped compared to western machines and therefore the tank operators are selected from soldiers with an ideal height of 160 cm.
• More than 27,000 units have been produced so far in various versions.
• Today, the tank in its original configuration no longer meets the required standards, so many countries have proceeded to modernize them to the level of the 3rd generation.

Technical parameters:

• dimensions: length 6.9 m, width 3.6 m, height 2.2 m
• weight 40 000 kg
• armour 16 - 80 mm
• power unit 12-cylinder W46-6 diesel engine with 574 kW
• maximum speed 60 km/h
• range according to conditions +/- 500 km
• fuel consumption summer 450 l/100 km / winter 600l/100 km
• fuel tank capacity 1590 l internal + 390 l external
• main armament cannon 2A46M 125 mm calibre + machine gun PKT MG 7.62 mm calibre + machine gun 12.7 mm calibre
• secondary armament 12x NSVT smoke grenade launcher
• crew of 3