M-84
| M-84 | |
|---|---|
Slovenian M-84 |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 3 (commander, driver, judge / loader) |
| length | 9.53 m |
| width | 3.57 m |
| height | 2.19 m (tower top) |
| Dimensions | 48 tons |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | Composite armor |
| Main armament | 1 × 125 mm smoothbore cannon 2A46 |
| Secondary armament | 1 × 7.62 mm M86 machine gun (coaxial) and
1 × 12.7 mm FlaMG M87 |
| agility | |
| drive | Diesel engine W-46TK 735 kW (1000 PS) |
| suspension | Torsion bar |
| Top speed | 68 km / h |
| Power / weight | 15.3 kW / t (20.8 PS / t) |
| Range | 700 km (with external tank containers) |
The M-84 is a battle tank from Yugoslav production. The tank is a further development of the Soviet T-72 A.
history
In the 1970s, the Yugoslav People's Army decided to develop and produce its own main battle tank. Due to the lack of experience of the Yugoslav armaments industry in tank construction, it was decided to use the then very advanced Soviet T-72 tank as a base. The rights to build under license were acquired in 1979. The Đuro Đaković mechanical engineering factory in Slavonski Brod started production under the code name Kapela . The first prototype was completed in 1983 and series production began in 1984. By the outbreak of the Yugoslav War, over 500 units were produced for the Yugoslav army. Overall, the M-84 represented a significant improvement on the original T-72. In the following years, further increases in combat value and modernizations were made in various versions.
technology
The M-84 is a Soviet T-72A (Object 174) with various modifications and improvements. The most important modification is the SUV-84 fire control system developed in Yugoslavia . The commander has a DNKS-2 periscope with a night channel amplifier tube. The gunner has a DNNS -2 target periscope with a night channel and laser rangefinder . With this, with the weather sensor on the front of the tower and the ballistics computer, the M-84 can fight targets at a distance of up to 4000 m day and night. The communication system, the ballistics computer, the vehicle optics, the fire suppression system and the target acquisition systems with which the tank was upgraded came largely from the West , not least because Yugoslavia wanted to be independent from the Soviet Union.
commitment
Kuwait ordered 170 M-84ABs, 15 armored recovery vehicles and 15 command tanks in 1989. Delivery stalled with the start of the Iraqi invasion. The 35th Kuwaiti Armored Brigade Fatah ("Martyrs") stationed in Saudi Arabia received 70 M-84ABs that took part in the Second Gulf War . There the M-84 proved to be superior to the Iraqi T-55 and T-62 tanks. According to Kuwaiti information, only two vehicles were lost that were repaired after the end of the fighting. In addition to these failures, several vehicles were lost through self- fire.
In addition, the M-84 was used in battles in Slovenia , Croatia and Bosnia in the war in Yugoslavia , mostly by the Serbs and the former Yugoslav federal army allied with them . In tank battles and in local battles, many M-84s were destroyed by both regular troops and the militia . Infantry anti-tank weapons , anti-tank guided weapons and artillery were successfully used against them . The 76 mm M48 mountain gun and the MT-12 anti-tank gun proved to be particularly effective .
During the fighting in the Balkans, the M-84 proved to be extremely vulnerable to turret hits that led to the ammunition explosion. The crew is killed and the tower is thrown from the hull.
variants
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- M-84A : The M-84A is equipped with the modern computer-based fire control system SUV-M-84 and the DNNS-2 optics with laser rangefinder. In addition, this version was equipped with the periscopes TNP-160, TNPA-65, TNPO-168V (for the driver) and DNKS-2 (for the commander). Furthermore, the M-84A is equipped with a more modern gyrocompass and new intercom and communication systems.
- M-84AB : M-84A optimized for use in desert areas. The M-84AB was exported to Kuwait.
- M-84ABN : M-84AB equipped with a land locator
- M-84ABK : Command tank based on the M-84AB1, which is equipped with extensive communication and location facilities
- M-84A4 : Improved version with new SCS-84 day-night vision optics, the DBR-84 ballistic computer and improved sensors for elevation and lateral direction. In 2003 Croatia purchased 20 M-84A4s from domestic production. In addition, instead of the Soviet W-46 engine, the tank was powered by a 1,100 hp diesel engine from German production. This variant also received a more modern communication system from the British company Racal .
- M-84AI : The M-84AI is an armored recovery vehicle based on the M-84A, which was manufactured in the “14. October “was developed in Kruševac . The development process was supported by Polish engineers who brought in the know-how from the Polish WTZ-3 armored recovery vehicle . It was also planned to deliver M-84AI armored recovery vehicles to Kuwait, but this project was rejected. The M-84AI only with a 12.7 mm machine gun M87 at the commander's hatch and twelve cups litter for firing smoke grenades bodies fitted (eight right and four left). The equipment also includes a TD-50 crane , a dozer blade and two winches.
- M-84AS : The M-84AS is the most modern upgrade of the M-84 in the Serbian army. A new fire control system, a new armor made of steel, titanium and aluminum as well as Kontakt-5 - reactive armor were installed; In addition, it is now possible to fire 9K119 Refleks anti-tank guided weapons . The modern Agava-2 thermal imaging system and the Schtora active guided missile defense system were alsoinstalled. The first M-84AS was presented to the public in July 2004. In terms of appearance and performance, it is comparable to the Russian T-90 S.
- M-95 Degman or M-84D : Most modern variant of the M-84 from Croatia.
distribution
-
Croatia : 78 in use, existing M-84s are upgraded to the M-84D version, and new M-84Ds are purchased -
Kuwait : around 141 in use, existing M-84s are upgraded to the M-84D version, and new M-84Ds are purchased -
Bosnia and Herzegovina : around 87 in use -
Serbia : 212 in use, existing M-84s are upgraded to the M-84AS version -
Slovenia : 54 M-84AB
Footnotes
- ↑ Alan K. Russell: Modern Main Battle Tanks . In: weapons and equipment . tape 3 . Motorbuch, Stuttgart 1997, p. 112 .
- ↑ Alan K. Russell: Modern Main Battle Tanks . In: weapons and equipment . tape 3 . Motorbuch, Stuttgart 1997, p. 113 .
swell
- Rolf Hilmes Main Battle Tank: Technology today and tomorrow. Report publisher.
- Alan K. Russell Modern Main Battle Tanks. Weapons and Equipment Volume 3, Motorbuch Verlag, 1997.
- Andrew W. Hull, David R. Markov, Steven Zaloga : Soviet / Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices: 1945 to Present. Darlington Productions, Darlington.
Web links
- M-84 on fas.org (English)
- Sale of M-84 battle tanks to Kuwait (English)