T-72A

T-72A
Details
Tier / Class:	5 MBT
Nation:	Soviet Union
Dealer:	Marat Shishkin
Reputation:	135,300
Cost:	1,920,000
Stats - Stock (Renowned)
Max Damage:	550 (560)
DPM:	3,203 (3,624)
Penetration:	310 (380) mm
Hit Points:	2,315
Hull F/S/R:	205 / 80 / 45
Turret F/S/R:	460 / 175 / 60
Max Speed:	55.00 km/h
Acceleration 0-32kph:	6.53 (6.06) s
Hull Traverse:	27.14 (31.00)
Camouflage:	15%
Vision:	415 m
Accuracy (Spread):	0.13°
Max Cannon Depression:	-6.0 / -1.5°
Turret Traverse Speed:	36.00 deg/s

T-72A
Details
Tier / Class:	5 MBT
Nation:	Soviet Union
Dealer:	Marat Shishkin
Reputation:	135,300
Cost:	1,920,000
Stats - Stock (Renowned)
Max Damage:	550 (560)
DPM:	3,203 (3,624)
Penetration:	310 (380) mm
Hit Points:	2,315
Hull F/S/R:	205 / 80 / 45
Turret F/S/R:	460 / 175 / 60
Max Speed:	55.00 km/h
Acceleration 0-32kph:	6.53 (6.06) s
Hull Traverse:	27.14 (31.00) deg/s
Camouflage:	15%
Vision:	415 m
Accuracy (Spread):	0.13°
Max Cannon Depression:	-6.0 / -1.5°
Turret Traverse Speed:	36.00 deg/s

The T-72A is a tier 5 Main Battle Tank originating from the Soviet Union, and is sold by Marat Shishkin. It can be unlocked from the T-72 Ural, and leads to the T-72B.

Features

Heavy armor: this vehicle's armor bounces more shots and takes more hits
High caliber: the high caliber weaponry deals an increased damage

Player Recommendations

The first of a line of modular upgrades to the T-72 platform, the T-72A continues the trend of heavy hitting firepower the T series is known for. With high DPM and good upgraded mobility, it is a strong brawler and hull down warrior when it can fight on open ground. But with a mediocre stock top speed and acceleration and poor gun depression, this vehicle is one of the harder Russian MBTs to play compared to the T-80 and T-64 mod. 1975.

Pros and Cons

Pros

High alpha
Excellent turret armor
Armor upgrade gives some protection against HEAT and guided missiles through ERA along the front half of the sides, turret front and hull front

Cons

Poor hull armor
Poor gun depression
Mediocre stock top speed and acceleration

Upgrade Suggestions

Upgrading to the V-84 Diesel Engine will greatly improve the poor stock mobility of the T-72A, so this should be researched as early as possible. Upgrading to the Kontakt-1 ERA offers heavily improved protection from ATGMs and HEAT shells. Firepower upgrades such as ammunition and modules are important in the long run, but should not be focused early due to their high research cost relative to mobility and protection upgrades.

Retrofit Suggestions

Advanced Muzzle Reference System
Augmented Optics
Improved Gun Breech
Improved Pioneer Tool Kit

Commander and Crew Skill Suggestions

Commander: Juan Carlos, to improve the aim speed and crew stats.
Driver: Spin to Win, Off-Road Driving
Gunner: Sharpshooter, Do the Twist

Armor

T-72A Stock Armor
XP Cost	Credit Cost	Hull Armor	Hull Composition	Turret Armor	Turret Composition	ERA Name	ERA Penetration Reduction
Stock	Stock	? mm (vs AP) ? mm (vs HEAT)	Unknown	N/A vs AP N/A vs HEAT	N/A	N/A	N/A vs AP N/A vs HEAT
Expanding on the success of the base T-72, along with a site of other modernizations, the T-72A's primary improvement replaces the turret inserts with composite armor, significantly increasing the frontal durability of the turret.

Kontakt-1 ERA Package
XP Cost	Credit Cost	Hull Armor	Hull Composition	Turret Armor	Turret Composition	ERA Name	ERA Penetration Reduction
Stock	109,420	? mm (vs AP) ? mm (vs HEAT)	Unknown	N/A vs AP N/A vs HEAT	N/A	N/A	N/A vs AP N/A vs HEAT
One of the primary improvements over the base T-72 is the mountings for ERA panels, positioned along the upper glacis, turret front, two-thirds of the hull sides, and protective skirts over the wheels to improve HEAT survivability.

Firepower

125mm 2A46 Cannon
Shell name	Type	Reputation	Damage	Area of effect	Penetration	Max Accuracy	Speed	Reload
125mm 3VBM7 APFSDS	AP	Stock	550	0m	310mm	0.13°	1,750 m/s	10.30s
125mm 3VOF22 HE-F	HE	Stock	580	1.50m	40mm	0.15°	850 m/s	10.30s
125mm 3VBK10 HEAT-FS	HEAT	10,275	560	0m	450mm	0.14°	905 m/s	10.30s
125mm 3VBM9 APFSDS	AP	11,775	560	0m	380mm	0.13°	1,750 m/s	10.30s

7.62mm Secondary Weapon
Shell name	Type	Reputation	Damage	Area of effect	Penetration	Velocity	Accuracy (Fully Aimed)	Reload Time	Shells in Magazine	Reload within Magazine	Burst Fire Rate
7.62mm AP	AP	Stock	8	0m	18mm	855m/s	0.15°	5.00s	800	{{{reloadm}}}s	400.00rd/min

Mobility

Name	Reputation Cost	Credits	Max Speed	Reverse Speed	0 to 32km/h	0 to Max Speed	Hull Traverse	Fire Chance
ChTZ V-46-6 Diesel Engine	Stock	Stock	55.00km/h	{{{reverse}}}	6.53s	{{{0-max}}}	27.14deg/s	{{{firechance}}}
ChTZ V-84 Diesel Engine	1,625	22,800	55.00km/h	{{{reverse}}}	6.06s	{{{0-max}}}	31.00deg/s	{{{firechance}}}

Upgrades

T-72A Upgrades
Name	Reputation Cost	Credits	Description
3D6M Smoke Grenades	3,900	54,710	Provides a total of five smoke deployments on an eighty second cooldown between uses.
Improved Gunner Sight	5,685	79,785	Improves overall accuracy by 7%
2E26M2 Two-plane Stabilizer	8,120	113,980	Enhances accuracy while on the move by 20%.
Improved Autoloader	18,475	259,305	Increases reload speed by 10%.

History

Class: Main Battle Tank
Developed: 1976-1979
Service: 1979+
Vehicles Built: cca 30000 incl. license production (cca 8700 in the Soviet Union)
Operators: Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact countries and more than 60 other operators around the world

Of the three main Soviet MBTs simultaneously in service (T-64, T-72 and T-80), Uralvagonzavod's T-72 is by far the most recognizable one. In fact, much like its T-55 predecessor, it can be said that the T-72 became an icon of sorts, its sleek silhouette firmly connected to the Soviet Union. Whether it’s an image of a horde of these machines creeping through an East German forest or massive groups of them burning in the middle of an Iraqi desert, the T-72 is, without a doubt, one of the most widely recognized tanks in the world.

On the 16th of December 1976, the Uralvagonzavod design bureau in Nizhny Tagil under V.N.Venediktov, one of the creators of the original T-72, was ordered to develop an upgrade to the T-72 Ural with the goal of improving its combat characteristics. The project was designated Object 176. It took over two years to complete and on the 22nd of June 1979 the Soviet military officially accepted the vehicle into service under the designation of T-72A.

The tank was significantly modified compared to its predecessor. Firepower was increased with the installation of the new 125mm smoothbore gun model that was more accurate than its predecessor. From 1981 onwards, a modernized 2A46M version was installed instead. Accuracy was further improved by the installation of TPD-K1 optics. A new ballistics computer set 1A40 was added to the 1982 model and the 1984 version received a new 2E42-2 gun stabilizer, making the vehicle significantly more accurate on the move. Speaking of mobility, it was increased with the installation of a new 780hp V-46-6 engine as well as some smaller changes to the suspension. In 1984, the vehicle received a new 840hp V-84 engine.

Vehicle protection was enhanced with composite armor on the turret. The composite armor elements gave the front turret its notable "cheeks", leading to the western nickname "Dolly Parton" of this model. The frontal turret protection increased from 400mm to roughly 500mm RHAe versus HEAT projectiles. In later T-72A models (from 1980 onwards), the upper frontal hull plate was increased by welding an additional 30mm plate onto it. The final version of the T-72A (T-72AV from 1985) was equipped with Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor.

The T-72A and its variants were produced between 1979 and 1985 before being replaced by the T-72B series, although its license production abroad (in the form of the T-72M and T-72M1 models continued well beyond that. Overall, it was one of the most successful versions of the T-72 tank and many vehicles of this type are still currently in service and used in combat, most notably in Syria.

Variants

T-72A ICE