The T-80B is a Tier 6 progression Main Battle Tank under Marat Shishkin's dealership.
History[ | ]
Class: Main Battle Tank
Developed: 1976-1978
Service: 1978+
Vehicles Built: cca 2000-3000
Operators: Soviet Union, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Yemen
The problem with the original T-80 was that while the concept was sound in the late 1960s, the long development and testing period meant that, when the vehicle was finally accepted into service, it was far less formidable than its designers planned it to be. The late 1960s was the era of the M60A1 Patton, while a decade later the Americans were already testing the first prototypes of the M1 Abrams. But not just that, the T-80 was also inferior to certain Russian designs (such as the T-64B with improved turret armor layout and FCS).
The Soviets, fearing they’d lose their edge, quickly started working on a response in the form of Object 219R, an improved version of the T-80, which entered service only 2 years after the T-80 under the designation of T-80B. The 1978 pattern T-80B had a number of advantages over the T-80. For one, the armor was changed to increase the protection of the vehicle. The turret was also improved and the protection level was now on par with the T-64B, the inlay became ceramic. On the other hand, the vehicle still lacked an ERA kit, something that would prove very problematic in the future.
The biggest change was the armament. The modified 125mm 2A46-2 gun could now launch guided missiles using the 9K112-1 Kobra system. The Fire Control System was also upgraded to the 1A33 model, which significantly improved the accuracy of the vehicle on the move. The 1978 pattern T-80B was powered by the same 1000hp turbine as the T-80 but a more powerful 1100hp GTD-1100F engine was introduced in 1980. In 1985, T-80Bs received new Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor, producing the T-80BV variant with significantly increased protection against HEAT warheads. A number of the older T-80Bs was converted to T-80BV standard. The new T-80BVs also used yet another turret composite armor inlay, similar to that of the T-72A.
In 1985, the production of the T-80B was replaced by an improved variant, the T-80U. It is unclear how many T-80s and T-80B/BV vehicles were built in total between 1976 and 1985, the most likely number is somewhere between two to three thousand. Considering that the T-80 was essentially an internal Soviet use only tank and was generally not exported until after the fall of the Soviet Union. Apart from some minor engagements during the breakup of the Soviet Union, the only major combat use of the T-80 and T-80B tanks happened during the First Chechen War and the ill-fated Siege of Grozny. However, the T-80BV model has seen some fighting during the recent civil war in Yemen. The T-80BVM model, recently unveiled in Russia, is also a heavily modernized T-80BV MBT, although the extent of upgrades in this case is such that compared to the older T-80B models, it is almost an entirely separate vehicle.
Vehicle Traits[ | ]
- Armored: This vehicle's armor can withstand a lot of punishment, allowing it to survive even serious firefights.
- Heavy Weapon: This vehicle carries one of the largest weapons around with significantly increased damage per shot.
- Gas Turbine: This vehicle is powered by a gas turbine, providing smoother acceleration compared to an ordinary diesel.
Ammunition[ | ]
Ammo Name |
Ammo Type |
XP Cost | Damage | Penetration | Velocity | Reload Time |
More Info | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
125mm 3VBM9 APFSDS | APFSDS | Stock | 600 | 595[note 1] mm | 1750 m/s | 8.50 s | ||
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125mm 3VBM11 APFSDS | APFSDS | 27,835 | 630 | 645[note 2] mm | 1750 m/s | 8.50 s | ||
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125mm 3VOF22 HE | HE | Stock | 945[note 3] | 45 mm | 850 m/s | 8.50 s | ||
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125mm 3VBK10 HEAT | HEAT | 22,075 | 810 | 770 mm | 905 m/s | 8.50 s | ||
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9M112 "Kobra" ATGM | ATGM | 26,395 | 720[note 4] | 800 mm | 300 m/s | 8.50 s | ||
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12.7mm AP | AP | Stock | 15 | 30[note 5] mm | 855 m/s | 5.00 s | ||
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Upgrades[ | ]
Armor[ | ]
XP Cost | Credit Cost | Hull Armor |
Hull Composition |
Turret Armor |
Turret Composition |
ERA Name | ERA Penetration Reduction |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stock | Stock | 610 mm (vs AP) 945 mm (vs HEAT) |
Composite | 855 mm (vs AP) 1175 mm (vs HEAT) |
Composite | N/A | N/A vs AP N/A vs HEAT |
This MBT's front is protected by composite armor. Composite armor consists of combined layers of steel and other material and offers excellent protection against HEAT shells and ATGMs. Its steel sides and rear are considerably more vulnerable. |
Weapon[ | ]
Name | XP Cost | Credit Cost | Aim Time | Reload Time | More Info | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
125mm 2A46M-1 Smoothbore Cannon | Stock | Stock | 1.70 s | 8.50 s | ||
Stats:
Ammo:
125mm 3VBM9 APFSDS 125mm 3VBM11 APFSDS 125mm 3VOF22 HE 125mm 3VBK10 HEAT 9M112 "Kobra" ATGM 12.7mm AP |
Engine[ | ]
Name | XP Cost | Credit Cost | Max Speed | Reverse Speed | Forward Acceleration |
Hull Traverse | Fire Chance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Klimov GTD-1000TF 1100 hp Gas Turbine Engine | Stock | Stock | 70 km/h | 29 km/h | 4.50 s (0 to 32 km/h) 18.78 s (0 to Max Speed) |
37.26° | 8 % |