Ukrainian Conflict Tank Recognition
TANK RECOGNITION OF THE UKRAINIAN CONFLICT
- Recognizing T-64, T-72 and T-80 models
A Note - T-90 tanks share most of the mentioned parts with the T-72 models, if not specified, assume that the description also applies to the T-90.
ROAD WHEELS
T-64 wheels have no bolts around the center, but are reinforced with 10 "divets" (red), but the center perimeter is held on by 6 bolts (yellow).
T-80 wheels do have bolts around the center cylinder (red) which is also held on by the bolts (yellow). There are 10 bolts around the center, and 10 bolts on the center cylinder.
T-72 wheels also have 8 bolts around the center (red), but they are bolted in the indentations on the wheels (blue). The center is also held on by 6 bolts (yellow), similar to T-64 wheels.
IDLER WHEELS
T-64 idler wheel is identical in shape and size to the road wheels.
T-80 idler wheel is smaller than the road wheels and features a spoked construction.
REAR
T-64 tanks have a long and slim heat exhaust at the back of the hull (blue). The rear of the turret has a long fording tube (red) with a curve on one end (red arrow).
T-80 has shorter in length, but taller heat exhaust which is in the center of the hull (blue). The fording tube on the rear of the turret is also much bigger (red).
T-72 lacks the heat exhaust on the rear of the hull, and has a small and short fording tube (red).
OTHER DETAILS
One way to tell T-72 tanks apart from T-80, T-90 and T-64 tanks, is by the Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) placement on the turret roof. The HMG (red) is always facing away from where the commander's sight is pointing. You can tell which way the commander's sight is pointing by the IR searchlight (blue), which is placed right above it, so the HMG always has to face away from the searchlight. An exception to this is the Ukrainian T-72AMT, which has the remotely operated HMG borrowed from the T-64.
If there is an IR searchlight present, you can recognize the T-64s by the fact that they have the searchlight to the left side of the gun (red), while T-80 and T-72 have it placed to the right side of the gun (blue). An exception to this are some T-64BM tanks, which in some occasions have the IR searchlight placed on top of the ERA on the right side (yellow), in which case, if you see the searchlight placed on top of ERA, it is most likely the T-64BM.
- Recognizing between specific models
T-64BV, T-72AV, T-80BV and T-72B
These specific variants have been chosen because of the presence of the Kontakt-1 Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA), or the Kontakt-1 package (some Ukrainian models have Nozh ERA placed inside Kontakt-1 blocks).
T-72B is the easiest one to tell apart from those, because unlike any of them, it does not have V shaped ERA placement on the turret, but the ERA is rather placed flat on the armor.
T-64BV, on top of having the IR searchlight on the left side of the gun, can be recognized by having two identical rows of ERA placement on the upper part of the turret front.
Now, Ukrainians have special variants of T-64BV and T-80BV called T-64BV model 2017 and T-80BV model 2017. Both have identical changes to their predecessors. They both omit the IR searchlight since thermal sight has been installed, and both have GPS antenna at the back of the turret.
Now, Ukrainians have special variants of T-64BV and T-80BV called T-64BV model 2017 and T-80BV model 2017. Both have identical changes to their predecessors. They both omit the IR searchlight since thermal sight has been installed, and both have GPS antenna at the back of the turret.
T-80U, T-64BM/2, T-80UK, T-80UM, T-80UE-1
These tanks have been chosen for similarity because they often have rubber skirts on the turret, often called "Umbrella" and even rubber skirt on the lower front plate of the hull.
On top of the wheels, driver periscopes and fording tubes. The way you can tell these apart is by the fact that T-80U tanks don't have a remote HMG, nor do they have it placed on the commander's cupola, like the T-80BVM. Instead, they have 3 mounts around the commander's cupola (yellow arrows), one right of it, one left of it, and one to the back. The HMG is often placed on the right mount.
Another way to tell T-80U variants apart from T-64BM variants, is that they have spacers (red) in between the ERA blocks on the front hull.
T-80U tanks can also be seen with the PLISSA thermal instead of the IR searchlight (red). Not to be mistaken for the T-80UM, which have thermal integrated in the Main Gun Sight (MGS) and have extra ERA block mounted on that place.
T-72B '89, T-72B3, T-72B3M
These have been chosen because of their big similarities since they have very similar basis. They can be told apart from other tanks by the big ERA blocks that have gaps between them on the turret. No other tank has ERA gaps.
T-72B 1989 model, can be recognized by the still present IR searchlight (red) and the fact that it still has the old T-72B sight (blue) and lacks the Sosna-U sight, present on the T-72B3 and B3M. The tank also lacks meteorological sensor on the back of the turret.
T-72B3 can be told apart from the T-72B3M by the lack of the ERA panel left of the main gun (blue). It also lacks ERA blocks on the turret sides (green). T-72B3M should also have the Relikt side-skirts (pink), where T-72B3 has 3 Kontakt-5 square panels on each side (yellow). Some T-72s have been seen with Relikt side-skirts but no ERA on the turret sides and no extra ERA panel next to the gun. Those could be regular T-72B3 tanks with Relikt side-skirts.
T-80BVM
T-80BVM can be found to be very similar to T-72B3M to the first glance. But the tank, on top of having all the T-80 features, has some important details that can help you easily tell it apart.
First, the rubber hanging from the Relikt side-skirts, has square holes in it (red). Second thing is the Relikt ERA on the front, the turret ERA has no gaps (blue). And lastly, it should have rubber hanging from the lower front plate (yellow), although it can be absent.
First, the rubber hanging from the Relikt side-skirts, has square holes in it (red). Second thing is the Relikt ERA on the front, the turret ERA has no gaps (blue). And lastly, it should have rubber hanging from the lower front plate (yellow), although it can be absent.
T-90A
T-90A tank is one of the more unique tanks and is hard to mistake for other tanks, but I will include it anyway. The easiest way to tell it apart is the Shtora-1 APS, as mentioned before, it includes dazzlers (red) and the LWR (blue). It also features 3 Kontakt-5 square panels (green) on the each side of the hull, just like T-72B3 and has a remotely operated HMG (yellow), which means it is placed on top of the commander's sight.
T-90M
T-90M has also made an appearance in the conflict. It is very unique since it has a big panoramic sight with thermal imager for the commander with a remotely operated HMG mounted on it (red). It also has laser warning receivers moved to the front of the turret, where the Shtora-1 dazzlers used to be on T-90A (yellow) and also has a muzzle reference sensor (green), which is another unique thing for it.
T-72A and T-64B
Both of those tanks have been seen with some form of extra ERA protection, but neither of the two have any ERA by default. To an unskilled eye, they can look very much alike, but you always have to keep in mind the wheels, fording tubes, HMG, etc. But you will know it is either of the two if you see smoke launchers placed on the front of the turret, because those tanks don't have ERA by default, smoke launchers have not been moved to the sides of the turrets, and thus, always occupy the front.
Here are two examples, here I will not give any hints, if you read everything so far, you should have no problems telling which one is the T-72A and which one is the T-64B :)
Here are two examples, here I will not give any hints, if you read everything so far, you should have no problems telling which one is the T-72A and which one is the T-64B :)
Pa, svaka čast, na predanosti i detaljnosti
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