Difference between revisions of "T-72M2 Moderna"

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{{About
 +
| about = Soviet medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 +
| usage = other versions
 +
| link = T-72 (Family)
 +
}}
 
{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
 
|code=ussr_t_72m2_moderna
 
|code=ussr_t_72m2_moderna
−
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
+
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
 +
|market=id50176_t_72m2_moderna_ussr
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
−
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "Wind of Change"]] as a reward for the [[wt:en/news/7640-event-the-battle-for-arachis-en|"Battle for Arachis"]] event.
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Slovakian upgrade of the Soviet T-72M1 main battle tank, developed in the aftermath of the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992. The Slovakian tank manufacturer ZTS Dubnica, which faced a severe economic crisis and a shrinking domestic market after the split of the former federation, wanted to modernize the existing T-72M1 tanks to meet the demands of potential customers and improve the existing fleet of Slovakian armored vehicles. To achieve this, they joined forces with Belgian SABCA and French SFIM, two leading European companies in the field of systems integration. Together, they embarked on a comprehensive upgrade program, focusing on enhancing the tank’s firepower, protection, and mobility. This partnership resulted in the T-72M2 Moderna, which was equipped with an upgraded 2A46MS 125mm cannon, cutting-edge French electro-optical systems, an improved VEGA Plus fire control system, and a new modular armor package that increased the tank's protection level against kinetic and chemical threats. Other upgrades included a secondary 30mm 2A42 autocannon, a new PZL Wola S12U diesel engine, integration of Slovakian-made TAPNA APFSDS, and a new electronics package from SABCA. The T-72M2 Moderna made its debut at the IDET 1994 exhibition in Brno, Czech Republic, but failed to generate the interest of potential buyers. Later, in 1998, the Slovak Minister of Defense, Ján Sitek, signed a contract for the purchase and delivery of five T-72M2 Moderna tanks. However, only one incomplete prototype was demonstrated two years later, leaving the contract unfulfilled, and eventually the project was abandoned.
 +
 
 +
The {{Specs|name}} was introduced during [[Update "Wind of Change"]] as a reward for the [[wt:en/news/7640-event-the-battle-for-arachis-en|"Battle for Arachis"]] event. As a modernization of ex-Czechoslovakian license-built T-72M1 tanks with French thermal gun sights, new ERA packages, and new APFSDS, the T-72M2 Moderna introduces Slovakia into the game with respectable firepower and overall higher mobility. It is also equipped with a secondary 30mm autocannon, identical to the cannon found on the BMP-2, which gives it additional firepower and utility compared to its counterparts in the [[T-72_(Family)|T-72 family.]]
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
Line 12: Line 20:
 
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
−
''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
Although it is named the T-72M2 - which may sound more advanced than the contemporary T-72M1s - the base model is still a T-72M, which shares the same chassis as the stock [[T-72A]]. However, the M2 modification adds layers of DYNAS ERA blocks on the UFP and turret front, with each block providing additional protection of up to 100 mm of kinetic penetration, which makes the T-72M2 more survivable than the 72A. While it might not be enough to survive higher tier APFSDS that can go straight through the front plate, it is still fairly adequate protectionwise at range and the turret can stop up to 700 mm from kinetic penetrators from the front.
 +
 
 +
It is still, however, important to remember that as one of the members of the extensive T-72 family, the tank has a compact design (and as a result a compact interior as well) and shares the same AZ-172 autoloader - any penetrating hit has a high chance of setting off either the fuel tanks or ammunition, and even if you were lucky in that regard losing just two crew is an automatic vehicle loss. As such, it is best to exercise a level of caution when playing the vehicle, similar to its other cousins.
 +
 
  
 
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
 
'''Armour type:''' <!-- The types of armour present on the vehicle and their general locations -->
Line 38: Line 49:
  
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1317|rbMinHp=752}}
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1317|rbMinHp=752}}
 +
 +
Like later T-72s, the T-72M2 has its engine upgraded to a Polish PZL Wola S12U diesel engine with an engine output of 850 HP, which is slightly higher than the T-72B's V-84S with 840 hp, and is the strongest engine in any A and M series T-72. The T-72M2 shares the same top speed of 60 km/h and infamous -4.2 km/h reverse speed, as well as the 44.5 ton weight, of the later T-72Bs. Although a 10 hp difference is not much, the overall mobility of the T-72M2 is still worse than its NATO counterparts.
  
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
Line 51: Line 64:
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
|-
 
|-
−
! colspan="5" | [[2A46MS (125 mm)|125 mm 2A46MS]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
+
! colspan="5" | [[2A46MS (125 mm)|125 mm 2A46MS]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || Reloading rate (seconds)
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
 
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
 
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
−
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
+
!Autoloader
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Arcade''
 
! ''Arcade''
−
| rowspan="2" | 44 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+13° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 19.0 || 26.4 || 32.0 || 35.4 || 37.6 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 7.10
+
| rowspan="2" | 44 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+13° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 19.0 || 26.4 || 32.0 || 35.4 || 37.6 || rowspan="2" | 7.10  
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Realistic''
 
! ''Realistic''
Line 66: Line 79:
  
 
==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+
{{:2A46MS (125 mm)/Ammunition|3BK12M, 3OF26, 3BM22, TAPNA}}
−
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
 
−
|-
 
−
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 
−
|-
 
−
| 3BK12M || HEATFS || 440 || 440 || 440 || 440 || 440 || 440
 
−
|-
 
−
| 3OF26 || HE || 42 || 42 || 42 || 42 || 42 || 42
 
−
|-
 
−
| 3BM22 || APFSDS || 425 || 420 || 415 || 405 || 393 || 380
 
−
|-
 
−
| TAPNA || APFSDS || 509 || 507 || 500 || 490 || 481 || 472
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
−
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
−
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 
−
|-
 
−
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 
−
|-
 
−
| 3BK12M || HEATFS || 905 || 19 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 2,530 || 65° || 72° || 77°
 
−
|-
 
−
| 3OF26 || HE || 850 || 23 || 0 || 0.1 || 5,240 || 79° || 80° || 81°
 
−
|-
 
−
| 3BM22 || APFSDS || 1,760 || 4.83 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 76° || 77° || 80°
 
−
|-
 
−
| TAPNA || APFSDS || 1,690 || 3.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
−
<!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] -->
+
[[File:Ammoracks_T-72A.png|right|thumb|x450px|[[Ammo racks]] of the [[T-72A]] (identical).]]
−
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
+
<!-- '''Last updated: 2.15.1.65''' -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Full<br>ammo
 
! Full<br>ammo
 +
! Ammo<br>part
 
! 1st<br>rack empty
 
! 1st<br>rack empty
 
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 
! 4th<br>rack empty
 
! 4th<br>rack empty
−
! 5th<br>rack empty
 
−
! 6th<br>rack empty
 
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
−
| '''44''' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __
+
| '''44''' || ''Projectiles'' <br> ''Propellants'' || 40&nbsp;''(+4)'' <br> 40&nbsp;''(+4)'' || 29&nbsp;''(+15)'' <br> 29&nbsp;''(+15)'' || 23&nbsp;''(+21)'' <br> 23&nbsp;''(+21)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+43)'' <br> 1&nbsp;''(+43)'' || No
−
|-
 
 
|}
 
|}
 +
'''Notes''':
 +
 +
* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of propellant bags (orange) and projectiles (yellow). Both have separate racks.
 +
* Shells are modelled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
 +
* A propellant charge remains in rack 2 after it is emptied and is later fired as part of rack 3. For the purpose of clarity, rack 2 is considered empty even if that charge is still present.
 +
* Rack 4 (autoloader carrousel) is a first stage ammo rack containing 22 projectiles and 22 propellant charges.
 +
** This rack gets filled first when loading up the tank and is also emptied first.
 +
** As the {{PAGENAME}} is equipped with an autoloader, manual reloading of the gun is not possible.
 +
** Once the autoloader magazine has been depleted, you can't shoot until the loader has restocked the autoloader with at least one shell. The restocking time is longer than the normal reload time of the gun. Take this into account when playing.
 +
** Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 3 into rack 4. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.
  
 
=== Additional armament ===
 
=== Additional armament ===
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<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 
{{main|2A42 (30 mm)}}
 
{{main|2A42 (30 mm)}}
 +
 +
A very distinctive feature of the T-72M2 is the 2A42 30 mm autocannon mounted on the right side of the turret. The gun is highly destructive against light vehicles, low-flying aircraft, and vehicles showing their sides; alternatively, it can also be used to knock out enemies' barrels. It is considered as a "machine gun" and is operated by the vehicle gunner, sharing the same optics and thermals as the main gun. The gun uses the stock belt of the 2A42, and changing the belt to any other unlockable belt found on other vehicles (such as the [[BMP-2M]]) like the APDS and APDS-FS belts are unavailable.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF-I*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary (self-destroying)}}
 
* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEF-I*|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary (self-destroying)}}
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+
{{:2A42 (30 mm)/Ammunition|HEF-I*, AP-T}}
−
! colspan="7" | Penetration statistics
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Belt
 
−
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
 
−
|-
 
−
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 
−
|-
 
−
| Default || 65 || 63 || 54 || 44 || 36 || 30
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
Line 192: Line 165:
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
The T-72M2 Moderna excels in mid- to long-range engagements with its powerful and accurate 125mm cannon. The recommended tactic is similar to most other Russian MBTs at this BR: find targets at range using the thermal sights, then use the laser rangefinder and highly capable APFSDS shells to knock out the target from as far away from your vehicle as possible. This is due to some inherent vehicle weaknesses, some of which will appear below, such as the slow turret traverse and poor reverse gear. At range, the T-72M2 suffers far less from these design drawbacks and with its 2nd generation thermal sights for both the gunner and commander, you can scour the battlefield quickly for enemy vehicles. NATO MBTs such as the [[Leopard 2A4]] and [[M1 Abrams]] this tier only have a 1st generation thermal sight for the gunner and lack thermals on the commander sight (or lack a commander sight entirely!), and as such have to rely on a much narrower FOV than your commander sight and with a lower resolution. However, do keep in mind that if your commander is knocked out, you will be unable to exploit this advantage.
 +
 
 +
When forced into close-range combat, this vehicle is very mediocre compared to NATO vehicles with its painful reverse speed, lack of neutral steering, and subpar turret traverse. However, the liberal application of ERA, slat armour, and the underlying composite armour can sometimes save you from smaller-calibre or poorly-aimed shells. IFVs in particular, even ones with high-penetrating APFSDS like the [[M3A3 Bradley]] and [[Strf 9040C]], will be almost helpless against the frontal protection of a Moderna, while your 30mm autocannon can shred through them with little worry.  
 +
 
 +
Against enemy air units, your survivability is for the most part decent. You have a Laser Warning System (LWS), and this alerts you of both enemy tanks using their laser rangefinders near you as well as enemy laser guided munitions. Considering the fact that a sizable portion of enemy guided air to ground ordnance such as the [[AGM-114B Hellfire]] and [[AGM-114K Hellfire II]] are laser guided, you can use your LWS as an early warning for inbound ordnance, allowing you to deploy a smokescreen, turn around (as this is faster than reversing), and reposition to a safer spot. You can differentiate an airborne lock from a ground lock by the length of the warning - ground vehicles only need to rangefind once or twice, while air launched ATGMs from strike drones, helicopter and the odd aircraft continuously trigger the LWS.
 +
 
 +
This vehicle will feel very reminiscent of the [[T-72AV (TURMS-T)]] with almost identical gun and armour performance. The Moderna has around 1 more HP/t, but overall both vehicles traverse the map similarly and can go through similar spots.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
 
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
−
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
 
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
*
+
* DYNAS ERA provides up to 100 mm of additional kinetic protection
 +
* Has access 2nd generation thermals for both the gunner and commander, which are also only a Tier II modification
 +
* Powerful 30 mm autocannon tears through light vehicles and aircraft, and will operate even on 2 crew as the gunner controls it
 +
* Has commander fire control
 +
* Good situational awareness thanks to LWS, especially against airborne guided munitions
 +
* TAPNA APFSDS provides greater penetrative capabilities against enemies, even better than the common 3BM42 round used by its Russian contemporaries
 +
* Launches 11 smoke grenades per charge (11/22)
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
*
+
* Poor turret traverse and gun handling
 +
* Somewhat sluggish compared to its NATO counterparts with a horrible reverse speed
 +
* Fixed 8x gunsight decreases vehicle versatility
 +
* Hull and turret armour can easily be penetrated by most contemporary rounds
 +
* 30 mm autocannon has no traverse of its own, can only move vertically
 +
* Does not have access to ATGMs
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
  
−
The T-72M2 Moderna is a licensed-produced Slovakian upgrade of the Soviet T-72 MBT. Among the various upgrades, the tank is fitted with DYNAS ERA, a modernized 24A5MS 125 mm smoothbore gun, and a VEGA fire control system, originating from Belgium and France.<ref>https://www.military-today.com/tanks/t72m2_moderna.htm</ref>
+
The T-72M2 Moderna is a licensed-produced Slovakian upgrade of the Soviet T-72 MBT. Among the various upgrades, the tank is fitted with DYNAS explosive reactive armour, a modernized 24A5MS 125 mm smoothbore gun, a single 30 mm 2A42 autocannon, a laser warning system, and an automated modern VEGA fire control system, originating from SFIM, a French development partner, and SABCA, a Belgian development partner.<ref name=":0">https://www.military-today.com/tanks/t72m2_moderna.htm</ref>
 +
 
 +
The first prototype of the T-72M2 Moderna, an improvement on the T-72M1 prototype, was introduced in 1993. Although attempts were made to put the T-72M2 Moderna into production domestically and for export buyers, no production orders were ever placed, therefore, few functioning examples were produced.<ref name=":0" />
 +
 
 +
=== [[wt:en/news/7639-development-battle-for-arachis-t-72m2-moderna-en|Devblog]] ===
 +
After the division of Czechoslovakia followed by an economic crisis, Slovak tank builders found themselves on the brink of bankruptcy. Tank plant ZTS Dubnica initiated an upgrade project for the Soviet T-72 series MBT in order to make the tank interesting for both domestic and foreign operators. By 1993, together with the French company SFIM and the Belgian SABCA, a project was developed to modernize the T-72M1 tanks with a new VEGA fire control system, a new panoramic sight, an improved engine, domestic ERA protection and two gunpods with 20 mm KAA-200 guns on the turret's sides.
 +
 
 +
The built prototypes of the new main battle tank were designated T-72M2 Moderna. Later, the tank was equipped by a new DYNAS explosive reactive armour, and two 20 mm guns were replaced with one 30 mm 2A42 cannon. Only a few prototypes of the T-72M2 Moderna were built.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
−
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
+
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_t_72m2_moderna Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Images
 +
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200">
 +
T-72M2 Moderna_WTWallpaper001.jpg
 +
T-72M2 Moderna_WTWallpaper002.jpg
 +
T-72M2 Moderna_WTWallpaper003.jpg
 +
T-72M2 Moderna_WTWallpaper004.jpg
 +
T-72M2 Moderna_WTWallpaper005.jpg
 +
T-72M2 Moderna_WTWallpaper006.jpg
 +
</gallery>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
Line 219: Line 228:
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
  
−
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
+
;Related development
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
 
 +
* [[T-72 (Family)]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
Line 229: Line 238:
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
 
* ''other literature.'' -->
  
−
* [[wt:en/news/7639-development-battle-for-arachis-t-72m2-moderna-en|[Devblog] “Battle for Arachis”: T-72M2 Moderna]]
+
* [[wt:en/news/7639-development-battle-for-arachis-t-72m2-moderna-en|[Devblog] "Battle for Arachis": T-72M2 Moderna]]
 +
* [http://www.military-today.com/tanks/t72m2_moderna.htm <nowiki>[Military Today]</nowiki> T-72M2 Moderna]
  
 
=== References ===
 
=== References ===
−
<references/>
+
<references />
  
 +
{{TankManufacturer ZTS Dubnica}}
 
{{USSR medium tanks}}
 
{{USSR medium tanks}}

Latest revision as of 07:06, 2 May 2024

This page is about the Soviet medium tank T-72M2 Moderna. For other versions, see T-72 (Family).
T-72M2 Moderna
ussr_t_72m2_moderna.png
GarageImage T-72M2 Moderna.png
ArtImage T-72M2 Moderna.jpg
T-72M2 Moderna
USSR flag.png USSR
VII Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
10.7 10.7 10.7
Class:
Purchase:Bundle or Gift
MARKET

Description

The T-72M2 is a Slovakian upgrade of the Soviet T-72M1 main battle tank, developed in the aftermath of the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992. The Slovakian tank manufacturer ZTS Dubnica, which faced a severe economic crisis and a shrinking domestic market after the split of the former federation, wanted to modernize the existing T-72M1 tanks to meet the demands of potential customers and improve the existing fleet of Slovakian armored vehicles. To achieve this, they joined forces with Belgian SABCA and French SFIM, two leading European companies in the field of systems integration. Together, they embarked on a comprehensive upgrade program, focusing on enhancing the tank’s firepower, protection, and mobility. This partnership resulted in the T-72M2 Moderna, which was equipped with an upgraded 2A46MS 125mm cannon, cutting-edge French electro-optical systems, an improved VEGA Plus fire control system, and a new modular armor package that increased the tank's protection level against kinetic and chemical threats. Other upgrades included a secondary 30mm 2A42 autocannon, a new PZL Wola S12U diesel engine, integration of Slovakian-made TAPNA APFSDS, and a new electronics package from SABCA. The T-72M2 Moderna made its debut at the IDET 1994 exhibition in Brno, Czech Republic, but failed to generate the interest of potential buyers. Later, in 1998, the Slovak Minister of Defense, Ján Sitek, signed a contract for the purchase and delivery of five T-72M2 Moderna tanks. However, only one incomplete prototype was demonstrated two years later, leaving the contract unfulfilled, and eventually the project was abandoned.

The T-72M2 was introduced during Update "Wind of Change" as a reward for the "Battle for Arachis" event. As a modernization of ex-Czechoslovakian license-built T-72M1 tanks with French thermal gun sights, new ERA packages, and new APFSDS, the T-72M2 Moderna introduces Slovakia into the game with respectable firepower and overall higher mobility. It is also equipped with a secondary 30mm autocannon, identical to the cannon found on the BMP-2, which gives it additional firepower and utility compared to its counterparts in the T-72 family.

General info

Survivability and armour

ERA
Effective action against the cumulative ammunition
Composite armour
Balanced protection against all types of ammunition
Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
ESS
Creation of a smoke screen in the direction of movement of the vehicle
LWS
Notifies about the vehicle's exposure to laser emissions
Self-entrenching equipment
Creation of ramparts and trenches in soft ground
Armourfront / side / back
Hull110 / 80 / 40
Turret125 / 102 / 65
Crew3 people
Visibility75 %

Although it is named the T-72M2 - which may sound more advanced than the contemporary T-72M1s - the base model is still a T-72M, which shares the same chassis as the stock T-72A. However, the M2 modification adds layers of DYNAS ERA blocks on the UFP and turret front, with each block providing additional protection of up to 100 mm of kinetic penetration, which makes the T-72M2 more survivable than the 72A. While it might not be enough to survive higher tier APFSDS that can go straight through the front plate, it is still fairly adequate protectionwise at range and the turret can stop up to 700 mm from kinetic penetrators from the front.

It is still, however, important to remember that as one of the members of the extensive T-72 family, the tank has a compact design (and as a result a compact interior as well) and shares the same AZ-172 autoloader - any penetrating hit has a high chance of setting off either the fuel tanks or ammunition, and even if you were lucky in that regard losing just two crew is an automatic vehicle loss. As such, it is best to exercise a level of caution when playing the vehicle, similar to its other cousins.


Armour type:

Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull ___ mm ___ mm Top
___ mm Bottom 		___ mm ___ - ___ mm
Turret ___ - ___ mm Turret front
___ mm Gun mantlet 		___ - ___ mm ___ - ___ mm ___ - ___ mm
Cupola ___ mm ___ mm ___ mm ___ mm

Notes:

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB67 / 5 km/h
RB and SB60 / 5 km/h
Number of gears7 forward
1 back
Weight44.5 t
Engine power
AB1 622 hp
RB and SB850 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB36.4 hp/t
RB and SB19.1 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 67 5 44.5 1317 1,622 29.6 36.45
Realistic 60 5 752 850 16.9 19.1

Like later T-72s, the T-72M2 has its engine upgraded to a Polish PZL Wola S12U diesel engine with an engine output of 850 HP, which is slightly higher than the T-72B's V-84S with 840 hp, and is the strongest engine in any A and M series T-72. The T-72M2 shares the same top speed of 60 km/h and infamous -4.2 km/h reverse speed, as well as the 44.5 ton weight, of the later T-72Bs. Although a 10 hp difference is not much, the overall mobility of the T-72M2 is still worse than its NATO counterparts.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB4 056 → 6 639 Sl icon.png
RB3 929 → 6 431 Sl icon.png
SB4 587 → 7 508 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications212 100 Rp icon.png
350 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 800 Ge icon.png
Crew training200 000 Sl icon.png
Experts710 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 100 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 080 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
150 / 190 / 240 % Sl icon.png
232 / 232 / 232 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
9 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods dozer blade.png
Dozer Blade
Research:
9 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
3 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods thermal sight.png
NVD
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement ussr.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
ESS
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
9 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
125mm_ussr_3BM22_APDS_FS_ammo_pack
Research:
9 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
300 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
330 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods counterMeasures.png
LWS/LR
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
125mm_ussr_3BM42_APDS_FS_ammo_pack
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder
Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.
Thermal imager
Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

125 mm 2A46MS cannon
Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Autoloader
Automatically feeds projectiles into the breech. The speed does not depend on the skills of the loader
Ammunition44 rounds
First-order22 rounds
Reload7.1 s
Vertical guidance-6° / 13°
Main article: 2A46MS (125 mm)
125 mm 2A46MS Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Autoloader
Arcade 44 -6°/+13° ±180° Two-plane 19.0 26.4 32.0 35.4 37.6 7.10
Realistic 11.9 14.0 17.0 18.8 20.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
3BK12M HEATFS 440 440 440 440 440 440
3OF26 HE 42 42 42 42 42 42
3BM22 APFSDS 425 420 415 405 393 380
TAPNA APFSDS 509 507 500 490 481 472
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (kg) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
3BK12M HEATFS 905 19 0.05 0.1 2.06 65° 72° 77°
3OF26 HE 850 23 0.3 0.1 5.24 79° 80° 81°
3BM22 APFSDS 1,760 4.83 - - - 76° 77° 80°
TAPNA APFSDS 1,690 3.7 - - - 78° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the T-72A (identical).
Full
ammo 		Ammo
part 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
44 Projectiles
Propellants 		40 (+4)
40 (+4) 		29 (+15)
29 (+15) 		23 (+21)
23 (+21) 		1 (+43)
1 (+43) 		No

Notes:

  • The T-72M2 Moderna uses two-piece ammunition, composed of propellant bags (orange) and projectiles (yellow). Both have separate racks.
  • Shells are modelled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
  • A propellant charge remains in rack 2 after it is emptied and is later fired as part of rack 3. For the purpose of clarity, rack 2 is considered empty even if that charge is still present.
  • Rack 4 (autoloader carrousel) is a first stage ammo rack containing 22 projectiles and 22 propellant charges.
    • This rack gets filled first when loading up the tank and is also emptied first.
    • As the T-72M2 Moderna is equipped with an autoloader, manual reloading of the gun is not possible.
    • Once the autoloader magazine has been depleted, you can't shoot until the loader has restocked the autoloader with at least one shell. The restocking time is longer than the normal reload time of the gun. Take this into account when playing.
    • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 3 into rack 4. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.

Additional armament

30 mm 2A42 automatic cannon
Ammunition250 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reload1.0 s
Fire rate550 shots/min
Vertical guidance-4° / 35°
Main article: 2A42 (30 mm)

A very distinctive feature of the T-72M2 is the 2A42 30 mm autocannon mounted on the right side of the turret. The gun is highly destructive against light vehicles, low-flying aircraft, and vehicles showing their sides; alternatively, it can also be used to knock out enemies' barrels. It is considered as a "machine gun" and is operated by the vehicle gunner, sharing the same optics and thermals as the main gun. The gun uses the stock belt of the 2A42, and changing the belt to any other unlockable belt found on other vehicles (such as the BMP-2M) like the APDS and APDS-FS belts are unavailable.

30 mm 2A42
Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer
250 (250) 550 -4°/+35° N/A N/A

Ammunition

  • Default: AP-T · HEF-I*

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HEF-I* 8 7 6 5 4 3
AP-T 65 63 53 44 36 29
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HEF-I* 960 0.39 0.1 0.1 75.46 79° 80° 81°
AP-T 970 0.4 - - - 47° 60° 65°

Ammo racks

Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
1 __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __ (+__) __

Machine guns

7.62 mm PKT machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition2 000 rounds
Belt capacity250 rounds
Reload8.0 s
Fire rate700 shots/min
Main article: PKT (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm PKT
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 2,000 (250) 700 N/A N/A

Usage in battles

The T-72M2 Moderna excels in mid- to long-range engagements with its powerful and accurate 125mm cannon. The recommended tactic is similar to most other Russian MBTs at this BR: find targets at range using the thermal sights, then use the laser rangefinder and highly capable APFSDS shells to knock out the target from as far away from your vehicle as possible. This is due to some inherent vehicle weaknesses, some of which will appear below, such as the slow turret traverse and poor reverse gear. At range, the T-72M2 suffers far less from these design drawbacks and with its 2nd generation thermal sights for both the gunner and commander, you can scour the battlefield quickly for enemy vehicles. NATO MBTs such as the Leopard 2A4 and M1 Abrams this tier only have a 1st generation thermal sight for the gunner and lack thermals on the commander sight (or lack a commander sight entirely!), and as such have to rely on a much narrower FOV than your commander sight and with a lower resolution. However, do keep in mind that if your commander is knocked out, you will be unable to exploit this advantage.

When forced into close-range combat, this vehicle is very mediocre compared to NATO vehicles with its painful reverse speed, lack of neutral steering, and subpar turret traverse. However, the liberal application of ERA, slat armour, and the underlying composite armour can sometimes save you from smaller-calibre or poorly-aimed shells. IFVs in particular, even ones with high-penetrating APFSDS like the M3A3 Bradley and Strf 9040C, will be almost helpless against the frontal protection of a Moderna, while your 30mm autocannon can shred through them with little worry.

Against enemy air units, your survivability is for the most part decent. You have a Laser Warning System (LWS), and this alerts you of both enemy tanks using their laser rangefinders near you as well as enemy laser guided munitions. Considering the fact that a sizable portion of enemy guided air to ground ordnance such as the AGM-114B Hellfire and AGM-114K Hellfire II are laser guided, you can use your LWS as an early warning for inbound ordnance, allowing you to deploy a smokescreen, turn around (as this is faster than reversing), and reposition to a safer spot. You can differentiate an airborne lock from a ground lock by the length of the warning - ground vehicles only need to rangefind once or twice, while air launched ATGMs from strike drones, helicopter and the odd aircraft continuously trigger the LWS.

This vehicle will feel very reminiscent of the T-72AV (TURMS-T) with almost identical gun and armour performance. The Moderna has around 1 more HP/t, but overall both vehicles traverse the map similarly and can go through similar spots.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • DYNAS ERA provides up to 100 mm of additional kinetic protection
  • Has access 2nd generation thermals for both the gunner and commander, which are also only a Tier II modification
  • Powerful 30 mm autocannon tears through light vehicles and aircraft, and will operate even on 2 crew as the gunner controls it
  • Has commander fire control
  • Good situational awareness thanks to LWS, especially against airborne guided munitions
  • TAPNA APFSDS provides greater penetrative capabilities against enemies, even better than the common 3BM42 round used by its Russian contemporaries
  • Launches 11 smoke grenades per charge (11/22)

Cons:

  • Poor turret traverse and gun handling
  • Somewhat sluggish compared to its NATO counterparts with a horrible reverse speed
  • Fixed 8x gunsight decreases vehicle versatility
  • Hull and turret armour can easily be penetrated by most contemporary rounds
  • 30 mm autocannon has no traverse of its own, can only move vertically
  • Does not have access to ATGMs

History

The T-72M2 Moderna is a licensed-produced Slovakian upgrade of the Soviet T-72 MBT. Among the various upgrades, the tank is fitted with DYNAS explosive reactive armour, a modernized 24A5MS 125 mm smoothbore gun, a single 30 mm 2A42 autocannon, a laser warning system, and an automated modern VEGA fire control system, originating from SFIM, a French development partner, and SABCA, a Belgian development partner.[1]

The first prototype of the T-72M2 Moderna, an improvement on the T-72M1 prototype, was introduced in 1993. Although attempts were made to put the T-72M2 Moderna into production domestically and for export buyers, no production orders were ever placed, therefore, few functioning examples were produced.[1]

Devblog

After the division of Czechoslovakia followed by an economic crisis, Slovak tank builders found themselves on the brink of bankruptcy. Tank plant ZTS Dubnica initiated an upgrade project for the Soviet T-72 series MBT in order to make the tank interesting for both domestic and foreign operators. By 1993, together with the French company SFIM and the Belgian SABCA, a project was developed to modernize the T-72M1 tanks with a new VEGA fire control system, a new panoramic sight, an improved engine, domestic ERA protection and two gunpods with 20 mm KAA-200 guns on the turret's sides.

The built prototypes of the new main battle tank were designated T-72M2 Moderna. Later, the tank was equipped by a new DYNAS explosive reactive armour, and two 20 mm guns were replaced with one 30 mm 2A42 cannon. Only a few prototypes of the T-72M2 Moderna were built.

Media

Skins
Images
  • T-72M2 Moderna WTWallpaper001.jpg
  • T-72M2 Moderna WTWallpaper002.jpg
  • T-72M2 Moderna WTWallpaper003.jpg
  • T-72M2 Moderna WTWallpaper004.jpg
  • T-72M2 Moderna WTWallpaper005.jpg
  • T-72M2 Moderna WTWallpaper006.jpg

See also

Related development

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.military-today.com/tanks/t72m2_moderna.htm


Dubnica nad Váhom Heavy Engineering Plant
MBTs 
T-72  T-72M2 Moderna
See Also  Uralvagonzavod

USSR medium tanks
T-28  T-28 (1938) · T-28 · T-28E
T-34-76  T-34 (Prototype) · T-34 (1940) · T-34 (1941) · T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-34 (1942) · T-34E STZ · T-34E
T-34-57  T-34-57 · T-34-57 (1943)
T-34-85  T-34-85 (D-5T) · T-34-85 · T-34-85E
T-34-100  T-34-100
T-44  T-44 · T-44-100 · T-44-122
T-54  T-54 (1947) · T-54 (1949) · T-54 (1951)
T-55  TO-55 · T-55A · T-55AM-1 · T-55AMD-1
T-62  T-62 · T-62M-1
T-64  Object 435 · T-64A (1971) · T-64B
T-72  T-72A · T-72AV (TURMS-T) · T-72B · T-72B (1989) · T-72B3 · T-72M2 Moderna
T-80  T-80B · T-80U · T-80UD · T-80UK · T-80UM2 · Т-80U-Е1 · T-80BVM · Object 292
T-90  Т-90А · T-90M
Trophies/Lend-Lease 
Germany  ▂T-III · ▂T-V
Great Britain  ▂МК-IX "Valentine"
USA  ▂M3 Medium · ▂M4A2

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