T-64B

T-64B

T-64A (1971)

T-80B

T-64B

T-64A (1971)

T-80B

USSR

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.7	9.7	9.7

Class:

Medium tank

Research:110 000

Purchase:620 000

Description

The T-64B is a Rank VI Soviet medium tank with a battle rating of 9.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.77 "Advancing Storm". In Update 1.79 "Project X", the vehicle gained the modification to equip "Kontakt-1" ERA blocks, transforming the variant into a T-64BV.

The T-64 "Bravo" is a fearsome opponent on the battlefield that improves on the infamy of its older brother, the T-64 "Alpha". Its triple-layer composite armour is capable of shrugging off hits from most of the other top rank cannons and its decent mobility allows it to traverse the battlefield fairly swiftly. The 125mm 2A46M-1 "Sprut" cannon comes with ammunition perfectly capable of perforating almost all forms of armour on the battlefield, regardless of operating range. The low profile of the Bravo allows it to avoid detection and utilize forms of cover that other tanks cannot hide behind. One of the most notable feature to identify a T-64B is a lack of a feature. The side panels seen on the T-64A is not available on the T-64B so it is a very effective way to identify the "Bravo" from the "Alpha" on the battlefield. The T-64B also has a lot of equipment at the back such as a snorkel and boxes, giving it a rather nice look and in some cases, protection from low pen chemical munitions. The addition of the 12.7mm NSVT machine gun is also another notable feature compared to the T-64A. Other differences visually is the the T-64B has a much larger turret compared to the T-64A.

With the "Kontakt-1" ERA upgrade, the tank's appearance drastically changes. The ERA is fitted in a "pike" or triangular prism shape. The hull is also different as its covered with ERA and thee distinctive triangle at the front is gone. There is also an extra armour plate on the lower plate.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour type:

• Composite armour (Hull front, Turret front)
• Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)
• Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
• Armour radiation material (Roof)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	60* mm (68°) Front glacis 80 mm (62°) Lower glacis	85 mm Front 70 mm Rear <br. 20 mm (33°) Bottom	20 mm (4-54°) Top 45 mm Center 20 mm (21-57°) Bottom	30 + 30 mm Front 20 mm Engine deck
Turret	50-330 mm (0-80°)	65-140* mm (12-29°)	65 + 30 mm (0-65°)	45-140 + 30 mm
Armour	Sides	Roof
Cupola	45 mm	40 + 30 mm
Composite armour*	Front	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	440 mm Kinetic 500 mm Chemical	N/A	N/A	N/A
Turret	Angles +0-0°: 440 mm Kinetic 500 mm Chemical Angles +30-30°: 400 mm Kinetic 450 mm Chemical	200 mm Kinetic 220 mm Chemical	N/A	N/A

Notes:

• Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, torsion bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 30 mm thick.
• Belly armour is 20 mm thick.
• A 5 mm RHA plate separates the engine from the crew compartment
• A log providing 100 mm thickness in wood is mounted on the rear.
• The snorkel tube on the turret rear provide 4 mm of structural steel.
• Hull composite armour configuration is 60 mm RHA + 35 mm Textolite + 30 mm RHA + 35 mm Textolite + 45 mm RHA.
• Turret composite armour configuration is 130-140 mm CHA + 150 mm Ultra porcelain + 100-110 mm CHA.
• Turret side composite armour configuration is 90 mm CHA + 80 mm Ultra porcelain + 60 mm CHA.

To fight the T-64B:

• Disable the gun. Gun mantle is very weak against top tier shells so it will be destroyed. Even if a shell can penetrate the composite armour, make sure the T-64B can not hit you back as it will penetrate most tanks currently in the game.
• The drivers port does not contain composite armour. Rounds with 200 mm of penetration can penetrate effectively, almost guaranteed kill. However at long ranges this is a very small target so try and hit the T-64B's gun.
• Lower plate is a very big weak spot as there is no composite armour there. Any top tier shell will penetrate at close to medium range. However at long ranges the lower plate is a very small target so try and disable the T-64B's gun.
• However if you are using the AMX-40 or Type-90 with APFSDS you don't really need to aim. A centre of mass shot will destroy a T-64B and T-64BV almost every time.
• Fighting the T-64BV (T-64B with "Kontakt-1" ERA) is a different situation. With the ERA, protection against chemical is 850mm and above meaning it can stop the HOT missile and DM12 HEAT-FS. If you have an auto-cannon fire at the ERA to destroy it. Once it is gone you the value will drop to 500mm against chemical rounds. In some cases, a if a projectile with lots of explosive hits the breach or the ERA on turret, some shrapnel will deflect downwards into the ammunition, destroying the tank even though the projectile was stopped. However, the provides minimal protection against kinetic rounds

Mobility

Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons)	Add-on Armour weight (tons)	Max speed (km/h)
39.0	N/A	67 (AB)
		60 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Mode	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	1,085	_,___
Realistic/Simulator	619	700
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Mode	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	27.82	__.__
Realistic/Simulator	15.87	17.95

Armaments

Main armament

125 mm 2A46M-1
Capacity			Vertical guidance	Horizontal guidance	Stabilizer
36			-6°/+14°	±180°	Two-plane
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode	Stock	Upgraded	Prior + Full crew	Prior + Expert qualif.	Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade	14.28	19.80	24.0	26.60	28.20
Realistic	14.28	16.80	20.4	22.60	24.00
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock	Prior + Full crew	Prior + Expert qualif.	Prior + Ace qualif.
7.50	7.50	7.50	7.50

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration in mm @ 90°
		10m	100m	500m	1000m	1500m	2000m
3BM15	APFSDS	440	430	420	410	405	400
3BM22	APFSDS	475	470	465	455	442	430
3BK18M	HEATFS	550	550	550	550	550	550
3OF19	HE	35	35	35	35	35	35
3OF26	HE	47	47	47	47	47	47
9M112	ATGM	650	650	650	650	650	650

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity in m/s	Projectile Mass in kg	Fuse delay in m:	Fuse sensitivity in mm:	Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):	Normalization At 30° from horizontal:	Ricochet:
								0%	50%	100%
3BM15	APFSDS	1780	3.9	N/A	N/A	N/A	°	76°	77°	78°
3BM22	APFSDS	1760	4.8	N/A	N/A	N/A	°	76°	77°	78°
3BK18M	HEATFS	905	19	0.0	0.1	2,790	°	65°	72°	75°
3OF19	HE	850	23	0.1	0.5	3,150	+0°	79°	80°	81°
3OF26	HE	850	23	0.1	0.5	5,780	+0°	79°	80°	81°
9M112	ATGM	400	28	0.0	0.01	3,600	+0°	80°	82°	90°

Ammo racks

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	Visual discrepancy
36	35 (+1)	28 (+8)	1 (+35)	no

Only First Stage:28-20

Machine guns

12.7 mm NSVT
Pintle mount
Capacity (Belt capacity)				Fire rate (shots/minute)	Vertical guidance	Horizontal guidance
300 (150)				700	-10°/+60°	±180°

7.62 mm PKT
Coaxial mount
Capacity (Belt capacity)				Fire rate (shots/minute)	Vertical guidance	Horizontal guidance
1,250 (250)				700	N/A	N/A

Usage in the battles

You should play the T-64B as a sniper or at least a support tank. The armour on the T-64B may be the best in the game in terms of kinetic and even more with the T-64BV for chemical but with the introduction of the Type 90 and AMX-40, the armour is neglected. The DM23 can in some situation can defeat the armour on the Bravo at close range. The gun is very good with a wide range of ammunition choices even with the stock shell making sniping very easy. The kinetic rounds also have some of the best velocity in-game which makes hitting moving targets easier. Also use the low profile of the tank to hide in the surrounding. However, you should not brawl or flank in the T-64B. It can be done but it is not recommended. As mentioned the armour in neglected by the newer tanks from patch 1.79 "Project X" however if you are facing just America and Britain you can brawl with you armour. But this depends on the type of map and your preferred play style. You can flank but the other vehicles are so much faster you can find yourself getting flanked while flanking. The mobility by itself is very good, especially for Soviet tanks. However the T-64B is one of the least mobile vehicle at top-tier and the reverse speed of -4km/h is unbearable in some situation. Due to the horrible reverse speed, sniping might be difficult on some maps as you cannot fire-retreat-reload-fire-repeat. Other tanks are much faster than it, have neutral steering, decent reverse speed, better turret rotation and gun handling. The ERA upgrade slows the tank down even more due to extra weight. That being said, on larger maps like Kursk or Maginot Line, you can rely on distance to help you so the tank might bounce some shots,

T-64BV

Same rules apply as tanks are identical except the ERA. The ERA("Kontakt-1") provides around 370mm of chemical protection meaning that altogether the total along with 500mm base armour is 870mm protection against chemical. This protection will protect you from all chemical rounds currently in the game. However, once the ERA is hit, it is gone meaning you are left with the base armour. The ERA will not make you invincible as the tank is still weak against kinetic rounds. It will help you in first engagements but you should not rely heavily on the ERA.

Anything can be a threat to the T-64B due to it's poor mobility and poor suitability.

M1 Abrams-if you have the 3BM22 APFSDS unlocked shoot to the left turret cheek to disable commander and gunner.

Type 90: Unless you do not have the ERA modification, the stock round will pen you at any range. However with the JM33, the Type-90 can pen he T-64B and BV at any range. How to deal with it-if the hull is presentable, aim for the right side(when looking at the tank frontally) to kill the driver and gunner, knocking out the tank as it has only 3 crew members. If hull down, the 3BM22 can pen turret cheeks at close range so aim for the right side(when looking at the tank frontally) to disable gunner however at long range, disable the gun if possible.

Leopard 2A4: One of the most common tanks to face. Same thing as the Type-90, unless you have ERA upgrade, the stock shell will pen you at any range. The DM23 APFSDS can pen the T-64B and BV but that is at close range or if the Leo2A4 is shooting down into the hull, neglecting the angle. How to deal with it-if the hull is presentable, shoot a bit left of the centre of the tank(when looking at the tank frontally). The shrapnel will kill 3/4 crew members or detonate ammo rack if there is ammo there. If you can only see turret aim for the optics to knock out gunner.

Without the "Kontakt-1" ERA modification, DM12 HEAT-FS (650mm pen) can easily kill the T-64B at any range. Also be mindful that the JM33 and OFL 120 G1 can pen you at any range regardless of the upgrade modification.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Stock-friendly grind. Very good stock APFSDS shell.
• Ability to mount the Kontakt-1 Explosive Reactive Armour package which enhances first-hit protection against chemical munitions.
• Upgraded armour allows it to shrug off hits from other top rank cannons.
• Lower profile compared to other MBTs, allows the user to utilize cover and tactics that other players cannot use.
• Upgraded 125mm cannon inherited from the previous model.
• Upgraded loadout of ammunition allows it to engage at any distance or playstyle that the user prefers.
• 9M112 "Kobra" ATGM capable of penetrating 650mm of armour. Also fastest ATGM in the game.
• Replaces the "oil barrel" smoke grenades with two sets of four-barelled 81mm smoke grenade launchers.
• Compared to other MBTs the T-64B has one of the best accuracy at long ranges. This is due to the fast muzzle velocity, making the T-64B an excellent sniper.
• 3BM22 APFSDS is one of the highest penetrating kinetic shells in the game at 470mm at 100m. Very easy to deal with Western tanks, even at long range.

Cons:

• Bad gun depression.
• Horrible reverse speed (-4km/h).
• HEAT-FS shell requires skill against its contemporaries' armour, simply pointing and firing it will not guarantee a penetration.
• If the tank gets penetrated from the front, the shell will most likely end up hitting an ammo-rack due to the autoloader arrangement.
• Angling the tank causes the weak side armour to be exposed.
• Maximum of five 9M112 "Kobra" ATGMs allowed in tank.
• Gun elevation/depression speed is very slow compared to other MBT's (2.5 degrees per second).
• Armour is easily pierced by the AMX-40, Type 90 and Leopard 2A4.

History

Development

The T-64B or Object 447 was an improvement to the currently existing T-64A and T-72A. The T-64B model was now fitted with a better laser range finder along with improved fire control systems. In addition, it had the 2A46M-1 cannon (aka the D-81TM gun) with a 2E26M stabilizer, 6ETs40 autoloader, 1A33 FCS (fire control system) comprising a ballistic calculator, and a sight with laser telemetry and cross-wind sensor. The ATGMs were eight 9M112 “Kobra” (radio-guided, NATO “AT-8 Songster”). The turret armour had a new design consisting of ceramic balls designed to absorb or reduce chemical munitions. However the T-64B still had the unreliable and complicated 5TDF engine. Designers added a more powerful engine which led to the T-72B and T-80 series.

Combat usage

Although there is no hard evidence, some sources saw the T-64B saw action in Afghanistan in the 80's. This could have been for testing but there are no official records. Russia had 4,000 T-64Bs, but 2,000 were put out of service in 2000 and used for scrap. The T-64B and BV-1 model is currently used by The Democratic Republic of Congo. 50 were purchased from Ukraine in 2014. The T-64B saw heavy action in the 2014 Ukraine Civil War and Invasion of Crimea. 17 confirmed T-64B's were destroyed, including the "Bulat" model. Ukraine is now upgrading there there fleet of T-64B's to a more modernized version called the T-64BM "Bulat"

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

The T-64B (1984) in War Thunder with Winter Camoflage

The T-64BV with the "Kontakt-1" ERA in the garage.

Read also

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;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

ETC.

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.