T-64A (1971)

T-64A (1971)

Object 435

T-64B

T-64A (1971)

Object 435

T-64B

USSR

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.3	9.3	9.3

Class:

Medium tank

Research:190 000

Purchase:520 000

Description

The T-64A (1971) is a rank VI Soviet medium tank with a battle rating of 9.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.71 "New E.R.A.". The T-64A should primarily be played defensively, utilising terrain for cover and pushing carefully. It has good firepower, but mediocre armour, average mobility and a near non-existent reverse speed. The T-64A can be played as a sniper with one of the highest velocity rounds in game at 1800 m/s. Brawling should be avoided, as many of the vehicles it will face will easily penetrate its hull armour. Most vehicles it will face have better mobility, so it's important to be aware of flankers.

The T-64A presents a design that is reminiscent of some Soviet tanks seen in the contemporary period. The tank's overall color scheme presents a default camouflage of the same glorious dark olive green seen on nearly all other prior Soviet tanks.

Compared to all other Soviet medium tanks prior, the T-64A's suspension system uses multiple small wheels and rollers rather than the huge wheels. While this allowed better flotation, it does leave more of the side hull vulnerable to attack straight at without worry of hitting the tracks or suspension. This is at least partial reasoning for the prominent 'flaps' seen on each side of the vehicle - these help protect the sides against HEAT ammunition, causing a harmless explosion before the rounds reach the actual side armour.

Two long tubes extend from the back of the T-64A. One is on the turret, which is the container housing the snorkelling gear for the tank in deep wading procedures. The other on the turret is the familiar log that comes nearly standard with Soviet/Russian vehicle, used for removing the vehicle if it gets stuck in mud or other nasty terrain attributes.

General info

Survivability and armour

Composite armour

Balanced protection against all types of ammunition

ESS

Creation of a smoke screen in the direction of movement of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull80 / 85 / 45

Turret180 / 150 / 65

Crew3 people

Visibility74 %

Armour type:

• Spaced armour (Hull front, Turret front)
• Cast homogeneous armour
• Rolled homogeneous armour (Turret)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	80* mm (68°) Front glacis 80 mm (61°) Lower glacis	85 mm Front 70 mm Rear <br. 20 mm (33°) Bottom	20 mm (8-55°) Top 45 mm Center 20 mm (18-58°) Bottom	30 mm Front 20 mm Engine deck
Turret	50-330 mm (0-80°)	65-180* mm (2-49°)	65 mm (2-72°)	40-140 mm
Cupola	100 mm			40 mm
Composite armour*	Front	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	320 mm Kinetic 450 mm Chemical	N/A	N/A	N/A
Turret	400 mm Kinetic 450 mm Chemical	400 mm Kinetic 450 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.
• The side flaps on the hull side gives spaced protection against HEAT rounds, allowing one to angle the hull slightly while protecting the vulnerable side hull.
• 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.
• The snorkel tube on the turret rear provide 4 mm of structural steel.
• Hull roof armour at front and turret base is rated to be 30 mm effective against HE
• Hull spaced armour configuration is 80 mm RHA + 105 mm Textolite + 20 mm RHA.
• Turret spaced armour configuration is 150-180 mm CHA + 150 mm HHRA + 32 mm RHA.

The T-64A has composite armour over most of its upper front glacis and turret, although it has some obvious weak points - it has no LFP composite armour, the driver's port is not reinforced and there are some small sections of the turret that are easily penetrable. Unfortunately, though, many vehicles the T-64A will encounter have ammunition that can easily overmatch the UFP composite and often will simply punch straight through - it's best to avoid exposing the hull at all. HEAT ammunition is finicky as T-64A was built around protection specifications against shaped charges, the composite armour is 450 mm effective when against HEAT warheads and there are side flaps on the side hull to prevent even the chance of hitting the T-64A weaker side armour on the first try, although these side flaps are one-time use only so prolonged combat may have sheared these off already. Try to avoid aiming for the turret as it is the most protected area of the tank with a good portion covered by composite, leading to the need of massive amount of penetration to consider the turret a viable target, like the HOT missiles.

In a situation where the T-64A decides to hull-down and present as little of the front plate as possible, the best option is to attempt to disable the vehicle's gun - the mantlet is destroyed easily and combined with the sub-par reverse speed, this may provide enough time to push forward or around the vehicle and get a clear shot on the hull. Where possible, try to land the shot centre-mass below the turret which often causes an ammunition detonation.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB68 / 5 km/h

RB and SB61 / 5 km/h

Number of gears7 forward

1 back

Weight38.0 t

Engine power

AB1 336 hp

RB and SB700 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB35.2 hp/t

RB and SB18.4 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	68	5	38	1,085	1,336	28.55	35.16
Realistic	61	5		619	700	16.29	18.42

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB4 425 → 6 106

RB4 520 → 6 237

SB5 775 → 7 969

Total cost of modifications158 100

265 000

Talisman cost2 600

Crew training150 000

Experts520 000

Aces2 100

Research Aces950 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

150 / 200 / 230 %

220 / 220 / 220 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 6 700 Cost: 11 000 280 Suspension Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 320 Brake System Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 320 Filters Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 590 Transmission Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 380 Engine Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 380	Improved Parts Research: 2 000 Cost: 11 000 280 Improved FPE Research: 2 300 Cost: 12 000 320 Crew Replenishment Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 590 ESS Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 380	Horizontal Drive Research: 6 700 Cost: 11 000 280 125mm_ussr_3OF26_HE_ammo_pack Research: 6 700 Cost: 11 000 280 125mm_ussr_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 6 700 Cost: 11 000 280 Adjustment of Fire Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 320 125mm_ussr_3BM12_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 320 Elevation Mechanism Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 590 Artillery Support Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 380 125mm_ussr_3BM15_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 380 Rangefinder Research: 9 100 Cost: 14 000 380

Armaments

Main armament

125 mm 2A26 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

Ammunition37 rounds

First-order28 rounds

Reload7.1 s

Vertical guidance-6° / 14°

125 mm 2A26					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	37	-6°/+14°	±180°	Two-plane	19.0	26.4	32.0	35.4	37.7	7.10	7.10	7.10	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
3OF19	HE	35	35	35	35	35	35
3OF26	HE	42	42	42	42	42	42
3BM9	APFSDS	321	317	303	285	268	249
3BM15	APFSDS	440	430	420	410	405	400
3BM22	APFSDS	425	420	415	405	393	380

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
3BK12M	HEATFS	905	19	0.05	0.1	2,530	65°	72°	77°
3OF19	HE	850	23.2	0	0.1	3,150	79°	80°	81°
3OF26	HE	850	23	0	0.1	5,240	79°	80°	81°
3BM9	APFSDS	1,800	3.6	N/A	N/A	N/A	72°	76°	78°
3BM15	APFSDS	1,780	3.88	N/A	N/A	N/A	76°	77°	80°
3BM22	APFSDS	1,760	4.83	N/A	N/A	N/A	76°	77°	80°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the T-64A (1971)

Full ammo	Ammo part	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
37	Projectiles Propellants	37 (+0) 37 (+0)	36 (+1) 36 (+1)	33 (+4) 29 (+8)	29 (+8) 1 (+36)	1 (+36) N/A	No

The T-64A (1971) main ammo rack consists of a mechanized carousel at the bottom of the turret. Such ammo stowage carries 28 propellants and projectiles. Notes:

• The 5th Projectile Rack is the carousel at the bottom of the turret; it serves as First-Stage ammo stowage.
• The 4th Propellant Rack is the carousel at the bottom of the turret; it serves as First-Stage ammo stowage.

Machine guns

7.62 mm PKT machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition2 000 rounds

Belt capacity250 rounds

Reload8.0 s

Fire rate700 shots/min

7.62 mm PKT
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	2,000 (250)	700	N/A	N/A

Usage in battles

It's key to keep the weaknesses of the T-64A in mind for the best performance of the vehicle. The 125mm gun is extremely powerful and will comfortably perform even against newer and better protected opponents, but in almost every other aspect the vehicle is lacking. Where possible, avoid exposing the hull at all - the easiest way to do so is to use a small defilade or terrain deformity. Sit back, be patient and allow the enemy to expose their weak spots. Most vehicles are faster than the T-64A, so expect hostile tanks to find their way to objectives significantly faster than you will.

Finally, remember that your reverse speed is abysmal - whenever possible avoid situations that will force you to reverse - and if you do have to move back, where possible try to traverse the entire hull and move back with the full speed of your forwards gears.

When facing common enemy tanks:

• MBT-70/KPz-70 - When facing the MBT-70/Kpz-70, the best place to shoot is the left turret cheek as this will knock out commander and gunner.
• Chieftain Mk 10 - If hull down, shoot for cannon breech or gun barrel.

Modules

Tier	Mobility		Protection	Firepower
I	Tracks		Parts	Horizontal Drive	3OF26	3BM9
II	Suspension	Brake System	FPE	Adjustment of Fire	3BM15
III	Filters		Crew Replenishment	Elevation Mechanism	NVD
IV	Transmission	Engine	ESS	Artillery Support	3BM22	Rangefinder

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Acceptable speed going forward.
• Turret cheeks are often surprisingly well protected.
• Vehicle is fitted with a surgically precise and devastatingly effective 125 mm gun.
• ESS covers friendly tanks behind the vehicle.
• Side flaps protect the tank from side attacks with chemical energy rounds (once a flap gets hit it will fall off).
• Decent reload no matter what because of the auto-loader system.
• Good HE shell, can be a little finnicky.
• Very low profile compared to its contemporaries, much harder to spot and hit.
• One of the fastest rounds in game (1800 m/s), easy to aim.
• Tier 2 and 4 APFSDS shells will go through almost anything in-game.
• Can be very hard to destroy in hull-down positions.

Cons:

• Slow horizontal turret traverse.
• Any penetrating side shot is very likely to detonate ammunition.
• Abysmally slow reverse speed (-4 km/h).
• Weak lower glacis, can be penetrated by almost any round at its BR.
• Frontal penetration can easily disable 2 of the 3-man crew, leading to a crew knockout.
• Sub-par gun depression (-6°).
• No anti-air capability.
• Angling the tank causes the weak side armour to be exposed.
• Hull armour flaps are easily penetrated by kinetic munitions when angled.

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: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the T-64A (1971) from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

T-64A versus MBT-70 - War Thunder Official Channel

T-64A (1971) Tank Review - NUSensei

T-64A (1971): the Old Russian Legend - JustinPlaysYT

The Shooting Range #65 - Pages of History section at 00:27 discusses the T-64A (1971).

See 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.

External links

• [Devblog] T-64A - The Pioneer of a New Era