Though being retired from most post-Soviet armies corresponding to these of Russia and Belarus, T-64 tanks make up the sizeable majority of Ukrainian tank items are have been relied on closely for fight within the nation’s jap areas. With Ukraine having the biggest tank pressure in Europe, with an estimated 720-750 T-64s at present in service alongside roughly 100 T-72 and 5 T-84 tanks making up round 90 p.c of Ukrainian armour. Though the T-64 was thought of by a major margin the world’s most succesful tank when it entered service within the mid-Sixties, and Ukraine depends on upgraded T-64B tanks from the Seventies, their potential to go face to face with fashionable armour or survive hits from anti-tank munitions has been dropped at severe query significantly in gentle of heavy losses suffered in jap Ukraine. An evaluation of the capabilities of all three main Ukrainian T-64 variants, and comparability of their performances with fashionable Russian tanks such because the T-73B3/B3M and T-90M, offers perception into whether or not the Ukrainian Army’s tank items would have the ability to problem Russian armour superiority on land and the extent to which the Russian benefit utilizing newer tank designs might or might not be overwhelming.
The T-64BV is an enchancment of the T-64B tank which entered service in 1976, with hull armour seeing modest enhancements and the introduction of Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armour. Additions to its weight bringing it to round 42 tons, nonetheless, haven’t been matched by enhancements to its engines with its 700 hp diesel engine being underpowered for the tank’s new weight whereas mobility is very restricted. An improved variant, the T-64BM1, nonetheless makes use of the identical fireplace controls because the T-64BV and equally lacks fashionable sensors though it advantages from integration of an improved 850 hp engine. This nonetheless fails two compensate for the rise in weight from additional armour, nonetheless, which means its pace and manoeuvrability are nonetheless beneath common. Essentially the most succesful T-64 variant, the T-64BM2, has superior fireplace controls together with second era thermal sights which offers a major benefit over older T-64s and brings its situational consciousness as much as the same commonplace to decrease finish Russian tanks such because the T-72B3 – or larger finish Soviet ones such because the T-80UD. Of each T-64BM variants mixed, nonetheless, solely round 100 have been constructed with the extra pricey T-64BM2 being a minority of those and guaranteeing that Russian forces would probably solely face a few dozen of the tanks. Their value led to the T-64BM2 being accomplished discontinued, regardless of them being significantly cheaper than the T-84 tank which it was initially thought of a cheap different to.
A weak point shared by all T-64 tanks is their incapability to deploy fashionable munitions, with their most succesful projectiles relationship again to the mid-Nineteen Eighties. Which means towards even decrease finish Russian tanks such because the T-73B3, not to mention medium finish T-90M tanks, they may severely battle to trigger significant injury at fight ranges. The T-64’s weak base armour, significantly in comparison with the T-90M or T-80 tanks, mixed with the age of its explosive reactive armour, make sure that fashionable Russian anti tank projectiles that are over thirty years forward of these in Ukraine will have the ability to penetrate Ukrainian tanks reliably. The T-72B3/B3M, for instance, makes use of the 9M119M1 anti tank guided missile with 900mm penetration at an excessive 5km vary and the 3BM-69/70 projectile with an 800-900mm penetration at 2km ranges – each very comfortably ample to penetrate any T-64 variant on its frontal armour. The munitions utilized by different frontline Russian tanks such because the T-90M are far more succesful nonetheless, as are their weapons. Thus whereas fashionable Russian tanks are many years forward of Soviet period armour by way of efficiency, Ukrainian tanks are usually inferior to high finish Soviet tanks from the Nineteen Eighties such because the T-80UD.
In engagements with Russian tanks there’s a vital chance that Ukrainian tanks can have only a few alternatives to fireplace their weapons, aside from a really small variety of T-64BM2s which have thermal sights, because of the huge discrepancy in sensors. Very vital inferiority in mobility, firepower and armour safety imply that even when this weren’t the case, Ukrainian armour’s disadvantages could be overwhelming probably a lot moreso than these Iraqi T-72As confronted towards American M1 Abrams tanks within the Gulf Battle. Though Russian air superiority may keep away from the necessity for tank battles and finish a battle rapidly from the air, whereas neutralising a considerable portion of Ukrainian armour utilizing guided air launched weapons, ought to main tank battles happen the impression on morale alone of the discrepancy in unit efficiency could possibly be decisive and dissuade Ukrainian T-64 crews from going to battle.
