T-80


The following extract comes from US Army Field Manual 100-2-3 – The Soviet Army; Troops Organisation and Equipment published in June 1991. The publication was approved for public release with unlimited distribution (ie may be freely used). The entry provided covered the T-80 medium tank.

Description:

The T-80 uses features of both the T-64 and the T-72. It also has some unique features. For example, it has a new type of rubber-tired road wheels. These are larger than the T-64’s, but slightly smaller than the T-72’s. The road wheels are mounted in noticeable pairs, with the middle pair particularly close together. The rubber-bushed, double pin track has rubber track pads and U-shaped track guides. A self-entrenching blade is mounted on the lower glacis. The rear hull has a large exhaust.

The T-80 displays a large left-hand optic, indicating a laser rangefinder. The smoke grenade launchers are moved to the rear of the turret sides to make room for reactive armor boxes. (Reactive armor appears on many T-80s.) The tank also has an enlarged snorkel on the turret rear.

Capabilities:

The T-80 is the most recent Soviet tank to enter series production and it incorporates the latest in Soviet technology. It is capable of firing the AT-8/SONGSTER ATGM through its main gun; it can also fire conventional 125-mm ammunition. It has an autoloader for the main gun. Its armament and optics are like those of the T-64B. Its infrared sight indicates that it lacks a thermal imager.

The T-80 may have enhanced frontal armor; that is, it may have an upper glacisof steel layers enclosing fiberglass layers, and a cast steel turret incorporating nonmetallic materials. It has the same collective NBC protection system and anti-radiation liner as the T-64 and the T-72 tanks.

The T-80 has improved mobility due to an estimated 1,000-hp gas-turbine engine. However, its weight has increased to 42 metric tons.

Limitations:

[None given]

Remarks:

A T-80 prototype existed in 1976, but it did not enter production until the early 1980s. It has been deployed since 1984 in Soviet units in the WGF; that is, the two armies which did not receive the T-64: the 1st Guards Tank Army and the 8th Guards Army. It is likely that the Soviets will initially reserve the T-80 for their own forces, as they did with the T-64.

T-54/55
T-62
T-64
T-72
T-80
Crew
  • Commander
  • Driver
  • Gunner
  • Loader
  • Commander
  • Driver
  • Gunner
  • Loader
Weight (mt)36.037.538.041.042.0
Length
(gun forward) (m)
9.009.339.109.209.20
Width overall (m)3.143.303.403.603.60
Height overall (m)2.202.402.302.302.30
EngineV12520 hp (T-54)

580 hp (T-55) diesel

V-12 580 hp diesel5-cyl 700 – 750 hp
diesel multifuel
V-12 780 hp dieselV-12 1200 hp
gas turbine
Max. road speed (km/hr)5050505060
Fuel capacity (litres)800 (T-54)
960 (T-55)
9601,0001,0001,000
Road range (km)400 (T-54)500 (T-55)

(715 with aux fuel tanks)

450
(650 with aux fuel tanks)
450
(600 with aux fuel tanks)
450
(600 with aux fuel tanks)
350
(500 with aux fuel tanks)
Trench crossing (m)2.702.802.702.702.70
Vertical step (m)0.800.800.800.800.80
Max gradient (deg)3030303030
Fording (m)1.4/5.5 with snorkel1.4/5.5 with snorkel1.4/5.5 with snorkel1.4/5.5 with snorkel1.4/5.5 with snorkel
Armour:Hull (mm)

Turret (mm)

99

203

102

242

400

400

400

400

500

500

NBC protectionPAZ radiation detection systemPAZ radiation detection systemfiltration and over pressure system and PAZ radiation detection systemfiltration and over pressure system and PAZ radiation detection systemfiltration and over pressure system and PAZ radiation detection system
Introduced1949 (T-54)
1958 (T-55)
1961late 1960searly 1970searly 1980s
Gun calibre (mm)100115125
AT-8 ATGM
125125
AT-8 ATGM
Typerifled tank gunsmoothbore tank gunsmoothbore tank gun or missile launchersmoothbore tank gunsmoothbore tank gun or missile launcher
Elevation (deg)-4 – +17 (T-54)
-5 – +18 (T-55)
-5 – +18-5 – +18-5 – +18-5 – +18
Rate of fire (RPM)5-73-56-86-86-8
Ammunition (types)
  • Frag-HE
  • HEAT
  • HVAP-T
  • AP-T
  • APDS
  • APC-T
  • Frag-HE (FS)
  • HEAT-FS
  • HVAP-FSDS
  • Frag-HE (FS)
  • HEAT-FS
  • HVAP-FSDS
  • Frag-HE (FS)
  • HEAT-FS
  • HVAP-FSDS
  • Frag-HE (FS)
  • HEAT-FS
  • HVAP-FSDS
Maximum Range (m)21,00020,00020,000+20,000+20,000+
Effective range
50% Ph (m)
1,5001,6002,0002,0002,000
Armour penetration (mm at deg obliquity at 1,000m)200 HVAP-T180 AP-T & APC-T

390 HEAT any range

230 HVAP-FSDS
450 HEAT-FS any range
300+ HVAP-FASDS
475+ HEAT-FS any range
300+ HVAP-FASDS
475+ HEAT-FS any range
300+ HVAP-FASDS
475+ HEAT-FS any range
Basic load (rd)34 (T-54)
43 (T-55)
40404040
Secondary armament1 x 12.7 mm 2 x 7.62 mm (T-55)1 x 12.7 mm 1 x 7.62 mm1 x 12.7 mm 1 x 7.62 mm1 x 12.7 mm 1 x 7.62 mm1 x 12.7 mm 1 x 7.62 mm


Table from Ten Million Bayonets by David C. Isby.


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