T-72A

The T-72A is a tier 5 Main Battle Tank originating from the Soviet Union, and is sold by Marat Shishkin. It can be unlocked from the T-72 Ural, and leads to the T-72B.

Features

 * Heavy armor: this vehicle's armor bounces more shots and takes more hits
 * High caliber: the high caliber weaponry deals an increased damage

Player Recommendations
The first of a line of modular upgrades to the T-72 platform, the T-72A continues the trend of heavy hitting firepower the T series is known for. With high DPM and good upgraded mobility, it is a strong brawler and hull down warrior when it can fight on open ground. But with a mediocre stock top speed and acceleration and poor gun depression, this vehicle is one of the harder Russian MBTs to play compared to the T-80 and T-64 mod. 1975.

Pros

 * High alpha
 * Excellent turret armor
 * Armor upgrade gives some protection against HEAT and guided missiles through ERA along the front half of the sides, turret front and hull front

Cons

 * Poor hull armor
 * Poor gun depression
 * Mediocre stock top speed and acceleration

Upgrade Suggestions
Upgrading to the V-84 Diesel Engine will greatly improve the poor stock mobility of the T-72A, so this should be researched as early as possible. Upgrading to the Kontakt-1 ERA offers heavily improved protection from ATGMs and HEAT shells. Firepower upgrades such as ammunition and modules are important in the long run, but should not be focused early due to their high research cost relative to mobility and protection upgrades.

Retrofit Suggestions

 * Advanced Muzzle Reference System
 * Augmented Optics
 * Improved Gun Breech
 * Improved Pioneer Tool Kit

Commander and Crew Skill Suggestions

 * Commander: Juan Carlos, to improve the aim speed and crew stats.
 * Driver: Spin to Win, Off-Road Driving
 * Gunner: Sharpshooter, Do the Twist

History
Class: Main Battle Tank Developed: 1976-1979 Service: 1979+ Vehicles Built: cca 30000 incl. license production (cca 8700 in the Soviet Union) Operators: Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact countries and more than 60 other operators around the world Of the three main Soviet MBTs simultaneously in service (T-64, T-72 and T-80), Uralvagonzavod&#39;s T-72 is by far the most recognizable one. In fact, much like its T-55 predecessor, it can be said that the T-72 became an icon of sorts, its sleek silhouette firmly connected to the Soviet Union. Whether it’s an image of a horde of these machines creeping through an East German forest or massive groups of them burning in the middle of an Iraqi desert, the T-72 is, without a doubt, one of the most widely recognized tanks in the world. On the 16th of December 1976, the Uralvagonzavod design bureau in Nizhny Tagil under V.N.Venediktov, one of the creators of the original T-72, was ordered to develop an upgrade to the T-72 Ural with the goal of improving its combat characteristics. The project was designated Object 176. It took over two years to complete and on the 22nd of June 1979 the Soviet military officially accepted the vehicle into service under the designation of T-72A. The tank was significantly modified compared to its predecessor. Firepower was increased with the installation of the new 125mm smoothbore gun model that was more accurate than its predecessor. From 1981 onwards, a modernized 2A46M version was installed instead. Accuracy was further improved by the installation of TPD-K1 optics. A new ballistics computer set 1A40 was added to the 1982 model and the 1984 version received a new 2E42-2 gun stabilizer, making the vehicle significantly more accurate on the move. Speaking of mobility, it was increased with the installation of a new 780hp V-46-6 engine as well as some smaller changes to the suspension. In 1984, the vehicle received a new 840hp V-84 engine. Vehicle protection was enhanced with composite armor on the turret. The composite armor elements gave the front turret its notable &#34;cheeks&#34;, leading to the western nickname &#34;Dolly Parton&#34; of this model. The frontal turret protection increased from 400mm to roughly 500mm RHAe versus HEAT projectiles. In later T-72A models (from 1980 onwards), the upper frontal hull plate was increased by welding an additional 30mm plate onto it. The final version of the T-72A (T-72AV from 1985) was equipped with Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor. The T-72A and its variants were produced between 1979 and 1985 before being replaced by the T-72B series, although its license production abroad (in the form of the T-72M and T-72M1 models continued well beyond that. Overall, it was one of the most successful versions of the T-72 tank and many vehicles of this type are still currently in service and used in combat, most notably in Syria.

Variants

 * T-72A ICE