Actual Tank Commander tries T-80UM-2 in War Thunder!

The War Thunder Winter Quest Reward Tank gets reviewed by an actual tank commander! The Winter Quest 2022 rewards include the T-80UM-2, Late 289D and the Panavia Tornado IDS (Marinesflieger). More videos on the reward vehicles still to come!
↓ Social Links ↓
➤ Twitch: / panzerpaw
➤ Twitter: / panzerpaw
➤ Discord: / discord
---

[@MrRed_2205]

''I never though i'd enjoy something that looks like a target to me'' This line made me crack up hahah

[@Maddog3060]

7:01 T-80 "Hello, comrade! We will help you fix, da? Da." Leopard 2 "Ah, but, your repair parts aren't the same and won't fit." T-80 [Laughs in Russian] "We will MAKE them fit!"

[@thegrayseed2792]

3:50 "I think he took the wrong turn from World War 2" - A man in a prototype platform T-80 fighting in a WW2 battlefield.

[@g3arjammer837]

I would suggest picking up the T-72M2 Moderna to try out. As someone who plays every nation in the game it’s one of the most fun tanks to play if you get the TAPNA round and thermals. I recommend using the commanders sight with thermals to spot targets as it has a lower zoom than the gunners sight. Also switching between thermal color schemes can help with spotting targets in brush at long range.

[@PanzerPaw]

That's a good point about the thermal polarity/colours. I need to bind that to something. As for the commander's sights in the game, I just don't really like using them. But I'll probably give them another try and see if I can make it work for me.

[@g3arjammer837]

@@PanzerPaw alright sounds good

[@g3arjammer837]

@@PanzerPaw you can also bind commander aim control so your commander’s sight also moves with the gun and not independently. I don’t really use commanders sights for anything other than peeking over hills or berms on other Non-Russian tanks. But using them on the Russian tanks (that have commanders thermals) with the wider FOV for scanning/spotting is a must in order to stay alive for a long time. I will switch back to gunners sight before firing though as you can more accurately aim.

[@jamegumb7298]

I made an attempt at grinding it out but stopped fast. Took 3 massive grind rounds, you gotta either be on it 18 hours a day or spend a lot of money.

[@r0und603]

I hate having to deal with the mordera

[@kidpagronprimsank05]

T80 (and Soviet cold war tank overall) are designed to penetrate NATO line in offensive operation, especially in Fulda area (which Warthunder also feature a map) so hull down is not that necessarily. Also, due to low profile of the tank (for both reduced detection and protection) the gun can't really depressed down

[@travismccraw6013]

You're right. It is a active protection system. That the soviets made. They put them on t55 tanks aswell as t62 tanks and t80 tanks. However. They don't use them anymore since the soviet union collapse. Pictures have been popping up of these t80 tanks in Ukraine that do have the launchers that would have the projectile. But are empty. Redeffect covered on this topic.

[@BinaryKiller_Recoded]

When it comes to the russian series of MBT's, I am a huge fan of them... T-64A for me is known to survive the dumbest things, same goes for T-72A and T-72B(1989), and T-80B in my eyes are just the most insane of them all, the things I have done in the T-80B would have me put in jail hehe

[@MilkTea101]

T80U and T80B are so much fun, I love them.

[@Albert_Weiss_Fuchs]

I thought you only went for the tornado

[@PanzerPaw]

I did! Thanks to Gaijin for sending me the test drive for the T-80!

[@g09h]

@@PanzerPaw Nice, grinded for mine but I’m gonna sell it.

[@matthewtadel]

Personally I went for both as the challenges are rather easy, and originally planned to sell them both on the market, however… the Tornado at 10.7 seems quite enjoyable. I’ll hold on to it for now and see what kind of changes gaijin implements.

[@danysainz-gootenberg7809]

4:17 I Don't think you noticed but the APS saved you from a helicopter missile

[@RiccardoTheBeAst]

The other at 4:29

[@PanzerPaw]

I figured it out after that but I edited out the part where I talked about it. I just wanted to show the fun parts and the action. I didn't want the video to be too slow or dragging on.

[@awesom6588]

join the dark side and play the t series. honestly theyre all really good. gun launched missiles are really good as well against lighter vehicles, they do an obscene amount of damage but dont quite have enough pen for the later mbt's with super composite armor. i just got my t64a recently and its like night and day.

[@tamas7586]

You should play the BMP-2M or the 2S38 or the tunguska 2S6.

[@americanhat3766]

Hey Paw, just a quick tip, if you hold CTRL (or ALT I cant remember which), your mouse cursor will show up and you can hover over things in your hotbar and look at their stats, or use the curser to more descriptively point out things while in battle.

[@robertharris6092]

9:30 *hits edge of turret* "Thats not good at all"

[@brokenursa9986]

I am genuinely surprised to hear someone else who knows "Monster" by The Automatic. You are truly a man of culture.

[@PanzerPaw]

Yeah I haven't heard it in years but it's just one of those tunes that stuck with me haha

[@RevyTempest]

You will love playing the Leclerc !

[@adrianalprin5752]

The T-80 series is fun it's the only Russian MBT with what I would call mobility. Since T-64, T-72 (except the B3) and the T-90 all have -5 reverse speed. Which means if u overextend and made a mistake, u would commit to that mistake there's no pulling out.

[@militaristaustrian]

What is diferent whit the B3? Im not that high yer

[@velvetthunder96]

For real, I skipped most of tier 5 and 6 grind when I bought the TURMS, and I'll be honest I don't regret stopping the research at the T-72A and concentrating on the T-80s, they are much better tanks in all aspects. The reverse speed is a critical con for the T-72s, but that 700HP diesel engine is not really great for forward mobility either compared to the 1300hp gas turbine in the T-80

[@robertharris6092]

Uronic how russia in WWII put emphesis on a good reverse.

[@emptyfolder8691]

IDK if its just me, but when I watch KZbinrs play WT they always get unaware enemies, and when I play, they have ears all over their bodies and their aim is godly

[@PanzerPaw]

Honestly, it's probably because we can edit out the battles where we get one shotted out of nowhere haha

[@emptyfolder8691]

@@PanzerPaw Thats true, I don't know how many games you play to get the footage aswell lol

[@PanzerPaw]

Sometimes just a few battles. Sometimes it takes hours. All depends on the vehicle and how well I play that day haha

[@zahwa242]

You could use the entrenching dozer to get more deppression near hills if you're planning to snipe

[@phoenixsui]

Yeah we had piranhas 8x8 which look almost exactly like this LAV. They told us it wont tank bigger shells. possibly even some rifle ammo can make it thru there lol. A bit shocking. But i guess its just a troop transporter and not a tank.

[@neutr4l1zer]

The missile carried in the more modern russian tanks is meant to be used at extreme ranges around the 5km mark. Usually in War thunder you should just use the sabot round its more reliable

[@idontevenknow5021]

It's second intended purpose is anti-helicopter

[@thedayofthetanks]

Anything with a scout drone would be funny Edit: I subscribed 👍

[@AMA34310]

It’s nice seeing you play top tier

[@trippypanda880]

Def play the T80-BVM!

[@graze1177]

All T series are blazing fast going forward. Backward 11km/h tops, that is T-80 with them gas turbine. T-64, T-72, and T-90 max at 3 or 4km/h iirc

[@GavinMFR]

Isnt it quite weird that a tank commander is more chill than actual wt players?

[@Frost_x_NB]

Never shoot turret cheeks on the Abram’s. Always go for turret ring and lower iglacis

[@Arturijo]

Next video you could use the turms-t or the 2s38, which is also very fun!

[@PompousMagnus]

thermals are super over rated this is an amazing tank. Trading trash gen 1 thermals for aps that can save you vs the horde of helis that are in the game now is well worth it. Not to mention that this tank is at a br where russia has an already cracked line up it makes the russian line ups for top tier that much better. 9/10

[@mewXD-mn6ec]

T-80 BVM, t-90 for its thicc armour and t-72s in general

[@frenchhonhon]

How unfortunate the only prototype got destroyed... by arty out of all things. Didn't even get to face ATGMs...

[@mateuszjedut2406]

Go with T-55A

[@msrtaha6174]

BVM is prob one of the best if not the best tank in the game as a soviet tank.. when it's fully upgraded ofc.. you're pretty fast and have some armor so you wouldn't get shot a lot of the times

[@galicije83]

Only T-80U and modernized version of T-80BV called T-80BVM have side K-5 ERA skirts...last one have all the way back.. T-80BV and older T-80s do not have that kind of ERA skirts..,

[@Isaaccarr1]

Well done on 14.5k subscribers!

[@PanzerPaw]

Thanks! 😃

[@Britishthunder131]

WHY DID YOU KILL THE POOR STUART NOO

[@Arturijo]

Nice video! Would be even better if it was 1440p.

[@alphana7055]

13:12 Drozd saved you

[@ep4903]

Would love to see you play a stock T-34, and an explanation for this noob on how to use them....

[@silvaryon]

lets go T72B3

[@samargrewal929]

try the T-80b or BVM

[@cristobalalvarez5491]

I did and honestly it helps if you can find a decent spot where ur team can cover ur sides

[@RiccardoTheBeAst]

As some people says, unfortunately it is true that T-80UM-2 is not the tank in the video. Anyway, it's not devs fault, because also Wikipedia got that name wrong, i explain you what happened: this T-80U had no specific designation, only T-80UM-1 (which is FAR better and, surprise, older!) had a specific name as it fielded Arena APS, a really badass design. Drodz is an older and already tested APS that the Soviets already fielded for their naval infantry tanks, which were the older T-55 and T-62 (T-55D and T-62D where "D" means Drodz) to increase their protection, during Cold War. That "T-80U with Drodz" in War Thunder is simply a Russian prototype built in the late '90s or maybe even early 2000s that never got a specific designation. Unfortunately the "T-80U with Drodz" prototype went destroyed in Ukraine (without seeing combat, it got destroyed by artillery fire while parked at military camp, no crew inside) and then Oryx website listed that loss as "T-80UM-2". THIS is the reason that caused everyone (unfortunately also Wikipedia) to call this tank with that name, despite being wrong. "T-80UM-2" has always been used to designate Black Eagle tank, even thou i'm not sure if that was correct or not, at this point.

[@CurtisJobson]

Black Eagle was a code name for an upgrade program which the T-80UM-1 and 2 fell under. The UM-2 is still the correct designation for this tank.

[@CurtisJobson]

Actually, to correct myself even, the Black Eagle is apart of a program that stemmed from the UM-2. The reason they look near identical is because the Black Eagle is a further development of the UM-2 in the late 90s that both stemmed from the same program.

[@RiccardoTheBeAst]

@@CurtisJobson Black Eagle is completely different :O

[@CurtisJobson]

@@RiccardoTheBeAst The Black Eagle is a different tank but it's program is a further development of the UM program....

[@RiccardoTheBeAst]

@@CurtisJobson Yes, we have an agreement here

[@g3arjammer837]

Fun fact: Gaijin modeled this completely wrong. The UM-2 is completely modeled wrong in game for multiple reasons. First of all the UM-2 came out in 98’ which followed the UM-1 in 97’ and the UM from 95. The commander and gunners positions were swapped and included a brand new fire control system as part of the change which more than likely included thermals as new optics were required as the positions of the crew were changed. Also it was NOT based on the T-80U as the dev blog states and was actually based on the T-80UM. If you look into the tank at all you’ll realize Gaijin really fumbled the ball with this vehicle and it’s a shame. Remember this is during the time they were looking to modernize a ton of stuff with thermal imagers and possibly have a new MBT. Russian prototypes were quite optimistic at this this point in time. It’s highly likely that it featured thermals. Also this 1 of 1 prototype was destroyed in Ukraine unfortunately. Also a lot of people can get confused the T-80UM-2 and T-80UM-2 Black Eagle are two different tanks. Hopefully they will fix it soon as it’s a shame they didn’t model it even a little bit correctly. It’s like Gaijin took the T-80U model and slapped the Drozd on it. Not to mention completely ignoring the naming scheme that tells you what it is based off of.

[@PanzerPaw]

"Also a lot of people can get confused the T-80UM-2 and T-80UM-2 Black Eagle are two different tanks." Yep! I did too! I googled it just before putting the video together and got very confused haha

[@g3arjammer837]

@@PanzerPaw yeah. The T-80 Black Eagle had a lot of components and concepts that got put into the T-14 Armata such as the ammo being moved to the Bustle. The T-80 Black Eagle will hopefully come to the game with the APS it could’ve mounted (though not necessary for it’s addition) and have thermals. There’s not much information on the Black Eagle as well parts of it were used to make some of the systems for the T-14 and are still classified. Hopefully they will model it correctly so it can be as it was designed.

[@Freezefort]

Do you have any documentation that states this? If so you might be able to get Gaijin to fix it.

[@CurtisJobson]

@@PanzerPaw This guy just keeps copying and pasting this exact post on every video I've seen lol. Unfortunately, "theres no way they wouldn't have thermals" or whatever he said isn't a good source. Doing a quick google search you can come to find that the UM-1 and 2s primary purpose was to test the Arena and Drozd APS systems respectively. They weren't designed or intended to test much else, so what the Soviet Union did was grabbed older T-80U turrets, prior to the integration of thermal optics, and equipped them with their respective APS systems.

[@awesom6588]

they probably did it for balance. this thing would be op with all the era, 3bm60, and thermals on top of the already really good t80 platform. they might update it when we get some of the bleeding egde stuff like the abrams thumper, the t14, or the t90m.

[@rustyrnds]

Kv2

[@lyeonsupply1075]

Can you do a video on the Israeli Merkava?

[@ricolives1166]

I wanted the tornado but I'm not good at air, and wanted to start grinning the US naval since no doubt the south dakotas and Iowas will be coming so I bought the Helena and quickly got the Newport

[@gargamel635]

You should play with t90

[@PEPERwar89]

t28 a magical bus

[@llx-red_oppz-xll7.62.51]

T-34-85’s and IS-1 or IS-2 I genuinely enjoy 5.3-6.0 area Russian nothing like smacking tiger players with APHE rounds Yelling Urraaahhhh as you charge at them and see them freak out and miss their shot😂

[@fennoman9241]

As an APC Commander (XA-185 CBRN), I dictate that APC´s are superieur to tanks.

[@Going_Hunting22]

At the 6:34 time stamp that was me that killed you.

[@casualspawnpeeking3680]

For the most part the high tier Russian mbts are very strong the T-80bvm especially

[@quigonjinn3567]

If i were u i wouldn't go for the T-72's/ "T-90" cuz they have abysmal 4km/h reverse speed like british WWII tanks. Making it impossible to peek & move back 2 cover, this also minigates the "dozer" mechanic in game cuz it simply takes for ever. the T-80's are the only ruzzian MBT's that have 11km/h reverse speed.

[@brian-us6vw]

All this simping footage from many youtubers of T80UM and non of them are night battles XD

[@CALIMA2000]

I have literally sold my soul to The Snail to get all 3 vehicles 🙃

[@letsplaythemall]

Hey, for Russian tanks cool could be from the is 2 1944 and the following line, then the pancake (object 775) well pantsir and strela are op aa. Then you could try the T72 Turms T or the Rat 2S38. Enjoy

[@thecommentingt34]

Laughs in T-34-85 (I dare him to try it). OR he could try either the King Tiger ir Tiger 1 E or H.

[@letsplaythemall]

@@thecommentingt34 from own experience the t 34 85 kinda sucks with its low pen

[@thecommentingt34]

@@letsplaythemall Well,shit. I still like the T-34-85 tho

[@arturazimov8576]

T-80BVM next please

[@jonas2006]

The Object 120 ist very op if you know how to play it.

[@lada_niva_1.7i]

Can you try the strv 103c?

[@mxr015]

If you think this is fast, try the m 18

[@ForelliBoy]

I wonder what happened to the T-80UM2 in real life... [googles] ...oh

[@vladimirpetrov3119]

consider the fact that Russia is mostly flatland, therefore having low depression and low profile is perfectly suitable for russian train. also ofcourse play more russian tanks, if you use them as they are planned to use in their own doctrine, you will enjoy them a lot

[@squirrel_82]

Which military were you with when you were a TC? I was a Stryker Mortar TC in Iraq. Just looking to compare some notes is all.

[@PanzerPaw]

Singapore Army

[@BIllThEchoser]

the most realistic gameplay i guess

[@slavicgondola1817]

The T80’s are all like a sports car with a 125 and era lol t72’s are fast but have a piss poor reverse drive unlike the t80’s

[@shadowfox4761]

8:40 try the is-2 mod 1944 it's my favorite tank because you pretty much just play against Germany and you can one shot all of their vehicles and German players at that br are basically braindead

[@shaggings]

80% of german mains are braindead at every tier. I also have become a german main after I got tired of british slowness at top tier. I don't understand how germany players can die 3 times without even an assist. And german top tier is full of one death leavers.

[@Gentalkat11]

Can you maybe play sim battles? (if you didnt already) Would be fun to see how you play it

[@Tigerpanzer6666]

i wonder if there going to add the new Abrams

[@lazar_kiwi]

Panzer paw can you do a video on the SMK or t35

[@TacticalBeard]

The real T-80UM2 had a lot of upgrades. Warthunder just did a lazy T-80 copy paste

[@fuahrahn]

First time here and i git a question: how long u suffering from stutters? I asking bcz starting from the fire and ice update i have them too and this is f4cking annoying.

[@PanzerPaw]

I only have them at the start of battles. Not much after

[@marijanadevic6536]

Yes

[@Dirt1061]

Did you never use entrenching blades on your tanks? Western tanks don’t really use them right?

[@PanzerPaw]

Not to my knowledge. We never did any entrenching training for tanks at all. It's mentioned during training but not a tactic that was considered important for us.

[@slayerorsmoothgroov3376]

for suggestions on good Russian tanks: all of them

[@thealmightytigor5308]

Now how long until some top tier Sweden

[@ottoloots63]

were you a TC in the dutch army?

[@Mrskydoesminecraft1]

T-80UM-2 isn’t just a one off prototype now, it just blatantly doesn’t exist anymore, at least as much more than scrap metal in Ukraine.

[@n1co2017]

fun fact the irl one is a pile of scrap metal

[@itzikashemtov6045]

Most Russian tanks are complete shit, I don't see in what world they survive an encounter against an Abrams/Challenger/Merkava/Leo's/Panther etc. The Russian bias in this game is disgusting.

[@n1co2017]

@@itzikashemtov6045 the worst part is that they didn’t even change that much about the russian mbts. only no spalling, no ammo racks and one crew absorbs a 120mm sabot. tho i don’t fall victim to the ammo rack bs very often.

[@Britishthunder131]

Nice

[@boringstuff412]

Try the t-50 at br 2.7

[@commander3943]

t-34-85

[@javiercorderoviquez7358]

Play the IS 6

[@smallpenis266]

Wait are you from Singapore.

[@kidneyman]

The only T-80UM2 prototype was destroyed in ukraine. Kinda sad that this unique vehicle is gone :(

[@KFC757.]

Bet it had thermals on it though maybe a Ukrainian can recover the tech from it and prove gajin wrong after the war is over.

[@Masonquinn02]

T90

[@rouven_tutu5122]

Bist du eigentlich deutsch wenn du ein panzer kommandant in einem leo warst? Wenn ja echt respekt kaum akzent

[@PanzerPaw]

Hi, I'm not German. But I did serve on the Leo 2 in Singapore

[@lexmen1089]

This is somehow too funny. A Tank commander, using a tank that he could face one day, and also even drive irl, is too ironic. of course, those aint relevant when this got the russian space program treatment arleady.

[@michaelballard6364]

What countries army did you serve in was it Australia?

[@PanzerPaw]

Singapore Army 🪖

[@michaelballard6364]

@@PanzerPaw ok that’s cool

[@michak5vods32]

Youre not gonna review the USS Newport News?

[@PanzerPaw]

I'll most likely play it but I don't know if I can review it since I know absolutely nothing about ships, IRL or in-game lol.

[@michak5vods32]

@@PanzerPaw thats fair. Would be interesting to hear someones opinion about it who hasnt played naval ;)

[@pechudin9086]

Apparently this tank got destroyed in Ukraine? Which is weird. Sending in a prototype, like something Germans would do in WW2.

[@Micheal__wittman]

Hi

[@funfact6880]

I’ve been obliterating these. Can’t tell if it’s just low level players who got lucky and ground up to this. But it’s probably the majority of my MBT kills if you don’t count the turm.

[@tranminhnguyen6217]

@Marcus GH I am one of them. Not to mention the fact that we're fighting experienced players with HEATFS and no thermals. Stock.

[@kylejones1320]

I come from low tier and playing high tier is seemingly easier to me. People w key lanes more and patience in one spot can pay off with 2 or 3 kills. Reposition a little with teammates around and repeat. I find it way harder to do that at low tiers

[@funfact6880]

The fact that you guys aren’t selling the coupon makes me happy mine might be worth more for such a tank.

[@DexMaster881]

Welcome to Russian high tier or As I like to call it Breach repair thunder. Simply people are too dumb to learn where to shoot(anywhere but upper front plate) so they will disgustingly just sit there and insta breach you. Over and over again. Enjoy the pain. Works the same for the entire Russian Sabot lineup.

[@jefuty1500]

Power of china deflected apfsds 🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳

[@Just_A_Random_Desk]

A T-80UM-2 was actually destroyed in Ukraine

[@Jungle_Studio]

First person to comment and view!!

[@itzikashemtov6045]

The Russian bias in this game is so disgusting lmao

[@soovitus1236]

Cool (first

[@hunterwatson9542]

The t80um2 has seen combat in Ukraine and 1 was destroyed