Roots and Role of the T-72M1 Main Battle Tank with Jim Warford

[@theodorefritz4026]

Yes! another Sofilein video. glad to see you still creating and interviewing

[@mustang1912]

America lost the gulf war. Failed basrah uprising too.

[@thegodofhellfire]

Superb talk Jim, thank you!

[@JimWarford1]

You're welcome!

[@JimWarford1]

The IS-3 would be a great topic for another video...

[@yoloman3607]

Internal track tension adjustment is heretical technology

[@mikemulligan5731]

@@yoloman3607 OK, dork..

[@richardcundiff509]

I second the Motion for the JS-III tank at Ft. Moore.

[@Esa826]

Thanks Sofilein as well for making this video. It was really well done and brought back many nice memories from my childhood :)

[@gdziewojsko]

There were no two but 3 tiers of T-72. - Soviet Union - Warsaw Pact - other export customers Roughly the same time, the Soviet Union got the first T-72BW with Koniktakt-1 and T-80U with Kontakt-5. The Warsaw Pact countries got T-72M1 that was equivalent to earlier Soviet T-72A. The export "monkey variant" was the inferior export variant (T-72M). Poland and Czechoslovakia produced both proper and monkey T-72M1s.

[@JimWarford1]

You're correct...if you include the T-72M (laser rangefinder/no turret composite), you could say there were three tiers. One of the points of this video was to highlight the fact that there were two variants of the T-72M1; one with CERMET turret composite armor and one with sand composite armor. Iraq for example, had all three T-72 variants: T-72 Ural, T-72M, and T-72M1...

[@robcanisto8635]

​@@JimWarford1good lord a clapback from the man himself!

[@oldgoat142]

Excellent! I did learn a few things. What a nice way to spend some time on a Sunday afternoon; a tour of a tank we don't see all the time. Loved the backstory! For me, it's a reminder that young men served in these vehicles and in a lot of cases, gave their lives. It's not just dry statistics. I'll be honest Sofi; I enjoy your content so much that as soon as I see a new video, I give it a like and a save before I even start it. I do appreciate all you do.

[@SRB.4S]

Excellent analysis and excellent presentation a truly outstanding armor and tank expert. But he would mention a few details that may have been missed. The T-72 m and M1 were never produced in Russia/USSR, they are tanks intended for export and were produced exclusively in the former Warsaw Pact countries, Poland and the former Czechoslovakia, later in the Czech Republic. The T-72 M/M1 has nowhere near armor protection, because it does not have a fire control system, and optoelectronics at the level of the T-72A, which is for the USSR army, that is, the first modernization of this tank from 1977. The T-72 "Ural" is the original T-72 from 1972/73. The T-72 tanks that were produced for the USSR army were not exported outside the USSR, at the time they were current, only a few years ago a lot of modernization of the T-72AV from 1979 was sold to Syria... The tanks were exported from Warsaw Pact countries. and Czechoslovakia. And these are the T-72M variant and the slightly improved T-72M1. Even the T-72M1 had worse armor protection than the T-72A, the first modernization of this tank for the Soviet Army, in 1977. Versions produced without permission in Iraq, for example... are even worse than the export version of the T-72M /M1, especially when armor protection and optoelectronics are questionable. So you probably tested the T-72M and T-72M1 which had close armor protection to the Soviet version of the T-72A, so you saw the obvious difference in armor protection between the M and M1 versions. Otherwise, T-72M/M1 tanks were used only for export. and in the countries of the Warsaw Pact ... Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria ... In translation, these are deeply degraded versions of T-72 tanks. Also, to make matters worse, the ammunition that was sold to, say, Iraq for these tanks is old Soviet, from the beginning of the 70s of the last century, with the ability to penetrate about 300 mm of homogeneous steel. So they had degraded tanks and outdated ammunition. As for the disadvantages, you are absolutely right about the T-72 tanks, because the storage of additional ammunition, loading and projectiles inside the turret is unprotected. And that's why the entire turret of the tank was detonated and the crew was lost. But this happens in more than 95% of cases if additional spare ammunition is stored in the tank, so if there is a penetration inside the turret, then there is an explosion and the loss of both the crew and the tank. However, this can be prevented by not carrying unprotected spare ammunition inside the tank, more specifically, rounds and projectiles. Although there is generally a misconception that the explosion occurs because of an automatic loader or a carousel with ammunition, which is not true! Thus, during the conflict, both Ukrainians and Russians generally stopped carrying additional spare ammunition in the tank. We saw that on the Ukrainian battlefield, but we also saw that the turret flew off Leopard 2 tanks in Syria and Ukraine?! modernized variants of T-72 tanks. They are somewhere above the level of the Leopard 2 A4, about the level of the Leopard 2 A5. The same applies to the T-80BVM ... and older versions of the T-90 tanks. While the new version of T-90M / Proriv 2 and 3 ... In the worst case, the level of Leopard 2 A6/A7 ... The Russian/Soviet T-72 tank in its first and basic versions from half a century ago, or the export of deeply degraded versions used in the Middle East... Not a serious threat to any Western 3rd generation tank. But the modernized variants of this tank, which are modernized from the second to the third generation of tanks. Such as the above-mentioned Russian modernizations T-72B1MS /B3/B3M, T-80BVM... But also the Polish versions of the modernization of the T-72 PT-91 tank, as well as the Czech modernization of the T-72M4 CZ and the Ukrainian modernization of the T-64 tanks and The T-80, as well as the Serbian modernization of the M-84AS1/AS2 tanks... In a real war conflict, they represent a serious threat to every third generation of Western tanks. Not to mention the new T-90M tanks. First of all, when taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of Western and Soviet/Russian as well as Chinese tanks on the T-72 tank platform. Which is very well fought in the real big and modern war after WW2, which is the war in Ukraine. Modernized Soviet / Russian tanks have an advantage in most segments. Logistics, mobility, speed, maneuverability, agility, endurance, passability, easy maintenance and cheap and fast, even in outdoor conditions, very easy and cheap and fast training of the crew, significantly greater range of the cannon up to 5 km, the possibility of using the tank as mobile artillery, a range of up to 10 km, usability in real war and on the modern battlefield...

[@stevechurch4728]

Nato members were moving away from the 105mm tank rounds at that time and switching to the 120mm projectile. the UK had the 120mm rounds with it's chieftain tank, the Germans(leopard 2) and the french( amx 32/40 design series of export tanks)had it in hand to switch calibres from the late 70s early 80s too, the US was slow in making the move to 120mm. the counter to these t72 tanks were in the pipline and in some cases on the battlefield in the 80s already. good post sofi very informative on the state of manufacture of these tanks, thank you.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

Why do you think the US was slow to do so?

[@TaYamasi]

@@chickenfishhybrid44 Ego. they, didn't wanna work with germans ( kpz-70/ mbt-70 program)

[@thatcrusader3922]

@@TaYamasiNah. it's because the 105mm was on par with the 120mm at the time. Along with that, it would mess with logistics a tiny bit as they already had 105mm armed tanks. Adding an 120mm to that wouldn't be quick and easy. Spookston did an amazing video on the Abrams. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGq1mKKDZsmUqJI

[@stevechurch4728]

@@chickenfishhybrid44 simple answer is cost, to develop a tank gun and ammunition is expensive especially as there needs to be thousands of guns made for it's tank program. it's 105mm gun was a battle proven development of the british L7 ( from the Centurion) the m68. this had served well, was trusted by tank crews (to a point) it would need a lot of evidence to break that trust, the T72 types captured/ acquired showed that a new tank gun was needed and the US chose to replace it with the German 120mm smoothbore tank gun partly because the development had been done by the Germans who needed large numbers for it's leopard 2 program. Nato commonality was assured with this new gun as the Leopard 2 was going to be widely adopted by Nato member states.

[@Ughmahedhurtz]

@@stevechurch4728 Exactly. At the time (I was in 1990-1992) there was still a lot of skepticism about the smoothbore's accuracy, wear lifetime, and the lack of antipersonnel rounds like the beehive and a couple others. The larger diameter also reduced ammo stowage from about 55 rounds to 40, which crews disliked at least up until the first gulf war. The weight of the M1A1 Heavy also went up quite a bit, making route planning for tank movement important as there were bridges (at least in the Baumholder area) that would support the ~62T combat loaded of the M1 but not the ~70T of our M1A1H models. I will say, though, that if you got into a good spot where you could get it up to speed, that thing handled like a dream. Controls were very light at 70+ MPH.

[@kalfish]

Excellent piece, Sofilein and Jim! This was so educational and insightful. Thank you!

[@anonymousm9113]

I saw that tank at Knox in 2004. My reenacting unit was invited to Fort Knox for a scripted Memorial Day weekend event. Being an East Coast-based organization, only three or so of us made it. I had recently returned to Fort Campbell from Iraq, so it was a relatively short drive. We did the event, and Patton Museum staff let us go on a behind-the-ropes tour for us volunteering our time. Only two pieces of equipment were off-limits--the T-72 and a recently recovered StuG III. I have pictures on the 88mm, Kettenkrad, Panther, and other pieces. Perhaps best of all was the tour of the motor pools that some of the staff took a handful of us on the following morning!

[@Jack2Japan]

The armor cross-sectional photos were extremely interesting.

[@easynovember5423]

Thanks!

[@j.wilson6464]

That guy is awesome. Knowledgeable and just spits those facts out rapid fire. Love it!

[@JimWarford1]

Thanks!

[@shaider1982]

This has to be the most informative video I watched on Soviet armor characteristics, especially on combination-K. A good update on those old Combat & Survival magazine articles (made into an encyclopedia) i read as a kid.

[@ricklotter]

This video was excellent. He speaks clearly, concisely, and authoritatively. I really enjoyed an benefited from the information he packed into his discussion. PLEASE work more with him in the future!

[@ED-ti5tc]

Oh man, this video went bye fast! Very interesting and loved hearing him talk. You can do a part 2 on this. Glad to see you doing this again. I've missed seeing your content.

[@alexstenin4530]

Ништяк)) That's always a pleasure to listen to the professional! Hope for more times this mate appear!

[@mr.g1683]

As a fellow Army Armor member from the late 1980's This is good content.

[@randytessman6750]

New video

[@Logotic]

That tank helmet melts my heart 💓

[@ianmcinnis7747]

Thanks Sofilein for a great video

[@subroc12]

Awesome video!!! PLEASE! More videos like this! Thank you!!!!

[@ptonpc]

Fascinating. Thanks to you all.

[@fireabend_1226]

A very interesting video. Thank you for your work and the guest from the museum.

[@kevinmccarley7121]

Excellent presentation! Very clear. Very informative! Thanks for posting.

[@JimWarford1]

You're welcome!

[@paintnamer6403]

"Hey tank dorks" That sounds so lovingly personal

[@rippspeck]

"Enthusiasts" wouldn't have included me, but "dorks" did.

[@Bruckzone60]

I could listen to him all day. What a fantastic source he is.

[@rexw2203]

Great stuff Sofi...I'd love to see something like this on the M60A2. I love hearing all the details on the care and feeding of the big beasties...even the shortfalls and SNAFU's of each...of which the 'A2 had several.

[@chriskingston4270]

great video. Loved it! Thanks.

[@chrisblack6258]

That's very interesting! It's great to be able to hear this evaluation directly from people who was an insider!

[@danderson9881]

Thank you Sofi and Jim!

[@JimWarford1]

You're welcome!

[@johnmitchell3831]

Excellent Vedic Sofi!!! I learned a lot from it. Thank you.

[@RolftheRed]

Thank you! I'm happy that Ya'll present a far better viewpoint on the EVOLVING nature of Tanks and that the first variation is rarely the only one. I am also interested in the non-export versions. But it is rare and valuable to me to look at export versions of weapon systems. Too often this is an ignored area as the logistics of finding that data lacks the ease of just focusing on a single non-export version. Bravo, Thank you Sir, and Thank you Sofilein!

[@akasia81]

와우~~ 썸네일 보고 달려왔습니다 ㅎㅎ 기대가 많이 됩니다~ 늘 좋은 영상 올려 주셔서 감사 드립니다😊😊😊

[@mikkoveijalainen7430]

Your videos are always such a pleasure to watch.

[@DOGosaurus_rex]

wow what an awesome video keep it up sofilein 👍

[@2805662]

Boom. Excellent presentation.

[@jesper509]

Very interesting. Thank you

[@a44jon1]

great video as always! :)

[@allanburt5250]

Thanks Sofilein enjoyed this one, very informative 👍

[@MrRkn70]

Great video again, tanks Sofilein.

[@MGB-learning]

Always and outstanding video

[@Lutz101]

Very interesting. Thanks.

[@eamonnosullivan5412]

Great video Sofi ! Well done.

[@Cohen.the.Worrier]

Thanks mr. Warford, great info. Thanks Sofilein for another gread vid.

[@eaglesquadrongaming9151]

This is why I like Sofis content her videos are both fun and educational plus I also get to see some tonks

[@LegacyUser]

Wow, what a fantastic video. More please.

[@phil20_20]

Thanks! How does the Javelin pop the top on a T-72 since it's not a 120mm with penetrator? Is it Shockwave?

[@dankingjr.2088]

Dang customers making me miss Sofi premiers. :-)

[@michelthater4361]

Very interesting to listen to! Thank you for this expertly presented piece(es) of information!

[@JimWarford1]

Thanks!

[@eric-wb7gj]

TY Sofi 🙏

[@hansulrichboning8551]

It was common russian pratice to equip their allies and export costumers with "downgraded" variants.

[@strizhi6717]

What a gem! I love the fact he still refers to future Russian tank programs as future Soviet tanks :D A great listen to non the less and extremely informative with things I didn't even know

[@Stray03]

Always interesting to see how different things are when not looked through "today's lens". They are laughed at now because we have weapons that were specifically designed to destroy them, but back when they were new on the scene they were frightening enough to push the western armies to upgrade their toys and design new weapon systems to combat them. Thanks for the video, learned some interesting things.

[@georgestemple3310]

Excellent video

[@darthfader733]

Very informative, excellent video.

[@ausaskar]

Never heard that the quartz sand layer was adulterated in the Czech/Polish versions before. If they cut those corners for their own tanks I wonder what compromises were made for 3rd World models...

[@robertkalinic335]

I searched for it in my own native language and all i have found was that it is ceramic core, assuming the same as russian. Feels weird cause czechs, slovaks and polish have been using those tanks whole time upgraded for decades and there isn't single mention of it anywhere.

[@robertkalinic335]

Dont quote me on that but i kinda remember something about Czechoslovak tankers having one tank thats intended to get beaten up in training and other one mint condition in storage for real action. Maybe they skimped on training tanks...?

[@ausaskar]

It does sound strange to me too. Because I've heard from other places the build quality (welds, tolerances, etc) were superior on the Czech/Polish versions.

[@gusgone4527]

T90 and it's variants next please.

Very intersting talk. i didnt know the situation was that dire for a while regarding the AT rounds. Also the Amour and Cavalry Collection hall seems to be a challenging audio enviroment to film in :)

[@Sofilein]

It’s very challenging 😭 the HVAC system is very loud and it destroys my audio whether I use a lav mic for the speaker or not. I am glad my viewers have the patience for it.

@@Sofilein I feel your pain. I filmed at the german tank museum some time ago and heavy rain on that day produced quite some noice on the corrugated steel roof :) But I was luckly able to get most of it out in Audacity via noice filters

[@Sofilein]

Audacity is a good program- usually I address the audio with my editor but I will see what audacity can do for it, thank you so much for the idea

[@jakester455]

Is this the one that was in the Patton Museum, that had the funky exhaust cooler on top of the hull?

[@JimWarford1]

No...that one got to the museum from a different source. This one was a gift from the 24th ID.

[@coryhoggatt7691]

Good background. As an M60A1 tanker of that time period, we did receive classified briefings about the capabilities of our M68 main guns against T-72 armor. I have to disagree with his assessment of the “design flaw” of Russian tanks. Before the Abrams, there were NO tanks of any nation that separated the crew from the ammo. Russian tanks at least placed the ammo low in the hull. In the M60 series the ammo was right next to us in the turret bustle. There are many reports from Desert Storm of T-72s struck by 120mm rounds that blew the engine out the back but did not ignite the ammo.

[@JimWarford1]

The design flaw I mention in the video is not the separation of ammo from the crew, but more specifically, the separation of the semi-cumbustible main gun ammo from the crew. That's the problem...one that is characteristic of the T-72M1 and every other Soviet/Russian tank of this generation. Modern Western MBTs are designed around solving this problem...some more than others.

[@coryhoggatt7691]

@@JimWarford1thank you for the thoughtful reply. I don’t understand what you mean by “semi combustible” ammunition, unless you’re referring to two piece ammunition (where the combustible element is just gunpowder in a cloth bag). I don’t know that the same powder contained in an aluminum shell would be any safer. Of course back then we didn’t foresee the advent of top attack munitions, which are much more likely to hit ammunition stored under the turret. Russia did start adding some armor over the ammo carousel but obviously not enough.

[@polorrioabaixo7293]

Good work, thank you 👌

[@knutboehnert3163]

Solid information transfer in a couple of minutes.

[@wardphilips2332]

My unit (3/37 AR, 2d BDE 1st ID) fought with straight M1s, our Sabot round was the 883

[@JimWarford1]

Thank you for your service...the available information says the M833 was a possibility against the T-72M1's frontal armor. I know that some units in theater got the M900, but no performance information is availabale.

[@tomraider6970]

теперь у нас в музее и Абрамс появился)

[@cmck472]

Good video, very informative!

[@afmo500]

More of him! He was great

[@JimWarford1]

Thanks...

[@garyshelly6555]

Probably about 10 or 12 years ago give or take, I was at a truck stop in baton rouge Louisiana, I saw a pristine t-72 Olive colored being hauled by an 18-wheeler. I often wondered where it was going, being as its condition I figured it was probably going to a museum or something somewhere.

[@oxxnarrdflame8865]

Very interesting video. Thanks

[@Chiller11]

Very instructive content.

[@paulbehan7321]

Great info / on tanks thank you Sofi

[@johnkirkby4959]

Excellent information. How about the early T34's pre T34/85's. These were knocked out in Barbarossa/1941 however they must have given the Germans some concern because of their speed, wide tracks, and in general awesome mobility anywhere regardless of mud, snow, etc.

[@stigmontgomery7901]

Interesting video, thank you!

[@jeremycox571]

1st CAV has one at the 1st CAV museum at Ft Cavazos ( formerly Ft Hood ) miss u making videos Solifien !

[@vladcraioveanu233]

Superb machines...

[@shanechapman3567]

See if you can find info on the object 477 xm2 cause i cant find any it was ment to replace the t72 would love a video on it building a model of it right now

[@reconmodelsvaughn469]

Awesome video keep them coming 👍 👌

[@hacheyp]

Brillant exposé!!!

[@VosperCDN]

A lot of very interesting background (at the time hidden) information that various agencies and militaries engage in to keep their tanks relevant.

[@Hubbahubba480]

Is the Ft Moore tank museum open to the public ?

[@Sofilein]

Not all the time. Dates for visitation are held as events and are awesome, check their socials in the description and the dates and details are pinned there. I’ll make a video about it specifically in a bit

[@Hubbahubba480]

@@Sofilein thank you so much , I'm trying to do a visit this summer if there is availability , Please advise . Your channel is awesome !!!

[@Hubbahubba480]

My 16yr old is excited to see and a bucket list for me .

[@Stridsvagn-PanzerKommandant]

please cover upgraded T55 variants (AM 1/AM 2/AMD1/BV)

[@StevenG222]

Good and informative video and you look great in the tanker helmet but now I really want to know what happened to the Israeli tank crews...

[@jimf1964]

This was actually a pretty interesting video, though I like them more when you’re physically in them. ❤🙂

[@jakester455]

She just won't do it. She's the most attractive content creator for military armor in the world, and she doesn't want to host her own videos. She says she'd rather be behind the camera. Won't even do a sexy thumbnail. SMH

[@Alex-ju8tr]

Makes me wonder if the export customers knew they were getting unfired sand instead of something that had been turned into solid silica sheeting via kiln? I know sand is quiet effective in stopping small arms round, hence sandbags, but I'm unsure if it'd have the same effect on sabots. It makes sense from a manufacturing standpoint as silica melts at around 3k F if I remember correctly, steel's what 2.5k F, so it'd make using the metallic bits of armor as a ready-made casting mold without some sort of refractory coating difficult. But it was most likely not in the marketing brochure lol

[@JimWarford1]

Good question...clearly, some T-72M1s are more equal than others. 😃

[@gregory196011]

First :great job on this MBT, second :did you call me a tank DORK!(LOL)

[@Sofilein]

“But I don’t want to go among tank dorks," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all tank dorks here. I’m a tank dork. You’re a tank dork." "How do you know I’m a tank dork?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn’t have come here.”

[@gregory196011]

@@Sofilein lol ha ha Touche!

[@danger3_255]

this guy can sure nerd out on tanks

[@JimWarford1]

Yep...😀

[@danger3_255]

@@JimWarford1 great video, bud. i know how you kept your driver awake.

[@RobertStarkey-r7m]

I love your channel

[@Esa826]

Thank you so much Mr. Warford for the excellent presentation of the T-72. Always liked the tank and my big brother is trained T-72 driver & mechanic. My brother did conscript service in the army on tank service. So when I was young, I went to see T-72 with my brother many times, got roam inside and was able to ride along as well. Still remember raw powerful sound of the engine and awesome ability to go off road.

[@JimWarford1]

You're welcome...

[@edwardbaeg7141]

your hair looks amazing!

[@victorbloom8286]

When did they move the Collection ?

[@Sofilein]

Over the years since 2020, the majority of it was completed by late 2022

[@knickebien1966]

Very interesting history that is new to me

[@jeffreybarry64]

Tank Dork here . . I'd like to see a video on the M60 and how many are left and why don't they send them all to Ukraine if their just going to be discontinued ?

[@allezmontreal1711]

Nice to see you!😅

[@d0nKsTaH]

One day they will name a tank after Sofilein ... "The Sofilein M90 (or something) :P

[@gamecubekingdevon3]

nice interview :)

[@gbipit1]

How u been Sofi

[@anaskurdi5275]

nice video, greeting from iraqi kurdistan.

[@leopardone2386]

If that T 72 M1 is formerly the one that was once at the collection at Ft Stewart, then my 5 year old self may or may not have slipped under the guest barrier and clambered all over it back in the super early 2000s. Talk about a small world, If it is Sofie, go give the old girl some turret scratches and googly eyes for me!

[@Sofilein]

We included a picture of that one but I think this one stayed at Knox for the majority of its time since being brought back! I wonder if the Ft. Stewart one is still there...

[@JimWarford1]

@@Sofilein This particular T-72M1 highlighted here for this video was originally captured by forces from the 24th ID during Desert Storm. It was then gifted to the Armor School at Fort Knox. It then moved down to Fort Benning with the rest of the Armor School, etc. The T-72M1 that was displayed inside a building at Fort Stewart, is a diferent tank.

[@bretteballantine2596]

She should make restoration tank shows like The Australian Armour & Artillery Museum

[@KJ4RMZ]

Very good, I like this type of video. I may have been one of the ones contributing to the background noise... sorry. See you soon!