T-72AV (TURMS-T)

Description

The T-72AV (TURMS-T) is a Syrian upgrade of the Russian export T-72M1 main battle tank. The tank was upgraded with the help of Italy, using components made by Italian companies such as the Gallileo TURMS-T fire control system. The upgrade itself equipped the tank with generation 2 thermal sights for gunner and commander, as well as stabilized sights for both. Infrared cameras and a new improved gun stabilizer were also installed. The new equipment also permitted the usage of 9M119 Refleks barrel-launched ATGMs. 124 tanks were upgraded to this standard between 1998 and 2000.

The T-72AV (TURMS-T) was introduced in Update "New Power" as a pack premium. It offers average mobility, paired with very slow vertical gun handling similar to the other T-72 series as well as only -4 km/h reverse speed. While being less armoured than its T-72B counterpart and suffering from same mobility issues and poor reverse speed, the T-72AV has a significant advantage over the T-72B as it is equipped with thermal sight for both gunner and commander, allowing for easier target acquisition. The powerful 3BM42 round is also present, making the T-72AV an excellent sniper and second line vehicle, leaving brawling or pushing objectives to more armoured and mobile MBTs such as the T-80B.

General info

Survivability and armour

The T-72AV is a modernized version of the Soviet-made main battle tank T-72A. The CONTACT-1 ERA on the front of the turret is no longer directly mounted on it and is instead mounted on structural steel supports that form a slight arrow shape, it is also fitted with the TURMS-T fire control system.

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull)
• Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Engine exhaust)

(60°) Lower glacis

Notes:

• CONTACT-1 ERA mounted on turret front, hull front and hull sides present 5 mm effective protection against kinetic energy munitions, while presenting 370 mm effective protection against chemical energy munitions.
• Belly armour of the T-72AV (TURMS-T) is 20 mm thick.
• Tracks are 30 mm thick, while suspension wheels are 20 mm thick.

Mobility

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition

Ammo racks

Notes:

Ammo racks of the T-72A (identical).

• The T-72AV (TURMS-T) uses two-piece ammunition, composed of propellant bags (orange) and projectiles (yellow). Both have separate racks.
• Shells are modelled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
• A propellant charge remains in rack 2 after it is emptied and is later fired as part of rack 3. For the purpose of clarity, rack 2 is considered empty even if that charge is still present.
• Rack 4 (autoloader carrousel) is a first stage ammo rack containing 22 projectiles and 22 propellant charges.
  • This rack gets filled first when loading up the tank and is also emptied first.
  • As the T-72AV (TURMS-T) is equipped with an autoloader, manual reloading of the gun is not possible.
  • Once the autoloader magazine has been depleted, you can't shoot until the loader has restocked the autoloader with at least one shell. The restocking time is longer than the normal reload time of the gun. Take this into account when playing.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 to 3 into rack 4. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.

Machine guns

Usage in battles

The T-72AV (TURMS-T) is a Russian MBT that is the mainstay in long-range engagements as the cannon is accurate at long distances. The recommended combat tactics is to acquire targets from afar with the thermal imager, use the laser rangefinder to achieve a successful hit and engage from the greatest possible distance. Avoid short-range combat at all costs.

While brawling in this tank is workable, it is not ideal. That said, the best way to engage in close-distance or urban fighting will be in a support role. Allow your teammates to push for positions, and help finish off any tanks with which they have trouble. Remember that this tank has an exceedingly slow reverse speed, so your defensive reactivity is very poor. It is best not to be caught off guard, as you will typically lose any 1 on 1 engagement in which you do not fire first.

Fighting in a top rank environment

If up-tiered to a top rank lineup match, remember that this tank is perfectly capable of destroying most of the enemies it will face. However, it is imperative that you aim for the usual weak spots on the enemy tanks. Most weak points that other Russian high-rank MBTs (such as the T-80U) rely on will still penetrate, even with the technically inferior top APFSDS round. The difference will primarily be in consistency of damage. T-72AV (TURMS-T) players will find themselves firing more than one round into an enemy to reliably destroy them compared to just a single shot in a better, higher-rank tank.

Common headaches will include the likes of the Challenger, Leclerc, and Leopard 2A6 (as well as its derivatives), which will be exceedingly difficult to destroy frontally. In cases such as this, it is best to flank, or pick a different route to the battlefield, as the T-72AV (TURMS-T)'s armour is far too thin to stop top-rank APFSDS rounds effectively. Put simply, the T-72AV (TURMS-T) has an effective gun, average mobility, poor reactivity, and poor survivability. A new player will struggle while using this tank in a top-rank lineup.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Has 2nd generation thermal sights for both the gunner and the commander
• Has a constant reload thanks to its autoloader
• Low profile, easy to hide
• ERA offers excellent protection against non-tandem ATGMs and HEAT rounds
• 3BM42 (Mango round) can penetrate most targets even at long range and in uptiers
• Has commander fire control, enabling the commander to return fire even if the gunner is killed
• Fuel tanks can absorb oncoming rounds

Cons:

• Kontakt-1 ERA offers no protection against kinetic rounds
• Only has 3 crew members
• Poor gun handling and gun depression; ill-suited to close range brawling and fighting on uneven terrain
• Very slow reverse speed
• Hull and turret armour can easily be penetrated by most rounds it faces especially in uptiers
• Sluggish mobility
• Slower reload compared to the opposition
• Does not have access to ATGMs
• Fight compartment is cramped likely to get knocked out
• Fuel tanks are prone to fuel explosions

History

Devblog

The T-72AV (TURMS-T) is a Soviet T-72AV tank modernized for the Syrian army. The TURMS fire control system, developed by the Italian company Officine Galileo, was previously used on C1 Ariete tanks. In the early 2000's, this fire control system was adopted for the T-72.

The system significantly improves the tank's vision capabilities, thanks to the commander's panoramic sight. It also features a high-quality thermal imaging gunner's sight, which allows the tank to effectively perform combat missions at night and in poor visibility conditions. By 2006, 122 TURMS kits were produced for the Syrian army.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the T-72AV (TURMS-T) from live.warthunder.com.

Images

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  T-72AV (TURMS-T) in Late Green Camouflage obtainable in-game

Videos

See also

Other Rank VI vehicles equipped with ERA protection

• M60A3 TTS
• T-69 II G
• CM11

External links

• [Devblog] T-72AV (TURMS-T): Syrian Guard