How good is the T-72 tank?

Despite the spectacular videos of exploding tanks from Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, the T-72 is an excellent tank, and quite good at what it was designed for. The Soviet General Staff requirement that resulted in the T-72 had a number of challenging, and somewhat competing goals.

Why do tanks have turrets?

In modern tanks, the turret is armoured for crew protection and rotates a full 360 degrees carrying a single large-calibre tank gun, typically in the range of 105 mm to 125 mm calibre. Machine guns may be mounted inside the turret, which on modern tanks is often on a “coaxial” mount, parallel with the larger main gun.

What is the purpose of a turret?

Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification. As their military use faded, turrets were used for decorative purposes, as in the Scottish baronial style.

What was the history of tanks in the Cold War?

History of the tank. During the Cold War (1945–1990), the two opposing forces in Europe were the Warsaw Pact countries on the one side, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries on the other side. The Warsaw Pact was seen by the West as having an aggressive force outnumbering the NATO forces.

What happened to the development of tanks after WW2?

After World War II, tank development continued largely as it had been because of the Cold War. Tanks would not only continue to be produced in huge numbers, but the technology advanced dramatically as well. Tanks became larger and their armour became thicker and much more effective.

What was the difference between Western tanks and Soviet tanks?

Western tanks were suited to hiding behind an obstruction and firing over it. Soviet tanks, however, were harder to hit when in the open, which made it easier for them to survive when making a massed armored charge.

How good was the Soviet tank turret design?

The Soviet tank turret design is highly optimized for frontal combat – Soviet tanks are often claimed to be designed specifically for attack operations, the lack of side armor only supports those claims.