TSBX21: T-80 Tank Company

The Soviet T-80 first entered service in 1976 and utilised a revolutionary gas turbine engine, though some later versions reverted to a diesel engine because of the turbine's high fuel consumption. Over the next 10 years, the T-80 was extensively upgraded to stay competitive with Western tank designs. Armed with a 125mm smoothbore gun, all but the initial pre-production models can fire anti-tank missiles - initially the 9K112 Kobra (NATO AT-8 “Songster”) but soon superseded by the 9M119M Refleks (NATO AT-11B “Sniper”) - in addition to a wide range of conventional gun rounds. Fitted with an autoloader, the crew size for the vehicle is only three men, providing a smaller profile and enabling the Soviets to field additional vehicles with the same number of trained crew compared to Western armies.

The T-80U is the most modern version of the Soviet’s premier main battle tank. In addition to a more powerful engine and improved turret design, it is equipped with the latest generation of explosive reactive armour, Kontakt-5, which provides unprecedented protection against HEAT rounds as well as Armour Piercing Fin Satbilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) rounds like the American Depleated Uranium (DU) M829A1. The Soviets did not initially field the T-80U variant in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, relying on the T-80BV to serve as its spearhead. Unfortunately, the Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armour of the BV afforded little to no added protection against armour piercing and more importantly APFSDS rounds, which were becoming increasingly common in NATO arsenals. As the geo-political situation worsened, the Soviets decided they had to commit the T-80U to the front lines to offset the firepower advantage afforded to NATO by the latest versions of their main battle tanks like the Abrams, Challenger, and Leopard 2.

A T-80 battalion is capable of engaging Western third generation main battle tanks on even terms. Unlike previous second generation designs like the T-72 and T-64, the T-80 combines strong protection with a powerful gun and unparalleled mobility. On the rare occasions when the T-80 runs into heavily armored Western battle tanks, its excellent mobility will allow it to quickly flank its slower and heavier opponents.

THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS:

• 5x T-80 Tanks

These miniatures are supplied unassembled and unpainted