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Dontos · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 6:10 pm Post subject: T72 (SN Y11B15727)

Today I took the time to record this T72. It was captured during Operation Desert Storm by elements of the 1/4 Cav.

It came to Ft Knox & the Patton museum in 1992. It was operational at time of arrival. For several years it was 'showcased' during vehicle demonstrations manned by volunteers who operated it.

More to Follow
Regards
Don

Dontos · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: T72 (SN Y11B15727)

BTW

The front slope SN stamping

This is located on the right rear.

Also found is definited combat damage to the turret and the right rear sponson box.

More to Follow
Regards
Don

L.Delsing · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 10, 2006 Posts: 960

Its my lucky day, more T-72 pictures and numbers

Thanks!

Regards,
Lesley

ShermanWasRight · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: T72 (SN Y11B15727)

Russian T-72 or Asad Babil?

L.Delsing · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 10, 2006 Posts: 960

Looking to the serialnumbers I say a Soviet built T-72M

Regards,
Lesley

Dontos · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: T72 (SN Y11B15727)

Lesley

Is there anyway to tell by the SN where it was produced and possibly when?

I was asked about that, but I'm clueless.

Thanks
Don

L.Delsing · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 10, 2006 Posts: 960

Serial number on the glacis, November 1984, Nizhni-Tagil

The other number on the back October 1984 (maybe a large subpart of the tank produced earlier and later assembled to one tank?)

Regards,
Lesley

Dontos · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: T72 (SN Y11B15727)

Lesley

Thanks for the info. The 1984 date seems to match some of the interior data plate info. Today I was able to crawl into the T72 and here is what I found.

I'm not a big guy, but really had a difficult time manually traversing the turret. The gunners position was a tight fit. Never really spent much time checking out the T72. Boy it was cramped.

Regards
Don

panamadan · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 29, 2006 Posts: 174

Don,
Years ago I got to climb into Stewart's T72 and was amazed on how tight it was-I never did make into the driver's hole as I'm just not that thin! I remember that the gunner's seat bottom was mounted on the turret floor and clould not slide back and forth to adjust for the gunner's size. I've read that in the Soviet Army to be in certail MOS's one had to be a certain height-if so, then that would explain why the seat did not have any adjustment.
Dan

Dontos · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 12:31 am Post subject: Re: T72 (SN Y11B15727)

Here are a few other interesting items found in this former Iraqi/ former Soviet Tank.

Most of the data plates are in english. I assume this is typical in an 'export' vehicle.

On the Gunners arm shield:

On the TCs side turret wall:

This little box was in the Drivers Area. I believe it is a radiation detector / alarm:

Regards
Don

panamadan · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 29, 2006 Posts: 174

I wonder if the bottom device turns on the over pressure system automaticly?
Dan

Smashy · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Aug 05, 2010 Posts: 112

- Dontos

Also found is definited combat damage to the turret and the right rear sponson box.

MG damage to a tank isn't 'combat damage' its just a case of misplaced optimism on the part of the shooter Wink

Joe_D · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 3:00 am Post subject: Re: T72 (SN Y11B15727)

MG damage to a tank isn't 'combat damage' its just a case of misplaced optimism on the part of the shooter

It all depends on how much .50 cal ammo you have and how long the tank sits in one spot Wink

Dontos · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: T72 (SN Y11B15727)

Well,....Its Official.

Today a transportation crew was in RMP, loaded up the T72, and left with the vehicle. It is now the property of the Indiana Army National Guard.

At about 1230hrs (EST) this little convoy hit the road. Its initial destination is Camp Atturbury Indiana.

The fully operational tank will be 'demiled' and in a couple of weeks will be placed on static display at an Indiana Manuever Training Center.

Regards
Don

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