Image source: vestnik-rm.ru
In the Soviet tank industry, great attention was traditionally paid to the characteristics of protection. For example, since the mid-80s, tanks produced in the USSR began to receive first mounted, and later built-in dynamic protection, which significantly reduced the effectiveness of anti-tank ammunition produced at that time: RPG and LNG rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank guided missiles, artillery shells.
However, it so happened that not all tanks involved in the initial stage of the first Chechen war were equipped with this very dynamic protection. For example, the T-72A of the 131st Maikop brigade did not have it. And on many combat vehicles that arrived from the North Caucasus Military District, there was also no "Contact-1", and among them there were even old T-72 "Ural" with optical rangefinders.
Unfortunately, not everything was fine with the T-80, for example, together with the T-80BV, the T-80B without "reactive armor" were delivered from the Leningrad District to the conflict zone.
At the same time, it was not without the traditional sloppiness, in the tank battalion of one of the motorized rifle regiments there were characteristic "boxes" on the equipment, but, as it turned out, empty. The fighters did not have time to equip them before storming Grozny. Therefore, is it worth being surprised by sufficiently high losses?
But there were also command mistakes, insufficient training of personnel, there was no proper interaction. Nevertheless, despite everything, the army then fulfilled its task - Grozny was cleared of militants.
