Image Source: Photo: VHU PRA
The NATO partners of the Kiev regime are currently literally "sweeping across the ground", trying to compensate for losses on the battlefield, in particular in tanks.
It is known that Poland handed over to the nationalist armed formations almost all of its serviceable T-72M, T-72M1, T-72M1R, as well as their upgraded version of the RT-91. In total, more than four hundred vehicles were sent, some of which have already been lost in battles.
A small amount has been transferred to Slovakia, deliveries are expected from Slovenia (former Yugoslav M-84), Romania (released in the late 70s of the "seventy-second" of the very first, long-obsolete modifications), as well as a battalion of T-72A from Northern Macedonia, sold to it, by the way, by Ukraine itself in the early 2000s. There will be about a hundred more in total.
Moreover, apparently, some of them require restorative repairs. This, for example, concerns the Czech T-72M1. Before the start of the SVO, there were about 90 of them. A small number of those on the move left the APU back in April.
Also, the small armed forces of this country have T-72M4CZ tanks, which some experts call the best modernization of the T-72 in the countries of the former Warsaw Pact, now joined the NATO bloc.
Leaving the hull, turret and armament unchanged (125 mm cannon, 7.62 and 12.7 mm machine guns), local designers thoroughly modified the rest, however, using mainly imported components and assemblies for this. For example, the Italian fire control system with thermal imaging channels of the gunner's sight and the commander's panoramic sight. It was stated that this equipment increased the accuracy of shooting in motion and at night. New means of communication have appeared.
Instead of the old 780-horsepower B-46, a British Perkins engine with a capacity of 1000 hp and an automatic transmission of the American company Allison were installed. Dynamic protection DYNA-72 - own design. Since the mass of the tank has increased to 48,000 kg, the maximum speed has not increased too much - up to 61 km/h. The power reserve is 430 km .
In total, there are thirty such tanks in service. While Prague refuses to transfer them to Ukraine, but with good pressure from "senior partners" who can promise to replace them with Western cars, the decision may well change to the opposite.
Lev Romanov
