TheType 72Ztank (also known as theT-72Zand theSafir-74,[4]and theAl-Zubair Iin Sudan)[3]is a highly modernized version of theType 59andT-54/T-55tanks,[4]with upgrades carried out by the IranianDefense Industries Organization.[2]
| Type 72Z | |
|---|---|
 Safir-74 with a DShK mounted on top during a military parade. | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | Iran |
| Service history | |
| Used by | SeeOperators |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Defense Industries Organization,Military Industry Corporation |
| Produced | 1996–present |
| No.built | about 400[1] |
| Variants | SeeVariants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 36 tonnes[2] |
| Length | 6.45m |
| Width | 3.37m |
| Height | 2.40m |
| Crew | 3-4 |
| Armor | 203 mm front of the turret 150 mm sides of the turret 64 mm rear of the turret 39 mm top of the turret 97 mm upper front of the hull 99 mm lower front of the hull 79 mm upper sides of the hull 20 mm lower sides of the hull 46 mm rear of the hull 20 mm floor of the hull[citation needed] fitted withERA[3] |
Main armament | 105mmM68rifled tank gun[3] |
Secondary armament | 7.62mmcoaxialPKTand roof-mounted 12.7mmDShKMmachine guns[3] |
| Engine | V-46-6 V-12 diesel[2] 780 hp[3](630 kW) |
| Power/weight | 21.66hp/tonne |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
Operational range | 440 km |
| Maximum speed | 65 km/h |
The tank is not to be confused with an Iraqi modernization also known asT-72Z,said to carry a 125 mm gun.[5]
History
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The Type 72Z was first announced by theIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corpsin 1996.[4]The upgrades to the Type 59 and T-54/T-55 tanks were carried out by the Vehicle Industries Group of the Defence Industries Organization, in order to extend the service life of tanks already in use with theIranian army.[2]
Upgrades
editThe 100mm gun of the T-55/Type 59 was replaced with an Iranian-produced derivative of the105mm M68gun, capable of firing9M117 Bastionanti-tank guided missilesas well as NATO standard ammunition.[2][3][6]The Slovenian Fotona Electronic Fire Control System (EFCS-3-55) was added, with automatic and manualgun stabilizers,alaser rangefinder,second-generation night sights,a ballistic computer, and an independent viewer and target designation system for the commander.[2][3][4]Electricsmoke grenade dischargerswere also added to provide concealment on top of the existing ability to create asmoke screenby injecting diesel fuel into the left exhaust outlet.[2][3][7]
Explosive reactive armor(ERA) developed by the Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex can be fitted to the Type 72Z, providing protection against projectiles and napalm-type weapons. Side track skirts similar to those on the Type 59 were added to T-54/T-55 tanks upgraded with ERA.[2]
The engine was replaced with a Ukrainian 780 hp V46-6 diesel engine,[3][4]together with the SPAT-1200 transmission system.[2]Air conditioning, power steering and a fire suppression system are also believed to have been installed.[7]
Variants
edit- Safir-74- IranianT-54/T-55tanks which have gone through similar upgrades.[4]Safir means "messenger" inPersian.[8]
- Al-Zubair I- Sudanese variant of the Type 72Z manufactured by theMilitary Industry Corporation,[9]with the engine upgraded with asupercharger.[10]
Operators
edit
Non-state operators
edit
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcGalen Wright (15 March 2011)Iranian Military Capability 2011 - Ground Forces
- ^abcdefghiPike, John."T-72Z Safir-74".Globalsecurity.org.Retrieved26 June2017.
- ^abcdefghiPike, John; Sherman, Robert (18 June 1999)."Type 59".fas.org.Federation of American Scientists Military Analysis Network.Retrieved25 June2017.
- ^abcdefg"Safir-74 / Type 72Z T-72Z main battle tank".armyrecognition.Army Recognition. 19 November 2011.Retrieved4 July2017.
- ^"JED The Military Equipment Directory".Archived fromthe originalon 10 October 2008.Retrieved30 September2008.
- ^"Type 59 Main Battle Tank".Inetres.Retrieved26 June2017.
- ^ab"DIO T-72Z (T-55) Main Battle Tank (MBT)".Militaryfactory.Retrieved26 June2017.
- ^Cordesman, Anthony H.Iran's Military Forces in Transition: Conventional Threats and Weapons of Mass Destruction.p. 133.
- ^"Safir-74 - Tank Encyclopedia".Tanks-encyclopedia.Retrieved26 June2017.
- ^"Al-Zubair-I Main Battle Tank DAA02".Military Industry Corporation. Archived fromthe originalon 17 July 2017.Retrieved8 November2017.
- ^"Iran Memproduksi Senjata dan Peralatan Militer Canggih untuk Pasar Dalam dan Luar Negeri".Artileri.org.Retrieved26 June2017.
- ^"Iran's Expanding Sphere of Influence: Iranian T-72 Tanks in Iraq".13 March 2015.
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