T-72M1
Finland has 160 T-72M1 and T-72M1K´s (command version). Enough to equip two armoured
brigades and a independent tank battalion. The tanks to the first armoured brigade
was bought directly from Soviet Union in the 80´s. The tanks to the second armoured
brigade was bought from Germany in the early 90´s, ex-DDR equipment. The tanks
have been modernized in Finland, adding better electronic equipment and so on.
The traning off conscripts to be crews will end in 2005, but training of reservists
will continue as long as the finnish army uses these tanks. That will probably
be atleast another 10 years or so. Wisely used in the difficult Finnish terrain
with, hills, slopes, forests and lakes, these tanks can still be truly lethal. Recent
conflicts however, in Chechnya and Iraq amongst others, have showed that the armour is too
weak and the fire-control system is too ineffective.
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Crew: 3
Main arnament: 125 mm gun
- PKT 7,62 mm machine gun
- NSVT 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun
Length: (including barrel) 9.24 m
Width: 4.75 m
Height: 2.37 m
Weight: 41t
Engine: V-12 diesel, 780hp
Maximum speed: 80 km/h
Cruising range: 480 km
