A DETAILED LOOK INSIDE A T-72

Me and the team took a special delivery of a fairly rare vehicle this week of a T-72M Main battle tank.

This is a slightly more in depth video looking around this vehicle; as this is the first time that we have seen something like this and thought it would be fun to share it all with you.

We will do more videos at a later date as we do the repairs on the vehicle and take it for a full test drive but as most of you know we have to focus on the FV4005 project with the Tank Museum which will be our main focus over the next few weeks. Please see the the links below for that project and more information as well as links to some other channels that I watch.

@tinkeringwithtanks
@ausarmour
@thetankmuseum
@WargamingEurope

See the World of Tanks live stream where I talk about the FV4005 here:

[PeteMcGo]

WARNING!

If the air pressure is above 16 MPa in the air system, close valves at bottles and open valve for air release. - This is needed probably due to maximum pressure at the starting air bottles. So it should be 16 Mpa, there have been couple of accidents when drivers somehow managed to kick off the intake pipes and it ripped their legs a bit.

If you are refilling the cooling system with antifreeze liquid set the VODA = switch to ANTIFRIZ (yeah its antifreeze) and if you wanna fill the system with water switch it to VODA (water).

Start driving at lower transmission ratio. Driving at all of the transmission ratios is allowed if the temperature of engine cooling liquid and engine oil is above 55°C.

Do not exceed engine oile temperature above 120°C, cooling water temperature above 115°C and antifreeze coolant above 105°C.

Stop the engine only if the engine coolant liquid temperature is lower than 90°C.

In the winter season, when environment temperatures are below 0°C, if the the tank was stationary for a longer while (means if the whole vehicle got cooled down to environment temperature), double pump refill according to KP (??) needs to be done according to instructions for use while running the vehicle on gasoline. Before starting the engine start the pump BCN (label ?) and hold the button for air release valve (TLACIDLO VYPUSTANIA VZDUCHU should be the label). Shut down the BCN pump immediately after stopping the vehicle.

If the selector of transmission gears is not blocking shifts to 6th gear at 1900RPM or to 5th at 2000RPM and the indicator is off (there should be an indicator light for it labeled "VOLIC PREVODOVYCH STUPNOV" or "BLOKOVANIE RADICA/PREVODOVKY" or something like that) drive only up to 4th gear.

Tried my best, if you need more help with translating labels etc either shoot me a message or it is Slovak language. I have worked around these tanks in musuem a bit only refilling fluids and rotten hoses but might be able to help a bit. Good luck :)

Edit:

My reply to this comment seems to got deleted because of links so...

So the model you have seems to got produced by ZTS Martin in Slovakia, they made around 235 of these vehicles and I if I recall correctly they were mostly for export (dont take this as a fact plz). But that might explain the missing smoke cover launchers etc... for further customization possibly with era plates etc.

You were very correct about anybody letting near the tank, its honestly more dangerous for it's operators than it might be on todays battlefield. Also turret armour behind gunner and commander is about 2/3 inch-ish (might vary), 50. cal goes through and I woud even count on some 7, 62x54R or .308 pen rounds making a mess inside the turret possibly.

The spring loaded hatches on engine were usually open when driving around, not sure if it was so due to engine cooling issues but every time I was around this tank actually driving, they had them opened just so that the springs held them open.

Fluid leaks are common the oil below engine might not even be a issue, it's just like it is. Before starting the tank even after couple of days, always check the fluid levels and run the engine oil pump even couple of times before starting, as it mentioned in that manual plaque :)

The driver hatch is the reason why you often see soviet tanks parked with barrels facing off center and raised up while being parked :)

Also this concrete piece you have is most likely "ulozenka" which was manufactured, then stored for trade or replacement, because of the oiled paper covers on tankers helmets and barrel filled with cosmoline (conserving vaseline). This might explain also some issues with vehicle if somebody who was using it for the first time didnt completely remove all this stuff before starting it up for the first time.

I am really exicted and looking forward for series with this tank :) Good luck again guys :)

[kaieeoo]

Im czech. My Grandpa used to be a commander in t-72m. I asked him about it. But he is very old now and does not remeber a lot about the tank anymore+ he is partially deaf because of his Compulsory military service. But he was so excited to see that some people are interested in this tank

[comanderx]

That is a Czech T-72M or as its known in NATO a T-72G. It features a 125mm 2A46 Smoothbore cannon with a 23 round auto-loader (with a reload speed of around 6 seconds per shot (Depending on the where the shell is located in the autoloader. Also features a PKT coaxial machine gun (~2000 round carried in one link) and sometime features a 12.7mm DSHk or 14.5mm NSV for the commanders hatch (intended for anti-helicopter use). Houses a crew of 3 (Driver, Comander, Gunner). These were originally produced in Slovakia (all of which have now been modernised into the T-72M4CZ variant)

[stevef]

The Hardbass quietly playing in the background was a nice touch.

[janctrnacty]

Translation of panel:

Warning!
1. If is pressure of air system grater than 16MPa close air tanks valves and open air consumption ventile.
2. When filling coolant into system, set switch “VODA-ANTIFRIZ” to “ANTIFRIZ” position, if filling with water to “VODA” position
3. Start driving vehicle on lower gears if coolant and oil temperature is min +30C, driving on all gears is allowed only when temperature of coolant and oil temperature is min +55C.
4. Do not allow oil temperature to rise above +120C, water above +115C, and antifreeze above +105C.
5. Stop the engine only when coolant temperature is no higher than 90C.
6. In winter (in temperature lower than 0C) before longer stop is necessary to do double fill of oil from “KP” according the instructions on (unreadable)
7. If using gas as fuel, two minutes before starting engine start “BCN” pump and press and hold “VENTILY” (valves) push button.
8. When driving on 6 and 7th gear on 1800 rpm of engine, and on 5th gear on 2000 rpm, and the gear selector is not yet blocked (warning light is not lit) - drive only till 4th gear.

[MegaJani]

"H" is neutral because it's the Russian "N" letter.
"3X" is "задний ход" abbreviated, which is, you guessed it, "reverse gear".

[Pietaster]

The pipe you found on the back of the turret- you screw the pieces together to make a suction pipe to reach the bottom of a fuel barrel, they fit the electric fuel pump you found. The first pipe you picked up has a non return flap in it to prevent back flow.

[Voxo-foxo]

29:08 it does have a stabilizer but due to the low depression of the gun at higher speeds if you are traversing rough terrain the gun might get thrown off by a small bump

[iller]

I can’t believe how incredibly cramped and tight it is inside… I can’t imagine having to live and fight inside that vehicle.. much respect to everyone who has experience operating this vehicle.. either in combat or not.

[konstantin]

All soviet tanks had two-axis stabilizers starting from T-55. As well as commanders ability to turn the gut towards the target.
Also you showed a footage of T-64 - T-80 autoloader which is different from T-72 - T-90.

[legodude]

That giant metal plate you pick up at around 28:00 is part of the shoulder shield, it's supposed to be connected I think so you cannot accidently loose your shoulder to the Autoloader

[Just_a_Plane_motorcycle_rider]

Watch Australian Armour (workshop Wednesday) for the restoration stuff but watch you guys because I love the fact that I have absolutely “ no f@#$&g clue what you nutters are gonna do next” genuinely love watching a bunch of mates enjoy themselves, don’t change anything, there’s a reason your channel is growing 🇦🇺🙂👍

[markmarot]

Hi guys! Love your videos. Its hard to judge the t-72. There is so much false information out about it. Just to correct you, it does have a 2 plain stabiliser system. It allso has a laser range finder. You need to judge this vehicle, knowing that this acual modell was intended and designed for conscripted mass armies. They needed it simple, because they needed a lot. Dont forget, there was tens of thousends produced. I have to agree, it is very small inside. But again, you need to know, there was a limit in the army of how tall you can be to become a tanker. I think here in Hungary it was maybe 170 or 175cm. Something like that. So it is small, it isnt very comfortable, but it was never made to be. It was made to be fast, small, simple to operate and cheap to produce. And it packs a big punch too. Now there are many myths about this tank. Like the autoloader ripping arms off. Now I have watched, read everything I can about this tank and I have never heard of this happening. Of course it can, but you have to be very stupid. You literally have a "wall" up to your shoulder, why would you want to reach over it? Of course I understand you, but basicly you people are spoiled. You could create a tank which does everything and is pretty comfortable. In the soviet union, there was no nead for that, it would have taken too much effort and money. So this is what we got, here in the ex socialist block too. And if conscripts could operate it without killing them selves, I think its not that bad.
Oh, and about the autoloader! Yes, they are extremely reliable. I never understood the part when people went on about sitting on top of ammo. Allmoast all tanks today, and fpdefinetely all tanks of those times had ammo all over the tank. Whats the differencenof sitting on or beside it? I think its harder to hit it when its on the floor basicly, than if it was on the turret wall or hull side.
I am a big fan of the t72, but I do really like the Chieftain too. Keep up the good work!

[guiderguy]

7:50 - The T-72 actually has a different turning mechanism - instead of the side clutches like on a T-34, this one has two gearboxes - when you pull the steering lever (lets say the left one) into 1st position it actually shifts the left gearbox into a lower gear and thus - the tank turns. Because of this - every gear has a fixed turning radius. the more you know ;) . Keep it up man - you have a great channel

[LandersWorkshop]

It's no exaggeration when I've read of how crew comfort goes completely out of the window in T-72 tanks.
Damn that is a tight squeeze.
Fascinating stuff at the same time though.

[jonh]

Huge amount of respect for the mechanics that have to work on these!

[jfro]

Superb episode Joe. Watching you struggle to even move around inside that was so insightful. I guess I’m about 8 to 9 stone heavier than you and I don’t think I could even get in it. When you see a tank like that you are in awe of it BUT once inside you realise (in a combat situation) how vulnerable and blind you really are. Well done, loved it 👍

[charliedesperado]

Your commitment to the Gopnik hardbass music makes this vid an 11 out of 10!

[farmersboy]

Bugger health and safety...no BV!
ps - you were fine on the livestream, and you approach and sense of humour is spot on.

[alexhayden]

One aspect that was universally well received by Chieftain crews was its inclusion of a Boiling Vessel. This device boiled water for the purpose of brewing tea, though it was also often used for heating field rations.
I never had any trouble Parking the Mk3!