Kuwait City Liberator | M-84AB

As the economic situation in SFR Yugoslavia turned from bad to worse, its military industry had to step in to help bail water out of that rapidly sinking ship. Thankfully, they had a good product for sale, for which there was ample demand in the non-aligned world - the M-84 main battle tank.

Negotiations commenced with multiple countries, but Kuwait was the only one to make a timely purchase. However, the contract could only be partially fulfilled due to the collapse of Yugoslavia, which halted tank production for foreign customers. The M-84AB tanks that were delivered arrived at a crucial moment for Kuwait, as it was under Iraqi occupation. Consequently, they were initially shipped to Saudi Arabia and, in collaboration with Coalition forces, participated in Operation Desert Storm.

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Sources:
Razvoj Našeg Naoružanja – VTI kao sudbina - Prof. dr Milorad Dragojević
Tenkovi I Tenkovske Jedinice – Grupa Sovjetskih Autora
Mr. Vladimir Ivanović

An article by Atanasije Simic
Narrated by Alben Bloomfield
Edited by @BattlehammerWoT
Sound edited by Alben Bloomfield
Music by @WhiteBatAudio

[milostomic]

This was a pretty good tank in the 1980s and 1990s.
It's still useful today but only if upgraded.
Five countries today use M84.
Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kuwait, with Serbia beeing the largest user (232 tanks).

[nikolanis]

M84, along with M87 Orkan (one could say many times more advanced and difficult -technologically to create) system, was the peak of Yugoslav engineering. Our engineers were always world class, unfortunately, our technologists could never develop what engineers needed, not because of the lack of knowledge and brains, but rather resources. That is what differentiates poor and rich countries, ability to spend billions on technological advancements.
There was also a potential 203mm howitzer/cannon being considered, but was not realized due to army choosing M87 Orkan, as only one project could be funded.

[ivanstepanovic]

The reason for great performance in desert was that once Kuwait appeared as a potential buyer, the tanks were tested in Deliblatska Peščara (also known as "European Sahara") where the conditions are pretty similar to desert. Except the heat, of course. That resulted in great engine air intake system and filters and other sand "resistance".

[dannyzero]

7:47 "Inside the tank, everything was translated into Arabic, although this didn't prove to be very helpful as many Kuwaiti crews were illiterate." Modern problems required ancient solution of "just go to school".

[tarekmalaeb]

I had the chance to meet an officer of the Kuwaiti army, he highly praised the M84, even mentioned that the Iraqi army had shipped all of their tanks to Iraq during the occupation, as they considered it far better than most of their tanks even the T72 Lion of Babylon

[aleksazunjic]

Realistically, M-84 was better than other T-72 export models in late 1980s and early 1990s. But it had worse protection and ammo than Soviet T-72B which started appearing in 1985. For Kuwait specifically, it was better suited than M1 Abrams mostly because it was simpler and more reliable. Of course, Kuwait was never able to defend itself independently from much larger neighbors, so much of their armed forces is only for show.

[randomexcessmemories]

The M-84 and its variants are some of the most overlooked yet best tanks to follow the T-72 lineage, and this was a really fascinating video! I had no idea the M-84AB was such a good tank.

[shaider]

I was surprised that the tank outpaces the Abrams but remembered that it has a higher power to weight ratio than a normal T72.

[sharkan]

The M-84 is a Soviet licensed T-72A (Object 174) with various modifications and improvements. The most important modification is the SUV-84 fire control system developed in Yugoslavia. A more powerful engine of 1000 hp, and the commander has a DNKS-2 periscope with a night channel amplifier. The gunner has a DNNS-2 targeting periscope with night channel and laser range finder. In addition, with a weather sensor mounted on the front of the turret and a ballistic computer, the M-84 can engage targets at distances of up to 4, 000 meters day and night. The communication system, ballistic computer, vehicle optics, fire suppression system and target detection systems with which the tank was upgraded mostly came from the West, not least because Yugoslavia wanted to be independent from the Soviet Union.

[ljubastojanovic]

There was the story for M84 about US heliochopters pilots flying low above Kuwait desert to see "what is moving so fast on the send"

[Mubarak_z]

I am simply kuwaiti


I see my country name


I click it faster than saddam hussan busses

[MarioBekes]

I disagree with intro "economic situation in SFR Yugoslavia turned from bad to worse" so that is why Yugoslavia was selling tanks etc, just to make clear Yugoslavia was one of biggest exporters of weapons systems from 1964 ( Middle East, Easter Europe, Asia ) when special department was established, not only weapons, for example Yugoslavia was building in Iraq for 20 years underground facilities - all blue prints were given to James Baker during visit to Yugoslavia as for T 84 entire factory and facilities were given to US military 1996 so all production halted, it is was agile tank for 80's and 90's ..

[AleksandarM]

The good old times, where the Yugoslav peoples army ( JNA) was respected and among the strongest armies in the Europe.

[Playvoodoo]

M-84 tanks were used in Liberation of Kuwait but did not take directly battle with Iraqi tanks because of similarities, recognition stripes were painted almost all M84s.

[andrejapaunic]

JNA/YPA stands for Yugoslav Peoples Army

[justsomedude]

My favorite older/ out of print black library book is Execution Hour. Good navy/ ship story you don’t get as much of now in newer writings.

[MrUNCLESAM]

Recently Russia was trying to sell Kuwait their T-90MS but the Kuwaitis opted for the upgraded "unique" Kuwaiti variant of the M1 Abrams called M1A2-K which they modified it to suit their needs.

[caveman]

Delivery was also through the Dammam port (I know for a fact) and that was the first time Yugoslavian team had entered into KSA being that Yugoslavia and KSA weren't officially working with each other.
Also, Kuwaitis weren't the only one driving those tanks because not enough of them were trained...

[laithalmarkabi]

2:14 that is not a Libyan T_72
That is a Syrian T_72M1 with an Italian Galileo TURMS_T fire control system partially installed (only the gunner sight no commander panoramic CITV) that belonged to th 4th Armoured division and captured as we see in the footage by islamiest militants in during the fighting in eastren ghouta are in Damascus in the early days of the war
I believe this footage was circa 2013

[CrimsonScar-]

Could you guys please cover the T-64 in a future video? I can’t find it on your channel.