The T-64 was said to have been plagued by mechanical problems, leading to a short production life. By Staff Writer
The T-64 main battle tank looks very similar to the T-72 that followed it. The design was intended to provide Soviet forces with a new type of tank to field in number though reliability issues with mechanical components limited the use of the vehicle, though production numbered in the thousands. Some have speculated that the limited production numbers and non-existent export release stem from the T-64 being fielded with advanced components including explosive reactive armor, to which the Soviet Union did not want to share the technology even with her allies.
The T-64 differed from the post-World War Two tanks before it in that it was the first to make use of smaller road wheels in the design. Initial models (when it was known as the M-1970 to the West) were mounted with the smooth-bore 115mm main gun, though this would eventually be upgunned to the 125mm. The 125mm gun would be fully-stabilized and also be of the smooth-bore variety. Standard equipment included night vision and NBC protection systems.
Crew accommodations in the T-64 consist of three personnel amounting to a driver, commander and gunner. The driver was seated at front center of the hull with the commander in the right side of the turret and the gunner to the left. A self-loader for the 125mm main gun negates the need for a manual loader as commonly found in most Western tanks.
Armament of the T-64 includes the powerful 125mm main gun of which 36 projectiles are carried. Projectiles can range from three types in the form of HE-FRAG, HEAT-FRAG and APFSDS. A 7.62mm machine gun is mounted coaxially on the turret. Additionally, a 12.7mm machine gun is mounted on the turret, though at the gunner's cupola (this weapon system is usually set on the commander's cupola) and reserved for the anti-aircraft defense role. Smoke grenades are mounted on either side of the turret in banks of varying number.
As with most full production main battle tanks, the chassis is almost always designed with adaptability in mind. As such, the chassis of the T-64 has evolved into a plethora of other platforms including a slew of commander vehicles, trainers and armored recovery vehicles. The T-64 would go on to be replaced by the more successful T-72 in all these roles including that of the Red Army's frontline main battle tank.
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Armored Vehicle Quick Profile
Image Courtesy of the United States Department of Defense.
1970
Designation:T-64 Classification Type:Main Battle Tank Contractor:State Arsenals - Soviet Union Country of Origin: Soviet Union Number Built: Not Available
M-1970 - Western Designation for Prototype Model Series of the T-64.
T-64 - Production Series Model Designation; 115mm main gun sans thermal sleeve.
T-64A - Initial Production Model of quantity; fitted with side armor skirts and smoke grenade dischargers on turret front-sides.
T-64AK - Battlefield Command Vehicle
T-64B - Provision for firing the AT-8 Songster anti-tank wire-guided missile system.
T-64BK - Battlefield Command Vehicle
T-64BM - Powerplant refitted to a 6TD series generating 1,000 horsepower.
T-64BV - Base T-64 model fitted with explosive reactive armor.
T-64B1 - Command Version Model
T-64B1K - Command Version Model
T-64BV1K - Commander's Vehicle; fitted with explosive reactive armor and specialized communications equipment.
T-64K - Commander's Vehicle; fitted with telescopic mast and other specialized equipment.
T-64R - Based on the T-64 yet fitted with the gun system of the T-72/T-80 series of main battle tanks; allows for firing of anti-tank missiles.
T-64 Mine Clearer - Mine Clearing Variant fitted with specialized equipment.
BREM-64 - Armored Recovery Vehicle utilizing the T-64 chassis.
T-64 Instructor - Training Vehicle sans turret and with other training modifications.
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