78-80 should be easier than 82, no TI, Abrams, Bradley etc. And only german Leo2 (was it 1979, or maybe even later) will have main gun powerful enough to kill your T-72s with ease. Watch out for TOW missiles though.
Chieftains have a 120mm too that can do a lot of damage. And the UK 105mm gun (also on Leo 1's) has a HEAT round that is just powerful enough to go through the front of T72's (depending on angle of impact of course). They'll fail to penetrate a good deal of the time too but you won't be invulnerable either so that may be a good option.