Soviet OBB T-62 designations

[Smersh]

"Smersh's T-62 crusade"

I've been doing alot of research into this, I've looked at a few of books from the 80s, from Jane's and other authors. The conclusion I've come to is that they knew nothing.

The true designations seem to be a mix of FAS and modern Janes. The bottom-line is that the current SPMBT designation system is out of date.

edit:I've made some changes to my own OBB: What is currently called T-62M (unit 18), I've changed to T-62 M1969, this is the so called T-62A with the 12.7mm AAmg. Unit 19, I've changed to T-62 M1975, this adds the laser range-finder. It seems T-62s produced after those years started adding those parts. In 1969 when the AAmg was added this was mistaken as a seperate variant (sometimes called a T-62A or even less common T-62M) since older model T-62s remained in service.

Unit 21, currently T-62M1 I've changed to T-62M and coorespondingly unit 22 currently T-62M1 BDD to T-62M BDD. The T-62M1 was the variant with no missles, since the MBT version has missiles it should not be called T-62M1.

I've made no other changes besided unit name, everything else remains identical. This may seem like a minor change, but, for me, it really cleared up alot of confusion, and makes unit names more accurate.


It would be very nice if someone would design a T-62M BDD icon, to represent the extra add on applique armor. currently it looks like the standard T-62 with a different camo. upgraded (AM1, AM2) T-55 models get a seperate looking icon.

[DRG]

Smersh said:<snip>

Unit 19, I've changed to T-62 M1975, this adds the laser range-finder. It seems T-62s produced after those years started adding those parts.

IDK if you've written down the wrong unit number here but the OOB's I have ( ......the OOB's that were issued with V3 ) already has unit 19 named "T-62 M1975" and it has laser range finders.

??

Don

[Smersh]

no, your right.

I have been playing around with my OBB the past week. I must have had a different unit name, then I changed it back to it orginal.

edit: I've been looking at Russian sources, they repeat exactly what Djiuce posted on the first page. It does say the AAMG began being installed on some tanks starting in 1969. Currently unit 18 "T-62M" with the aamg, is available starting in 1971. Thats probably when it was seen publically or NATO identified it.

[DRG]

OK, I'll fix up an Icon with BDD for the next release

Don

[Smersh]

Just to sum everything up, after more than a week of looking into T-62 designations, and many posts with different info, I'm going to leave out "K" command tanks and protoypes since they are not represented in the game:

T-62:(1961-1962*) baseline T-62. In 1969 some T-62s began produced with 12.7mm AAmg ,DSHKM. In 1975, which is the same year serial production ended, T-62s began being retrofitted with a laser range finder, KTD-1.

*depending on source, Russian sources say 1961.

currently in the OBB the T-62 (unit 17) is introduced in 1962, the model with the AAmg is called a T-62M (unit 18) and is available starting in 1971. The variant with the laser range finder is called T-62 M1975 (unit 19), no problems here.

T-62D:(1983) T-62 with "Drozd/Arena" system. Mostly used in Naval tank units.

Currently in the OBB the T-62D is only available in CS-MBT formations. But Naval MBT formations have the T-55D, missing the T-62D.

T-62M:(1983) major modernization upgrade, includes KTD-2(or 1)laser range finder, ATGM "Sheksna" missles, and new ballastic computer. Also includes Optional brow armor and side skirts. Variant with the V-46-5M engine is called T-62M-1*. Variant without ATGM launcher is called T-62M1. Variant with "Drozd/Arena" system is called T-62MD.Variant with ERA armour (instead of brow) is called T-62MV(1985).

*all T-62 with the V-46-5M engine add "-1" to designation examples: T-62M-1, T-62MV-1, T-62M1-1.

currently in the OBB, the unit with T-62M designation is unit 18 which is the model with the AAmg. The true T-62M is given the designation T-62M1/BDD (unit 21/22). This is incorrect since the unit does have an ATGM launcher. As far as I know, unit 23 is also called T-62M1V, but also has missiles.

T-64 M1984?(1984) according to one source, this is a T-62 fitted with brow armor, used during the afganistan war. This variant is in the game (unit 20), but is suprisingly it's given snow camo. maybe a note should be made on the unit, identifying it as a special variant used in Afganistan, and not part of the regular T-62 variants.

[Smersh]

T-55AD (unit 72 and 779) and T-62D (unit 76) models in the current OBB have only one "drozd" shot. They actually carry 8 shots, 4 on each side.

http://armoured.vif2.ru/T-55ad_e_1.jpg

[DRG]

Did you happen to note that in the game there are only two choices for number of "Arena" or "drozd" shots ? You get 1 or 2.

Does your source tell you how many of those "drozd" are fired at a time to counteract a threat ?

FWIW there are other 55AD's in the game with 2 and I'll increase the Russian ones to 2 as well as the T-62D

Don

[Smersh]

Sources seem to say, fires "a rocket". but it doesn't matter if it fires 2 or 4 rockets, since like you said there are only two options:1 or 2

[DRG]

We are off topic on a T-62 thread but for FWIW I'm glad you provided that photo and I dug into this a bit deeper as the T-55AD appears to be an "A" model with the added "D" ("drozd") There is no extra added side HEAT armour in any of the photos I've seen. It's a plain old "A" with the anti missile defenses added and the 55AD's we have in the game have all have HEAT side hull and turret armour which I guess I'll need to remove now ??? The t-62D has no extra HEAT armour and I don't see anything indicating the 55AD did either.

Don

[DRG]

I hate quoting Wikipeadia becasue anyone can edit it but...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-55

T-55AD/T-55AMD/T-55AD1/T-55AMD1 - "D" refers to tanks with Drozd ('thrush') APS. Soviet Naval Infantry saved money by installing Drozd on a small number of tanks instead of opting for appliqué armour, or acquiring newer T-72s. About 250 were kept in stores for secrecy, but later switched to simpler reactive armour.

Don