Can anyone please advise me what colour green used at the First Chechnya War on the T80 tank. I know it was overall green but the equivalent FS colour would help. Await your early reply.

Regards

Juljon.

Hi Juljon,
Here is a link to several images of the T-80 in Chechnya. Unfortunately, they won't help you on the color question, but they may be of some interest anyway.

http://t80leningrad.narod.ru/tank_t80_2.htm

The site is in Russian. In the first photographic section (T-80, T-80B, T-80BK), the last image is a T-80B in Chechnya. In the second photo section (T-80BV, T-80BVK) the last group of five images is from Chechnya. They are not very good quality and don't help with colors. I thought I had some better stuff, but haven't been able to locate any so far. I'll keep looking.
Maybe someone can enlighten both of us on this topic.
good luck,
James

P.S. T-80B and T-80BV were used in the first war. The t-80BV did not have ERA mounted when they were deployed. I don't know when ERA was finally applied. They suffered enormous losses in Grozny, definitely unsuited for urban combat.

hello Julian,
no pictures of the real thing but heres a nice model of it http://dishmodels.ru/gshow.htm?p=7075

It's not entirely true, the T-80BV tanks were with extra dynamic armor , but many were not completed.

Tanks T-80B and T-80BV Russian Army used during military operations in Chechnya in 1995-1996. First, it should be noted that "T-80, as, indeed, and almost all other armored vehicles, used inadequate situation.

Thus, most of the tanks have been equipped with explosive reactive armor. As stated by military experts, this was due mainly to lack of time for training operations and a lack of funds! On many blocks CDHS tanks were installed in non-operational state, that is not been charged with explosives. And this at a time when Chechens were mostly used, cumulative anti-tank munitions (rocket propelled grenades and antitank guided missile). In this case, the shooting was carried out almost at point blank range and with the most advantageous angle. The most vulnerable of the tanks were side feed, the roof of MTO and the turret. In addition, multiple lesions were recorded sides fighting vehicles in the conduct of fire from the bottom up. All this suggests that the fire was conducted simultaneously from basement rooms at ground level and first floors of buildings, as well as from the upper floors. Density of fire of antitank weapons in the conduct of street fighting in Grozny is 6-7 units per tank, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. In almost all buildings destroyed tank or infantry fighting vehicles were numerous holes (average 3-6), each of which would be enough to display the machine failure.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your replies, but the Osprey book by Steven Zaloga says tht the T80BV was deployed initially with dark overall green in 1995.

A colour plate is shewn in the book with a T80BV tank of the 81st Guards Motor Regiment. shows overall green but what colour green is used? Is it FS34127?

Wait for your early reply.

Regards

Juljon

Thank you Olegas,
Forgive my oversimplified statement. I am aware of the tactical problem faced by all armor in the urban environment, especially against forces that understand the weaknesses of that armor and are equiped to exploit those weaknesses. I did not mean to imply any negative criticism to the T-80. I wanted more to express sympathy to the fate or the crews of these tanks sent into such a situation. I agree totally with your article, and thank you for the clarification of the equipage of the BV vehicles.

Sorry I can't help with the color question Juljon.
James

Using Tamiya NATO Green is a good start for modern Soviet armor. After weathering, etc...the paint is going to change from its orignal shade.

Best match I have seen out of a bottle is Dark Green by Model Master, for unweathered and unfaded base color. For FS #, I have never seen what I consider a correct one.

Hi Guys

Thank you all for your kind assistance.

Regards

Juljon

It is hard to say exactly what color is used for painting the tanks and other armored vehicles in the Russian army. Even armored vehicles in the same division could differ painting. The base color for the Russian armored Model Master 1711 Olive Drab and other shades, 1716 Pale green, 1710 Dark green, I use mostly 1711.