A question about T-72's used in South Ossetia/Georgia during the 2008 war: Who used what?

Russian's used T-72B, T-72B(M), and T-90.

Georgia T-72B (no IR Searchlight), T-72AV (No IR Searchlight), and T-72 SIM-I Upgraded T-72AV).

Tanknet thread to help find pics and descriptions

T-72 conflict photos

Hope that helps start this discussion off...

Jacques,

Thanks for starting the discussion. I have a T-72 that will be started very soon. Did you check your PM's/email? I sent you a question?

Maybe this will help:

scroll down to the table

Yup, started this on your behalf, but there are others who want the same info.

As for Wikipedia...well, it is a place to start, but I trust Tanknet a lot more. A lot of the info put up on Wiki is pulled from Tanknet as well. And Wiki's descriptors tend to be too general to work from...191 T-72's, 30 of which are SIM-1...but what were the other 161? Etc....

Also, under APC's, Wiki's list does not mention the BMP-1U's that Georgia had (via the Ukraine) and that Russian destroyed or captured several, if not all.

Not to rip on WIki, it is just a base place to start. Yeah, Tanknet, for example, has 20+ pages of info and squabble, but it is a education too...just very disorganized, as soldiers can be!

Hello Gents,

just my 2 cents, as I was looking through a lot of pictures at the time to figure out who was using what (Thankfully, I saved them all on my HD, ha!). My understanding is, that the Russians definitely used T-72B, T-72B(M) and T-62 (with and w/o slat or brow-armour). I still have to be convinced that there where any T-90s present. (I think there are some now, but at the time, only T-72B(M)s). As for T-72A´s in Russian service - I did see none. They captured a few Georgian ones, but I am not sure if they brought some with them in the first place. As for the separatists on the Russian side, they also used some T-55s, again with and without brow-armour.

As for the Georgians, I saw T-72A and B with ERA. My understanding is, that those georgian T-72As w/o the LUNA-searchlight were the upgraded (SIM) ones, as those had different night-vision optics installed. They definitely had T-72B with the LUNA installed in service.

I have pics for those assumptions, but unfortunately have not listed the sources for those, so posting them might offend the originators of those. But they might be on militaryphotos or tanknet anyway.

Cheers,

Stefan.

Further pics can be found here:
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?145019-Russia-vs-Georgia-war-intensive-exclusive-pix(daily-updated)

A lot to sift through, but some very good pics of Russian/Georgian armor.

Dont think the used the T-90 either? Just T-62's and 72's

My understanding is that T-90A were involved in the first few days of fighting, then pulled back as things went favorable for the Russian Army. I cannot confirm that T-90A were used int eh conflict though, and there is conflicting information because the Russians HAVE moved T-90A into areas of South Ossetia that they are protecting.

T-62 and T-55 tanks were moved in after the first few days of fighting, when the Georgians were in full retreat. Pictures of the T-62's are still up on the Tanknet site. Apparently this is whent he T-90A's were withdrawn, if they were indeed there.

Here is a list of lost and captured equipment in Russian

So far as I have been able to ID, the Georgian's did not put their LUNA-IR equiped T-72's into battle.

And all Georgian T-72's without LUNA are not all SIM-1 upgraded. Easiest way to ID Georgian tanks is that they put thier unit identifiers on their front mudflaps.

So let me ask everyone this....

If one were to model a Russian T-72 from the conflict, say a T-72B or T-72BM, what should I use other than the Tamiya kit as a base kit?

I'm going to assume a load of Miniarm stuff. Next question is where can I find that in the US besides Historica Books.

For the best T-72B Sean use the following

Miniarm 6 spoke wheels (not a must as some B's used earlier 8 spokes-just check your references)
Miniarm T-72B Front glacis
Miniarm T-72B turret
Masterclub tracks (others will do, but mastercub tracks look the best IMO)
Eduards etch set would be useful but isnt a must (details can be scratch made)
Modelpoint TUCHA smoke launchers (Lionroar also make some but the rubber caps dont look right)

Other options to add might be modelpoints T-72 aerial mount, and horn. Im not sure either how many K-1 era bricks the miniarm conversion comes with, but modelpoint do a set should you wish to add more (again depends on the specific tank you model)

Thanks Rob!

Look in your inbox, I sent you a PM and I need alot of help to say the least

Good news. Miniarm stuff on the way. Got everything but the wheels for 85

Here's one i've got in the works (one of a seemingly endless stream of models in progress!)









Miniarm wheels, turret and hull, TAHK figures, friuls, scratch built bar armor.

SD

Very nice work Sam!

This, my ASLAV-25, and Leopard 2A6M will be my summer projects.

Are those TAHK figures worth it?