Hi all,
I've got some questions about the preparation the T72 need prior to fording.
Is the schnorchel fixed with a kind of ropes or cables to the turret or is it just kept in place by the hole on the loader's hatch ?
When the schnorchel is in place on the hatch, is there any tube remaining on the turret side or back ?
Is there any kind of cover for the gun muzzle ?
AFAIK, the engine deck louvres are closed from inside thanks to a specific system but does this give them a different look outside ?
Any help would be greatly appreciated to enable me completing the entry I intend to present for the Seeing Red campaign.
TIA

Hi Bison,

Difficult questions . I have some information about the T-72 but I'm too lazy to read all the texts. If you're interested I will send it to you.

Cheers

I m gonig to try to answer your questions by juding images that i have and my own experience from the lepard main battle tank.

The schnorchel is only attached on the loaders hatch with NO cables. The crew usually fixes the tow cable from the front to teh top of the schnorchel to recover the vehicle when it floods.

There are no pieces left on the turret from the schnorchel when is is in use and placed on the loaders hatch.

The gun muzzle is covered with a rubber cover. But in times of war for example the gun is also sealed when there is a life round in the gun loaded. So the would not have to use the rubber cover.

When the crew seals the engine deck there are no visible marks outside. Al happens from the inside.
The engine sucks air from the turret crew compartment to keep running. And if there is some water entering somewhere the vehicle normaly has bilge pumps to get is out.

I hope i helped you with this and if you need images just mail me

Greetz Roel

Thanks a lot Roel,
it seems that my guesses were right according to your post. I would be interested in a picture of the exhaust cover if you had one.

I appreciate your help.

olivier

Howdy Bison, I do not believe that there is an exhaust cover. Of course I have never forded in a T-72 either. I have also never come across a picture of one fitted with an exhaust stack or block off plate at the rivers edge. The exhaust has to exit the vehicle somewhere. Usually upon entering the water you put the beast in low range and lock the throttle down until you reach dry ground. If you can, get a hold of Concord Publications book number 1004, T-72 Main Battle Tank by none other than Steve Zaloga. It has photos of T-72s prior to fording with the intake stack on the gunners hatch erected and the engine compartment/ hull top hatch closed. You may want to post a message to Steve on the Allied WWIII Discussion Forum and see if he will respond to a request for information. He most likely has the answer to your question. I am curious also as now I too do not know for sure where the exhaust on the T-72 tank exits while fording.

Olivier,

This sunday I'll have a look around in our T72 and ask one of our Russian specialist (one of them used to be a mechanic for the Polish army). Maybe I can take some pictures. But as Roel mentioned, I'm guessing it's pretty much the same as Leopard.

Kris

Crossbow, that would be great if you could answer this mystery. My curiosity meter is pegged. So Belgium has a T-72. Is it in a museum or a private collection? Who was the perevious operator?Out here.

It's from the Belgian Tankmuseum. A while back I put a walkaround in the Gallery.

http://photos.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php?cat=13759

It was a gift (more a swap operation) from the Russians, but I'm not sure it's actually Russian.

It will be back up in running condition soon (we hope). Perhaps just in time when we have a bunch of Big-A guys (and some other modellers) over for a visit.

Kris

Hello

@ oliver You can't see anything of the system that seals the engine I think you misunderstood..... I can send you some pics of a that tow cable fixed to the top of the schnorchel and the muzzle cover. If you give me your email because I don't know how to post them in my gallery.

@kris is die t-72 niet meer operationeel?? 2 jaar geleden heeft ie nog meegereden tijdens de sint joris feesten van de cavalerie???

Hello all,
nice to see that this topic is not so weird as I expected :-)

As far as the exhaust is concerned, if you look closer to the exhaust it is in two parts. An extension bent downward is kind of bolted to the exhaust properly. Some pics show it well. You can see two "lockers" retaining the extension. My guess is that when wading the extension is removed and the exhaust covered with a "valve" like cover. I never saw a picture of a T72 with 2 schnorchels unlike the M1A1 for example. I don't think the outlet pressure should be sufficient to prevent water entering the engine without a valve.

Crossbow, I would certainly appreciate any further help from you and your friend;

Roel, here is my e-mail.
If you click on the My profile button you'll have the members addresses. [email protected]

olivier

[ For the others the translation, Roel asks if it isn't operational anymore, because 2 years ago it was running]

Hi Roel,

As is often the case with Russian equipment (sorry guys, but it's the hard truth) one minute it's fine, the next it doesn't start .

Currently we are giving it a complete check-up and we are cleaning it up a bit, so we can show it on our demonstrations again. You see, it fit's nicely in our modern row, next to the Leopard 1, the Chieftain and the AMX.

Kris

BTW Roel, I don't know if you know, but there's also a Belgian/Benelux section, where you can post dutch/flemish posts (or french for that matter)

Well hopefully CrossBow can shed some light on this subject. And now I have another museum to visit on my Euro tour.

Seems I remember seeing pictures of Russian tanks fording. You had this tube sticking out of the water about 3-5 feet in the air with a guy riding in it. Rest of the tank being submergered. Sure would have hated to be those guys if the other bank had not been totally secured yet. I remember thinking what a marvelous arty target, the concussion would probably have knocked several tubes off drowning the tanks.

Howdy Blaster. I believe you are talking about West German dudes in Leo I/IIs. They are in all the standard issue US Militatry Armored Fighting Vehicle Identification (AFVID)slides and videos. Sure would be interesting to ford against a defended crossing as you suggest. Out here.

Correction, "Military". Abuse me later. Out here.

So Mike, when can we expect you in our parts of the world?

Kris

Crossbow, I am shooting for 2006.