The Type 72Z tank (also known as the T-72Z and the Safir-74,[4] and the Al-Zubair I in Sudan)[3] is a highly modernized version of the Type 59 and T-54/T-55 tanks,[4] with upgrades carried out by the Iranian Defense Industries Organization.[2]
| Type 72Z | |
|---|---|
 Safir-74 with a DShK mounted on top during a military parade. | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | Iran |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Defense Industries Organization, Military Industry Corporation |
| Produced | 1996–present |
| No. built | about 400[1] |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 36 tonnes[2] |
| Length | 6.45m |
| Width | 3.37m |
| Height | 2.40m |
| Crew | 3-4 |
| Armor | 203 mm front of the turret 150 mm sides of the turret 64 mm rear of the turret 39 mm top of the turret 97 mm upper front of the hull 99 mm lower front of the hull 79 mm upper sides of the hull 20 mm lower sides of the hull 46 mm rear of the hull 20 mm floor of the hull[citation needed] fitted with ERA[3] |
Main armament | 105mm M68 rifled tank gun[3] |
Secondary armament | 7.62mm coaxial PKT and roof-mounted 12.7mm DShKM machine guns[3] |
| Engine | V-46-6 V-12 diesel[2] 780 hp[3] (630 kW) |
| Power/weight | 21.66hp/tonne |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
Operational range | 440 km |
| Maximum speed | 65 km/h |
The tank is not to be confused with an Iraqi modernization also known as T-72Z, said to carry a 125 mm gun.[5]
History
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2017) |
The Type 72Z was first announced by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 1996.[4] The upgrades to the Type 59 and T-54/T-55 tanks were carried out by the Vehicle Industries Group of the Defence Industries Organization, in order to extend the service life of tanks already in use with the Iranian army.[2]
Upgrades
editThe 100mm gun of the T-55/Type 59 was replaced with an Iranian-produced derivative of the 105mm M68 gun, capable of firing 9M117 Bastion anti-tank guided missiles as well as NATO standard ammunition.[2][3][6] The Slovenian Fotona Electronic Fire Control System (EFCS-3-55) was added, with automatic and manual gun stabilizers, a laser rangefinder, second-generation night sights, a ballistic computer, and an independent viewer and target designation system for the commander.[2][3][4] Electric smoke grenade dischargers were also added to provide concealment on top of the existing ability to create a smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the left exhaust outlet.[2][3][7]
Explosive reactive armor (ERA) developed by the Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex can be fitted to the Type 72Z, providing protection against projectiles and napalm-type weapons. Side track skirts similar to those on the Type 59 were added to T-54/T-55 tanks upgraded with ERA. [2]
The engine was replaced with a Ukrainian 780 hp V46-6 diesel engine,[3][4] together with the SPAT-1200 transmission system.[2] Air conditioning, power steering and a fire suppression system are also believed to have been installed.[7]
Variants
edit- Safir-74 - Iranian T-54/T-55 tanks which have gone through similar upgrades.[4] Safir means "messenger" in Persian.[8]
- Al-Zubair I - Sudanese variant of the Type 72Z manufactured by the Military Industry Corporation,[9] with the engine upgraded with a supercharger.[10]
Operators
edit
Non-state operators
edit
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Galen Wright (15 March 2011) Iranian Military Capability 2011 - Ground Forces
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Pike, John. "T-72Z Safir-74". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Pike, John; Sherman, Robert (18 June 1999). "Type 59". fas.org. Federation of American Scientists Military Analysis Network. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Safir-74 / Type 72Z T-72Z main battle tank". armyrecognition.com. Army Recognition. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ "JED The Military Equipment Directory". Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
- ^ "Type 59 Main Battle Tank". Inetres.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ a b "DIO T-72Z (T-55) Main Battle Tank (MBT)". Militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ Cordesman, Anthony H. Iran's Military Forces in Transition: Conventional Threats and Weapons of Mass Destruction. p. 133.
- ^ "Safir-74 - Tank Encyclopedia". Tanks-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ "Al-Zubair-I Main Battle Tank DAA02". Military Industry Corporation. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ "Iran Memproduksi Senjata dan Peralatan Militer Canggih untuk Pasar Dalam dan Luar Negeri". Artileri.org. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ "Iran's Expanding Sphere of Influence: Iranian T-72 Tanks in Iraq". 13 March 2015.
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