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In 1980, the US Army feared Russian tanks were invincible

 
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In 1980, the US Army feared Russian tanks were invincible - 2/8/2022 4:24:31 PM   
mmacguinness

 

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Very interesting article re US Army fears of Soviet tank superiority in 1980.
https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/in-1980-the-us-army-feared-russian-tanks-were-invincible/

This is the study referred to in the article:
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0001066239.pdf
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RE: In 1980, the US Army feared Russian tanks were invi... - 2/9/2022 11:34:28 AM   
mmacguinness

 

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Selected quotations and related charts from the 1980 intelligence assessment:

Chart: Tank Quality: The AMSAA View

In brief, the United States is now behind, tank for tank, and even when our developmental XM-833 depleted-uranium round for the 105-mm cannon becomes available, the XM-1 is likely to be no more than an even match for the T-80.

Charts: Probability of Kill given Hit:

As may be seen, while all weapons have provided high assurance of kill against the T-62, the M735 - planned to be the most numerous round aboard US tanks - is impotent against the T-72. Our two most powerful ATGM are marginal in a frontal attack against the lower bound-best case T-72, and virtually useless against the upper bound-worst case T-72.

Chart: US ATGM vs. Soviet Tank

Our ATGM clearly can defeat the T-62, but the T-72 - and the like armored T-64 - could be largely invulnerable to them. In facvt, chances are better than 50-50 that either TOW or DRAGON would explode without effect against the nmose of the T-72, even if that tank's armor is onlt of "lower bound, best case"toughness.





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(in reply to mmacguinness)
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RE: In 1980, the US Army feared Russian tanks were invi... - 7/12/2023 2:09:25 PM   
Jeebo

 

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Joined: 7/7/2023
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quote:

ORIGINAL: mmacguinness

Selected quotations and related charts from the 1980 intelligence assessment:

Chart: Tank Quality: The AMSAA View

In brief, the United States is now behind, tank for tank, and even when our developmental XM-833 depleted-uranium round for the 105-mm cannon becomes available, the XM-1 is likely to be no more than an even match for the T-80.

Charts: Probability of Kill given Hit:

As may be seen, while all weapons have provided high assurance of kill against the T-62, the M735 - planned to be the most numerous round aboard US tanks - is impotent against the T-72. Our two most powerful ATGM are marginal in a frontal attack against the lower bound-best case T-72, and virtually useless against the upper bound-worst case T-72.

Chart: US ATGM vs. Soviet Tank

Our ATGM clearly can defeat the T-62, but the T-72 - and the like armored T-64 - could be largely invulnerable to them. In facvt, chances are better than 50-50 that either TOW or DRAGON would explode without effect against the nmose of the T-72, even if that tank's armor is onlt of "lower bound, best case"toughness.


To be expected, USSR was investing mad amounts of money into their military complex, basically always expecting a war to start. Still pretty interesting that M735 wasn't enough for the T-72 armor. Showed this article to a few folks that I've been getting used guns(https://gritrsports.com/shooting/firearms/used-guns/ if it's beater stuff I'm usually getting from this store though) from and they really liked it!

< Message edited by Jeebo -- 7/26/2023 2:51:55 PM >

(in reply to mmacguinness)
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RE: In 1980, the US Army feared Russian tanks were invi... - 7/17/2023 3:45:59 PM   
Jeebo

 

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Joined: 7/7/2023
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Small upd. - There are another interesting article about this on forecast international on this topic, can't link it due to forum restrictions sadly...

(in reply to Jeebo)
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