YUG - M-84

M-84


The design base for the modernization of the T-72 tank in the former Yugoslavia was the T-72M tank. It is mainly a product of Slovenian origin. This new version was named M-84. The basic modifications of the M-84 tank include, in particular, the new M-84 SUV fire control system, which allegedly provides effective firing of sub-caliber ammunition up to a distance of about 2000 m. The main armament consists of a tank cannon 2A46 caliber 125 mm, which is stabilized in two planes and has a smooth bore with thermal protection. Additional armament of the tank is a coupled machine gun PKT (M86) caliber 7.62 mm and anti-aircraft machine gun NSV-T (M87) caliber 12.7 mm installed on the turret of the commander. On the right side of the tower are located 6 and on the left 7 smoke grenade launchers 902B TUČA. For operation in the contaminated area, the tank is equipped with a filtration and ventilation device and uses an automatic fire-fighting device. The new integrated fire control system SUV M-84 includes a ballistic computer, a combined electro-optical sight of the shooter and commander and a laser rangefinder with a range of 100 to 10,000 meters. The drive unit consists of a liquid-cooled diesel engine V46-6 with an output of 573 kW and a mechanical transmission. The engine is equipped with a smoke device. The crawler movement device is the same as in the T-72M version. The armor is based on a homogeneous steel armor, which is supplemented at the exposed areas of the front of the hull and tower with composite armor, similar to the T-72M version. The maximum thickness of the tower armor is up to 540 mm.


Because, except for the change of the propulsion unit, fire control system and other minor modifications, it is a T-72M tank, at the end of the 80's was another modernization of the M-84 tank to a tank called M-84A, M-84AB, M-84ABK and M-84ABN. The main modification of these versions is a new power unit with an output of 735 kW and the introduction of new types of ammunition. All versions are equipped with anti-interference connectors and a new navigation system.



Users: Yugoslavia (Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Kuwait



Technical and tactical data (M-84)
Combat weight: 41,500 kg


Crew: 3


Dimensions:
- length (total): 9 530 mm
- body length: 6 960 mm
- width: 3 460 mm
- height: 2 190 mm


Wading:
- without preparation: 1.2 m
- with preparation: 5 m


Crossing: 2.8 m


Climb: 1.25 m


Power unit:
- type: V-46-6 (V-46TK for M-84A and M-84AB), diesel twelve-cylinder
- maximum power: 574 kW (735kW for M84A and M-84AB)


Maximal speed:
- on the road: 70 km/h
- in the field: 50 km/h


Driving range: 460 - 700 km


Equipment:
- 125 mm cannon 2A46 with a supply of 42 pieces of ammunition
- 12.7 mm PL machine gun NSV-T (M87) with a supply of 360 rounds
- 7.62 mm articulated machine gun PKT with a supply of 2,000 rounds

According to the production plan, the test series was to be completed by the end of 1983, the zero series by the end of 1984 and the first series in 1985. The first prototype was completed in April 1983, the entire test series reportedly consisted of 5 tanks, with the zero series of 10 units following during 1984. According to Yugoslav sources, the production capacity at the end of the 1980s allowed the production of 150 tanks per year. As many as 240 larger enterprises and around 1,000 smaller production facilities were involved in production within the former SFRY.


M-84 - basic version
M-84A - improved version, produced from 1989, improved engine and armour, smoke grenade launchers
M-84AB - export version
M-84ABK - command version
M-84A4 "Sniper" - Croatian modification
In the mid-1990s, an engineer version of the M-84AI and an ABI version for Kuwait were still being developed.
Degman - Croatian version based on the M-84A4


In total, more than 650 tanks of all versions were produced. The largest number, 370, was of the M-84 version. The JNA included 350 units in the armament of its armoured brigades.


Foreign countries, namely Pakistan, Libya, Egypt, Iran, Sweden and Kuwait, also showed interest in the M-84 tank. It was Kuwait that ordered 215 M-84AB tanks for its armed forces (15 were to be delivered in the M.84ABK version) after testing the tank in desert conditions. By the break-up of the SFRY, around 150 units had been delivered.


At the beginning of the fighting this type was in the armament of the following units:
1st Armoured Brigade - Vrhnika(Slovenia)
4th Armoured Brigade - Jastrembarsko (Croatia)
211th Armoured Brigade - Niš
252nd Armoured Brigade - Kraljevo , armed with I series machines
329th Armoured Brigade - Banja Luka (Bosnia), armed with T-72M and M-84 machines
51st Mechanised Brigade - Pančevo
243rd Armoured Brigade - Skoplje (Macedonia)


After the dissolution of the SFRY, M-84s were used combatantly by all parties involved and were subsequently included in the armament of the successor states that emerged on that territory. Slovenia had 54 M-84ABs in its arsenal, while 15 M-84ABs served in the Croatian army during 1991, among others, and were later delivered to Kuwait. The Armed Forces of the Republic of Srpska used this type with the 101st Armoured Brigade (former 329th Armoured Brigade). The Federal Army (Vojska Jugoslavije) had around 230 M-84s and M-84As in its armament, concentrated in the 211th and 252nd Armoured Brigades.


In terms of combat performance, the type was evaluated quite favorably, with the lack of protection for the carried ammunition being considered the biggest shortcoming. After running into a mine or puncturing the armour, the subsequent explosion of the ammunition very often resulted in the turret being blown off and the death of the entire crew. As a result of the low level of training of the crews, accidents occurred, the most frequent being damage to the barrel during firing as a result of poorly carried out maintenance. In short, enlisted men who were not exactly enthusiastic about the war carelessly cleaned the lauf... In one particular case, a grenade reportedly exploded, with the barrel ending up 30m from the vehicle and the shell coming to rest against the rear wall of the turret. Miraculously the crew escaped with only minor injuries, the turret was a write-off.

M-84AB Kuwaiti Army

Still a Kuwaiti machine.

Kuwaiti M-84AB fought during the operácie Desert Storm (Púštna búrka) in 1991. To začiatku irackej invázie bolo to Kuwait 6 machines, ktoré boli sústredené vo výcvikovom here at the in Džahre. Tieto machines ukoristili iracké units. During several on Púštnu búrku bolo delivered 71 machines, neskôr, v apríli 1991 ešte 33 and the supply continued to behold in the priebehu r 1992. My sa was attended by 71 machines, two boli poškodené (one PT mínou, one missile), but managed to sa ich opraviť. Reported to have occurred testovacej jazde, where bol M-84AB matched with the M1A1 Abrams, pričom mali tanks what najrýchlejšie prejsť in púšti vzdialenosť 70 miles (102km). M-84AB zvíťazil, an american tank into cieľa arrived, allegedly the pre malfunction of the fuel system.
To poslednému martial nasadeniu M-84 occurred in 1998/99 to Kosove. The last boli tanks M-84 documented during the nasadenia against the gangs NLA pri town of Oraovica on juhu Serbia..

Jugoslávské stroje

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