Abrams, Janes IDR and The NII Stali Website
Abrams, Janes IDR and The NII Stali Website
Abrams, Janes IDR and The NII Stali Website
Notes:
1. I have usually listed the best frontal armour equivalent, even the mighty M1A2SEP or T-90A will not have the same
protection at all points on its frontal arc. Some points will be weaker, especially say the upper front turret or the gun
mount. In many cases the measured LOS armour thickness will differ from the protection estimated above, often that is
because of the incorporation of exotic compounds that offer better protection than an equivalent weight of RHA against
some threats. For example, the LOS thickness of the glacis armour on the basic T-72 is about 550mm, but RHAe protection
vs KE round is far less.
2. Protection levels for US MBT's are larger than usually quoted because the US standard is for a 30 degrees oblique shot.
To return to US Army style measurements divide all figures on chart by 1.15. NII Stali estimate M1A1HA turret at
700mm versus KE, 850mm versus CE for a 30 degrees oblique shot. GSPO/BTVT estimates M1A1 at 480-500 versus KE
and 790-840 versus CE, M1A1HA at 530-550 versus KE and 750-780 versus CE, M1A2 at 770 versus KE and 1000-1200
versus CE. In 1979, Soviet analysts estimated the XM-1 glacis protection as 490-575 versus KE and 550-600 versus CE,
with the turret 400-450 versus KE and 550-600 versus CE.
3. The quoted figures are with Kontakt-5 ERA i.e late 1980s T80U or T80UD version. Without K-5 protection of front
turret is 275-750mm vs KE and 960mm vs CE. BTVT estimates T80U w/K-5 max glacis 800mm vs KE/1100mm vs CE;
turret 860mm vs KE/1200mm vs CE.
4. These figures include Kontakt-5 second-generation ERA. Russian estimates suggest T-72B Model 1988 with K-5 ERA
turret protection is about 750mm vs KE. BTVT estimates T90 at 800-830 versus KE and 1150-1350 versus CE.
5. Turret side is 138mm; turret rear 58mm. M60A1 turret reportedly suffered from substandard cast armour reducing
protection offered. This was rectified in M60A3.
9. "Monkey model" sold to WarPac/Third World clients with stereoscopic coincidence rangefinder and lower grade steel
armour. Used by Iraq in 1991 Gulf War firing poor quality steel 125mm rounds. In 1984, the CIA assessed the base T72
protection as glacis 350mm vs KE and 450mm vs CE, turret 450mm vs KE and 450mm vs CE.
10. "Monkey model" sold to WarPac/Third World clients with laser rangefinder and lower grade steel armour. Used by
Iraq in 1991 Gulf War firing poor quality steel 125mm rounds. In 1984, the CIA assessed the T72M protection as glacis
350mm vs KE and 450mm vs CE, turret 450mm vs KE and 450mm vs CE.
11. "Monkey model" sold to WarPac/Third World clients with laser rangefinder and glacis applique plate (after tests
showed M-111 could penetrate old glacis) plus "sandbar" armour in turret front. In 1984, the CIA assessed the
T72M1/T72A protection as glacis 400-450mm vs KE and 450-500mm vs CE, turret 500mm vs KE and 650mm vs CE.
13. Turret side is 140mm vs KE & 220mm vs CE. Uparmoured Ariete is 570-600mm turret vs KE and 1140-1360mm
turret vs CE.
16. Some Russian estimates give the Leopard 2 frontal protection of 700mm vs KE and 850mm vs CE. See
http://armor.kiev.ua Others estimate Leopard 2 as 380-400 versus KE and 650-700 versus CE. BTVT estimates Leopard
2A4 (1988) at 580 versus KE and 1100 versus CE and Leopard 2A5 (1994) at 830 versus KE and 1300 versus CE. In 1979,
Soviet analysts estimated the basic Leopard 2 protection as glacis and turret front of 400-450 versus KE and 550-600
versus CE.
17. According to a declassified CIA report from 1984, the US then assessed that the T-64A and T-64B had the same
protection level of 370-440mm vs KE and 500-575mm vs CE. NII Stali and Chobitok report the T-64A glacis as 299mm
KE/410mm HEAT and the turret as 364mm KE/450mm HEAT RHA equivalent protection (presumably for the 1973
model). BTVT estimates T-64A max as glacis 335mm vs KE/450mm vs CE, turret 410mm vs KE/450mm vs CE. GSPO
estimates T-64B as 380-450mm versus KE and 500-560mm versus CE. BTVT estimates T-64B as 350-500mm versus KE
and 450-600mm versus CE. From 1981 on, the T-64A and T64B produced were essentially unified in terms of armour
protection.
18. Glacis figures after appliqué plate applied from July 1983. Original glacis of 335mm RHAe could be penetrated by
Israeli M-111 105mm APFSDS. BTVT estimates T-72A as glacis 400mm vs KE/490mm vs CE; turret 380mm vs
KE/490mm vs CE.
19. Russian estimate gives Leclerc turret 620-640 versus KE; 1100-1200 versus CE. French estimate gives it 650-700
versus KE and 1100-1200 versus CE. These estimates are probably for the thickest part of the turret armour, which appears
to be at the corners, just like with Soviet T-XX tanks.
20. Russian estimate gives Merkava Mk3 turret 580 versus KE; 1200 versus CE.
21. Russian estimate gives Challenger 2 turret 800 versus KE; 1300 versus CE.
22. Chinese sources indicate that ZTZ-98 has a 220mm thick glacis of steel - glass fibre - HSS - steel sloped at an angle of
68 degrees (i.e. nearly 590mm LOS thickness). They claim this gives protection of 500-600mm RHAe. The lower front
hull is 80mm steel. The turret front is composite armour with a claimed resistance 700mm RHAe against KE and 800mm
RHAe against HEAT.
23. BTVT estimates T-72B max as glacis 485mm vs KE/900mm vs CE; turret 540mm vs KE/900mm vs CE.
24. BTVT estimates T-80 max as glacis 350mm vs KE/500mm vs CE; turret 500mm vs KE/600mm vs CE. BTVT
estimates T-80B max as glacis 450mm vs KE/560mm vs CE; turret 500mm vs KE/600mm vs CE.
(please be aware there is a good margin of error around any of these figures)
Israeli M711 (Romanian CL3254) 125mm tungsten 560mm at 2km (1995) (20:1 L/D) (also imported by India in 1999)
Russian 125mm BM-42 "Mango" tungsten alloy 520mm at 2km (1986) (16:1 L/D)
Russian 125mm BM-26 "Hope" (1983) tungsten alloy 450mm at 2km (extended BM-22 13:1 L/D)
Russian 125mm BM-22 "HairPin" (1976) tungsten 430mm at 2km (most common round in late 1970s/early 1980s)
Russian 125mm BM-17 (1972) steel 310mm at 2km (simplified export BM-15)
Russian 125mm BM-15/Yugo M88 tungsten carbide slug (1972) 340mm at 2km (version of BM-12 with extended
projectile)
Indian T-2 125mm tungsten 500mm at 2km (1997) (appears similar to ChiCom 125mm round)
Soviet 122mm BR-472 APCBC fired from JS-III 191mm at 1km (165mm at 2km)
Soviet 122mm BR-472 APCBC fired from T-10M 247mm at 1km (210mm at 2km)
Soviet 122mm BM11 APDS fired from T-10M 354mm at 1km, 308mm at 2km (1967)
UK L-15A4 120mm APDS-T 450mm at 2km (1970s, and exported to Iran before Revolution)
Soviet 115mm BM-6 steel APFSDS 280mm at 1km, 246mm at 2km (1962)
Soviet 115mm BM-3 tungsten carbide APFSDS 270mm at 2km (for original T-64)
UK 105mm L-28 tungsten cap APDS 120mm at 60 degrees at 900m, 250mm at 1km (mid-1950s)
UK 105mm L-52A3 tungsten core APDS 320mm at muzzle, 280mm at 1km, 254mm at 1500m, 240mm at 2km (1973)
US M-392A2 105mm APDS 260mm at 1km, 250mm at 1.5km, 225mm at 2km (early 1970s) (Rushed into service after
M392 problems in 1973 Arab-Israeli war)
US M-728 (UK L-52) 105mm APDS 320mm at muzzle, 280mm at 1km, 240mm at 2km (mid 1970s)
German DM-23/Israeli M111 'Hetz 6'/South Afr FS Mk1 105mm tungsten 310mm at 2km or 150mm at 60 degrees (1978)
German DM-33/Israeli M413 'Hetz 7'/Sth Afr FS Mk2 105mm tungsten 380mm at 2km (1984)
German DM-63/Israeli M426 'Hetz 10'/Sth Afr FS Mk2 Imp. 105mm tungsten 450mm at 2km (early 1990s)
Soviet BM-25 100mm APFSDS 296mm at 2km (late 1970s) [320mm at 1km]
US 90mm M82 APC (M36/M41 gun) 122mm at 1000 yards (913m), 106mm at 2000 yards
US 90mm M304 HVAP 199mm at 1000 yards (913m), 156mm at 2000 yards
US 90mm M318 APBC-T 117mm at 1000 yards (913m), 109mm at 2000 yards
US 90mm M3A1 (M46 Patton) APBC 119mm at 1000 yards (913m) at 30 degrees from vertical
US 90mm M3A1 (M46 Patton) HVAP 157mm at 914m at 30 degrees from vertical
French OFL-90 F1 90mm APFSDS 230mm at 1km (200mm at 2km) (early 1980s)
UK 20pdr (83.4mm) APDS 280mm at 1000 yards (913m) [260mm at 1500 yards]
Soviet 85mm BR372 APCBC 185mm at 1km (D48 anti-tank gun and ASU85 only)
US T91 76mm (M41) HVAP 208mm at 914m at 30 degrees from the vertical
US 75mm M6 (M24 Chaffee) APCBC 77mm at 914m at 30 degrees from vertical (WWII)