The T-72 was a Soviet main battle tank (MBT) that entered production in 1969. Concerned with production difficulties and cost, Soviet officials directed two rival tank manufactures (Morozov KB and Uralvagon KB) to produce a reliable tank. Released in 1972, the T-72 had the physical appearance found on early Cold War Soviet tank models. The main feature was the “frying pan” style turret. An autoloading system eliminated the need for a fourth crew member, the assistant loader. This greatly reduced the size and weight of the T-72.
The design of the T-72 was based on practical deployment strategies learned by the Red Army during the Second World War. As a lightweight tank, the T-72 had a smaller silhouette and could easily maneuver over the roads and bridges of the Warsaw Pact countries. A snorkel system allowed the T-72 to submerge under water up to five meters. It was also equipped with a nuclear, biological, and chemical protection system, and an over-pressurized air filtration system to prevent contaminants from entering the tank.
