Duro M-84A

     Notes: Starting with a license-produced version of the T-72 as a base (a vehicle they called the M-84), the Yugoslavians improved upon the design and developed the M-84A. This version still serves with the Serbian Army. The M-84 has a better fire control system than the basic T-72 (comparable to the T-72B), but loses a degree of elevation for the main gun in the bargain (+13 degrees instead of the normal +14 degrees). The armor package is also a little better, and fuel capacity is slightly increased by use of a smaller engine. This smaller engine is also more powerful, developing 1000 horsepower, though with a semi-automatic transmission.  Like the T-72, the M-84A is often found fitted with reactive armor on the TF, TS, HF, and HS. In addition to the various former Yugoslavian republics, the M-84A is used by Kuwait, Libya, and Syria.

 

The M-84AB -- Export Versions

     The M-84AB was produced especially for Kuwait, and they ordered about 200 of them for Kuwait, The M-84AB is also available for export in general. Some 15 of them were on hand for Operation Desert Storm, having been delivered to the remnants of the Kuwaiti Army in Saudi Arabia. They took part in the ground offensive; some were among the number of first vehicles to enter Kuwait City. (A few were also captured by Iraq, and used by her troops, though they're believed to have been destroyed during Desert Storm.) They differ from the standard M-84A in that they have more sophisticated fire control computers, better gun stabilization, and different, longer-range, American-supplied radios.  The M-84ABK is a command tank version of the M-84AB; this version has the additional features of a 5kW APU, two extra long range radios (one data capable), and one extra short-range radio.  It is equipped with inertial navigation.

     The M-84AB1 is an improved version of the M-84AB, and it competed when the Kuwaitis were looking for an improved main battle tank -- it lost this competition to the Croatian M-95 Degman.  In capabilities, and armor suite, the M-84AB1 is similar in capabilities as the Russian T-90, including the use of Kontakt-5 ERA on the HS, TS, HF, and TF, as well as the front third of the turret roof.  (Most sources say, however, that the entire armor suite is not equal to the T-90.) They also have a Shtora passive countermeasures system, and a mine detector in their front hulls.  The M-84AB1 has modern composite armor, using a sandwich (the exact composition unknown) using titanium, steel, aluminum, and ceramic.  The M-84AB1 is NBC sealed with overpressure, and a vehicular NBC backup.

     Armament consists of a Serbian copy of the latest Russian 125mm gun, including the capability to launch AT-11 Sniper ATGMs.  The sights allow the AT-11 the ability to target low-flying helicopters, slow-flying aircraft, and all-weather, day/night firing. These new sights include FLIR, improved Image Intensification, and Passive IR for the driver, including a backup camera. The commander's machinegun may be aimed and fired from a buttoned up M-84AB1.  It is powered by a turbocharged diesel of Serbian make, developing 1200 horsepower, and yet smaller than the A's 1000 horsepower engine, and the transmission is automatic.

     Kuwait ordered 160 M-84AB tanks from Serbia, but the disintegration of Yugoslavia followed by NATO bombing led to a cancellation before half these tanks were delivered.

 

The M-84AS, the Newest M-84A

     For the most part, the M-84AS has the improvements of the M-84AB1, but with even more improvements, such as a thermal sleeve for its main gun.  The floor of the M-84AS has additional armor, due to a tendency for the M-84A to strike a mine and the ammunition in the floor  to go up catastrophically.  The side armor is also thicker. The M-85AS is powered by a V-46TK developing 1000 horsepower.  GPS is provided for navigation, along with an inertial navigation backup.  A small computer ties this together.  The maps are displayed on an LCD in the driver's compartment and at the commander's position display map information, and this can be updated manually and transmitted to higher HQ (sort of a "reduced" version of a BMS).

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

M-84A

$539,141

D, A

500 kg

42 tons

3

26

Passive IR (D), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

M-84AB

$544,241

D, A

500 kg

42.2 tons

3

26

Passive IR (D), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

M-84ABK

$554,084

D, A

500 kg

42.3 tons

3

28

Passive IR (D), Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

M-84AB1

$705,000

D, A

500 kg

42.8 tons

3

29

FLIR (G, C), Passive IR (D), Improved Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

M-84AS

$845,803

D, A

500 kg

43.5 tons

3

30

FLIR (G, C), Passive IR (D), Improved Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

M-84A

162/112

38/27

1050+400

366

Trtd

T6

TF126Sp TS21 TR20 HF158Cp HS15 HR12

M-84AB

161/111

38/27

1050+400

370

Trtd

T6

TF126Sp TS21 TR20 HF158Cp HS15 HR12

M-84ABK

160/110

38/27

1050+400

374

Trtd

T6

TF126Sp TS21 TR20 HF158Cp HS15 HR12

M-84AB1

186/130

45/30

1050+400

448

Trtd

T6

TF138Cp  TS24Sp  TR22  HF174Cp  HS17Sp  HR14

M-84AS

160/112

35/25

1050+400

374

Trtd

T6

TF152Cp  TS27Sp TR24  HF191Cp  HS20Sp  HR16*

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

M-84A

+2

Fair

125mm 2A46 Gun, PKT, DShK (C)

42x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

M-84AB/ABK/AB1

+3

Good

125mm 2A46 Gun, PKT, DShK (C)

42x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

M-84AS

+4

Good

125mm 2A46 Gun, PKT, DShK (C)

42x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 300x12.7mm

*Belly armor for the M-84AS is 12Sp.

Duro M-90 Vihor

     Notes: The M-90 is still very much a state secret in Serbia, but it seems to be a combination of the T-72 hull with an upgraded armor suite, and espionage work against Croatia that gave the M-90 its new, low-profile hull and its more reliable autoloading system. Supposedly, only two Vihors were built due to the civil war, but the assembly line could re-open upon orders, and the work has been incorporated into other Serbian tanks, most notably the M-84AB1. Many feel that the M-84AS is a better tank, but the M-90 has better fire control and stabilization (but not quantifiable in game terms). My calculations seem to point towards those who favor the M-84AS.

     The turret is reverse wedge-shaped, and takes up a remarkably small amount of the tank. It is fed by a carousel system in the floor of the turret basket.  The autoloader is of Serbian (or possibly Croatian) design and is said to have 340 less parts than an equivalent one on the T-72. The engine is the same as in the M-85AB1, developing 1200 horsepower in a relatively small package, enough to allow the installation of a 5kW APU. It has an automatic transmission.  ATGMs can be fired from the gun (AT-8 Songsters).  Armor includes composite armor faces and lugs for ERA, as well as hard spall liners.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

M-90

$803,609

D, A

500 kg

44 tons

3

30

FLIR (G, C), Passive IR (D), Improved Image Intensification (G, C), WL/IR Searchlight

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

M-90

182/128

54/38

1050+400

448

Trtd

T6

TF140Cp  TS31Sp  TR22  HF158Cp  HS26Sp  HR16*

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

M-90

+4

Good

125mm 2A46M1 Gun, PKT, DShK (C)

45x125mm, 2000x7.62mm, 600x12.7mm

*Belly Armor is 12Sp.