Inaccuracies Appeared in T-80UK Article

I must clarify a few items concerning Adam Geibel’s article, “The T-80UK Command Tank,” back cover of the July-August 1998 issue of ARMOR magazine. First, the tank photographed is not a T- 80UK. It is a T-80U or T-80UD (the only difference between the two is a 1,250 hp turbine engine in the T-80U vice a 1,100 hp diesel engine in the UD) equipped with the Drozd Active Protection System (APS). This is evident by the four rockets with visible warheads fitted to each side of the turret, and the standard eight smoke grenade dispensers. The TShU1-7 Shtora-1 Countermeasures system is standard equipment on the T-80UK. It comprises Electro-Optical jammers fitted to the turret on both sides of the main gun and a total of 12 aerosol grenade dischargers. Second, in paragraph four, the author correctly lists three antennas; one UHF, one HF and one 11 meter telescopic HF/UHF. However, in paragraph five he incorrectly identifies the R-163-50U (UHF) radio as R-163U with a VHF capability and fails to identify the R-163-UP (UHF) radio. The difference between UHF and VHF is significant. The UHF frequency range is between 300MHz - 3 GHz, while VHF ranges from 30MHz - 300MHz. The T- 80UK has two UHF radio sets, the R163- 50U and R163-UP (10 preset frequencies each), and one HF radio set, the R163- 50K (16 preset frequencies). Third, in paragraph seven, the author discusses an EhDKV round with an electronic remote control proximity fuse. After reading this article, I contacted the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) and asked if they knew of this round. They could not identify around by that name, but did identify around with similar capabilities called

Adam Geibel does not list any source for his article. However, much of the information in his article is also found in a Russian article by Colonel Sergey Roshchin titled, “The Commander’s Armorclad,” found in the Russian magazine ARMEYSKIY SBORNIK, dated Sep 95. My sources are Jane’s Armor and Artillery, 1997, the Export Catalog of Russian Armament and Military Equipment, a Russian sales catalog titled “Armored Combat Material,” and the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC).

USAARMC Threat Manager (MAJ Meyer is entirely correct in his observation that the photo I supplied for the T- 80UK is incorrect. I apologize to the staff and readers of ARMOR for any confusion I may have caused. — Adam Geibel)

The T-80UK, as seen in a Russian sales brochure.