Soviet autoloaders

[gr_mentat]

I am studying the differences between the T-90 and the t-80 and I need your insight on the advantages/ disadvantages of the two style autoloaders.

 

I am especially interested in the aspect of vulnerability they contribute to the tank and the adoption of longer penetrators/ shell length.

 

Thanks for any info

[dejawolf]

T64/80 basket autoloader advantages

basket has a shorter reload time than the casette loader, as the reload is done in a single movement.

basket allows for a slightly lower turret silhouette, since the gunner/commander sits above only the penetrator,

and not the propellant charge as well.

basket autoloader can store more ready rounds in the carousel, 28 vs 22.

 

disadvantages:

the vertical placement of the propellant charges blocks access to the hull from the turret, making it hard

to quickly reload the autoloader from the hull.

[pikachu]

T64/80 basket autoloader advantages

basket has a shorter reload time than the casette loader, as the reload is done in a single movement.

basket allows for a slightly lower turret silhouette, since the gunner/commander sits above only the penetrator,

and not the propellant charge as well.

basket autoloader can store more ready rounds in the carousel, 28 vs 22.

 

disadvantages:

the vertical placement of the propellant charges blocks access to the hull from the turret, making it hard

to quickly reload the autoloader from the hull.

 

IIRC reloading is the driver's job and he can do this fairly easily given the placement of rounds in the reserve round magazine to his right. The basket autoloader also has an additional feature that can be both an advantage and a disadvantage: The turret ring, or rather the turret basket, needs to be wider than on a tank with an underfloor carousel. The turret basket has to be wide enough to accommodate the breech block, two crewmembers, and the diameter of two charge casings. This is partly why the basket carousel can fit 28 rounds.

 

BTW, does anyone have pics or descriptions of the new autoloader fitted on the T-90AM/MS? I heard it's a totally new design. Still the same two-stroke mechanism or completely different now? There were claims of faster loading times.

[Rickard N]

Whooo, could someone point me to a site/drawing of the differences? I thought that all soviet tank autoloaders had the same principle

 

/R

[pikachu]

Whooo, could someone point me to a site/drawing of the differences? I thought that all soviet tank autoloaders had the same principle

 

/R

 

Here is a video showing how T-72's underfloor autoloader works:

 

T-72 autoloader

 

Here is a diagram showing the autoloader mechanism and listing its components:

 

 

Here is a video showing how T-80's works:

 

T-80 autoloader

 

And the accompanying diagram

 

 

The pics and videos come from various internet sources over the years and I no longer remember where I got them from. Sorry about that.