Tankers of the 1295th Central Armored Vehicle Storage Base in the city of Arsenyev, Primorsky Krai, celebrate the Day of Tankers on September 11, 2021
Exclusive translation based on the article of military analyst aka “Altyn73“.
The review was dedicated to the Day of Tankers in Russia. The article is based on the information taken from open sources.
As a preface.
The main structural unit of the tank troops is a tank battalion. The battalion consists of three tank companies. Each company consists of three platoons, and each platoon has three tanks . Accordingly, the company has ten tanks (including the tank of the company commander), and the battalion has thirty-one tanks (including the tank of the battalion commander). The regular number of platoons in a number of battalions has been increased to four tanks. Accordingly, such battalions have a company of thirteen tanks (including the tank of the company commander), and a battalion of forty tanks (including the tank of the battalion commander).
The tank fleet of combatant units of the Russian Army consists of various modifications of three main types – T-72, T-80 and T-90.
The most numerous is the T-72B tank. In 1985-1996, the T-72B tank was produced in three modifications: T-72B, T-72B1 and T-72B of the 1989 modification.
Since 1998, Uralvagonzavod has been working on a serious improvement of the combat capabilities of T-72B tanks. In 1998-2005, after modernization, tanks received the T-72BA index. In 2011-2015, the upgraded tanks received the T-72B3 index.
From 2016 to the present, the updated tank, although it continues to carry the same T-72B3 index, has been seriously different from the tanks of the previous modification. Unofficially, the tanks carry the T-72B3 index of the 2016 model or T-72B3M.
Tanks of the T-80 family are represented in the troops by the basic models of the T-80BV and T-80U (produced in 1983-1998). Since 2005, a number of vehicles have been modernized and received the T-80BVM and T-80UE-1 indexes.
The T-90A (2004-2010) and T-90M tanks (produced since 2019) make up the smallest group in the troops.
It is worth noting that the new T-90A/T-90M tanks were not delivered to the troops in 2011-2019. Only in 2020 the first batch of new T-90M was received in the Army.
Now let’s take a look at the list of army units that have tanks in service.
14TH ARMY CORPS OF THE NORTHERN FLEET
The 80th motorized Rifle Brigade has no tanks
A separate tank battalion of the 200th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 31 T-80BVM tanks.
The 61st Marine Brigade does not have tanks
WESTERN MILITARY COMMAND
6TH COMBINED ARMS ARMY
A separate tank battalion of the 138th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 40 T-72B3 tanks plus an extra company of T-80BV tanks
A separate tank battalion of the 76th Airborne Assault Division is 31 T-72B3 tanks.
The 25th Motorized Rifle Brigade does not have tanks
The 11th ARMY CORPS OF THE BALTIC FLEET
336th Marine Brigade does not have tanks
The 7th separate motorized rifle regiment does not have tanks
18th motorized Rifle Division
– 11th Tank Regiment – two tank battalions-62 T-72B3 tanks . Another tank battalion should be formed according to the state , but I do not have reliable information yet.
– tank battalion of the 79th Motorized Rifle regiment – 31 T-72B3M tanks
– tank battalions of the 275th and 280th motorized rifle regiments-I do not have reliable information yet.
1ST TANK ARMY
A separate tank battalion of the 27th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 40 T-90A and T-90M tanks (eight T-90MS were received in 2021). In addition to the staff, several T-14 tanks were attached to conduct military tests. By the end of the year, for the complete replacement of T-90A tanks, the brigade will receive the twenty-first serial T-14 tanks.
parade crew of the 27th Motorized Rifle Brigade during the parade in Moscow, 24.06.2020
T-90M tanks of the 27th Motorized Rifle Brigade, April 2021
6th Tank Brigade – three tank battalions-93 T-72B3M tanks. Overstaffed – one training tank company on T-72B3 tanks
2nd motorized Rifle Division
– 1st tank regiment-three tank battalions-93 T-72B3M tanks
– Tank battalion of the 1st Motorized Rifle Regiment – 27 T-90A tanks and 13 T-72B3 tanks
– Tank battalion of the 15th Motorized Rifle Regiment – 21 T-72B3 tanks and 10 T-72B tanks
4th Tank Division
– 12th Tank Regiment three tank battalions-93 T-80U and T-80UE-1 tanks.
– 13th tank Regiment three tank battalions-93 T-80U and T-80UE-1 tanks.
– Tank battalion of the 423rd Motorized Rifle Regiment – 21 T-80BVM tanks and 20 T-80BV tanks.
20TH COMBINED ARMS ARMY
144th motorized Rifle Division
– 59th Tank Regiment – one battalion – 31 T-72B tanks. Two more tank battalions should be formed according to the state , but I do not have reliable information yet.
– Tank battalion of the 488th Motorized Rifle Regiment – 31 T-72BA tanks
– Tank battalion of the 254th Motorized Rifle Regiment-I do not have reliable information yet.
3rd motorized Rifle Division
– 237th Tank Regiment – two tank battalions-62 T-72B tanks. Another tank battalion should be formed according to the state , but I do not have reliable information yet.
– Tank battalion of the 252nd Motorized Rifle Regiment – 31 T-72B3 tanks.
– Tank battalion of the 752nd Motorized Rifle Regiment – 31 T-72B tanks.
SOUTHERN MILITARY COMMAND
A separate tank battalion of the 102nd military base – 31 T-72B tanks.
A separate tank battalion of the 555th Air Group in the Syrian Arab Republic – 40 T-90A tanks. A certain number of T-90A tanks were transferred to parts of the Syrian army.
8TH COMBINED ARMS ARMY
A separate tank battalion of the 56th airborne Assault Brigade – 31 T-72B3 tanks. The brigade will be folded into the 56th Airborne Assault Regiment of the 7th Airborne Assault Division by December 1, 2021. The tank battalion was transferred to the newly formed 20th Motorized Rifle Division.
A separate tank battalion of the 20th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 40 T-90A tanks. In the summer of 2021, the brigade was deployed to the 20th Motorized Rifle Division. Two more tank battalions will be formed according to the state. The materiel for equipment has already been received – T-72B3 tanks with a new numbering, previously in service with the 56th Airborne Assault Brigade, participated in brigade exercises in June.
150th motorized rifle Division
68th Tank Regiment – three tank battalions-93 T-72B3M tanks
163rd Tank Regiment – three tank battalions – 93 T-72B tanks.
Tank battalion of the 103rd Motorized Rifle Regiment – 31 T-72B3M tanks.
Tank battalion of the 102nd Motorized Rifle Regiment – 31 T-72B3M tanks (received in 2021)
58th COMBINED ARMS ARMY
177th Marine Regiment has no tanks
A separate tank battalion of the 136th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 40 T-90A tanks.
A separate tank battalion of the 4th military base – 31 T-72B3 tanks.
42nd motorized Rifle Division
– Tank battalion of the 70th Motorized Rifle Regiment – 31 T-72B3 tanks.
– Tank battalion of the 71st Motorized Rifle Regiment-31 T-72B3 tanks.
– Separate tank battalion of the division – 31 T-72B3 tanks.
– The 291st Motorized Rifle Regiment has no tanks
19th motorized Rifle Division
– Tank battalion of the 429th Motorized Rifle Regiment – 40 T-90A tanks.
– The tank battalion of the 503rd Motorized Rifle Regiment is in the formation stage , I do not have reliable information yet.
– Another tank battalion will be formed according to the state.
49TH COMBINED ARMS ARMY
The 34th motorized Rifle Brigade has no tanks
A separate tank battalion of the 205th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 31 T-72B3 tanks.
A separate tank battalion of the 7th military base – 31 T-72B3 tanks.
A separate tank battalion of the 7th Airborne Assault Division – 31 T-72B3 tanks.
22ND ARMY CORPS OF THE BLACK SEA FLEET
The 810th Marine Brigade does not have tanks
Separate tank Battalion of the 126th Coastal Defense Brigade – 31 T-72B3M tanks (received in 2021).
CENTRAL MILITARY COMMAND
A separate tank battalion of the 201st military base – 31 T-72A, T-72AV and T-72B tanks. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, by the end of the year it will receive 31 T-72B3M tanks for full rearmament.
90th tank Division
– 6th Tank Regiment-93 T-72A, T-72AV and T-72B
tanks – 80th tank regiment-93 T-72A, T-72AV and T-72B tanks
– Tank battalion of the 228th Motorized Rifle Regiment – 31 T-72B3M tanks.
– separate company – 10 T-72B3 tanks
– 239th Tank Regiment-62 T-72A, T-72AV and T-72B tanks and 31 T-72B3M tanks (received in 2021)
2ND COMBINED ARMS ARMY
The 15th motorized Rifle Brigade has no tanks
The 30th motorized Rifle Brigade has no tanks
The 31st Airborne Assault Brigade does not have tanks
Two separate tank battalions of the 21st Motorized Rifle Brigade – 40 T-72BA tanks and 40 T-72B3 tanks.
41ST COMBINED ARMS ARMY
The 55th motorized Rifle Brigade has no tanks
Separate tank battalion of the 35th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 31 T-72B tanks
Separate tank battalion of the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 31 T-72B3 tanks
EASTERN MILITARY COMMAND.
36TH COMBINED ARMS ARMY
The 11th airborne assault brigade does not have tanks
5th Tank Brigade – three tank battalions-93 T-72B tanks.
A separate tank battalion of the 37th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 31 T-72B3 tanks.
29TH COMBINED ARMS ARMY
A separate tank battalion of the 36th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 31 T-72B3 tanks.
35TH COMBINED ARMS ARMY
A separate tank battalion of the 38th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 31 T-80BV tanks.
A separate tank battalion of the 69th cover Brigade – 31 T-80BV tanks.
A separate tank battalion of the 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 11 T-80BV tanks and 20 T-80BVM tanks (received in 2021).
5TH COMBINED ARMS ARMY
The 83rd Airborne Assault Brigade does not have tanks
A separate tank battalion of the 57th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 31 T-80BV tanks.
A separate tank battalion of the 60th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 31 T-72B tanks.
127th motorized Rifle Division
– 218th Tank Regiment – one battalion – 31 T-72B tanks. Two more tank battalions should be formed according to the state , but I do not have reliable information yet.
– Tank battalion of the 114th Motorized Rifle Regiment – 31 T-72B tanks.
– Tank battalion of the 394th Motorized Rifle Regiment – 31 T-72B tanks.
68TH ARMY CORPS
A separate tank battalion of the 39th Motorized Rifle Brigade – 31 T-80BV tanks.
The 18th machine-gun and artillery division – two separate tank companies – 20 T-72B tanks.
COASTAL TROOPS OF THE PACIFIC FLEET
A separate tank company of the 40th Marine Brigade – 10 T-80BV tanks.
A separate tank company of the 155th Marine Brigade – 10 T-80BV tanks.
The total staff strength of all the combat units listed above is 2,609 tanks. Another twelve battalions are under formation. The total number of new and modernized tanks (produced in 2000 and later) in combat units is about 1,340 units, or about 51 percent of the total number . The renewal of the tank fleet continues. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation , more than 240 modern and modernized T-72B3M, T-80BVM and T-90M “Breakthrough” tanks will be received by the Ground Forces of the Russian Army in 2021.
According to information from another site the Russians, during the Soviet era, hit the treaty limit of 15000 units of T-72s. Obviously many were put into deep storage.
Regardless, nice to hear the T-14 is entering service soon.
Russia should have around 8,900 T-72s now. 2000 are T-72B3 in active service. And probably around 300 T-72A/B in service as well. The rest are ready to be modernized in many fields in Russia.
Most of their stored tanks aren’t in serviceable condition.
More here:
https://www.russiadefence.net/t5002p250-bmp-3-in-russian-army
https://www.vitalykuzmin.net/Military/ARMY-2021-Demonstration/
What are you going to do with all those Tanks? You guys already made it to Berlin. Now you have learned it’s better to sell the Germans gas than it is to fight them. They have also learned it’s better to do business with you than to get their ass kicked again. The Western European countries need so much of your gas that the lines through the Ukraine will still be busy. Russia will be rich. Wake up. Make nice with Europe because you will need them on your side when it comes time to use all those tanks on the steppes of Mongolia.
They sell gas to Germans because they are their lifeline, despite everyone constantly spitting on them and talking shit about them. This is a laughable sight.
https://holocausthandbooks.com/index.php?page_id=1010
That’s interesting. According to official sources currently the Russian Federation has 3030 active tanks and 10,200 in storage. 2609 active tanks is underestimation. Around 2000 are T-72B3, and the rest are T-72B/A and T-80 and T-90s in all modifications. As well it is almost certain that they have T-62 that are unaccounted. In 2013 the then military minister signed a document to scrap them, but we don’t know how many they did scrap and how many are left. I think in 2017 they delivered 31 renovated T-62 in Hmeymim.
So, as I thought, the Russian military has mostly T72’s in service, in various iterations. What does the T-72B3M have over the just plain B3 version? Also curious as to what the differences are on the various versions of the T-80’s. I imagine all the variants just differ in targeting tech or crew protection, unless they have some major changes in the hull/turret. Given the crazy number of tanks, it will take a long time for the T-14 arrive in any meaningful quantity. People have to remember that Russian spends in around $60 billion USD (give or take) every year on their military. China spends north of $200 billion a year, and the U.S. basically $1 trillion a year.