Jump to content

When did GSFG start getting T-64As


Recommended Posts

12 hours ago, Bobjack1240 said:

I've read a variety of inconsistent sources that state GSFG started getting them in 1976, 1977, or as early as 1972.

Is there any historical documentation/records that shows when they first started arriving?

 

I love a good kit intro question.  The US are far easier as they have archived all their senate arms appropriation meetings.  Soviets are a little tougher.  So a good source is the Freedom of Information stuff from the CIA back in the day.  Then you have to kinda bracket the thing in:

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp81m00980r001200150003-0

"We understand that last year U.S. military leaders mistook deployment. of the Soviet T64 tank for the T72, especially in East. Germany. Please discuss this matter and state whether the T72 is now being deployed. 22. Please provide an historical table showing Soviet military manpower levels for each of the past ten years, and deployments in East Europe." 

So the letter was from 1978, so 1977 seem to be a lock.  Now were the observed in 1976?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, The_Capt said:

Oh, I love this kind of stuff.  I see the entry for T72s but where does it say they were T64s?  Or was this the event mentioned in the CIA doc?

I presume it is, since no T-72s were actually deployed in GSFG and the USMLM crews were too experienced to confuse an older type tank (T-62, T-55 etc.) for something new.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, Amedeo said:

I presume it is, since no T-72s were actually deployed in GSFG and the USMLM crews were too experienced to confuse an older type tank (T-62, T-55 etc.) for something new.

Ah and I found academic corroboration as well - https://www.usni.org/press/books/nato-and-warsaw-pact-tanks-cold-war

I have a copy from an online library and Green says on page 283 "1976" as first introduction into East Germany.  Outstanding, so the T64 is on the menu for BAOR from the start.  It will effect rarity but there it is.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"120mm APDS is considered capable of achieving initial perforation on the upper glacis armor at a maximum range of 1,000 meters and the frontal turret armor at 500 meters." Based on Soviet tests of 120mm apds from Iranian Chieftains provided by Iraq against T-72 Ural.

Edited by Bobjack1240
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...