LT-77 Main Battle Tank: Difference between revisions

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Armor has changed substantially since production first started, the initial LT-77A had homogenous cast steel armor, along with voids between armor plates to increase protection. Eventually starting with the LT-77C1 the tanks received composite armor, consisting of steel, ceramics, voids, etc to further increase protection. After 1984 all LT-77s were equipped with Reactive armor bricks on their front and sides.
Armor has changed substantially since production first started, the initial LT-77A had homogenous cast steel armor, along with voids between armor plates to increase protection. Eventually starting with the LT-77C1 the tanks received composite armor, consisting of steel, ceramics, voids, etc to further increase protection. After 1984 all LT-77s were equipped with Reactive armor bricks on their front and sides.


Additional equipment, such as laser rangefinders, has appeared on LT-77s as early as 1979 with the LT-77B4, a command model, however, after 1982 all LT-77s began to receive laser rangefinders as standard.  
Additional equipment, such as laser rangefinders, has appeared on LT-77s as early as 1979 with the LT-77B4T, a command model, however, after 1982 all LT-77s began to receive laser rangefinders as standard.  
===Variants===
===Variants===
;'''LT-77A'''
: Initial Version, all-steel armor, optical rangefinder
;'''LT-77A1'''
:upgrade package, added minor changes to interior layout increase ammo stowage, rangefinder usage. Added new IR headlights and optics for drivers only
;'''LT-77B'''
:Sava Industries produced LT-77, addition of slightly more powerful 600hp LPW-120 12 cylinder diesel
;'''LT-77B1'''
:version equipped with experimental night optics package, not serialized
;'''LT-77B2'''
:Version equipped with applique armor to improve protection
;'''LT-77B3'''
:Incorporation of new ammunition, [[L13BT]] and [[L54PS]] and required gunner sights.
;'''LT-77B4T'''
:Special command version with radios, laser rangefinder, and night optics.
;'''LT-77C'''
:upgrade of new 750HP diesel engine
;'''LT-77C1'''
:Comprehensive upgrade new 880HP engine, full composite armor, laser rangefinder, new gun sights, and early night sights for all tanks
;'''LT-77D'''
:Equipped with mine clearing equipment
;'''LT-77E'''
:Export designated variant
;'''LT-77F'''
:Reactive Armor package integrated
;'''LT-77G'''
:New reactive armor package, updated composite configuration, remote operation of 15mm HMG, new ammunition
;'''LT-77G1'''
:upgraded rangefinder, night vision sights, and ballistic computer
;'''LT-77G2'''
:Newest and most modern version, new FCS, reactive and applique armor package, new ammunition
==Design==
==Design==
===Armament===
===Armament===

Revision as of 03:12, 2 August 2019

LT-77
Alabino05042017-40.jpg
LT-77G
TypeMain Battle Tank
Place of origin Librira
Service history
In service1976- present
Used byLibrira People's Army of Workers and Peasants
Production history
ManufacturerSava Industries
No. built3,500
Specifications
Weight44 tons
Length6.95 meters
Width3.6 meters
Height2.25 meters
Crew3

Main
armament
125mm 1SB20 L-type smoothbore autoloading gun
Secondary
armament
KA-75 15mm HMG, LSAC-5 7.62mm LMG
EngineLikanov Engine Factory 1020 H
1,100 horsepower
TransmissionLEF T-200 Hydrostatic transmission
Suspensionhydropneumatic suspension
Operational
range
700km w/external fuel drums
Speed80km/ph

The LT-77 Main Battle Tank is a series of main battle tanks currently in service with the People's Army of Workers and Peasants. First entering production in 1974, the type is the most numerous tank in service, with over 2400 units available. The LT-77 entered service in 1976, and is considered a 2nd generation main battle tank. The most modern version, the LT-77G2, is considered a 3rd generation MBT. It is currently the oldest Libriran MBT still in active service outside of training units. It is scheduled to be out of inventory by 2035.


Development

LT-60

Development of the LT-77 stemmed directly from the LT-60. The LT-60 was a project to develop the next generation in armored warfare, and although it succeed in most of its originally lofty goals, it was extremely expensive to build, and worse still, time consuming. The design was meant to meld the armor effectiveness of breakthrough tanks, with the flexibility of medium tanks.

the required developmental hurdles caused several compromises to be made, particularly to serviceability and reliability. When the LT-60 began to enter service in 1971, it became clear that in order to fufill the needs of the entire army a different design would be required.

LT-77

in 1972 the Libriran Central Armor Design Board, began to create a simpler, easier to make and manufacturer version of the LT-60. Armed with a derivative of the LT-60s gun but with a modified autloader, engine and armor layout. The tank was not as well protected but slightly faster, and more economical. Intended to be produced only as an emergency measure if a war were declared while the LT-60 was still not fully adopted yet, it eventually was decided to use the LT-60 only in specialized and Guards units, and use the LT-77 as the standard tank for the rest of the army.

Production

Production of the LT-77 was started initially at State Factory #131 in Stepi, however, problems with defective tooling caused the production line to be taken down for several months. In the interim production was started at Sava Industrial, which continued producing the tanks even after the tooling issues were resolved.

The LT-77 quickly became the most common MBT in the PAWP and was exported to various other countries, such as the EUSR. The tank has been produced in numerous versions over its production history, with later LT-77G2s being difficult to associate with the LT-77As that they hail from.

Armor has changed substantially since production first started, the initial LT-77A had homogenous cast steel armor, along with voids between armor plates to increase protection. Eventually starting with the LT-77C1 the tanks received composite armor, consisting of steel, ceramics, voids, etc to further increase protection. After 1984 all LT-77s were equipped with Reactive armor bricks on their front and sides.

Additional equipment, such as laser rangefinders, has appeared on LT-77s as early as 1979 with the LT-77B4T, a command model, however, after 1982 all LT-77s began to receive laser rangefinders as standard.

Variants

LT-77A
Initial Version, all-steel armor, optical rangefinder
LT-77A1
upgrade package, added minor changes to interior layout increase ammo stowage, rangefinder usage. Added new IR headlights and optics for drivers only
LT-77B
Sava Industries produced LT-77, addition of slightly more powerful 600hp LPW-120 12 cylinder diesel
LT-77B1
version equipped with experimental night optics package, not serialized
LT-77B2
Version equipped with applique armor to improve protection
LT-77B3
Incorporation of new ammunition, L13BT and L54PS and required gunner sights.
LT-77B4T
Special command version with radios, laser rangefinder, and night optics.
LT-77C
upgrade of new 750HP diesel engine
LT-77C1
Comprehensive upgrade new 880HP engine, full composite armor, laser rangefinder, new gun sights, and early night sights for all tanks
LT-77D
Equipped with mine clearing equipment
LT-77E
Export designated variant
LT-77F
Reactive Armor package integrated
LT-77G
New reactive armor package, updated composite configuration, remote operation of 15mm HMG, new ammunition
LT-77G1
upgraded rangefinder, night vision sights, and ballistic computer
LT-77G2
Newest and most modern version, new FCS, reactive and applique armor package, new ammunition

Design

Armament

The armament of the LT-77 is centered around its 125mm smoothbore autoloading gun, 1SB20 based upon the LT-60's 1SB18, the new gun featured a modified loading mechanism, integrated thermal jacket, and redesigned fume extractor. the 125mm gun is fed by a carousel autoloader located in the bottom of the turret, ammunition is stored in two sections, projectiles, and propellant. projectiles are stored lying on the floor, while propellant is stored vertically in the autoloader's trays. The gun is capable for firing HE-F, HEAT, APFSDS, and ATGM rounds, depending on the requirement.

The Autoloader is capable of storing 22 rounds in its trays, with another 17 complete rounds in separate ammunition storage. Criticism of the LT-77s autoloaders come from the way it stores its projectiles, storing the propellant the way it does exposes a greater surface area than in an H-type Autoloader. however, the L-type allows the rounds to be taken to the gun in order to be rammed, speeding the loading process, less than 5 seconds in some cases.

The tank also has two machine guns, a coaxial 7.65mm LMG, and a roof-mounted 15mm HMG. The HMG on early vehicles is operated manually by the commander, on later vehicles it is controlled remotely, allowing the commander to engage infantry or soft targets with exposing himself.

Protection

Weight

Engine

Service