Basic Information

Name

PT-91 Twardy Polish Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Designation

PT-91 Twardy

Alternate Designation

PT-91 Twardy

Equipment Type

Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Manufacturer

Poland

Date of Introduction

1992

Description

The PT-91 Twardy (hard) is an improved variant of the Soviet T-72 main battle tank. The PT-91 was developed in Poland in the early 1990s. Production of the PT-91 Twardy tanks for the Polish Army were completed in 2002.

Ground Specifications

Crew 3

Mobility Type Tracked

Main Weapon 125mm Smoothbore

Engine V-12 Diesel (850 hp)

Active Protection Arena

NBC Protection Yes

Max Speed 60.0 km/h

Range 480.0 km

Variants

PT-91 Twardy Production variant for Polish Army, extensively modernized development of T-72M1.

PT-91A Twardy Development variant with PZL-Wola S-1000 1,000 hp engine with mechanic transmission and number of other minor changes. Used for trials and as a demonstrator on military exhibitions.

PT-91Z Hardy (Z for Zmodernizowany – literally Modernized) Further development with SAGEM Savan-15 fire control system; according to live fire tests Savan-15 has an only minor advantage in accuracy over Drawa.

PT-91M Pendekar (M for Malaysia) — production export variant for Malaysia with Sagem Savan-15 fire control system, a new 1,000 hp powerpack with Renk automatic transmission bringing its top speed to 70 km/h. Its main gun have been changed to a ZTS 2A46MS 125 mm gun, a 7.62 mm FN MAG coaxial machine gun and a 12.7 mm FN Browning M2 HB AA machine gun.

PT-91E/Ex (E for Export) – renamed prototypes of PT-91M used as demonstrators of the export variant shown at military exhibitions. PT-91E is a first prototype initially named SP1 (it is the same vehicle as was shown on military parade in Kuala Lumpur in 2005), PT-91Ex is a second prototype named SP2.[

PT-91P (P for Peru) – Demonstrator for SITDEF Peru'2009 military exhibition. A cheaper alternative to PT-91Ex. This variant is equipped with newest PCO Drawa-TG fire control system with a thermal sight and modern communication system (Radmor RRC9310 radio, WB Electronics Fonet-IP communication system and Teldat battlefield management system).

PT-72U / PT-91U / PT-91EU (U for Urbanizowany – Tank to fight in urbanized terrain) – Demonstrator for MSPO 2011 military exhibition. This is an offer for the Polish Army which involves certain modifications of the T-72 and PT-91 tanks.

PT-16 Further development introduced in 2016. Upgrades include improved armor, armament, and mobility. The hull armor and cast turret have been upgraded with add-on composite armor equivalent to up to 1000mm RHA (rolled homogenous armor), supplied by Germany.

PT-17 The main goals of the PT-17 tank were to increase firepower and fire maneuverability, increase mobility and survivability on the battlefield, improve crew comfort and increase mission duration.

PT-91M2 Although PT-91M2's PT-91M2 modernization objectives are the same as PT-17, the range of PT-91M2 varies considerably. The S-12U engine is powered by an 850-horsepower engine with the enhanced mechanical transmission (Cx version).

System

Alternative Designation PT-91 Twardy

Manufacturer INA

Type Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Crew 3 ea

Passenger Capacity INA

Dimensions

Length (Gun Forward) 9.53 m

Length (Hull) 6.86 m

Width 3.59 m

Height 2.19 m

Weight, Combat 45.3 tons

Ground Pressure INA

Automotive

Engine Name S-12U

Engine Type V-12 diesel engine

Engine Power 850 hp

Fuel Capacity 1,200 liters

Range 480 km

Speed, Maximum Road 60 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 45 km/h

Speed Maximum Swim Not Amphibious

Gradient 60 deg

Side Slope 40 deg

Vertical Step 0.85 m

Trench 2.8 m

Fording Depth 1.2 m

Fording (with Preparation) 5 m

Suspension Torsion bar

Main Gun

System

Name 2A46M/2A46M-5

Type 125mm Smoothbore

Max Rate of Fire 8 rds/min

Manually Load Time 1-2 rds/min

Sustain Rate of Fire INA

Time the Max Rate of Fire can be Sustained INA

Autoloader Yes, Like the earlier domestic-use-only T-64, the T-72 is equipped with an automatic loading system, eliminating the need for a dedicated crewmember, decreasing the size and weight of the tank. However, the autoloader is of a noticeably different design. Both the T-64 and T-72 carry their two-section 125 mm ammunition (shell and full propellant charge, or missile and reduced propellant charge) in separate loading trays positioned on top of each other; but firstly, in T-64, 28 of these were arranged vertically as a ring under the turret ring proper, and were rotated to put the correct tray into position under the hoist system in the turret rear. This had the disadvantage of cutting the turret off from the rest of the tank, most notably, the driver. Accessing the hull required partial removal of the trays. The T-72 uses a design that has lower width requirements and does not isolate the turret compartment: the trays are arranged in a circle at the very bottom of the fighting compartment; the trade-off is the reduction of the number of trays to 22. The second difference is that in the T-64 the trays were hinged together and were flipped open as they were brought into position, allowing both the shell/missile and propellant charge to be rammed into the breech in one motion; in the T-72 the tray is brought to the breech as-is, with the shell in the lower slot and the charge in the upper one, and the mechanical rammer sequentially loads each of them, resulting in a longer reloading cycle.

Fire on the Move Yes, Main Gun

Maximum Elevation -6 deg

Minimum Elevation +14 deg

Ammunition (Option 1)

Name Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot

Type Smoothbore 125mm Projectile

Caliber 125 mm

Muzzle Velocity 2,050 m/s

Basic Load 42 Total Rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles

Effective Range 2,000-3,000 m

Armor Penetration 1,000 mm

Muzzle Energy 15-24 MJ

Projectile Dimension 900 mm

Projectile Weight 11 kg

Variants 1.1 3VBM3/3BM9/10 1.2 3VBM6/3BM12/13 1.3 3VBM7/3BM15/16 1.4 3VBM8/3BM17/18 1.5 3VBM9/3BM22/23 1.6 3VBM10/3BM29/30 1.7 3VBM11/3BM26/27 1.8 3VBM13/3BM32/33 1.9 3VBM17/3BM42 (3BM44 "Mango") 1.10 3VBM19/3BM42M (3BM44M "Lekalo") 1.11 3VBM20/3BM46 (3BM48 "Svinets") 1.12 3VBM22/3BM59 (3BM59 "Svinets-1") 1.13 3VBM23/3BM60 (3BM60 "Svinets-2") 1.14 3VBM?/3BM69 "Vacuum-1" 1.15 3VBM?/3BM70 "Vacuum-2"

Ammunition (Option 2)

Type High Explosives (HE)

Purpose High explosive fragmentation fin stabilised. General purpose rounds, for use against infantry, bunkers and light vehicles and other "soft" targets.

Caliber 125 mm

Basic Load 42 Total Rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles

Muzzle Velocity 850 m/s

Max Dispersion 0.23 mrad

Maximum Range 5,000 m

Tungsten Rods 450 ea

Charge A-IX-2 (73% RDX, 23% aluminium powder, phlegmatized with 4% wax) 3.0 kg

Projectile Weight 23 kg

Round Weight 33 kg

Variants 3VOF22/3OF19, 3VOF36/3OF26, 3VOF128/3OF82

Ammunition (Option 3)

Type High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)

Name 3VBK27/3BK31 "Start"

Caliber 125 mm

Basic Load 42 Total Rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles

Muzzle Velocity 915 m/s

Max Dispersion INA

Maximum Range 3,000 m

Charge INA

Charge Weight 1.62 kg

Projectile Weight 18.4 kg

Armor Penetration Estimated at 800 mm triple charge HEAT

Variants 3VBK7/3BK12, 3VBK10/3BK14, 3BK12M, 3BK14M, 3VBK16/3BK18, 3BK18M, 3VBK17/3BK21, 3BK21B, 3VBK21/3BK25, 3VBK25/3BK29 "Breyk", 3VBK25M/3BK29M

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name 7.62mm PK (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun)

Type 7.62 mm

Function In use as a front-line infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon with Russia's armed forces.

In Service 1961-present

Manufacturer Degtyaryov plant

Proliferation 1 Million +

Max Rate of Fire 650 rds/min

Range Finder Type INA

Time the Max Rate of Fire can be Sustained INA

Weight (Gun Only) 9 kg

Weight (Tripod Only) 7.7 kg

Length 1,203 mm

Length (Barrel) 605 mm

Action Gas-operated, open bolt

Feed System Non-disintegrating metal 50 round belts in 100 and 200/250 round ammunition boxes

Sights Tangent iron sights (default); Optical, Night-vision, Thermal and Radar sights

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.60 mm

Cartridge 7.62×54mmR

Muzzle Velocity 825 m/s

Basic Load 2,000 ea

Effective Range (Iron Sights) 1,000 m

Effective Range (with Sight Adjustments) 100-1,500 m

Maximum Firing Range 3,800 m

Auxiliary Weapon System

System

Name Type 54 DShK Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun

Type 12.7 Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun

Proliferation over 1 Million

Length (Total) 1,625 mm

Length (Barrel) 1,070 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 34 kg

Weight (on Wheeled Mounting) 157 kg

Max Rate of Fire 600 rds/min

Range Finder Type Optical

Action Gas-Operated, Flapper Locking

Feed System 50 Round Belt

Sights Iron/Optical

Turret Single seat and placed at the rear of the vehicle roof. It is sharp-pointed at the front.

Variants DK, DShKM, DSHKS, Type 54 HMG

Fire on the Move Yes

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 12.7x108 mm

Muzzle Velocity 850 m/s

Basic Load 300 ea

Effective Range 2,500 m

Armor Penetration API: 21 at 500 m & 13 at 1000 m (RHA)

Fire Control

Name A new fire-control system is fitted

Computerized FCS Yes

Thermal Sight Tank Commander Yes, Type INA

Thermal Sight Gunner 1K13-49

Main Gun Stabilization Slovak TPDK-1 stabilization system

Range, Day Sight 5,000 m

Range, Thermal Sight 1,000 m

Infrared Yes

Laser Rangefinder Yes

Note The dual-axis stabilized fire-control system and electro-hydraulic gun stabilization enables the PT-91 to detect, identify, acquire and track targets even in challenging weather conditions.

Protection

Hull Armor Steel and composite armour with ERA, equivalent to 500-600 mm of Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA)

Turret Armor Steel and composite armour with ERA, equivalent to 500-600 mm of Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA)

Applique Armor Available, Turret top and track skirts

Explosive Reactive Armor Yes, Kontakt-5

Active Protection System Yes, Arena available

Self-Entrenching Blade INA

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment Yes, Grenade launcher 8x; VESS

IR Signature INA

Automatic Fire Extinguishing Equipment. Yes

Image Sources

Notes https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PT91_Twardy_MSPO09.jpg; https://www.moddb.com/groups/tanks/images/pt-91-twardy; https://alchetron.com/Polish-Land-Forces;