Overview

The T-80 tank is a product of the tank design war that raged between the various design bureaus of the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War. An evolution of the T-64 design, it debuted with some bold choices, like the use of a gas turbine engine instead of the familiar diesel power packs of other tanks. Despite more than a passing resemblance to the existing T-64 and T-72 platforms, the T-80 was ultimately accepted into service, and several additional upgrades followed suit.

By the mid-’80s, the T-80B model was stationed in the central region of Germany in droves, with thousands of examples making up a large part of the tank fleet of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSFG). This upgraded T-80 featured tried and tested armor packages and up-to-date offensive weaponry, and unlike the severely outdated equipment of the East Germans or the increasingly obsolete T-64A, it presented few obvious downsides.

In our Fulda ‘85 theater, this tank is the flagship of the Soviet forces, a modern monster with a sophisticated fire control system, capable ammunition, and decent armor protection. On paper, it has some key differences with its western opponents, which can be argued one way or the other until eternity. But in the context of its main role - forming the spearhead of assaults and the bulwark of defenses - the T-80B is plainly excellent.

This guide will get you up to speed on using the T-80B effectively in GHPC.

Target alerts

In GHPC, the T-80B has a fully voiced Soviet crew using the Russian language. In keeping with the appropriate doctrine, the crew will announce target alerts using a Soviet-specific direction system: the hull azimuth compass. While it is not necessary to memorize this system to play the T-80B in GHPC, it can be useful to understand what the crew mean by these callouts, so you can make use of the information seamlessly during combat.

Hull azimuth in Soviet vehicles is measured using a 6000-mil circle, abbreviated to a 60-unit circle with a 100-unit refinement ring. Two needles point at both rings, like the hands of a clock, to indicate where the turret is pointing at any time. Zero is directly behind the hull, with 30 (30 on the main circle, 00 on the other, for 3000 mils) at the front.

When a target is announced, the commander will include the rough direction to the target from the tank hull's orientation. "At 30" means the target is directly ahead of the hull. "At 15" means the target is fully flanking on the left, "at 45" means directly to the right, and so on. If you generally keep your hull oriented toward the enemy during missions, most targets will appear between 25 and 35.

1A33 fire control complex with 1G42 gunner’s sight

Though it bears an undeniable resemblance to several of its progenitors, the T-80B’s day sight is far more capable and complex than it first appears. Unlike earlier systems such as the TPD-K1, the 1A33 is a highly capable fire control system, with a suite of assistive features for the gunner:

• Laser rangefinder
• Delta-D
• Superelevation
• Automatic lead
• Two-axis stabilization to keep the sight centered
• Pancratic/continuous zoom
  
• Meteorological sensor
• Cant correction
• Backup manual mode

Some of these features warrant further explanation in order to ensure competent gunnery.

Automatic and manual modes

Representing a notable departure from the single-moded nature of previous fire control systems in GHPC, the T-80B’s 1A33 complex features two distinct modes: automatic and manual. In automatic mode, all FCS features are active, and the gunsight reticle remains centered with zeroed range scales as the dual-axis optic stabilizer keeps the aim point on target. By contrast, manual mode disables automatic lead and superelevation and simultaneously unlocks the range scales, instantly turning the 1G42 sight into a functional copy of the early generation sights on the T-55 and T-62.

Unless there is a compelling reason, most daylight fighting will be done with the FCS in automatic mode. However, the night sight on the T-80B is not integrated with the 1G42 and 1A33 and does not stabilize to cancel out lead and superelevation. Instead, it must be used with manual mode.

In GHPC, setting the range of the FCS will determine what mode the system is in. Use the laser rangefinder (default: E) to activate automatic mode and range the target. Use manual range setting (default: LCtrl + mouse wheel, or PgUp/PgDown) to switch to manual mode.

In manual mode, the reticle’s horizontal elements slide up and down to adjust the aim point, as the gun resets to zero superelevation and must be manually aimed higher to compensate for ballistic drop. Just like the T-55 and T-62, the place where the long horizontal line crosses the range scales at the top of the sight will indicate what range the sight is set for. And just like the T-55 and T-62, the T-80B’s manual mode does not require the user to understand the range scales or learn how to read them. Instead, the HUD displays the range setting for the current ammunition. The range scales will still be properly represented, but this is for authentic flavor or the possibility of no-HUD gameplay, and using them is not required.

Rangefinding

In automatic mode, the laser rangefinder (default key: E) measures the distance to the point indicated by the tip of the chevron reticle. As this reticle does not slide up and down in manual mode, it represents a reliable aim point for the laser. The distance measured will be immediately entered into the fire control system, changing the 4-digit number on the range display at the bottom of the sight. This display is rounded to the nearest 5-meter increment.

(As an aside: written sources on the 1A33 complex mention a calculation delay of multiple seconds for the ballistic solution after lasing. At this time, we have chosen not to implement such a delay in GHPC's representation of the FCS.)

Superelevation (the gun barrel aiming above the sight line) is automatically applied when using the laser rangefinder. At the same time, a counter-rotation is applied to the gunsight. Due to this feature, the gunner can aim the reticle directly at the target and does not need to perform a manual hold-over.

The coaxial PKT machine gun does not have a tie-in to superelevation via the ballistic computer like the main gun does. The FCS superelevation only honors the currently selected main gun ammunition. Thus, to use the PKT effectively, the gunner must first range the target and make note of the result. Next, reset the range to zero. Finally, use the ballistic drop marks on the vertical line beneath the aiming reticle to manually elevate the gun.

In case the laser rangefinder is not operational, a stadiametric rangefinder is provided in the sight as a backup. The reticle is calibrated for a target height of 2.7 meters, which is approximately correct for a Leopard 1, or for an M60A3 turret roof not counting the cupola. (In the image above, an M60A3 is ranged at approximately 1800 meters using the stadiametric reticle.)

Automatic lead (moving target compensation)

One of the strongest features of the 1A33 FCS, and perhaps the most important to grasp, is its automatic lead mechanic. In automatic mode, the traverse rate indicated by the gunner’s handles is used to calculate how far ahead the gun must aim if the gunner were tracking a moving target. That aim-ahead offset is then applied to the turret traverse, and an opposing rotation is applied to the gunsight. The result is that the gunsight picture smoothly obeys the gunner’s inputs, while the turret itself (and the gun by inheritance) swings around to different angles to achieve the perfect aim point. The fact that the gunsight can counter-rotate both horizontally (for lead) and vertically (for superelevation) makes it a dual-axis stabilized sight. (A sight that is single-axis stabilized - such as the early Abrams GPS - must provide some other way to indicate lead offset, such as sliding the reticle horizontally.)

What this means in practice is that a T-80B gunner should always aim directly at the center of the target when using automatic mode. The FCS will measure the traverse rates of the last 1 second of time and average them out to determine a lead amount. To account for this, T-80B gunners must keep the tip of the reticle on the target for 1 second before firing, whether it’s moving or stationary. Failure to match the target’s speed, or to use a correct range setting, will result in a miss. The reticle should appear stuck to the target during the tracking period, as if it were glued on.

It is difficult to overstate how important this principle is for competent usage of the 1A33 FCS and all other designs featuring dynamic lead compensation (e.g. the primary sights of the Abrams and M60A3 TTS). Keeping the reticle on target with a matched speed for the appropriate amount of time, along with lasing the target to register a correct distance, are the only ways to ensure accurate fire solutions. Deviate from this procedure, and you will whiff your shots. When this happens, it will be a skill issue.

As a side note: the 1A33’s automatic lead only applies in the horizontal direction. In virtually all cases, this will not make any difference. Only a target traveling on a steep slope at long range will create any meaningful error in the impact point. Nevertheless, it’s worth keeping this limitation in mind in case such a situation arises.

Ammuniton selection indicator

In the bottom of the sight picture, left of the four range digits, an extra 7-segment display indicates the currently selected ammunition type. The symbols shown in this display represent the Russian abbreviation characters for the ammo:

Б - APFSDS / Subcaliber
К - HEAT / Cumulative
О - High Explosive
У - Gun-Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile

In automatic mode, the FCS automatically adjusts the superelevation and lead to suit the currently loaded ammunition, so the gunner does not need to pay attention to the ammo indicator outside of ensuring the loaded ammo type is suitable for the current target.

Indicator lamps

On either side of the 7-segment displays, two circular lamps provide additional information.

On the left, the green lamp indicates that the gun is loaded, properly aligned, and ready to fire. If it turns off during combat, and the gun is loaded, that likely means the gun barrel cannot reach the angle the sight is looking at. This is most commonly caused by the tank being on a slope too steep for the gun depression to manage.

On the right, the red lamp indicates that the commander has taken control of the turret slew. In GHPC, this indicator will activate whenever the "commander override" feature is being used to bring the gun toward the AI commander's current target (default key: Spacebar).

Delta-D

Much like the contemporary models of T-64 and T-72, the T-80B includes the “delta-D” mechanic. As the tank closes with a target by driving forward, the delta-D system will measure the expected change in distance (hence “delta” meaning change and “D” meaning distance) and adjust the range setting automatically as the vehicle moves. If you range for 2000 and then advance 500 meters toward the enemy position, your gunsight will now be set for 1500 without any manual intervention needed. Having a laser rangefinder makes many of the benefits of this system effectively moot, but it does help keep range and lead calculations more precise when engaging while on the move.

The system accounts for variations in driving angle by measuring the turret direction and assuming that you will keep the turret pointed toward the target the whole time. If this does not happen, the delta-D system will gradually accumulate errors that make it provide a slightly incorrect range setting. You may need to occasionally re-lase the target to ensure an accurate range.

Night fighting

The T-80B is new enough to do away with the familiar TPN-1 type night sight seen in older Soviet MBTs. Instead, the “Luna” active infrared searchlight (default key: N) is paired with an improved TPN-3-49 night sight capable of operating in passive mode, unaided by illumination. In reasonable moonlight, the gunner can detect targets up to 1 km away in passive mode, and the searchlight will make this slightly easier at the expense of pointing a giant “shoot me” beacon back to the tank. The night sight can be accessed using the night vision key (default: T).

The night sight is adjustable for range using manual mode and features a pair of range scales flanking a sliding aiming reticle. Much like the primary sight of the BMP-2, this sight is designed to be used after the range to the target has been estimated by some other means. The two scales are for APFSDS (left) and machine gun (right). It is possible to use the sight with other ammunition types as well, as GHPC’s HUD will automatically show the indicated range with corrections for the loaded round’s ballistics. (In real life, the crew would have to mentally apply a conversion factor to accomplish this.)

The night sight is NOT compatible with the laser rangefinder and automatic mode. Since the reticle slides vertically, it does not provide a reliable aim point reference for the laser rangefinder. Furthermore, since the night sight does not rotate in its housing for either superelevation or lead offset, it is forced to move as the turret does at all times. If the FCS is in automatic mode, the turret will be rotated at different speeds as the system tries to apply lead, making the view through the gunsight appear wobbly and inconsistent during traverse, or in extreme cases causing it to change directions suddenly! Before using the night sight, use a manual range adjustment key or the range reset feature to place the system in manual mode. This will ensure that the turret movement is smooth and predictable, as well as allowing the range scales in the night sight to adjust properly.

It's possible that in some low-light situations the day sight will still be usable. In that case, be sure to illuminate the gunsight reticle for better contrast with the background. (default: i)

Armor protection

The T-80B sits in an interesting transitional period in Soviet armor design. Built too early to include the advancements made in NERA arrays in the mid-to-late 1980s, the tank instead features two early patterns of composite armor, taken to their limits.

The glacis armor, a steel-textolite stack very similar to that found in early T-64 and T-72 models, is upgraded with a whopping 30 millimeters of high-hardness steel plate, covering most of the frontal area of the hull. This plate was welded onto tanks in response to steadily improving western anti-tank rounds, especially APFSDS darts. It was fairly effective, though in GHPC, the incredibly strong performance of the depleted uranium M833 dart is enough to defeat even this upgraded glacis once the range gets significantly below 2000 meters. The lower front plate and the weakened zone around the driver’s head are vulnerable out to a much longer range. On the plus side, the beefed-up front slope is highly resistant to HEAT warheads and often capable of rejecting hits by TOW missiles, an ever-present bane of armor on the late Cold War battlefield.

Perhaps learning their lesson from the complicated and temperamental production of the T-64’s ultraporcelain ball arrays, the T-80B’s designers opted to use the tried-and-true “kvartz” ceramic inserts for the turret armor. This places the T-80B in a very similar performance bracket to the T-72A/M1, though the geometry of the T-80B’s turret makes the resulting protection somewhat better in some cases and worse in others. While the nature of non-uniform armor makes it difficult to nail down a simple estimate, it’s probably reasonable to say that the T-80B presents a mild improvement in turret armor over the T-72A design. Performance-wise, the turret can stop NATO’s best anti-tank weapons in some ideal cases, while in other situations they will penetrate.

Ammunition

Much like the T-64A, the T-80B comes standard with the brand-new 3BM32 “Vant” APFSDS round, a highly capable 125mm subcaliber dart. In GHPC, 3BM32 can perforate the turret of the Abrams at close to medium range, or the lower front plate at long range. This makes the Soviet forces exceptionally dangerous in tank duels compared to the East Germans, who were not provided with any subcaliber rounds better than 3BM15.

As the 3BM32 is so new and early in its service life, it will very quickly run out in campaign mode if logistics scores for the Pact side should falter. In that case, it will be replaced by 3BM22 "Zakolka", a fine round in its own right but not nearly as powerful as Vant.

Backing up the new Soviet dart is a full complement of the usual 125mm HEAT and HE-Frag ammunition, which remains as effective as ever against less-armored targets. Much like the T-64 and T-72, the T-80B can use HEAT rounds to handle anything up to and including an M60 series tank, as its homogeneous armor is no match for a cumulative warhead.

The Kobra GLATGM

The 9M112 Kobra is a guided missile, designated as a Gun-Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile (GLATGM) because it is loaded and fired from a tank gun rather than a traditional missile launch tube. The missile is radio-controlled to attempt to follow and align with the gunner's aim point during flight, making it a Semi-Automatic Command to Line of Sight (SACLOS) missile.

Unlike previous missiles in GHPC, the Kobra GLATGM has multiple flight modes based on the settings of the fire control system. The primary method of setting the missile's flight mode is by adjusting the range setting of the FCS, whether by using the laser rangefinder or manually adjusting. It is worth noting that the missile will always track the center point (the tip of the chevron reticle) regardless of whether the sight is in automatic or manual mode.

Flight modes depend on what range is set in the fire control system at launch time:

• 1920-4000 meters: Elevated/lofted mode. The missile will launch at an elevated angle with a brief control lockout. Once the lockout ends and SACLOS guidance begins, the flight path will be 3-5 meters above the gunner's aimed line of sight (LOS) until a short distance remains to the target. The missile will then drop down into LOS until it strikes the target.
• 1000-1919 meters: Normal mode. The missile will launch at an elevated angle with a brief control lockout. Once the lockout ends and SACLOS guidance begins, the missile immediately descends into LOS for the remaining duration of the flight.
• 0-999 meters: Direct/emergency mode. The missile will launch without extra elevation and with a shortened lockout. SACLOS guidance commences with no extra height or other deviations. While this mode is intended as a fallback for close range engagements when the missile is already loaded, it can also be forced (by resetting the FCS range to zero) in order to engage tricky targets such as helicopters.

Autoloader

Like the T-64, the T-80B is equipped with an “MZ” type carousel autoloader, holding a full combat load of ammunition in a ring pattern ready to pick and load into the gun. By contrast with the “AZ” autoloader system in the T-72, the MZ system does not eject casing stubs as it reloads; it simply returns the remnant of the fired charge to its place in the carousel before moving on. It also has a higher ready capacity than the AZ carousel. Unfortunately, this comes at a cost: the MZ carousel arranges the ammunition propellant charges vertically rather than horizontally, making them slightly easier to hit with a hull shot.

Offsetting this arguable disadvantage, the T-80B has a highly protected ammunition layout: there are no loose charges stashed throughout the compartment, and the spares are only found in the “wet rack” cavities in the hull front fuel tank. A penetrating hit on the T-80B above the turret ring is significantly less likely to cause a catastrophic ammo detonation than the same hit would be on a T-72.

Conclusion

As the pride of the GSFG fleet, the T-80B is a strong contender in the tank rivalry of 1985. Its powerful ammunition, capable FCS, and strong armor make it a serious threat on the battlefield. In GHPC, players who learn it well will be rewarded with a roaring beast of a tank that can take anything NATO dishes out.

Screenshot credit: Rossmum