Unit of the Week #14 - T-80

The T-80 is a Soviet main battle tank (MBT). The world's first serial production MBT powered with a multifuel gas turbine engine. It entered service with the Soviet army in 1976.

The 42-ton T-80 tank equipped with a 1,000 hp gas turbine engine has superior speed and cross-country performance for which it has been dubbed "a flying tank. NATO believed that stationed in East Germany, Soviet T-80 tanks could reach the Atlantic within five days in case of a large-scale conventional war in Europe.

The tank is armed with a 125mm 2A46-1 smoothbore gun. The vehicle is protected by a multi-layer composite armor at the front of the turret and hull which is particularly effective against the high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shells. The tank's cast turret has a powerful 450-460 mm front armor.

In our game, the T-80 tank is the most modern Soviet tank with high movement speed and an excellent firing accuracy.