Ukrainian Marines capture T-72B3 tank

2 November, 2024 A trophy Russian T-72B3 tank captured by the Ukrainian marines in the Kurakhove sector. November 2024. Ukraine.

Freeze frame from the video of the 35th Separate Mechanized Brigade In the Kurakhove area, Ukrainian Marines managed to capture a Russian T-72B3 tank. The 35th Separate Marine Brigade reported that a tank had been captured during a Russian assault.

During the enemy assault, the soldiers of the 137th separate battalion destroyed the Russian crew of the tank using FPV drones. Then, working in coordination, the Marines from the logistics battalion organized the evacuation of the trophy tank. "It will be restored, and then a Ukrainian crew will use the trophy against the occupiers," the Marines involved in the capture stated.

The T-72B3 tank is a modernized Soviet T-72 tank. Modernization to the B3 level began in 2011.

The upgrade to the T-72B3 level included the installation of a new automated fire control system with a multi-channel Sosna-U sight, as well as the use of the chassis elements from the T-90A tank. The 2016 version of the T-72B3 also features a more powerful V-92SF engine (1130 hp) and additional protection. Until 2022 such vehicles were delivered at a rate of 100-150 tanks per year, in 2023 the rate increased, according to some estimates, to 30 vehicles per month.

At the same time, there were problems with the supply of components.

A T-72B3M tank.

June 2020. Photo credits: Russian media

It necessitated changes to the design, which led to the emergence of the T-72B3 variant of the 2022 model. First of all, the stocks of French Catherine-FC thermal imagers were exhausted.

It was, thus, required to look for a replacement for Sosnya-U. It was the 1PN-96MT-02 sight.

A trophy Russian T-72B3 tank captured by the Ukrainian Marines in the Kurakhove sector. November 2024.

Ukraine.

Freeze frame from the video of the 35th Separate Mechanized Brigade

Another characteristic feature of the 2022 T-72B3M is the intent to maximize protection by installing the dynamic protection units wherever possible, which is also evident in the tank captured by the Marines.