TR-85

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

TR-85 M1
Torsion bar with eight telescopic hydro-gas shock absorbers
Operational
range
400 km (250 mi)
Maximum speed 60 km/h (37 mph)

The TR-85 is a

suspension
with 6 road wheels on each side, protected by metal side skirts. Combat weight is 50 tons.

Predecessor: TR-580

See also: TR-580

After the

defense industry. In April 1968 a preliminary report regarding the production of tanks in Romania was proposed to the National Defense Council of Romania. The report was ratified by the Defense Council on 13 October 1972. The development of a Romanian medium tank
effectively began on 13 May 1974. The Romanian Defense Council wrote the specifications for the medium tank. The new vehicle would have a weight of approximately 40 tons, a 100 mm main gun and a 500 horse power engine.

The next step taken was the production of 400 TR-580/TR-77 tank and even if the local arms industry lacked the experience required to design and produce a medium tank from scratch the Communist government did not buy the license for the T-55 tank. The initial batch (the prototype and the first 10 tanks), officially named the TR-77 tank (Tanc românesc model 1977 Romanian Tank model 1977), was intended to use the Leopard 1 engine and, as a result, the hull was extended, having 6 road wheels instead of the usual 5 of the T-55 tank.[5]

However, because of the political need to reach the established production figures and the refusal of

Krauss-Maffei to deliver technology to a Warsaw Pact member, the medium tank, known as the TR-77-580 or TR-580 (Tanc Românesc model 1977 cu motor de 580 cp - Romanian Tank with 580 hp engine), was built using the V-55 engine of the T-55 tank and the extended chassis.[5]
The TR-77-580 tank was developed between 1974 and 1980 and was produced between 1979 and 1985.

It is often alleged that TR-77 was a copy of T-55 but only a very small portion of its equipment were carried over from the Soviet tank: night vision gunner's periscope, ammo, coax MG and probably the main guns sight, the general shape of the turret and temporarily the engine. However, the interior layout was different.

Development

TR-85 tank in Bucharest during the Romanian Revolution of 1989.

While the TR-77 was developed, from 1974 the Romanian engineers continued work on a

Federal Republic of Germany.[6]

The new tank was officially named the TR-85-800 (Tanc Românesc model 1985 cu motor de 800cp - Romanian Tank model 1985 with 800 hp engine) and was designed between 1978 and 1986. The engine had a maximum output of 830 horse power. The suspension was redesigned and the turret, while bearing a strong resemblance to the T-55 series, was actually different.[7]

Production

TR-85 tank without side skirts.
National Military Museum in Bucharest
.

The main tank factory was established by decree nr.514 in December 1978 at FMGS division (Fabrica De Mașini Grele Speciale - Special Heavy Machinery Factory) of the 23 August plant (now known as FAUR) in Bucharest. The construction of this tank factory was finalized in 1980. The factory was a militarized zone and was top secret, requiring a special permit to enter. By 1983, the FMGS tank factory could produce 210 tanks per year.[5] The TR-85 tank was produced between 1986 and 1990 at rate of approximately 100 tanks per year.

The TR-85 tank was soon found to be mechanically unreliable during early tests.

fall of communism in Romania
when the Romanian engineers used foreign parts to improve TR-85's reliability.

Modernization program (TR-85M1 Bizonul)

In March 1994, the Romanian General Staff initiated the modernization program of the TR-85 tanks by order no. 1429. On 14 April 1994, the upgrade program was approved by the

The Bison), began in 1996 when two prototypes were built.[9] The aim of the program was to upgrade the TR-85 to NATO standards by improving the firepower, protection, mobility, the communication systems and the reliability of the engine, transmission and the braking system.[10]

The modernization program involved both foreign companies (most of them from

Sagem, Kollmorgen-Artus, Racal, and local defense companies such as the ROMARM military consortium, METRA (Military Equipment and Technologies Research Agency), Electromagnetica, FAUR, Elprof, Aeroteh, IOR, Prooptica, Artego, Arsenal Reșița, Metav, Forsev, Anticorozivul, IEMI, Rolast, Aerostar and IOEL. The result of the modernization program, the TR-85M1 tank, is compliant with NATO standards.[9]

Design

The six smoke grenades and four flares on the side of the turret.

Countermeasures

Concealment

The turret is fitted with two six-barreled 81mm

thermal imaging. The tank is also equipped with a smoke screen generator that is triggered by the driver. When activated, diesel fuel is injected into the hot exhaust, creating the thick smoke. The TR-85M1 is equipped with laser illumination warning sensors that can automatically trigger the GFM-76 smoke grenades and flares, thus disrupting the guidance systems of thermal and infrared guided missiles. The SAILR (Sistem de Avertizare la Iluminarea Laser și Radar, laser and radar illumination warning system) laser warning receiver
can locate and identify the threat, warning the crew and triggering the DLC (Dispozitivul de Lansare Contramăsuri, Countermeasures Launching Device).

Armour

TR-85M1 with its factory single green paint scheme.

The armour of the TR-85M1 tank has a maximum thickness of 200 mm (multilayered) for the hull and 320 + 20 mm add-on armour on the turret.

NBC protection and an improved, rapid fire suppression system using non-toxic agents.[9] The system, designed by L'Hotellier, protects both the crew and the engine compartment using halon. The modernized version adds a mine protection plate and a bar for the driver, which increases protection against mines and improvised explosive devices. Also, the older TR-85 tanks have a conventional driver's seat bolted on the floor, whereas the M1 version has a parachute-harness like arrangement. In this way, the driver has no contact with the hull except on the pedals and is out of the shockwave area of exploding land mines or IEDs.[12]

Armament

Primary armament

A TR-85M1 of the 631st Tank Battalion fires at a target during a military exercise.

The main armament of the TR-85M1 is the 100 mm A308 rifled tank gun (an adaptation of the M1977 towed anti-tank gun made by Arsenal Reșița) that was also fitted to the TR-77 tanks.[13] The TR-85M1 has a rate of fire of about 4-7 rounds per minute and can carry up to 41 projectiles inside the tank. The gun barrel is fitted with a bore evacuator and has a thermal sleeve. The TR-85 tanks use a manual loader. The modernized version has a number of improvements to increase the reliability of the gun. The hydraulic buffer was improved by replacing the rubber sealing and the electroerosion of the chrome layer from the hydraulic buffer and recuperator has been removed by changing the design and manufacturing process.[12]

The gun can fire APFSDS-T (BM-421 Sg),

RHAe at 90° at 500 meters, 425 mm at 1000 meters and 328 mm at 4000 meters.[15]

Secondary armament

The 12.7 mm DShKM machine gun and the MATIS thermal camera (above the gun barrel)

The TR-85M1 tank has two machine guns:

  1. A
    DShKM heavy machine gun
    in a pintle mount on the loader's hatch ring. The DShK machine gun is made by UM Cugir and can be used as a light antiaircraft weapon. To fire and reload the weapon manually, the gunner has to partially expose himself to suppressive fire.
  2. A 7.62×54mmR PKM machine gun (also made by UM Cugir as the armoured vehicle machine gun version of the md. 66 machine gun[16]) in a coaxial mount to the right of the main gun. The coaxial MG is aimed and fired with the same fire control system (Ciclop) used for the main gun.

Aiming

The TR-85M1 is equipped with the local-made Ciclop-M (

Cyclops-M, M stands for modernized) ballistic fire-control system (FCS) computer, a third generation FCS and an improvement of the prior, second generation, Ciclop FCS (used on the TR-85 version and equipped with an Intel 8080 microprocessor, 1 ko of random-access memory (RAM) and 12 ko of system memory). According to the manual of the Ciclop-M fire control system, the ballistic solution generated ensures a hit percentage greater than 95% for a target under 2000 meters and greater than 75% for a target between 2000 and 3000 meters.[17] Also, the Ciclop-M can be used to aim at a target located up to 6 km away with the OF-421 high explosive round, up to 5 km away for the BM-421 Sg APFSDS-T round, 4 km for the armour-piercing ammunition (AP-T) rounds and up to 3 km for the high-explosive anti-tank
(HEAT) rounds. The coaxial machine gun can be aimed at a maximum distance of 2 km using the FCS of the tank.

The gun is electrically stabilized on two axes by the

EADS computer aided stabilization system.[9] The new stabilization system improves the accuracy of the main gun and reduces the target engagement time, turret temperature, noise, fire hazard and maintenance. The turret has RKS rolling-element bearings (roller bearings) to ensure better stabilising of the A308 gun. The gunner's day sight telescopic periscope features an integrated laser rangefinder (200 m to 5.000 m measurement distance) and an electronic reticle. Above the gun barrel there is a SAGEM MATIS thermal viewer designed to operate at wavelengths between 3 and 5 μm in the spectral band. Initially, the TR-85 M1 tanks had an inferior SAGEM ALIS thermal viewer (8-12 μm in the spectral band) for the gunner, now present in export configurations. The driver has an AONP-I passive night sight, which is also the standard night vision device for the gunner on the older TR-85 tanks.[18][19] The commander has a Société Française des Instruments de Mesure (SFIM) EC2−55R panoramic sight with a second generation SAGEM image intensification system that can be independently directed to the target.[20]

Mobility

A TR-85M1 without the side skirts.

The original TR-85 was powered by the 830 horsepower 8VS-A2T2, 4 stroke, 8-cylinder, liquid-cooled, turbo charged direct injection diesel engine, and a six speed (four forward, two reverse) THM-5800 hydromechanic transmission (engaging under load, one power flow in straight run and two power flows in turns with planetary final transmission), giving it a governed top speed of 50 km/h on paved roads. The TR-85M1 has an improved version of the original engine. The new 8VS-A2T2M provides 860 horsepower and has a top road speed of 60 km/h. However, because the weight of the tank increased from 42 tons to 50 tons, the power-to-weight ratio has been reduced from 19.7 to 17.2 hp/tonne. The tank has a maximum road range of about 400 km and can be fitted with two optional 200-liter drum-type fuel tanks at the rear of the vehicle for an increased operational range. Like the T-54/55 series, the TR-85 has an unditching beam and a snorkel (to allow river crossings) mounted at the rear of the hull. To meet the power demands of the new equipment, a Kollmorgen generating set has been installed. The new power generation system provides 20 kW of stable voltage.

The TR-85 tanks have a torsion bar suspension. The modernized version also has eight telescopic hydro-gas shock-absorbers to increase the overall speed.[12] The running gear consists of six dual rubber-tyred road wheels and four return rollers per side, with the idler wheel at the front and drive sprocket at the rear. The first two road wheels have characteristic, prominent gaps between them and the rest of the road wheels. The tank has two bolt tracks with metal-rubber articulations. The M1 version has aluminum alloy road wheels.[12] The braking system has been improved by replacing the old wet multi-disc brakes with dry multi-disc brakes and the old hydraulic system with a new servomechanism.[12]

Interior

The TR-85 has a typical tank layout: driver's compartment at the front, fighting compartment in the center and engine compartment in the rear. The four-man crew consists of the commander, driver, gunner and loader. The driver's hatch is on the front left of the hull roof. The commander is seated on the left side of the turret, with the gunner to his front and the loader on the right. The TR-85 has a cramped crew compartment, a trait of the

Romanian Army, the recommended maximum height is 1.68m as in practice anyone taller must sit in an uncomfortable position with limited physical movement.[21] The communication system consists of HF and UHF transceivers with intelligent frequency hopping and encryption.[12]
The crew has an intercom with 4+1 stations.

Variants

DMT-85M1 armored engineer vehicle
  • TR-85 - basic model, produced from 1986 until 1990.
  • TER-85 - armoured recovery vehicle based on the TR-85 chassis.
  • TR-85M1 "Bizonul" - modernized version, has been in service since 1997.[1]
  • DMT-85M1 - Armoured engineer vehicle based on the TR-85M1 chassis with a new, fixed superstructure, a 6.5t crane and a Pearson's TWMP mine clearing plough. The commander has a cupola with RWS.[22] Five were built between 2007 and 2009.[9]

The TR-85 tank has been referred to in Western sources as the TM-800, M1978 or Model 1978 and TR-800. The Romanian Army currently uses only the TR-85 and TR-85M1 designations. However, the early prototypes of the TR-85M1 were known as the TR-85M or TR-85M1A. The add-on armour of these tanks had a different shape and was welded. Also, the turret bustle had a different shape and the bore evacuator had a different position. A TR-85M1A variant is currently on display at the

National Military Museum
in Bucharest.

In 2002, a TR-85M1 tank was tested with a V12 Iveco 1200 hp engine, but did not enter production.[23][24] The prototype was referred to as the TR-85M2 tank in some sources, however there is no proof that the Romanian Army ever used this designation.

In 2007, when the DMT-85M1 was developed, there were also plans for other derivative vehicles based on the TR-85M1 chassis, including an

armored recovery vehicle version and an armoured vehicle-launched bridge.[23][24]
These variants are currently in development.

Operators

  • Romania - The Romanian Land Forces operated 249 TR-85 and 54 TR-85M1 tanks in 2014,[25] falling to 227 TR-85 and 54 TR-85M1 tanks in 2017.[26] The modernization program is still in progress.[27]
  • T-54/55 and TR-580 tanks in 1989.[29]

See also

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b "Romania pursues replacement MBT | Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  2. ISBN 9780582210028
    – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "TR-85-M1 Main Battle Tank" (PDF). romarm.ro. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Tancul TR 85 M1 - Bizonul". forter.ro. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Tancul Românesc - O istorie (1) (History of the Romanian Tank, part 1)" (in Romanian). Statul Major al Forțelor Terestre (Romanian Land Forces Staff). Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  6. ISBN 0-89526-570-2
    , p. 37
  7. ^ S. Zaloga, p. 15
  8. ^ a b "Nicolae Ceaușescu și problemele tancurilor produse în țară (Ceaușescu and the problems of Romanian-built tanks)" (in Romanian). Jurnalul.ro. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Tancul Românesc - O istorie (2) (History of the Romanian Tank, part 2)" (in Romanian). Statul Major al Forțelor Terestre (Romanian Land Forces Staff). Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  10. ^ "DPA (Romanian Department of Armament)" (in Romanian). dpa.ro. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  11. ^ "TR-85M1" (in Romanian). umbucuresti.ro. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  12. ^
    ISSN 1582-6384
  13. ^ "Guns and howitzers of Arsenal Resita". arsenal.ro. Retrieved 26 February 2011.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ a b "100 mm M309 APFSDS-T cartridge (International), Tank and anti-tank guns". Janes.com. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  15. ^ "ROMARM description of BM-421 Sg". romarm.ro. Retrieved 26 February 2011.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "ROMARM description of the AVMG". romarm.ro. Retrieved 26 February 2011.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "Fire Control System on tanks" (PDF) (in Romanian). ArmyAcademy.ro. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  18. ^ "IOR AONP-1 Night Sight (Romania), Land systems - Armoured fighting vehicles - Commander's and gunner's sights". Janes.com. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  19. ^ "Improved passive gunner night sight for romanian TR-85M1 tank AONP-1". prooptica.ro. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  20. ^ "UZINA MECANICA BUCURESTI SA" (in Romanian). Romanian Center for Trade and Investment. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  21. ^ "Lethal Weapon: the Romanian tank" (in Romanian). evz.ro. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  22. ^ "Boost for Romanian Army armoured engineer capability". Janes.com. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  23. ^ a b "Portfolio of The Laboratory for Experimental Research on Armour, Automobile and Tractors (LACEBAT)" (in Romanian). Lacebat.ro. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  24. ^ a b "research projects of MTA (Military Technical Academy)" (in Romanian). mta.ro. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  25. ^ "UN Register of Conventional Arms". Archived from the original on 14 December 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  26. ^ "United Nations Register of Conventional Arms" (PDF). United Nations. 14 August 2017. p. 49. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  27. ^ "Romanian Department of Armament (DPA)" (in Romanian). dpa.ro. Archived from the original on 13 April 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  28. ^ "Trade Registers". SIPRI Arms Transfers Database. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  29. ISBN 978-0080375694
    .
Bibliography

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