M-84

: "This article is about the Yugoslav tank. For other uses, see M84". Infobox Weapon
name= M-84


caption= Serbian Army M-84 MBT
origin= YUG
type= Main battle tank
is_vehicle=yes
service= 1985 – present
used_by=SRB
KUW
HRV
BIH
SLO
wars= Gulf war
Yugoslav wars
designer=
design_date= 1979 - 1983
manufacturer=
unit_cost=700.000 USD during the late 80's
production_date= 1984 - 1991
number= ~652
variants=
crew= 3 (Commander, gunner, driver)
length= 9.53 m
width= 3.57 m
height= 2.19 m
weight= 48 tonnes
armour= 5 lance grenades fumigating, composite alloy; including high-hardness steel, tungsten and plastic filler with ceramic component.
primary_armament= 125 mm 2A46 smoothbore gun
secondary_armament= 7.62 mm M86 coaxial machine gun, 12.7 mm M87 anti-aircraft machine gun
engine=diesel V-46TK
engine_power= 1,000 hp (750 kW)
transmission=
fuel_capacity=1200 + 400l
suspension=torsion bar
clearance=
speed= 68 km/h
pw_ratio= 24.10 hp/tonne
vehicle_range= 700 km

The M-84 is a modern 2nd generation main battle tank manufactured by the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The M84 is in service with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian Ground Army, Kuwaiti Army, Slovenian Armed Forces and Armed Forces of Serbia.

Development and production

The M-84 main battle tank is a Yugoslavian version of the Soviet T-72. Some improvements over the T-72 include a domestic fire-control system, improved composite armor, and a 1000-hp engine. The M-84 entered service with the Yugoslav People's Army in 1984. The improved M-84A entered service a few years later.

There were about 240 factories from ex-Yugoslavia which directly participated in production of the M-84 MBT plus about 1000 of them which participated indirectly. Main factories were:

In the late 1980s, a project for a replacement tank called the Vihor (Whirlwind) was started. Unlike the M-84, the Vihor was not a copy of a Soviet tank, but a new design from scratch. However, due to the disintegration of Yugoslavia, the Vihor project was abandoned.

The latest Serbian version of the M-84 is the M-84AB1, unveiled in 2004. It features a new fire control system, Kontakt-5 ERA armor, AT-11 Sniper anti-tank missiles, Agava-2 thermal sight, and the Shtora defensive suite. It is very similar to the Russian T-90S, both in appearance and in capability.

Croatia developed a highly modernized prototype version of the M-84 under the designation M-95 Degman. The M-84D will be the series production version, essentially an M-95 Degman with minor changes and upgrades to which standard all Croatian M-84s and T-72s will be brought.

About 150 M-84 tanks have been exported to Kuwait. About $500 million was earned from the sale in 1990-91, representing the Yugoslav military industry's most successful export at the time. The disintegration of Yugoslavia in 1991 prevented all further exports. Kuwait in fact ordered 215 tanks but the whole number never came. Croatia is now in negotiations with Kuwait to modernize their fleet to the M-84D standard and to produce and sell another 65 M-84D tanks. This represents an interesting information because Kuwait rejected America's proposal to replace their M-84s with the M1 Abrams.Fact|date=June 2008

Armament

The M-84A is armed with a 2A46 125 mm smooth bore cannon. The gas cylinder positioned in the middle of the barrel is shielded with a thermal coating that minimizes deformation of the barrel from high temperatures and ensures it is cooled at the same rate during rapid firing. The M84 uses an automatic loader, which enables it to sustain a firing rate of 8 rounds per minute.

The cannon's ammunition is stowed underneath the turret (40 rounds) within the hull of the tank. This concept was inherited from the original Soviet design for T-72 and is arguably the tank's greatest flaw. While it enables fast rates of fire, it also makes the M-84 vulnerable. This weakness was exploited by Croatian soldiers in the Croatian War of Independence and Slovenian soldiers in the Ten-Day War, to the detriment of the YPA's tank crews. In later stages of the conflict, losses were reduced by adjusting and improving tactics.

Along with its primary armament, the M-84 is also armed with one 7.62 mm M86 coaxial machine gun, and one 12.7 mm M87 anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the commander's turret.

Equipment

Twelve smoke grenades are positioned in front of the turret in banks of five and seven grenades. Thermal imaging and infrared guidance are positioned on the top-right side of the turret. The M-84 has a search light used in short-range combat situations.

The tank can ford 1.2 meters of water at any time, or up to 5 meters with a proper snorkel applied.

The M-84 tank has excellent nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection capabilities, and the engine filter is of very good quality.

The armour of the M-84AB1 tank consists of cylindrical pad, high-hardness steel, titanium,Tungsten, aluminum, Nera, as well as modular Kontakt-5 reactive armour plates. Croatian M-95 Degman versions use improved armor protection with four layers of titanium, two layers of tungsten and three layers of ceramic armor giving protection of 592 mm against HEAT, APSF and Chemical attacks. In addition to this, the Degman is extensively covered with explosive reactive armour plating.

All versions of the M-84 have a crew of three. The commander sits on the right side of the turret, the gunner on the left, and the driver sits centered at the front end of the vehicle. Like most Soviet derived vehicles, the M-84 series of tanks do not have a loader, due to the tank's autoloader.

Engine

The base M-84 engine is a 12-cylinder water-cooled V46-6 diesel engine, rated at 574 kW. The improved M-84A has a more modern and more powerful, V46-TK 735 kW (1,000 hp) engine. With maximum fuel capacity (1,200 Litres) the tank's range is 450 km, and with external fuel tanks, this range can be extended to 650 km.

The Croatian-made variants have enhanced power plants. The M-84A4 Sniper model has a German-built 820 kW (1,100 hp) engine, while the M-95 Degman has a 895 kW (1,200 hp) engine, the most powerful of all M-84 variants. Degman also has maximum fuel capacity (1,450 Litres).

Modernization

In 2005, the Yugoipmort SDPR displayed its new MBT, M-84AB1 later M-2001, a largely modernized variant of the M-84AB tank. This new tank is equipped with an improved fire-control system with integrated day/night sight. The M84A1 gun was replaced with a similar but improved gun which, along with better control characteristics, enables easy and fast replacement of the cannon barrel in field conditions. The M-2001 tank is able to fire Anti-tank guided missiles with laser guidance through the barrel, which enables accurate engagement of enemy tanks up to 9 km.

The M-2001 is equipped with Non-explosive and non-energetic reactive armour (NERA) which offers protection against modern tandem cumulative warheads. Beside better armor, the new tank is equipped with modern electro-optical system for defense against wire and laser guided anti-tank missiles.

imilar tanks

The M-84 in its very nature is nearly identical to the Soviet T-72, upon which it is based. However, Yugoslavia was not the only one to wish to license-produce a T-72 variant for its armed forces. Other former Eastern Bloc nations, as well as successor states to the Soviet Union, today produce tanks very similar to the M-84 and its offshoots.

The 3rd-generation Russian T-90 MBT is highly comparable to the Serbian M-84AB1. The majority of the M-84AB1's parts come directly from Russia, insuring a high degree of similarity and interchangeability.

Variants

M-84AB (Yugoslavia)

The M-84AB comes with the new SUV-M-84 computerized fire-control system, including the DNNS-2 gunner's day/night sight, with independent stabilization in two planes and integral laser rangefinder. It also comes with the TNP-160 periscope, TNPA-65 auxiliary periscope, and DNKS-2 day/night commander's periscopes, as well as the TNPO-168V driver's periscope. Furthermore, the M-84AB is fitted with new gyrocompass, communication and intercom systems. This variant is in service in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti 35th Fatah (Martyr’s) Armoured Brigade, armed with several dozen M-84AB's, took part in Operation Desert Storm. During the fighting, only two M-84ABs were lost, but both were later recovered.

M-84ABN (Yugoslavia)

This variant is simply a M-84AB, fitted with land navigation equipment.

M-84ABK command tank (Yugoslavia)

This is a M-84AB fitted with extensive communication equipments, land navigation equipment, and a generator for the command role.

M-84A4 Sniper (Croatia)

This version includes the all-new SCS-84 day/night sight, DBR-84 ballistic computer and improved elevation and traverse sensors. Croatia purchased 20 of these models in 2003 from its domestic factory. These tanks have a different engine of German origin, rated at 1,100 hp instead of the 1,000 hp powerplant originally installed. A Racal communication suite also replaced the older communication set. As of 2008, The entire Croatian M-84 tank fleet was upgraded to M-84A4 standard.

M-84AI armoured recovery vehicle (Yugoslavia and Poland)}

During the mid-1990s Kuvait requested an armoured recovery vehicle variant of the M-84A tank as part of the deal to buy a large batch of M-84A tanks. The vehicle had to be developed in very short time so it was decided that it should be based on an already working foreign vehicle rather than designed and built independently. The Polish WTZ-3 license was bought and Polish parts were used in the M-84AI project completed in the factory "14 October" in Kruševac. There was also a plan for a M-84ABI for Kuwait, but this idea failed. It is armed only with a M-87 12.7 mm machine-gun fitted to the commander’s hatch and 12 smoke grenade mortars (8 right and 4 left). Standard equipment includes: A TD-50 crane, front-mounted stabilizing dozer blade, main and secondary winches.

M-84AB1 later M-2001 (Serbia)

This is the latest upgrade package of the M-84 in the Serbian army, adding a new fire control system, new armour consisting of cylindrical pad, high-hardness steel, titanium, aluminum, and NERA as well as modular Kontakt-5 armour, new AT-11 Sniper and Agava-2 thermal sights, and the Shtora defense suite.The first time M-84AB1 (initially known as the M-2001) appeared in public was in July of 2004 at the Nikinci military base. It appeared to be very similar to the Russian T-90S, both in appearance and in capability. The differences reportedly consist of better armour on the T-90S, whereas the M-84AB1 has superior maneuverability. The M-84AB1 was also tested in Kuwait as part of an international tender, but its bid was not answered. Fuel and ammunition are located in armoured compartments with blow-out panels to protect the crew from the risk of the tank's own ammunition exploding if the tank is damaged. It can also survive multiple hits at relatively close ranges from ATGMs or other hits from tanks. New thermal imaging cameras were mounted for the commander and driver so that the tank can operate at night. The speed is 70 km/h and also the Engine is a 1,200 hp diesel, and it's 125 mm 2A46M smooth bore gun that can take out enemy for 800 m away.

M-84D and Degman (Croatia)

This variant brings existing M-84 variants to the M-84D standard, equipped with a new 1,200 hp (895 Kw) engine and new RRAK ERA armour. The M-84D is equipped with a Rafael - Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station, and a new Omega ballistic computer (Slovenian Fotona-made digital ballistic computer). The M-84D has an electric cupola, which means it can fire at two targets at once. It has a new SDZ defence system, which has the capability to protect the crew from biological, chemical and nuclear strikes. The M-84D is also equipped with new thermal imaging that is able to see at night, through fog, in shade, and during a storm. A new Racal communication system was also installed, which now comes as standard on all new M84D and M84A4 tanks. Diehl, the German firm which supplies track for the Leopard 2 is also supplying tracks for the Croatian M-84D and M8-4A4 tanks. The M-84A4 and M-84D have an operational range of 700 km and a maximum speed of 70 km/h.The M-84D has also a 15% faster auto loader, meaning 9 shells per minute instead of 8 shells per minute. [ [http://www.hrbi.hr/_images/files/izdavastvo_52.pdf Holistic Approach to MBT development ] ] .The M-84D is a second version of the upgraded tanks.It has also chains on the back of the tank to protect the engine and has SLAT armour around the ammunition to prevent an ATG or a shell from hitting it. M-84D received few additional upgrades, Turret basket was added to provide extra space for extra ammunition and to provide increased armour protection. Turret basket has additional slat armour, which adds additional armour to the exterior of the tank. M-84D will also feature LIRD-4B - Laser irradiation detector and warner and LAHAT anti tank missiles. There is a potential for integration of Swiss 120 mm compact gun developed by RUAG. This option is being now seriously considered as this would allow Croatia to use NATO 120 m standard ammunition. 120 mm RUAG compact gun is a preferred option over German Rheinmetall L44 120 mm cannon which is more expensive and would require German support, where as RUAG will provide technical knowhow and technology transfer to Đuro Đaković specijalna vozila d.d..

M-95 Degman although similar in concept to M-84D development, is a separate development based on M-91 Vihor tank. Croatian Army had 2 M-91 prototypes and all necessary documentation for full serial production of M-91 Vihor tank. Only 2 M-91 Vihor tanks were ever built, and these were subsequently used for Croatian development of M-95 Degman tank. Therefore, M-95 Degman is a totally brand new tank based on M-91 Vihor and not on the M-84 series.

Combat service

Desert Storm

Several months prior to the Gulf war, Kuwait ordered 170 M-84ABs, 15 M-84ABI ARVs and 15 command M-84ABK tanks, from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in order to replace older British tanks. After the signature of the contract, four M-84A tanks were taken from Niš military camp and delivered, however the Iraqi Army soon captured them, during the occupation. Further deliveries were stopped for the duration of the invasion. The Kuwaiti 35th Fatah Armoured Brigade, is equipped with 70 M-84s in its "order of battle". The brigade did not directly take part in battles with Iraqi tanks because the M-84s were very similar to T-72s. The M-84 was however very effective against T-62s and T-55s, and it was very simple to operate, which wasn't the case with the US-made M1 Abrams.Fact|date=February 2008 Also, few of these tanks have been destroyed in friendly fire.Unreferencedsection|date=February 2008 In a recent new tank acquisition tender, involving the Polish PT-91 Twardy, US M1A2 Abrams, and two variants of the M-84, the Croatian M-95 Degman and the Serbian M-84 AB1, the Kuwaiti Army let the Polish, Serbian, and American bids expire, and only responded to the Croatian one. [ [http://www.poslovni.hr/39458.aspx Poslovni dnevnik - Đuro Đaković radit će 65 novih tenkova za Kuvajt? ] ] The Kuwaiti army currently has 146 M-84AB MBTs, 3 M-84ABK command tanks and 3 M-84ABN tanks, in its inventory.

Yugoslav wars

Slovenia

During the Ten-Day War in Slovenia, М-84 tanks serving with the Yugoslav People's Army (YPA) units, were tasked with opening border/frontier posts and regaining control over all Yugoslav borders. Given the fact that Slovenia had no army at the time and no armoured units the YPA saw no need to deploy M-84 tanks at the frontier.

Nonetheless, M-84s saw some action; they were heavily used to break through truck barricades with varying degrees of success; most often, tanks tried to punch through, with little or no success.

The YPA lost some 20 M-84s in these actions and also it has abandoned about 60 of them. Slovenia inherited all the M-84s within its territory, once the ceasefire and Slovene independence, was agreed upon.

Croatia

The M-84 saw action in the Battle of Vukovar, where the JNA, perhaps naïvely deployed large columns of Main battle tanks without the support of the infantry. Tanks and APC's found themselves extremely exposed, and in one single day of fighting the YPA suffered losses of over 100 armored vehicles, mostly T-55's and about 20 M-84 tanks. Croatian Army had captured about 50 M-84 MBTs from Yugoslav Peoples Army during the Battle of the Barracks.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

During the war in Bosnia, M-84s saw little action; the mainstay of all 3 warring parties was the, now-obsolete, T-55.At the beginning of war, JNA units located in Bosnia and Herzegovina had passed all their equipment to the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS). VRS had about 150-200 M-84s, while the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina captured only three M-84 tanks. A number of M-84 tanks were used during the Siege of Sarajevo, as well during smaller localized conflicts. The number of M-84 tanks destroyed during the Bosnian war is unknown.

Kosovo War and Preševo Valley conflict

During the Kosovo war, the М-84 was used by the 211th and 252nd armored Brigades of the Yugoslav Army (now Serbian Land Forces). They were kept for fight against possible NATO ground invasion on Kosovo and Metohija, while for fights against Albanian rebels the army used T-55 tanks which were very successful in combinations with infantry (Yugoslav army and Serbian police), BVP M-80 IFV's, BOV-3 and M53/59 Praga SPAAGs.

NATO had originally claimed to have destroyed around 300 of the Yugoslav Army's tanks (26%), but withdrew their claims after it was clearly visible that the army itself was untouched as it withdrew from Kosovo in an orderly fashion while passing NATO troops, along with documented proof to counter NATO claims. From 300 Yugoslav Army tanks at Kosovo, only 14 were destroyed by NATO air strikes. From that number, 9 M-84 and 5 T-55's destroyed both by NATO aviation and KLA rebels.

The army used clever tactics to conceal their forces throughout Serbia and place countless "dummy" targets in their midst ranging from tanks, camps, bridges, roads, anti-aircraft units and other potential targets. M-84s saw their most recent action during Preševo Valley conflict, when the Yugoslav army and Serbian special police forces fought against UCPMB separatists.

Gallery

Operators

SRB

Serbia has 212 M-84 MBT's in M-84, M-84A, M-84AI and M-84AK versions in active service plus about ten tanks in reserve. There are plans for modernization of Serbian M-84s in to M-2001. [ [http://www.vojska.mod.gov.yu/eng/naoruzanje/kov/oklopno_borbena_sredstva/Tenk_M84.html Serbian Armed Forces ] ]

flag|Kuwait

Kuwait is equipped with 149 M-84AB MBT's in M-84AB, M-84ABK and M-84ABN versions bought during the Desert Storm from SFR Yugoslavia. Kuwait will probably modernize its tank fleet to M-84D standard. [ [http://www.poslovni.hr/39458.aspx Poslovni dnevnik - Đuro Đaković radit će 65 novih tenkova za Kuvajt? ] ] ;Kuwaiti Army:
*35th Fatah (Martyr’s) Armoured Brigade equipped with 70 main battle tanks.

flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina

The are 16 M-84 MBT's used for training. ;Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina:
*Armored Mechanized Battalion in Manjača operating 16 M-84 main battle tanks for training.As of 2008, 50 M-84s have been retired due to insufficient funds. Only 45 M-60 tanks will be kept in service along with mere 16 M-84 mostly delegated to training role. This decision was purely political with an aim of maintaining only western-built equipment regardless of the fact that M-84 tanks are far more capable machines than M-60.

flag|Croatia

Croatian army is operating 80 M-84 MBT's of which about 40 were captured during the war. At least 40 were newly produced postwar M-84A4 Sniper variants. All tanks have been brought to this level as of 2008.;Croatian Ground Army:Operating 80 M-84 tanks which will be upgraded to M-84D standard, as well as at least 28 new M-95 to be procured as a long term policy.

flag|Slovenia

Slovenian army is operating 54 M-84 tanks. Most of them are in active service, modernized to the M-84A4 Sniper standard, but there is also a number of those which aren't operational. They will be replaced after 2010.;Slovenian Army:
*45th Armoured Battalion of 72nd Brigade equipped with 54 main battle tanks.

Former operators

YUG

Yugoslav Peoples Army operated about 450 M-84 MBT's in M-84 and M-84A versions. The plan was to build about 1000 M-84s to repalce old T-34, M4 Sherman, M-47 Patton tanks and a number of T-55 MBT's. moust of JNA tanks were passed to successor states, FR Yugoslavia and Republika Srpska, while the number of them was also captured by Croatia and Slovenia.;Yugoslav Peoples Army:
*1. Armoured Brigade of 14th Corps at Vrhnika.
*4. Armoured Brigade of 10th Corps at Jastrebarsko (only one Battalion equipped with M-84 main battle tanks).
*211. Armoured Brigade of 21st Corps at Niš.
*252. Armoured Brigade of 37st Corps at Kraljevo equipped with M-84 main battle tanks from first set.
*329. Armoured Brigade of 5th Corps at Banja Luka equipped with M-84 and T-72M main battle tanks.
*51. Armoured Brigade of 24th Corps at Pančevo.
*243. Armoured Brigade of 41st Corps from Skoplje.

flag|FR Yugoslavia

;Yugoslav Army:
*252. Armoured Brigade of Kragujevac Corps at Kraljevo.
*211. Armoured Brigade of Niš Corps at Niš.

flag|Republika Srpska

Durign the Bosnian war, Bosnian Serbs army has operated a big number of ex-JNA M-84 MBTs. Afther the war, a lot of tanks were transfeed to FR Yugoslavia because Republika Srpska had limit on 137 tanks. During the 2004 about 15 M-84 tanks were scarped. Afther the Army of Republika Srpska has beacome part of Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina, fate of M-84's is unknow.;Army of Republika Srpska:
*101. Armoured Brigade at Banja Luka operateing about 100 M-84 and T-72M main battle tanks.

flagicon|Serbian Krajina Republic of Serbian Krajina

Serbian Army of Krajina was equipped with about 30 M-84 main battle tanks which were the best tanks used by Krajina Serbs during the war in Croatia. They were used in critical regions by Special Forces Corps, one of the most elite units of Krajina Serbs military forces in battles against Croatian Army. However the Krajina Serbs military forces were poorly trained and lacked heart and the Croats managed to destroy about 15 M-84's while the rest of them evacuated to Republika Srpska and FR Yugoslavia after Operation Storm.;Serbian Army of Krajina:
*2. Armoured Brigade of Special Forces Corps located near Petrova Gora operateing 31 M-84 and 2 T-72M main battle tanks.

flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina|1992

First M-84 tanks operated by Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina were captured during the 1992 durign the battles near Doboj. ;Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
*1. Tesanijska Brigade, operateing 3 M-84 main battle tanks.

Cancelled Orders [ [http://stef124.tripod.com/m84-inter.HTM Interesovanje drugih zemalja za tenk M ] ]

flag|Libya

Libyan had ratified a deal with Yugoslavia and ordered about 200 M-84 main battle tanks which were already produced, but they were not delivered because the war in Yugoslavia had started.

flag|Pakistan

During the 1990, the Pakitani military was interested in buying a number of M-84 main battle tanks from Yugoslavia. One tank has been send to Pakistan on testing and the Pakistani military top was satisfied with it, but the deal was never made because of the situation in Yugoslavia in that period.

Related content

Related development

*Lion of Babylon tank
*T-64
*T-72
*T-80
*T-84
*T-90
*PT-91 Twardy
*M-2001
*M-95 Degman

Comparable AFV

M1 Abrams
Leopard 1

Designation sequence

T-72 - M-84 - Vihor - M-95 Degman & M-2001

References

External links

* [http://www.odbrana.mod.gov.yu/odbrana001/64-65.pdf Article on the M84-AB1, published in "Odbrana"] (.pdf, in Serbian)
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/m-84.htm M-84] at the FAS.
* [http://naoruzanje.paracin.co.yu/m84.html] at the Naoružanje Paraćin (in Serbian)
* [http://www.nacional.hr/en/articles/view/33530/18/] Kuwait deal with Croatia to update M-84 to M-84D.