Russian T‑62 tanks: outdated relics or strategic assets in the Ukraine conflict?
The video was shared by Andrija Tarasenko on Telegram, displaying Russian T-62 tank cohorts, designated in theory to act as field artillery, substituting for instance, the 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers. Following this, another video surfaced, demonstrating a procession of Russian vehicles decimated by Ukrainians, incorporating a single T-62M tank equipped with an identical array of supplementary apparatus.
T-62 tanks - outdated remnants offering no strategic advantage
The T-62 tanks, conceived in the 1960s, were a progression of the T-54/55 series, with key enhancements encompassing fortified armour and the adoption of a smoothbore 115 mm calibre gun.
In Ukraine, T-62M/MW models are most commonly encountered, stemming from the Russian substantial modernisation reserves of the 1980s. These variants were fitted with additional composite armour modules on the turret and hull, with the MW variant further bolstered by Kontakt-1 reactive armour tiles.
Moreover, these tanks were upgraded with an 831 horsepower engine and a refined fire control system complete with a laser rangefinder, facilitating the discharge of 9K116-2 Sheksna guided anti-tank missiles.
Although these enhancements were beneficial 40 years ago, these tanks are now less effective on the battlefield, mainly in use for infantry support with high explosive fragmentation shells. Their armour is insufficient against contemporary threats, and additional protections fail to ensure effective defence against modern attack systems, such as 'Baba Yaga' type drones.
The absence of thermal imaging in the fire control system is a significant drawback, despite the availability of upgrade packages aiming to alleviate this issue, encompassing improvements in anti-tank capabilities. The 115 mm calibre gun struggles to pierce the armour of newer tanks like the T-72.
The only major upgrade relates to the application of an electronic warfare system, hypothetically designed to guard against FPV drones; however, there are documented instances where Ukrainian forces successfully bypassed these protective measures.
Old equipment at the forefront — not all outdated assets are ineffective
Nonetheless, it's worth acknowledging that not all antiquated military equipment is ineffective, as their efficacy depends on their specific strengths and the manner of operation. An instance of this could be the Maxim M1910/30 machine guns, utilised by both sides of the conflict, which have proven highly effective in anti-drone defence or for fortifications. Their employment during direct combat would, however, be unwise.
A similar condition applies to the Leopard 1A5 tanks on the Ukrainian side. Despite their armour being even less effective than the T-62, they are characterised by their exceptional mobility and advanced fire control system with thermal imaging, inherited from the Leopard 2 tanks, which enables them to launch the first attack in a conflict. Such an advantage is not a feature of T-62 tanks, which aside from other deficiencies, need a larger (four-person) crew compared to the three-person crew of T-72 tanks, thereby making it a larger target when destroyed.
