Ukrainian soldiers praise effectiveness of Polish PT‑91 Twardy tanks
In one of the Ukrainian TV stations, an interview was conducted with local soldiers about the PT-91 Twardy tanks. These machines were sent to the front from Poland and are proving to be very effective during clashes with the Russians. What elements of the PT-91 Twardy's equipment, according to the Ukrainian soldiers, deserve the most recognition?
The PT-91 Twardy is a tank that was developed in the 1990s. It is a significant modernization of the Soviet T-72M1 tank and was used for years only by Poland and, to a lesser extent, Malaysia, which purchased export variants of the PT-91M. It was only after the outbreak of war in Ukraine that the local army received the PT-91 Twardy as support from Poland.
The most important elements of PT-91 Twardy according to Ukrainians
One of the most important changes compared to the original model is the use of ERAWA reactive armour in the Polish tank. This armour consists of blocks made of two armour plates with a small explosive charge between them. According to Ukrainian soldiers, this feature makes the PT-91 Twardy significantly superior to the T-72M1 in terms of durability and crew safety.
"If you compare it face to face with the Soviet T-72, the PT-91 Twardy has a much better chance of survival and victory in a duel," assessed one of the Ukrainian soldiers.
ERAWA is distinguished by the relatively small size of its blocks, allowing it to fit well over protected surfaces. This solution reduces the probability of penetration of the main armour of the tank by about 50-70% in the case of shaped charges.
Despite the use of ERAWA reactive armour, the PT-91 Twardy tank does not fall short of the Soviet T-72M1 in terms of mobility, as it is equipped with a more powerful engine (about 634 kW), which is also praised by the Ukrainians.
Previously, footage from the front showed that the PT-91 Twardy performs excellently even in very difficult terrain. On paved surfaces, the Polish tank can reach speeds of around 60 km/h.
The PT-91 Twardy weighs just under 46,000 kg. The main armament of this tank is a 125 mm cannon. In addition to that, the crew also has two machine guns at their disposal - 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm. Importantly, the Polish tank is equipped with the DRAWA fire control system and the Obra self-defence system that uses smoke grenades.
