I hope you guys will enjoy driving with this bear of a tank around!

Features

• VTOL and Yaw to move around.
• Pitch and Roll to control the main gun and the turret. Also controls the MG mounted on the cupola.
• AG 1 for main gun controls. The gun has two types of ammo: APFSDS and Rockets.
• AG 2 for MG controls.
• AG 3 for lights. The front ones also cast light! (sort of)
• AG 4 to activate the smoke dischargers.
• Has Cameras for cupola, driver's hatch, and rear MG view.
• Also benefits from improved protection (similar to armor).

History

• The T-72 is a Soviet second-generation main battle tank that entered production in 1971. About 20,000 T-72 tanks were built, making it one of the most widely produced post–World War II tanks, second only to the T-54/55 family. The T-72 was widely exported and saw service in 40 countries and in numerous conflicts.
• The development of the T-72 was a direct result of the introduction of the T-64 tank. The T-64 (Object 432) was a very ambitious project to build a competitive well-armored tank with a weight of not more than 36 tons. Under the direction of Alexander Morozov in Kharkov, a new design emerged with the hull reduced to the minimum size possible. To do this, the crew was reduced to three soldiers, removing the loader by introducing an automated loading system.
• The much smaller design presented a problem when selecting a suitable engine. This led to the introduction of the 700 hp 5TDF engine, which was unreliable, difficult to repair, and had a guaranteed lifespan similar to World War 2 designs.
• Production of the T-64 with a 115-mm gun began in 1964. Plans for an up-gunned T-64A with a more powerful 125-mm gun had already been made in 1963. Problems with the early production run were evident from the start, but a strong lobby formed around Morozov who advocated for the T-64 in Moscow, preventing rival developments and ideas from being discussed.
• Uralvagonzavod produced the first prototype with a 125-mm gun and V-45K engine in 1968 as Object 172. After intensive comparative testing with the T-64A, Object 172 was re-engineered in 1970 to deal with some minor problems. However, being only a mobilization model, serial production of Object 172 was not possible in peacetime. In an unclear political process, decree number 326-113 was issued, which allowed the production of Object 172 in the Soviet Union from 1 January 1972, and freed Uralvagonzavod from the T-64A production.
• The first batch was built as "Object 172M" and, after some modifications, it was tested again in 1973 and accepted into service as the "T-72" under Soviet ministry directive number 554-172 dated 7 August 1973.
• At least some technical documentation on the T-72 is known to have been passed to the CIA by the Polish Colonel Ryszard Kuklinski between 1971 and 1982.
• The T-72A was a modification which came in 1979. It added a laser rangefinder and an electronic fire control system, turret front and top being heavily reinforced with composite armor (nicknamed Dolly Parton by US intelligence), provisions for mounting reactive armor, smoke grenade launchers, flipper armor mount on front mudguards, and some internal changes.

Notes

1. Credit to:
   
   
   
   • BogdanX for the awesome DShK machine gun he was able to build for me a while ago.
   
   
   • Leehopard for helping out with the gun stabilization
   
   
   • BogdanX (again :) ), EternalDarkness, and Dllama4 for testing it before release. Also, special thanks to Bogdan for ironing a few little issues here and there :)
     
     Please make sure to check their profiles and leave a small attention for each :)
   
   
2. Courtesy of mikoyanster for providing the map for that awesome screenshot from the very top and Tully2001 for his just as awesome designer background
3. This build is dedicated to Sauce. Soooo... here it is buddy! You asked for a T-72A (which you said you're currently serving on) and you got a T-72A! Make sure to blow up stuff just like you do with your own T-72A in real life :P