T-72 Antenna Location?

Extra Crispy · Post by **Extra Crispy** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 8:32 pm

I have a pack of T-72s on the painting table and I plan to add antenna to them. Two questions:

Would every tank have them (for Soviets, in 1986)?

Where exactly should they be mounted? Having trouble from google searches seeing where on the turret it should be put?

RedLeif · Post by **RedLeif** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 9:40 pm

all the photo's I've reviewed on the web indicate the only antenae, if installed/fitted/raised is mounted at the very rear of the turret behind the commanders coupola and 12.7mm HMG.

Take a look at this link. It is of a T-72A variant of the tank but should be helpful.
http://www.arcarm.com/Gal01/101-200/gal ... an/00.shtm

The antenna location doesn't appear to change on more modern variants (even the T-90 appears to use the same general location.

what do you use for antenna material? I've used synthetic and natural paint brush bristle. one 2" paint brush from the hardware store has lasted me for years. I also have used human hair (from a red head I used to work with) but the paint brush bristle has been easier to come by.

good luck

Extra Crispy · Post by **Extra Crispy** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:14 am

First time doing antenna so I'm going to use a paint brush bristle. I have shi**y old one that could stand a trim anyway.

thanks for the link.

SKeeM · Post by **SKeeM** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 4:06 am

Only command tanks are said to have them and I have never seen a picture of a Russian tank with one.

av8rmongo · Post by **av8rmongo** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:51 pm

I'm no expert and maybe they're not T-72s but when I google "T-72" it's hard to find a picture of a tank that doesn't have one. The location seems to be exactly as depicted on the model pictures.

SKeeM · Post by **SKeeM** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:49 am

Most of the pictures you find are resent pictures of T72's now and pictures of client state T72's not Cold War Russian T72's. Radios are more common today then they were 30 years ago and tactics have changed a lot between then and now. You have to look for old pictures from the 80's, most of the time they are in black and white.

RedLeif · Post by **RedLeif** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 11:29 pm

the soviets had 'command' versions of many of the variants of the T-72, starting with the T-72 'ural" of 1973.
Per wikipedia "Company command versions were fitted with two R123M/R-173 additional radios and also carried a 10 m telescopic mast. Battalion and regiment command versions were fitted with two R123M/R-173 additional radios and the R-130M that uses the 10 m mast when its erected."

So from a modeling perspective the models of Company, Battalion, & Regimental command tanks 'could' have a prominent aerial.

it is my understanding that the platoon level tanks had receivers only. These do not require the long antenna.

SKeeM · Post by **SKeeM** » Fri Oct 23, 2015 4:07 am

RedLeif wrote:the soviets had 'command' versions of many of the variants of the T-72, starting with the T-72 'ural" of 1973.
Per wikipedia "Company command versions were fitted with two R123M/R-173 additional radios and also carried a 10 m telescopic mast. Battalion and regiment command versions were fitted with two R123M/R-173 additional radios and the R-130M that uses the 10 m mast when its erected."

So from a modeling perspective the models of Company, Battalion, & Regimental command tanks 'could' have a prominent aerial.

it is my understanding that the platoon level tanks had receivers only. These do not require the long antenna.

That is all correct, only command tanks had them.