Armament |
The PT-16 or PT-2016 keeps the standard turret of the T-72 / PT-91 MBTs, but the original Soviet-made 125mm cannon is replaced by a new 120 mm 50 caliber NATO standard smoothbore cannon TGMSB-120 from Slovakia or a Ukrainian KBM2 gun chambered for 120x570 mm NATO standard ammunition. The turret of the PT-16 is equipped with a new autoloader for ammunition located at the rear of the turret designed by the Polish Company ZMT (Zaklady Mechaniczne Tarnow). It has a total of 22 rounds of ready-to-use ammunition which enables the PT-16 a rate of fire of 12 rounds per minute. The new gun is capable to fire the latest ammunition as the 120 mm DM63 APFSDS and DM11 HE rounds. Second armament of the PT-16 includes a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun mounted to the right of the main armament and one ZSMU A4 remotely controlled weapon station (RWS) mounted to the right of turret roof which can be armed with one WKM 12.7mm heavy machine, a Polish version of the Soviet-made NSV 12.7mm machine gun. The RWS can be also armed with one 40mm automatic grenade launcher. A bank of six smoke grenade dischargers is mounted on each side at the rear part of the turret. |
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The turret of the PT-16 is fitted with a ZSMU A4 remotely controlled weapon station (RWS) armed with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. |
Design and protection |
The PT-16 is divided in three main compartments with the driver's position at the front and center of the hull, the turret in the center and the and the power pack at the rear. The PT-16 has a crew of three, the driver at the front of the hull which has has a single-piece hatch and one single day vision block. The other two crew members are seated in the turret, with the gunner on the left and the commander on the right. The PT-16 is fitted with a new modular composite armour package mounted at the front and on each side of the hull. The original turret of the PT-91 / T-72 is upgraded with the same type of armour. The turret and the hull offer protection against large-caliber KE rounds, precision-guided munitions and guided and unguided antitank weapons. The roof of the turret provides protection against artillery shell fragments. Side and rear parts of the turret are fitted with closely spaced chains with ball ends around the lower part. This has been designed to detonate HEAT projectiles before they can hit the turret ring. The same protection is used on the Israeli-made Merkava main battle tank family. To increase protection against anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attacks, the rear part of the turret is protected by a slat armour. The front part of the hull is protected by rubber skirts. There is two small exhaust grille at the rear of the hull designed to reduce the thermal signature of the tank. The PT-16 has a combat weight of 47,500 kg and a length of 9.67 m, a width of 3.34 m and a height of 2.6 m. |
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The lower part of the turret is protected with spaced chains with ball ends to detonate HEAT projectiles before they can hit the turret ring. |
Mobility |
The PT-16 can be motorized with three types of engine from 1,000 to 1,200 hp. It can run at a maximum road speed of 70 km/h and 40 km/h in off-road conditions. The torsion bar suspension each side consists of six road wheels with the idler at the front, drive sprocket at the rear and three return rollers. The old Soviet tracks are replaced by European systems fitted with rubber pads. The upper part of the suspension is protected by armour plates while the lower part is protected by rubber skirts. The PT-16 is able to negotiate slope up to 30° and side slope of 25° maximum. It can cross a trench of 2.8 m, climb a vertical obstacle of 0.85m maximum and can ford water obstacles up to meters deep without preparation. |
Accessories |
Standard equipment of the PT-16 includes a battlefield management system, OBRA III laser-warning system, auxiliary power unit (APU) with air-conditioning system and NBC protection system. Sensors for the laser warning system are mounted at the front, sides and rear part of the turret. The PT-16 is fitted with a new fire control system used by the commander and the gunner. The new generation fire control system provides wide range of information gathering and processing systems. It is connected to the autoloading system with general ordnance trigger function (gunner and commander in "hunter-killer" mode or commander in "hunter-killer" mode). The commander is equipped with a new panoramic sight with day/night fighting and observation capabilities. |
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Close view of the turret roof with the new panoramic sight for the commander. |
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Specifications |
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Armament | One 120mm cannon, one 7.62mm coaxial machine, one remotely operated weapon station armed with one 12.7mm machine gun | Country users | Under development | Designer Country | Poland | Accessories | Battlefield management system, OBRA III laser-warning system, auxiliary power unit (APU) with air-conditioning system, NBC protection system, computerized fire control ystem. | Crew | 3 | | Armor | Modular composite armour package a a | Weight | 47,500 kg | Speed | 70 km/h on the road | Range | 500 km a a a | Dimensions | Length: 9.67 m; Width: 3.34 m; Height: 2.6 m | | |