IT-1 - The rocket tank

IT-1 - The rocket tank

The IT-1 was a Soviet cold war missile tank based around the hull of the T-62. The tank fired specially designed 3M7 Drakon missiles from a popup launcher. It saw very limited service between 1968 and 1970. The large deadzone around the tank created by the missiles minimum range combined with the limited amount of ammunition carried made it unpopular with the military. Additionally the 520 kg of guidance equipment needed for the missile was impractical. Eventually they were converted into recovery vehicles. A turbine powered version was also developed named the IT-1T. Development
Tests were conducted in April 1964 using two prototype IT-1 tanks. During 1964 there were 94 test firings. Prior to the end of 1964 they produced 94 controlled launchings of "Drakon". And in 1968 the vehicle was put into limited production which continued until 1970.


Description
The IT-1 has a crew of three, a driver, gunner and commander. It was armed with a pop-up missile launcher fitted into a low profile turret along with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun with 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Twelve 3M7 Drakon missiles were stored in an automatic loader, a further 3 were stored in an unarmoured box on the back of the turret.

The missile was radio command guided, using any one of seven frequencies and two codes. This prevented vehicles within a single unit interfering with each others operation.

The missile was launched slightly upward, and at an angle to offset any wind drift during the first second of unguided flight. A tracer on the rear of the missile allowed the guidance system to track the missile and transmit radio commands to the missile. The commands were decoded by the missile and translated into deflection of the missiles fins.

Night vision equipment allowed limited night operation, however the missiles range is substantially reduced.


Specifications (3M7 Drakon missile)
Guidance: Radio SACLOS.
Weight: 54 kg
Warhead: 5.8 kg
Diameter: 180 mm
Wing span: 860mm
Length: 1240mm
Range:
300 m to 3300 m (day)
400 m to 600 m (night)
Speed: 217 m/s
Penetration: 250 mm versus RHA at 60 degrees

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• IT-1
• missile
• rocket
• russia
• ussr
• t-90
• t-72
• t-80
• M1
• Abrams
• Tank

[jxxjxx]

oh shit! they used a German Pz. III as practice target?

[MultipleEFP]

In Dagestan 7 RPG hits were hited the T-90...and the tank was still 101% operational after that !

[slayer2961]

@MRWALKER500000 hmmm... not really missiles prove quite effective, why do you think rpg' s are still used :)?

[MRWALKER500000]

the russians come up with some great tanks, but this was bad. the missiles would have been obsolete by the 80's

[BitnikGr]

@Heineken57sauce Yeah... This concept became reality several decades later and not it is named "Khrizantema" tank-killer.

/watch?v=swBa4pAv4Ho

[BitnikGr]

@MultipleEFP That article published in 2003 is a journalist's mistake or straight out lie. T-90S is an export version for India. What a hell it was doing in Dagestan?

Author of the article mistaken T-72M1 with T-90S. T-72M1 were indeed for India, but several vehicles remained in Russia and later were directed in service unit in Russian Army. That unit participated in combat operations in Dagestan in '99. T-90 of any version hadn't see real combat, only tests on proving ground.

[BitnikGr]

@lilgangsta616 That story is faulty! Journalist who wrote that article mistaken T-72M1 for India with T-90S. Tank remained on the move. Mass media make mistakes or deliberately lies often.

There is a Discovery lie about Abrams destroying 3 tanks in 9 seconds.

There is a BBC News lie about Challenger getting hit 70 times. (published 2003)

And there is this lie about T-90S being in combat in Dagestan. (published 2003)

[BitnikGr]

@Sphynra modern ATGMs have penetration of 1000-1200mm.

The baddest RPG-7 warhead (PG-7VR) has penetration of 600-750mm RHA.

The shitty RPG-7s you mentioned used warheads from 1961 to 1972 with penetration from 260 to 400mm RHA.

Iraqi Army had RPGs, which were taken out of service in Soviet Army in 1973.

[BitnikGr]

@OneTouchClan And now compare old Soviet RPG-7 from 60s-70s with penetration 300mm, which were used against Abrams, with latest RPG-7 with penetrations 500-750mm.

[BitnikGr]

@bullstriker1992 Depends on RPG's warhead. Early versions had penetration of 300-500mm and were not tandem. If tandem-warheads with 750-800mm penetration would be used in Iraq, we would see many burning Abrams as well.

So, the first thing, which must be asked when someone talks about a tank which withstood multiple RPG rounds is "What warhead that RPG's had?". Because with FRAGmentation warheads, any tank can withstand 1000 RPGS.

[lilgangsta616]

@MultipleEFP how can it be 101% what so the rocket gave it a 1%

[Sphynra]

@bullstriker1992 There is no way in hell that the shitty RPG-7 can do so much damage. Even anti-tank guided missiles with heavy warheads don't achieve such monstrous level of penetration as 800mm