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Project 23550, Ivan Papanin, Russian icebreaking Patrol ship 🇷🇺
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In the current state of cold conflict enveloping the world, the Arctic stands out as one of the "hottest" fronts. It is a region where the Western bloc—comprising the European Union and NATO—clashes with Russia and, increasingly, China. Thanks to its vast size and geographical location, Russia possesses an Arctic coastline stretching 24,000 kilometers, a regional population of two million, and immense economic and strategic interests. Hydrocarbons and natural gas are the primary resources lying beneath the Arctic seabed and along its coast; indeed, a vast, untapped reserve of energy resources is believed to be hidden beneath the ice. Furthermore, the Northeast Passage represents the maritime route of the future for the Russians and, above all, the Chinese. By transporting goods through the Bering Strait and along the Russian coast, Beijing and Moscow could bypass various maritime choke-points controlled by the United States or its allies. Even without energy resources, this alternative route between East and West would destabilize and weaken the American thalassocratic empire. As the polar ice cap continues to melt rapidly, this route and these territories will become increasingly accessible to both private and state-owned entities, eager to invest in and control resource deposits—as Russia is already doing—as well as research and extraction sites. Navigating these waters requires specialized vessels—icebreakers—capable of penetrating thick surface ice to safely reach settlements or offshore platforms. For this very reason, the USSR—and now the Russian Federation—has designed and launched nuclear-powered icebreakers that are unique in the world. Eight are currently in service, including four of the state-of-the-art Project 22220 class, with a new class—Project 10510—currently under construction. These vessels are capable of breaking through four meters of ice and navigating both open seas and river estuaries. In addition to these eight, there is a nuclear-powered icebreaking cargo ship and a new nuclear-powered container ship (which has not yet been built or entered service). Furthermore, there are various vessels for containers, gas, and refined hydrocarbons, paired with additional conventionally diesel-powered icebreakers.
A total of 50 icebreakers of various classes are under Russian state control. Recently, an LNG carrier was launched that is capable of fully autonomous navigation, having been built to tackle the thickest ice. Just a few days ago, a convoy of standard merchant vessels, escorted by nuclear-powered icebreakers, navigated the Northeast Passage, demonstrating logistical capabilities that are currently unique to the Kremlin. All this is coupled with the development of this entire region of Russia, which boasts not only massive, self-sufficient facilities but also oil platforms capable of extracting, storing, and processing hydrocarbons ready for the market. This extensive introduction serves to illustrate Russia's immense interest in the Arctic and, consequently, the need for the means to defend it and ensure sovereignty over it.
ENG 🇬🇧
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This brings us to the subject of this post: the Project 23550 patrol ship *Ivan Papanin*. Born of the challenge posed by northern ice, this vessel was designed to access the planet's most isolated region. The ship has a full-load displacement of 9,000 tons, a length of 114 meters, a beam of 18 meters, and a draft of 6 meters. A propulsion system with an output of approximately 15 MW will allow it to reach a top speed of 18 knots. With an endurance of 70 days and a range of 16,000 km, the ship is capable of breaking through ice up to 1.7 meters thick—matching the Arc7 rating of nuclear-powered icebreakers. Its main armament consists of a 76.2 mm AK-176MA gun—often described as the Russian equivalent of the OTO Melara 76 mm gun—which is capable of shooting down anti-ship missiles thanks to various sensors and specialized ammunition. Furthermore, the ship has the capacity to carry modular container-based launchers for eight Kalibr missiles (specifically the Club-K variant). Each container holds four missiles and can be loaded onto the ship for deployment. In addition to Kalibr missiles, these standard 20- and 40-foot modules can house systems such as anti-aircraft radars, Ural anti-ship missiles, Pantsir air-defense systems, and torpedoes, as well as medical or oceanographic units, or simply containers stocked with supplies for isolated bases and settlements. This system, which affords the vessels great flexibility, has been undergoing trials with the Northern Fleet since 2021. Combined with its 76mm gun, this makes it the most heavily armed ship in the Arctic. In regions where natural conditions and vast distances render access impossible for conventional vessels, this is currently the only ship in its class capable of breaking through ice while also functioning, to an extent, as a warship. Two cranes, each capable of lifting 28 tons and towing large vessels, make the “Ivan Papanin” suitable for autonomous supply transport as well as search and rescue operations. The crew consists of 49 to 50 sailors and officers, with the capacity to accommodate an additional 50 to 60 personnel for various mission requirements. The vessel also features a hangar for a Ka-27 helicopter and two “Raptor” attack boats. Four ships have been ordered: the first, the “Ivan Papanin”, is in active service; the second is being fitted out; the third was struck by a drone during construction; and the fourth is currently being assembled. These investments, combined with civilian initiatives, demonstrate Russia's increasingly visible return to the High North—a development that is particularly significant given the US President's growing interest in Greenland.
ENG🇬🇧... ITA🇮🇹 in the comment below
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Top: T-72 Ural
Left. Object 172 (T-72 prototype)
Center:T-64A previous Object 434
Right: Object 167 (Super T-62)
Left. Object 172 (T-72 prototype)
Center:T-64A previous Object 434
Right: Object 167 (Super T-62)
Compass Call
Top: T-72 Ural Left. Object 172 (T-72 prototype) Center:T-64A previous Object 434 Right: Object 167 (Super T-62)
READ TIME OF 5 MINUTES
We will begin a series in which we examine the various variants and the history of the famous Soviet T‑72, produced from 1969 onward in more than 25,000 units and serving with more than 40 nations.
First of all, it is necessary to keep in mind that the T‑72 was born to meet a precise need of the Soviet Union: a tank was required to replace the aging T‑54/55, which had been an absolutely extraordinary commercial success but could no longer keep pace with Western MBTs in any respect. Moreover, the new tank had to incorporate the cutting‑edge technologies of the T‑64, but in a more mature form suitable for mass mobilization — essentially a downgraded version of its almost futuristic predecessor (which, in fact, was never exported). As early as 1971, the conversion of T‑55 and T‑62 factories began, preparing them to churn out thousands upon thousands of T‑72s to arm the Second and Third World.
The design philosophy rejected any comfort or superfluous element, given the extremely low likelihood of crew survival. The T‑72 was small compared to Western tanks, cramped, with a lowered and elongated hull, and every component related to transmission, aiming, and loading was engineered to be extremely robust and capable of operating without maintenance. We can say that the T‑72 was roughly 60 cm lower than Western tanks and at least 10 tons lighter. This allowed it to use older engines while still achieving performance comparable to NATO’s expensive MBTs, but above all it allowed the tank to cross most bridges two at a time rather than one by one in column.
Let us now talk about the design. The T‑72 “Ural” derives from the Object 172 prototype, but let us take a step back: in 1964 the Nizhny Tagil factory presented Project 167B to demonstrate that the T‑62 design could be further exploited by lengthening the hull and increasing the suspension wheels to six for smoother travel, and finally accommodating a more powerful engine. But above all, this unusual tank mounted a devastating 125 mm gun with an automatic loader, unlike the manually loaded 115 mm gun of the T‑62. This upgrade of an already existing tank could have become a “mass‑production” counterpart to the extremely expensive T‑64.
Kharkiv’s factory, however, pushed for its own Object 434, a tank that would also mount the 125 mm gun, with a brand‑new automatic loader, very strong armor for the era, and other innovations. The matter became a clash between interest groups and political factions, in which even President Khrushchev took part, ultimately resulting in the adoption of Kharkiv’s Object 434 under the name T‑64A and the prohibition of developing other competitors such as Object 167.
The T‑72 therefore originates from the insubordination of the chief engineer of Object 167, Khartsev, who decided to design a new tank combining the characteristics of the 167 and the T‑64A. Thus was born Object 172, the prototype of the T‑72, which only in 1971 would go from being the continually obstructed project of a rebellious engineer to the new main tank of the USSR, given the persistent problems caused by the excessive delicacy of the T‑64A. Another wave of factory conversions began.
We will begin a series in which we examine the various variants and the history of the famous Soviet T‑72, produced from 1969 onward in more than 25,000 units and serving with more than 40 nations.
First of all, it is necessary to keep in mind that the T‑72 was born to meet a precise need of the Soviet Union: a tank was required to replace the aging T‑54/55, which had been an absolutely extraordinary commercial success but could no longer keep pace with Western MBTs in any respect. Moreover, the new tank had to incorporate the cutting‑edge technologies of the T‑64, but in a more mature form suitable for mass mobilization — essentially a downgraded version of its almost futuristic predecessor (which, in fact, was never exported). As early as 1971, the conversion of T‑55 and T‑62 factories began, preparing them to churn out thousands upon thousands of T‑72s to arm the Second and Third World.
The design philosophy rejected any comfort or superfluous element, given the extremely low likelihood of crew survival. The T‑72 was small compared to Western tanks, cramped, with a lowered and elongated hull, and every component related to transmission, aiming, and loading was engineered to be extremely robust and capable of operating without maintenance. We can say that the T‑72 was roughly 60 cm lower than Western tanks and at least 10 tons lighter. This allowed it to use older engines while still achieving performance comparable to NATO’s expensive MBTs, but above all it allowed the tank to cross most bridges two at a time rather than one by one in column.
Let us now talk about the design. The T‑72 “Ural” derives from the Object 172 prototype, but let us take a step back: in 1964 the Nizhny Tagil factory presented Project 167B to demonstrate that the T‑62 design could be further exploited by lengthening the hull and increasing the suspension wheels to six for smoother travel, and finally accommodating a more powerful engine. But above all, this unusual tank mounted a devastating 125 mm gun with an automatic loader, unlike the manually loaded 115 mm gun of the T‑62. This upgrade of an already existing tank could have become a “mass‑production” counterpart to the extremely expensive T‑64.
Kharkiv’s factory, however, pushed for its own Object 434, a tank that would also mount the 125 mm gun, with a brand‑new automatic loader, very strong armor for the era, and other innovations. The matter became a clash between interest groups and political factions, in which even President Khrushchev took part, ultimately resulting in the adoption of Kharkiv’s Object 434 under the name T‑64A and the prohibition of developing other competitors such as Object 167.
The T‑72 therefore originates from the insubordination of the chief engineer of Object 167, Khartsev, who decided to design a new tank combining the characteristics of the 167 and the T‑64A. Thus was born Object 172, the prototype of the T‑72, which only in 1971 would go from being the continually obstructed project of a rebellious engineer to the new main tank of the USSR, given the persistent problems caused by the excessive delicacy of the T‑64A. Another wave of factory conversions began.
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Compass Call
Top: T-72 Ural Left. Object 172 (T-72 prototype) Center:T-64A previous Object 434 Right: Object 167 (Super T-62)
TEMPO DI LETTURA 5 MINUTI
Inizieremo una serie dove vedremo le varie varianti e la storia del celebre T-72 Sovietico, prodotto a partire dal 1969 in più di 25.000 esemplari e che ha servito con più di 40 nazioni.
Prima di tutto è necessario tenere a mente che il T-72 nasce per rispondere ad una precisa necessità dell'Unione Sovietica, serviva un carro che potesse sostituire i vecchi T-54\55 i quali furono un successo commerciale assolutamente grandioso ma che non tenevano più il passo con gli MBT Occidentali sotto ogni aspetto, ma non solo, il nuovo carro avrebbe dovuto incorporare le nuovissime tecnologie del T-64 ma in modo più maturo, per la mobilitazione di massa, un downgrade del quasi futuristico predecessore T-64 (che infatti non venne esportato), già nel 1971 iniziarono le riconversioni delle fabbriche di T-55 e T-62 per iniziare a sfornare migliaia e migliaia di T-72 e armare il Secondo e Terzo Mondo.
La filosofia di progettazione prevedeva il rifiuto di qualsiasi comfort o elemento superfluo in vista della bassissima possibilità di sopravvivenza dell'equipaggio, il T-72 era piccolo rispetto ai carri occidentali, angusto, con uno scafo abbassato e allungato, con ogni elemento di trasmissione, puntamento e caricamento progettato per essere estremamente robusto e operare senza manutenzione.
Possiamo dire che il T-72 era circa 60cm più basso dei carri occidentali e almeno 10 tonnellate più leggero, ciò gli permetteva di utilizzare motori datati ma con prestazioni simili ai costosi MBT della NATO ma soprattutto di attraversare la maggiore parte dei ponti due alla volta invece che uno per uno in colonna.
Parliamo quindi della progettazione però, il T-72 "Ural" deriva dal prototipo Object 172, ma facciamo un passo indietro, nel 1964 la Fabbrica Nizhny Tagil presentò il Project 167B per dimostrare che il design del T-62 si poteva sfruttare ulteriormente, allungando lo scafo e aumentando a 6 le ruote di sospensione per una marcia più fluida e finalmente ospitare un motore più prestante, ma soprattutto questo bizzarro carro utilizzava un devastante cannone da 125mm con un caricatore automatico a differenza del 115mm a caricamento manuale del T-62, questo aggiornamento di un carro già esistente sarebbe potuto diventare un modello "Di massa" del costosissimo T-64.
La fabbrica di Kharkiv invece spingeva per il suo Object 434, un carro che avrebbe anch'esso montato il 125mm, con un nuovissimo caricatore automatico, una corazza molto resistente per l'epoca ed altre innovazioni.
La questione divenne uno scontro fra lobby d'interesse e politiche a cui persino il presidente Kruscev prenderà parte, finendo infine per la messa in servizio dell'Object 434 di Kharkiv con nome T-64A e il divieto di sviluppare altri concorrenti come l'Object 167.
Il T-72 nasce quindi dall'insubordinazione dell'ingegnere capo dell'Object 167 ossia Khartsev che decise di progettare un nuovo carro che combinasse le caratteristiche dell'167 e del T-64A, nasce dunque l'Object 172 ovvero il prototipo di T-72 che solo nel 1971 passerà dall'essere il progetto continuamente ostacolato di un ingegnere ribelle al nuovo Tank principale dell'URSS visti i continui problemi dovuti all'eccessiva delicatezza del T-64A, iniziò quindi un'altra riconversione di fabbriche."
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i'm sorry, a friend of ours @Revks told me i chose a wrong photo about Ob 167, so here is a photo of the tank in question!
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