The T-90M ‘Breakthrough’ main battle tank. The bully-boy of the War in Ukraine.
Two points. First, this isn’t actually a 6 mm scale model. Closer to 7-8 mm scale as it’s from the ‘Micro armour’ series who tend to make their models slightly bigger.
And second, guilty secret but I actually like this tank. I don’t like what it does, or how it’s used, but I do like the look of the thing. I actually may repaint a couple in a better camo scheme (I have 6).
The T-90M represents the more or less final evolution of the T-90 series. This series of tanks was conceived in the late 80’s and started life as an update to the T-72 as apposed to an evolution of the T-80, at the time Russia’s most advanced tank. The difficulties of funding in the early 1990’s meant the first variants of T-90 were not deployed until 1992 and in small numbers.
The first T-90’s came with 2 x distinctive ‘eyes’ on the turret front of the Shtora defensive system, a key marketing aspect and one of the first integrated defence systems attached to a tank.
The eyes may have gone now but the T-90M is regarded as a very effective tank.
Ukrainian tankers describe the T-90M as a formidable opponent. They say the best way to beat one, when facing them in T-64’s, is to outnumber it.
This is understandable from a tank on tank point of view.
The T-90M is layered in the latest ‘Relikt’ ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour), with a fully stabilised 125 mm 2A46M-4 gun slaved to an advanced fire control system and capable of firing the latest APFSDS rounds (Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot).
Fortunately for the Ukrainians the T-90M is rarely fielded in numbers, so it is normal that they only face individual tanks backing up Russian assaults.
Ukraine is likewise aided by the slow production of these new tanks, with only around 23 to 28 being constructed in 2024 so far, and this is dependant on existing stocks of older T-90’s that can be upgraded to the standard.
Additionally the T-90M shares the same vulnerability to drones of other tanks and a number have been destroyed or damaged. Whilst it appears to take multiple drones to destroy a T-90M, it has weak points such as the turret rear, that if hit can cause the tank to explode In spectacular fashion.
Sources:
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/t-90m-ultimate-guide-what-might-be-russias-best-tank-210247
I'm finding your pieces on weapons systems interesting, thanks. But I'm really waiting for the actual wargaming content...
What rules do you plan to use ? Or are you writing some ?