Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/T-72M

"Minea's armored cav, ready to fight.."

-T-72M

The T-72M is the Voshkod export version of the T-72 "Hammer-B", similar to T-72A but lacking composite armour (decreasing the weight to 37 tonnes), much simpler fire control system, and usually supplied with inferior ammunition compared to the Voshkod Kodiak Tank standard and Auring's T-72M4CZ. Exported to various nations and Voshkod's allies, one of which is the Aristocracy of Encantadia, serving as the Main Battle Tank of the Sapiro subfaction. Planned to be voiced by

History
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In 1980 V.C., Encantadia, back when was still part of the Community as the Storm Clan bought several specimens of Voshkod tank designs for study as a replacement to the outdated Sapirian tanks. The contenders are the T-80, T-64 Rhino, a EG-8, a Ursa and T-72M "Hammer-B", the T-72Ms was chosen by Minea and was given manufacturing plans to produce T-72Ms from Voshkod.

At the beginning of the 1st Encantadian War, an Encantadian tank battalion, equipped with T-72s, in a battle near the town of (insert) completely defeated an Canthan tank battalion which consisted of Cadillac Stingrays, Leopard 1s and Pattons, without incurring losses. Canthan tanks suffered losses during clashes with Encantadian T-72s. In the opening stages of the war, Encantadian tank battalions equipped with T-72s neutralised Canthan armour in multiple engagements reportedly suffered no losses at all, unlike the Lireo's Progetto and Adamya's AMX-30B. At least one engagement pitting AMX-30, Ch'onma-Ho, Progetto and T-72 units against Canthans armour saw the Canthans lose over 100 tanks, with the Aristocracy losses limited to around a dozen, most of them AMX-30s, T-55s, Ch'onma-Hos and Progettos.

Encantadia's T-72Ms and T-72M1s had great success in the middle to last stages of the war. 105mm tank guns and TOW missiles proved ineffective against the frontal armour of Encantadian T-72s. Until the Canthans brought in the K1s and later when Aquila enters the war with their Abrams tanks, both of them armed with 120mm tank guns. In one battle at the latter stages of the conflict, Aquilan M1A1s and Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Canthan K1s came up against Aquil's Armored Guard T-72Ms, AMX-30s, T-55, Chon'ma'ho and Pincers and inflicted 88 (15 of which are T-72s) losses on the Encantadian armoured forces, while losing a handful to enemy fire. 150 T-72M tanks were lost during the three years of war. According to the Encantadians, the T-72 was the most feared tank of the 1st Encantadian War and to this day, many of them are still using it with upgrades such as Agona ATGM missiles with water elemental warheads alongside other MBTs of the Kingdoms of the Aristocracy.