Meet the main tank reward in the Winter Tales event, the Pakistani modification of the T-80UD main battle tank, being added to the Chinese ground forces tree!
T-80UD (478BE): An Event MBT for China at Rank VII
At a glance:
- Effective protection overall.
- Autoloader.
- Thermal sight.
- Compact fighting compartment.
- Slow reverse speed.
Vehicle History
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The T-80UD was developed as a further evolution of the T-80U model, which had shown issues with its gas turbine engine during operation. The T-80UD modification received a new 1,000 HP diesel engine along with several additional enhancements. It was adopted into service in 1987, and by the late 1990s, over 300 UD models were delivered to Pakistan. The export version, known as the Object 478BE, differed from Soviet versions by lacking an infrared searchlight and a wind sensor, but gained a thermal imager for the gunner.
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Introducing the T-80UD (478BE)!
Here’s the main tank reward in the Winter Tales event, an export modification of the T-80UD for the Armed Forces of Pakistan, being added to the Chinese ground forces tree as an event vehicle. Let’s examine the differences compared to the Soviet T-80UD premium and discuss its strengths and weaknesses!
The T-80UD (478BE) is a very well balanced tank overall, with one of its key advantages being protection. While it does have frontal weak spots and is not flawless, its armor is good enough to withstand APFSDS rounds and poorly placed shots. In addition to this, the sides of the T-80UD (478BE) are protected well against autocannons and weaker shells if angled, being one of the few MBT designs with relatively thick side armor. Despite this, if this tank is successfully penetrated, its survivability is typically low. This is because its internal space is cramped, with crew, ammo and modules, meaning any spalling is likely to cause critical or fatal damage.
Regarding firepower, the T-80UD (478BE) is on par with its competitors. It can fire powerful APFSDS rounds — they’re not the most forgiving, but can still easily penetrate the majority of enemy armor without an issue. It can also launch anti-tank guided missiles directly from the gun barrel! A distinctive feature of the Pakistani T-80UD (478BE) is the inclusion of a thermal sight for the gunner, which will help identify targets at long range and at night. While the autoloader does remove the need to maintain loader skills, the fixed reload speed is slightly longer than most contemporary tanks. This is particularly important to keep in mind for one-on-one engagements.
Mobility is fairly average overall, while the speed doesn’t hold the tank back, it can’t reach strong early positions quite as easily as other common MBTs. The largest drawback here however is the reverse speed, capped at 4 km/h, which makes reacting to threats much harder. When you’re playing the T-80UD (478BE), make sure to take extra care when positioning, as it takes much longer to back away from an engagement to reload or repair.
The T-80UD (478BE) can be obtained by completing tasks during the special Winter Tales event. Follow the link below to see the full list of specifics and rewards, and best of luck!
Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
Click here to find out more details about the Winter Tales event
