if i squint hard enough i might just see a T-80BV??

[Hedgehog]

it's certainly a lot cheaper, but thats about it.

traversing 360 degrees you have to get out of your seat and stand on top of it,

which is not easily done in the cramped TC spot of the T-72.

you also have to pull around a large heavy cupola with a big 12.7mm machine gun attached to it which means quick target acquisition is a bit of a challenge.

as for the TKN-3, it's not stabilized it's got lousy 4x magnification,

it has limited hunter-killer, and no override functionality, so if the gunner is incapacitated, the TC won't be able to fire the gun..

Its still technically a panoramic sight though.

And regarding the other items....you're not thinking sovietly enough.

[hoggydog]

it's certainly a lot cheaper, but thats about it.

traversing 360 degrees you have to get out of your seat and stand on top of it,

which is not easily done in the cramped TC spot of the T-72.

you also have to pull around a large heavy cupola with a big 12.7mm machine gun attached to it which means quick target acquisition is a bit of a challenge.

as for the TKN-3, it's not stabilized it's got lousy 4x magnification,

it has limited hunter-killer, and no override functionality, so if the gunner is incapacitated, the TC won't be able to fire the gun..

Although to be fair the M1 series didn't have true HK capability (afaik) till the A2. Nor did the CR1. Although at least the commander could operate the main gun

[Damian90]

The problem is that M1 could have PERI from the very beggining, in fact it could have PERI harvested from XM803 which was a very advanced design for it's time with integrated remotely controlled commander MG.

But fo course congress decided to reduce program costs, and the most expensive element for tank was it's FCS, so it was downgraded.

So engineers decided that if vehicle in the end will be improved during production, they could ad PERI in next major variant the M1A1, and in fact M1A1 had the final turret design prepared for PERI installation.

However I think that because of turret design and placement of PERI "chimney", made it difficult to at that time digitally connect it with TC station, because mechanical connection via optical channel was immposible. Also someone at that time most likely get to idea "hey why not add commander with it's own thermal sight?".

Thus M1A1 did not received PERI/CITV it was meant to have untill 1990's when with other improvements avaiable, CITV was mounted on newer variant the M1A2.

[Assassin 7]

Here is some good reading material:

http://www.tank-net.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26751