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PBB memberlakukan embargo pengiriman senjata pasca invasi Irak ke Kuwait pada bulan Agustus 1990, yang mengurangi perakitan lengkap tank untuk suku cadang sederhana Tank ini dan tank lainnya di angkatan bersenjata Irak.<ref name="timmerman" />
Tidak diketahui berapa banyak tank Singa Babel diselesaikan selama rentang antara 1989- embargo ini.
==Specifications==
In most aspects, the Lion of Babylon is physically identical to the T-72M1 it is based on.<ref>Zaloga & Sarson (1993) p. 38</ref> Lion of Babylon T-72s were upgraded with the addition of laminated armor on the front slope and rear panels as protection against HEAT projectiles.<ref name="baathglob">{{citation |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/ground-equipment-intro.htm |title=Baath Ground Forces Equipment |work=globalsecurity.org |quote=The Russian T-72M1 Main Battle Tank (MBT) was modified with additional armor in the front and rear to protect against HEAT projectiles. This "Lion of Babylon" tank was produced locally, and the technology was Iraqi. However, the soviets made all the parts and it was assembled in Iraq.}}</ref>
American military intelligence believed some were equipped with [[Belgium|Belgian]]-made thermal sights.<ref>Atkinson, p.443</ref> These same sources claim the tank was also provided with a better track protection against sand and mud than the Soviet T-72, by reducing the original number of [[shock absorber]]s.<ref>{{cite web|author=John Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/ground-equipment-intro.htm |title=GlobalSecurity.org |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |date= |accessdate=2013-02-03}}</ref><ref>[http://www.jedsite.info/tanks-tango/tango-numbers-su/t-72_series/saddam/saddam-intro.html JED website] (available by free subscription){{Self-published inline|date=May 2009}}</ref> Some tanks also were fitted with a type of electro-optical interference pod of Chinese origin.<ref>Zaloga & Sarson, ''T-72...'' p.22</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/t72tank.htm |title=T72 Tank |work=fas.org |publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |quote=[http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/t-72-iraq.jpg Image] showing the cylindrical interference pod on top of the tank turret}}</ref>
As secondary armament, the tank mounted either the [[NSV (machine gun)|NSV]] or the [[DShK]] [[12.7 x 108 mm|12.7 mm]] machine gun and the [[Coaxial weapon|coaxial]] 7.62 mm [[PK machine gun|PKT]] common to all T-72 models.
===Armor===
The Lion's primary armor was the same as the T-72M1, without any improvements. The Lion's side armor had 60 mm protection,{{cn|date=October 2015}} the turret side armor was 300 mm,{{cn|date=October 2015}} and the flat rear was 45 mm thick.<ref>Data retrieved from Isby, ''Weapons and tactics''...</ref>{{Verify source|date=October 2015}}{{Better source|reason=This data does not match the armour of the T-72M1 or T-72M|date=October 2015}}
Despite the relative thinness, a retrofitted reinforced armor plate present both at the turret and the front upper hull seems to have been relatively effective against some shaped-charge ordnance, like the TOWs and Hellfire missiles. There are reports of Iraqi T-72s surviving near-misses from these weapons, although the reinforced armor generally did not prevent a mobility kill. However, it is also possible that the unexpected survival rate was due to the electro-optical countermeasures mounted on most of the tanks rather than the added armor.<ref>{{citation |first= Capt. Michael |last=Gollaher |url=https://www.knox.army.mil/center/ocoa/armormag/backissues/1990s/1991/1991MayJune.pdf |title=Two Scouts Under Fire Helped Injured Buddies During Night Battle |work=[[Armor magazine]] |date=May–June 1991 |page=21}}</ref><ref>Atkinson, p. 444, cites another case of a TOW bouncing off a T-72 and hitting the turret of another tank</ref><ref>Brig. Gen. Scales hints that some Iraqi T-72s survived Hellfire strikes before the 1-37TF assault (p.268).</ref><ref>[http://www.phoenix158.org/iraq/AAR%20draft%20from%202-7%20INF%203D%20ID.cfm Dispatches From Iraq]; "To ensure complete catastrophic destruction of the second tank, Private First Class Davis fired a second Javelin, causing even more explosions on the second tank. At this point the third T-72 began frantically trying to determine the source and direction of incoming fire. Private First Class Jiminez engaged the now moving third tank. His round missed but impacted close enough to damage the tank."</ref>
There is evidence of at least one Lion{{cn|date=October 2015}} surviving a direct hit from an Abrams main gun in Mahmoudiyah in 2003. A 120 mm HEAT round from an Abrams impacted on the front of an ''Asad Babil'' turret{{Verify source|date=October 2015}} at point blank range without producing a catastrophic kill.<ref>Conroy & Martz, p. 9</ref> Some Lion tanks may have featured [[explosive reactive armor]], possibly obtained from Polish T-72M1 spare parts.<ref>{{cite web|author=Baumgardner, Neil; 654 words |url=http://www.highbeam.com/library/docFree.asp?DOCID=1G1:141213121 |title=''Infantry'' magazine, September 1, 2004 |publisher=Highbeam.com |date= |accessdate=2013-02-03}}</ref>
Another improvised armor upgrade may have also been added at the Taji complex.<ref name="Rus">{{cite web|url=http://btvt.narod.ru/2/iraqarmy2.htm |date=Dec 29, 2009 |script-title=ru:ТАНКИ ИРАКСКОЙ АРМИИ |trans_title=Iraqi Army Tanks|work=otvaga2004.narod.ru|language=Russian}}</ref> An additional 30 mm armor plate was welded on the front areas of the hull and turret, leaving an air gap matching the size of the armor, so that the power of a HEAT jet could be dissipated in the hollow space. This technique follows the principle of [[spaced armor]]. The Iraqi engineers tested this reinforcement against captured Iranian 120 mm [[Chieftain tank]] guns in 1989, apparently with some success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://btvt.narod.ru/2/iraqarmy2.htm|date=Dec 29, 2009 |title=ТАНКИ ИРАКСКОЙ АРМИИ |trans_title=Iraqi Army Tanks|work=otvaga2004.narod.ru|quote=''В 1988-89 гг. эти танки прошли модернизацию по усилению защищенности верхних лобовых деталей корпуса танка. Это достигалось путем приварки дополнительного броневого листа толщиной 30 мм с воздушной прослойкой, такого же размера. Эта мера была предпринята иракцами после изучения возможностей защиты танков от поражения различными боеприпасами 120-мм английской нарезной танковой пушки L 11А5, установленной на иранских танках "Чифтен", захваченных Ираком в ходе войны.''<br>"In 1988-89. These tanks had been upgraded to enhance the protection of the upper front of the tank hull. This was achieved by welding additional 30 mm armored plating with stand-offs producing an air gap of the same size. This measure was taken by the Iraqis after experimenting with protecting tanks from defeat by various 120 mm ammunition from the British L11A5 rifled tank gun installed on Iran's Chieftain tanks, seized by Iraq during the war.|language=Russian}}</ref>
==Combat performance==
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