[Imp]

Hi Pat

Game stats
Both use identical main gun and ammo
Oplot missile has worse penetration cannot bother T-72 from the front
T-72 missile has a very small chance against the Oplot hull can ignore.
Missile defence is identical.

Oplot has slightly better fire control and vision.
Range finder stabilizer identical.
Standard settings Russia has better Experience so Oplot will be less accurate overall.

Oplot has better turret front by enough at correct range will make a difference against AP and superb HEAT protection, no ATGM will penetrate turret front.
Oplot hull is marginally weaker vs AP, not going to be a problem in most cases only a small range where its more vulnerable. could run AP calc if wanted to find the range.

Oplot ERA package is worse 5/5 vs 8/6
Therefore Oplot is likely to stop none or 1 round maybe 2. T-72 has a good chance of stopping the first round and may stop several.

Oplot strengths weakness vs T-72
From the front if hull down its virtually invincible, Top attack ATGMs (not T-72s)are the only threat.
Oplot can penetrate T-72 turret at about double the range T-72 can penetrate its turret. Be around 1000 + 2000m respectively. Closer for a certainty say 700 + 1700m run AP calc if you want the exact figures.
It cannot take advantage of extra vision range unless that presents a side shot as it wont penetrate and experience difference will make it less accurate at that range, still good hit chance though.
Fighting at 1000 > 1700m gives it the edge as it can kill with hull and turret hits while T-72 needs a hull hit.
T-72 has a good chance of absorbing 1 or 2 shots with its ERA while the Oplot only has a 50-50 chance of stopping a shot.

My normal buy order is infantry, APCs if separate, tanks, ATGMs could move ATGMs up one place if want I buy them there due to limited shots.
This way tanks only op fire if threat is still active limiting distraction, also causes suppression to the target aiding tank survivability
Also if APC has a cannon infantry and APC can trigger the ERA reducing the chance of the tanks shot being negated.