44 Chinese VT1A Tanks find new home in Bangladesh

[DaTang]

specifications:

Full Weight: 49 tons
Height: 2.4 meters (up to turret top)
Width: 3.5 meters
Length: 10.33 meters (gun forward)
Crew number: 3 (with autoloader)

Power: 1200 hp water-cooled turbocharged diesel engine
Power-weight ratio: 24 hp/ton
Maximum highway speed: 69 km/h
Max operational range: 450 km
Armament: 125 mm smoothbore gun, 7.62 parallel machine guns, 12.7 antiaircraft machine gun
Maintainability: integrated power system
Fire Control System: scan-targeting type.
Protection: Main armor + modular composite reactive armor

The 147 million dollar deal were sealed last June between China and Bangladesh, China will provide free trainings to the crew.
The order will be delivered within 27 months starting from the signing of contract. The picture shows the first delivered batch.

 

[Ray]

Good for Bangladesh.

However, heavy tanks do not make sense in the soft soil of Bangladesh and that is why India used PT 76 in the 1971 War against Bangladesh.

In the monsoons it is a quagmire and so no tanks or heavy equipment can operate at optimum speed and will bog down.

 

[Rage]

@DaTang,

what was the size of the first batch delivered to Bangladesh?

And can you confirm if the Bangla VT1A's have a domestic Chinese engine or the Ukrainian KMDB 6TD-2 engine?

 

[pmaitra]

Why is BD wasting money on these tanks? Who are they going to attack?

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Why is BD wasting money on these tanks? Who are they going to attack?

They were going to get slaughtered last year by Myanmar. Those fears are
probably still fresh in their minds. Not that these tanks would do much. Maybe
we should sell NAG to Myanmar and build some more goodwill.

 

[pmaitra]

They were going to get slaughtered last year by Myanmar. Those fears are
probably still fresh in their minds. Not that these tanks would do much. Maybe
we should sell NAG to Myanmar and build some more goodwill.

We should encourage the fears of war, and sell weapons to both of them.

Note, however, we do not want war. If war actually breaks out, we will be flooded with refugees.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

We should encourage the fears of war, and sell weapons to both of them.

Note, however, we do not want war. If war actually breaks out, we will be flooded with refugees.

Sell the fear of war; sell weapons to both sides then be a peacemaker, that is how the game is played.

 

[bose]

Why is BD wasting money on these tanks? Who are they going to attack?

Bangladesh is building up its military against Burma... The Rohingya situation has made them more un comfortable with Burmiese air force & Navy way ahead for Bangla...

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Bangladesh is building up its military against Burma... The Rohingya situation has made them more un comfortable with Burmiese air force & Navy way ahead for Bangla...

Burma has the 4th largest military in Asia, Bangladeshis does not stand a chance.
I am suprised they did not buy Al Khalid the best tank in the world, the Chinese tank is
a pile of junk in comparison.

 

[trackwhack]

It will be nice to have the Burmese discipline them. Since we dont have the balls to do it ourselves.

 

[hit&run]

Why is BD wasting money on these tanks? Who are they going to attack?

IMO .......Burma.

 

[drkrn]

Sell the fear of war; sell weapons to both sides then be a peacemaker, that is how the game is played.

then what is the difference between weest and india??

 

[LETHALFORCE]

then what is the difference between weest and india??

There is no difference. India like the west has to look out for it's best interest.
India is selling and gifting weapons and training to Burma why not be more
fair and do the same for Bangladesh?

 

[drkrn]

There is no difference. India like the west has to look out for it's best interest.
India is selling and gifting weapons and training to Burma why not be more
fair and do the same for Bangladesh?

we support & supply burma so that they wont shift to china.
even then our supplies are quite limited may be

bangladesh cant shift to china,they need us

 

[LETHALFORCE]

we support & supply burma so that they wont shift to china.
even then our supplies are quite limited may be

bangladesh cant shift to china,they need us

They are not as limited as you think India and Burma high ranking officials meet
regularly. They will not shift toward China even with Obama's recent visit to Burma
India played an important role behind the scenes. US had no diplomatic
relations with Burma until recently. Bangladesh is insignificant in the
scheme of things. Burma is also an oil producing nation.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/burma/sanctions-07112012185817.html

US to Invest in Burma's Oil

 

[bose]

Burma has the 4th largest military in Asia, Bangladeshis does not stand a chance.
I am suprised they did not buy Al Khalid the best tank in the world, the Chinese tank is
a pile of junk in comparison.

Till there is a Awamy League government in BD, they will not got to Pakistan... BD has no money to buy good quality equipments... I believe the Tanks are not suitable for the tarrain may be a light Polish Tank would have done better...

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Till there is a Awamy League government in BD, they will not got to Pakistan... BD has no money to buy good quality equipments... I believe the Tanks are not suitable for the tarrain may be a light Polish Tank would have done better...

Buying a tank was a dumb move other artillery even older versions would
have made more sense the tank is going to play a limited role in muddy
and mountainous areas and they would be sitting ducks for the Burmese airforce.

 

[bose]

Buying a tank was a dumb move other artillery even older versions would
have made more sense the tank is going to play a limited role in muddy
and mountainous areas and they would be sitting ducks for the Burmese airforce.

Very true... The BD airforce has few Mig29's and to be acquired F7's are no match for the Burmies airforce...

I think what BD is looking for is to hold back the Burmies for some time before some sort of external intervention comes to its rescue...

Presently BD is not in a postion to take on Burma...

 

[drkrn]

They are not as limited as you think India and Burma high ranking officials meet
regularly. They will not shift toward China even with Obama's recent visit to Burma
India played an important role behind the scenes. US had no diplomatic
relations with Burma until recently. Bangladesh is insignificant in the
scheme of things. Burma is also an oil producing nation.

US to Invest in Burma's Oil

US to Invest in Burma's Oil

that explains a lot

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Very true... The BD airforce has few Mig29's and to be acquired F7's are no match for the Burmies airforce...

I think what BD is looking for is to hold back the Burmies for some time before some sort of external intervention comes to its rescue...

Presently BD is not in a postion to take on Burma...

Bangladesh is not capable of holding of the burmese for long. Burma has a good
supply of oil while bangladesh is very limited, for years bangladesh was a pakistani
stooge and now they want diplomatic help and we should oblige without any gain?