Main Battle Tanks and Armour Technology

[Damian]

M1A2SEP's on the range...

...and during "bath".

 

[Damian]

This is the M1A1 with initial APU (Auxiliary Power Unit), work on this APU started in 1980's, and it was fielded in early 1990's.

In 1993 the rear hull APU was replaced with a new type mounted on turret rear. On this photo we actually see older type of this APU without power connector.

This is a newer type with power connector visible.

This is VCSU (Vapor Compression System Unit) this with TMS (Temperature Management System) make vehicle Air Conditioning System. VCSU can be seen only on M1A2SEP tanks.

M1A2SEP's have also one new feature, the left rear sponson fuel tanks is replaced by UAAPU (Under Armor Auxiliary Power Unit) on some tanks, on others this place is occupied by Hawker Batteries.

These two photos shows two different M1A2SEP's. The first tank have UAAPU mounted, we can recognize this due to this plate with four bolts. While the second tank have Hawker Batteries, as we can see the sponson bulkhead is smooth, without plate with bolts.

 

[Damian]

Few more photos.

 

[Damian]

From tests.

An M1A1 Abrams tank with Alpha Company, 1st Tank Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 6, patrols through the desert north of the Kajaki Dam, May 31. The Marines supported Operation Branding Iron.

 

[Damian]

http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2012/Morocco_12-28.pdf

Approval to sell 200 M1A1 tanks for Morocco.

So it seems that JSMC will survive the time when US Armed Forces won't make any order to 2017.

So what we have here is:

125 M1A1's for Egypt, currently work is performed.
200 + 100(+) M1A2S for Saudi Arabia.
200 M1A1's for Morocco.
Possible 400 M1A1's for Greece.

And these are only currently existing contracts. I would not be surprised if Kuwait also will order modernization for their M1A2's in future, and they got 218 of them in inventory.

 

[Damian]

A little hell is in Germany... it is really funny, even one member of KMW directorate is against selling Leopard 2 tanks to Saudi Arabia.

So Chancellor, most of goverment, political opposition, part of German society with peace and left wing activists, and now even a member of KMW directorate... I think that Saudi Arabia might be disappointed if Germans cancel this deal, and 800 tanks will be bought in the USA.

Then the Germans will be disappointed.

Activists offer cash for info on tank makers - The Local

 

[Damian]

Two new articles on Gur Khan Blog. Very interesting ones.

Gur Khan attacks!: Александр Морозов был отцом "советской "Меркавы"
About "Soviet Merkava" that was in development by team lead by genius soviet tank designer Alexander A. Morozov.

Gur Khan attacks!: Т-62: 50 лет в строю.
About T-62 designed by Leonid N. Kartsev.

 

[Damian]

Uncle Sam’s Sale: M1 Tanks for Morocco

The Moroccan order will be equally useful on the industrial front. US Army spokesman Ashley Givens says that the US Army isn't shutting down the Lima plant by stopping modernization and new-build orders, but it's clear that the plant will need to rely on foreign military sale orders from countries like Egypt (M1A1 new), Iraq (M1A1-SA new), Saudi Arabia (M1A2S upgrades), and now Morocco (M1A1-SA rebuilt) until 2017. in a statement to The Toledo Blade, Ms. Givens said:

"This production 'pause' of U.S. tanks will allow the Army to focus its limited resources on the development of the next generation Abrams tank instead of building more of the same M1A2 SEPv2 tanks that have exceeded their space, weight, and power limits."

Interesting, so they are stopping modernization to use funding for research and development of the next generation... Well sounds good to me then, and foreing military sales will keep Lima JSMC at work.

 

[Damian]

Mean while, read this doument.

https://www.g8.army.mil/pdf/AEMP2013_lq.pdf

Everything becomes more, and more interesting. It seems that US Army is even thinking about possible option to develop replacement for M1 Abrams tank... hmmm.

 

[methos]

RUAG upgrade for Leopard 2 in HD.

 

[Damian]

Are there more photos Methos? And a significant question, did IBD participated, or it is solely RUAG armor upgrade?

 

[methos]

No, I don't have any other photos or information about RUAG's upgrade for the Leopard 2. I will try to find some...

Another thing:
On Eurosatory 2012 a Boxer equipped with the FLW 200+ was demonstrated - the FLW 200 is the most used remote controlled weapon station on German combat vehicles - the FLW 200+ can also carry the 20 mm Rh 202 autocannon. So theoretically - if the Leopard 2A7 will be fitted with the FLW 200+, then it could carry the same secondary armament as the MBT-70.

 

[Akim]

Another thing:
On Eurosatory 2012 a Boxer equipped with the FLW 200+ was demonstrated - the FLW 200 is the most used remote controlled weapon station on German combat vehicles - the FLW 200+ can also carry the 20 mm Rh 202 autocannon. So theoretically - if the Leopard 2A7 will be fitted with the FLW 200+, then it could carry the same secondary armament as the MBT-70.

And you can link to it? It would be desirable to read.

 

[Damian]

Definetly interesting option, but such RWS might have some problems, actually one problem, ammunition capacity, where to store enough ammunition to make such weapon system efficent? Especially with such small calliber, I remember some argumentation that in Iraq 25mm M242 was not enough sometimes, especially in urban combat, this is why Americans wanted 30mm (or bigger) with programmable ammunition for their IFV's. How to solve such problem? Using turret rear storage baskets as ammunition storage?

 

[methos]

MILITARY TECHNOLOGY: Combat Proven!

Ammunition is "only" 100 rounds... my first thought was "that's way too less!". But appearently the fed ammunition on a RWS is always only very few, 120 x 0.5 cal or 32 x 40 mm on the basic FLW 200 (and it seems that the models from Kongsberg and Rafael do not carry more ammunition).

 

[Damian]

Big thing it is... I wonder also about another possible problem. RWS on Leopard 2 series is mostly placed on turret ammo magazine blow off panel, so there are few things need to be solved.

First connection to the vehicle power lines and for it's operator control, how it is achieved? Second problem is bulk and weight of such RWS and it's placement, won't it make working of blow off panel more difficult (more weight to be lifted by pressure in ammo magazine.

It was not easier to just mount RWS in front of loader hatch? And it would make reloading of such RWS easier.

 

[methos]

Only on PSO the RWS was on the ammunition comparment. On Leopard 2A7 it was moved a little bit, still some parts might be on the blow-out panel... I can't see if so or not.

 

[Damian]

Still, placement of such RWS might be a problem.

 

[Damian]

Seems that Rafael have interesting offer for all customers.

 

[Akim]

Arena is not applied because. What it has 30 m the fragmentation pattern what dangerous for the infantry, and some expansion of Trophy?



I am sorry for such synchronous in the followings there will be text on video.
One of the most perspective directions of increase of vitality of tank on a battle-field is an equipment of tanks of Active Protection System, providing the intercept of anti-tank facilities on подлете to the tank.
A complex Arena is created in DB of machine building Kolomna, is such system provides, protecting of frontal and side projection of tanks from anti-tank grenades and guided rockets, including. from striking a tank on approaching from above.
A complex works in the automatic mode without participation of crew.
In the complement of complex enters
- it is the radio-location station with an instantaneous review in an azimuthal sector 270 hail, providing finding out flying up to the tank aims from distance less 50 m
- it is protective ammunition of the directed action
- it is a small computer. Providing treatment of information acting with Р Radar, choice of necessary ammunition and delivery of commands on his involving.
The dense bunch of high-speed fragments, sent to the purpose under a corner to earth, appears at the wearing-out of protective ammunition, the hit of such fragments results in the defeat of purpose.
We show battle work of complex to you.
Starting of anti-tank grenade with б defeat armor a to 400 mm:
A grenade hit. Tracks of cumulative influence absent on a control armor plates.
Starting of portable ATGM with defeat armor a to 500 mm:
You see on the shots of the of the high-speed filming of phase of wearing-out of complex
ATGM hit. On a control armor plates tracks of cumulative influence in depth less 20мм
Starting of heavy ATGM with defeat armor a more than 600 mm:
ATGM hit. On a control armor plates tracks of cumulative influence in depth to 30мм.
The distinctive feature of complex are small sizes of dangerous area of 20-30м round a tank, for the infantry of accompaniment and affecting absence external elements of tank at the wearing-out of ammunition.
The module construction of complex Arena allows to equip, as well as new, so being on an armament tanks and IFV
The equipment of tank a complex allows to heave up survivability of tank on a battle-field, in offensive operations approximately in 2 times.
Efficiency of tank with a complex sharply increases at their application in peacemaking operations and local conflicts.
The equipment of tanks of Active Protection System lifts the psychological confidence of crew in implementation of tasks without losses.