Main Battle Tanks and Armour Technology

[methos]

@Methos, do Bundeswehr actually upgraded some significant numbers of it's tanks to Leopard 2A7 variant? It's strangely quiet about it.

I have no idea, but the Germans are always quiet about military stuff - not because they have some strong OPSEC/military secrecy rules, but because the large amounts of civilian and politicans are (radical) pacifists. Originally it was planned to upgrade at least 150 tanks (that number is only for the UrbOp version), but given the reduction of all tanks to just 225 it might be that all gonna be upgraded to some degree - OTOH the reduction was made due to small budgets, so it might be less than 150.

 

[Damian]

Thanks Methos.



I found what seems to be one of more recent photos of M1A2SEP v2's on production line in JSMC (Joint Systems Manufacturing Center) Lima, Ohio, these tanks are for US Army.

I do not know if I mentioned this here, but it seems that repair and modernization program for US Armed Forces tank fleet was very succesfull, in active part fleet of the fleet (~3,000 tanks from ~8,000+ total) it was calculated that the most wear and tear tanks are in condition like they would be manufactured as completely new vehicles just 2 years ago, it's very impressive. And also explains why US Armed Forces having ~3,000 tanks in such condition + huge reserves, want to freeze production for several years and spend money on more important needs at this time, for example new IFV.

 

[Saumyasupraik]

Thanks Methos.



And also explains why US Armed Forces having ~3,000 tanks in such condition + huge reserves, want to freeze production for several years and spend money on more important needs at this time, for example new IFV.

Bradley will be replaced or will have a new variant?Is the US going for a new tank any time soon?

 

[Saumyasupraik]

Thanks Methos.



And also explains why US Armed Forces having ~3,000 tanks in such condition + huge reserves, want to freeze production for several years and spend money on more important needs at this time, for example new IFV.

Bradley will be replaced or will have a new variant?Is the US going for a new tank any time soon?

 

[methos]

Bradley will be replaced or will have a new variant?Is the US going for a new tank any time soon?

The GCV (Ground Combat Vehicle) will be the next IFV. Some pages earlier in this thread are CGIs of BAe's proposal.

 

[Damian]

US Army is making currently tests, BAe and GDLS were contracted to develop new IFV's, while other possible alternatives are evaluated, like highly modified M2 IFV or other currently avaiable vehicles like SPz Puma, Namer, CV90 or other.

The older M2's are seen as usefull and will be eventually modified in to specialized vehicles to replace M113 based vehicles... this is probably connected to find overall M113 replacement under AMPV program.

So in general it looks like this.

1) Further modernization of M1 tanks, mainly because currently there is nothing superior to it and other vehicles are comparable, so US Armed Forces having biggest fleet of one type of 3rd generation MBT seems justified to further upgrade design. GDLS recently proposed big modernization, supposed M1A3 it is.

Here is a list:

http://www.gdls.com/images/pdf/Modernization/abramsmod.pdf

However if UVZ finally present "Armata" platform and it will be fielded by Russian Army and offered for export, we can be sure that US Army can order R&D program for new tank, possibly very similiar in concept to "Armata".

2) Development of new IFV (or rather heavy IFV seeing the need for heavy armor protection) under GCV program or produce any possible alternative.

3) Use of M2 Bradley as possible replacement for M113 or design new platform under AMPV program.

4) Further Stryker evolution in to DVH (Double V Hull) variant and any possible further modifications.

Below is US Army modernization plan for 2012 and beyond.

https://www.g8.army.mil/pdf/AMP2012_lq.pdf

 

[Kunal Biswas]

http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2009psa_arm/tuesgrassano.pdf

New US Army AMP (Advanced Multi Purpose) 120mm HE with programmable fuze, impressive ammunition, take a look at photo with T-55 turret side perforation done by that HE round. AMP is designed to completely replace M830 HEAT, M830A1 MPAT, M908 HEOR and M1028 Cannister ammunition.

Something more here:

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/wsh2012/112.pdf

Similar Development..

 

[pmaitra]

The T-55 turret hole is immaculate. At a glance I thought it could be the work of a Sabot, but I see what HE can also do. Very good post.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

The T-55 turret hole is immaculate. At a glance I thought it could be the work of a Sabot, but I see what HE can also do. Very good post.

Sabot leaves very small holes compare to HEAT as it itself is a Rod..

 

[pmaitra]

Yes, a sabot could not have made a big hole like that in the T-55.

 

[Damian]

Seems that IMI strongly promotes it's APAM.

As for APFSDS, HEAT and HE holes leaven in armor, both APFSDS and HEAT leaves small holes, HEAT actually leaves even smaller holes than APFSDS (of course it also depends on shaped charge calliber, the bigger it is the bigger hole will be left). HE leaves big hole because it is a full bore projectile that do not use shaped charge.

Here You have a hole left by shaped charge jet (from HEAT warhead).

 

[pmaitra]

True, sabots and shaped charges using metal jets typically make smaller holes.

I am surprised to see such an accurate circle of a hole in that T-55 hull. Simply amazing.

 

[sayareakd]

True, sabots and shaped charges using metal jets typically make smaller holes.

I am surprised to see such an accurate circle of a hole in that T-55 hull. Simply amazing.

check this out this is caused by Arjun tank hit.

 

[Damian]

Did I say You should not underestimate really modern types of ammunition?

Actually think what mess this would done in a tank with crew, fuel and ammunition, HE not only penetrates armor but also explodes inside killing crew and igniting both fuel and ammunition. Lethality greater than shaped charges.

And now a small update of some older technology from DPRK.

In a photo center on the left we have a North Korean T-62 derivatives, from photo lower part to up we have 4 Choonma Ho variants, and the last tank on photo top is most probably Pookpong Ho.

I have several observations of their protection.

Choonma Ho contrary to T-62 use a turret welded from probably rolled or cast elements, turrets due to fact from what material their were made, and possible thickness of turret armor, do not have turret well optimized for safe manouvering angles (it is easier to hit weakly protected sides of turret from within frontal arc 60-65 degrees). Front turret seems to be protected by a sort of composite (probably primitive) armor modules, in a concept they are somewhat similiar to BDD armor and Chinese concept of front turret modular armor, but instead of BDD being an addon, these seems to be integral and important part of turrets front protection.

The Pookpong Ho instead, have a different hull (driver in the hull center line not on the left), and a cast turret, it is possible that this cast turret have internal, integral composite armor cavieties, and it is similiar in concept to Soviet tanks with composite armor placed in cast turret structure, yet more primitive from obvious reasons. Explosive Reactive Armor cassettes are also visible on hull and turret front.

It seems that these tanks are armed in 115mm or 125mm smoothbore guns, yet there is probably no autoloader, instead there is a human loader that also operates KPVT 14,5mm heavy machine gun on turret top.

And here another photo, from the rear this time.

And more photos of supposed Pookpong Ho.

 

[Damian]

Anniston Army Depot partners to rebuild Saudi tanks | Article | The United States Army

In this 2011 file photo, Steven Homesley, an Anniston Army Depot heavy mobile equipment mechanic, disassembles an M1A2 Abrams tank to be repaired and upgraded for the Royal Saudi Land Forces.

ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. (April 12, 2012) -- Anniston Army Depot recently contracted to overhaul 143 M1 Abrams tanks for Saudi Arabia's Royal Saudi Land Forces through a partnership with General Dynamics Land Systems, at Lima Army Tank Plant in Ohio. An additional 129 tanks are awaiting funding.

Approximately 326,000 direct labor hours are expected for the installation through this program, according to Michael Epps, a depot program manager. Anniston Army Depot employees will disassemble and sandblast the vehicles, then perform needed repairs to the hulls and turrets.

"The vehicles coming in for this program are all M1A2 tanks and will be reconfigured through this program to M1A2S, which is the Saudi version of the M1 Abrams tank," said Epps.

Epps said the installation will play a key role in refurbishing components for the vehicles by rebuilding the Gunner's Primary Sight assembly, computer control panel, elevating mechanism assembly, gunner's control assembly and other parts for each tank.

Once structural repairs are complete, the hulls, turrets and components will be shipped to Lima, where the tank will be assembled by General Dynamics Land Systems.

This program extends a partnership between General Dynamics Land Systems and Anniston Army Depot that began in early 2011 when the depot assisted in upgrading 57 M1A1 and M1A2 tanks to the M1A2S variant.

Hmmm 272 M1A2S tanks to be made, seems like a good deal for JSMC and GDLS. Saudi Arabia will have 300+ M1A2S tanks in the end. What is even more interesting, there were reports that GDLS build facility to perform work in Saudi Arabia, but it seems that tanks are upgraded in USA. Maybe deal never ended and consensus was to perform whole work in US?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

T-90MS

 

[Kunal Biswas]

T-90MS

 

[Kunal Biswas]

T-90MS

 

[Damian]

Nice! Pitty that no photos from inside.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Nice! Pitty that no photos from inside.

http://jjamwal.in/blog/2012/04/defence-expo-2012-arjun-t-90-pictures-insides.html

Some pics..