Main Battle Tanks and Armour Technology

[Damian]

Kunal, but someone should take again list of Army demands, analize them and compare to current situation and possible future threats.

Look at Future Combat Systems program, all demands for program were done with perspective future in mind and what happend? All the sudden these futuristic vehicles designed with future conflicts in mind were cancelled because situation changed very quickly and Army demands were obsolete even before more prototypes were builded.

Think about that.

 

[Damian]

http://www.ausa.org/news/2012/Documents/ILWBreakfast_LTGLennoxPresentation.pdf

Document from this year, it seems that further upgrades for M1 series are treated seriously. One of GDLS officials said that upgrades might be integrated with tanks in form of increment packages. Here among several different interesting things about GCV and AMPV, is a small list showing upgrades currently seen as priority, among them another armor upgrade... as a side note I wonder, how much they can up armor M1, and how they will up armor it.

 

[Damian]

Interesting and rare photo of real rarity. Ukrainian BMT-72 (MBT/IFV hybrid) on firing range. What is interesting besides the modified hull with dismounts transport capability, is turret, I'am confused a bit, it might be T-72B (most probably) turret with new ERA and TC cupola with remotly controlled machine gun, but it might be also maybe T-80UD turret?

 

[Godless-Kafir]

Indian Army and US Stryker Brigade Conduct Exercise in Rajasthan. Nice to see camaraderie between both Armies and also the BMP squeaking in the sand!

OT.....I think it is the same regiment that trained together in Alaska with each other, why would they train again with the same regiment? At 3:30 the IA soldier says he is my old Alaskan partner?

 

[Damian]

Interesting that the only Stryker variant we see is M1127 Reconnaissance Vehicle (RV) variant.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

It would have been better if they get MGS here..

 

[Damian]

There aren't many M1128 Mobile Gun System (MGS) variant in use.

 

[Damian]

Фото - Бм Оплот

Here are photos of T-84M Oplot interior.

 

[asianobserve]

Interesting and rare photo of real rarity. Ukrainian BMT-72 (MBT/IFV hybrid) on firing range. What is interesting besides the modified hull with dismounts transport capability, is turret, I'am confused a bit, it might be T-72B (most probably) turret with new ERA and TC cupola with remotly controlled machine gun, but it might be also maybe T-80UD turret?

Interesting tank. I found more pictures of it...

But based on this picture I doubt if this is a practical design for carrying infantry as the personnel compartment is in between the main gun and the engine...

http://www.morozov.com.ua/eng/body/bmt72.php

 

[Bhadra]

Tank as a weapon system appears to be breathing its last from the world scene. Only India, Pakistan and China are interested ... vestiges and relics to be put on firing ranges for target practices.

 

[asianobserve]

Tank as a weapon system appears to be breathing its last from the world scene. Only India, Pakistan and China are interested ... vestiges and relics to be put on firing ranges for target practices.

The American experience in Iraq may provide a pause for this decline. Tank has proved invaluable in urban combat.

 

[Bhadra]

No, Its not in India..

Coz here arms dealer rules the MOD, Mostly, you don't get kick backs in Indigenous program..


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Besides, Arjun is deign as per army demands there is no reason army would speak such nonsense when Chief himself praise it..

Tatra episode has conclusively proved that MoD Babus and politicians might get more kickbacks from PSUs and OFBs, and that, OFBs and PSUs also follow corruption routes.

 

[Bhadra]

The American experience in Iraq may provide a pause for this decline. Tank has proved invaluable in urban combat.

Iraq could have been overrun even without tanks. The fact is there was nothing against the tanks in the towns of Iraq otherwise tank is a sitting duck in towns. Germans with tanks miserably failed in Stalingrad and Berlin.

Secondly, tanks could not sustain and needed modifications in the form of Strykers which primarily is rejection of tank warfare.

 

[asianobserve]

Iraq could have been overrun even without tanks. The fact is there was nothing against the tanks in the towns of Iraq otherwise tank is a sitting duck in towns. Germans with tanks miserably failed in Stalingrad and Berlin.

Secondly, tanks could not sustain and needed modifications in the form of Strykers which primarily is rejection of tank warfare.

The active employment of M1s in Iraq shows the need for heavy armor in urban battles.

 

[p2prada]

Tank as a weapon system appears to be breathing its last from the world scene. Only India, Pakistan and China are interested ... vestiges and relics to be put on firing ranges for target practices.

The tank is as obsolete as an assault rifle. It is still required.

 

[pmaitra]

But based on this picture I doubt if this is a practical design for carrying infantry as the personnel compartment is in between the main gun and the engine...

KMDB - BMT-72 Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle (T-72 MBT Upgrade Version)

But then it is behind the turret, not in front of it. Where else would you have it? Also, you don't want to keep your engine too close to the turret. It makes maintenance difficult. You should be able to switch engines pretty quickly on the field.

 

[Bhadra]

The active employment of M1s in Iraq shows the need for heavy armor in urban battles.

M1 was used as it existed not that it was required. M1A1 somehow tried to prove its need was ultimate consigned to dust bin.

Is not it !!

 

[asianobserve]

But then it is behind the turret, not in front of it. Where else would you have it? Also, you don't want to keep your engine too close to the turret. It makes maintenance difficult. You should be able to switch engines pretty quickly on the field.

First this personnel compartment is claustrophobic. Second, it is very hard to reach let alone exit from. Just imagine climbing up that hatch in the middle of enemy fire and then siting on top of the rear portion of the tank exposed. Maybe you have to crawl once you're at the top and then drop down to the side of that tank in full battle gear. But if you stand up once on top of the tank's rear in going down then you'll be a tall target for small arms fire...

 

[pmaitra]

First this personnel compartment is claustrophobic. Second, it is very hard to reach let alone exit from. Just imagine climbing up that hatch in the middle of enemy fire and then siting on top of the rear portion of the tank exposed. Maybe you have to crawl once you're at the top and then drop down to the side of that tank in full battle gear. But if you stand up once on top of the tank's rear in going down then you'll be a tall target for small arms fire...

I see what you are saying. Space, comfort, accessibility, all are concerns. I would suggest you take a trip on the California Zephyr. It doesn't have these problems.

 

[pankaj nema]

The tank is as obsolete as an assault rifle. It is still required.

The importance of tanks can be seen from this EXCERPT from Indian Army's website

"At the core lies the enduring principles of the Fire Power and Shock Action, the application of which will always have a most devastating effect on the enemy."

Official Website of Indian Army