The website Scribol.com has published a photo gallery of the “7 most incredible tank graveyards on Earth.” For those that like looking at pictures of old tanks in terrible condition, this will be of interest. Picture locations include Afghanistan, Eritrea, Laos, Germany, Croatia, Kuwait and Iraq. View gallery here.
Tank graveyard photo gallery
February 21, 2015 by Leave a Comment
US Army restates importance of armor in modernization strategy
February 20, 2015 by 1 Comment
Defense News has posted an article about recent announcements from the US Army regarding future combat vehicle modernization strategies. Statements from Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster indicate that heavy armor will continue to play an important role in US planning and organization. According to the article, McMaster stated that the key to a nimble force is not necessarily fewer tanks, but a shorter logistical tail, and while the Army seeks to be more expeditionary, “lean and nimble” may not be right in every situation. “Richard Simmons is lean and nimble,but you don’t send Richard Simmons to go fight anybody.”
Algeria to assemble 200 T-90 tanks
February 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Russia Beyond the Headlines is reporting that Algeria last year signed a $1 billion dollar deal to purchase 200 knockdown kits of Russian T-90 tanks. These vehicles will be assembled at an Algerian tank repair facility. In addition, Algeria ordered kits to modernize approximately 300 T-72 tanks procured in the Soviet period. The Algerian shift from direct procurement of tanks from Russia to their licensed assembly on the national territory is comparable with the Indian policy in military-technological cooperation with Russia. Read full article here.
IS-3M Heavy tank pictures
February 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment
War History Online has posted a description and photo collection of a Soviet era IS-3M heavy tank on static display. The vehicle is quite weathered and need of restoration. The photos include both exterior and interior shots, along with a general description of the IS-3. The location is not noted in the article. Judging from the vehicles visible in the background, we are going to guess these pictures were taken at Snegiri Museum of Military History, but we could be wrong.
A Brief History of AFV News by George Bradford
February 19, 2015 by 8 Comments
Editors note: Some of you may have noticed the similarity between the name of this website and the long running publication AFV News. While the similarity in names was not intended, we have been fortunate to have gotten the attention of AFV News publisher and book author George Bradford of Ontario, Canada. Mr. Bradford has been kind enough to share his extensive knowledge of all matters pertaining to tanks and armored vehicles with us (and also catching some of our typos!) He has graciously provided us with a history of the AFV News Bulletin for us to share with our readers. While AFV News is no longer published, its legacy lives on at the AFV News Discussion Board at Com-Central. Mr. Bradford’s vehicle plans and blueprints are available at AFVplans.blogspot.
AFV News magazine 1966 to 2010
By George Bradford
I was about 32 when I first took a serious interest in armoured vehicles. At that time (about 1963) I published “ARMORED VEHICLES from their conception to the present times” a small illustrated booklet attempting to show little line drawings of every tank built to that date. This was sold to all the armour contacts I had at the time, and later to AFV News subscribers as well. At this time I had also been subscribing to a little wargaming magazine called “TABLE TOP TALK” by Jack Scruby out of California. I wrote a few articles and did some artwork to improve the cover design for Jack, and all this must have planted the seed for AFV News. There wasn’t much out there on AFVs, but Merberlen in the UK did have a nice series of Bellona plan view drawings coming along, for which I was assigned to do cover illustrations. Also out of the UK was the renowned series of AFV Profiles, which appeared on a regular basis.
Leon Kent, who helped stop a column of German tanks at Battle of the Bulge, dies at 99
February 19, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The LA Times is reporting that Silver Star recipient Leon Kent has passed away at the age of 99. During the opening hours of the German offense commonly referred to as The Battle of the Bulge, Kent’s battery of 90mm anti-aircraft guns had knocked out five tanks, including on King Tiger tank over a two hour period. Kent and three other men in his battery received the Silver Star for their actions, although Kent did not receive his award until 1998 due to “lost paperwork.”
Kent related a detailed account of his experiences during the Battle of the Bulge in an interview in 2003 for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. Audio of the interview as well as photos and a history of the 143rd AAA Gun Battalion are available from the Veterans History Project here. The parts of the interview relating to the destruction of the German tanks is posted below. [Read more…]
Kongsberg awarded RWS contract for Scout SV
February 18, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Jane’s 360 is reporting that Norwegian defense firm Kongsberg has been awarded a contract to provide its Protector Remote Weapon Station (RWS) for the United Kingdom’s Scout Specialist Vehicle (SV) tracked reconnaissance vehicle program. The Protector RWS will be able to fit on all variants of the Scout SV, and will be the main armament of the Protected Mobility Reconnaissance Support (PMRS) family of vehicle variants. In total the UK had ordered 589 Scout SVs, divided between two principal variants. The prime contractor on the Scout SV is General Dynamics UK. The contract awarded to Kongsberg is reports to be worth $93.9 million, deliveries are expected to begin in late 2016. The Scout SV will replace the CVR(T) family of vehicles, including the Scimitar Light tank and Spartan APC.
Leopard 2 Gallery from TankNutDave
February 18, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Tanknutdave.com has posted a photo gallery of the Leopard 2 which fans of modern German armor may find interesting. TankNutDave also maintains a rather large collection of videos at his youtube channel. The videos range from clips of vehicles driving around to a tour of the Bovington Tank Museum’s Vehicle Convervation Center.
Overlord’s blog on Project Foil
February 18, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Overlord’s blog has posted an article and some diagrams from the archives describing the history of the failed British “Foil” multiple rocket launch system.
The project was to design a multiple rocket launch system for the British Army. This had become possible with recent advancements in rockets that had made them more accurate than the area weapons of the Second World War. So with this in mind the British started looking at large calibre unguided rockets. Phase one of the project was finished in 1969, with talks about a joint German and Italian collaboration the following year. It seems that the rocket chosen was the same one as used in Project JAWL, which ran from 1963 until 1968. Foil in turn lead to the RS-80 project of 1974, which got killed off by the United States MLRS system, which had a massively faster reload due to the rockets being loaded in pods.
British General condemns transfer of Saxon APC to Ukraine
February 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Telegraph is reporting that the former head of the British Army has condemned a decision to deliver dozens of retired British Saxon armored personal carriers to the Ukrainian government as “nothing short of immoral”. General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff between 2006 and 2009, described the Saxon armored vehicles are “quite useless”. Said Dannatt: “I took these out of service by the UK Army in 2005/6 as completely unsuitable for current operations, so I find it incredible that they are being sold/gifted to Ukraine. I am incensed by the thought we are supplying, even via a 3rd party, SAXON APCs to the hapless Ukrainians.” Ukranian sources said that 20 Saxons have been delivered to Ukraine, with another 55 expected to arrive soon. Full article here.
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