The site Armored Warfare has posted an article about the exploits of Israeli Yom Kippur war tank commander Lt. Zvika Greengold. Greengold was the commander of a Centurion tank in the Golan facing off against Syrian tank forces. In a series of battles over a 24 period, Greengold and his crew engaged and destroyed numerous Syian vehicles while completely outnumbered. According to the article, it is not known exactly how many tanks Greengold destroyed but the estimates range from 20 to 40. He was awarded with the highest Israeli military award, the Medal of Valor, for his actions. He survived the war and left the military in 1974 with the rank of Captain. He went on to pursue a political career and today at 63 years old he is mayor of the city of Oakum in Israel.
Article on Lt. Zvika Greengold, Hero of Yom Kippur War
From the Vault: ARMOR article on Depleted Uranium
Today we present an article that appeared in the July-August 2000 issue of ARMOR concerning the use of depleted Uranium in tank ammunition and armor. The use of depleted uranium has been a source of controversy, with varying claims made as to it’s safety and environmental impact. This article gives an interesting look at what the US Army was saying about DU in the period between Desert Storm and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Video: Sakal IFV (upgraded BMP-2)
This video is from the IDEb 2014 conference last year although it seems not to have been posted to the web until recently. The video shows the Czech Sakal IFV, a substantially upgraded BMP-2. Created by Czech arms manufacturer Excalibur Army, this vehicle features a number of improvements over the original BMP-2, details of which are available here.
Here is a video from Excalibur Army showing the exterior and interior of the Sakal.
The Chieftain’s Hatch: Unmanned Patton
Over at his corner of the World of Tanks forum, Nicholas “The Chieftain” Moran has posted a new article about an attempt to make a remote control tank back in 1956. The project involved an M48A1 tank equipped with a variety of video cameras, remote control devices and electronics at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. A good number of pictures are included in the report. As could be guess given the state of the technology of the day, the experiment was not all together successful. All in all, a very ambitious project considering how new TV technology was in the mid 50’s.
Be sure to check it out at “The Chieftains Hatch.”
Video: Norwegian Tank joins Bike Race
Here is a short video of a Norwegian Leopard II temporarily joining the second leg of the Arctic Bike race.
Book Alert: Mobility, Shock and Firepower: The Emergence of the U.S. Army’s Armor Branch, 1917-1945
Typically our “Book Alert” posts are about books that have yet to be released. This book alert is a little different, this is a book that was released a few years back but is available for free download. For those interested in the history of the US Armor branch from 1917 – 1945, this book by Robert S. Cameron will be a welcome addition to their PDF library.
Publishers Description:
CMH Pub 30-23-1. Army Historical Series. Captures the multifaceted development of the Armored Force from its inauspicious beginnings in World War 1 to its fully mature, operational status at the close of World War 2. Provides an excellent case study in force transformation. Gives attention to training maneuvers conducted in the interwar period. Source material includes reports, memorandums, and correspondence of the majors, lieutenant colonels, and colonels associated with armored development since World War I. First published in 2008.
Nicaragua to buy T-72?
ICR News is reporting that Nicaragua is seriously considering the purchase of T-72B3 tanks following its participation in the Russian hosted “World Tank Biathlon.” According to the article, Nicaraguan ambassador to Russia said that “We hope that soon our army will receive the T-72. I think we can discuss a purchase.” Ties between Russia and Nicaragua have been growing, including a visit to Nicaraqua by Russian President Putin last year. Currently, the heaviest AFV used by the Nicaraguan armed forces is the T-54/55, originally acquired via Bulgaria & Libya.
From the Vault: Uncle Sam Grooms his Hell Buggies
Today in the mail we got an article we bought off of ebay from the April 1940 issues of Popular Science. The article is titled “Uncle Same Grooms his Hell Buggies: A Close up View of our Hard Hitting Tank Force.” This article, written just before the fall of France, paints a rather optimistic picture of the quality of US tanks at the time:
While the US Army can’t compare with European mechanized forces in number of tanks, American officers are confident that we are away ahead of them in quality–that in the M2A4 model tank now being built we have the best light tank in the world.
The article goes on to describe a powerful new medium tank being developed with four machine guns and a 37mm gun. Of course, the events of the summer of 1940 would show these American officers just how wrong they were in this article (assuming they were not just talking up US equipment for the sake of public morale.) The article has a few interesting pictures and tells of how the armor force used a remotely controlled FT-17 as a moving target.
T-14 Armata stealth claims questioned by experts
Jane’s has posted an article about how armor experts are sceptical over claims made by the manufacturer of the new Russian T-14 Armata that it is essentially invisible to radar. According to the article, the invisibility claim was made by the director of the Nizhi-Tagil-based UralVagonZavod (UVZ) plant, Vyacheslav Khalitov, on Ekho Moskvy radio on 3 July. Khalitov said the T-14’s hull is coated with special radar-absorbing paint and other materials and appliqués that make it difficult to be detected. The article quotes and unnamed retired US army flag-rank officer with experience in AFV development who states that “these claims would have to be proven. Placing heat-generating components ‘deep inside’ in the vehicle won’t help; modern thermal technology is very sensitive and when the tank is moved, or a weapon is fired, or a person is exposed, the thermal signature will light up. Plus, no matter where the engine is, when an engine big enough to move a 40- to 50-ton tank is fired up, it will have a signature.” The article also notes that Russian specialists familiar with radar signature reduction techniques said that most of the research in this area has been done with aircraft in mind and that the technology is not optimised for protecting ground targets.
Column on General Devers
The regional history section of the York Daily Record (Pennsylvania) has posted a column about local researcher Rich Robinson, working on a biography of General Jacob Devers. Devers, also a resident of York PA, was head of the US Armor force during WW2, Robinson is quoted in the article saying “I would very much like to do him (Devers) justice in view of the way he has been maligned over the years but without making him some kind of one dimensional figure.” Robinson will serve on a panel of Devers experts as part of a two -day event: “Quiet Streak of Lightning: York’s World War II General Jacob L. Devers.” That program is set for Nov. 6-7 at the York County Heritage Trust. Renowned World War II historian Dr. Scott Wheeler will lead off the conference, presenting on his book: “Jacob L. Devers: A General’s Life.” The full column can be read here.
Tank and AFV News 