From the Vault: LIFE Magazine ads

At least one person commented that they were having trouble seeing the image in this post.  We decided to redo and expand the post, adding another ad to the photo gallery.

The first ad comes from a 1943 issue of Life Magazine.  In it, Westinghouse is bragging up the gun stabilization system on the M4 Sherman.  It’s probably fair to say that Westinghouse is exaggerating just a bit in this ad.

The second ad also comes from 1943 and is from the Chrysler Corporation.  The tittle of the ad is “How to Jockey a General Sherman.”

 

 

Video: Hot Rod Ferret

This video featuring an extensively modified Ferret scout car is essentially a commercial for Toyo Tires.  While we generally try not to post commercials, this one is too cool to pass up. For more information on this particular Ferret, click here.

Photo of the Day: KV-2

A destroyed Russian KV-2.  We don’t have a date for this picture but it’s probably safe to assume this picture was taken in 1941 during Operation Barbarossa.  One can only imagine the power of the explosion that could toss such a heavy turret upside down.

KV-2 KO_1

Tank Biathlon 2016

Starting today, The World Championship Tank Biathlon 2016 takes place in Alabino, Russia  running from July 30 until August 15.  The Tank Biathlon World Championship consists of tests of driving, racing and shooting with various vehicles. It features 39 crews from 13 countries, including Russia, Serbia, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kuwait, Armenia, Belarus and China.  All teams will be using Russian made T-72B3 tank with the exception of China, who bring a tank of their own design (last competition it was a ZTZ-96A), and Belarus, who will be using their own modernized T-72. The individual winners are set to be named on August 6, including three best tank crews. The eight teams will participate in the semi-final relay race on August 13.

For more details, check out articles from Sputniknews.com and Southfront.org.  Southfront.org also has a video version of their article posted below:

 

ABCNews has a photo gallery from the March regional stage of the Tank Biathlon.

Here is a short videos showing footage from some of the other regional qualifying competitions:

Video: BT-7 Artillery tank

Here is a short video showing a replica 76mm gun turret being lowered onto a BT-7 hull.  This comes from the youtube page of Russian tank researcher Yuri Pasholok.

Video: Abandoned & Wrecked Tanks

Here is a new youtube video of abandoned & wrecked tanks.  Many of these images have been seen before, but it’s still worth a watch.

Photo of the Day: M5 Stuart

The PotD is a M5 Stuart tank on display in DeKalb, Illinois.  M5 Stuart tanks on display are not all that uncommon, but we decided to point this one out since a recent article noted that this tank, nicknamed “Donna”, is going to get a new paint job.  Hat’s off to everyone in Dekalb who is donating time and money to repaint this historic vehicle.

7682044056_137c9a6c01_b

(Photo source here.)

AFV News from around the Net

Here is a round up of AFV related news stories.  As always, click on the title link to go to the full article.

 

IHS Jane’s – ST Kinetics showcases expanded Terrex IFV family with an eye on international requirements

1679324_-_mainSingapore Technologies (ST) Kinetics, the land systems division of state-affiliated defence prime ST Engineering, is seeking to expand its global 8×8 armoured vehicle footprint with the Terrex family of infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), which now includes three distinct platforms with gross vehicle weight (GVW) ratings ranging from 24-35 tonnes.  Senior ST Kinetics executives asserted during a closed press briefing on 22 July – which also commemorated an occasion where all three current members of the Terrex family were displayed together for the first time – that the company’s sustained efforts in capability development will enable it to meet the growing spectrum of operational requirements from international customers.

 

Herald-Mail Media – Letterkenny celebrates upgrades to armored vehicle

57967c72266cc.imageCHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Letterkenny Army Depot last week celebrated production of its upgraded mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle designed for soldiers to use in clearing routes.  The RG31 now has 300 horsepower, a larger transmission, the addition of independent suspension for improved mobility, 360-degree spotlights for night visibility and an armored gunner’s hatch, according to a news release.  “When most people think of Letterkenny, they think of missiles … and that is a huge part of what we do here,” depot Commander Col. Deacon Maddox said in a statement. “What many people do not know about Letterkenny is that approximately one-third of the depot’s work is the (route clearance vehicles), which includes the RG31.”

 

 

UPI – Ukraine military receives 10 Dozor-B armored vehicles

Ukraine-military-receives-10-Dozor-B-armored-vehiclesKIEV, Ukraine, July 21 (UPI) — The Ukrainian military has taken custody of 10 Dozor-B armored vehicles, the Ukroboronprom defense concern announced Wednesday.  The military has accepted the fighting vehicles, which are ready to use without any restrictions, the company said in a statement.  The modern armored vehicle can carry 10 troops and offers protection from armor-piercing bullets, shrapnel, mines, chemical and radiological attacks.

 

Defense World.net – Slovakia To Purchase 30 Rosomak Armored Vehicle From Poland

rosomak_a_1469434950Slovokia is negotiating a purchase of 30 eight-wheeled Rosomak armored modular vehicle (AMV) from Poland.  The announcement by Poland’s defense ministry follows unsubstantiated news reports that Slovakia’s Defense Ministry had scrapped the acquisition plan, Sputnik reported Monday.  Bartlomiej Misiewicz, the Polish Defense Ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying by the news daily that the negotiations “will be continued, as indicated by the talks by the defense ministers of Poland and Slovakia that took place during NATO’s summit in Warsaw.”

 

TRT World – 4 ways Turks stopped tanks during the failed coup

trtworld-nid-151401-fid-183704.jpg“How do we stop a tank?” was not a question that many Turkish civilians considered before the failed coup attempt on July 15.  Quick thinking, improvisation and sheer determination by civilians in a desperate situation answered this question as thousands stood together to stop a coup from taking place.  Unable to reach rebel helicopters and fighter jets firing at them, civilians took on their biggest threat within their reach, army tanks which had blocked off key locations around Ankara and Istanbul.

 

The National Interest – Is Russia About to Make Tanks (As We Know Them) Obsolete?

9may2015moscow-09_0.jpgCould the Russian Terminator series—also know as the Boyevaya Mashina Podderzhki Tankov—be the harbinger of future armored vehicle design?  Based on its experience in Ukraine, Georgia, Chechnya and Afghanistan, the Russian military certain believes so according to Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Moscow-based Centre for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST). As such, Russia is mulling over the possibility of ditching the traditional tank—as it is currently conceptualized—and considering adopting a machine that is much more capable of defending itself against missile-equipped infantry and engaging other vehicles at stand-off ranges with anti-tank missiles.

 

Morocco World News – Morocco Receives First US Abrams Tanks for Royal Armed Forces

Morocco-to-Spend-MAD-3-Billion-in-the-Purchase-of-150-US-Armored-TanksRabat – Upon the instructions of the King, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), a ceremony to receive the first US Abrams Tanks M1A1, meant for the FAR, was held on Tuesday at the central department for material management and storage (ECGCM) in Nouaceur.  Chaired by Major General, Inspector of the Armored Corps , the ceremony was attended by wali of greater Casablanca and US Consul General in Casablanca, as well as by two important Moroccan and American delegations, said a statement by the FAR general staff.

 

The Jerusalem Post – The first Hebrew tank battalion switches to Merkava MK 4 tanks

ShowImageIn recent days, the IDF’s Battalion 82 took a leap forward through decades of military technology, when it left behind it Merkava MK 2 tanks, and took possession of the cutting edge Merkava MK 4 tanks instead.  Battalion 82, a part of the 7 Armored Brigade, is the first Hebrew armored formation. It was formed prior to the 1948 War of Independence, and took part in every one of Israel’s wars, according to Maj. Itamar Michaeli, the battalion’s deputy commander.

 

Interfax – Ukraine – Ukraine transferring new batch of Oplot combat tanks to Thailand

0206_124711Ukraine is transferring a new batch of new Oplot-T combat tanks being built at Malyshev Plant (Kharkiv) to Thailand under a contract of over $200 million signed in 2011.  The press service of Malyshev Plant reported that the acceptance certificate was signed recently by representatives of Thai Armed Forces arrived to Ukraine.  The foreign customer confirmed that all characteristics of new tanks meet the contract requirements. The batch of tanks is ready for shipping, the press service said.

Book Review: M60A2 Main Battle Tank, Volume 1

Sabot Publications is a relatively new publisher and M60A2 Main Battle Tank Volume 1 In Detail is their third release.  As the title states, this book examines the M60A2, the most short lived and least successful member of the M60 family of tanks..  The format of the book is pretty simple, this is primary a photo reference book.  Their are a couple pages at the beginning of the book giving a history of the M60A2, followed by 120+ pages of photos.  The layout consists primarily of two black and white pictures per page with text descriptions.  The photo captions are well done and contain a good deal of information.

All in all, there are over 250 pictures in this book, primarily showing the M60A2 out in the field.  There are several different individual tanks shown on exercise in Germany in the 1978-1980 period.  People looking for pictures of the M60A2 being recovered from getting immobilized will find quite a few nice examples between these pages.  There are also sections devoted to close up shots of various components, including multiple pictures of the 152mm gun being removed from the vehicle.  A photo of an M60A2 next to a Soviet T-55 gives a nice example of just how tall the M60 family of tanks were compared to their cold war adversary.

M60A2 bookThe book is roughly magazine sized, with card stock thickness covers, a strong binding and nice quality glossy pages.  Total page count is 128 pages.  This book should serve as a very handy reference for model builders who decide to tackle this rather unusual vehicle.  Sabot Publication is planning a second volume looking at the M60A2 which should be available relatively soon.  Other Sabot titles include volumes on the M1A2 SEP Abrams and the M9ACE, and upcoming titles include those looking at the Stryker MGS, Patriot Mobile Missile Defense System, M1 ABV, and the MLRS.  For more information regarding Sabot Publications, be sure to visit their Facebook page.

Picture of the day: Homemade tank

This homemade tank is for sale in Copperopolis CA.  It has a top speed of 8 mph and can shoot a tennis ball 20 feet.  Also, the machine gun barrels sticking through the front hull appear to be German MP40 submachine guns, a rather odd choice all things considered.

dt.common.streams.StreamServer