News for all things related to Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles
Here is a rather lengthy video in Russian showing the opening or Tank Biathlon 2016. The first few minutes feature footage of a number of historical vehicles dating back to WW2 being driven around.
And here is a GIF of one of the competing tanks having issues with the gun stabilization.
For more on Tank Biathlon 2016, we recommend the Tank Net.com thread on the topic.
Over on his facebook page, Wargaming’s Nick “The Chieftain” Moran posted about the 2012 Operation Think Tank series of videos. He says:
It has not escaped my notice that in one week, the Panther video exceeded in views the life-time number of views of Operation Think Tank. This is, I would say, something of a shame, as I think OTT was one of the best things we’ve ever done for the tank enthusiast community. I realize that you guys are part of the choir and have likely watched it already, but I was chatting with Hilary Doyle this morning, and he suggested a repeated push on FB, given his experience with the performance of the Weald Foundation videos. So why not? Here’s the link, share, spread the word! FB, email, forums, whatever.
We think the Operation Think Tank videos are one of the best things on Youtube, so we encourage everyone to watch them if they have not already. We fully support the idea of an Operation Think Tank part II!
The Jerusalem Post has reported that the Israeli Defense Ministry has unveiled a new wheeled 8×8 APC, dubbed the Eitan. This vehicle is intended to replace the aging M113 based vehicles still in service with the IDF. The article notes that the Eitan is claimed to be the best protected wheeled APC in the world, although at 35 tonnes, it is considerably lighter and faster than the tracked Namer APC it is intended to operate alongside. The vehicle is said to have a 750 HP engine and the Trophy active protection system. The Eitan will be armed with a remote controlled gun and missile launcher. Read the full article here.
Here is a short video showing the Eitan. This video is not very crisp looking , for a better version click on the link to the Jerusalem Post article.
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.
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:
Here is a round up of AFV related news stories. As always, click on the title link to go to the full article.
Singapore 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.
CHAMBERSBURG, 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.”
KIEV, 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.
Slovokia 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.”
“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.
Could 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.
Rabat – 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.
In 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.
Ukraine 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.
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.
The 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.
Here is an amusing photo of a summer time grill disguised as a Tiger tank. Although, as a friend of the site mentioned, it would be more historically accurate if it was a Panther and the grill was the engine deck.
After a bit of a delay, the April-June 2016 issue of eARMOR is available for download. This is the digital version of the long running ARMOR magazine. While this current issue may be of interest to professional armor officers (which is its target audience after all), there is probably not much in this issue for the casual AFV buff, unless you really want to read articles such as “Decision-Support Planning and Tools: Planning to Support Decision-Making.” Anyhow, download the issue here.
This video of a T-90 cardboard target tank showed up on youtube a few days ago. These target tanks are being used by the US 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment and their Bulgarian allies as they practice firing main gun rounds and small arms and crew-served weapons in Bulgaria at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria, June 25.
Edit: Several views have pointed out that this vehicle resembles a T-72M1 much more than it does a T-90. We agree with them.
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