News from around the Web

Some recent news articles related to AFVs.  Click on the title link to go to the full article.

 

Defense News – IronVision Helmet Provides Sight Through Armored Tanks

636009776648720676-WideshotHAIFA, Israel — Elbit Systems, the Israeli firm whose Helmet Mounted System (HMS) is used on helicopters and fighters worldwide, including the new F-35, is debuting a similar sensor-fused system that allows tank commanders to essentially see through the walls of their armored vehicles.  Called IronVision, the vehicle-adapted HMS provides “protective glass walls” for tank or armored fighting vehicle crews who may need to operate in so-called closed-hatch mode when maneuvering in high-threat areas, according to Boaz Cohen, director of Elbit’s land systems division.

 

Scout.com – Army Abrams Tanks Will Get Networked with a High-Speed Force Tracker

4067782519The Army is now expanding a new, high-speed, vehicle-mounted force tracking technology to include a wider range of combat platforms such as Stryker vehicles, Bradleys and Abrams tanks, service officials said.  The system, now on Army jeeps or HMMWVs, allows Soldiers in combat to instantly know their location in relation to fellow Soldiers, enemy locations and surrounding terrain, service developers said. The technology, called Joint Battle Command – Platform, has already been fielded with the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and 10th Mountain Division.

 

Defense News – CMI Defence, Ricardo UK To Partner for British Tank Bid

Challenger_II.jpgPARIS — CMI Defence is the second company to announce a partnership arrangements to compete for the British Army’s upcoming life extension program for the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank. The Belgian weapon systems designer and manufacturer said it is teaming with British systems integrator Ricardo UK to respond to a request for information issued by the Ministry of Defence.  CFM will act as prime, with Ricardo acting as systems engineering and delivery partner.

 

IHS Jane’s – Eurosatory 2016: Spain showcases Pizarro artillery observation vehicle

1646017_-_mainGeneral Dynamics European Land Systems-Santa Barbara Sistemas is exhibiting the artillery observation variant of their Pizarro infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) family at Eurosatory 2016.  The Pizarro forward observation vehicle (FOV) has a crew of five comprising the commander and gunner in the two-person turret, a driver, and two observers in the rear, one of whom can be used in the dismounted role with a link to the platform.

 

Defense Update – Eurosatory 2016 – Photo Report (Day 1)

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Defense Update – 8×8 AFVs at Eurosatory 2016 – Photo Report (Day 2)

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Video: How to drive a Centurion tank

The Danish Centurion Tank from the GHRVPK participates in tactical demonstration during the annual Open House event. The driver had a GoPro camera mounted in a harness as a “Belly Cam”, showing how he operates the controls while driving.

Book Alert:Armored Strike Force: The Photo History of the American 70th Tank Battalion in World War II

Amazon is listing a July 1, 2016 release date for the title Armored Strike Force: The Photo History of the American 70th Tank Battalion in World War II by Charles C. Roberts Jr.  This is a 272 page hard cover from Stackpole Books.

Publishers Description:

The U.S. 70th Tank Battalion boasts one of the most impressive combat records of any American armored unit in World War II. It landed in North Africa as part of Operation Torch and participated in the invasion of Sicily, D-Day, the Normandy campaign, the Battle of the Bulge, and the final drive into Germany. It remains in service today as the 70th Armor Regiment, the U.S. Army’s most decorated armor unit.

  • The story-in-photos of one of the most distinguished American tank units of World War II
  • A remarkable assortment of photos, most of them from veterans and other private sources
  • Depicts vehicles, soldiers, equipment, terrain, behind-the-lines activities, and much more

T-72B3 tanks in Ukraine

The blog “War is Boring” has released a new article about the Russian built T-72B3 tanks being used in the conflict in Ukraine.

Excerpt:

In any war, certain weapons come symbolize one side in the fighting, specific tactics or political factors. In that spirit, a specific tank has become the icon of Russia’s secret war in Ukraine.

On June 3, 2016, Ukrainian blogger “sled_vzayt” posted a batch of evidence showing advanced T-72B3 tanks  —  as well as other armored vehicles and heavy weapons  —  and their Russian crews in eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region and right across the border in Russia.

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While the post uses numerous photographs to identify specific tanks, the vehicles themselves offer some of the clearest proof that the Kremlin’s troops are actively supporting rebel forces in Ukraine.

“In the Ukraine conflict, many have scoured the military equipment sightings on social media to find evidence of Russian involvement,” Veli-Pekka Kivimäki, a Finnish doctoral student and open-source intelligence expert, wrote in a piece for the investigative Website Bellingcat on May 28, 2016.

“The modernized T-72B3 main battle tank has been an example of military equipment that is out of place in a conflict where Russian government actively denies military involvement.”

Read the full article here.

More Eurosatory 2016 Videos

Here are a couple more videos from IHS Jane’s about some of the vehicles on display at Eurosatory 2016.

 

The Chieftain’s Hatch: Signal Flags

hatchlogo (1)Nicholas “The Chieftain” Moran from World of Tanks writes about the history of tank signal flags.

Excerpt:

Tier I tanks used to come with “Signal Flags” as part of their basic radio system. Threads on the forum, reddit, etc. have asked, “Did WoT make this up? Did tankmen really use flags?”

Sure enough, the answer is ‘yes’ (in semaphore, as in the photo above). In a time when the “intercom system” could be as technical as kicking the driver to indicate which way you wanted to go, communications with the world outside the tank was even more difficult.

Just because tanks were coming standard with radios didn’t mean that signal flags would be obsolete. In early 1941, Armored Force was trying to come up with its own visual signals guide, and that March approved the signals as found in Field Manual 17-5:

“Disregard my movements:” Flag Stationary
“Do as I do:” Raise and lower flag repeatedly
“Assemble:” Wave flag in large circles
“Form extended column:” Wave flag from font to rear, as determined by direction in which signaller’s vehicle is facing
“Form extended line:” Wave flag from side to side, as determined by direction in which signaller’s vehicle is facing
“Form column:” “Extended Column” signal, followed immediately by “Assemble” signal
“Form line:” “Extended line” signal, followed immediately by “Assemble” signal

Full article here.

Photo of the Day: Eurosatory Protest

Earlier this week peace protesters disrupted Eurosatory 2016, vandalizing several vehicles with red paint.  Here is a picture of protesters being removed from a Leclerc MBT.

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Rheinmetall unveils Lynx IFV at Eurosatory 2016

From Shephard Media comes this video of the new Rheinmetall Lynx infantry fighting vehicle.  Lynx is the company’s entrance into the medium weight category and will fit into the company’s portfolio below the Puma IFV.

Rheinmetall unveils Lynx Eurosatory 2016 from Shephard Media on Vimeo.

Photo of the Day: CGI BT Fast tank at Eurosatory

Today’s photo is a bit of a silly one. While looking for information about Eurosatory 2016 at the Rheinmetall website, we came across a computer graphic of their outdoor display area. The thing that immediately caught our eye is the vehicle with the red circle around it. This is supposed to be the Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Obviously, somebody at Rheinmetall got lazy or really likes WW2 Soviet tanks, because the digital model really looks like a BT-7 Model 1937 fast tank!

Rheinmetall BT 7

Rheinmetall BT 7 close up

Rheinmetall reveals new 130mm tank gun

Ck0b-RyWgAAckCr-696x522IHS Jane’s is reporting that Rheinmetall has revealed their new 130mm tank cannon at the Eurosatory 2016 in Paris.  Development of the gun started in 2015 and firing trials will start after Eurosatory 2016.  According to Rheinmetall, the gun is a 130mm L/51 smoothbore cannon with a vertical sliding breech mechanism and chrome lined.  The barrel weighs 1,400 kg and the entire gun with recoil system will weigh 3000 kg.  The gun on display at Eurosatory features a thermal sleeve and muzzle reference system.  Rheinmetall is also introducing a new generation of armor piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) ammunition with combustible cartridge case.  This will be followed by a new 130mm high-explosive air-bursting munition (HE ABM) round.

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