Jane’s is reporting that Denmark has selected the General Dynamics European Land Systems – MOWAG Piranha 5 8×8 to be its new APC. This announcement marks an end to the largest armored vehicle competition in Europe, one that pitted wheeled and tracked designs against each other. The winning Piranha 5 had competed in trials against one other 8×8, the Nexter Systems Véhicule Blindé de Combat d’Infanterie, and three tracked offerings: the FFG Flensburger Protected Mission Module Carrier G5, BAE Systems Armadillo and General Dynamics European Land Systems – Santa Barbara Sistemas ASCOD 2. Denmark will purchase a minimum of 206 Piranha 5s, with the number potentially rising to 450, although the MoD stated that “the exact number will be determined at a later date.”
Denmark will replace M113 with Piranha 5 APC
From the Vault: US description of Soviet tanks from 1942
Today we present an article from August 13, 1942, US Army publication Tactical and Technical Trends #5. The technical information is relatively accurate although the illustrations leave a bit to be desired. This article gives a good impression of how well informed the US military was concerning armor development on the Eastern Front in 1942. It is interesting to note that the longest paragraph in this report deals with aspects of the T-34 design intended to allow infantry to ride on the tank or to prevent enemy soldiers from climbing aboard.
Tank warfare has taught the Russians lessons which have influenced their tank design. The turret is located well forward to permit tank infantrymen (desyanti, see tactical and Technical Trends No. 3, page 44) to use it as a shield while riding atop the tank. Every provision has been made to prevent unwelcome riders from getting aboard. There is a lack of external fittings, tools, sharp projections, etc.: this meets the double purpose of eliminating hand grips for enemy hitch-hikers and the chance that a fire bomb or other missile could lodge on the tank. The fender of the tank is very narrow so that “tank hunters” who seek to jump aboard run the risk of being caught in the track. The newer American sponson-type tanks have no fenders as such and have solved these problems largely through basic design. As a further protective measure for the tank crew, the hatch in the top of the turret is so constructed that it cannot be opened from the outside. A special tool is required to open the hatch from the inside.
Book Alert: Armoured Horseman: With the Bays and Eight Army in North Africa and Italy
Amazon has listed a release date of May 30, 2015 for the book “Armoured Horseman: With the Bays and Eight Army in North Africa and Italy” by Peter Willett. Published by well known military book publisher Pen and Sword Books, the books will be available in both print and electronic editions and is 192 pages.
Publishers Description:
New memoirs by combatants in the Second World War are sadly rare today due to the passage of time. Armoured Horsemen will be warmly welcomed as the author, now into his 90s, fought through with The Bays from Alamein to Tunis and then on up Italy until VE Day. As a young tank troop commander his chances of survival were slim and tragically many of his friends were killed.
Peter Willett, a professional journalist and much published author, is superbly qualified to describe his war and the experiences of his fellow cavalrymen. He tells a moving story with characteristic lightness of touch and modesty.As well as satisfying the military enthusiast, Armoured Horseman will find a ready audience in the racing fraternity. Peter describes equestrian activities in post-war Austria and goes on to summarise his career as a racing journalist, authority on breeding, membership of the Jockey Club and long association with Goodwood.
Israel to upgrade Achzarit APCs
Jane’s is reporting that the US DoD has approved a sale of engine and transmission upgrade kits to Israel for the purpose of upgrading 100 Achzarit armored personnel carriers. Reported to be worth 16 million dollars, the New Jersey-based company Diesel Engineering Inc will be providing the kits with an order completion date of October 2017. The actual installation will be carried out by the Israeli company Nimda. The article notes that when completed, these APCs will be equipped with 710 hp Detroit Diesel Corporation 8V-92TA turbocharged diesel engines and Allison XTG-411-5A fully automatic transmissions, providing approximately 20% more power than the current engines in the Achzarit. Oddly enough, descriptions of the Achzarit on several different internet sites have posted several different horsepower ratings for this vehicle. The Achzarit is a heavily armored APC converted from the hull of T54/55 tanks which Israel captured in large numbers during the Arab-Israeli wars.
Schwarzenegger releases another tank themed video for charity
Last year celebrity Arnold Schwarzenegger released a video of himself crushing various objects with his own M47 tank. This week he has released another tank themed video, this one showing him crushing things with a Centurion tank. The video is part of the Omaze charity program. The video does not identify the owner of the Centurion tank used in the filming.
“Panzerwrecks” author William Auerbach passes away
The website for the popular “Panzerwrecks” photo books is displaying a message that series publisher William Auerbach passed away suddenly on April 16. Mr. Auerbach was known for authoring many books and articles presenting photographs of WW2 German armor. He was a frequent contributor to the AFV News bulletin during it’s publication run, his first article there appearing in the March 1978 issues. Over the years he worked with several other writers on books about German armor, including Thomas Jentz, Lukas Friedli, and his partner on the Panzerwreck series, Lee Archer. The Panzerwreck series includes 18 volumes published from 2005 to the present, collecting and presenting WW2 era photos of knocked-out German armor.
India’s Arjun MBT face serious technical issues
The Economic Times is reporting that the Indian Army is facing major technical issues with it’s home-grown Arjun MBT. According to the article, a significant proportion of its fleet has become inoperable in recent months and are non-sericeable due to maintenance issues. The Indian Army reluctantly accepted 124 Arjun tanks into service from 2009 to 2013 after the UPA government insisted that a token number be ordered to keep the tank development program viable. Sources said that the Army’s opinion is that while a large number of tanks are not operational due to technical defects, the fleet as such is not combat worthy due to reliability issues. “A number of tanks are not operational currently as transfer of technology (ToT) of several imported systems fitted onboard has not been done,” an Army official said. The Army has identified 96 problems, including 18 major ones.
The Arjun has had a longer development cycle than any other tank in history. The program to design the tank started in 1974 and has gone through several versions. Attempts to develop homegrown components have met with limited success and have forced the Arjun designers to rely on foreign components. It is estimated that 60% of the tank is foreign produced and many of these foreign components must be repaired abroad, a significant factor in the vehicles low readiness and reliability rates.
Other articles on long, sad story of the Arjun program:
Arjun MK 1 – India’s MBT-70 or White Elephant? (Nov 1998)
Sabotage suspected in Arjun tank engine (July 2008)
Spotlight on 3rd Armored Division WW2 history
For those interested in the history of the US 3rd Armored Division in World War 2, the website www3ad.com is worth checking out. 3AD.com is the official website for the 3rd Armored Division Association. Of particular note are the following sections:
Soldier’s Memoirs – 50 different soldier memoirs in various formats.
Lafayette Pool – A page dedicated to US tank ace Lafayette Pool, containing his own writings as well as various articles about him.
Feature Articles – An index of almost 60 feature articles about the 3rd Armored Division.
General Maurice Rose – A page of information and resources about 3rd AD commander Gen. Maurice Rose, the highest ranking US officer to be killed by enemy forces during the war.
Strykers possibly to be upgunned to 30mm
Breaking Defense has posted an article stating that the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Europe wants 81 of its eight-wheel-drive Stryker infantry carrier vehicles fitted with 30 millimeter automatic cannons. The article notes that the 2nd Cavalry wants the weapons because it’s the Army’s frontline force in Europe. There are only two US combat brigades still based on the continent, the 2nd Cav in Vilseck, Germany and the 173rd Airborne in Vicenza, Italy, a light infantry formation with very few vehicles of any kind and nothing as heavy as a Stryker. Since Russia seized Crimea, both the 2nd Cavalry and the 173rd Airborne have deployed to the Baltic States. Currently the Stryker is armed with a .50 caliber heavy machine gun. The Defense Department has been reportedly testing the 30mm “medium caliber remote weapons station” developed by Kongsberg Protech Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems since 2013.
SU-100 Restoration Video
WarGaming has released a youtube video about a group of Russian tank restorers and their efforts to bring an SU-100 back to life. The video is in Russian but English subtitles are available.
Tank and AFV News 