According to Defense World.net, two hundred fifty Swedish armored vehicles, BMP-1 are “secretly” being shipped to Iraq by a Czech company illegally. In 2010, the Swedish Defence Material Administration, FMV, sold 350 light tanks to a state-run Czech company. But the state-run company turned out to be a middleman for the private Czech company Excalibur, which will now sell 250 BMD-tanks to Iraq. The problem is that due to the Swedish export rules, FMV wouldn’t have sold the weapons to the Czech Republic if they had known the end customer was Iraq. Full article here.
250 Swedish BMP-1 vehicles shipped to Iraq illegally
March 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Book Alert: Czechoslovak Armored Cars in the First World War and Russian Civil War
March 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
According to Amazon, Czechoslovak Armored Cars in the First World War and Russian Civil War by Tomás Jakl, Bernard Panus, and Jirí Tintera was released for sale on Feb. 28.
Publishers Description: This highly illustrated volume covers the variety of armored cars used by Czech forces during World War I, and the Russian Civil War, as well as its post-WWI use in Italy and Slovakia. Along with details of armored car design, manufacturers, construction, and variants, the book covers Czech armored unit formations and their extensive operational use during the First World War. Special sections cover vehicle camouflage and markings, technical specifications, and uniforms and biographies of noted personalities.
Swedish Tank Archives blog
March 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
For those interested in Swedish tank development, we recommend taking a look at the Swedish Tank Archives blog. This blog started back in November of 2013 and the author has managed to post a number of interesting archival documents since then. The blog is in English although many of the archival documents are in Swedish or other languages. They have recently published an archival document of a British evaluation of the Swedish S-tank from 1968. Of particular interest will be pages 6 and 7 of the report which contain the conclusions and recommendations. Full report here.
People may also enjoy this youtube clip of the S-tank undergoing live fire trials. English subtitles provided by Swedish Tank Archives.
Tiger Day at the Tank Museum May 2
March 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment
For those that plan to be the in Bovington England area this spring, be sure to reserve your ticket for Tiger day at the Tank Museum. This will be one of only two times this year that Tiger 131, the only operational Tiger I tank in existence, will be publicly run in the Museum’s outdoor arena. According to the museum website, the Museum will open at 10.00am with a range of World War Two talks and tours taking place throughout the day, including the opportunity to get close to Tiger. The Vehicle Conservation Centre will be open from 10am – 5pm allowing access to the main floor, this allows visitors unprecedented access to the museum’s extended collection of tanks and other military vehicles.
Video of Tiger Day 2014.
Israel doubles orders for Merkava and Namer APC parts
March 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Jerusalem Post is reporting that the Israeli Defense Ministry has doubled the number of orders for parts for Merkava tanks and Namer armored personnel carriers (APCs). The move comes ahead of an expected rise in the number of IDF orders for Merkava Mk 4 tanks and Namer APCs, as well as the need to replace parts for these ground forces vehicles following their heavy use during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza last summer.
Norway receives upgraded CV90 IFV
March 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Army Technology.com is reporting that the Royal Norwegian Army has received its first series-produced improved BAE Systems CV9030 infantry fighting vehicles. BAE Systems is under contract to upgrade 103 existing Norwegian CV90s and build an additional 41 for a total fleet of 144. The improved CV9030 for Norway includes enhanced protection, survivability, situational awareness, intelligence and interoperability. Five CV90 variants are on order for Norway, with all the vehicles set to be delivered by 2018.
From the Vault: German comment on enemy tanks
March 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment
What did Germany think of the tanks fielded by the Allies in WWII? This article from Tactical and Technical Trends Number 35, October 7, 1943 should give a few clues to the answer to that question. The piece in Tactical and Technical Trends is an English translation of a German language article that appeared in the June 27 1943 edition of Das Reich. Oddly enough, the article has very little to say about German tank design but rather spends quite a few words praising the M4 Sherman. For example, the article points out the M4 “represents one of the special accomplishments of the North American laboratories. With its turtle-shaped crown rising in one piece above the “tub” and turret it must be regarded as quite a praiseworthy product of the North American steel industry.”
The AMX 38
March 2, 2015 by 1 Comment
For the Record has provided a translation of the live journal page of tank researcher Yuri Pasholok describing the French AMX 38 tank. The AMX 38 was essentially a footnote in the story of French pre-war tank design, never getting past the prototype stage. The vehicle was intended to be a slightly larger version of the typical French two man infantry tanks of the period. In general, French tanks have received far less coverage in English language publications than other vehicles of World War II. This article provides far more detail than what is currently out there in print form regarding the AMX 38. Steven Zaloga’s New Vanguard 209 French Tanks of World War II makes only a brief mention of the AMX 38. The much older book AFV Weapons profile 58 by Bingham devotes a short paragraph to the AMX 38.
From the Vault: Report of the New Weapons Board Jan 17, 1944
March 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
On January 17, 1944, the US Secretary of War directed the formation of the New Weapons Board. The mission of the board was to: 1. Disseminate among the theaters information concerning successful solutions to problems encountered in the theaters; 2. Obtain advice concerning the performance and suitability of standard weapons and equipment now in use in the theaters and assist in on-the-spot corrections of defects; 3. Introduce and demonstrate in the theaters new standard weapons and equipment which are available but are not in the theaters and new items which may be available within the following eight months, and to determine the requirements for the various items and; 4. Assist in increasing the effective use of weapons and equipment now in theaters. The entire report can be downloaded in PDF form here.
A good deal of the report deals with tanks and armored vehicles. We have selected the parts of the report that focus on tanks and AFVs and have posted them below with comments.
We will start with the introduction page. Of particular interest are the comments that “there should be a progressive increase in fire power, such as 90mm guns in the T20 series tanks…and 90mm and 105mm guns in self-propelled mounts.”
Jordan buys South African 6×6 armored vehicle
March 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
It’s being reported that Jordan has become the first customer to purchase the Mbombe 6×6 armored vehicle from South Africa’s Paramount Group. The initial 50 vehicles for the Jordanian armed forces will be assembled in Jordan by KADDB, or the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau, which will also produce some components for it. Additional details of the deal, including its monetary value, were not disclosed. The Mbombe features a flat hull, Level 4 mine-protected technology for protection against 22-pound land mines and improvised explosive devices with a blast equivalent to as much as 100 pounds of TNT. Ballistic protection is provided against 14.5mm heavy machine gun rounds, and similar levels of protection are employed for protection from 155mm artillery bursts.
Tank and AFV News 