In the new episode of “Inside the Chieftan’s Hatch”, Nicholas Moran tells us about the British M3 Grant tank.
New German 130mm Gun to be introduced in June
May 15, 2016 by Leave a Comment
IHS Janes is reporting that German gun maker Rheinmetall will be revealing a new 130mm smoothbore tank gun at the Eurostatory exhibition this June. The article, while quite short, notes that the new 130mm gun should be in production by 2025. A new turret to house this 130mm gun is being designed, based off the existing Leopard II turret.
Read the IHS Jane’s article here.
Jordan introduces Centurion based APC
May 15, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Jane’s IHS is reporting that Jordan has introduced a new version of their heavy APC at the SOFEX 2016 exhibition. Called the Al-Dawsar, this vehicle is designed by King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) and is based on the hull of the Jordanian Tariq MBT, a modified Centurion tank. According to Jane’s, 283 Tariq tanks were built but have since been phased out of frontline service, freeing them up for conversion. The Al-Dawsar retains the AVDS-1790 engine, Allison CD 850-6A transmission and hydropneumatic suspension of the Tariq.
From the Jane’s IHS Article:
The raised crew and troop compartment is at the front of the hull. In addition to the commander/gunner, it can carry seven dismounts seated individually facing inwards. However, alternative seating arrangements could increase this to up to 10 dismounts. The area to the rear is used to stow equipment such as ammunition.
In addition to the four hatches (three left and one right) in the roof is a hydraulically operated opening in the front left side of the hull. The top part opens upwards and the lower part opens downwards to form a ramp.
The driver’s position is at the front right and has the same yoke-type steering controls as those fitted to the upgraded Tariq, rather than the original tillers/sticks of the Centurion, plus a single-piece hatch and periscopes for observation over the frontal arc.
From the Vault: PS Magazine on the M60A2 (1975)
May 14, 2016 by 1 Comment
While perusing the online archive of old PS Magazine issues, we came across this article on the M60A2 from 1975. This piece gives some interesting insight into the operation of the US Army’s least successful MBT of the cold war. Apparently, the turret of the M60A2 was cramped enough to warrant a warning to soldiers with big feet to avoid kicking the gunners panels which could result in knocking “the firing and alignment mechanisms outta whack.” The article can be viewed as individual images below or the entire issue can be downloaded as a PDF here.
Video: Chris Foss on Jordanian Armored Vehicles at SOFEX 2016
May 14, 2016 by Leave a Comment
In this new video filmed at SOFEX 2016 in Jordan, IHS Jane’s reporter Chris Foss reports on the Jordanian armored vehicles on display.
Photo of the Day: Panther Wreck, 1947
May 13, 2016 by 1 Comment
Today’s photo of the day comes from a Daily Mail article containing a number of striking color photos of Europe circa 1947. This photo of a destroyed German Panther tank (as well as the others in the Daily Mail article) was taken by David Seymour, a renowned photographer of the period.
Germany Wins Strong Europe Tank Challenge
May 13, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Stars and Stripes is reporting that the tank platoon from the German Bundeswehr has won the Strong Europe Tank Challenge at Grafenwoehr Training Area. This was the first such exercise held since 1991 and included tank platoons from six NATO countries, Germany, Poland, USA, Slovenia, Italy and Denmark. The German platoon competed with the Leopard 2A6 main battle tank, while Denmark and Poland used the Leopard 2A5. The US platoon compete with the Abrams M1A2, the Italian platoon with the Ariete MBT and Slovenia with the M-84. The German team was rewarded the top prize while Denmark took second place and the Poles secured third place. It seems bragging rights may be in order for the Leopard 2 tank.
According to an article from www.army.mil, the competition consisted of the following:
Platoons rotated throughout the three events, vying for a possible 1,000 points. Crews conducted both offensive and defensive operations involving fire and maneuver for 350 possible points in each lane.
Mounted orienteering had a possible 300 points that was combined from six 50-point tasks, including a mystery physical challenge that emphasized teamwork. Platoons navigated through an obstacle course with 13 challenges. Soldiers fired 10 rounds from three different locations using their own service weapons during the combat pistol shoot lane. The vehicle identification lane tested the platoons’ abilities to identify 25 friendly and threatening vehicles while traversing through a course. Crews had to recover, hook up and tow vehicles while under a simulated chemical attack. Finally, multinational teams reacted to an improvised explosive device, assessed and treated a casualty, and requested a medical evacuation.
Tank Chats #20 Mark IV
May 13, 2016 by Leave a Comment
David Fletcher of the Bovington Tank Museum returns for another episode of “Tank Chats.” This episode looks at the World War I era British Mark IV tank.
Video of the Day: Italian Ariete at Tank Challenge
May 12, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Here is some footage showing Italian Ariete tanks participating in the Strong Europe Tank Challenge event at Grafenwoehr Training Area. The SETC is co-hosted by U.S. Army Europe and the German Bundeswehr, May 10-13, 2016. The competition is designed to foster military partnership while promoting NATO interoperability. Seven platoons from six NATO nations are competing in SETC – the first multinational tank challenge at Grafenwoehr in 25 years.
Overlord’s Blog: Tank Terror
May 12, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Overlord’s blog has posted a new article looking at the tank attack carried out by the British at Arras during the 1940 campaign in France.
Excerpt:
Tank terror is that moment when the infantryman realizes he can’t do anything to hurt the steel monster clanking towards him filled with malice and doom, and it’s heading right towards him. At that point he gets up and runs. The term was coined during the Blitzkrieg in 1940 that conquered France. But on one occasion the markings on the tanks weren’t German crosses, but the white squares of the BEF.
The Arras counter attack is one of the interesting battles from the summer of 1940, it points out the lesson that most commanders need to learn: the enemy can always surprise you. Rommel is reported to have suffered an attack of tank terror, and panicked reporting hundreds of tanks crushing his lines. It caused the Germans to halt their dash for the Channel, giving the Allies two days extra. This was time that would be very beneficial at Dunkirk.
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