WHAT TO DO WITH NEWLY OBSOLETE TANKS?
Every military addict, of course, wants to live to see the new Panther KF51 with a 130mm gun or the Armata T-14 with a 152mm on the battlefield. However, desires are one thing, while tankers have to fight with what is at hand, including sixty–year-old T-62 (in the future, it is possible to see even older T-54/55), and, as expected, thirty-five-year-old early versions of Abrams and Leopard will enter the stages in Ukraine. On battlefield saturated with various anti-tank weapons, it is increasingly difficult for both parties to think and do something right here and right now.
A. Of course, the best option is to take care at the state level – the "mobilization" version of the T-72B1 (2022) has the third generation Relikt explosive reactive armor (RA) from the T90M, as well as Kontakt-5 (second generation). Additional RA protection against tandem warheads ones are installed according to the combat experience on almost all problem areas - the hull sides, the gun mask, the upper projection of the turret, the lower frontal armor plate. Additionally, the mesh covers a gap between the turret and the hull.
Accordingly, the T-62 armor protection can be upgraded to an acceptable level in the same manner.
The Ukrainian army in 2021 conducted tests of the T-64BV “2022 model” tank. Additional Knife RA armor protected the ammunition storage area, the turret. Grilles were installed to protect the rear projection of the hull from HE warheads.
B. Where the state is busy with other matters, the corps/unit and even detachment can do work to improve the protection of tanks.
In the last decade, it was Syrian Army that started to improve the old tank protection with grills in large numbers.
Almost simultaneously, the Donetsk militia (not heavily constrained by the dogmas of uniformity so dear to the heart of cabinet strategists) get lessons from the 2014 battles to improve its tanks. Not too artistic, but it covers up the vulnerabilities, eh?
Right now, the Ukrainian army applies quite Soviet-style Kontakt-1 RA to protect vulnerable areas of the newly acquired German Leopards.
C. Finally, at the lowest level, stubborn tankers unwilling to die launch artisanal creativity of their own.
The chains on the sections of the Kontakt-5 RA protect the lower part of the turret; the Kontakt-1 do the same for the upper frontal projection of the hull. Soft-cased RA blocks are belt-attached over the HE-protective screens on the sides,. Not to mention the "sun visors" from drones-dropped grenades and mines...
The result – according to statistically confirmed data, it is not so much for optimists or pessimists who will survive - but those who work hard.
Published: 13/04/23