Let's play NAME THAT PIECE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT

Okay design for it's time. They should have replaced it rather than leaving a gaping whole in the TO&E where airborne tanks are supposed to go. The M-8 AGS/Stingray would have made a good replacement if it wasn't cancelled.

 

I suppose you are right about painting scheme, it possibly is "maskirovka". However it is just prototype, it was built in 1943 in order to increase armor protection. Since T-34 increased it's weight dramatically with this upgrade and it didn't provide significant increase in front armor, the project was declined.

Not at all.

Very much so, it is T-54/55 and Type 59 upgrade, developed by Textron Marine and Land Systems companies. It includes modified turret, NATO 105-mm gun, new 750 h.p. engine. Whole upgrade cost 2,8 million $.

 

There were a lot of attempts during WWII to protect tanks against the first generation anti-tank rockets of the era. Particularly the Panzerfaust.

And if this is of Soviet design, it is quite a different solution then that that the Allies came up with to face the problem. As early as Normandy, the Allied forces were welding chain link fence around their tanks and filling the space with sandbags to protect from RPGs and anti-tank rounds.

And it is a defense that is strikingly effective even today.

 

Honestly, this is the first time i read, that bags with sand were effective against HEAT-type ammunition. I thought it is just a myth, which was created by soldiers themselves.

 

Anything that would disrupt the plasma jet was better than nothing.

 

1) As far as I understand, it is not plasma, it is metal under extremely high pressure, which lead to fluidity. *smartass*
2) In my mind if HEAT grenade is going to penetrate tank's armor, with or without bags with sand, there is no point to put them on. This just makes tank heavier.

 

My understanding is that if the jet is distrupted, even if slightly, it may fail to penetrate. Not saying it saves every tank, most are probably lost, but it just might be better than nothing.

 

I am not sure about that. Since even first grenades had about 200 mm RHA penetration, I doubt that bag with sand can stop or somehow weaken jet. From the other side, HEAT ammunition is far less dangerous and deadly to the crew, then usual anti-armor shells.

 

Can't say I can decide on which one I'd like to kill me. A chunk of metal bouncing around the inside of the tank at supersonic speeds or a nice jet of really hot metal. Both do sound nice.

 

nope but it was a commo item

 

Good guess.

However, what that is the turbine section (shelled) of an Allison T-56A-15 turboprop used on C-130H2s.
I suppose it does bear some resemblance to a beer keg.

 

It would make all the differences in the world.

Contrary to popular belief, a shaped charge (or HEAT round) does not really make a jet of liquid metal. Instead the heat causes the crystal structure of the armour to achieve superplasticity and loose cohesion, and the pressure causes this de-crystalized material to be blown inwards. Essentially the same thing, but it does work differently.

When the round hits something before it actually strikes the armour (like slat, composite, spaced, or reactive armours), this effect ends up being formed to far away from the main armour, and the effect is totally lost. The area of high heat and pressure is then formed inches or more away from the surface, and all "armour-piercing" benefits are then lost.

However, these benefits are not of any real help when faced with more modern anti-armour rounds like the modern non-explosive sabot penetrator. Because they rely on metal density and speed instead of the shaped charge, this is of little to no benefit against this type of attack.

 

When is electrical armour being released?

 

Electrical Armour (or Electric Reactive Armour) is still under experimentation and development. In theory, it charges the main body of the armour (or a sheath over the armour), turning it into a high-power capicitor. In theory, the penetration of this layer would turn the heat and pressure wave into a plasma, which would then be deflected and dissipated against the main armour.

It is a neat theory, but it is probably years or decades away from being a workable technology. And while it would theoretically work against shaped charges, it's effect against kinetic warheads is not yet known.

 

The one I saw was armour with electrical rods through the armour, spaced close enough apart that when a shell penetrates the armour it will complete a circuit and hopefully be vapourised.

 

It looks as though it's made of plastic.

 

Yeah, it does. But it's actually metal.

That black rectangle on the front is a vision slit.

 

Found it after a little internet research.

It's called Krupp Kugelpanzer.

Source: http://strangevehicles.greyfalcon.us/KRUPP KUGELPANZER.htm

1) The Kugelpanzer was a German-made vehicle shipped to Japan via technology transfer
2) The Kugelpanzer was a light Reconnaissance AFV
3) The Kugelpanzer was captured by the Russian Army in 1945 in Manchuria
4) The Kugelpanzer was plated with only 5mm of armor on its hull
5) The Kugelpanzer was powered by a single cylinder two-stroke engine
6) The Kugelpanzer was operated by one person

Check out this weird Russian tank, from the same website.



"The bizarre "Tsar-tank" was built in 1915. At 40 tons, it was probably
the largest tank ever made anywhere at the time. Two huge wheels were driven
by one 250 hp motor each. Two minor wheels were to the rear.
The guns were probably placed outside the wheels. Two prototypes were made,
but the insufficient trial (stuck in the mud) and heavy costs closed the project in 1916.
The last of the two was dismantled for scrap in 1923."

 

Excellent detective work!

I love the Kugelpanzer. It's the most bizarre AFV I've come across -- and that's saying a lot.

The only known copy is in Russia, at a military museum.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubinka_Tank_Museum

 

presidential escape pod

 

lol that pic is hilarious to me..

 

Most comfortable tank ever. The gunner laid down on a mattress.

 

You talking to meeeeee You talking to meeeeeeYou talking to meeeeeeee

 

Small Penis Tank?

 

Yeah punk, I'm talking to you