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A photo that recently appeared in the public domain indicates that russian tankers are being trained to operate new T-14...
17/10/2023

A photo that recently appeared in the public domain indicates that russian tankers are being trained to operate new T-14 "Armata" tanks. The photo shows three machines, most likely during operations at the testing grounds. These are the only confirmed Armata tanks that the Russian Federation appears to have in active service.

True or not, these tanks were not well received by the Russian military due to their high unreliability and questionable performance. However, there was no data yet on what exactly made russian tankers so unhappy with the new tank.

According to some sources, the Russian Federation had only produced about 20 of these machines. And with only three of them in active service, the lack of a large fleet that can be sent to the front means that the T-14 will probably remain in the propaganda form of Putin's "wunderwaffe".
(via Essanews)

armorjournal.com

10/10/2023

A public service announcement from the 67th Mechanized Brigade (Ukraine)

Repost. By requestSeveral versions of the T-80/84 turret.armorjournal.com
04/10/2023

Repost. By request
Several versions of the T-80/84 turret.

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The U.S. Army has received the first four cutting-edge Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, or DE M-SHORAD,...
28/09/2023

The U.S. Army has received the first four cutting-edge Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, or DE M-SHORAD, prototype systems. According to a recent Army press release, the 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort Sill, has received the platoon of a new 50-kilowatt class laser weapon system on a Stryker vehicle.

The new laser air defense weapon system does not pull a trailer nor have a dedicated support vehicle. Everything needed is mounted on the one Stryker chassis, which gives it an agility advantage over older systems. Another key component of DE M-SHORAD is that it is more cost-effective than firing multiple high-dollar missiles at low-value targets.

The Stryker DE M-SHORAD laser weapon is based on a Stryker A1 8x8 armored vehicle which is an improved version of the original Stryker vehicle. The A1 armed with the 50 kW-class laser weapon has a crew of three including a driver, commander, and a laser gunner.

The Stryker A1 DE M-SHORAD with the 50-kilowatt laser weapon provides a low cost-per-engagement Maneuver – Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) system. It protects maneuvering forces from rockets, artillery, and mortar; unmanned aerial systems, and fixed- and rotary-wing manned aircraft. It also gives soldiers an effective counter-UAS system as well as provides counterintelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The radar on the DE M-SHORAD detects an enemy drone about 8 kilometers in the distance. The laser locks onto the drone, tracking it as it moves closer to the vehicle. When the DE M-SHORAD detects incoming mortar fire, the laser quickly moves to intercept the incoming rounds and fires, instantaneously sending heated energy at the round, which is destroyed in seconds. The laser then returns to the drone, destroying it several seconds later.

The DE M-SHORAD 50kW-class laser is powered by high-capacity batteries that are charged by Stryker’s diesel engine. The vehicle is also fitted with a Battle Management System and computerized communication system including manual/semi-automatic/ automatic target acquisition, aim-point selection, and aim-point management systems connected to the U.S. Army battle management system. The acquisition and tracking sensors consist of Infrared-based wide field-of-view (FOV) components for target acquisition and IR-based narrow FOV fine target tracker. Standard equipment also includes thermal management systems that control laser cooling systems and standard heating, venting, and air conditioning for all other subsystems.
(Via Defense Blog/Army Recognition site)

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Soviet tanks [BT-7] roll through the streets of Kaunas during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania. 1940 June 15. This pho...
28/09/2023

Soviet tanks [BT-7] roll through the streets of Kaunas during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania. 1940 June 15.
This photo was taken through a hole in a piece of paper that was used to cover a window.
Photo by George Birman
(Via United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)

It is easy to notice the air recognition markings - a wide white crosses, painted on the turret roof of the tanks. And if you are into scale modeling, notice how shiny are the guiding teeth of the track - polished to bare metal.

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Ukrainian 155-mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer 2S22 Bohdana. Developed for a NATO-standard round, the howitzer has a m...
27/09/2023

Ukrainian 155-mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer 2S22 Bohdana.

Developed for a NATO-standard round, the howitzer has a minimum range of 780 meters and a maximum range of 40 km with HE/AP ammunition, or 50 km with a rocket-assisted projectile.

However, during the trials in December 2022 and January 2023, January 2022, the shots were fired at a range of 42 km, which was greater than the manufacturer's specification of 40 km. the howitzer has an average rate of fire of six shells per minute.

The 2S22 Bohdana was officially adopted in service on 21 July 2023. Two days later, a Bohdana mounted on the Tatra 815-7 8x8 chassis was reported as being in service with the 1st Special Purpose Brigade.

According to former Ukrainian defense minister Oleksii Reznikov, Bohdana entered mass production in January 2023, soon after the trials were completed.

Full weight - 28 metric tonnes.
Crew - 5 people.
Chassis - KrAZ-6322
Speed - 80km/h (paved road); 30km/h (cross-country)
Caliber - 155mm (L52)
Elevation - 5-65°
Autoloader capacity - 6 rounds
Total rounds carried - 20

armorjournal.com

Ukraine finally received its first M1 Abrams tanks.As russian propaganda claimed a while back, they somehow managed to d...
27/09/2023

Ukraine finally received its first M1 Abrams tanks.

As russian propaganda claimed a while back, they somehow managed to destroy one near Soledar in January 2023. According to their source, the driver "happened to be" African-American. One can only guess why a driver's race was so important for their story.

Repairing M2A2 ODS-SA Bradley in a field. Somewhere in Zaporizhzha Region.armorjournal.com
20/07/2023

Repairing M2A2 ODS-SA Bradley in a field. Somewhere in Zaporizhzha Region.

armorjournal.com

A russian T-72 (or more correctly, what used to be a T-72) on the Zhytomyr highway. April 2022. Bucha district, Kyiv reg...
20/07/2023

A russian T-72 (or more correctly, what used to be a T-72) on the Zhytomyr highway. April 2022. Bucha district, Kyiv region. (Photo by "Pedro30001")

Good thing it had all those ERA blocks... 🙄

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Russia’s tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod has announced that it has delivered a new batch of upgraded T-72B3M and new T-...
19/07/2023

Russia’s tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod has announced that it has delivered a new batch of upgraded T-72B3M and new T-90M main battle tanks to the russian armed forces.

“The regular ex*****on of contracts for overhaul and deep modernization of T-72B tanks to bring them to the T-72B3M type, deep modernization of T-80BV tanks to the T-80BVM level and manufacturing of T-90M tanks from scratch speaks not only about the efficiency of Uralvagonzavod’s production system but also about the qualifications and dedicated work of all employees of the UVZ Concern,” said in the announcement.

However, many military experts have already blamed russia’s tank losses not only on poor ex*****on on the battlefield but build quality as well. And now, with a lack of some technologies due to the implemented sanctions, the obvious question arises: were they REALLY upgraded to the full(!) B3M and BVM, or do they only LOOK LIKE they were upgraded.

The same goes for those T-90M - how many shortcuts Uralvagonzavod had to take in order to have those tanks built? That country is quite famous for its efforts of making things appear better than they actually are.

armorjournal.com

Ukraine could now be able to field more battle tanks than Russia for the first time, new data suggests.A compilation of ...
10/07/2023

Ukraine could now be able to field more battle tanks than Russia for the first time, new data suggests.

A compilation of data from various sources suggests Ukraine currently has roughly 1,500 active tanks compared with around 1,400 for Russia, Bloomberg reported.

According to The Military Balance for 2023, an annual report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank which looks at military equipment inventories, Russia began the war with 3,417 tanks available, while Ukraine had 987. As Ukraine's tank fleet has continued to grow, Russia's has been severely depleted.

So far, Ukraine has lost 558 tanks and captured 546, data from open-source outlet Oryx suggests. Additionally, since the war began, Ukraine received 471 tanks, and 286 more are still due to arrive, per data published by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

Oryx estimates Russia has lost 2,091 tanks in the war.

This is likely a conservative estimate, as the outlet only counts destroyed vehicles of which photo or video graphics evidence is available.

It is difficult to confirm exact figures for equipment as both Russia and Ukraine treat their losses as classified information and open-source data can only provide rough estimates. It is also unclear how many old, retired tanks Russia has brought out, Bloomberg noted.

On paper, Russia has more than 12,000 tanks, but most are believed to be obsolete and in storage. Many are too dilapidated to be useful for anything except as a source of scrap metal.

"Even if the situation is more equal in numbers, that isn't how it works," Yohann Michel, a land warfare specialist at the IISS, warned Bloomberg that parity might not be enough. "The problem is that Ukraine now needs to regain territory, so it's on the offensive against well-prepared defenses, and for that, you need a strong advantage."

(Via Bloomberg, Business Insider, and Kyiv Post)
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'Wag Dawson' and his Sherman tank of 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry at Asendorf, Germany, 1945. The unit arrived at A...
05/07/2023

'Wag Dawson' and his Sherman tank of 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry at Asendorf, Germany, 1945. The unit arrived at Asendorf on 10 April 1945. (Photo by Major W. H. J. Sale)

From an album compiled by Major Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).
[National Army Museum, Study collection, NAM. 1975-03-63-22-48]

armorjournal.com

01/07/2023

... and a video to go with the previous post.

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A while back we had a post about the fake photo of a British tank with AFU emblem, covered in Explosive Reactive Armor (...
01/07/2023

A while back we had a post about the fake photo of a British tank with AFU emblem, covered in Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA), because many thought it was a real one.
Well... this time it is a real thing. Not a Challenger, though. A Leopard.

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American Rheinmetall and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) are the final contestants in the Optionally Manned Fightin...
28/06/2023

American Rheinmetall and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) are the final contestants in the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) competition to build the Army’s new M2 Bradley replacement. They will split a $1.6 billion development fund. The winner could earn a $45 billion production contract.
Both firms are prepared to begin the next two stages of the program. Phase 3 involves refining vehicle designs. Phase 4 - constructing and testing prototypes. Each team will build and evaluate up to 11 prototypes, including two ballistic hulls and turrets, armor coupons, and digital model twins.
The plan is to select a single team to initiate low production in 2027, achieve the first unit by 2029, and then ramp up production.

The competition began two years ago with five teams. The left-out companies are BAE Systems, Oshkosh Defense, and Point Blank Enterprises.

armorjournal.com

Was going through the old images on my HD, and came across this one from a year ago. I think it is worth reposting.armor...
26/06/2023

Was going through the old images on my HD, and came across this one from a year ago. I think it is worth reposting.

armorjournal.com

Swedish IFVs CV90 (aka Stridsfordon 90 (Strf 90) with SAAB Barracuda MCS camouflage are already in the Bakhmut area. Dev...
26/06/2023

Swedish IFVs CV90 (aka Stridsfordon 90 (Strf 90) with SAAB Barracuda MCS camouflage are already in the Bakhmut area.
Developed specifically for operating on soft and wet ground (especially, snow and wetlands), the CV90 is expected to perform equally well in Ukraine

armorjournal.com

"Chinese Firm Sent Large Shipments of Gunpowder to Russian Munitions FactoryOn two separate occasions last year, railroa...
23/06/2023

"Chinese Firm Sent Large Shipments of Gunpowder to Russian Munitions Factory

On two separate occasions last year, railroad cars carrying tens of thousands of kilograms of smokeless powder — enough propellant to collectively make at least 80 million rounds of ammunition — rumbled across the China-Russia border at the remote town of Zabaykalsk.

The powder had been shipped by Poly Technologies, a state-owned Chinese company on which the United States had previously imposed sanctions for its global sales of missile technology and providing support to Iran. Its destination was Barnaul Cartridge Plant, an ammunition factory in central Russia with a history of supplying the Russian government.

These previously unreported shipments, which were identified by Import Genius, a U.S.-based trade data aggregator, raise new questions about the role China has played in supporting Russia as it fights to capture Ukrainian territory. U.S. officials have expressed concerns that China could funnel products to Russia that would help in its war effort — what is known as “lethal aid” — though they have not said outright that China has made such shipments."
(Via New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/23/business/economy/china-russia-ammunition.html )

armorjournal.com

23/06/2023

A new reality for the farmers in Ukraine - remote controlled equipment with mine plows attached.

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When Ford Motor Company runs out of ideas for commercials, they should talk to the guys from the Ukrainian 406th Separat...
22/06/2023

When Ford Motor Company runs out of ideas for commercials, they should talk to the guys from the Ukrainian 406th Separate Artillery Brigade.
I am more of a Chevy guy myself, but this could work perfectly with their slogan "Built Ford Tough." Don't ya think? 🤔

armorjournal.com

M60A3, 1985, Exercise 'Reforger'"Reforger" was shortened "REturn of FORces to GERmany" - an annual exercise conducted du...
21/06/2023

M60A3, 1985, Exercise 'Reforger'

"Reforger" was shortened "REturn of FORces to GERmany" - an annual exercise conducted during the Cold War by NATO.

armorjournal.com

Mark IV 'Britannia' in front of the Flat Iron Building during the Liberty Day Parade. New York. October 25, 1917. (NARA)...
20/06/2023

Mark IV 'Britannia' in front of the Flat Iron Building during the Liberty Day Parade. New York. October 25, 1917. (NARA)
Together with its later produced sister Mark IV #4633 'Liberty' they participated in Liberty War Bond Drives around the country.

The 'Britannia' did not survive to our time, but the #4633 'Liberty', after being stored under the open sky for almost 70 years, is now under a roof as a part of the Armor & Cavalry Collection at Ft. Moore, GA.

You can read the history of 'Liberty' and see the photos here:
armorjournal.com/index-tanks-MkIV_Female.php

It's been announced a while back by russian news that T-14 Armata joined the fight in Ukraine. But as it usually goes wi...
19/06/2023

It's been announced a while back by russian news that T-14 Armata joined the fight in Ukraine. But as it usually goes with the russian news media, we still waiting for the proof.

Armata is not an original idea. The same idea was American M1 TTB (Tank Test Bed) of the early-1980s. It was a prototype vehicle with an unmanned turret and a 3-man crew in an armored capsule in front of the heavily armored hull.

The tank test bed (TTB) program was initiated in 1983 to explore the application of new technology and advanced vehicle designs for future tank use in the 1988-1996 time period. Using a modified M1 tank chassis, the three-man crew of the TTB was seated side by side in the front hull. A 120mm smoothbore gun M256 was installed in a small unmanned turret and was linked to a Meggitt mechanical autoloader with a vertical 44-round ammunition carousel inside the turret basket. Three externally mounted remote electro-optical sight groups were installed with two on the sponsons and one on the turret.

The prototype vehicle is currently located in the Armor & Cavalry Collection.

armorjournal.com

"What are you going to do if Ukraine loses the war?"This post is for those "geniuses," who keep asking what am I going t...
16/06/2023

"What are you going to do if Ukraine loses the war?"

This post is for those "geniuses," who keep asking what am I going to do if Ukraine loses the war (because, oh no, this page is so "anti-russian")?

Well, as I see it, you are not able to analyze and comprehend the information available to you. If you were, you wouldn't even ask questions like that.

The question you should be asking (before asking "what to do") is at what point we can clearly say that Ukraine lost?
What has to happen so we can write on Wikipedia that the Russo-Ukrainian War ended with russian victory?

Capturing Kyiv? That will never happen; russia has no resources (human or material) to accomplish that.
Occupation of all of the Ukrainian territory? Also not going to happen for the same reason.
Death of Zelenskiy? This one is possible. Sure. For all we know he can even choke on a fish bone and die... But Ukrainians don't fight for Zelenskiy; they are fighting for their right to exist. This will not end the war.

So what exactly has to happen for Ukraine to lose?

None of the objectives putin planned are accomplished so far or will be accomplished.

Ever.

I know it, you know it, everyone knows it.

More than half of the territories captured since last February are already liberated. The longer putin is dragging this war, the more it will drain "blood" (figuratively and literally) out of the russia.

The more war crimes are committed by putin and his horde, the more it angers the international community.

But you, the great military strategists, analytics, and thinkers are still thinking that somehow the russia can still be victorious in all this ordeal... 🤔

P.S. And please don't try to "open my eyes" about "corrupted Ukraine," and "Kyiv regime." (Also, "n**i Ukrainians welding turret hatches shot before they send tank crews to the front line." Who the fudge comes up with s**t like that???)
I travel to Ukraine several times every year. Been there also during the war. I have seen what "russian liberators" did there. So if you really want to "analyze" something, go there too, go to Kyiv, Irpen', Bucha... go to Kharkiv, Izum, Odesa, or Kryvyi Rih... It is very easy to be a keyboard warrior on your mama's couch.

The End.

The crew of a Ukrainian Bradly and their vehicle after being hit by "Grad." The crew survived, and the Bradley is alread...
15/06/2023

The crew of a Ukrainian Bradly and their vehicle after being hit by "Grad."
The crew survived, and the Bradley is already being repaired.

armorjournal.com

Judging by the comments to some recent posts, I see that we have plenty of putin trolls hanging around and throwing baby...
14/06/2023

Judging by the comments to some recent posts, I see that we have plenty of putin trolls hanging around and throwing baby tantrums. They keep sharing the same photo of a Leopard 2, which lost its track on a land mine, as this suppose to convince everyone that Ukraine already lost the war.

Here is the bottom line:
In February 2022 russia invaded Ukraine. Their objectives were "den**ification" (whatever that means); demilitarisation of Ukraine;
stop NATO expansion eastward; force Ukraine into neutrality (not joining EU and NATO); take down Zelenskiy and the current government, and install a pro-russian government; completely occupy territories of Lugansk and Donets regions; protect the so-called "DNR" and "LNR"; cut off Ukraine from the Black Sea; etc...
They were planning to take Kyiv in 2-3 days and take the rest of Ukraine under control in just a couple of weeks.

Now, a year and a half later (so much for 2-3 days), what do they have to show for their efforts? Over 250,000 russian casualties but none of the objectives is accomplished.
Even more countries will be joining NATO now (including Ukraine) and the Baltic Sea became an internal NATO sea. The anti-putin coalition is larger than the anti-Hitler coalition was in WW2. The whole country became an outcast. Their best friends now are Iran, North Korea, and Eritrea (yes, it's an actual country).
The cherry on top was the T-34-85 - the only tank they had on their May 9 victory parade. But even that one was Czechoslovakia-made and purchased from Laos.

The "mighty, powerful, and victorious" russian army is in deep defense, trying to hold on for their dear life.
The russian army which was considered the "second army in the World" quickly became the second army in Ukraine.
Well done... 🙄

So you can stop. Really. Your whining and moaning are not going to change the outcome of the war. Rashists will be stopped and thrown away as used condoms.

armorjournal.com

P.S. Feel free to complain to FB police because you feel offended.
Obviously, nobody keeps you here against your will. Feel free to unfollow this page. If you do, no need to announce your departure; this is not a train station.

The "Leopard 2 tanks" from the previous post that were destroyed by the rashists' Ka-52 helicopter. 🙄🙄🙄armorjournal.com
13/06/2023

The "Leopard 2 tanks" from the previous post that were destroyed by the rashists' Ka-52 helicopter. 🙄🙄🙄

armorjournal.com

13/06/2023

The last week the rashists' ministry of defense released a video showcasing the destruction of foreign armored vehicles, with rashists media asserting that Leopard 2 tanks are among them.

However, the vehicles targeted by ATGM from Ka-52 not only don't resemble tanks but are in fact innocent agricultural equipment - a sprayer & combines.

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