Russo-Ukrainian War: Minenräumpanzer Keiler

Source: inukraine.official on Instagram

     A crewman of a Ukrainian Minenräumpanzer Keiler (MiRPz Keiler; Mine-Clearing Tank “Boar”) hams it up for a smartphone video (posted in July 2024) of which this is a screenshot from. In January 2023, Germany provided Ukraine with four MiRPz Keiler vehicles. The MiRPz Keiler is not new and it is actually a heavily modified M48A2 Patton medium tank (specifically, the German upgraded Kampfpanzer M48A2GA2), the M48 having been in service with the Bundeswehr before being retired in 1993. Only 24 Keiler vehicles were converted between 1996 and 1998. MaK GmbH and Thyssen Henschel Wehrtechnik were responsible for the development and production of the Keiler.

     The 53-ton Keiler is powered by a MTU MB 871 liquid-cooled, turbocharged diesel engine that develops 986 horsepower and which is mated to a Renk HSWL 284 M 6-speed transmission (4 forward, 2 reverse). This replaced the Keiler's original Continental AVI-1790-8 606 petrol engine and Allison GMC CD-850-5 transmission as part of a Keiler modernization program that occurred in 2015. The MB 871 engine can propel the Keiler along roads at a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour and top reverse speed of 15 miles per hour. Enough fuel is carried to provide for a maximum cruise range of 370 miles.

     Because the Keiler retains the hull of the M48A2CGA2, the crew is protected by 101mm to 120mm thick frontal armor, 76mm thick side armor, 44mm to 51mm thick rear armor, 44mm thick floor armor, and 57mm thick top armor. As for armament, the Keiler has none outside of any small arms the 2-man crew has with them. The Keiler does have 76mm smoke grenade launchers arranged in a single bank of 16 launchers arranged in two, 8 launcher rows. The bank is mounted on the left side of the rear engine deck. Each grenade has a range of 165 feet and all sixteen grenades create a smoke screen in a total arc of 90 degrees.

     Of course, the main piece of apparatus on the Keiler is its flail. The reason for the flat superstructure is to accommodate the flail which is positioned horizontally over the hull when in travel mode. When the flail is deployed for use, the arm that supports it swings 110 degrees to the front and then lowers the flair onto two hydraulic rams which control the up and down motion of the flail. These rams stick out like the tusks of a boar, hence the vehicle's name. Once the flail is in place, a shield fitted to the front lower glacis plate of the Keiler is lowered so that it barely touches the ground. The shield serves two purposes with the first being to protect the rams from mine detonations and the second is to act as a spade to prevent the Keiler from tipping forward as it becomes front heavy with the flail deployed. 

     The flail has two shafts, each fitted with twelve quick-connect chains ending in 53 pound, bell-shaped weights. The Keiler's MB 871 provides drive power to the flail, spinning it at 400 revolutions per minute. This, however, has the side effect of consuming a lot of fuel which can limit the operational range of the Keiler or reduce its operating time when mine clearing. The weights strike the ground at a speed of 125 miles per hour and any mine struck with either detonate or be so damaged from the impact that it is unusable. Nevertheless, a sapper would have to come remove it due to the explosive that remains. The Keiler is said to have a near perfect detonation rate. The flail clears a path 15.5 feet wide and can clear to a depth of 10 inches. During operation, and terrain depending, the Keiler's top clearing speed is 1.25 to 2.5 miles per hour. Due to damage incurred during flailing, every 1.9 miles, the chains need to be replaced to maintain effectiveness. A total of six spare chains and weights are carried atop the hull by the engine deck.

     On the back of the Keiler is a CLAMS (Clear Lane Marking System) built by IMI (Israeli Military Industries) and it deploys a marker flag in the center of the cleared path. The CLAMS can be set to deploy markers automatically or manually. If automatically, the CLAMS can be set to drop a marker every 6, 12, 24, 26, or 48 meters.

     The driver, given his position in the front of the vehicle, is provided with a reinforced hatch to withstand the overpressure wave of exploding mines. Also, because his vision blocks typically get obscured by kicked up soil, he is provided with a gyroscope that keeps him on course.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The DOK-ING MV-4

Source: ArmyInform

     In August 2023, the Estonian Rescue Association (Päästeliit) donated a single DOK-ING MV-4 demining vehicle to Ukraine along with other equipment such as metal detectors to help civil Ukrainian sappers in locating and destroying Russian mines. DOK-ING, a Croatian company, specializes in remote controlled vehicles and was founded in 1992. The MV-4, shown here, is one of two mine clearing vehicles the company offers with the other being the larger MV-10. As of January 2024, Ukraine had fourteen MV-4 vehicles in service.

     Power for the 6-ton (base weight) MV-4 comes from a Perkins 1106 C-E70 TA 6-cylinder, water-cooled, turbocharged diesel engine. The motor produces 250 horsepower but the MV-4 is not built for speed. Maximum speed is 4 miles per hour and for this reason, the MV-4 is transported to the work area by a trailer truck. During demining operations, the speed varies based on the conditions but ranges from as slow as .3 miles per hour to a little under 1 mile per hour. Fuel capacity is 18 gallons of fuel though fuel consumption depends on what the MV-4 is being used for and the terrain it is working on. As such, the consumption can be as little as 1.8 gallons per hour up to 6.6 gallons per hour.

     The MV-4 can be fitted with an array of mine clearing equipment but here, a segmented roller is being used. The apparatus consists of 12 individual rollers whose weight causes mines to detonate when the roller passes over them. The clearing width is 6.8 feet. The reason for having multiple rollers is that when a roller (or rollers) is damaged by a mine, it can be easily (and less expensively) replaced rather than having to replace the entire roller had it been a single roller drum (such as those found on steam rollers).

     Other demining apparatus include a flail and a tiller. The flail consists of a rotating drum to which are attached 34 chains ending in metal balls. As the flail spins at 900 revolutions per mine, the ends of the chains strike the ground and upon hitting a mine, cause the mine to detonate. Like the rollers, damaged chains can be individually replaced. The flail can clear a path 5.9 feet wide and trigger mines buried up to 11 inches deep.  The tiller, like a garden tiller, churns up the ground and will either unearth buried mines or detonate them. Like the flail, the tiller clears a 5.9 foot wide path but can reach down to 1.1 feet. Mines not detonated but exposed are dealt with by sappers.

     Being remote controlled, the operator can be just under 1 mile away from the MV-4 though this is the maximum and assumes an unblocked line of sight to the vehicle. Atop the MV-4 is the fully controllable camera system which includes low-light capable cameras, a infrared light, and regular lights to give the operator the best view possible. Other cameras are located on the hull to further provide views during operation. One of them can be seen in the photograph, just under the side light.

     To provide a measure of protection, the entire hull is built using Hardox® 450 steel produced by SSAB (Svenskt Stål AB) with thickness ranging from 6mm to 20mm. This protects the engine and other critical systems from mine blasts and low caliber small arms.

     The MV-4 is used by the Russian Federation as the Uran-6 and the U.S. Army deploys the MV-4 as the M160.