Russo-Ukrainian War: The T-72 Ural-1 obr. 1984

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     A rather rare tank, still operational in 2026, is shown here in service with the tank battalion of the 10th. Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss”. The tank is a T-72 Ural-1 and it represents the third model of the T-72 tank series which remains in active service in more modern versions around the world. Production began in 1976 as the Obiekt 172M1 (Object 172M1) and represented a modernization of the T-72 Ural and T-72 obr. 1975. In Ukrainian active service at the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War in February 2022, the T-72 Ural-1 was non-existent and was only found in storage depots in various states of disrepair. However, the need for armor saw these tanks withdrawn from storage and brought up to operational service.

     Power for the 41-ton T-72 Ural-1 comes from a ChTZ V-46-6 12-cylinder, supercharged, liquid cooled multi-fuel engine generating 780 horsepower which is mated to a hydraulically assisted synchromesh transmission with a 7-speed planetary gearbox (6 forward, 1 reverse). On roads, the T-72 Ural-1 can attain a top speed of 37 miles per hour. Off-road, and terrain depending, the top speed is 22 miles per hour while in reverse, the T-72 Ural-1 can reach 3 miles per hour. With an onboard fuel capacity of 317 gallons, the maximum road range is 280 miles. With the addition of 105 gallons of external fuel in rear mounted drums, the road range is increased to 341 miles. Radio equipment includes the R-123M station and the crew utilizes the R-124 intercom system.

     The main armament is a thermal-sleeved 125mm 2A46 (D-81TM) smoothbore gun which is fitted to a gun mount that uses a 2E28 stabilizer. The mount permits 14 degrees of maximum elevation and 5 degrees of gun depression while the turret provides 360 degrees of traverse. The total ammunition load is 39 rounds of which 22 of them are kept in the hull floor mounted cassette autoloader. This permits the T-72 Ural-1 to have a rate of fire of between 7 to 8 rounds per minute. The gunner is provided with a TPD-2-49 gun sight that features TPD-K1 laser rangefinder (that replaced the TPD-2-49 coincidence rangefinder originally used with the gun sight, hence the same designation) along with a TPN-1-49-23 night sight, the latter allowing engagements out to .5 of a mile. Targeting is assisted with an analog FCS (Fire Control System). Secondary armament consists of a coaxial 7.62mm PKT machine-gun with 250 rounds of ready ammunition and 1,750 rounds of additional ammunition. The commander is provided with a 12.7mm NSVT heavy machine-gun on a ZU-72 pintle mount behind his cupola. Ready ammunition is 50 rounds with another 250 rounds available. Unlike the coaxial machine-gun that benefits from the main gun's stabilizer, the NSVT is not stabilized though it does have a K10-T collimator sight. 

     The 2A46 can fire a fairly wide array of 125mm round types. A typical APFSDS (Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot) round is the 3BM15 which can penetrate 400mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) at a 0 degree angle at 1.2 miles. At a 60 degree, slope, the penetration is 150mm of RHA. The 3BK14 HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) can go through 200mm of RHA at a 60 degree slope to a range of 1.9 miles. The 3OF19 HE (High-Explosive) round contains 11 pounds of explosive and can be fired out to a range of 2.5 miles. The T-72 Ural-1 (nor the T-72 Ural) is not outfitted to fire tube-launched ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) such as the 9K119 Refleks (NATO reporting name AT-11 Sniper) and 9K120 Svir (a variant of the Refleks) or the older 9K112 Kobra (NATO reporting name AT-8 Songster). 

     For armor, the T-72 Ural-1 has a welded steel hull and a cast steel turret. Frontally, the upper glacis plate supports the equivalent of 205mm thick armor with a slope of 68 degrees. The turret front is heavily protected with 410mm of armor at the thickest point and tapering down to 310mm on the cheeks while the turret sides are 290mm thick. The hull sides are 80mm thick with no sloping while the hull roof and bottom are protected by 20mm of armor respectively.

     In 1984, the Ukrainians upgraded the T-72 Ural-1 (as well as the earlier T-72 Ural) by outfitting them with Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor (ERA) in an effort to improve survivability. Usage of the Kontakt-1 blocks required the smoke dischargers to be located on the left side of the turret rather than on the front of the turret. How many were modified isn't known and most ended up in storage, often stripped of Kontakt-1 blocks. The port for the TPD-2-49 rangefinder, located on the right side of the turret in front of the commander's cupola, is plugged as the equipment was removed. In at least one online source, this upgrade was called the T-72 Ural-1 obr. 1984. It is likely the T-72 Ural-1 shown in the photograph is one of these tanks and this is because it retains the Luna-2A infrared spotlight and does not have any slat armor panels (see below). The camouflage pattern on the tank is actually a colorful decoration that was done by the tank crew in celebration of Easter.

     In the summer of 2023, a new upgrade of T-72 Ural-1 tank appeared in service with the tank battalion of the 22nd. Mechanized Brigade “Mykolaiv”. The T-72 Ural-1 obr. 2023 (again, not an official designation) can be externally differentiated from the T-72 Ural-1 obr. 1984 in that the Luna-2A spotlight is removed and slat armor panels are added to the aft sides of the tank and to the rear of the tank. Another curious difference is that four of the tank's road wheels are taken from either T-55 or T-62 tanks and it is suggested this is because replacement components are scarce. It is believed that the TPN-1-49-23 night sight has been replaced with a more modern equivalent as well as the R-123M radio being replaced with a Libid-K-2RB digital radio set. Another addition believed to be incorporated into the new upgrade is a Basalt navigation system which can use both the Russian GLONASS navigation network as well as GPS.

Russo-Ukrainian War: T-80BVM with "Hedgehog" Armor

Source: 6TV.ru

     Photographed in early December 2025, a Russian T-80BVM main battle tank shows off its new anti-drone protection which had been fitted to it by a Russian repair battalion. This type of defense has become known as “hedgehog” armor as it has a resemblance to the spines found on the upper bodies of hedgehogs. Personally, I prefer “toilet brush” armor. When first encountered in smartphone videos in 2025, the rolling “bushes” garnered a good bit of ridicule. Except, that ridicule has since dwindled. Why? That is because the “hedgehog” armor, despite how crazy it looks, works and works well. While mostly seen on Russian tanks, “hedgehog” armor is being applied to other tracked vehicles and even civilian vehicles which Russians utilize. Even some Ukrainian vehicles are adopting the defense.

     So, exactly what makes up “hedgehog” armor? Plain steel cabling. Steel cabling is made up of multiple strands of steel wire wrapped around a fiber or steel core. To make one section of “hedgehog” armor, all that is involved is taking a length of steel cable and unraveling the strands then arranging them into a “bush” so that the strands point outwards in multiple directions. The end of the cable is then welded or bolted down to the vehicle hull. Add more and more sections and the result is what is shown in the photograph. The sections overlap, creating a formidable defense against drones. From this side view of the T-80BVM, there are very few gaps a drone can target and those we do see, there are explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks visible which could defeat a FPV drone. The repair battalion encompassed the turret with a metal frame to which the sections are secured. Soft ERA bags can be seen (the light gray colored objects) above the tank's standard turret ERA.

     From a FPV drone operator's point of view, trying to tackle a “hedgehog” equipped tank is a serious problem. For one, the cameras used by FPV drones are not high quality. This is intentional as FPV drones are expendable and thus costs need to be kept low. Anyone who has viewed FPV drone attack videos knows how grainy the feed are. Now, couple the poor video quality and then add the need for the operator to find a gap in the “hedgehog” armor and exploit it. Any mistake and the FPV drone can get impaled on a strand, a strand can catch a part of the drone and damage it, or a strand can set off the FPV drone's warhead by striking it. If the target is actively moving, well, that exploitation chance diminishes even more. There are videos on social media which show Russian “hedgehog” tanks with Ukrainian FPV drones stuck in the strands. These tanks were ultimately defeated but it took a large number of FPV drones to accomplish the task where without the “hedgehog” armor, one or two drones would have been enough.

     “Hedgehog” armor is not without its disadvantages. For one, larger loitering munitions, the speed of attack makes the bendable strands less effective and sheer velocity can win the day. For example, the Russian ZALA Lancet's terminal attack speed is a little over 186 miles per hour. By comparison, the typical FPV drone musters only 62 miles per hour. Another problem is the weight the additional anti-drone defenses add to the vehicle. This added weight, which the vehicle's engine and drive train is not designed to cope with, leads to mechanical failures. In a Soldier of Fortune Magazine article from December 24, 2025 by A.R. Fomenko, he cites a Russian tank driver whose tank has a full “hedgehog” armor set up. The driver said that the added weight crippled his tank and that it was rare his tank made 6 miles before something in the drive train broke. When available, some “hedgehog” armor equipped tanks are moved by tank transporters to get them closer to the front before the tank has to drive on its own.

For further information on the T-80BVM, visit:

https://photosofmilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2025/01/russo-ukrainian-war-t-80bvm-obr-2022.html

Russo-Ukrainian War: The M1A1 AIM Main Battle Tank

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

     The impact on tank protection due to the nature of drone warfare in the Russo-Ukrainian War is fully displayed here by a M1A1 Abrams MBT (Main Battle Tank) belonging to the 425th. Assault Regiment “Skelya”. On the turret front, lower front glacis, turret sides, and hull sides are blocks of Kontakt-1 ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor). The blocks are arranged in bolt-on metal frames which are then secured to the turret, hull, and in the case of the sides, to the standard M1A1 side skirt panels. The next layer of protection comes from the rubber panels that hang down almost to the ground on the sides and front of the tank. Another strip of rubber paneling is seen underneath the rearmost frame of ERA on the turret side. Cheap to make and fix to tanks and other armored vehicles, the panels provide a small measure of defense against HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) munitions and older anti-tank rockets. The third layer of defense, meant for drones specifically, is the collapsible metal frame seen over the tank. Shown deployed, the frame supports fishing netting (not fitted here) that serves to impede or defeat an FPV drone from striking the tank. Of interest, along the turret sides, there is framing for netting in front of the ERA. Framing for netting can also be seen on the rear of the tank's hull. As a note, the round object on the left front of the turret is a spare road wheel and the tank sports its original Australian Army three-tone camouflage pattern.

     The M1A1 seen here is former Australian Army. In 2006, the Australian Army purchased 59 M1A1 AIM (Abrams Integrated Management) tanks and replaced the Leopard AS1 then in service by 2007. In June 2022, Australia committed to a purchase of a large number of armored vehicles from the U.S. which included 75 modernized M1A2 tanks. On October 17, 2024, Australia announced it was providing Ukraine with a donation of 49 of its M1A1 tanks and by December 2025, all of them have been delivered. Of this total, it is not known how many are operational as a October 16, 2024 ABC Australia report by Andrew Greene stated some would have required repair and that those tanks may simply be sent to Ukraine for parts rather than be restored to operational readiness.

     It should be noted that the Australian M1A1 AIM, as well as the U.S. provided M1A1 SA tanks, do not feature the high-density depleted uranium (DU) mesh within the composite armor that makes up the tank's defense. The U.S. still restricts the export of M1 series tanks with DU mesh. Instead, the DU is replaced with either tungsten or titanium. This means the M1A1 AIM and M1A1 SA are more vulnerable to kinetic penetrator munitions in comparison to U.S. operated M1 series tanks.

     Power for the 61-ton M1A1 comes from a Avco Lycoming (Honeywell) AGT-1500 air-cooled gas turbine engine that develops 1,500 gross horsepower. This is paired to a Allison X1100-3B hydrokinetic, automatic transmission with a 6 speed gearbox (4 forward, 2 reverse). Steering is via hydrostatic T-bar. The maximum road speed is 41.5 miles per hour with a road cruising range of 289 miles. This relatively low range is due to the high fuel consumption of the engine despite the 505 gallons of onboard fuel carried. The engine is multi-fuel and for maximum efficiency, JP-8 fuel should be used. However, the AGT-1500 can run on standard diesel, gasoline, or even kerosene though performance will be impacted.

     The main weapon is the M256 120mm gun with the stabilized gun mount providing 20 degrees of elevation and 10 degrees of depression. The turret provides the gun with 360 degrees of traverse. A full turret traverse can be accomplished in 9 seconds while the maximum gun elevation can be achieved in under 1 second. Gun laying is electrohydraulic with a manual backup system. Gun loading is manual with a maximum fire rate of 6 rounds per minute. Firing is assisted using a mostly automatic digital ballistic computer. A total of 40 rounds are carried for the M256. As for ammunition, the M256 can fire any NATO compatible 120x570mm round. The M829A1 APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) is able to drill through 650mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) at a 60 degree slope out to a range of 1.2 miles. The M830A1 HEAT-MP-T (High-Explosive Anti-Tank Multipurpose Tracer) has a maximum range of 1.6 miles and features a proximity fuse that is set prior to firing. The aluminum sabot is lighter than that fired by the M829A1, hence the longer range. In addition, the round is usable against armored targets, slow moving aerial targets (such as helicopters), hardened targets (bunkers and buildings), and light armored vehicles. Finally, the M908 HE-OR-T (High-Explosive Obstacle Reduction Tracer) is primarily utilized against hardened targets such as concrete blockhouses and buildings. The round is derived from the M830A1, replacing the sabot and fusing with a hard steel nose that allows the round to punch through concrete before detonating. Other munitions include the M1028 canister round filled with 1,100 tungsten balls (maximum effective range of 500 meters) and the M831 TP-T (Target Practice Tracer) round.

     Secondary armament consists of a coaxial M240 7.62mm machine-gun which is provided with 10,000 rounds of ammunition while the loader is also provided with a M240 outside his hatch on the turret along with 1,400 rounds of ammunition. The commander is provided with a M2 .50 caliber heavy machine-gun on the turret top along with a total of 900 rounds for the weapon. It can be operated from within the turret. Finally, there is provision for a 5.56mm M16A1 rifle with 210 rounds. In the photograph, the M2 is fitted but the loader's M240 is missing from the shielded gun mount.

     For protection, the M1A1 uses welded RHA steel armor on the turret and hull. The front of the turret and hull add composite armor arrays consisting of ceramic blocks set within resin between layers of RHA armor. The exact composition remains classified and neither has the specific protection capability of the M1A1 been released. What follows is a Soviet estimate as provided in Steven Zaloga's M1 Abrams vs. T-72 Ural: Operation Desert Storm 1991. From the front, the turret and hull provides 600mm of protection against APFSDS rounds and 700mm of protection against HEAT munitions. This estimate is based on the standard armor configuration that includes the DU mesh. Other protective features include two smoke grenade launchers (one on each side of the turret, with a total of 24 grenades), automatic Halon fire detection/extinguishing system, ammunition blowout panels (which shunt ammunition explosion forces outside the turret), two manually operated Halon extinguishers, overpressure NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) system, M13A1 gas/particulate filter, M43A1 chemical agent detector, AN/VDR radiac nuclear agent detector, and 1 ½ quart of ABC M11 decontamination fluid dispenser.

     For other systems and equipment, the gunner is provided with a primary and auxiliary sight, azimuth indicator, elevation quadrant, and a M1A1 quadrant which assist in direct and indirect fire. There is also a integrated Hughes (Raytheon) built thermal imaging subsystem (TIS). The driver has three periscopes and one night vision periscope while the commander has six periscopes and his own weapon sight. The loader only has a single periscope. For communications, the M1A1 has either a AN/VRC-12 or AN/VRC-64 radio system. To permit infantry working with the tank to talk with the crew, there is a external interphone box at the rear of the tank which connects to the crew's own internal AN/VIC-1 interphone network (which has four stations, one for each crew member).

Remnants of War: Panzerkampfwagen 17R 730(f)

Source: Paul Cooper on X™

     Situated along the coast of northern Norway near the village of Kongsfjord resides the remains of Veinesodden Batteri (Gun Battery Veinesodden). Built in 1942 by occupying German forces, the battery consisted of five captured World War One era French Canon de 155 L Modèle 1917 155mm howitzers. Each gun was emplaced in an open, circular pit with a center ring to which the entire gun (carriage and all) was mounted, allowing it a 360 degree rotation. The howitzers were capable of lobbing shells out to 11 miles. Bunkers blasted into the bedrock behind the gun positions housed ammunition and billets for the 140 man strong battery unit. 

     The battery was expanded, to include ex-French Renault FT-17 light tanks (which had the German designation of Panzerkampfwagen 17R 730(f)) of which one remains to this day, situated in a position overlooking the sea. Left to rust and be picked over by souvenir hunters and scrappers, little was left. As a side note, the round parts just behind the turret is the clutch and brake assembly. Fortunately, preservationists received permission from the Armed Forces Museum located in Oslo, Norway to preserve and restore the tank. Missing parts were reconstructed by local metal workers and the FT-17 was given an external restoration where it rested. By 2008, the restoration was complete but not long after, scrappers vandalized the tank and removed several of the rear plates. 

     As for the battery, it was abandoned in October 1944. Four of the guns were removed but the fifth gun and other parts of the battery’s emplacements were blown up by the retreating Germans. The remains of the battery, along with the FT-17, can be visited to this day.

Artillerie-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III, 75. Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment

Source: Author's collection

     As World War Two continued, the German military utilized more and more self-propelled artillery though such guns were never able to fully replace horse-drawn or those guns drawn by half-tracks or other soft-skinned vehicles. Of course, for artillery of any kind to be truly effective during the war, it required forward observers who would watch the fall of the rounds and radio back corrections to the firing batteries to ensure that as much of the incoming fire was as close to on-target as possible and thus maximize the destruction. These forward observers were often small teams on foot or moved about the battlefield in lightly armored vehicles such as armored cars or light tanks. By 1943, such vehicles had a very limited lifespan. Typically artillery was used defensively to break up an attack or was used on the offense to soften up the enemy prior to committing ground troops. Either way, it meant the forward observers had to be in the vicinity of the action in order to witness the incoming fire missions and correct as needed. Thus, it was seen that something better was needed to support the self-propelled artillery batteries and give forward observers the means to survive the front lines. The initial answer was the Artillerie-Panzerbeobachtungswagen III (PzBeobWg III).

     The Artillery Tank Observation Vehicle III was, in reality, a stop-gap measure which was undertaken to provide such a vehicle while development of a purpose-built armored observation vehicle was conducted (something that did not happen). Using war-weary and obsolete Ausf E through Ausf H models of the Panzerkampfwagen III medium tank, several modifications were done to convert them to their new role. The biggest change was the removal of the main gun armament. In place of the main gun, a Maschínengewehr 34 (MG 34) in a ball mounting was fitted and provided with 1,500 rounds of ammunition. The weight savings by not having a main gun nor the associated shells allowed for the fitting of an additional 30mm of armor plate on the hull front and on the entire rear of the tank. In addition, a new gun mantlet replaced the original, increasing the thickness from 30mm to 50mm. A feature of this mantlet was the addition of a dummy gun fitted to the right of the MG 34. The hull machine-gun was removed and the hole for the machine-gun was fitted with a metal plug. For radio equipment to allow communication back to the battery, the PzBeobWg III was fitted with a Funkgerät 4 (FuG 4) and the FuG 8. The FuG 4 utilized a 2 meter tall star antenna though specifics about it are not well known. The FuG 8 was heavily used for divisional communication with later models using a 30 watt transmitter, MW receiver C, and had a frequency band of 835 to 3,000 kilocycles per second. It used a 8 meter tall mast antenna. The FuG 4 had a much shorter range, with a Wireless Telegraph (WT) range of 2.3 miles and a Radiotelephone (RT) range of 1.2 miles. The FuG 8, on the other hand had a WT range of 31.1 miles and a RT range of 6.2 miles. In all, 262 PzBeobWg III vehicles were constructed between February 1943 to April 1944 and two such vehicles were deployed to each Hummel (“Bumblebee”) or Wespe (“Wasp”) self-propelled gun batteries as supply permitted.

     The photograph was reportedly taken following the German defeat at the hands of the Soviets following Unternehmen Frühlingserwachen (Operation Spring Awakening) in mid-March 1945 near Lake Balaton, Hungary. If this is accurate, then the PzBeobWg III belonged to 75. Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment underneath the III. Panzerkorps, 6. Armee, Heeresgruppe Süd. This unit was equipped with “Wespe“ 10.5cm self-propelled guns on the Panzerkampfwagen II chassis. It is difficult to assess what model the PzBeobWg III shown was built on but given the late date in the war, it is likely an Ausf H version. The crew had secured three links of track to the front of the tank in an effort to increase the protection. Since the hull machine-gun was not fitted, the track covered where it had been but one can see a portion of the track missing to allow the driver to see through his vision block. Just visible are the schürzen (armored skirts) fitted to the turret and hull. The front part of the skirt on the hull can be made out to the right (as one looks at the photograph) of the Soviet soldier. The turret skirt is visible just behind the dummy gun mantlet. These skirts were designed to reduce the velocity or divert the trajectory of incoming kinetic rounds. In the upper, right corner of the photograph is the star antenna for the FuG 4 radio. 

     Of interest, however, is the dummy gun itself. The crew of this PzBeobWg III fashioned an entirely new dummy gun and fit it over the existing one. The likely reason for this is because the standard dummy gun gave the appearance of the far weaker short 5cm KwK L/42 or the 3.7cm KwK L/46.5. By adding the additional wooden mantlet sleeve and the longer wooden barrel with a muzzle brake, it gave the PzBeobWg III the appearance of a Panzerkampfwagen IV fitted with the potent 7.5cm KwK40 L/48 gun. This was made more so by the use of the schürzen which many late-war PzKpfw IV tanks were equipped with. In so doing, the elaborate wooden dummy gun assembly helped the PzBeobWg III blend in more and not be singled out. Of course, the Soviet soldier hefting the broken gun tube for the camera means it didn't make much of a difference for this PzBeobWg III.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The M-84A4 Sniper

Source: @global_tanks on Instagram

     Sometime in 2024, Croatia provided the Ukrainian Army with thirty former Croatian Army M-84A4 Sniper (“Snayper” in Ukrainian) main battle tanks. One of these tanks is shown here, operated by the 141st. Mechanized Brigade. The M-84 is a Yugoslavian variant of the Soviet export model of the T-72A, designated the T-72M. Produced between 1979 and 1983 by the Croatian company Đuro Đaković Grupa d.d., some 680 tanks rolled off the lines. Ever since, the tanks have undergone modernization over the decades while in Croatian and also Serbian service. The M-84A4 Sniper is the final variant of the M-84A series and by 2008, the entirety of the Croatian Army's tanks were brought up to the M-84A4 standard. The type remains the mainstay of Croatian Army tank units and this is because the next modernization program, designated the M-84D, is extensive and costly. To date, only two M-84D tanks have been built.

     The 42-ton M-84A4 is powered by a V-46TK 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled, supercharged, multi-fuel diesel engine that develops 1,000 horsepower. According to Đuro Đaković's promotional material, an optional “power pack” 1,000 horsepower engine is available and some believe this to be of German manufacture. The V-46TK is paired with a hydromechanical transmission featuring a 8-speed gearbox (7 forward, 1 reverse). Maximum road speed is 42 miles per hour. A 330 gallon fuel capacity gives the M-84A4 a total operational range between 310 to 434 miles.

     The main armament of the M-84A4 is a turret-mounted 2A46 125mm smoothbore gun. The 2A46 sits within a 2-plane stabilizer with the mount providing 13.5 degrees of elevation and 6 degrees of depression. The turret gives a full 360 degree traverse. The original SUV-M-84 fire control system (FCS) is replaced by a more modern EFCS-3 FCS which is equipped with a DBR-84 ballistic computer. The gunner is provided with a DNNS-2 day/night sight and a laser rangefinder. Like all T-72 based tanks, the M-84A4 uses a automatic loader with 22 ready rounds of ammunition within the carousel situated beneath the turret basket. A further 20 rounds are stored throughout the tank's interior.

     The 2A46 can fire a wide array of 125mm rounds. A typical APFSDS (Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot) round may be the 3BM26 which can penetrate 410mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) at a 0 degree angle at 1.2 miles. At a 60 degree, slope, the penetration is 200mm of RHA. The 3BK21B HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) can go through 260mm of RHA at a 60 degree slope to a range of 1.9 miles. The 3OF28 HE (High-Explosive) round contains 11 pounds of explosive and can be fired out to a range of 2.5 miles. The M-84A4 is not outfitted as standard to fire tube-launched ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) such as the 9K119 Refleks (NATO reporting name AT-11 Sniper) and 9K120 Svir (a variant of the Refleks) or the older 9K112 Kobra (NATO reporting name AT-8 Songster).

     Secondary armament of the M-84A4 consists of a co-axial 7.62mm PKT which is provided with 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Maximum range (not effective) is 1.1 miles with a rate of fire of 250 rounds per minute. The commander is provided with a 12.7mm NSV mounted heavy machine-gun outside his cupola on the turret top. A total of 360 rounds are carried for the NSV with the mounting providing for an elevation of 75 degrees and a maximum depression of 5 degrees.

     To protect the 3-man crew (commander, driver, and gunner), the armor profile of the M-84A4 is much the same as the tank it is based on, the T-72A. The front hull supports 205mm of actual composite alloy armor but with an approximate slope of 68 degrees, the effective armor thickness is much higher. The turret is heavily protected with what the Soviet's called K-Combination. This is a laminate armor using hardened steel on the exterior turret shell behind which is a cavity containing a silicate (sand or granite), RHA steel, and ceramics. From the front, the turret has an effective 410mm to 500mm of armor thickness against APFSDS ammunition and between 500mm to 560mm of effective armor against HEAT rounds. The M-84A4 does not come with explosive reactive armor (ERA) as standard. Additional defensive equipment include an automatic fire extinguishing system, 12 smoke grenade launchers on the turret front for creating smoke screens, and a NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) system using filters and overpressure to seal the crew compartments.

     Other equipment utilized on the M-84A4 includes a meteorological sensor (positioned right behind the gun on the turret top) and a Racal produced Jaguar V communication suite. The latter replaced the older, more conventional FM and UHF receivers. The Jaguar V uses UHF only receivers that feature the ability to hop across narrow or wide band frequencies to resist jamming. A TELDIX navigation system, DNKS-2 day/night commander's periscope, TNPO-168V driver's periscope, and a TNPA-65 auxiliary periscope round out the main equipment installations.

     The Ukrainian M-84A4 shown here presents the breadth of add-on defenses Ukrainian units place on their tanks to give a measure of survival against enemy anti-tank weapons, FPV drones, and UAVs. As the M-84A4 does not come with ERA, Kontakt-1 blocks have been fitted to the upper and lower front hull and on the turret. Next, a complete metal frame cage supporting wire fencing has been secured to the turret. The open front of the cage is protected with weighted chains to foul drone propellers or the drone itself. Hanging down from the front of the tank are metal or rubber panels to provide a measure of defense against FPV drones looking to strike the thinner lower hull armor below the ERA blocks. Slat armor panels are secured along the tank's sides which have some effectiveness against HEAT munitions. Finally, the rear of the tank's upper deck is surrounded by what appear to be civilian radio antennas which, again, offer some defense against FPV drones or as a deterrent to attacks, forcing the FPV operator to try a more difficult vector to try to strike the tank.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Russian "Bylat Mobile"

Source: @drone_wars_ on Instagram

     Derided as “Bylat Mobiles” and in polite company as “Turtle Tanks”, the monstrosity shown in this photograph would be more at home on Fury Road in the Mad Max film franchise. It does, however, illustrate the current trend in Russian ad-hoc anti-drone defense. Turtle tanks first started to appear in 2024 and early ones consisted of a metal frame welded onto a tank chassis to which sheet metal was applied. This “shell” covered the entire top and sides of the tank with the only openings being the front and back. As the Ukrainians learned to utilize FPV drones against these turtle tanks, the Russians evolved the design and this usually encompassed enclosing the rear of the tank, adding metal chains along the front opening, fitting rubber panels along the front, rear, and sides of the tank, and adding drone jammers to the exterior of the enclosure. Even with these measures, turtle tanks could still be engaged by FPV drones. Jammers may or may not work against a frequency an attacking drone is operating on and since there are parts of a turtle tank that can still be hit by a FPV drone, it is possible to get a mobility kill (and other drones or artillery can finish the tank off) or a catastrophic kill if the turtle tank is carrying ammunition. The advent of fiber-optic, wire-guided FPV drones means jammers are no longer effective and chains, which are used to foul drone propellers, cannot be deployed effectively across the entirety of the tank. The solution Russian crews found is what you see here, twisted wire cables. The cabling is unwound and the individual wires spread apart to form stiff metal “branches”. When these “bushes” of wire are combined together across the exterior of the tank, it makes for a serious challenge for Ukrainian FPV drone operators to get through to the tank without propellers or the drone itself colliding with a wire. In fact, there have been a few social media images which show Ukrainian FPV drones “impaled” on these wires, preventing a successful hit. So, while the concept looks ridiculous, it has a measure of effectiveness.

     The Russians typically deploy turtle tanks in the assault where they lead follow-on troops towards Ukrainian positions. More often than not, the turtle tanks are equipped with KMT-7 mine rollers (sometimes combined with KMT-6 or KMT-8 mine ploughs) so that they can clear away any mines that could hold up troops coming up behind. Turtle tanks also don't usually carry ammunition for the main gun as it is either non-functional or the traverse is so limited as to be useless. This also has the effect of making survivability from a successful hit somewhat higher for the crew. Not surprisingly, turtle tanks attract a lot of attention from FPV drones and if the drones cannot at least score a mobility kill, it might be up to Ukrainian anti-tank teams to knock out the vehicle before it gets close. 

     It is neigh short of impossible to tell what model of tank is inside the enclosure built up around it. The crew has liberally covered the exterior with metal 4S22 explosive reactive armor boxes which are usually seen fitted to the side skirts of T-90M tanks (which has 40 boxes in all, 20 per side of the tank). This provides added protection against shaped charge munitions. The triangle with a solid triangle within it is a more recent Russian tactical symbol for units in a particular area of operations. It is not a unit specific symbol. Of interest, it appears that a venerable BDSh-5 smoke canister has been fitted to the tank. These were used on Soviet tanks prior to the introduction of the 902A “Tucha” smoke grenade launchers in 1981. The BDSh-5 is deployed by releasing it to drop to the ground where it would be electrically triggered to initiate the generation of a smoke screen. The process is done from within the tank.

M3 Light Tank "Capt Gore" (10 Troop, C Squadron, 2/6th Armored Regiment, Australian Army)

Source: Author's collection

     "Capt Gore", an M3 light tank belonging to 10 Troop, C Squadron, 2/6th Armored Regiment of the Australian Army, sits abandoned in a field of kunai grass near the "New Strip", a decoy landing strip, within the Buna area of Papua, New Guinea. The 2/6th Armored Regiment sent B and C Squadrons in December 1942 to bolster Allied forces during the Battle of Buna–Gona which raged from November 16, 1942 to January 22, 1943. The squadrons from the 2/6th Armored Regiment were attached to the 2/9th Battalion (Infantry) of the Australian 18th. Brigade and they rolled into battle on December 18, 1942. 

     The tenacious Japanese defenders fought hard and three M3 tanks were lost the first day but it was not enough to stop the Australians and American forces from making good progress. The drive would continue and on December 24, 1942, the remaining four tanks were deployed in support of the U.S. 1st. Battalion, 126th. Infantry Regiment (32nd. Division) and the Australian 2/10th Battalion (Infantry) that were tasked with taking "New Strip". The Japanese, lacking in anti-tank weapons, used anti-aircraft guns in their place. The most common, the Type 96 25mm gun, was capable of firing an armor-piercing round that could penetrate 42mm out to a range of 100m. The M3, at most, had 51mm of armor with a minimum of 10mm. Given the terrain, the Japanese guns were well concealed and took the tanks under fire at very close range and thus the M3 was vulnerable to these weapons. In short order, all four tanks were lost.

     In the case of "Capt Gore", it appears that it was a victim of the ground underneath the kunai grass which was often wet and thus tanks were susceptible to bogging down in the soft earth. There does appear to be some damage to the tank from shell hits, such as through the air filter case and a small ricochet indent just beneath the cupola but nothing from this view that suggests it was knocked out by gun fire. The tank was abandoned and stripped of equipment, to include the .30cal. machine-gun that was mounted on the pintel next to the cupola. It is unknown if the tank was recovered but photographs exist of another M3 from the same battle still in the fields in 1952. The name of "Capt Gore" was applied to the tank for an Australian propaganda film and never removed before deployment. The other M3 tanks in 10 Troop, C Squadron were "Capt Kidd" and "Capt Blood". 

     The Battle of Buna–Gona ended in a Allied victory but at a heavy cost. It was the first time soldiers faced the ferocious nature of the Japanese when on the defensive and all told, the Allies suffered 1,991 killed in action and 12,300 wounded out of some 20,000 men deployed. The savage defense of the Japanese can be seen in the under 300 Japanese soldiers captured by the Allies out of a total force count of 12,000. The rest were either killed in battle (4,000), died from disease (3,000), or were wounded in action (1,200; these men were able to be evacuated).

Char B1 bis (n° 416) “Hautvillers”: Knocked Out at Stonne

Source: Reddit

     Looking at a map of France, today the village of Stonne is a tiny speck consisting of 2.77 square miles of land area and 39 residents. Yet, between May 15 and May 17, 1940, Stonne was the epicenter of a brutal see-saw battle between an ad-hoc force of French Army troops and the German Army, led by the 10th. Panzer Division along with other elements, to include the crack Infanterie-Regiment "Großdeutschland".

     While Stonne itself had absolutely no military value, the land it was situated on most certainly did. Immediately to the north of Stonne sits Mont-Dieu (God's Mountain) which is heavily wooded with only the D 30 road running through it and into Stonne. The village itself sits atop a 330 meter (1,082 foot) elevation with a very steep drop-off into the thick woods north of the village. To the east of Stonne, near the D 30 road's turn into the village, is Le Pain de Sucre (Sugarloaf) which is a conical shaped hill some 335 meters (1,099 feet) high.“Zuckerhut“ (also meaning Sugarloaf), as the point was called in German, offered an excellent observation point. The French realized that the area around Stonne was a natural obstacle to check the German advance further south and so they quickly fortified the area with pillboxes and set up barriers to slow down German troops.

     During the Battle of Stonne, the village exchanged hands seventeen times. The initial day saw elements of the 3e Division d'Infanterie Motorisée already positioned in Stonne but by 0800 hours, Stonne was in German hands, led by 1. Bataillon, Infanterie-Regiment "Großdeutschland". In the course of the day's combat, Char B1 bis tanks belonging to 3e Compagnie, 49e Bataillon de Chars, would see action against the Germans and the knocked out tank shown here was one of them. The tank, n° 416 and named “Hautvillers“, was commanded by Sous-lieutenant Jacques Klein and driven by Caporal-chef Emile Chanel. The names of the radio operator and assistant driver (who was usually a mechanic) that completed the crew are not known. The tank was received by the unit on March 25, 1940. 

     At approximately 1000 hours,“Hautvillers“ had been advancing north towards Stonne over the ground between the D 30 and D 24 roads. A Panzerkampfwagen IV, belonging to Panzer-Regiment 8, spotted the French tank and took it under fire. The Pz.IV's gunner, one Karl Koch, was able to hit “Hautvillers“ three to four times. The results of the successful engagement saw “Hautvillers“ turret jammed, the 47mm gun fitted to it bent, the right side track severed, and a non-penetrating hit on the armor near Caporal-chef Chanel's station. The spalling of the armor on the interior by the strike caused superficial injuries to Chanel and triggered a fire in the tank's electrical system. With such crippling hits, the crew abandoned the tank though all four men would later be captured by German troops. Given the photograph, it is clear the fire consumed the tank, probably causing an ammunition detonation which blew apart much of the upper hull, causing the turret to fall inward. This particular photograph was likely taken well after the battle as much of the debris following the tank's demise is no longer seen laying on the ground. Based on the many photographs taken of the tank by German soldiers, the location of the wreck may be at the intersection of Route de la Berlière (D 24) and Rue du Paquis which is located just outside Stonne proper.

     While German forces ultimately won the Battle of Stonne, the area would not be completely pacified until May 25, 1940.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The PT-91 Twardy Main Battle Tank

Source: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

     Starting in April 2023, the Ukrainian Army began receiving the PT-91 Twardy (“Hard”) main battle tank as part of Poland's sizable military contribution to Ukraine. In all, sixty tanks have been provided. The PT-91 is derived from the T-72M1 which is a Polish license built T-72A, the latter's production having started in 1983. Development of the PT-91 started in 1991 and the objective was to modernize the T-72M1 using as many Polish produced components as feasible in order to be as independent from imported matériel as possible. In 1993, a purchase order was placed for twenty examples for field trials and after acceptance, the first production PT-91 tanks reached Polish armor units beginning in 1998. In the photograph, the crew of a PT-91 belonging to the 22nd. Mechanized Brigade “Mykolaiv” performs repair or maintenance on the running gear.

     Power for the 46-ton PT-91 comes from the S-12U, 12-cylinder, water-cooled, turbocharged diesel engine that generates 850 horsepower. Built by PZL-Wola, the S-12U is a Polish variant of the old Soviet 780 horsepower V-46-6 diesel engine. The S-12U features a updated fuel injection system along with air injection system to more efficiently burn off exhaust gases. This engine is mated to a manual transmission with an 8-speed gearbox (7 forward, 1 reverse). The top road speed the PT-91 can attain is 37 miles per hour while 264 gallons of diesel fuel give the tank a maximum operational range of 403 miles. If fitted with external fuel tanks, the operational range increases to 434 miles.

     For a main armament, the PT-91 uses the exact same 2A46 125mm smoothbore gun as the T-72M1. However, the Soviet-era 2E28M 2-plane gun stabilizer is replaced with a more modern stabilizer produced in Slovakia (one of the few imported components) which is tied into the tank's SKO-1M Drawa-1T FCS (Fire Control System). The Drawa-1T FCS is a suite which includes the PCD gunner's sight, the TES thermovision night sight (developed by the Israeli company El-Op), a POD-72 commander's day/night sight, laser rangefinder, and a ballistic computer. The latter calculates the targeting requirements based on the tank's speed, the target's speed, weather conditions, the type of round being fired, and even the temperature of the round. The output is displayed on a monitor and the computer will even state when the probability of a successful hit on a target is minimal. Like the T-72M1, the PT-91 uses a automatic loader which is fed via a ammunition carousel located beneath the turret. A total of 42 rounds of ammunition are carried. This provides for a maximum rate of fire between 8 to 10 rounds per minute. The turret provides 360 degrees of traverse for the 2A46 while the gun mount offers a maximum elevation of 14 degrees and a maximum depression of 6 degrees.

     The 2A46 can fire a multitude of ammunition types. An example of a APFSDS (Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot) round is the 3VBM11 which can penetrate 410mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) at a 0 degree slope at a range of 1.2 miles and with a 60 degree slope, the penetration is 200mm. The 3VBK27, a HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) round, can drill through 350mm of armor at a 60 degree slope out to 1.8 miles. The more standard 3VOF22 HE (High-Explosive) round can be fired out to a range of 2.5 miles. The PT-91 is not believed to be capable of using the Russian 9M119 Svir (NATO reporting name AT-11 Sniper) tube-launched, laser guided anti-tank missile. 

     Secondary armament includes a coaxial 7.62mm PKT machine-gun provided with 2,000 rounds and a 12.7mm NSVT heavy machine-gun fitted to a pintle mount next to the commander's cupola on the turret. A total of 300 rounds for the NSVT is typically carried.

     The effective armor protection of the PT-91 and its crew of three (commander, driver, and gunner) is not specified but the standard thickness (not accounting for sloping) of the T-72M1 upon which the PT-91 is derived from sports 220mm thick front hull armor, 240mm of armor on the turret front, 200mm on the sides and rear of the turret, and up to 190mm of armor on the hull sides and rear. On the upper hull front, 16mm thick high hardness steel armor is added to boost protection. The PT-91 utilized by Ukraine are fitted with the distinctive Polish developed ERAWA-1 explosive reactive armor (ERA). It is characterized by having more squarish blocks (rather than the rectangular blocks used by the common Russian Kontakt-1 ERA) and with barely any gap between the blocks when mounted. A complete ERAWA-1 arrangement consists of a total of 394 blocks arranged on the turret, front upper hull, and sides. ERAWA-1 will not be triggered by being hit by small arms calibers nor by light cannon rounds up to and including 30mm ammunition. ERAWA, assuming it is struck by a incoming munition, offers between 95% to 100% protection against HEAT rounds from weapons such as the RPG-7. Against larger HEAT munitions, the protection is still excellent with a 65% to 70% protection versus the 125mm HEAT round and anti-tank weapons such as the Swedish AT4 (which is utilized by the Ukrainian Army). However, like any ERA, it is susceptible to defeat by tandem-charge warheads.

     Other defensive systems include the PCO SSC-1 Obra-1 laser warning system. The Obra-1 consists of four sensors on the exterior of the hull and these can detect when the tank is “painted” by laser rangefinders or laser illuminators which are used most often by laser guided anti-tank missiles. These sensors are tied into a control unit with a display for the crew. In addition, the PT-91's smoke grenade launchers, 24 in all, are also tied into the control unit. When set to automatic, if the tank is painted, the Obra-1 detects the direction, warns the crew, and triggers the grenade launchers to fire and create a smoke screen between the tank and the origin of the laser. With the crew taking evasive action and the smoke degrading the laser's effectiveness and obscuring the missile operator's view, the Obra-1 offers a higher survival chance against laser guided missiles. It is possible for the Obra-1 to work semi-automatically in which the tank commander decides if the smoke grenades are launched and there is also a manual mode in which the Obra-1 simply warns of the “painting” and from what direction and the commander then has to determine which grenade launcher battery to use in addition to firing them. Besides smoke grenades, the launchers can be fitted with non-lethal tear gas grenades or fragmentation anti-personnel grenades. Further defensive equipment has the crew and engine compartments fitted with automatic fire detection/suppression systems and NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical) protective apparatus. The PT-91 can also generate a smoke screen by dumping fuel onto the hot exhaust.

     Finally, the driver's station is equipped with a US-DK-1 panel which provides the driver with full control over the tank's systems and also it can run and display diagnostic test results onto a display. For night driving, the station is equipped with a Radomka passive night sight.

     As of January 2025, the Ukrainian Army has lost a total of eleven PT-91 tanks.

Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf B (2. Zug, 2. Kompanie, Panzer-Regiment 4, 13. Panzer-Division)

Source: Author's collection.

     Somewhere on the Eastern Front, the abandoned remains of a Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf B medium tank slowly sinks into the Russian mud. The photograph was one of many contained in a soldier's personal photo album entitled “Meine Dienstzeit” (“My Service Period”) though who the soldier was and who he served with was not given in the album. The tank belonged to the 2. Zug, 2. Kompanie, Panzer-Regiment 4, 13. Panzer-Division. This is denoted by the tactical number 222 on the turret with the third number two denoting it was the second tank in the platoon (Zug). That the tank was with the 13. Panzer-Division is denoted by the circle with the cross on the hull side. It is likely the soldier passed the wreck and snapped a picture of it since there was no other tank pictures in the album.

     Production of the PzKpfw IV Ausf B started in April 1938 and by September 1938, a total of 42 had been produced before it was superseded by the Ausf C model. Built by Krupp-Gruson, the PzKpfw IV Ausf B was powered by a Maybach HL120TR engine connected to a 7-speed gearbox (6 forward, 1 reverse) and was enough to provide the tank with a top road speed of 25mph. Enough fuel was carried to give a maximum operational range of 124 miles. For armament, the tank was fitted with a 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 gun with a co-axial 7.92mm MG 34 machine-gun. Curiously, the hull mounted MG 13 machine-gun that had been fitted to the previous Ausf A model was removed and replaced with only a visor and a pistol port. 80 total rounds of ammunition was carried for the KwK 37 and was often a mixture of armor piercing (Panzergranate), high-explosive (Sprenggranate), and smoke (Nebelgranate) shells. The machine-gun was provided with 2,400 rounds of belted ammunition. The turret had a 360 degree rotation which was electrically driven (with a manual backup) while the gun had a maximum elevation of 20 degrees and a maximum gun depression of 10 degrees. For protection, the PzKpfw IV Ausf B had 30mm of armor on the turret front at a 10 degree slope, 15mm on the turret sides at a 25 degree slope, and 15mm and no sloping. The gun mantlet added another 30mm of armor to the front of the turret. The superstructure front was 30mm thick at a 7 degree slope, 15mm of armor on the sides with no sloping, and 15mm at the rear with a 10 degree slope. The hull front had 30mm of armor at a 12 degree slope, 15mm on the sides with no sloping, and 15mm thick on the rear at a 10 degree slope. The turret top armor was 10mm thick, the top of the superstructure was 12mm thick, and the underside of the hull was 5mm thick.

     When the 13. Panzer-Division, under the command of Generalleutnant Walter Düvert, went into Russia on June 22, 1941, it had twenty PzKpfw IV tanks on hand in various makes out of an authorized strength of twenty-eight. A little over a month later, a report dated August 28, 1941 listed only nine tanks left operational with another ten being completely written off. The division was under the 1. Panzerarmee, Heeresgruppe Süd and saw considerable action during the Battle of Kiev which took place from August 23, 1941 to September 26, 1941. Although it was a significant defeat for the Russians, the Germans still suffered 61,239 casualties and would account for the August report on medium tank strength for the division. Of the PzKpfw III medium tanks the division had, prior to combat, the authorized strength was seventy-one tanks of which the division had its full allotment. But after the initial battles in and around Kiev, the report listed only thirty-seven tanks operational with another ten having been written off.

     The tank seen here doesn't appear to have suffered combat damage but without being able to see the front, it is difficult to say for sure. It may have experienced a mechanical breakdown or threw a track and with the rapid advance, it may have been left behind for a later recovery. In the meantime, it appears to have been scavenged to a small degree, mainly with the spare road-wheels having been taken from their location on the fender as where they were can just be made out to the right of the 13. Panzer-Division symbol.

Remnants of War: Stridsvagn 74 (Range Target)

Source: Michael Westlund

     The remains of a Swedish Stridsvagn 74 (Strv 74) alongside a gravel road on the Kosta Firing Range located within a Swedish military reservation. 

     The Strv 74 was, in a sense, a legacy tank as well as an attempt to modernize and compete with post-WW2 tank developments. The chassis of the Strv 74 was more or less a rebuilt version of the Stridsvagn m/42 chassis, a tank developed in 1941 and remained in service with the Swedish army (after acceptance) from 1943 to 1945. The turret, however, was new and featured a potent high-velocity 75mm gun paired with a fire-control system. At the same time as the Strv 74 was being developed, Sweden purchased 80 British Centurion Mk. 3 and 160 Centurion Mk.5 tanks in the 1950s, putting them in service as the Stridsvagn 81. Later, in 1958, the Swedish added another 110 Centurion Mk.10 tanks to their armored force as the Stridsvagn 101. Thus, the Strv 74 was seen only as an indigenously produced tank to supplement the purchased Centurion tanks rather than be the de-facto tank used by the Swedish. In all, 225 Strv 74 tanks were built, entering service in 1958 and being retired in 1984. Some Strv 74 turrets were used as static gun emplacements, the last of which were torn down in the early 2000s. 

     Even the casual observer would note the large profile of the turret in comparison to the chassis and Strv 74 crews nicknamed the tank "Sanslös" (meaning “Senseless”) as the tank would violently shake and rock if the gun was fired with the turret in the 3 o’clock or 9 o’clock position. 

     The upside down sign leaning against the hull reads “Spärrat Område: Blindgångare LIVSFARA!” which translates (more or less) as “Restricted Area: Unexploded Ordnance DANGER!”

Remnants of War: Type 89B Otsu I-Go, 38th. Independent Mixed Brigade

Source: Justin Taylan

     The Type 89B Otsu I-Go medium tank in the photograph had sat in the jungle in the vicinity of Tarlena which is located on the northwest coast of the island of Bougainville since 1945. The tank was one of four such tanks that had been shipped from Japan via Truk then Rabaul. At Rabaul, the tanks were loaded aboard the Japanese freighter Bunsan Maru when, on September 1943, the ship arrived at Tarlena and unloaded its cargo. The tanks had been assigned to the 4th. South Sea Garrison which had been formed in Wakayama, Japan back on June 26, 1943.

     The Type 89 was, by 1943, long obsolete. The design of the tank had begun back in 1927. Japan's first indigenous tank design, the Type 87 Chi-I, was dismissed as being too heavy and too under-powered and so the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) issued specifications for a new tank which had to weigh no more than 9 tons. The design was heavily inspired by the Vickers Medium C tank, a single example of which the Japanese had purchased from Britain in March 1927 for study. In April 1928, the design for the new tank was completed and construction began on a prototype. Completed sometime in 1929, the tank was given the designation Type 89 and after evaluation, it was approved for production. This was problematic as the IJA's Sagami Arsenal was incapable of mass production and so the IJA had to contract out to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Mitsubishi constructed a new factory solely to build the Type 89 and by 1931, production had commenced. By now, the Type 89 weighed in at a little over 12 tons and so the Type 89 was reclassified from a light tank to a medium tank. In 1934, a new model of the Type 89 was put into production. The main change was removing the water-cooled 100hp 6-cylinder Daimler gasoline engine and replacing it with an air-cooled 120hp Mitsubishi A6120VD diesel engine. It also simplified the frontal armor arrangement and reshaped the turret. The new model was given the Type 89B Otsu designation while the previous make was called the Type 89A Kō. For armor, the Type 89 had a maximum of 17mm of frontal armor down to a minimum of 6mm. For weapons, it used the Type 90 57mm gun, a hull mounted Type 91 6.5mm machine-gun and another Type 91 fitted to the back of the turret. The Type 89 had a maximum speed of 16mph and had a four man crew. All told, 113 of the Type 89A tanks were built and 291 of the Type 89B.

     The Type 89 was the main tank of IJA armored forces for many years and against the Chinese who lacked anti-tank capability, the Type 89 was proof against small arms fire and the 57mm gun was adequate enough. Still, the IJA was attuned enough to know the Type 89 was reaching the end of its usefulness and by 1942, the Type 89 was being withdrawn from front-line service, having been replaced with the Type 97 Chi-Ha. Still, despite being obsolete and ineffective against most Allied medium tanks as the Type 90 gun could only penetrate a paltry 20mm of armor at 500 meters, the Type 89 was still to see combat until the very end in August 1945.

     When the battle to take Bougainville Island commenced on November 1, 1943 with the U.S. landings at Torokina, the 4th. South Sea Garrison carefully hid the Type 89 tanks to protect them from U.S. air power. The fight for Bougainville slogged on for months and months, finally ending on August 21, 1945. By November 1944, Australian combat forces under the II Corps relieved U.S. forces and continued the fighting for the island. Earlier, the Type 89 tanks were turned over to the 38th. Independent Mixed Brigade. This unit was formed in June 1944 from what was left of the IJA's 17th. Division (code named the Getsu-heidan or Moon Division), specifically, the former headquarters of the 17th. Division and the 81st. Infantry Regiment. To bolster the brigade's armored capability, the four Type 89s were turned over to the new unit. The 38th. Independent Mixed Brigade's main battle with the Australians took place during the Battle of Pearl Ridge where the brigade took on the 25th. Infantry Battalion between December 30 and December 31, 1944. Led by General Kesao Kijima, Japanese forces were unable to dislodge the Australians from their positions and while casualties were quite light (10 Australian men killed with 34 Japanese killed in action), the Japanese loss was a blow to the brigade's morale and for the Australians, it was the start of a renewed push for further offensive action against what remained of Japanese forces. What was left of the 38th. Independent Mixed Brigade ended up at Numa Numa Mission on the east coast of Bougainville where it would eventually surrender in August 1945.

     Returning to the tank in the photograph, it was abandoned near one of the plantations that dotted the Bougainville landscape and would not move again until the 1980s. The tank was on the property of one Oscar Bond and the Kieta Lions Club desired to purchase the tank to restore and place it in the Kieta Memorial Park. Bond was receptive to the purchase, accepting a pig as payment (as a side note, pigs were and are still considered a status symbol in some of the cultures in New Guinea which includes Bougainville). Bond, however, wanted to keep the gun barrel of the tank. The tank was transported by a man named Bob Strong to Kieta Memorial Park where it was set on two concrete pads. The tank was cleaned and given a tan paint scheme with Japanese flags on the hull sides. A fabricated gun barrel was fitted to the tank to replace the one kept by Mr. Bond. The tank is incomplete and is missing the upper track fenders, the machine-guns (replica machine-guns were not added), the exhaust screen cover, the cover for the hull machine-gunner's square vision port, return rollers, the cupola hatch, and the engine. The tank can still be seen at the park which is located in Kieta along Aropa-Arawa Road. 

     The photograph depicts the tank as it appears today, having been left to deteriorate, and losing all of its initial luster when first put on display. It is clear no attempt has been made to return the tank to its original restoration condition and preserve it as best possible, let alone maintain the park which looks fairly overgrown.

Char B1 (n° 309) “Rhône”: Scuttled in Beaumont

Source: Author's Collection

     What is left of No.309 “Rhône” in the streets of Beaumont, France. Built by Renault, this Char B1 bis was issued to the 37th. BCC (Bataillon de Chars de Combat; Combat Tank Battalion), 1st. Company on September 27, 1939. On May 16, 1940, remnants of the 37th. BCC retreated into Beaumont and were without fuel for their tanks and with no petrol forthcoming, it was decided to scuttle the unit’s tanks and to make for the French lines on foot. 

     “Rhône” was set ablaze and the subsequent explosion blew the turret off the tank. Unfortunately, the blaze from the tank spread to nearby homes, setting them aflame. It was not until the following day did the fires burn out. 

     “Rhône” had been commanded by Sub-Lieutenant André Marsais with the remainder of the crew being Master Corporal Emile Tourmetz (driver), Sergeant Jacques Tapol (radio operator), Private Defremy (gunner), and Private Feuillatre (mechanic).

Russo-Ukrainian War: Russian T-80BVN, Central Military District

Source: Evgeny Biyatov, Sputnik Media Bank

     A Russian T-80BVN belonging to a unit within the Central Military District, operating somewhere near Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast on September 28, 2024. One of five such military districts in Russia, a good number of its subordinate units have been deployed to Ukraine. This includes elements from the 2nd. and 41st. Guards Combined Arms Army and the 25th. Combined Arms Army.

     The crew of this particular T-80BVN have added a sizable anti-drone cage to the turret, portions of which overhang the front and rear hull. The camouflage netting obscures much of what comprises the cage though through the gap, one can see lengths of chain hanging down. These have become a common method for anti-drone defenses as the chains, with their weight, have the capability of breaking the rotors and/or rotor pylons of FPV drones. The cage uses fencing elsewhere with the chains forming a portion of the cage that allows the commander and gunner to enter and exit the tank. Shorter lengths of chain hang down from the bottom edges of the front facing portion of the cage (visible in another photograph of the same tank).

     Along the sides of the tank is a long strip of rubberized material (most often conveyor belts) which is a simple form of appliqué armor which provides a small measure of protection to the turret ring. The T-80BVM does have rear mounted slat armor as standard but here, the crew has added more slat armor panels and it appears that they have created a raised anti-drone cover over the engine deck but the camouflage netting covers much of it. Barely visible are rubber panels, with heavy netting, secured to the edges of the turret's front mounted Relikt explosive reactive armor panels.

Russo-Ukrainian War: T-80BVM obr. 2022

Source: Reddit.

     A Russian T-80BVM obr. 2022 belonging to the 67th. Motorized Rifle Division (the unit's tactical symbol is on the side of the turret), displaying a rather extensive array of passive and active defenses. It is being transported by what looks to be a KamAZ-65225 tank transporter and was photographed sometime in January 2025. The T-80BVM is a modernization of the T-80BV which first appeared in service with the Soviet Army in 1985. The first T-80BVM made its public debut in 2017.

     Power for the 46-ton T-80BVM comes from a GTD-1250TF gas turbine engine that develops 1,250 horsepower and can propel the T-80BVM along roads at a maximum speed of 43 miles per hour and off-road, up to 34 miles per hour terrain depending. The GTD-1250 consumes fuel at a very high rate and had a much higher production cost in comparison to a standard diesel engine. Thus, the T-80BVM has a maximum cruise range of 208 miles (via 290 gallons of onboard fuel) and as such, the tank is often equipped with two external fuel tanks (total of 195 additional gallons) to increase the range to 310 miles. The engine is paired to a manual planetary transmission with a 6-speed gearbox (5 forward, 1 reverse). The external fuel tanks are secured to racks on the rear of the tank and here, they are not present.

     The main armament is a 2A46M-5 (or 2A46M-4 in some sources) 125mm smoothbore cannon which is mounted to a 2-axis, electro-hydraulic 2E26M stabilizer. The turret provides for 360 degrees of traverse while the gun mount allows for a maximum of 14 degrees of elevation and up to 5 degrees of depression. As with most Russian tanks, the cannon is provided with a updated Korzina automatic loader which is fed from a carousel that sits beneath the turret at the bottom of the hull. It holds 28 rounds of ammunition and with it, a rate of fire between 4 to 6 rounds per minute is possible. A further 17 rounds of ammunition are carried, kept both in the turret and hull, along with 6 Refleks-M missiles (see below). Accuracy is aided by a 1A45T Irtysh fire control system (FCS). The gunner is provided with a stabilized Sosna-U sight which incorporates a day sight, thermal sight, laser rangefinder, and a ballistic computer. Some late T-80BVM may utilize the PNM-T sight which is Sosna-U alternative built from wholly Russian components. Typical ammunition used includes APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot), HE (High-Explosive), and HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) rounds plus the 9K119M Refleks-M tube-launched, laser guided anti-tank missile (NATO reporting name AT-11 Sniper). The 3BM59 “Svinets-1” APFSDS round can penetrate around 315mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) at a 60 degree slope at 1.2 miles. At a 0 degree slope, the 3BM59 can penetrate 540mm of RHA at the same range. The 3BK31 HEAT round can penetrate 350mm of RHA at a 60 degree slope at a range of 1.9 miles.   The 3OF26 HE round can be fired out to a range of 2.5 miles while the Refleks-M can attain a range of 3 miles and drill through a maximum of 700mm of armor at a 90 degree slope after ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) thanks to its tandem charge warhead. The gunner provides the guidance to target using a modulated laser beam. Secondary armament consists of a coaxial PKT 7.62mm machine-gun while mounted on the turret near the commander's hatch is a NSVT 12.7mm heavy machine-gun. 1,250 rounds of ammunition are available for the PKT while a total of 300 rounds are carried for the NSVT of which 50 rounds is ready ammunition.

     For protection, the T-80BMV uses composite armor on the hull and turret with the cheeks of the turret having additional defense called Combination K which consists of a cavity filled with ultra-porcelain ceramic rods arranged in a matrix. This gives the turret front the equivalent of 550mm of steel armor. The front glacis plate uses a sandwich-style of composite armor consisting of an outer layer of 80mm thick steel which is backed by 105mm of glass-reinforced plastic then a 20mm thick base layer of steel armor. This gives the front hull of the T-80BMV the equivalent of over 500mm of armor. In addition to the base armor, the T-80BMV utilizes Relikt explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks on the upper front hull, turret front, hull sides, and the top of the turret. Cage armor is fitted to the rear of the tank hull, offering a measure of protection to the engine compartment from HEAT munitions. The T-80BVM can be fitted with 4S24 Karkas ERA and this is the case here in the photograph in the form of large metal blocks on the turret sides and here, unusually, on top of the side Relikt ERA. The crew has added rubber and mesh appliqué armor to the turret sides and front plus ad-hoc bar armor to the rear area of the turret. In addition, the crew has created a large anti-drone cage consisting of metal framing with what looks like chicken wire. Additional defense comes from a 902B Tucha smoke grenade launcher system consisting of two banks of four launcher tubes on the turret sides. The T-80BMV can also be fitted with active protective systems such as Arena but it is not standard. Atop the anti-drone cage are antenna for drone jammers, added there by the crew rather than it being standard.

     Other systems of the T-80BVM include a TVN-5 night sight for the driver, internal crew intercom system, TKN-4S Agat-MR day/night sight & TKN-3M day sight for the commander, automatic fire suppression system, PDT-7151 auxiliary sight, DVE-BS turret roof mounted meteorological sensor, R-168 series VHF radio station, and a ZETS-11-2 NBC protection system (Nuclear Biological Chemical). 

     The T-80BVM obr. 2022 specifically uses Kontakt-5 ERA on the turret roof to provide for more protective coverage and cage armor is added to the rear of the hull and turret (though only the rear hull piece appears intact). Another feature of the T-80BVM obr. 2022 is the removal of the rear side cage armor and replacing it with Relikt ERA panels. Finally, Relikt ERA is built into the tank's front mud guards. Some T-80BVM obr. 2022 tanks may have elderly 1PN96MT-02 thermal gun sights due to shortages of the Sosna-U.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Ukrainian Modified T-80U

Source: 12th. Brigade Public Affairs

     A T-80U main battle tank belonging to the Tank Battalion, 12th. Special Forces Brigade “Azov”, National Guard of Ukraine. An evolution of the T-80A, the T-80U first entered service in 1985 and through 1999, received modernization to keep it competitive. The T-80U was, for the most part, a brand new tank rather than being an upgrade to existing T-80 tanks as was the case with the earlier T-80B and T-80A which appeared in 1978 and 1982 respectively.

     Power for the 50-ton T-80U comes from a GTD-1250 3-shaft gas turbine engine that develops 1,250 horsepower and can propel the T-80U along roads at a maximum speed of 43 miles per hour and off-road, up to 30 miles per hour terrain depending. The GTD-1250, while powerful and reliable (as long as maintenance is rigidly followed), consumes fuel at a ravenous rate and has a much higher production cost in comparison to a standard diesel engine. Thus, the T-80U has a maximum cruise range of 208 miles (via 290 gallons of onboard fuel) and as such, the tank is often equipped with external fuel tanks (total of 195 additional gallons) to increase the range to 273 miles. The engine is paired to a manual planetary transmission with a 5-speed gearbox (4 forward, 1 reverse). To conserve fuel but still power the tank's systems, a GTA-18 auxiliary power unit (APU) is provided.

     The main armament is a 2A46M-1 125mm smoothbore cannon which is mounted to a 2-axis, electro-hydraulic 2E42 stabilizer. The turret provides for 360 degrees of traverse while the gun mount allows for a maximum of 14 degrees of elevation and up to 5 degrees of depression. As with most Russian tanks, the cannon is provided with a Korzina automatic loader which is fed from a carousel that sits beneath the turret at the bottom of the hull. It holds 28 rounds of ammunition and with it, a rate of fire between 4 to 6 rounds per minute is possible. A further 17 rounds of ammunition are carried, kept both in the turret and hull, along with 6 Refleks missiles (see below). Accuracy is aided by a 1A42 or 1A45 Irtysh fire control system (FCS), 1V517 or 1V528-1 ballistic computer, 1G46 laser rangefinder, and a GPK-59 azimuth indicator. The gunner is provided with a TPN-4S day sight and a T01-K01R Buran-PA stabilized night sight. Typical ammunition used includes APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot), HE (High-Explosive), and HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) rounds plus the 9K119M Refleks-M tube-launched, laser guided anti-tank missile (NATO reporting name AT-11 Sniper). The older 3VBM20 APFSDS round can penetrate around 300mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) at a 60 degree slope at 1.2 miles. The 3VOF36 HE round can be fired out to a range of 2.5 miles while the Refleks-M can attain a range of 3 miles and drill through a maximum of 700mm of armor at a 90 degree slope after ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) thanks to its tandem charge warhead. The gunner provides the guidance to target using a modulated laser beam. Secondary armament consists of a coaxial PKT 7.62mm machine-gun while mounted on the turret near the commander's hatch is a 12.7mm heavy machine-gun (either a DShK or NSVT). 1,250 rounds of ammunition are available for the PKT while 300 rounds are carried for the heavy machine-gun.

     For protection, the T-80U uses composite armor on the hull and turret with the cheeks of the turret having additional defense comprised of semi-active, filled cells (NERA or Non-Energetic Reactive Armor) backed by steel plate and resin. The effect is that upon penetration by a shaped charge jet, the shock wave is disrupted by the filler, reducing the effectiveness of the penetrator. In addition to the base armor, the T-80U utilizes Kontakt-5 ERA blocks on the upper front hull, turret front, hull sides, and the top of the turret. This layered protection gives the T-80U's front hull the equivalent of 620mm thick armor against kinetic rounds and 1,100mm of armor against HEAT rounds. The turret front, with its additional defense, provides for 780mm of equivalent armor against kinetic rounds and 1,320mm of protection against HEAT. Additional defense comes from a 902B Tucha smoke grenade launcher system consisting of two banks of four launcher tubes on the turret sides. The T-80U can also be fitted with active protective systems such as Shtora-1 and Arena.

     Other systems of the T-80U include a L-2AG Luna infrared spotlight, OU-3GKU infrared searchlight, ZETS-11-2 NBC protection system (Nuclear Biological Chemical), R-173 radio, R-174 and GRR-5 radio receivers, and a snorkel kit for fording water obstacles.

     The T-80U pictured here has undergone some modifications with the main change being the removal of the Kontakt-5 ERA and replacing it with Ukrainian designed and produced Nizh (“Knife”) ERA blocks. This has necessitated some changes, namely the removal of the Luna spotlight (normally to the right of the gun on the turret face) and the shifting of the Tucha launch tubes towards the rear of the turret sides. Another difference from the T-80U is the usage of what look like side armor from a T-80BVM tank. If so, then it would consist of Relikt ERA. The crew has added heavy netting around the turret which serves as appliqué armor, providing a small measure of defense against HEAT munitions. Interestingly, the turret modifications give it the appearance of a T-90 tank turret. No heavy machine-gun is fitted but the mount can be seen near the commander's hatch.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Demolished Russian T-72B3

      Situated some 65 miles to the north of Kyiv, the city of Chernihiv sits along a main route from the country of Belarus into Kyiv. As such, the area around the city has become contested with Russian forces having surrounded the city on three sides in an effort to cut off the defenders from any support and commence their push on the city from three directions. This three pronged attack would have, as one objective, to spread out Ukrainian military forces across a wider front rather than allow them to concentrate their defense on one or two avenues of attack. Nevertheless, Ukrainian tank hunters around Chernihiv have destroyed, according to reports, more than 30 Russian tanks following attacks on Russian columns and the photograph here shows one of those kills.

     The demolished T-72B3 main battle tank was hit by a Javelin anti-tank missile with devastating effect. Where the missile struck is difficult to say but a side shot into the back portion of the tank is one possibility. Such a location has thinner armor and is usually not protected by reactive armor. Another is that the missile struck the top of the rear deck where the armor is not very thick. The Javelin, designated the FGM-148, is a U.S. designed missile, the replacement for the earlier M47 Dragon. The Javelin entered service in 1996 and remains in service with U.S. forces as well as the military forces of over 20 countries, including Ukraine. It is reported that there are some 377 launchers and 1,200 missiles in Ukrainian military hands based on purchase contracts prior to the outbreak of hostilities. Whether additional missiles can be delivered to replenish the stock remains to be seen.

     The Javelin consists of two parts: the Command Launch Unit (CLU) and the Launch Tube Assembly (LTA). The CLU contains all the needed optics to enable the gunner to acquire targets in day or night conditions. The LTA contains the missile inside a disposable tube. The CLU is fitted to the LTA and after firing, the CLU is detached and fitted to the next ready LTA. A typical Javelin team is two men. The missile uses a tandem-charge HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) shaped charge warhead which allows it to defeat ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) and strike the main armor of the target. When used by infantry, the standard CLU permits a maximum effective range of 1.6 miles. The 19 pound warhead can penetrate over 750mm of regular RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) or if facing tanks with ERA, the penetration drops to 600mm. The missile can use two attack profiles: a top attack profile to come down on top of the tank and a direct attack profile.

     So far, no Russian troops have moved into Chernihiv successfully, being repulsed by the defenders but given their isolated situation, it is difficult to say how long they can hold out.

Originally posted on February 26, 2022.