RUSSIA UNVEILS NEW BATTLE TANK

[warrior1972]

(CNN)—The wraps are off Russia's new main battle tank.

Copies of the new Armata T-14 medium tank have been rumbling through Moscow this week as the Russian military practices for Saturday's Victory Day parade commemorating the end of World War II in Europe.

News services have distributed several images of the tanks this week. The T-14 was seen in photos last week during parade practice, but those tanks had their turrets covered in canvas.

Along with exposing the tanks during the practices, Russia's Defense Ministry posted images of the Armata and other new armor on its official website under the headline, "Advanced forward-looking military hardware." More than two dozen photographs of the hardware taken during parade practice were also posted on the military's site.

According to the website RT.com, the Armata "is a cutting-edge vehicle with an unmanned turret armed with a brand new 125 mm smoothbore cannon, which is the most powerful gun of its kind to date in terms of muzzle energy."

Russia's TASS news agency reported last year that the tank's crew of two will "operate the gun from an isolated armored capsule."


us.cnn.com/2015/05/05/world/russia-new-tank/index.html

eng.mil.ru/en/multimedia/photo/gallery.htm?id=21804@cmsPhotoGallery


MORE, FROM ARMY TIMES:


www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/05/05/armata-soviet-parade-t14/26915519/

[Sailor]

Interesting. I like the idea of a common chassis for an entire family of vehicles for the same reason given, logistical simplification.

The T-14 is a radical departure from tank design, especially for the normally very conservative Russians ... cutting the crew to just 2 and providing that crew with what should be very good protection. Older tanks like the T72 and later carry their crew of 3 in the same compartment where the main gun ammo is stored. Very few crewmen survive a armor penetrating hit therefore, just ask the Republican Guards at 73 Easting. I have to wonder though how reliable the main gun auto loader will be in action, the older loaders in the T72 family have an annoying tendency to catch an arm of an unwary or unlucky loader and chamber his arm and this one would seem to be a new design paired with the new 125mm main gun.

[tankcommander]

May 6, 2015 15:47:01 GMT -8 Sailor said:

I have to wonder though how reliable the main gun auto loader will be in action.

If there is a malfunction it will probably be a bitch to clear. I don't know what the magazine capacity is, probably not much, and when you have to reload it's gonna' take awhile.

Besides, I've see guys who can load about as fast as an autoloader, anyway.

I had a loader who would snatch a round from the ready rack on the floor, and hold it at arms length above the gun. When the gun fired, and spit out the casing, all he had to do was drop the nose and shove the round home.

But the absolutely worst thing about an autoloader is that unlike a human loader who is low man on the crew totem pole.... An autoloader can't go get coffee!

[Sailor]

Russia's Newest Tank Stops During Parade Rehearsal

MOSCOW — A state-of-the-art Russian tank, which was shown to the public for the first time earlier this month, on Thursday ground to a halt during the final Victory Day rehearsal.

The tank, T-14 Armata, is said to surpass all Western versions because of its remotely controlled cannon and the protection it offers to its crew. The T-14, which replaces the T-72 and T-90, is set to undergo trials next year.

Weaponry was rolling across central Moscow Thursday morning in the dress rehearsal of the military parade on Red Square on May 9 as Russia commemorates the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

One of the eight T-14s suddenly stopped while others drove on. The engine was still rumbling but it wouldn't move. After an attempt to tow it failed, the T-14 rolled away under its own steam about 15 minutes later.

While the tank was stranded on the cobbled Red Square, the presenter commenting over the PA system said it was part of the training to "evacuate weaponry" and had been planned.

The tank's producer insisted that the T-14 did not break down.

Alexei Zharich, deputy general director of the Uralvagonzavod factory, said on Twitter that the military were responsible for the way the rehearsal was held but insisted that the tank "was functioning properly and left on its own power."

www.military.com/daily-news/2015/05/07/russias-newest-tank-stops-during-parade-rehearsal.html

Planned? If I correctly understand what I saw in a video on the evening news either the drive train "lunched" badly or someone triggered the smoke system. Typical Russian workmanship applied to a very complex vehicle. (All together now ...) WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG!