How our equipment is being finalized during a special operation
The special military operation in Ukraine, as expected, became another war of field handicraftsmen. Armored "sheds" from tanks, sandbags, stones in baskets and "visors" - all this, which was considered mainly an attribute of the Syrian conflict, can now be seen on our cars. Only much further north - in the south and east of Ukraine.
Earlier, we have already talked about how the Russian and Republican military are engaged in the refinement of military equipment in the field. You can read about it here. However, the turn has come to lay out a few more copies of combat creativity, but this time we will not do without factory modifications.
Again protection from the "Javelin" and other "roof-breakers"
Now, of course, the Javelin is hardly mentioned in the information resources, although quite recently there was real hysteria around this anti-tank weapon. In Ukraine, he was almost idolized, even naming children after this missile system. In our country, the situation was just the opposite, when every iron told about the uselessness and inefficiency of the American Spear.
Let's be honest. Although the Javelins in the special operation zone were not knocked out by our tanks in batches, there is still a threat, largely because this ATGM is the first bell that indicates that there will be more and more anti-tank weapons with homing heads in the armies of the world and more. This means that our machines still need means to counter this threat.
In the meantime, the Russian and republican military are trying to solve this problem with their own methods - "visors" on equipment. The value of these products in terms of protection against the Javelin is doubtful, and there will be too many problems in operation in terms of the convenience of loading and unloading ammunition, aiming a heavy machine gun, visibility, and other things. But against "roof-piercing" submunitions of cluster shells, mines, and even high-explosive fragmentation shells, in some cases it can completely save.
Tank T-90M with the very "peak" from attacking ammunition from above. This design is not as high quality as we would like. Here the question is how not to demolish it against some obstacle. A boar's head and other paraphernalia is included.
At first glance, it may seem that the "visor" of this T-72B3 is made in the form of a fungus for a children's sandbox, but no. Behind its inclined part there is a large horizontal surface, which, as we see, was adapted for the transportation of various belongings. The design, by the way, is made very capitally and far from being in the field.
Not so long ago, the Belarusian defense industry also pleased with the additional armor of the T-72. Quite a bit and could compete with the Syrian giant "armored sheds". There is a "peak" from the projectiles attacking from above, and the total overlap of the side and rear projections of the tank with lattice screens designed to neutralize anti-tank grenades of the PG-7 type. Special attention deserves the "stove" in the form of a metal cylinder suspended on a steel pipe at the rear of the car. As planned, the fire in it, apparently, should confuse the Javelin's homing head. But only by idea
By the way, there is also such an option, where there are two "stoves" at once.
We also have this option. Here the "heater" is already attached to the pipe from the kit for underwater driving of the tank.Dynamic protection
We will not tire of repeating a simple truth: dynamic protection will not be useful everywhere. Here, even such an expression as “one heals, and the other cripples” is even appropriate.
As for tanks, they really need reactive armor. There is no doubt that standard dynamic protection kits do not cover all the vulnerable areas of combat vehicles of this class, so handicraft in this matter is beneficial. Let's look at a few examples below.
An example of the correct re-installation of dynamic protection on the T-72B1. Additional blocks of "Contact" cover the weakened zones, including those on the sides of the gun closer to the roof of the tower. Also, the blocks are installed instead of an infrared searchlight and in the side projection of the tower on a welded structure.
A tank does not have much dynamic protection. In this case, the “seventy-two” is equipped with additional onboard blocks of the Kontakt-5 DZ in order to cover the maximum possible area of the onboard projection. Recall that according to the state, only 3 blocks are required for each side.
Now you can look at the factory modifications. New batches of T-72B3 have already begun to receive an extended set of DZ. It includes blocks of "Contact" closer to the breech of the gun. The T-90M also received a similar improvement. In addition, the T-72B3 is equipped with dynamic protection units on the "wings" above the guide wheels. The zone there is really vulnerable, since there is virtually unhindered access to the undercarriage and sides of the tank for cumulative ammunition.
Another photo of the updated T-72B3 with additional dynamic protection, but from a different angle.
But tank dynamic protection is strictly contraindicated for light vehicles, and there are two reasons for this.
Firstly, the detonation of the DZ block, together with a projectile blown up on its surface, will simply break through the thin armor of some armored personnel carrier or infantry fighting vehicle, which is fraught with damage to the paratroopers and crew inside by secondary fragments and a shock wave.
Secondly, even the most modern dynamic protection is not capable of completely neutralizing the cumulative stream of powerful ammunition. In any case, behind it, in the armor, there will be a hole, and of considerable depth. And this is for a tank, and for light vehicles it will be through.
BTR-82A with dynamic protection. Inefficient and even dangerous. However, often the blocks are fixed empty as additional screens.
In the case of a KShM equipped with dynamic protection, the comments are the same.
Shielding technique
The topic of screening, in principle, does not raise any questions. Even during the Great Patriotic War, the crews of tanks and other equipment tried to increase the security of their vehicles by installing sandbags, mesh screens and other handicraft or conditionally factory products on them. Over time, nothing has changed: steel sheets, gratings and other elements regularly glow in the zone of a special military operation in Ukraine.
Consider a few examples.
Tank T-80BV with total screening of side, stern and even frontal projections. The screens, if anything, are not lattice, since for this the slats must be horizontal and be of minimum thickness. Thus, the probability of a PG-7 grenade getting between them increases, followed by deformation of the cumulative funnel and / or the complete impossibility of detonating the ammunition. Here, these "ribs" are set at an angle almost vertically. In general, an initiating screen is obtained, which undermines the projectile at a distance from the armor. In the frontal projection, taking into account dynamic protection, it can still help, but in the side and stern it is unlikely.
The same T-80BV from a different angle.
Wheeled vehicles, especially trucks, also need additional protection. Here, for example, "Ural" with a proper name "Pig cutter". The cab of the vehicle is partially sheathed in steel sheets to give at least some resistance to bullet fire.
The same "Ural" from a different angle.
We need additional protection and armored cars. In the photo, "Tiger" with handicraft steel screens on a machine gun mount and windshields. They also increased the security of the chassis, which can be seen from the presence of screens in front of the wheels.
Here, what is called a combo. "KamAZ" is sheathed with steel sheets to provide bulletproof protection, and an anti-aircraft gun ZU-23-2 is installed in the back. As for whether the skin will save from shelling, it’s impossible to say for sure, but in terms of firepower, the dumbbell is impressive.
Other revisions
Indeed, field, although in this case not only field, improvements in technology are not limited solely to increasing security. They put additional weapons, observation systems and even develop new machines. The latter just refers to the Chekan armored combat vehicle, which has already become the hallmark of Wagner PMC. It seems to be impossible to classify it as a regular one for the Russian Armed Forces, but it has been fighting for a long time, and not only in the NWO. A personal armored car for a private army is obtained.
The same "Chekan" from Wagner. This is not a handicraft, but not a regular unit for the Russian troops. Let it be in this material. There is no intelligible information about this armored car, but its armor is very worthy. Of the advantages also: a very spacious troop compartment, all-round visibility with the help of cameras, well, a combat module of 12,7-mm and 7,62-mm machine guns is present. There are some suggestions that the Chekana sighting system also has a thermal imaging camera.
Another "Chekan" from a different angle.
Armored personnel carriers require more armor-piercing means than the available regular ones, because they are often used in almost the same way as infantry fighting vehicles. Well, here is one of the modifications trying to meet the requirements. BTR-82A with Fagot anti-tank missile system.
Another car with far from artisanal refinement. BMP-3 with a retractable mast, on which an observation module with a camera is located. In addition to it, as indicated in the sources, the staff of the machine includes a reconnaissance drone, which complements the technical vision of this product.
Another angle of the BMP-3 with a mast
Conclusions
Today we saw a few more examples of how our equipment is being modernized in the fields and in the factory. And here we can draw two conclusions.
First. All these modifications, if we are talking about field ones, are made for a reason. Not because the fighters and repairmen have nothing to do. This is the desire to provide themselves with protection and, if possible, improve the combat effectiveness of machines in order to survive. Yes, it doesn’t always turn out well, sometimes it’s useless, but this is a natural desire. And our top military officials, as well as tank builders, it's time to listen to this. In practice, many things are revealed that can be fixed with fully functioning systems and reinforced armor. We have everything for this.
Second. As for the factory improvements, here, as they say, respect and respect. There is a reaction to the changing situation, and this is good.
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