Tank under the "crinoline"
Not a bad attempt to maintain fighting qualities tank under anti-drone protection, but not completed
To protect tanks from FPV-drones what they don't do. There are dozens of examples and varieties of the most diverse "barbecues". Factory-made "barbecues" have appeared, which, in general, can be considered a positive phenomenon.
However, it is easy to notice that "mangals" are generally divided into two types. The first type - providing limited and rather conditional protection mainly of the tower and hatches on it. Historically, this is the first type of "mangal", if we do not go into a detailed study stories of this type of equipment. Let's leave this topic to the "riveters".
A good example of a limitedly protected tank.
The second type is one that claims to fully protect a tank, such as a "tank-barn", but at the same time sharply worsens the combat qualities of the vehicle. A tank enclosed by a "barn" may acquire some protection from a drone, but at the same time it ceases to be a tank, turning into an improvised self-propelled gun.
I understand everything, but this can no longer be called a tank.
All this folk-industrial creativity bears the clear stamp of an inability to invent, which stems from the contempt that exists among our people for theorists, inventors and dreamers.
Okay, but how should it be? I'll dare to put forward my version.
Requirements
We need to start with demands.
First, the tank must retain all of its combat capabilities under protection, in particular the ability to rotate the turret and elevate the gun. The tank must also retain its mobility, which means that the weight of the structure must not be excessive.
Second: the protection must provide all-round coverage of the tank, not excluding the tracks and the lower part of the hull, because it is not uncommon for tanks to be hit in this place. If a drone can easily hit the rear plate and hit the engine, then the "grill" on the turret becomes almost useless.
Third: the protection must provide free access to the tank’s components and be easy to remove, since repairs and maintenance have not been cancelled.
Fourth: protection, if possible, should not hinder the embarkation and disembarkation of the crew.
Finally, fifth: protection must to a certain extent be combined with a dynamic protection system, because ATGMs have not disappeared from the battlefield.
If you look at the “barbecue construction” from the point of view of these, in general, obvious requirements, it becomes clear that, perhaps, not a single “barbecue” fits them.
From ideal to solution
The immortal and true teaching of the cunning Baku Jew Genrikh Altshuller - the theory of solving inventive problems - says that first you need to formulate an ideal solution, and then find something technically feasible to match it.
The ideal solution is a hemisphere of mesh or wire that completely covers the tank, protruding beyond its dimensions in such a way that the tank's hull can freely rotate inside without touching this hemisphere.
When you have an ideal in front of your eyes, it is not difficult to develop something that can be made of metal. As a prototype of the design, I took a now forgotten element of women's equipment called "crinoline". These are several thin and light steel hoops that support and shape the skirt from the inside.
It would be worthwhile to get acquainted with the prototype. The hoops create a light and flexible, but at the same time very durable structure
And no need to laugh, “crinoline” will be very useful for a tank too.
In order for the mesh protection to acquire a shape close to hemispherical, at least two hoops, bent from steel tubes, are needed. One is of a smaller diameter, which is rigidly attached above the turret with the help of racks, at a height that allows tankers to climb into the hatches. Above it, slightly curved upward cross-shaped crossbars are installed, forming the frame of the upper dome.
The second one is of a larger diameter, which forms the outer contour of protection. It is suspended from the first hoop on cables. From the second hoop, which is installed at approximately the height of a tank gun, cables are sent down, the length of which should be such that they touch the ground.
For illustration purposes, here is a rough diagram of how it should look. The drawing is not detailed and not complete, without full shading, but I think it is clear what is meant: 1 - tubes, 2 - cables, 3 - mesh
The peculiarity of the second hoop is that it has a slot for a tank gun, and the ends of this slot are secured with cables to the first, upper hoop.
Next, the panels of chain-link mesh, quite small, are attached to this frame of hoops and cables. The panels should be standard in size if possible and should be attached to rings specially welded to the hoops and arcs using clamps on bolts. This is so that if the panel is damaged, it can be easily removed and replaced with a new one.
And a couple more features. Firstly, one or two side panels of the net are left unfastened on the sides, to the hanging cables, so that the crew can throw them back and crawl to the hatches on the tower. This is also necessary when loading ammunition. Secondly, a ring for a crane hook should be installed on the very top crossbar of the dome, so that during repairs or long-term maintenance, all the protection can be unscrewed (for which the fastenings of the support posts of the first, upper, hoop must be made removable) and removed with a crane, and then put back in place.
I did not develop exact dimensions, because here it will be necessary to try out the design with the crew, so that the protection does not interfere with them performing combat and technical tasks. In principle, a tank factory can develop similar designs for all types of tanks in a couple of weeks and put them into production.
What can be done about this?
The tactical and technical advantages are as follows.
Since the entire structure is mounted on the turret, the tank can move and freely rotate the turret in any direction, while remaining protected. A slot in the second, lower hoop allows the tank to freely raise and lower the gun.
The structure is mesh, which does not interfere with the operation of observation and aiming devices. Moreover, additional observation cameras can be installed and secured on the upper elements of the structure, if necessary.
The mesh design is also compatible with dynamic protection. Most likely, an explosion of a dynamic protection element will damage the mesh or the structure itself, but this has to be accepted. As for the active protection system, such as "Arena", additional fittings will be required; it is possible to provide slits in the mesh, fixed with rigid rings at the edges, for the operation of this system.
In general, under such a "crinoline" the tank is protected to ground level. But since the entire lower part, below the second hoop, is flexible, consists of cables and mesh, then if necessary it can be folded up a little, just like a skirt, and secured with wire ties. For example, in muddy conditions, deep mud or in urban battles, so as not to catch or drag any trash.
The hemispherical shape of the protection allows the tank to be additionally camouflaged, both from the outside, with a camouflage net or branches, and from the inside with heat shields, which reduce the tank's visibility in a thermal imager. The tank can be completely covered with heat shields, and even a heat shield can be made for the gun, you just need to leave slots for observation and aiming devices. Well, yes, you will get a self-propelled yurt, but what to do now?
Finally, damage to such a structure is easily repaired by the crew or a field repair base. The main thing is to have a supply of netting, cables, tubes for hoops, and fasteners.
Moreover, this design is quite amenable to improvement and modernization. For example, you can install a net with a smaller cell or even a chainmail net. If necessary, it is not so difficult to add a second layer of net. Additional mesh screens can be installed inside the sphere, for example, additionally protecting the turret or the rear part of the tank.
Information