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Soviet Tank Gallery

The following Photographs and information have been donated by Battlefrontmodels Customers over the years they range from basic to customised RC tanks and vehicles to heavily modified models.

All images and data are copyright to the Members and BFM

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SOVIET ARMS AND TANK DESIGN

In Russia up to the point of the Russian revolution and the removal of the Tsar starting in 1914 the Soviets did not have the manufacturing capabilities of the Western nations especially France, Great Britain and the USA.

They were really in the 'Stone Age' of manufacturing and woulld not be pushed into the 20th Century until the Bolshevic's took power in 1917.

The Tsar purchased 99% of all modern arms from other nations, from Hand weapons, Aircraft, Tanks and Artillery pieces.

They did however play about with some pretty strange tanks including the Tsar Tank plus armoured cars and armoured trains as the Soviet union has a very large land mass.

They purchased the British MK VIII tanks as a stop gap against the Bolshevic's (who later developed the communistic view of democracy) it was not until the 1920's that Russia started there own tank design bureau to develope a more modern tank helped by the Germans who at that time had a non aggression pact treaty with the Soviets.

The Germans got there idea's from Britain who were trying to develope new tanks but had no real idea how to field them.

But the German army soon showed us how to do it with the new Blitzkrieg technique's of modern warfare.

As we all know the Germans who developed there own designs under secrecy and forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles which was signed to end the First World War in 1918.

Above: The Tsar Tank or the 'Labedenko' model'

quite an unusual tank in design but at the time they were only desining for there own problems of warfare.

The British Mk VIII (MK 8) or Liberty Tank -Sold to Tsarist Russia as a stop-gap. This tank was highly developed by the end of WW1 with many re designs through combat experiences.

Also the Vickers A1E1 'Independant' (Right) type of Tank was developed for export sale from 1919 - 1934 but was abandoned in 1936

Tzarist stop-gap Armoured Cars, cheaper and at the time ideal for the conflict of that time.

Single Click on Images to Expand

Above: Two Tzarist Armoured Trains for protection of troops and goods being carried long distances and large areas of the Soviet Union, and also used as mobile artillery.

Now the Tzar has gone from history and Russia is now the 'Russian Communist Party' started by Lenin. In 1918 the country was run by Joseph Stalin (known by the Allies as Uncle Joe) siezing power quickly he starts the ''Five Year Plan'' to bring the Bolshevik State into the 20th Century by extreme measures with the use of secret police NKVD and later on from 1952 the KGB.

Factories of all types are to be made from scratch steel smelting to arms and machine tools of all types or as Stalin said 'Guns before Butter'

His own people would starve or be imprisoned if he did not get his way and many did, (see Gulags) it was necessary but five years was too quick, but needed at that time as Russia was weak and vunerable to outside pressures and possible invasion.

During the internal Russian Civil War of 1918 - 1920 equipment was made in the Nizhny Novgorod Machine factory built armoured trains, armoured carriages, and weapons for the Volga Military Flotilla.

In 1920 this factory re manufactured 14 French Renault FT tanks for the Red Army.

Stalin looked at all countries for Tank Design Britain France and the USA

a designer located in the USA called J. Walter Christie developed a unique suspension system for tanks with rubber lined track wheels, revolutionary for the time, but this was rejected by the US Army.

They assembled a NEW copy of this small tank and named them the ''Freedom Fighter Lenin'' Tank.

Basically the Army did not like change as they were still in the Cavalry Era and run by Generals with 1880's idealogy.

ABOVE: Is an early Christie design with tracks that could be removed easily for running at high speed on asphalt roads or for speedy flat-car rail loading.

This tank was revolutionary and extremely Light and Fast.

After many trials called for by the US and many changes of design to try and placate the US Goverment and US Army Staff, they still did not like it.

Basicly the US Army did not like change and the Generals were still locked into the Horse Cavalry'

So Christie sold the manufacturing Licence to the Russians.

Single Click on Images to Expand

ABOVE: Is the Soviet BT2 Tank of 1932

Looks very like the Christie Tank to me?

Above: is the T18 Light Tank a first go at Tank manufacture from 1928 - 1932 by the Soviet factories, sometimes called the MS -1.

Heavily based upon the French Renault FT ...Below.

Also manufactured was the Austin Armoured Car 3rd. Series and used by the Don Cossak Forces in 1919.

Coat of Arms of the Don Cossacks, RIGHT.

French Renault FT

Soviet BT 5 .. based upon the BT Series a 'Christie Design' manufactured from 1932 - 1940 approx.

A Medium Lightly Armoured and Gunned Tank but very fast on the Battlefield.

And looking like a very early T34 !

DID YOU KNOW

In WW1 tanks first appeared at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916. It was the first time tanks had ever been used in a Military conflict.

The British sent in only 49 tanks.

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DID YOU KNOW

The British WW1 Tanks could only travel at 4 miles per hour.

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DID YOU KNOW

By 1918 (end of WW1) both Britain and France produced 6,506 Tanks between them.

Germany had only produced 20.

DID YOU KNOW

The Germans learnt to deal with Tanks very effectivly in the First War.

During the Battle of Amiens in 1918 , 72% of British Tanks were destroyed in the first 4 days.

The BT Series of Soviet tanks in turn influenced the British 'Cruiser' design series A13, Cruiser Mk4 and Crusader Tanks.

The Soviets copied from the French the art of casting Turrets in one piece and eventually entire tank hulls. This led the way to stream lining mass production by reducing time gas welding joints, this led later to the mass production of the famous T34.

A tank design agency was set up at the Karkov Locomotive Factory KhPz in Karkov Soviet Ukraine in 1928 producing the T19 (see photo below) which was also based upon the FT Tank, the project was renamed T24 work was completed fixing problems with the Transmission and Fuel system.

Initial trials found performance satisfactory although the prototypes engine caught fire, and the turret had to be transferred to a T12 for testing only.

The T24s were initilly only armed with Machine Guns but later received 45 mm guns later that year only 24 were built that year.

Although the T24 was the first tank design out of the Locomotive Factory KhPZ it was found unreliable and only used for training and parades.

Soviet BT -19

Soviet BT -24

Soviet T -26

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STALIN RIBBENTROP AGREEMENT

As mentioned earlier Germany and Russia signed a non aggression pact signed in Aug 23rd.1938 by Ribbentrop and Stalin and was planned to last for 10 years.

This agreement was terminated in 1941.

Germany would give technical help on all area's but especially in the design of tanks, but wanted absolute secret training bases in Russia away from the knowledge of the Allies, who Germany agreed after the First World War with the Allies (Treaty of Versailles) to limit there army.

These tank training and proving grounds in Kazan, Soviet Union were used by the Germans from 1938 to 1941, also developed there were secret aircraft training schools.

But Hitler knew all along years befoore that he would break this agrement and eventually invade Russia, perhaps at the time Hitler used the moment to spy on Russia via aircraft movements and pre map out his forth coming campaign.

Between say the 1930's and 40's many interesting Tank designs came out of Russia, you could say they were on a rapid desin railroad compared to the 1920's with a backward nation with little or no modern industry.

Above is the Kh-T26 Flame Thrower Tank as you can see it is similar to the BT2 tank of 1932.

Many versions of the T26 series of Tanks were made from this model more than 50 types from Flame Throwers to tracked Troop Carriers Amphibious Tanks and Artillery.

The Soviets looked all over the world for inivative tank designs to almost copy or aquire licences to manufacture.

Up to WW2 from the 30's to the 40's the Soviets raced to develope a sound industrial fabric and a secure Army and Airforce.. just in case.

ABOVE: Kh -B26 Flame Thrower

Many Tanks were tested in the Finnish - Soviet war of 1938

This Soviet Tank was destroyed by Finnish Troops with a Satchel Charge. The Soviets used large numbers of tanks and artillery as well as trucks in the dense and winter Finnish Forests, but the Finns were very adept at Winter Warfare dealing with the Russians with manpower alone they fought them to a stalemate.

ABOVE: A Finnish Satchel Charge.

ABOVE: Production of the T28

ABOVE: The Soviet T28 Medium Tank was the first mass produced modern medium Tank

ABOVE: The Soviet T35 Medium Tank bristling with fire power for its time.

ABOVE: The Soviet T37 - A Light Amphibious Tank. Kubinka Tank Museum Russia,

This tank was revolutionary for its time even the Germans were late fitting snorkels to there Pz, III's.

ABOVE: The Soviet's even developed the ''Flying Tank'' not literaly but the means to transport tracked armour to the Battlefield quickly.

BELOW: The Soviet's purchased some 20 British Designed Carden-Lloyd 'Tankettes' and eventually produced them to replace the French Renault FT to be used as a small tracked recon vehicle, the Soviet's calling it the K25 and also bought licences.

This one is shown in a Swedish Museum.

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Carden-Lloyd 'Tankettes' came about by Major Giffard LeQuensne - Martell a Military Engineer and Tank strategist.

He built a one man tank in his garage from various parts and showed it to the War Office in the 1920's, Carden - Loyd Tractors Ltd., produced there own version closely based on the origonal design.

The Firm Founded by Sir John Carden and Vivian Loyd was later purchesed by Vickers Armstrong, they also produced a two man version which became more popular.. as it's pretty lonely detail doing recon on your own!

Both types of one and two man 'Tankettes' were produced for world wide sale, these designs later became the Bren Gun Carrier type of tracked vehicle, serving trough the second World War with jobs including carrying Machine Guns, Mortars, fast reco, and replenishment of ammunition items, food etc also wounded troops, a truly a 'Universal Carrier'

Above Left: Is the British Universal Bren Gun Carrier, and Above Right: is the Polish TKS 'Tankette' 575 of the Polish version were built between 1931 and 1939.

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The Bren Gun Carrier was supplied to Russia under the Lend Lease Act of 1940 which helped other nations with equipment in WW2 including the UK.

This Lend Lease aggrement devised by the USA to also protect themselves from invasion by a foreign power and was not free, we had to pay every penny (Dollar) back to them for these Tanks, planes and all war goods includin ships and food. We borrowed $4,3 million Dollars from the USA.

In 1945 Canada also agreed to Lend Britain $1.2 million dollars because we were bankrupt.

The Final payment was paid back to all lenders in 2006

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TKS

Soviet - Japanese Border Conflicts

From 1935 to 1939 over the border in Manchoria gave the Soviets chance to practice there tactics with there armoured forces, which would prove useful in the coming war with the Germans.

General Georgy Zhukov deployed approx 50,000 Soviet and Mongolian troops of the 57th special tank corps.

Once the Japanese were pinned down by the central tank units Zhukov tanks swept around the flanks to achieve a pincer movement and attacked the Japanese in the Rear.

He achieved a classic envelopement traping the Japanese 23rd Division this battle ended up destroying all Japanese forces.

Zhukov would use this tactic again and again in WW2

STALIN'S PURGES

By 1935 the Soviet Union possessed more armoured vehicles and more tank units than the rest of the World combined.

But from 1937 to 1941 the Red Armys office corps and Armoured Design Bureaux plus the leadership of the factories were to suffer Stalins Purge.

Approximately 54.000 officers were repressed military vehicle knowledge was in a state of stagnation and armoured vehicle production dropped drastically. (although still remaining the worlds largest tank army).

Training and Battle readiness dropped to very low levels this repression carried on until the eve of the attack upon Russia.

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Crest of the Soviet 57th. Special Tank Corps

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Soviet BT-7 Tank Crossing The Khalkhyn Gol River.

BT-7 Tank with Mounted Infantry Gol River

Soviet BT-7 Tank with Troop protection Gol River

ABOVE: Soviet BT-7M with No-Tracks running on Drive Wheels only on the road, a unique Christie Design feature.

Looks similar to the later British A13 Tank, 'Cruiser Mk4' and 'Crusader' series of Tanks.

Also perhaps the later T34 to come!

When the Soviets entered the Winter War with Finland the SMK and KV1 third design TOP LEFT or (T 100) were sent for snow Battle testing, the KV was resistant to the Finnish Anti Tank weapons making it more effective than other designs.

Both the KV 76mm Gun and KV2 TOP RIGHT with the 152mm Howitzer gun were put into immediate production, they also committed to battle the amphibious T38 scout tank which was the T37 based upon the French AMR 33 light tank.

ABOVE

LEFT: The T-37 Amphibious Tank, CENTRE: the T-38A Amphibious Tank and RIGHT: AMR33 French Renault Recon.Tank

Ford produced a similar Amphfibious vehicle based on the Jeep called a 'SEEP' in 12 months they produced nearly 13,000

ABOVE: Ford Design 'SEEP' Amphibious Vehicle.

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Up Close with a T50 Soviet Tank and Crew.

Four Soviet Tanks

'From Left to Right'

A8 (BT 7M), A20, T-34 model 1940 and T-34 model 1941

Soviet T-34 Tank - 1940

The origonal T-34 model 1940 'Queen of the Battlefield' recognised by the low slung barrel of the L-11 Gun, below a bulge in the mantlet housing the recoil mechanism. This pre production prototype known as the (A-34) has a single piece complex

hull front.

BELOW: A T-34 damaged at the Battle of Prokhorovka being inspected by a German Soldier. 1943

Damaged T34 at the battle of Prodhorokva

BELOW: Turret of the T 34/85 showing commander's all round vision hatch introduced part way through production model T 34 of 1943.

ABOVE: Left T44 - 85 prototype during trials.. note: they have no splash boards.

Right: Second Generation prototype seen at the NIBT proving grounds near Kubrinka 1944.

Notice how these model design's are looking similar to the comingdesigns of the T54 and T55 Series of Tanks

DID YOU KNOW

The ''Object 269'' was a Soviet Tank designed in 1959 that could survive a Nuclear explosion

DID YOU KNOW

Six days before the end of WW1 the British Tank Corps only had 8 tanks left.

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ABOVE: Classic photo of T34 Tanks with Troop Support riding on top, near Odessa during the Liberation of the Ukraine.

BELOW: A Close up!

LEFT: Is a T44 - 122 Prototype during comparative trials against a captured German Panther RIGHT.

ABOVE:

T34 Destroyed at the battle of Prokhorovka 1943 being inspected by a German Soldier.

BELOW

A Soviet Churchill under Lend Lease passing a knocked out SD.Kfz 232 (8 - RAD) German armoured car at the Fourth Battle of Kharkov 1943

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ABOVE

A Damaged Soviet Lend Lease Churchill MK IV with is Left Track Missing, being passed by a German hhalk track Car 1943

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The Red Army in Bucharest with British Supplied Universal Carrier

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A British Lend Lease Churchill Tank leaving the Factory destined for the Red Army about 1942

ABOVE

Valentine MK III in the Soviet Union knocked out by the Germans in the Winter War, January 1944.

BELOW

Are Soviet M4 A2s USA (Lend Lease) Tanks Lined up in the Czech city of BRNO

Note the Old Russian Truck on the Right.

UNDER LEND LEASE PLANS

Under Lend Lease plans the first 4,102mm M4A2 medium tanks were sent to the Soviet Union. Of these 2,007 wer mounted with the 75mm main gun, and 2.095 with the more capable 76mm gun.

The total number of Sherman tanks supplied to the Russians under lend lease was 18.6% of all Shermans suplied under Lend Lease.

The later M4A2 DIESEL Shermans started to arrive in late summer 1944. By 1945 the Soviet army now standardised to depend upon Shermans rather than T34's, the Soviet tank crews like the Shermans as they were reliable and easy to service, and general good firepower of th 76mm gun.

Also the tank was equiped with an Auxillary power unit (APU) to keep the main batteries charged not like the T34 which they had to run the main engine to do the same.

The Russians Under Lend Lease agreement had to pay for all this equipment from the origonal Allied supplier in Gold Bullion, (as we had to pay the USA) ,after the second world war and during the Cold War the Soviets passed on some of the equipment still in good order to the Middle East and Cuba to mention a few countries that needed them and were in conflict with each other after the 1950's.

This also offset the cost of WW2 and gave the Soviets cash to develope new Tanks and Aircraft.

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BELOW

A Soviet T34 -85 supplied to Korea in 1950 trapped on a damaged bridge South of Suwan, it was attacked by US aircraft.

THE KOREAN WAR 1950

Initially the North Korean Army dominated the Battlefield with Russian supplied T34 -85 tanks (Communists selling to Communists) the M24 Light Chaffee Tanks sent from Japan to support the South Korean army were no match against the T34's.

The KPA (North Korean Army) stood oposite the ROK's (South Korean Army) which was tankless (apart from a few Chaffee's) and only armed with some 60mm bazooka's and these proved inefective agains the T34 -85.

The North Koreans pushed aside the South's troops at the border even though the southern troops used 91 Howitzers and HEAT shells to try and repel the North, but they lost all 19 Howitzers. and pushed on by regardless.

At the battle of Osan on July 5th 1950 the Americans put up a front called 'Task Force Smith' but they were swept away by the superior forces of the KPA.

Next was the battle of Taejon supported by 50 T34-85 tanks and North Korean soldiers using the swarm tactics of the Chinese.

The Americans fell back again to the Pusan Perimeter, it was rumoured that the defeats were so bad that Douglas MacArthur wanted to use a Nuclear Device to holt them.

The Pusan area became the main airhead supply area until the Inchon landings. Some luck was at hand the Tank battles were not like the Euopean War, Korea is either forest or mountain with poor roads so luckily tanks were only good enough only for infantry support.

Countering the initial imbalance the UN supported the War by sending in M4 Sherman- M26 Pershing- M46 Patten plus Sherman- Cromwell and Centurian Tanks. This halted the North and an agreement was signed split the north and south at the 38th Parallel signed in 1950, which still stands today 69 years after.

Technically North and South Korea are still at War and the UN (USA) are still in South Korea to this day as a military backup.

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Cromwell Mk III Cruiser

Centurian Production from 1945 - 1960

M-46 Patton

M4 Sherman

M26 Pershing

BELOW: The Five Tanks supplied on the orders of the United Nations to help counter the North Korean's advance.

ABOVE:

North Korean T34 - 85s Destroyed at Waeghan by Heavy US Bombers.

VIETNAM WAR

A Brief Synopsis from BFM

Vietnam was once 'French Indochina' provencies captured by France which included Laos and Cambodia after the Franco- Siamese war of 1865.

The Communists Vietnames from the North started Guerilla actions against the French in 1955 to unify the country into a communist state with the aid from other countries China and Russia who both supplied equipment.

The Franco-Vietnames government had little equipment to fight this war, ony light tanks at that time. Once supplied with Russian Tanks such as the T34 - 85 things became overwhelming for the now South Vietmans government. the French were pushed out and in 1965 the US offered help to stem the Communist flow.

It was considered only a Policing conflict and not a War by the USA, unfortunately it did become a War but still under the name of a Policing help gesture to stabilise the country. This may have been worded to please the UN, I don't really know you would have to ask an historian.

The NVA were supplied with PT-76 and T54 and T55 Tanks and e NVA's first battle was of Lang Vei Special forces camp with 24 US troops and 500 irregulars.

This attack was on 6th and 7th February 1968, these forces had little equipment to fight them off only having only LAW 66mm anti tank weapons.

They asked the base at Khe Sanh for fire suport but they were too far away.. this base at Lang Vei was abandoned and some troops air lifted away in the nick of time.

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ABOVE:

An NVA (North Communist Vietnamese) PT - 76 Light Tank destroyed by a M48 Patton After the NVA crews were seen washing the Tank were observed by a US Recon plane near the Ben Hai River by the DMZ (demilitarised zone) on the 17th Parrallel.

Three rounds were fired by the M26 and the last one disabled the Vehicle, all the crew ran off.

Elements of The NVA with support of 300,000 chinese troops attacked over the DMZ into 30.000 only PAVN US supported troops, as well as Soviet tanks the NVA had the ZSU 57 - 2 Track mounted mobile anti aircraft Tank.

ABOVE Soviet ZSU track mounted anti aircraft vehicle.

Developements of the AH 1 Cobra Helicopter Gun-ship in April 24 1972 were fitted with the new M26 TOW anti armour rockets, they were to play a strong part in denying the NVA from just using there mass Tank columns openly.

Developed by Bell Helicopters and the Hughes Corporation these Tube launched optical operated wire guided rockets were very efficient at dealing with mass Tank operations by the NVA.

Above: Early Version of the Bell - Hughes colaberation AH 1 Gunship fitted with TOW Rockets as used in Vietnam, mother to the newer Apache Gunships developed used in wars from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The War dragged on with insurgency NVA troops secretly moving into South Vietnam (see Tet Offensive) from the North and Laos border, it was all a matter of time until a Tank of the North Vietnamese bulldozed down the gates of the Presidents palace oat 10.45 on the 30th April 1975 ending the Vietnam war.

Now as usual all is OK and the Communist state of Vietnam is recognised by the UN and USA and both do business together.

MIDDLE EAST CONFLICTS

A brief Synopsis

The Six day war with Israel and the Arab armies of Syria, Egypt,Jordan and Iraq in 1967 was a quick war the Israeli peoples were squeezed into War by the Arabs ... so the Israeli forces struck first, within 24 hours the airforces of the Arabs were liquidated. Israeli had air supremacy every working part time Pilot and Soldier were briefed in secret of there targets.. Pilots and alike just left there day to day jobs and climbed into a Fighter plane and took off to there target locations.

After six days it was all over quick and clean with supreme planning they took control of the Golan Heights a plateau (Known simply as the Golan) over looking Israel where they suffered many incidents of aggression and aggrivation by the Syrians for many years, firing rockets and sniping farm steads along the border.

Israel took the Golan and kept it after the war only being recognised by the US as there won land.

The Israeli only had 800 tanks much supplied by the USA, the Arabs ' Iraq ' alone had over 2504 tans

Israel has one of the words finest intelligent agencies in the world Mossad along with the USA (CIA) and Great Britains (MI6), Mossad it responcible for counter terrorism and covert operations world wide.

Eli Cohen and Egyptian born Jew was recruted by the Israeli's in 1961 and was placed into the Syrian Army of Affairs and soon rose to the top being an adviser to the Syrian Chief of defence.

He advise that hidden artillery pieces on the Golan Heights were possibly better hidden if they were planted all around the bunkers with shrubs and trees.

This of course in a barren landscape made the positions easy targets for the Israeli combat airforce to destroy.. just shoot at the bushes!

In 1965 he was caught by the Syrians and hanged in 1965 for espionage, only his watch was recovered and the Syrians still to this day refuse to give his body back.

Above LEFT: A Syrian T34 Conversion

Note the bushes growing from the Track Wheels.

Above RIGHT: Egyptian T55 - 56 Tanks with enlarged Turret and Glasis which leaves the tank vunerable to the HEAT rocket munitions.

"Come Let Me Show You Where The Iron Crosses Grow"

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Shown below is the T90 Main Battle Tank is a third generation and entered service in 1993. This tank is a modern Variation of the T-72B and incorporates many features found on the T-80U.

Origonally called the T-72BU, but later renamed the T-90it an advanced modern tank still in service with Russian ground forces and there Naval infantry. This has been the backbone of Soviet Tank arsenal for the last 26 years with many other slight variants.

It is now being superseded by the T90M and T90S with the implementation of Shtora-1 and Arena defensive systems with infrared anti missile disruption systems.

Below is the T-14 Armata the next generation Medium Soviet Battle Tank based upon the Armata universal Combat platform the first series produced next generation. Having only a three persom crew the Russian Army initially planned to aquire 2,300 of the T-14s between 2015 and 2020.

I suppose this model is already obsolete as another design is still on the drawing board but who knows.

Soviet T-14 Armata

Soviet T-90 Main Battle Tank

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Single Click on Images to Expand

The T-14 main gun has an unmanned turret mounting a 125mm 2A82-M1 smooth-bore gun fed by an automatic loader the turret hold a total of 45 rounds of ammunition, including ready to use mixed ammunitions. This main gun can also fire laser guided missles.

This smoothbore is a gun similar to German & US modern tank cannons and is capable of firing all standard ammunition including ATGM and giving it the firing range of 8 km.

The Russian media reports that a new armour piercing fin-stabilised discarding-sabot (APFSDS) round called Vacuum-1 is being developed for the T-14 and also a new HE-FRAG called 'Telnik' plus a new 3UBK21 'Sprinter' ATGM round.

The T-90 will probably go to second line service when tha Armata is fully online or sold off to foreign buyers or smaller countries in the Soviet block.

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MODERN RUSSIAN TANKS