In the units of the Vietnamese People's Army, unusual models of military equipment were used during combat training. For example, enemy armored vehicles were designated samples that only vaguely resemble real tanks.
"Replica"
A conscript of Vietnam People Army inspecting a tank mockup used to simulate enemy armor during exercise. As you all can see, the mockup is built on a motorbike so it could move around. Therefore, the mockup is able to keep up with OPFOR soldiers. pic.twitter.com/WU2zWWIptj
— Lee Ann Quann (@AnnQuann) January 17, 2022
A barrel-shaped non-rotating tower with an antenna and springs depicting outdoor equipment was installed on one of them.
There was one oblong hatch in the roof, in front of which a mock-up of a commander's turret with an imitation of a large-caliber anti-aircraft machine gun was welded.
The cannon was depicted as a short piece of steel pipe with a "muzzle brake". Interestingly, the "tank" moved thanks to the installation on a conventional two-wheeled motorcycle.
On the video that appeared on the Network, the absence of a fuel tank is noticeable. Judging by this fact, the sample is in non-working condition and is kept by the military as a kind of historical relic.
It should be noted that currently the national manufacturers of Vietnam have mastered the production of modern training tools, including computer simulators. For example, for crews of T-54M tanks upgraded at their own defense enterprises. Advanced equipment allows you to effectively work out the work of mechanics-drivers, gunners and commanders.
In order for the fighters to be able to distinguish well between the types of foreign tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, local army craftsmen built full-scale concrete models of the American M1A2 Abrams and M2 Bradley at one of the polygons a few years ago.
Interestingly, in Vietnam in 2020, the world's first monument to the Russian main battle tank T-90S, which is in service with armored units of the ground forces of this Southeast Asian state, appeared.
VPA mock-ups of US M1 Abrams and M2 Bradley. Would be fun to play around in paintball ranges. pic.twitter.com/PI3LjVkWNs
— Lee Ann Quann (@AnnQuann) December 16, 2019
Alexey Moiseev