Izvestia visited the repair base of heavy armored vehicles of the 1st Army CorpsActive battles in the zone of a special military operation place special requirements on the restoration of combat vehicles — this must be done quickly, efficiently, focusing on a variety of tank models — both their own and captured.
Correspondents of Izvestia visited the repair base of heavy armored vehicles organized in the 1st Slavic Brigade of the 1st Army Corps. Which tanks showed themselves best during their own, how damaged equipment is repaired and why captured combat vehicles are tuned — in our report.
Front-end tuning
The variety of combat vehicles of different years and models imposes special requirements on repairmen — they need to thoroughly know many models of tanks, constantly work with literature. In the most difficult cases, they resort to the help of the Internet.
— In civilian specialties, I was a driver, a mechanic, a repairman, a welder, a drilling foreman. So I'm on "you" with the equipment," a serviceman of the repair base of the 1st Army Corps with the call sign "Karel" tells Izvestia.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
Those who have military experience and technical knowledge are recruited to this unit, and Karel meets these requirements as well as possible.
He got his call sign because he had worked in Karelia for 15 years, even before the start of the war in the Donbas. He has been serving in the 1st building since 2016.
— We try to take those who have a soul for technology, and not just those who were told to turn the nut, he turns it, — says "Karel". — We often have to go to the front line: if it is possible to make repairs on the spot and in a short time, then we do it there. If not, then the crews, along with the cars and repairmen, are sent to an organized service point. And they are already working together.
The presence of tank crews and participation in maintenance work is not just a tradition. No one better than the crew will be able to tell what is broken and what is worth paying attention to. And, of course, these are not three extra pairs of hands at all.
At the same time, the unit is armed with a large number of different tanks: there are both T-64 and T-72, including the very first modifications.
Most of the cars are subjected to "tuning": those who did not have dynamic protection (DZ) receive it. The rest are equipped with additional protection, made based on the experience of fighting.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
— We know thoroughly where it is necessary to add DZ blocks. We do all this taking into account real situations, our knowledge is written in blood," says Karel.
On the tank near which we are talking, the DZ units are installed both on the spare parts boxes (stock of tools and accessories) and on the back of the turret. The specifics of fighting in urban development puts forward its own requirements.
Trophy equipment
We are also familiar with Ukrainian tank upgrades here. Captured cars also had to be studied and put into operation.
— Their modernization takes place in factory conditions. In addition to protection, the fire control system is being updated. Old night vision devices are being replaced with modern thermal imagers, more advanced sights are being installed," says a specialist in the repair of fire control systems with the call sign "Mirokha".
Over the past 9 years, he has managed to serve in the infantry, air defense and as a tank driver, so he knows the work of tanks "from the inside", in every sense.
In the yard we inspect the restored cars. One of the tanks was blown up by an anti-tank mine, this is now reminded by the absence of a mudguard, otherwise it has already been restored.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
The next "Mirokha" shows us a tank that has a name — "Smoked". This is one of the captured cars that was restored and put into operation. It got its name because it got to the new owners with soot on the tower.
"Mirokha" shows the devices that he put on the "Smoked" from other enemy tanks that are not subject to restoration. Interestingly, when Ukrainian crews abandon tanks, they often remove and take away encrypted radio stations — the vast majority of cars become trophies without them.
Correspondents of Izvestia are shown an example of technical and tactical ingenuity — the T-64 tank, which was changed by means of screens to the shape of the tower, making it look like Ukrainian Bulat tanks. The similarity of the silhouette makes it difficult for Ukrainians to identify our armored vehicles. Although direct tank duels during the SVO are rare.
— In the realities of the current war, losing a tank is half the trouble. The main thing is to save people. A well-coordinated, trained experienced crew cannot be prepared quickly, it is difficult to replace it. A person who has been in a tank battle, has developed a level, will not take risks unnecessarily, and will not let you down in battle," Mirokha explains the rarity of tank duels.
With all the standardization, most machines have their own individuality, if not in a technical sense, then in the form of inscriptions and distinctive signs.
Many cars, in addition to personal names, have inscriptions. For example, "For the boys!". The call signs of the deceased colleagues or crew members are written on the towers and sides. The tank known to us from one of the fire raids "For Makeyevka!" was named in honor of the commander's hometown.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
The best tank of the special operation
The repair base works on the principle of a conveyor. While the engine of one tank is being checked in the box, the caterpillar of another car is being pulled up on the street. The work goes on without a break: both speed and quality are important. But they did not tell us about any special, dangerous or heroic moments related to the repair and evacuation of equipment.
— Everything is like in a good factory, where no one evaluates production by the number of exploits. If the cars do not let the crews down, this is the main result. The best tank is a serviceable tank," one of the tankmen of the 1st Slavic Brigade shares with us at last.
According to practitioners of war, this is the best answer to the long-standing disputes of experts about which models of tanks are better.
Dmitry Astrakhan
