03.02.2023

The expert told how to deal with NATO tanks

Sections: Land, Markets and cooperation, Global safety

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Image source: © Фото : U.S. Army / Sgt. Randis Monroe

Murakhovsky expert: even outdated grenades can be effective against NATO tanksMOSCOW, Feb 2 — RIA Novosti.

Priority in the defeat of NATO tanks will be given to aviation and guided weapons, one of the leading Russian military experts, the editor-in-chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland, Viktor Murakhovsky, told RIA Novosti.

Battle conditions

"Any modern main tank, whether it is the American Abrams of the latest version or the Russian T-90M, can be hit on the battlefield by a variety of means. Starting from mines and outdated anti-tank hand grenades and hand grenade launcher shots, ending with modern anti-tank missile systems and aircraft missiles. Everything depends on the tactics of the use of tanks, their embeddedness in the composition of units involved in combat, terrain conditions, the organization of the enemy's anti—tank defense, and so on," the expert explained.

For example, Murakhovsky noted, during the US use of Abrams tanks in the Middle East, cases of small—caliber ammunition hitting vehicles — from 14.5 to 30 millimeters - in the aft projection were recorded. Also, these tanks are vulnerable in side projections for standard shots of a conventional RPG-7. Another example, the expert noted, is the use of Leopard 2 tanks in Syria, which were successfully hit by outdated Soviet ATGM "Competition".

At the same time, the editor-in-chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland explained, at distances over two thousand meters in frontal projections, both Abrams and Leopard 2 are well protected from any means of destruction, including sub-caliber and cumulative shells of Russian tank guns of 125 mm caliber.

Tactics of application and nature of the terrain

"The degree of threat and complexity of the fight against NATO tanks that will be delivered to Ukraine largely depends on the tactics of the use of tank units of the Ukrainian troops, on which specific areas they will be used and how effective anti-tank defense will be built by Russian troops in these areas. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account mainly the closed nature of the terrain in Ukraine (which leads to a limited line of sight for the most part to a distance of 1.5 thousand meters due to the terrain and forest belts), as well as the high mass of NATO vehicles — which significantly limits their patency in this area and the corresponding soils and will force them to use roads. Plus, it is necessary to take into account the weight restrictions on many bridges, which will also lead to the choice of certain routes for the movement of NATO tanks," Murakhovsky said.

Taking into account all the factors, as well as the number of vehicles that are declared for delivery, the military expert noted, most likely the APU will mostly decide to keep Leopard 2 and Abrams tanks in operational reserve in order to use them as offensive development strike groups if they suddenly manage to break through the defenses of Russian troops.

"In these conditions, the priority in destroying NATO vehicles remains with operational-tactical and army aviation, as well as artillery and mobile anti-tank groups. The main means of destruction of Abrams and Leopard will be, in the above scenario, the aircraft missiles "Whirlwind", "Attack" and "Product-305", if we take army aviation, as well as X-29 aircraft missiles and single-use bomb cassettes with anti-tank, including self-aiming, combat elements, if we take airplanes. In the case of artillery, guided Krasnopol shells, as well as Tornado-S shells with cumulative submunitions, will be well suited for hitting tanks in places of concentration and marching," the chief editor of the Arsenal of the Fatherland said.

In general, at distances over two thousand meters, Murakhovsky noted, guided munitions, for example, self-propelled and portable modern anti-tank missile systems such as Chrysanthemum and Kornet, whose armor penetration is sufficient to defeat NATO tanks in a frontal projection, can become the main means of combating NATO vehicles.

One on one

Murakhovsky noted that according to the experience of special operations and other conflicts, the probability of direct dueling collisions of tanks is generally small.

"Nevertheless, in the event of a meeting between Russian and NATO vehicles, the outcome of the duel will depend on a number of factors and the specific tactical combat situation. Firstly, who will be the first to discover whom, secondly, on what terrain and distance the collision will begin, how the tanks will be positioned relative to each other, thirdly, how trained and experienced their crews will be, and so on. Both the T-90M, T-72B3, and T-80BV are capable of hitting both American and German tanks, but the opposite is also true," the expert noted.

He added that as part of the ammunition of the T-90M tanks there are new armor-piercing feathered sub-caliber shells that are not inferior in penetration to the most modern Western models, they can penetrate Abrams and Leopard tanks in the frontal projection.

Tank supplies

After long discussions on the supply of Western APU tanks, the German government agreed to send Leopard 2 combat vehicles. It is planned to form two tank battalions, at the first stage Berlin will transfer a company of 14 A6 type combat vehicles from the Bundeswehr reserves. As noted by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, tanks may arrive in Ukraine at the end of March.

The delivery of tanks to the Kiev authorities was also announced by US President Joe Biden. According to him, the Ukrainian military will receive 31 M1 Abrams combat vehicles, they will form one tank battalion. A senior representative of the US administration clarified that it would take months, not weeks, to deliver equipment to Ukraine.

Against the background of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, the United States and NATO allies support the Kiev regime with arms supplies worth tens of billions of dollars. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that the transfer of Western weapons only delays the conflict, and the transport of weapons becomes a legitimate target for the Russian Aerospace Forces.