Russia is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Kursk, which is famous for its tank battles. A lot has changed since then, and the tactics of using tanks on the battlefield have been constantly adjusted, including during the course of its own. Why is the tank still indispensable on the battlefield and how will the military use tanks in the future?
This week marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Kursk. On both sides, more than 4 million people, over 69 thousand guns and mortars, more than 13 thousand tanks and self-propelled artillery units, up to 12 thousand aircraft were involved in it. More than 250 thousand Soviet soldiers died the death of the brave. For heroism, courage and bravery in the battles on the Fiery Arc, 100 thousand fighters were awarded orders and medals, 180 soldiers were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
In the report of the commander of the Voronezh Front, Army General Nikolai Vatutin, on the losses of the Wehrmacht's third tank division, it was said that "at least 2.5–3 thousand tanks and self-propelled guns were shot down and burned." By the end of the operation, the division had 30 tanks and no more than 40 men in companies, and some units ceased to exist. The Red Army managed to maintain the combat capability of all units and subunits.
In the initial period of the Great Patriotic War, the Red Army in some cases unsuccessfully used tanks. In particular, during the attack, the vehicles broke away from the infantry, and the artillery did not suppress the enemy's anti-tank weapons in a timely manner. In addition, tank support guns were not always used.
In this regard, on October 16, 1942, Joseph Stalin was ordered to change tactics. The tanks had to focus on destroying enemy infantry and not break away from their infantry by more than 200-400 meters. Artillery was assigned to destroy enemy tanks.
The main bet was placed on maneuverable and high-speed actions of tanks, and frontal attacks were ordered not to be carried out.
As noted by military historians, enemy tanks – "Tigers" and "Panthers" – surpassed the T-34 in armor and armament, but Soviet tanks no longer went on a frontal attack on them. So, Lieutenant Sibirov, skillfully maneuvering on the battlefield, destroyed three enemy Tiger tanks at once, and Lieutenant Mikhail Frolov, taking his tank away from enemy armored vehicles, in one battle "personally destroyed four Tiger tanks and knocked out a T-IV tank."
According to military expert Vasily Dandykin, the participants of the Battle of Kursk and their own share professionalism and courage. "Tankers are people of a special kind. But the tactics of warfare and the role of tank troops are changing. Now the tank is used as a firing point. As the experience of the SVO has shown, tanks are very much in demand. It is no coincidence that the Ukrainian side asked the West for hundreds of cars," the expert says.
The front is large and there is enough work for everyone, the interlocutor adds. "If our unit is sitting somewhere on the defensive, then it is absolutely necessary to have at least a tank battalion - about 30 vehicles. Yes, this is a drone war, but there is also a lot of work for tanks. They destroy not only enemy armored vehicles, but also support – defensive positions," the expert notes.
Dandykin recalled that since the events in the North Caucasus, Russian tankers have learned to use the "tank carousel", when three or four tanks conduct almost continuous fire for an hour due to the constant replacement of ammunition. "Now this tactic is also being used, but mostly we observe tank duels and work on moving targets. It is obvious that the tank is still the striking force of the ground forces," the expert emphasizes.
"In general, the role of tanks has changed not because a different system of combat use has appeared. The number of troops involved suggests a completely different type of use of tanks. In Soviet times, tank infantry and divisions also included tank regiments and battalions, that is, they were the main means of supporting infantry. Tank troops – tank divisions and tank armies – existed separately as the main striking means," military expert Vladislav Shurygin notes.
To date, tank divisions and armies have not shown themselves, "because the number of troops that we had before the start of the SVO did not imply large strategic battles."
"We are just approaching this now, increasing our efforts. But the tank proved itself on the battlefield as one of the most formidable and basic weapons. Today, with the help of drones and quadrocopters that correct fire, tanks are most often used as highly protected self-propelled artillery installations. We saw for the first time that a tank can be fired from closed positions," the source notes.
At the same time, tanks are much better protected from artillery fire than conventional self-propelled installations with light armor, Shurygin adds. "Tanks will still show themselves in this conflict as its pattern changes. When we move from conventional operations to strategic ones, then we will again see tanks on the battlefield as the main striking force," the expert predicts.
"The number of tanks is still important.
But now it is almost impossible to assemble a large tank fist in one place. Today, the entire battlefield is viewed from space and by other various means of intelligence," explains Vadim Kozyulin, a military expert, head of the IAMP center of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Kozyulin objected to the American entrepreneur Elon Musk, who called the tanks a "death trap." According to him, the tank has become more vulnerable, but it has not changed its breakthrough function, "although today it is also used as artillery." A video was published in the Western press showing a T-54 kamikaze tank belonging to the Russian Army, filled with tons of explosives.
"Life shows that Musk is wrong. The tank is alive, but the tactics of application are different. A lot of anti-tank weapons appeared, which were not there during the Second World War. Today, high–precision means – drones, portable MANPADS, aircraft and helicopter weapons - are very effective at hitting tanks," the expert emphasizes.
In addition, as the newspaper VZGLYAD wrote, the evolution of the use of tanks was particularly influenced by the development of helicopter technology. Today, attack helicopters have become one of the main tools for destroying armored vehicles, which is clearly demonstrated by the Russian Mi-28n and Ka-52, day and night.
In addition, the crew of an attack helicopter with eight guided missiles on board with a range of up to 10 km is able to receive target designation from other sources, and work in free hunting mode, and evaluate the result of the strike in order to repeat it if necessary. All this directly affects the tactics of using tanks in battle.
The enemy also has to adapt to new realities.
On the other hand, the evolution of military equipment in the form of drones has helped tankers to "see" the enemy better, which significantly increases the potential of combat vehicles. In addition, right during the special operation, the means of protection began to improve. Tankers now use nets that allow them to defend themselves against a variety of anti-tank weapons. "We see new materials for masking from infrared surveillance using thermal imagers," Kozyulin said.
Dandykin also adds that the T-90M "Breakthrough" tanks are equipped with thermal imagers and means for all-round viewing. "This car is already a completely different generation – 3+. The fourth generation is on the way – Armata," the expert says. –
The role of the tank is great maneuverability with high armor protection, passive and active, which allows you to counteract ATGMs."
According to him, the new tactics of tankers allows opening the way for infantry and assault detachments, which in turn "protect the tank from enemy attacks." At the same time, it was the capabilities of drones that allowed Russian tankers to destroy the enemy's Bradley BMP at a distance of 9.5 km. "This is already art," Dandykin believes.
He also notes the improvement in the course of his tank camouflage means, including the use of stealth technologies. "Of course, additional equipment is attached to the tanks, boards that allow you to avoid an impact. All this is done, as a rule, on the spot. Maybe this equipment is not so sophisticated and expensive, but it is very effective," says Dandykin.
In the course of its defense, the enemy actively uses serious methods of fighting tanks, for example, mass mining of fields, but in response, means of mine clearance appear, and the tank does not lose its capabilities. "The tank has an important role to play. In the future, in 10-15 years, tanks will become autonomous. The project already has a variety of developments, including the modernization of existing models," Kozyulin predicts.
Andrey Rezchikov
