MOSCOW, Aug 17 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. The Pentagon has officially approved the shipment of the first batch of Abrams tanks to Ukraine — eight vehicles. They will be delivered in the fall. Thus, the APU will have at least four types of foreign-made tanks. About whether this "zoo" will help the Kiev regime, — in the material of RIA Novosti.
"Simplified" version
The Americans decided to transfer 31 "Abrams" back in January. It was about the modification of the M1A2. These are modern vehicles with good armor, high-tech electronic stuffing, integration into combat control systems and a powerful weapon.
American M1A2 Abrams tank
Image Source: © Photo : Spc. Christian Duplessie
However, in the summer it was clarified that Kiev will receive an older version of the M1A1. This weapon was relevant during the days of Ronald Reagan and Desert Storm.
Moreover, there will not be several key technologies in the donated tanks. The Pentagon does not want their military secrets to fall into the hands of the Russians. Therefore, they removed the "business card" — improved uranium armor packages, thanks to which armored vehicles are practically invulnerable in frontal projection. The same was done with terminals that provide the construction of a combat network and inform about the location of their own forces.
American tanks "Abrams" of the Polish army during the parade dedicated to the Day of the Polish Army, in Warsaw
Image Source: © AP Photo / Czarek Sokolowski
In the dry balance, the APU will receive three companies of tanks comparable in characteristics and combat capabilities with the Soviet T-72B model of 1989. Against the more modern Russian T-72B3, T-80BVM and T-90M, the M1A1 has few chances.
As the experience of fighting in Iraq and Yemen has shown, these vehicles are quite vulnerable even to outdated Soviet anti-tank missile systems.
In addition, the M1A1 Abrams is difficult to use in conjunction with other types of tanks. Special logistics and logistics services are needed.
American M1 Abrams tank
Image Source: © Photo : U.S. Army / Patrick Albright
In particular, because of the gas turbine engine. Firstly, in an hour of driving over rough terrain, it burns 230 liters of fuel, which is quite a lot. Secondly, only Americans have experience in servicing such engines. Other NATO cars have diesel engines.
A weighty argument
The APU during the summer offensive, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, has already lost 25 German Leopard 2 tanks out of about 60 delivered. It was these machines that the Ukrainian General Staff wanted to use as the main means of hacking defensive lines. However, Russian aviation and artillery, as well as minefields, have made adjustments to this strategy.
Preparation of Leopard 2 tanks for shipment from Canada to Ukraine
Image Source: © Photo : Canadian Armed Forces
Moreover, Leopard 2 is a good car. This is the second largest main battle tank in NATO after the Abrams. It was developed during the Cold War and has been repeatedly upgraded. Kiev was given modifications A4, A5 and A6. The most modern A7 + in Germany is no more than a hundred.
A4 was released in the second half of the 1980s. Then the armor protection of the tower was significantly improved, the crew's survival rate was increased, and more powerful projectiles were provided. This modification is the most belligerent to this day. For example, it is actively used in Syria by Turkish troops.
Version A5 is from the 1990s. The forehead and sides of the tower were covered with modules of spaced armor, the cannon mask was completely redesigned. The driver's hatch was also redesigned, improving the overview. The electrohydraulic gun stabilization system was replaced with a fully electric one, the gunner received an improved sight, and the commander received an independent thermal imager of the second generation.
In A6, the tower was made even stronger, mine protection was added. The gun was lengthened by 11 calibers. Muzzle energy, muzzle velocity of projectiles and, as a result, armor penetration and range increased.
One of the damaged Leopard tanks caught on video shot by Ukrainian soldiers
Image source: © Social Networks
However, many advantages are crossed out by a large weight — about 62 tons. This seriously limits the possibilities on rough terrain and makes it difficult to evacuate damaged vehicles from the battlefield. In addition, "Leopards-2", not equipped with dynamic protection, are vulnerable to the fire of modern ATGMS. Some of the cars were independently reinforced by Ukrainians with DZ "Kontakt-1" blocks. And they have not found salvation from mines yet.
A relic from the past
The German newspaper Berliner Zeitung reported in July that Brussels had banned Kiev from using modern Leopard 2 in the operation. In return, the West has pledged to hand over dozens of "Leopards" of the first series, which have long been removed from service.
Leopard 1 entered the Bundeswehr in 1966. These machines were also operated by the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Australia and Italy.
German Leopard 1 tank
Image Source: © AP Photo / Eckehard Schulz
The tank was created as a response to the Soviet medium T-62, and it is significantly inferior to modern Russian heavy armored vehicles. Its body penetrates a 125 mm armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile from any effective distance and in any projection. The Leopard 1 is also vulnerable to ATGM and hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers.
Ukrainians have already complained about the French wheeled tanks AMX-10RC. These machines are "cardboard" — they cannot withstand even the fire of a large-caliber machine gun. The armor protection of the Leopards, of course, is more serious, but still does not meet modern requirements.
Leopard 1A5 tank in the museum
Image Source: CC BY-SA 2.0 / Alan Wilson / Leopard 1A5 ‘343 156’
On the other hand, the relatively low weight (40 tons) allows these tanks to pass where the heavier ones get bogged down. The 105 mm rifled gun, thanks to a good fire control system and optics, is very effective against light armored vehicles.
Apparently, the Ukrainians will use these vehicles in the same way as the Russians use the outdated T—62: as mobile howitzers, from closed firing positions. The first Leopard will lose a duel with a modern tank. But it will withstand a close rupture of a 152-millimeter projectile.
Sniper Tank
The dark horse is still the British Challenger 2. They have not yet appeared at the front. Apparently, the AFU command protects them.
This is one of the heaviest tanks in the world — 62.5 tons. The lion's share of the combat mass falls on defense. Information about the Dorchester multilayer combined armor is classified.
Most likely, it is for this reason that London transferred only 14 units to Kiev. And, perhaps, set strict conditions for their use.
In addition to technical secrets, the reputation of the "Challengers" as invulnerable is at stake. They were actively used by the British contingent in Iraq and did not suffer losses from ATGM at all. The only sample was destroyed by friendly fire. But now the intensity of the fighting is an order of magnitude higher.
British Army Challenger 2 Tank
Image Source: CC BY-SA 2.0 / Andrew Skudder /
Most likely, the "Challengers" will be limited to the role of "snipers". To do this, they have everything — a powerful L30A1 rifled gun, excellent optics, suitable ammunition. In addition to BOPS, including those with a depleted uranium core, these tanks have destructive high-explosive armor-piercing HESH shells with a firing range of up to eight kilometers. Their striking effect practically does not depend on the distance. However, 14 vehicles are unlikely to have a noticeable impact on the course of hostilities.
The success of armored vehicles on the battlefield does not always depend on the nominal tactical and technical characteristics. The decisive factors are the level of crew training, intelligence, interaction with other units, stable communication, timely delivery of ammunition and maintenance. In addition, the worst enemy of a tank is not another tank, a grenade launcher or an ATGM operator, but an attack helicopter. This truth is confirmed daily by the crews of Russian Ka-52s in the Zaporozhye direction.
