Driving the T-80 with additional protection requires special skills from the driver
Recently, a separate class of tanks with enhanced additional protection has been allocated on the line of contact. They are used as head guns during an assault or in conditions of fighting in a building. Such vehicles carry out armored groups, clearing their way, and sometimes they are also used to deliver the first assault troops. One of these vehicles from the tank battalion of the Pacific Fleet Marine Brigade was able to inspect Izvestia in detail.
Tank development
The evolution of the additional reservation of modern tanks began long before the special military operation. Based on the experience of fighting in Donbass, many combat vehicles in the people's militia of the republics received additional dynamic protection and screens in case of urban fighting. Together with the installed minesweepers, such tanks could become heavy breakthrough vehicles. After the news about the massive receipt by the Armed Forces of the Javelin and NLAW anti-tank complexes, which have the ability to attack from above, where the vehicles have the least reservation, the tanks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation quickly began to receive additional protection. As a rule, these were canopies over the tower and the engine, made of metal grilles or mesh. Due to the external similarity, the name "barbecue" was fixed in the press for the first models, and in English—language sources - "grill" or "barbecue".
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
During the battles, such protection has shown effectiveness. In addition, already in the first year, the tanks began to be threatened by UAVs, which, even before the mass appearance of FPV kamikaze drones, caused damage to armored vehicles by dropping grenades from above. Accordingly, the area of protection has constantly increased, and today you can see combat vehicles almost completely covered with various types of grids, grids or chains. Such protection proved to be effective against kamikaze drones, which also often carry cumulative ammunition from an RPG-7 grenade launcher. Accordingly, its detonation at a great distance from the main tank armor seriously reduces the likelihood of defeat.
Factory models, unlike front-line technical creativity, added additional dynamic protection to the concept of "barbecues". In addition, flat grid elements that perform the function of a knife that mechanically damages a cumulative munition, and a variety of industrial safety nets make protection more reliable.
However, during the assault operations of 2024, our troops continued to increase the protection of some tanks. The next stage of evolution was the unification of armored screens into single spatial trapezoidal structures. Additional screens, thus, can both protect the machine from mechanical impact and the discharge of ammunition from above, and reduce the impact of the cumulative jet.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
The new version of protection received the name "Tsar-mangal" in the press (by analogy with the Tsar-cannon, as well as by the proper name of one of the first such tanks), also in English-language sources a more traditional version of the "turtle tank" is used. The latter refers to the First World War, when tanks received a similar additional reservation, after the appearance of the first anti-tank weapons.
The new generation
The tank that the Marines are showing us is already the second generation of the development of the idea of additional booking. It is based on the latest modification of the T-80, which already has its own additional protection. It was not removed, and an additional armored box was installed on top. The T-80 has the most powerful gas turbine engine among Russian tanks, so it is best to make heavy vehicles based on it. Large steel chains are installed in front of the drones, which could try to fly under protection. At the back there are grilles—knives and also chains. In addition, there is not just a trawl on the tank, but one equipped with an electromagnetic prefix. It creates a false electromagnetic field in front of the tank, which leads to the triggering of magnetic mines, against which trawls of other models are ineffective.
Of course, it is difficult to control a weighted car with a reduced view due to additional armor and with a trawl.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
— It is constantly necessary to keep the engine running at high speeds. You can't let them go down — so that there is power to turn or accelerate. In battle, we have already led the column, lowered the trawl. It shows itself well, holds up to eight anti-tank mines. The tank is not invulnerable, of course, you just need to keep high speed, enter the dynamics and quickly complete combat missions," says the driver mechanic with the call sign Strela.
Additional protection seriously limits the turn of the tower, and therefore the guns. Therefore, the driver mechanic on such tanks must always be ready to turn the whole car over to ensure that the operator can fire a shot. To do this, you need to feel the car well, turning it quickly and at the required angle.
Of course, heavy machines, more often than others, get their own names. On board the tank, the platoon commander's call sign is "Native". Another distinctive feature is the Russian flag on the gun casing. Also, all the guns of the tanks in the battalion of the Hero of Russia, the Hero of the DPR, Major Kurbanov were painted. The symbolism not only supports morale, but also allows you to quickly identify your vehicles in battle.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
— The biggest danger for us is most likely inattention. In general, everything should be fine. The crew must fully prepare for the task, explore the area, disassemble everything. We already understand about where the enemy can fire at us from before leaving, we are thinking about the answer," says Native.
One of the weaknesses of any tank, which is only aggravated with the installation of additional protection, is the overview and awareness of the battlefield. Especially when it comes to threats from the side and from above, possible ambushes. Therefore, today, in addition to strengthening protection, tankers often equip their vehicles with video cameras placed behind the armor. But the main thing is that they closely interact with unmanned aircraft. The native says that during combat work he is constantly in touch with an observer who monitors the situation and the work of the tank from the air.
Dmitry Astrakhan
