super modern tank…
Special military operations carried out by Russia in Ukraine has entered its third week, with a very complicated development.
Although Russia’s superiority on the battlefield was undeniable, Russian mechanized troops in general and Russian tanks in particular suffered significant losses.
According to data from the General Staff of the Armed Forces UkraineFrom February 24 to March 11, the Russian side lost 353 tanks and 1,165 other armored fighting vehicles.
This number may be excessive due to propaganda factors. However, in wars in the digital age, it is not difficult to find images of Russian tanks and vehicles being burned and destroyed.
The situation has led many to ask: Why didn’t Russia bring the most modern tanks? T-14 Armata into special military operations in Ukraine?
T-80 tanks of the 4th Armored Tank Division, 1st Guards Tank Army destroyed in Ukraine
On February 23, 2022, exactly the day before Russia’s entry into Ukraine, the National Interest (US) website asked the question: Will Russia use tanks? T-14 Armata modern into the war with Ukraine it?
Writer-editor Kris Osborn, a US military expert, comments: The presence of Russian military forces near the Ukrainian border (before the launch of special military operations) numbered 150,000. , along with tanks numbering in the thousands, including the T-72, T-90, and possibly a small number of T-14 Armata.
The T-14 Armata is considered superior to most existing tanks. Vehicles weighing more than 48 tons, equipped with a 1,500 horsepower diesel engine, can reach speeds of up to 90km/h, far exceeding Western tanks.
The T-14 Armata’s moderate weight will also help it perform well in urban areas, easily moving across multiple bridges without the help of technicians.
However, according to Kris Osborn, the biggest advantage of the T-14 Armata is the unmanned turret, which allows the gunner to aim accurately without worrying about being hit by enemy fire.
According to Military Watch Magazine, the T-14 Armata has long promised to revolutionize the combat capabilities of the Russian Army. It is one of the most dangerous tanks on the planet today, and in some ways it is the only fourth generation tank in the world.
Some of the notable features of the T-14 Armata tank include a remote control turret, armored cockpit that provides maximum protection for the crew, radar system and 360-degree panoramic camera for high situational awareness capabilities.
Its armor protection far exceeds that of any tank the world has ever seen, not to mention the latest generation Malachit explosive reactive armor (ERA).
The 2A82-1M main gun of the T-14 Armata has a very fast firing rate, and with Vacuum-1 ammunition it can penetrate 1000mm thick tank armor. The strong firepower allows the T-14 Armata to gain an advantage over Western opponents.
… missed an appointment with a military operation in Ukraine?
So the simple question is why did Russia not include its “trump card” in special military operations in Ukraine?
The strength of the T-14 Armata is undeniable, but the fact that the Russian Army brought “super tanks” into the war probably stemmed from the following reasons:
First, Although the T-14 Armata has passed the testing phase and is deployed for mass production, the production vehicle is too small. The manufacturer Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) has always been behind in vehicle testing and refinement.
According to official information from the Russian state news agency TASS, by the end of 2021, the Russian defense industry has only delivered 20 T-14 Armatas to the military.
This number is not even enough to staff a Russian tank battalion.
Production delays cause delays in payroll. Russian combat units simply did not have time to transfer new types of equipment, so they could not “take the risk” of sending them to war in Ukraine, but still had to use old tanks.
Kalashnikova Show – Episode 6: T-90, the tank “sold out” on the world market
Second, Production of the T-14 Armata was still too low, which led to the second consequence: namely that the modernization of the army, following the modern Russian war would not be able to rely solely on the new tank, but still be mainly based on the upgrade of the old T-14. -72 tanks.
Today, most of Russia’s motorized infantry and tank units still use the popular T-72B3, but it is greatly improved and modernized, no less than the new generation of tanks.
During Russia’s special military operations in Ukraine, Russia also deployed these T-72B3 tanks as the main force.
In addition, several leading units were equipped with newer tanks, most notably the First Guards Tank Troops deployed towards Kharkov. Notably: the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division is equipped with the T-80 tank version, while the 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Mechanized Infantry Division is equipped with the T-90 tank version.
Therefore, a small number of T-14 Armata will not create significant strategic campaign effectiveness, while Russia will still have to rely on old-style tanks.
Tuesday, Although the majority of Russian tanks involved in the war were the T-72B3 version, that alone was enough to overpower and overwhelm the obsolete Ukrainian T-64 and T-72A tanks.
According to Military Watch Magazine, the Ukrainian tank lacks modern sensors, has thin armor, and the main gun uses the outdated BM42 Mango ammunition, which can penetrate only 450mm uniform armor (RHA) at a distance of 2,000 m.
This is not enough to deal with Russian tanks, even the modernized version of the T-72B3. Therefore, the Russian military does not need the T-14 Armata to win in a tank battle with the Ukrainian army.
Ukrainian T-64BV tank shot down. Ukrainian tanks are not a worthy opponent for Russia.
Wednesday, Many will ask: If so, why not bring the T-14 Armata to Ukraine to deal with urban warfare, and the modern anti-tank missiles (ATGM) that the West has aided the Kiev government, usually Javelin and NLAW?
There is no denying that the destruction of US and NATO anti-tank weapons at the hands of the Ukrainian army has caused damage to Russian tanks in particular, and to Russian military vehicles in general.
In theory, the T-14 Armata tank was designed to have higher survivability and resistance to infantry ATGM anti-tank fire.
However, it should be seen that: The damage caused by Ukrainian infantry anti-tank guns to Russian tanks was not because they were too modern, but mostly because urban warfare was always very difficult for tanks, tanks, armor.
Teams of Ukrainian tank hunters could easily hide, waiting for an opportunity to fire at Russian tanks at close range.
Only after Ukrainian anti-tank gunners opened fire was the Russian military able to identify enemy firing points to return fire. Therefore, the losses of Russian armored vehicles are not only due to weapons, but to a large extent due to the combat environment.
The T-14 Armata is also very difficult to make changes on the Ukrainian battlefield
Therefore, even if the T-14 Armata were deployed, it would still be difficult for the Russian army to win in urban battles with the Ukrainian side.
In an environment densely packed with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), even if the T-14 Armata is modern, it is difficult to ensure absolute safety.
Even worse, if the T-14 Armata were shot down, or even captured alive, it could be catastrophic for the Russian defense industry. The US and its NATO allies are looking forward to a version of the T-14 Armata for research.
Just the news or pictures of a Russian super tank being shot down can damage its reputation on the battlefield and on the market.
Meanwhile, the Russian side has made no secret of its intention to export the T-14 Armata to customers who have a lot of money and are ready to “spend a lot of money”.
Therefore, it is very likely that the T-14 Armata will not be “fired” in Ukraine.
It is clear that the Russian Army cannot risk putting a modern but small tank into a dangerous war, when the T-14 Armata is not yet fully prepared.
The super power of Russia’s T-14 Armata tank
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Soha.vn – Read the original article here
