Russia has built a new version of the „turtle tank,” a bizarre vehicle with which it hopes to defend itself against aerial attacks. The new weapon is treated with irony by a Russian war blogger.
Russian troops in Ukraine are trying various solutions to defend themselves against drone attacks by Ukrainian forces, some of which seem taken from the Hollywood post-apocalyptic series „Mad Max”. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow recently unveiled a new version of a turtle tank, equipped with an additional protective element.
The metal structure placed on a Russian T-80 tank covers both sides, while its front is protected only by chains that can catch drones, a solution that would allow visibility and precise use of the cannon, reports Business Insider.
The Russians have dubbed the tank, resembling a turtle, "Tsar Mangal," while the military-themed website Recognition has called it "Super-Turtle Tank." However, Russian military blogger Zvezdanews mocked this vehicle, writing on Telegram on Wednesday that it is the "king of grills."
According to Zvezdanews, the super-turtle is a T-80 main battle tank (MBT) already equipped with a covering cage, to which a second protective cage covering the entire vehicle has been added. The structure is made of 8-millimeter thick steel sheets with lattice-type grilles in the front and back, probably to allow ventilation.
The box is so large that there is room to stand in it and it also has a fold-out bed to allow crew members to rest between combat missions, reports Kyiv Post.
Images of the same tank design appeared in a video from the Russian Ministry of Defense posted on Telegram earlier this week, and the images were subsequently shared on YouTube. The material indicated that the action was taking place somewhere in the Donetsk region.
The new protection appears to be the latest innovation that the Russian army has introduced on the front lines in Ukraine to protect its troops from drone attacks.
For both sides, drones, especially those of the FPV type with explosive payloads (first-person-view), have become a major problem, as operators maneuver them remotely to strike armored vehicles in vulnerable points, as well as enemy troop positions.
Last year, the Russian army sent armored vehicles and tanks covered with improvised protective structures resembling cages to the front lines in an attempt to avoid the drone threat. With a rudimentary design, these makeshift protections covered the sides and rear of the vehicles. The improvised armors were later developed and became more efficient.
However, the turtle tank remains one of the most unusual weapons to have appeared on the front lines in the war in Ukraine, notes the American publication. Although it may prove to be an effective solution to the drone problem, it nevertheless eliminates one of the advantages of Russian tanks, making them more easily observable and targetable on the battlefield.
T.D.