Why do modern tanks not use sloped armor?

Sloping an armour plate makes it more difficult to penetrate by antitank-weapons, such as armour-piercing shells (kinetic energy penetrators) and rockets, if they follow a more or less horizontal trajectory to their target, as is often the case.

Why didn't German tanks have sloped armor?

sloped armor limits internal space. German tanks had a huge transmission in the front as well as a big radio unit. There was not much space to move this equipment back to allow for a sloped front. Also the space above the tracks (sponsons) were used to store ammunition in.

Why is tank armor sloped?

The reason sloped armor is so effective is that it increases the effective thickness of the plate, without adding weight to the tank. This plate of armor is only 100mm thick, but because of the way it is angled back, the effective thickness of armor that a shell would have to go through is twice that of the plate.

Why do modern tanks have thin armor?

Tanks such as the Leopard 1 and AMX-30 had relatively thin armour for the sake of light weight and greater mobility, which was considered to provide a greater chance of battlefield survival.

What is the best angle for tank armor?

Positioning your armor at a narrow angle less than 90 degrees toward an opponent will reduce the chances of their shot penetrating your armor. Angle your tank by slightly turning askew of your opponent so that your armor is not directly perpendicular to their gun.

Sloped armor: A simple feature that saved many lives

Did the Panther have sloped armor?

The sloped upper side armor was also 40 mm thick but at an angle of 40 degrees. They had a Brinell Hardness rating of 278-324. The top deck of the panther chassis and the belly armor were both 16 mm thick. The top of the turret was also 16 mm thick.

Is sloped armour better?

Sloping the armour leads to a better approximation of the ideal rounded shape. The final effect is that of deflection, deforming and ricochet of a projectile. When it hits a plate under a steep angle, its path might be curved, causing it to move through more armour – or it might bounce off entirely.

Why do the turrets pop off Russian tanks?

Reports suggest that Russian tanks are exploding when penetrated by armor-piercing rounds causing the turrets to be hurled several feet in the air. This is known as the 'jack-in-the-box effect' – a type of explosion – which causes the tank's turret to be violently blown off the chassis and into the air.

Why do Russian tanks lose their turrets?

Images of destroyed Russian tanks with their turrets blown off have become common since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. Experts say that Russian tanks have a design flaw that makes them vulnerable to being decapitated by Ukrainian attacks, called a "jack-in-the-box effect," CNN reported.

Why do the turrets come off Russian tanks?

The jack-in-the-box effect is a specific effect of a catastrophic kill on a tank or other turreted armored vehicle in which an ammunition explosion causes the tank's turret to be violently blown off the chassis and into the air. It is named after the child's toy, the jack-in-the-box, in which a puppet pops up.

How does Chobham armour work?

Instead of rounded forms, the turrets of tanks using Chobham armour typically have a slab-sided appearance. The backing plate reflects the impact energy back to the ceramic tile in a wider cone. This dissipates the energy, limiting the cracking of the ceramic, but also means a more extended area is damaged.

How thick is medieval armor?

TIL that the thickest plate in a typical set of Knight's armour was no more than 4mm thick (the centre of the breastplate).

Who invented composite armor?

The most common type of composite armour today is Chobham armour, first developed and used by the British in the experimental FV 4211 tank, which was based on Chieftain tank components.

Why didn't the Germans make more Tiger tanks?

The problem was that by the time the King Tiger made its combat debut in Normandy in July 1944, the necessities that Nazi Germany most lacked was trained, experienced tank crews and fuel and logistics support. Which brings us to the question dear to every treadhead: Was the King Tiger a great tank?

Are Tiger tanks still used?

Today, only seven Tiger I tanks survive in museums and private collections worldwide. As of 2021, Tiger 131 (captured during the North Africa Campaign) at the UK's Tank Museum is the only example restored to running order.

Why were German Tiger tanks so effective?

The Tiger's 88mm-wide mobile main gun was so formidable that shells often blasted straight through enemy tanks, coming out the other side. Its heavy armour was also so thick that a crew (usually of 5) could mostly park in front of an enemy anti-tank gun without fear of harm.

Why do Russian tanks explode so easily?

Unlike modern Western tanks, Russian ones carry multiple shells within their turrets. This makes them highly vulnerable as even an indirect hit can start a chain reaction that explodes their entire ammunition store of up to 40 shells.

Do tanks have a bottom hatch?

The inside of the tank as seen in this video is definitly not real - from the moment on he closes the hatch (many tanks do have hatches in the bottom, at least this much is correct) it must have been filmed inside a studio. And it looks like whoever designed this set has never personally seen the inside of a tank.

Are tanks death traps?

But the Sherman was also a death trap. Most tanks at the time ran on diesel, a safer and less flammable fuel than gasoline. The Sherman's powerplant was a 400-horsepower gas engine that, combined with the ammo on board, could transform the tank into a Hellish inferno after taking a hit.

Why do tanks burn when hit?

Any penetrating hit in the turret or hull can set off the ammunition, with a result sometimes describes as Jack-in-the-box effect: the force of the blast from the ammo tears the tank apart from inside, often detaching the turret with such force that it is thrown clear.

Is the main battle tank obsolete?

Tanks & armored personnel carriers have become obsolete. They are too expensive & are easily destroyed with manifold light anti-tank weapons or drones. But U.S. armor experts don't buy it.

How does explosive reactive armor work?

Explosive reactive armour

On attack by a penetrating weapon, the explosive detonates, forcibly driving the metal plates apart to damage the penetrator. Against a shaped charge, the projected plates disrupt the metallic jet penetrator, effectively providing a greater path-length of material to be penetrated.

What are the cages around military vehicles?

Slat armor (or slat armour, in British English), also known as bar armor, cage armor, and standoff armor, is a type of vehicle armor designed to protect against high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) attacks, as used by rocket-propelled grenades (RPG).