Why do Russian tanks have barrels on the back?

From the divisional history of Das Reich division. "Russian tanks carried on their rear decks a metal drum containing reserve fuel supplies. A hit on the drum ignited the fuel and caused the tank to "brew up". Now my question: how often did russian tanks carry these "extra-fuel"-drums while in combat.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on community.battlefront.com


Why do Russian tanks have a log on the back?

Russian units have also carried logs onboard as a means to help vehicles escape the suffocating mud long feared by observers as a threat to the Russian military's off-road operations.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thedrive.com


What are the tubes on Russian tanks?

In perhaps 15 seconds, and sometimes even faster than that, the soldiers can unsling the weapon, unfold its aiming sight, release a safety catch and wait for their prey to appear. The green tubes are called NLAWs, for Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nytimes.com


What is the barrel behind tank?

Tank guns generally use self-contained ammunition, allowing rapid loading (or use of an autoloader). They often display a bulge in the barrel, which is a bore evacuator, or a device on the muzzle, which is a muzzle brake.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


Why tank barrels is covered?

Its primary purpose is to provide a more consistent temperature to the gun barrel preventing distortions due to thermal expansion caused by the temperature differences around the barrel when firing.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


What's With the Logs on Soviet Tanks? | Koala Explains: Tanks - Tracks and Traction



Why do tanks salute after firing?

Elevating the gun barrel after firing a shell likewise lowers the breach of the gun making it easier, a bit quicker and less fatiguing to reload the gun. The interior of a tank is a very cramped working environment. And loading heavy tank rounds is a tiring processes.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on imdb.com


How far can Russian tanks shoot?

The tank cannon has a maximum effective range of about 3000 meters, and precise aim is required to make a hit. The self-guided missile, however, can — like Longbow Hellfire — be effective to more than 8000 meters, and the electronic brain continually corrects the flight path as necessary.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on man.fas.org


What are the tanks on the back of Russian tanks?

Read allSoviet and Russian tanks commonly travel with a log attached to the exterior. This simple device helps tankers deal with the soft or uneven terrain of central Europe that even a tracked vehicles can get stuck in. The log give the tracks additional purchase to help the tank escape the mire.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on imdb.com


Why are tank guns smooth bore?

The smoothbore design of most modern tank barrels makes it easier for tanks to fire missiles through the same barrel used to fire projectiles. The gun itself is not the sole factor influencing the range of a tank during combat operations.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on characterisationexplosiveweapons.org


How many bullets can a tank carry?

The main armament of the tank is a 125mm 2A46M-5 high accuracy gun. The cannon can fire different types of ammunition. The tank has the capacity to carry up to 40 rounds of 125mm ammunition.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on army-technology.com


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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on eurasiantimes.com


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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on businessinsider.com


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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


Why do Russian tanks have AZ on them?

The Latin-script letter Z (Russian: зэд, зи, IPA: [zɛd, zi]) is one of several symbols (including "V" and "O") painted on military vehicles of the Russian Armed Forces involved in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is speculated that the Z helps task forces distinguish themselves from other forces.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


Why do Russian tanks have bricks on them?

Reactive armour is a type of vehicle armour that reacts in some way to the impact of a weapon to reduce the damage done to the vehicle being protected. It is most effective in protecting against shaped charges and specially hardened kinetic energy penetrators.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


What are bricks on Russian tanks?

Then there is Russia's Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor (ERA). These ERA blocks, also known as bricks, give the tank its distinctive squared appearance. They are spaced and installed in such a way as to mitigate the penetrating power of certain armor-piercing munitions.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nationalinterest.org


Can a howitzer destroy a tank?

The probably is you will have to have a battery which is 4 or 5 howitzers to really destroyed some tanks. The problem is you have to shoot couple shots to adjust your fire to hit the tank we called it "fire for effect".
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on defencetalk.com


Can a cannon destroy a tank?

Using the cannon, the A-10 is capable of disabling a main battle tank from a range of over 6,500 m. While modern battle tanks have quite sophisticated armor protection (for the crew), there are many vital components with less protection.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on aviation.stackexchange.com


What happens to Russian tank crew when hit?

The Russian T-72 main battle tank's ammunition sits in a carousel-style automatic loader directly beneath the main turret and members of the crew. a chain reaction, killing the crew and destroying the tank. “For a Russian crew, if the ammo storage compartment is hit, everyone is dead,” said Robert E.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on washingtonpost.com


Why do Russian tanks explode?

A Russian tank apparently rolled over a mine before being hit by Ukrainian ordnance that caused it to explode in what is known as a Jack-in-the-box effect. The Jack-in-the-box effect happens when a tank's ammunition compartment explodes, causing its turret to be violently torn off the rest of the vehicle.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on newsweek.com


How many tanks does Russia have left?

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) The Military Balance, the Russians have 2,800 tanks and 13,000 other armored vehicles (reconnaissance and infantry fighting vehicles) in units with another 10,000 tanks and 8,500 armored vehicles in storage.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on csis.org


What is the deadliest tank in the world?

The new Russian T-14 Armata main battle tank (MBT), dubbed the “world's deadliest tank,” has been making headlines ever since its first public appearance during this year's May 9 Victory parade in Moscow.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thediplomat.com


What fuel do Russian tanks use?

This engine can be fuelled by T-2 or TS-1 kerosene and A-72 benzine, in addition to diesel. The tank can carry up to 1,600l of fuel in the main fuel tanks and fuel drums. The fuel tanks are reinforced with armour plating.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on army-technology.com