Also the suicidal LAW ambush on the Kiev convoy. The RPG airburst above the turret. Somehow that was enough to cook the ammo inside and kill the tank.
Russian tanks are used around the world, and have a sturdy reputation. This is just blowing my mind
mayonesa@wolfballs.com 3 years ago
Modern anti-tank missiles are designed to proximity burst above the target tank with a shaped charge blasting downward, since the top armor is the thinnest, hoping to hit fuel or ammo. If not, they at least cook the crew or slice them up with spalling.
iamtanmay@wolfballs.com 3 years ago
So I heard, but its incredible to see it. The turrets are thick steel. A Javelin skewering it straight down is understandable, but proximity burst doing so much damage is amazing.
Last 20 years, Americans lost only a couple of tanks to friendly fire or technical issues like engine damage. ISIS/Taliban RPGs never penetrated Abrams. Russian tanks had similar reputation. Maybe Americans were lucky Russia didn't sell ISIS modern ATGMs
mayonesa@wolfballs.com 3 years ago
Abrams have only rarely been knocked out by direct fire from other tanks. They have fallen prey to artillery and AGTMs. The armor on the sides of the turret, which slants, presents a thicker surface through which a projectile must travel. In addition, the Abrams uses Cobham armor, interlocking layers of different materials that cause a projectile to alternately expand and then get smashed by harder surfaces. RPG-7s fire at the sides of tanks since they have no proximity fuses, at least on the regular projectiles, and have no hope of penetrating the armor although they might be able to blow off treads, prismatic sights, or engine covers.
Shaped charge explosives are kind of terrifying, since they're a cross between a kaboom and a cannon.