Problems of Russian Tanks in Ukraine: Part-1

Why are Russian tanks hit so easily?

For a while, "Do tanks no longer matter?" and "The rise and fall of armored units", we try to draw attention to the problems that tanks and armored vehicles face in today's wars. Similarly, we publish videos on our Youtube channel. Our aim is to try to draw the attention of those concerned to take the necessary measures so that the Turkish army does not experience the same problems in possible battles in the future.

In our opinion, this issue is very important. Because in the wars and conflicts in recent years, tanks and other armored vehicles have fallen into a pitiful situation, and contrary to their imposing appearance, they have turned out to be quite vulnerable. It is possible to understand this from the scraps of hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles destroyed in Syria, Karabakh and Ukraine. The tanks and armored vehicles destroyed in these wars are Russian made. For this reason, we wrote the topic title as “The problems Russian tanks and armored vehicles face in today's wars”.

This does not mean that tanks and armored vehicles of other countries will not face the same results when they take to the battlefields. Although the tanks and armored vehicles of other countries do not yet face a clear challenge arising from the new weapons on the battlefield and the techniques and tactics applied in the use of these weapons, we do not have data to claim that they will be much more successful in a possible battle than the Russian tanks. Therefore, unless proven otherwise, what we write here applies to all tanks and armored vehicles.

Why did tanks and armored vehicles fall into this situation?

There are many reasons for this, but the shortest answer we can give is the increase in threats both numerically and in size. In fact, weapons, tools, equipment and equipment have been invented and used to combat tanks and armored vehicles from the first day they appeared on the battlefields. In other words, the enemies of tanks and armored vehicles are not new. Despite this, tanks and armored vehicles maintained their dominant positions in world armies throughout the Cold War. Because many weapons, vehicles, equipment, equipment and armor have been developed to protect tanks and armored vehicles against these tank enemies. Also, some tactics and techniques have been found for their use.

However, the use of new weapons and vehicles that have deadly consequences for tanks as a result of the technological developments experienced today seem to have rendered all these measures ineffective. Because, while the old classical weapons, tools, equipment and equipment continue to be used, the number and size of threats have increased, as new technology weapons and tools are used in sync with them, and therefore the existing defense systems and armors have become inadequate.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of tanks and armored vehicles?

After the front and the bottom, the strongest sides of the tank are the right and left sides. The sides are followed by the top of the tank. The weakest part of the tank is the rear. Because the engine of the tank is at the back and the engine is both sensitive to combustion and the tank is of no use when it is rendered inoperable in any way. The most easily destroyed or inoperable part of the tank after the engine is the pallet.

Why is it important to render the engine and track inoperable?

Because the most important feature of tanks and armored vehicles is that they can move rapidly by providing armor protection and fire at the same time. The invention of tanks also stemmed from these needs. Due to the widespread use of wire barriers in the First World War, the time for infantry soldiers to reach the defense positions was prolonged, and for the first time in history, the soldiers who survived for a long time could not reach the defensive position due to the widespread use of artillery barrages and machine gun detention fires.

That's why tanks were invented to quickly reach defensive positions without casualties. In other words, the primary purpose of the invention of tanks is to provide mobility to the troops. If the tank is stationary or slowed down, it cannot provide this expected function. It also becomes a stable and easy target for anti-tank guns. For this reason, from the first days of use of tanks and armored vehicles, tank barriers (steel hedgehogs, concrete tank barriers, tank trenches, etc.) have also been used to stop and slow them down.

What changes do tanks undergo against these threats?

For the obstacles developed against tanks and armored vehicles, new weapons and equipment were found to minimize their effects and were included in the inventory of the armies. In this context; Various mines and ammunition (such as explosives used by engineering forces to clear a passage through the minefield and obstacle zone), vehicles (such as mine clearing tanks and vehicles) and equipment (such as mine plow) have been developed to destroy, remove or neutralize tank obstacles. By using these, it has become possible for tanks and armored vehicles to advance rapidly by passing through the passages and gaps opened in the obstacles they encounter on the battlefields.

On the other hand, anti-aircraft machine guns are mounted on the tanks in order to defend tanks and armored vehicles against aircraft and attack helicopters. In addition, shoulder-fired air defense weapons that can be used by a single soldier, anti-aircraft machine guns and missiles capable of firing from platforms and stands that can be used on the ground, and air defense weapons mounted on wheeled or tracked vehicles have been developed.

Despite these developments, why have tanks and armored vehicles become vulnerable today?

Because all the developments we have described so far are valid for the classical field battles between the two armies and have remained valid until recently. However, recent wars, called Hybrid Wars and regular armies, as well as terrorist organizations, criminal gangs, companies made up of mercenaries, armed people, etc. has been moved to a new dimension where many armed elements have also become parties to the conflict. In other words, pedestrian elements, mostly irregularly armed civilians, are now opposed to tanks and armored vehicles, rather than tanks or armored vehicles.

In addition, the battles began to take place mostly in the form of residential area battles. The battles outside the residential areas are also experienced in the form of attrition battles in which unconventional warfare tactics and techniques are used rather than classical conventional warfare tactics and techniques.

This situation has put tanks and armored vehicles in trouble. Because it is difficult to use tanks and armored vehicles, which are quite a big target, in built-up areas. In the countryside, it is quite problematic for armored units to cope with the attacks of small pedestrian elements (tank hunter teams) equipped with anti-tank weapons. These new conditions cause tanks and armored vehicles not to provide the expected impact effect and to be destroyed as easy targets.

Tanks and armored vehicles generally encounter attacks from three directions. These are from the bottom of the tank, that is, from the ground; They are threats coming from the sides (front, right, back and left) and from above, that is, from the air.

In classical armored unit combat concepts, tanks are used to create impact effects by using armor protection, firepower and mobility. In this case, the two armies that come face to face on the battlefield are firing at each other's tanks and armored vehicles mostly from the front. For this reason, the armor of the tanks is the thickest and most durable part of the front. Another common threat is conventional mines, so the bottom of the tank is just as strong as the front.

The most important source of the problems experienced was the new weapons, vehicles and ammunition that emerged due to the developments in technology. The most effective of these are SİHAs and new generation anti-tank weapons. SİHAs can easily hit tanks and armored vehicles without being affected by air defense weapons. The new generation anti-tank weapons (guns such as N-LAW and Javelin) used by small tank destroyers both have a very high accuracy rate and target the turret area, which is one of the areas where armor protection is weakest. These weapons can be used by everyone after a short training period, and they are little affected by personnel errors as they work with the "forget" logic.

Use of Handmade Explosives Against Tanks:

In addition, explosives called Handmade Explosives (EYPs), which can be made with materials that can be bought from the market, have also emerged as a major threat to tanks and armored vehicles. These are cheap to make, and after a few hours of training, they can be manufactured and used by almost everyone, not just soldiers. Only one person is sufficient for ignition.

In addition to these new threats, old generation anti-tank weapons, tanks and artillery and rocket/missile units are also used against tanks. In fact, tanks can be easily destroyed with a Molotov cocktail made with gasoline and burnt oil filled in a bottle. For this reason, tanks face threats from a wide range of weapons and munitions, from old to cutting-edge technology. Thanks to this weapon and ammunition, tanks and armored vehicles; It is exposed to attacks from top, bottom and sides (front, right, left and rear), that is, from every direction and cannot defend itself against it.

Tanks and armored vehicles are quite expensive. A tank with all its equipment and ammunition costs around 8-10 million dollars. The weapons and ammunition used to destroy them can be manufactured with costs starting from 8-10 dollars. Even Molotov cocktails can be produced for a few dollars. Even SİHA and new generation anti-tank weapons, which attract everyone's attention because they are so effective in Karabakh and Ukraine, are incomparably cheaper than the price of a tank.

In other words, tanks and armored vehicles have lost most of their effectiveness on the battlefields and have ceased to be economically useful. Despite their million-dollar price, their very low impact shows that they are not a cost-effective weapon. This situation reduces the weight of armored units on the battlefields. As a matter of fact, Russia also failed in the operation with its army, which was mainly organized with armored units, with heavy casualties. Thereupon, he had to narrow the area of ​​operation and started to keep his armored units in the background by putting forward his infantry and special units.

(To be continued)