Russian tank armor may not be what you think

[para bellum]

This piece is about the armor on some T-72's and T-80's. There are pics from Oryx of the bags broke open and these plastic egg carton things inside. Apparently these are just bags meant to be filled with sand, not real ERA.

I found a diagram but I can't read the Russian. Click the thumbnail for full size.

Article first.

The ‘egg cartons’ of the Russian tanks: the poor protection of many T-72B3 and T-80

www.outono.net

 

[para bellum]

Anecdote from a retired GySgt. I know.

"Years ago I was on the first Partnership for Peace exercise that the US did with Bulgaria.
Truck ran into the side of one of their tanks, cracked and ripped a couple of ERA tiles off. Called EOD.
Turns out that Soviet ERA was nothing but blocks of wood covered with metal.
The Bulgarians were shocked and a bit pissed off"

 

[para bellum]

I think the idea from the drawing is that the ERA panels are supposed to be inside the bags and just held in position by the plastic spacers. That would make sense. There just aren't any ERA panels inside the broke open bags for whatever reason.

 

[White 6]

Anecdote from a retired GySgt. I know.

"Years ago I was on the first Partnership for Peace exercise that the US did with Bulgaria.
Truck ran into the side of one of their tanks, cracked and ripped a couple of ERA tiles off. Called EOD.
Turns out that Soviet ERA was nothing but blocks of wood covered with metal.
The Bulgarians were shocked and a bit pissed off"

Elon Musk offers to buy Russian Army for $100, half-empty bottle of Stoli

Now that's a steal.

www.duffelblog.com