Those Soviet tanks on the Ukrainian front are as old as Putin

In the absence of heavy military equipment, Russia has already sent T-62 tanks to the front in Ukraine. Not that the 40-ton T-62, with its plain steel armor and 115mm gun, couldn’t be a good tank. He was destined to be half a century ago. But the Soviets had already phased out the T-62 in the 1980s. About 10,000 of these old tanks are said to be stored in Russia, including the T-72 and T-80 series. They have been outdoors for decades, exposed to the elements and scavengers. Their rubber seals are brittle, the electronics are corroded and the optics are dull.

The same is probably true of an even older old tank that the Russians are now apparently bringing to the front: the BTR-50 amphibious troop transporter, which was produced in the Soviet Union from 1952 to 1970. Russian military bloggers shared footage of a convoy of armored tractors transporting BTR-50s from a depot on Feb. 23. These Soviet tanks are as old as Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was born on October 7, 1952: 70 years old.

According to unconfirmed reports, the tanks will be deployed near Zaporizhia. The exact scope remains unclear. On the other hand, it is clear that the Russian armed forces are apparently making great efforts to replace tanks lost in previous failed offensives. The Ukrainians destroyed and captured many. “The perceived absence of several armored units in Ukraine indicates that the Russian military is still struggling to replace armored equipment, especially tanks, lost in previous failed offensive operations,” the intelligence information portal “Critical Threats” analyzes. The portal evaluates unclassified information to provide an ongoing assessment of threats to the US and its allies.

Kamikaze missions?

“The use of old Soviet armored vehicles from the camps is another indication,” the analysis continues, “that the Russian armed forces do not have the necessary armored equipment to conduct modern mechanized assaults across Ukraine.”

The Red Army had used the BTR-50 to carry up to 20 soldiers and equipment. Russian infantry should not be too enthusiastic about operations in the obsolete armored personnel carrier. The vehicle cannot be exited via a tailgate, as is the case today, but only via a roof hatch – which is why the BTR-50 is also referred to as a “death trap”. His armor also consists only of steel and not multi-layered composite materials as they are today.

Russian military bloggers rub their eyes in surprise. The combat vehicle is certainly not the “modern war weapon” that Moscow likes to talk about. Military observers suspect the armored personnel carriers could also serve as kamikaze weapons – controlled remotely to destroy fortified positions. (kes)

Source: Blick