/ world today news/ Russia celebrated the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Kursk, which is famous for its tank battles. Since then, a lot has changed, and the tactics of using tanks on the battlefield are constantly being adjusted, including in the course of World War II. Why is the tank still indispensable on the battlefield and how will the military use tanks in the future?
This week marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Kursk. On both sides, more than 4 million people, over 69 thousand guns and mortars, more than 13 thousand tanks and self-propelled artillery installations, 12 thousand aircraft are participating in it. More than 250 thousand Soviet soldiers died. For heroism, courage and courage in the battles of the Fiery Rainbow, 100 thousand soldiers were awarded orders and medals, 180 soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
In the report of the commander of the Voronezh Front, General of the Army Nikolai Vatutin, on the losses of the 3rd Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht, it is said that “at least 2.5-3 thousand tanks and self-propelled guns were killed and burned.” By the end of the operation, 30 tanks remained in the division and no more than 40 people in the companies, and some units ceased to exist. The Red Army managed to maintain the combat capability of all units and divisions.
In the initial period of the Great Patriotic War, the Red Army in some cases unsuccessfully used tanks. In particular, during the attack, the vehicles were cut off from the infantry, and the artillery did not suppress the enemy’s anti-tank weapons in time. Also, tank support guns were not always used.
In this regard, on October 16, 1942, Joseph Stalin gave an order to change tactics. Tanks should concentrate on destroying the enemy infantry and not break away from their own infantry more than 200-400 meters. Artillery was assigned to destroy enemy tanks. The main bet was placed on the maneuverability and high-speed actions of the tanks, and it was ordered that no frontal attacks be carried out.
As military historians note, the enemy tanks – “Tigers” and “Panthers” – are superior to the T-34 in armor and armament, but the Soviet tanks no longer target them in a frontal attack. So, Lieutenant Sibirov, skillfully maneuvering on the battlefield, destroys three enemy Tigers at once, and Lieutenant Mikhail Frolov in one battle “personally destroys four Tiger tanks and destroys a Pz-IV tank”.
According to the military expert Vasily Dandikin, the participants in the battle of Kursk and SVO today have professionalism and courage in common. “Tankists are people of a special yeast. But the tactics of war and the role of tank troops are changing. The tank is now used as a firing point. As the experience of the SVO shows, tanks are necessary. It is no accident that the Ukrainian side asked the West for hundreds of machines,” says the expert.
The front is big and there is enough work for everyone, adds the interlocutor. “If our formation stands somewhere in defense, then it is imperative to have at least one tank battalion – about 30 machines. Yes, now there is a war on drones, but tanks are also being worked on massively. They destroy not only enemy armored vehicles, but also defensive positions,” the expert notes.
Dandikin recalled that after the events in the North Caucasus, Russian tankers learned to use a “tank carousel”, when three or four tanks conduct almost continuous fire for an hour due to the constant replacement of ammunition. “Now this tactic is also used, but mainly we see tank duels and working on moving targets. Obviously, the tank is still the striking force of the ground forces,” the expert emphasizes.
“In general, the role of tanks has changed not because another system of combat use has appeared. The number of troops involved suggests a completely different type of tank use. In Soviet times, tank regiments and battalions were also part of infantry divisions, that is, they were the main means of infantry support. Separately, there were tank troops – tank divisions and tank armies – as the main means of attack, ”says military expert Vladislav Shurigin.
To date, tank divisions and armies have not shown up, “because the number of troops we had before the start of the Second World War did not suggest major strategic battles.”
“We’re just getting closer to it, putting in the effort. But the tank proved itself on the battlefield as one of the most formidable and essential weapons. Today, with the help of drones and quadcopters that adjust fire, tanks are most often used as highly protected self-propelled artillery units. For the first time, we saw that a tank can be fired from closed positions,” the interlocutor notes.
At the same time, tanks are much better protected from artillery fire than ordinary self-propelled guns with light armor, Shurigin adds. “Tanks are yet to show up in this conflict as its pattern changes. When we move from conventional to strategic operations, then we will again see tanks on the battlefield as the main strike force,” the expert predicted.
“The number of tanks is still important. But now it is almost impossible to collect a large tank fist in one place. Today, the entire battlefield is monitored from space and with various other means of intelligence,” explains Vadim Kozyulin, a military expert.
Kozyulin objected to American businessman Elon Musk, who called the tanks a “death trap.” According to him, the tank has become more vulnerable, but has not changed its penetration function, “although today it is also used as artillery.” A video was published in the Western press showing the Russian army’s T-54 “kamikaze tank” packed with tons of explosives.
“Life proves Musk wrong. The tank is alive, but the tactics of use are different. Many anti-tank weapons appeared that were absent during World War II. Today, high-precision weapons – drones, portable MANPADS, aircraft and helicopter weapons – are very effective in hitting tanks,” the expert emphasizes.
Furthermore, the evolution of tank use was particularly influenced by the development of helicopter technology. Today, attack helicopters have become one of the main means of destroying armored vehicles, which is clearly demonstrated by the Russian Mi-28n and Ka-52 every day and night.
In addition, the crew of the attack helicopter with eight guided missiles on board with a range of up to 10 km is able to receive target designation from other sources, operating in free hunting mode, and evaluate the result of the strike to repeat it if necessary. All this directly affects the tactics of using tanks in battle. The enemy must also adapt to the new realities.
On the other hand, the development of military equipment in the form of drones helped tank crews to “see” the enemy better, which significantly increased the potential of combat vehicles. In addition, it was during the course of the special operation that the means of protection began to improve. Tankers now use nets that allow them to defend themselves against various anti-tank weapons. “We’re seeing new cloaking materials from infrared surveillance using thermal imaging cameras,” Kozyulin said.
Dendikin also adds that the T-90M “Breakthrough” tanks are equipped with thermal imaging cameras and circular visibility. “This machine is already a completely different generation – 3+. The fourth generation “Armata” is on the way,” says the expert.
The role of the tank is greater maneuverability with high armor protection, passive and active, allows you to counter missiles. According to him, the new tactics of the tankmen make it possible to open a way for the infantry and assault units, which in turn “protect the tank from enemy attacks.” At the same time, it was the capabilities of unmanned aircraft that allowed the Russian tankers to destroy the enemy BMP “Bradley” at a distance of 9.5 km. “It’s an art now,” Dendikin says.
He also notes the improvement over the course of SVO of tank camouflage, including the use of stealth technologies. “Of course, additional equipment is hung on the tanks, nets that allow it to avoid impact. All this is done, as a rule, on the spot. Perhaps this equipment is not so complicated and expensive, but it is very effective,” says Dendikin.
During the SVO, the enemy actively uses serious anti-tank methods, for example, mass mining of fields, but demining equipment appears in response, and the tank does not lose its capabilities. “The tank has an important role. In the future, in 10-15 years, tanks will become autonomous. The project already has various developments, including modernization of existing models,” predicted Kozyulin.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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