# data[].attributes.body
The Sturmtiger was Germany's answer to the problem of fighting troops in urban environments - deny the enemy usage of a building or fortification by simply turning it to rubble.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Sturmtiger was Germany's answer to the problem of fighting troops in urban environments - deny the enemy usage of a building or fortification by simply turning it to rubble.

We say "simply", but such a task was anything but simple. In fact, it required a 380 mm rocket launcher and 70 tons of armor, tracks and engine just to have a chance.

The Sturmtiger, officially designated the Sturmmörserwagen 606/4 mit 38 cm RW 61, was an assault gun built on the chassis of the already-powerful Tiger I. It was specially designed to survive the brutal conditions of urban warfare while demolishing city structures.

As such, few vehicles from the Second World War match the power, armor protection and sheer scale of the Sturmtiger.

Only 18 of these mighty beasts were built, with just two still around today. This is the story of the Sturmtiger.

Contents

Background

After experiences in Stalingrad in 1942 and 1943, the German High Command (OKW) started reviewing ideas to address complaints from those in the field about the need for an armored vehicle specifically designed to fight in urban environments.

Such a vehicle was needed because in these areas, threats can come from all directions. This, combined with reduced vision and space to maneuverer make towns and cities a tanker's worst nightmare.

Any tanks that do survive the gauntlet of urban combat have the next problem of not having enough firepower to knock down structures occupied by defenders.

Places like the infamous Pavlov's House or the Grain Elevator in Stalingrad conjured up vivid nightmares for Wehrmacht commanders, as conventional ordnance did not have the precision nor power to take them down.

Read More Karl-Gerät - A 600 mm Siege Mortar

The Germans had developed assault guns for these conditions before, namely the Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33B and the Sturmpanzer IV (Brummbär), both of which were armed with a 150 mm weapon.

However they needed something with more armor and a bigger gun.

Sturmtiger Development

Fortunately for the German army, the Kriegsmarine had been developing a weapon that they soon saw fit to be the answer to their problems. Known as the Raketenwerfer 61 L/54, it was originally designed as a coastal depth charge launcher to for use against submarines.

This was a massive weapon, with a bore of 380 mm (15 in). Despite its origins, its size leant it well to being adapted for use against buildings and fortifications.

After working with the navy, the army produced their own version with a max range of around 5,500 meters (18,000 ft).

With their main armament chosen, the army now had to make the decision on how to field it. Few vehicles were in service in 1943 that could carry such a large weapon and have the armor to survive urban combat.

Read More Object 704 - A 152 mm Beast

As such, it was decided that the Tiger I would be the basis of this vehicle. This eliminated typical production issues and teething problems. It also dramatically increased the speed at which a new design can come online.

Not that this made much of a difference in the Sturmtiger's case, as it ran into significant delays.

In August 1943 the German OKW officially proposed the plan to Hitler, who approved a test model. In October of that same year he viewed the prototype and was impressed - which isn't surprising considering his love for large armored vehicles.

However, the first Sturmtigers were not completed until February 1944, and an order was not placed until April.

Because the German military desperately needed Tiger tanks on the battlefield, no newly construction hulls could be spared. Hitler personally ordered that only Tiger I hulls needing a depot-level overhaul in Germany could be cannibalized for the program.

The Sturmtiger

Naturally for a weapon of this size and power, a turret was not used and the armament was instead placed in a fixed casemate.

Early concepts of the Sturmtiger featured a rear mounted casemate, but as this would have required moving the engine to the front of the Tiger hull the idea was discarded.

The casemate enabled the Sturmtiger to carry large quantities of armor - after all, to survive in urban environments it would have to be amongst the most heavily armored vehicles the German military had ever produced.

Armor was added on top of the already well-protected Tiger I. The sides and rear remained 82 mm as standard to the Tiger I, but the front of the casemate was an astonishing 150 mm thick.

This was sloped back at 47 degrees, giving it an effective thickness of over 200 mm.

The armor additions brought the Sturmtiger's weight to more than 70 tons, about ten tons heavier than the Tiger I. As it lacked the longer 88 mm gun, its overall length was shorter than the Tiger I at around 6.2 meters (21 ft).

Despite the new superstructure, the overall height was actually about 15 cm (6 in) lower at 2.8 meters (9 ft 4 in) tall.

Unfortunately for the Sturmtiger, it used the same 700 hp Maybach HL 230 P45 V12 petrol engine from the Tiger I. Still, it was able to reach a respectable 23 mph on road.

The superstructure was the result of building the vehicle around the Raketenwerfer. This box-like superstructure provided plenty of room, and the two loader's had space to work.

Read More What Does a Muzzle Brake Do?

Coming in at almost five feet long and weighing around 350 kgs (770 lbs), these rockets were no joke to handle. They were comically large, with each projectile measuring 1.5 meters (5 ft) long, despite the mortar tube length of just 2 meters.

They were loaded into the Sturmtiger via a crane.

When loading the vehicle, two crew members would balance the rounds on the ground while the crane operator positioned a claw around the center mass of the round - marked with a white stripe. After securing the claw, the round would be winched upwards and lowered in to the superstructure through an opening in the roof.

Once inside the Sturmtiger, the crew distributed the rounds to their racks either side of the weapon. A total of 12 rounds could be stowed, with the option to carry one in the feed cradle and another in the barrel, bringing the total load to 14 rockets.

The Sturmtiger's 380 mm mortar has a distinct arrangement of tubes around its barrel. These were added to vent gasses from the rocket-propelled projectiles.

Without these ports, the pressure produced by the rockets would have ruptured the mortar.

In total just 18 were built, a number far too small to have any noticeable impact on the outcome of the Second World War. A few did see significant action however.

Service

The army organized three units to field these beasts, including the prototype. Designated Assault Mortar Companies 1000, 1001, and 1002, each one received four of the new construction Sturmtigers, with Company 1000 receiving the prototype.

Companies 1001 and 1002 were posted to the Western Front, while Company 1000 saw action in the east. It was Company 1000 that would see the first action of any of the vehicles.

During the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, the German military quickly realized that this urban environment was perfect for the Sturmtiger. Beginning in August, the prototype saw almost daily combat in the city and pummeled hardened positions to great effect. Several more of Company 1000's Sturmtigers were redeployed from Hungary to Warsaw for the battle.

Probably as a result of the immensely positive feedback received, Hitler personally ordered five more to be built. The repair facilities completed these by the end of the year, just in time to see service in the Ardennes Offensive.

Read More The M53/55 - 203.2 mm of American Freedom

All three companies saw extensive service in the offensive, with Company 1000 and 1001 deployed in the south and Company 1002 in the north. However, the technical deficincies of the Sturmtiger quickly became apparent, with some breaking down before entering combat.

Three of Company 1001's four Sturmtigers broke down and did not participate.

After the failure of the campaign, the army redeployed Company 1000 back to the east, and it is here that one of its vehicles fell into Soviet hands in either Poland or East Prussia. Companies 1001 and 1002 remained on the Western front. It is here that Company 1001 claimed the only tank kills of the vehicle's history.

When the Americans tried to force their way across the bridge at Remagen, German high command sent in both companies of Sturmtigers to the area; one from Company 1001 claimed to have fired a rocket into a village where American Sherman tanks were waiting. The attack is said to have knocked out more than one Sherman.

Not long after this claimed attack, Company 1001 ferried the remainder of its vehicles across the river and fired the last of its ammunition to stop the American advance. Once out of ammo, their crews surrendered.

Company 1002 shared a similar fate. Having backed away from the Remagen bridgehead, it got caught up in the Ruhr Pocket. After fighting for several weeks, it fired its last shots on April 16, 1945, against approaching American tanks and surrendered in good order shortly afterward.

Conclusion

The Sturmtiger was a theoretically effective weapon that came too late in the war to have any good effect. Though its combat service in Warsaw was superb, the chances for it to shine were few and far between by the summer of 1944, as the Wehrmacht was, in general, on the defensive.

This late in the war, its limited utility is seen in how the Germans employed them on the Western Front. After January 1945, the remaining companies fell under artillery command and control. Hence, these monsters meant to take out city blocks became at best a short-range indirect fire weapons with limited combat utility outside a city.

Read More 2B1 "Oka" - The SPG that Broke Itself When Firing

For those that want to see these larger-than-life machines in person, one of Company 1001's vehicles seized by the US is currently on display in Germany, and another, captured by the Red Army, is on display at Kubinka, Russia.

Meanwhile, The Tank Museum, Bovington have a Sturmtiger rocket launcher.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sturmtiger - The Tiger with a 380 mm Rocket Launcher - Tank Historia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Sturmtiger was Germany's answer to the problem of fighting troops in urban environments - deny the enemy usage of a building or fortification by simply turning it to rubble. We say "simply", but such a task was anything but simple.

# data[].attributes.body
Compared to other contemporary MBTs like the Challenger 2 and Abrams, the K2 Black Panther is a very recent design. The K2 is full of cutting-edge systems and technologies as a fourth-generation MBT.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Leopard 2, M1A2 Abrams, Challenger 2 and T-14 Armata are often regarded as the top dogs on today's lists of current main battle tanks. However, South Korea's K2 Black Panther certainly deserves a place near the top of these lists.

Designed almost entirely in house by South Korea, the K2 is one of the newest and most advanced main battle tanks (MBT) around today.

An intense development phase saw South Korea investigate and incorporate the best features from foreign designs into a single high performing machine.

The K2 Black Panther outguns even the M1A2 Abrams, but despite its heavyweight punch, it is more than 10 tons lighter than its American counterpart.

Production of the K2 started in 2008 and the tank entered service in 2014. Today, it is South Korea's most formidable armored vehicle.

Contents

History

As with many vehicles, the story of the K2 started long before its development.

After the Korean War the Korean peninsula was split into two; North Korea and South Korea.

The two neighbours signed an armistice in 1953 which brought the fighting to an end, but tensions between the countries remained high. Both North and South Korea heavily invested in their militaries to deal with one another should war break out again.

By the late 1970s North Korea possessed large numbers of powerful Soviet-designed MBTs. Meanwhile, South Korea had smaller numbers of inferior tanks like M47 and M48 Pattons provided by the US.

Constantly fearing a North Korean attack, South Korea attempted to obtain newer foreign designs like the M60 and Leopard 1.

This did not work, so they decided to build a tank themselves.

But they quickly hit a wall: South Korea had never designed an MBT before and lacked the infrastructure and technical knowhow to do so on their own. Therefore, they had to rely on significant foreign help.

They planned to select a foreign design and built it domestically under license. They settled on the XM1 - the M1 Abrams' prototype - to be the basis for their new tank. After inspecting the design South Korea made many modifications that tuned the tank to their particular needs.

The resulting tank was named the K1 and entered service in 1987. Externally it resembled the Abrams, even being nicknamed the "baby Abrams" by US troops in the country.

It carried the same 105 mm gun as the early Abrams and was vastly more capable than anything North Korea had at the time.

Still, around 80 percent of the tank was foreign, preventing South Korea from exporting it to other nations.

In 1995 South Korea's Agency for Defense Development (ADD) began a project to design and build a new tank entirely in-house. It would improve on the still-powerful K1, and, as it was a local design, South Korea would be free to export it.

South Korea spent the next two years establishing what they wanted and how they would get it done. This tank would be called the K2.

They investigated and inspected numerous systems and features from the best tanks around the world, generating ideas and technologies that they could then incorporate into their new design.

An unmanned turret was suggested for the K2, as was a 140 mm gun smoothbore gun from Rheinmetall, but in the end designers settled on a conventional manned turret and a crew of three.

Five XK2 demonstrators were built over the mid 2000s and the type was cleared for acceptance into the military.

Inside was a 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun developed by ADD and Hyundai Wia. This gun is even longer than the Abrams' 120 mm L/44 gun, and can fire 120 mm NATO standard rounds.

The gun is loaded by an autoloader, which is similar to the one used in the France's Leclerc MBT.

Mass production started in 2013, with the K2 entering service with the South Korean military in 2014.

The K2 Black Panther

Compared to other contemporary MBTs like the Challenger 2 and Abrams, which entered service in the 1990s and 1980s respectively, the K2 Black Panther is a very recent design.

As a fourth generation MBT the K2 is packed full of cutting edge systems and technologies.

It is protected by conventional steel, classified composite armor, explosive reactive armor and active protection systems.

For about the first 100 vehicles built, the German 1,500 hp MTU MT-883 ka501 V12 diesel engine was used due to supply issues with South Korea's planned engine. However these supply issues were rectified, and the following tanks were produced with locally manufactured power packs of equal power.

The vehicle weighs 61 tons.

One of its most famous features is its advanced suspension system which is known as the In-arm Suspension Unit (ISU). Each bogie can be controlled independently from the rest.

The K2 Black Panther is able to improve off-road handling by adjusting each bogie to best suit the terrain at hand. It also gives the tank the ability to "sit", "kneel" and "lean" by dropping the suspension at the back, front or on one side.

This significantly increases the tank's usable gun depression and elevation.

Furthermore, the tank is equipped with a Dynamic Track Tensioning System that continuously maintains track tension, even through harsh manoeuvres.

In addition to its excellent mobility, the K2 Black Panther can also travel through rivers 4.1 meters deep, despite its height of 2.4 meters.

Top speed is 43 mph (70 km/h) on road and 31 mph (50 km/h) off road.

However, the tanks most impressive feature is its sophisticated and highly capable fire control system. The CN08 120 mm smoothbore gun is one of the most capable on any MBT today, and can fire at a rapid pace thanks to its autoloading mechanism.

A high frequency radar system is mounted on the front of the turret and scans the area ahead. Using this and other sensors like thermal imagers and laser range finders, the fire control system can lock onto targets over 6 miles away, including aircraft.

The K2 Black Panther is also able to automatically delay a shot momentarily if the gunner fires as the tank hits a bump on the ground. Once the gun has returned over the target, it will fire.

Sensors monitor the tank's surroundings and watch for incoming fire. If this is detected, the turret will automatically and rapidly rotate towards the threat.

It is also likely that the fire control system has the ability to detect, select and fire at targets without any input from a human. This may be achieved by the tank's software analysing data received from other friendly assets in the field.

From his position the commander is able to completely override the gunner and take control of the turret and firing.

Incredibly, there are rumours that this extends even further and that the vehicle can theoretically be operated by a single crewmember in emergency situations.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that the K2 Black Panther is one of the best tanks in the world right now (at least in general metrics). There is even a fair argument to be made that it is the premier MBT on the planet right now.

The tank has already received some great export success, with Poland recently signing a multi-billion dollar deal with South Korea to receive, and locally manufacture up to 1,000 K2 Black Panther tanks in the coming years.

Read More Why are Some Tanks Covered in Blocks?

It may be built for a relatively small country with an overshadowed military, but the K2 can tango with the very best and win.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
K2 Black Panther - South Korea's World Leading MBT - Tank Historia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Leopard 2, M1A2 Abrams, Challenger 2 and T-14 Armata are often regarded as the top dogs on today's lists of current main battle tanks. However, South Korea's K2 Black Panther certainly deserves a place near the top of these lists.

# data[].attributes.body
Experts have confirmed that the famous "lost" King Tiger Tank No 124 is to be insured for £2 Million by Lloyds of London it can be revealed. The tank in question is WW2 King Tiger No 124, which was lost in combat in August 1944 during the retreat towards Paris.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Experts have confirmed that the famous "lost" King Tiger Tank No 124 is to be insured for £2 million by Lloyds of London it can be revealed. Following a final decision by the French courts in 2021 the ownership of the 65 ton WW2 monster has been resolved and the new owners have an obligation to make sure that the tank is fully insured. This has involved having it officially valued for £2 million, and even now that figure may increase as more valuations are discussed.
The tank in question is WW2 King Tiger tank No 124 which was lost in combat in August 1944 during the retreat towards Paris. The Tiger II model SdKfz 182 belonged to the 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion, a unit who were at the forefront of the fighting to hold the advancing Allied forces back.

Some of the most famous tank battles in Normandy involved the 101st Panzer Battalion, including the famous battle for Villiers-Bocage undertaken almost single-handedly by tank ace Michael Wittmann. An action which resulted in him being awarded the Knight's Cross which was presented to him, personally, by Adolf Hitler.

Whilst in combat near the French town of Fontenay St. Pere, King Tiger No 124, commanded by Fritz Zahnner, was advancing into a wooded area along a road when the tank came under attack by US fighter-bombers. Although not hit, the King Tiger tank fell into a shell crater where the crew bailed out, leaving the tank to be disabled later by Allied soldiers.

The turret and barrel of Tiger 124 were removed to make it safe - but the army left the tank in the road and the turret in a ditch nearby.

The turret remnants were recovered around twenty years ago, but, sadly, they were not looked after. Following a publicity stunt all the original camouflage Zimmeritt coating was removed; the turret was sandblasted clean and then the bare metal was painted yellow. Nobody can explain why this was done, but it has left historians and tank experts astonished at the lack of interest and care shown to it by anyone.

The location of the turret is now unknown but the exact spot where Tiger 124 lies has been recorded during a detailed survey undertaken by a team from the University of Paris.

The owners spokesman, Neil Ford, confirmed that the insurance has to be in place as part of the change of ownership and the value was reached following consultation with insurance industry experts, world renowned vehicle collectors and WW2 museum valuers.

Neil said "For example...Tiger No 131 in the UK is reported to be insured for £20 million. The experts had to look at rarity, desirability and, above all, the unique history of this particular vehicle. King Tiger tank No 124 is a one-off with a well-known combat history. It fought during the battle of Normandy and it cannot be replaced."

World recognised WW2 German tank expert Kevin Wheatcroft, owner of The Wheatcroft Collection confirmed this sentiment and he added "Personally I am surprised that the insurance valuation is not higher... there are around 10 original King Tigers in the world and with the known combat history of No 124 I am sure it would fetch five times that amount if it was put on the open market"

The Wheatcroft Collection are currently restoring a number of Tigers - including two Tiger 1s and two Tiger IIs and they own dozens of other WW2 German tanks which have been restored. They know better than anyone the insurance values and costs involved in this type of work.

Musée des Blindés - The French tank museum at Saumur - were allegedly offered King Tiger tank No 124 on long term loan to help the museum boosts its funds. However, it appears they declined the offer. The recovery team are now in discussion with another museum in France and an announcement will be made in the near future.

Neil Ford again - "once Tiger 124 is recovered the aim has always been to put it on display to the public in France and that has never changed. It is bizarre if the Tank Museum in Saumur did turn down this opportunity, but they must have had their reasons."

A number of individuals and groups have tried to stop the recovery over the last few years. It appears that some people would prefer to see the tank left in the ground.

Author and historian Gary Sterne added "Historical items like Tiger 124 are not preserved by leaving them to rot in the ground. In the future the rarer items from WW2 will be treated with the same respect that Napoleonic artefacts are today. Knowing that in advance - we should do all we can to preserve them now."

As this project moves towards a conclusion there is a queue of historians, restorers, model makers and collectors; not to mention film directors, lining up to take a look at this long-lost beast. The next part of the story of King Tiger tank No 124 is just beginning and we will be following it closely.
Read More: Zimmerit: What is the Rough Texture on German Tanks?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Experts have confirmed that the famous "lost" King Tiger Tank No 124 is to be insured for £2 Million by Lloyds of London it can be revealed. The tank in question is WW2 King Tiger No 124, which was lost in combat in August 1944 during the retreat towards Paris.

# data[].attributes.body
The BMPT Terminator weapon is located on an unmanned turret. This is the mighty BMPT, a Russian armored fighting vehicle armed to the teeth and specialized for anti-infantry and urban roles.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This is the mighty BMPT, a Russian armored fighting vehicle that is armed to the teeth and specialised for anti-infantry work in urban environments.

Sprawling with missiles, autocannons and grenade launchers, the BMPT has been given the unofficial nickname "Terminator".

They are the result of lessons learned from high losses in urban warfare in the Soviet-Afghan War and actions in Chechnya.

The BMPT was designed specifically to solve this - with plenty of gun elevation and enough weapons for any potential target. The BMPT only entered service with Russia in 2018, but it has been operated by Kazakhstan since 2011.

Contents

Tank Escort

Ever since the creation of the tank in WWI it has been well understood that tanks without support can be picked off, even by infantry and basic anti-tank weapons.

No where is this more true than in urban areas.

These conditions are particularly dangerous for tanks as they are close quarters (some streets are too small to even rotate the turret) and contain many, many vantage points for an enemy.

Buildings add verticality to the battlefield, which provides foes with opportunities to strike the weak roof armor of tanks. And once under attack they are unable to return fire due to limited gun elevation.

Furthermore, the tightly packed buildings and streets allow the enemy to move around under cover and quickly retreat into hiding.

The Soviets experienced these difficulties first-hand during the Soviet-Afghan War. The undulating mountainous terrain gave Afghan defenders an advantage against Soviet tanks, who struggled to see and engage them.

Then in the First Chechen War Russian tanks were picked off in urban battles. In these scenarios the military was forced to use self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles with their high gun elevation to fight off infantry in hills or buildings.

These lessons motivated the Soviets to create a heavily armored vehicle that would deal with these threats to allow tanks to do their jobs properly.

Work had started on a vehicle of this nature in the 1980s at the Chelyabinsk plant. This generated two vehicles, the Object 781 and Object 782.

They were both built from heavily modified T-72B hulls and equipped with a vast array of weaponry for the anti-infantry role. The Object 781 carried two 30 mm guns, while the Object 782 carried a 100 mm gun and 30 mm gun.

The Soviets decided to continue with only the Object 781, but the entire project came to a halt in the 1990s when the Soviet Union collapsed.

However actions in Chechnya reminded the Russians of the need for a tank escort. The Chelyabinsk plant developed an entirely new vehicle between 1995 and 1996 known as the Object 787 (sometimes referred to as Object 754). This was the hull and turret of a T-72AV, but without the 125 mm gun.

Instead, high-elevation 30 mm guns were fitted to each side of the turret. Object 787 was also equipped with a pair of 12.7 mm machine guns and unguided missiles.

It proved to be highly successful in trials, but due to internal politics this machine would end up cancelled and in a museum.

Still, the project would once again be revived, this time by the Uralvagonzavod plant.

BMPT "Terminator"

Uralvagonzavod continued on using hulls of T-90 MBTs. Their creation was named the BMPT (meaning Tank Support Fighting Vehicle).

It was first shown off to the public in 2000, when it was equipped with an unmanned turret containing a single 30 mm cannon and four 9M133 "Kornet" missiles.

However before long the turret received an extra 30 mm cannon and the Kornets were swapped with the more capable "Ataka" anti-tank guided missiles.

The vehicle was also fitted with two 30 mm grenade launchers and a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun.

These weapons are operated individually by the crew of five, which consists of the driver, commander, gunner and two grenade launcher operators. Reportedly the vehicle can engage up to three separate targets at once, but this is doubted.

The 130 mm Ataka missiles can engage tanks, infantry and even aircraft.

Its firepower can best be described as overwhelming, if not overkill.

As it is based on the hull of a main battle tank the BMPT Terminator is exceptionally well armored for its class, with steel, composite and explosive reactive armor present. In fact, with all of the crew in the hull it likely has better survivability than the MBT it is based on.

The interior is lined with Kevlar to prevent spalling when hit.

In the rear is a 1,000 hp diesel engine giving it a top speed of 37 mph.

The Russians tested the BMPT in 2005, which resulted in a number of contrasting reports that went from "its great, we'll have it" to "we have no use for it". Around this time the machine was nicknamed "Terminator" by the press for its imposing appearance.

In 2010 Kazakhstan placed an order for 10 BMPTs. It created a doctrinal use for the vehicle alongside TOS-1A rocket launchers systems for anti-terrorism missions. This essentially involved flattening an area with suspected terrorist activites and then sending in the BMPTs to mop up survivors.

Kazakhstan signed a deal with Russia in 2013 for them to produce BMPTs themselves, but how far this went is unknown.

BMPT-72 "Terminator 2"

The BMPT-72 "Terminator 2" was an update on the BMPT, this time using the T-72 chassis. For simplicity will refer to this vehicle as the Terminator 2.

The Terminator 2 is mostly the same as the BMPT, but has upgraded ergonomics, fire control systems (FCS) and weapons, to name a few. It was designed as an upgrade package for existing T-72s (of which there are many) in the hopes of achieving great export success to the huge amount of countries that use the T-72.

Those fielding T-72s are able to simply to convert them into the Terminator 2 standard.

Uralvagonzavod removed the two 30 mm grenade launchers which reduced the crew to three. This was perfect for countries with the T-72, as they also used three crew members.

The Terminator 2's FCS was updated and it received panoramic sights from the T-90MS.

The last change was the addition of thin shields around the Ataka rockets to protect them from shrapnel and small projectiles.

The weaponry is the same as the BMPT (accept the removal of the grenade launchers). Its 30 mm guns can depress to -5 degrees and elevate to +45 degrees and have a maximum rate of fire of over 500 rounds a minute.

The Ataka launchers can depress to -5 degrees, elevate to +25 degrees and possess a range of 6,000 meters.

In 2017 Russia ordered a small batch of around 10 BMPT-hulled vehicles with Terminator 2 turrets. They still had little use for them as no doctrine had been developed involving them, so this was likely a promotional stunt to motivate export sales.

Algeria placed an order for 300 BMPTs (some reports indicate Terminator 2s) in 2016.

Are they Worth it?

The BMPT Terminator series of vehicles are truly impressive machines, with enough guns and armor to make a battleship jealous. However, they have been in development in one way or another since the 1980s, which begs the question, are they worth it?

Judging by exports and Russia's own actions, no.

It is never good for any machine to have such a long and protracted development as a military's needs and desires are constantly changing. For the BMPT this has meant the military no longer know what they want from the vehicle, nor how to use it.

Even its chief designer said he didn't know how the BMPT should be used back in 2002. The very design of the vehicle is contradictory in some ways and completely pointless in others.

Take the crew, for example. The BMPT Terminator needs a crew of five and was marketed towards countries that use T-72s - but T-72s have a crew of three. This would force any prospective buyer to bring in another two crew members per vehicle.

Another problem is with its performance, as in, it is simply too good. Its FCS is highly advanced and complicated, and its gun platform is stabilised on two planes. However tanks in urban combat move slowly, negating the need for such systems.

The final, and perhaps biggest problem with this type of vehicle is that it may not be needed at all. Proper urban warfare tactics are already capable of reducing a force's casualties in a city.

The US made excellent use of combined infantry and armor in cities in Iraq and suffered significantly less losses than the Soviets in Afghanistan and Russians in Chechnya.

The US further proves the fact BMPTs are pointless by not having anything comparable to it in their arsenal. The US military has gotten pretty good at this war stuff by now, and with their immense budget you can be sure that if they think there is a use for it they will have it.

Russia had hoped that the massive amount of T-72s all over the world would have generated great interest in the BMPT, but aside from Kazakhstan and Algiers this has not been the case. Even Russia has little doctrinal or financial means to use it.

Read More K2 Black Panther - South Korea's World Leading MBT

The BMPT Terminator was spotted in Ukraine, during Russia's invasion of the country in February 2022. While they are known to be in the country, there has been very few sightings of them, with even fewer showing them in combat zones. This has suggested that Russia is either using very small numbers of them, or keeping the BMPT Terminator away from danger.

Still, despite its flaws and somewhat overambitious nature, the BMPT Terminator looks awesome, and for us tank lovers that is all that matters much of the time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BMPT Terminator | Terminator Tanks | Tank Historia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This is the mighty BMPT, a Russian armored fighting vehicle that is armed to the teeth and specialised for anti-infantry work in urban environments. Sprawling with missiles, autocannons and grenade launchers, the BMPT has been given the unofficial nickname "Terminator".

# data[].attributes.body
Tiger 131 tank runs only twice a year, on Tiger Day in April and September, and always attracts huge crowds when it does. Visitors will have the chance to see it in action in a 45-minute WW2 tank display.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
See the world's only running Tiger I tank in action during its last outing of 2022, at Tiger Day 17th September at The Tank Museum.
Tiger 131 runs only twice a year, on Tiger Day in April and September, and always attracts huge crowds when it does. Visitors will have the chance to see it in action in a 45-minute WW2 tank display, including its 'Fury' movie co-star, the Sherman tank 'Fury'.

As well as an action-packed arena display, including the Panzer III, Comet, Chaffee and more, visitors will be able to get up close to vehicles in the Tank Park and explore military history traders set amongst the Museum collection.

The Tank Museum is also giving Tiger fans the chance to win a ride in its most famous exhibit in a special charity auction, starting 12th August, and raffle. Two lucky winners will take their seat on 17 September at Tiger Day.

Museum Curator David Willey said; "Tiger 131 Tank is the famous tank in the world and there are a lot of tank fans who will jump at the chance for a ride in this WW2 icon."

Another Article From Us: Panzer I Ausf. F - The Baby Tiger

All profits from the Tiger raffle and Ebay auction will go towards supporting the Museum's historic tank collection and ensuring that Tiger 131 can be kept in running order for years to come.

Museum Curator David Willey said, "A significant amount of work goes into keeping the Tiger running and it is extremely fragile and liable to faults.

"During the war it took 10 hours of maintenance for every hour the Tiger ran - now it takes the museum staff and engineers an astonishing 200 hours."

The Tiger tank was a formidable weapon introduced by the Nazis and the capture of 131 allowed the allies to understand exactly what had been unleashed.

Tiger Day Raffle, Premium and Advance tickets are still available. Tickets must be purchased in advance - book online now!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tiger 131 Tank | Tiger Day 2022 | Tank Historia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
See the world's only running Tiger I tank in action during its last outing of 2022, at Tiger Day 17th September at The Tank Museum. Tiger 131 runs only twice a year, on Tiger Day in April and September, and always attracts huge crowds when it does.

# data[].attributes.body
The M51 Super Sherman Tank is arguably the best example of upgrading equipment far beyond original expectations to meet new requirements. It is perhaps the greatest proof of Sherman's excellent and adaptable design.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The M51 is arguably the best example of upgrading a piece of equipment far beyond original expectations to meet new requirements. It is also perhaps the greatest proof of the Sherman's excellent and adaptable design.

Nearly 20 years after the first Shermans rolled off the production line Israel modified around 180 of their own to carry an enormous 105 mm gun. This was nothing like the 105 mm howitzer used on Shermans during WWII, but a long, tank killing weapon designed by the French.

With gun barrels almost as long as the tanks themselves, these once-obsolete Shermans became a formidable force in Israel's arsenal, which were able to punch through the very newest tanks.

The iconic M51 fought in a number of wars and remained in service for decades.

Contents

Development of the M50 and M51 Super Sherman

As a relatively young country, Israel was under a constant threat of war with its Arab neighbours in the years after WWII.

Soon after its 1948 independence, the country formed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to serve as the military component of the nation.

However at this time the IDF fielded few heavy vehicles, mostly using armored cars and jeeps captured or supplied from all over the world.

This was a similar story for their Sherman tanks. Shermans began arriving in Israel in the late 1940s, and despite being obsolete for a major power such as the US, were still extremely useful for the IDF.

In 1953 a group of Israeli representatives visited France and inspected their new AMX-13 light tank. This tank only weighed around 15 tons, but carried the powerful CN 75-50 75 mm gun.
Side note - it is often said that this weapon was a French version of the Panther's KwK 42 75 mm gun, however the two guns are actually very different. In reality, the French CN 75-50 was likely only partially "inspired" by the the Panther's gun.
Israel was impressed with this gun and placed an order for 400. Soon they realised that this gun could be adapted for use in their stocks of the Sherman tank, greatly increasing its firepower.

France helped lay the groundwork of the project by modifying a Sherman 75 mm gun turret to receive the CN 75-50 gun. The following year Israel started converting their Shermans themselves with this guidance, creating the Sherman M50.

Around 300 Shermans were converted to the M50 standard between 1956 and 1964.

These 75 mm armed Shermans performed admirably in the 1956 Suez Crisis, but the potential of facing IS-3s and Centurions in the near future concerned Israeli officials enough to search for an even more powerful gun.

At first they turned to foreign designs like the US M47 and British Centurion, but the US refused to sell and Britain didn't have the capacity to fulfil Israel's requests. Britain eventually agreed to sell their Centurions in 1959, but these were only the 20-pounder versions.

This left Israel in a sticky situation: it would be a while before they received Centurions in any appreciable amount, and even when they had them they lacked the 105 mm guns Israel wanted to handle the bigger tanks.

War was coming and they needed 105 mm guns.

With time running out, Israel once again looked to their ageing fleet of Sherman tanks. Thanks to their previous experiences with French engineers, they approached the Bourges Arsenal in France for help.

The Revalorisé

Israel presented their requirements to France, who then got to work creating a vehicle to suit their needs.

Two prototypes were soon built on the chassis of the M4A1 (cast hull) Sherman tank. These were fitted with the older (relatively speaking) VVSS suspension and Continental R-975 radial petrol engine.

The turrets were heavily modified to fit an enormous 105 mm gun - the Modèle F1.

This was the same gun as used in the French AMX-30 main battle tank and was tremendously powerful. Naturally, such a gun was never designed to fit in a tank like the Sherman, but the French made it work.

The turret used for this was the T23, a type originally designed for the T23 medium tank. The T23 medium was a proposed replacement for the Sherman, but would eventually evolve into the M26 Pershing.

The T23 turret was introduced onto the Sherman in 1944, armed with the 76 mm M1 gun. It was roomier than the previous D50878 and D78461 turrets used on 75 mm Shermans, enabling the use of the French 105 mm.

A large cast iron counterweight was attached to the rear of the turret to balance the rotating mass.

However the power of this gun soon proved to be too much for the Sherman tank to handle, resulting in the French creating a slightly shorter version of the gun with a lower muzzle velocity. This was designated the D.1508 and was fitted to the second prototype.

Despite its formidable size, its most distinct feature was its huge muzzle brake, added to help reduce some of the gun's immense recoil.

As this was a modified version of the AMX-30's Modèle F1, the two guns could fire the same projectiles, namely high explosive anti tank (HEAT).

The prototype was known as the 'Revalorisé' in France, which meant "upgraded".

With this successful prototype, Israel introduced the tank into service as the M51 - albeit with some changes to the hull and running gear.

The M51 Super Sherman

After France's initial prototypes, the conversions were carried out in Israel.

Like the Revalorisé, the M51 was built on the cast hulls of M4A1 Shermans, although a few M4A3 hulls were used too. The M4A1 was powered by the Continental R-975 radial engine, which produced around 400 hp, while the M4A3 was powered by the Ford GAA V8, which produced around 450 hp.

The use of cast Sherman tank hulls were a specific choice, as these hulls were more spacious inside, allowing for more of the large ammunition for the 105 mm gun to be carried.

As the hulls were taken straight from Shermans, the armor thickness remained the same with 63 mm on the front.

The tank had a crew of five, but this was later reduced to four to better spread out Israel's manpower. The hull machine gunner was removed, as was his .30 caliber machine gun.

Unlike the Revalorisé though, these units were equipped with the "newer" horizontal volute spring suspension (HVSS) and wider tracks. The bogies on this type of suspension compressed horizontally, as indicated by its name.

The design enabled the use of shock absorbers to smoothen the suspension's behaviour, making the tank a more stable platform to fire from. In addition, each arm on the HVSS suspension was fitted with two side-by-side road wheels, enabling much wider 23 inch tracks to be used.

The suspension added 1.5 to 2.4 tons of weight to the Sherman tank, but the vehicle's overall ground pressure was reduced, thanks to the wider tracks.

The first units still used R-975 engines as they did not have enough time to fit outfit them with more powerful powerplants.

The resulting vehicle was truly a marvel - an exceptional example of revitalising older equipment far beyond its original design requirements.

In most ways the M51 resembled the humble Sherman it was built upon, but its enormous gun meant this upgraded version was anything but humble.

The gun protruded from a new, custom made mantlet on the front of the T23 turret (which was originally designed to accommodate a 76 mm gun). Four smoke launchers were fitted to the turret cheeks and a large lamp was mounted above the mantlet.

The sides of the hull above the mudguards were covered in spare wheels, track links, jerry cans and storage bins.

A large travel lock for the main gun was fitted on the engine deck.

Near the end of the 1950s Israel experimented with a Cummins VT-8-460 V8 turbo-diesel engine. This produced 460 hp, much more torque and had much better fuel consumption than their pre-existing R-975 radial engines.

The diesel fuel also had a lower chance of igniting when hit.

Israel had swapped these V8s into all of their M51s by 1965. In total around 180 M51s were built.

All in the M51 weighed 40 tons and had a top speed of 25 mph.

Israel's M51s saw plenty of action over the next few decades. Despite their completely outdated chassis, their 105 mm guns were capable of dealing with the latest Soviet armor.

Service

Arguably the M51's most famous action occurred in 1967 during the Six Day War, where it served alongside its M50 siblings. Israeli tankers were highly trained, especially in engaging targets at ranges of 1,500 meters.

In the West Bank, Sinai peninsular and Golan Heights they faced massive numbers of T-34-85s, T-54s, T-55s and T-62s.

All of these except the T-34-85 were vastly more modern and capable designs on paper, but were turned into smouldering wrecks by Israeli crews in their up-gunned Sherman tanks.

The 105 mm gun's HEAT rounds proved to be capable of punching through the frontal armor of the T-62 in these engagements.

In one engagement on the night of June 5th 1967, M50s and M51s climbed Burquim Hill. In the pitch black, one Sherman crew noticed a disturbance ahead of them in the dark.

They switched on their spot light above the gun, which illuminated a whole Jordanian armored company of M47 Pattons less than 50 meters away.

The two groups fired on each other, and despite being in the older tanks, the Israelis managed to knock out 12 M47s for the loss of just one M50 and no crew.

Interestingly, Shermans once again engaged with Panzer IVs two decades after the end of the WWII when M51s clashed with Panzer IVs in the Golan Heights. Its safe to say that the Shermans' 105 mm guns made quick work of the Panzers.

M50s and M51s were used again in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Like the Sherman tank they were based on, crews appreciated them for their reliability, sturdiness, safety and comfort.

The M50s and M51s retired in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the M51s remaining in service the longest.

Israel provided over 70 to supported militias during the 1976 Lebanese Civil War. Another 100 were sold to Chile, who made further modifications and used them until 1999. Incredibly, they remained in Chilean reserves until 2006.

The "Super Sherman" Myth

The name "Super Sherman" is often used by many sources - even this article - and model kits when referring to the M51. This, however, is not factually correct.

Israel never officially named their M51s, only identifying them as M51. Ironically they did name a Sherman variant the "Super Sherman", just not the M51. This name was instead applied to earlier Shermans armed with 76 mm guns and HVSS suspension.

Despite this, the name has seen widespread usage outside of Israel to identify the M51, and the link between the two will likely never be broken.

Read More Batignolles-Chatillon Char 25T - The BatChat

So, in a way, it has since become the tank's nickname. Indeed, it is certainly fitting for such a vehicle, one that was already a legend long before it carried a mighty 105 mm gun.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sherman Tank - M51 Super Sherman | Tank Historia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The M51 is arguably the best example of upgrading a piece of equipment far beyond original expectations to meet new requirements. It is also perhaps the greatest proof of the Sherman's excellent and adaptable design. Nearly 20 years after the first Shermans rolled off the production line Israel modified around 180 of their own to carry an enormous 105 mm gun.