The dawn of suicide tanks

[Reichmarshal]

Russia Uses ‘Suicide Tank’ To Attack Ukrainian Troops;​

By
Ashish Dangwal
-
June 19, 2023


Russian forces have begun deploying “suicide tanks” in the Ukraine war, which involves loading obsolete Soviet-era tanks with explosives, remotely guiding them towards Ukrainian trenches, and triggering detonation, resulting in devastating fireballs.

In recently shared online video footage, a T-54 or T-55 tank believed to be around 70 years old, was observed outfitted with approximately six tons of explosives and guided remotely as it advanced toward a Ukrainian trench.

However, the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), also known as the VBIED, faced a destructive end, as it encountered a mine and subsequently came under attack from a Ukrainian anti-tank missile, causing it to vanish within a billowing cloud of smoke and debris.
The massive explosion occurred a mere 200 feet away from Ukrainian soldiers, potentially resulting in casualties among their ranks, with some soldiers possibly being killed or injured due to the powerful blast.

Russian media asserted that the remote-controlled explosive device led to a significant number of Ukrainian casualties, but the accuracy of those figures could not be independently verified or confirmed at the time.
The video triggered varied responses on social media, with some viewing the tactic as a sign of increasing desperation among Russian forces in the face of the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive operation.

On the other hand, others saw it as a demonstration of Russia’s capability to enhance and adapt its tactics, which starkly contrasted the disorderly approach seen during the early stages of the war that commenced in February 2022.

In addition to the T-54/55 VBIED, Russian troops have recently attempted to assault Ukrainian positions by employing an MT-LB tractor packed with explosive mine-clearing line charges.
The third scenario, which he described as dreadful, involved employing “similar tanks with tactical nuclear warheads of a few kilotons, instead of actual missiles as delivery systems. They would be destroyed early, but the explosion blast would annihilate any forces nearby.”

Papantoniou emphasized the potential terror that such a “dirty VBIED-bomb” would instill fear in frontline troops, speculating that the anxiety of a potential nuclear blast might cause them to abandon their positions to avoid being killed. Yet, he sincerely hoped that this nightmarish scenario would remain untested in real life.

He concluded that the potential utilization of tactical nuclear weapons could unleash widespread terror on a global scale, and the consequences of such an action would be tough to mitigate or resolve.

That being said, recent reports suggest that Russian forces have displayed enhanced discipline, coordination, and air support, indicating a shifting dynamic in the war.

For instance, Russian armored columns have adopted a more cautious approach, avoiding hasty advances into vulnerable areas.

Instead, troops rely on drone surveillance, probing attacks, and vocal communication to identify Ukrainian trenches before launching strikes.

Nonetheless, the experts believe that the improved tactics employed by Moscow will likely make it a more formidable adversary, especially when engaging in defensive operations that capitalize on its inherent battlefield strengths.

• Contact the author at ashishmichel(at)gmail.com
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[Reichmarshal]

Video of the russian suicide tank in action

 

[Reichmarshal]

Now we know wt russia plans to do with its fleet of t 54/55, that it was rushing to the front, Inaddition to using them as mobile artillery.

 

[Sayfullah]

VBIEDS are poor man’s airstrikes.

 

[Reichmarshal]

VBIEDS are poor man’s airstrikes.

Poor man's strike or not its bloody effective n ground shaking......ie a suicide tank
That one suicide tank not only would have created a big defensive hole in the ukranian mine field but the explosive would a decimated the ukranian defensive line in a hundred meter radius....inspite of the fact that it did not reach its objective.
All the russians needed to do was send a couple more suicide tank through the hole created by the first tank...which needed to be followed up by an all out assult.....n it would have been game over for the ukranians in that sector.

 

[Sayfullah]

Poor man's strike or not its bloody effective n ground shaking......ie a suicide tank
That one suicide tank not only would have created a big defensive hole in the ukranian mine field but the explosive would a decimated the ukranian defensive line in a hundred meter radius....inspite of the fact that it did not reach its objective.
All the russians needed to do was send a couple more suicide tank through the hole created by the first tank...which needed to be followed up by an all out assult.....n it would have been game over for the ukranians in that sector.

Yeah they’re very effective. What I was referring to with poor man’s air strike was many groups all over the world have been using VBIEDS in this way cuz of their effectiveness almost like air strikes.

 

[MajesticPug]

Now we know wt russia plans to do with its fleet of t 54/55, that it was rushing to the front, Inaddition to using them as mobile artillery.

They can be modified to fire big rounds as they advance to destroy the enemy trench. Coordinated with suicide drones in the air, a couple of these tanks will get the Ukrainian troops running like rabbits.

 

[Reichmarshal]

Yeah they’re very effective. What I was referring to with poor man’s air strike was many groups all over the world have been using VBIEDS in this way cuz of their effectiveness almost like air strikes.

Its a whole new class of so called vehicles, with the potential to bring death n destruction on a scale n magnitude never thought off.

So to classify it as VBIEDS is doing it n its intenteded enemy a huge injustice as the poor victim can't even imagine wats about to hit the fan.

 

[Goritoes]

The shockwave

 

[MeFishToo]

Poor man's strike or not its bloody effective n ground shaking......ie a suicide tank
That one suicide tank not only would have created a big defensive hole in the ukranian mine field but the explosive would a decimated the ukranian defensive line in a hundred meter radius....inspite of the fact that it did not reach its objective.
All the russians needed to do was send a couple more suicide tank through the hole created by the first tank...which needed to be followed up by an all out assult.....n it would have been game over for the ukranians in that sector.

Its a pointless idea right out of a comic book. They might aswell concentrate artillery fire at a single point and create this “big defensive hole”, and send this all out attack right into the unknown.

 

[Sayfullah]

Its a whole new class of so called vehicles,

No not really.
Tanks and APCs have been used for years in VBIEDs now. Russians weren’t the first ones to do so. Even Taliban used many APCs and MRAPS as VBIEDz. They’re favoured for VBIEDs because they can defend against small arms and since they’re armoured they cause the explosion to be more powerful then if it was an unarmored vehicle with the same explosive material.

with the potential to bring death n destruction on a scale n magnitude never thought off.

I’ve seen bigger.

So to classify it as VBIEDS is doing it n its intenteded enemy a huge injustice as the poor victim can't even imagine wats about to hit the fan.

Aren’t VBIEDs intended to be exactly what you just said? When truck loads of explosives disguised as logistics infiltrate enemy bases and blow up, it’s the same effect. This has been done many times already. Russians probably took lessons from their overseas wars.

It’s a pointless idea right out of a comic book. They might aswell concentrate artillery fire at a single point and create this “big defensive hole”, and send this all out attack right into the unknown.

Have fun firing 6 tons worth of explosives from artillery at the same spot.

 

[Foinikas]

@LeGenD Every time a Russian tank is destroyed,they'll say it was a "suicide tank" now.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Poor man's strike or not its bloody effective n ground shaking......ie a suicide tank
That one suicide tank not only would have created a big defensive hole in the ukranian mine field but the explosive would a decimated the ukranian defensive line in a hundred meter radius....inspite of the fact that it did not reach its objective.
All the russians needed to do was send a couple more suicide tank through the hole created by the first tank...which needed to be followed up by an all out assult.....n it would have been game over for the ukranians in that sector.

It’s a lot of effort to get it to the correct spot vs simply dropping multiple 2000lb bombs.

This really should be used where air power is denied and the target has limited mobility such as having an armored speedboat crash into slow fleet screening ships.

Having some slow lumbering tank rolling across the grass seems almost comical going up against people in trenches…maybe a wall or something would be better use.

 

[MeFishToo]

Have fun firing 6 tons worth of explosives from artillery at the same spot.

Have fun finding a target worth driving 6 tons of explosives towards at a speed of 20 km/h out in the middle of nowhere. The handful of ukrainians in that trench could just walk away before this comic book bomb arrives. But they wont have to. Such a thing would be disabled a few hundred meters out.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Have fun finding a target worth driving 6 tons of explosives towards at a speed of 20 km/h out in the middle of nowhere. The handful of ukrainians it that trench could just walk away before this comic book bomb arrives. But they wont have to. Such a thing would be disabled a few hundred meters out.

Totally agree. They have to haul it to the front line too.