Upgrading tanks that have steel armor

[heretic88]

On 4/9/2019 at 3:48 PM, Krieger22 said:

BDD kits with similar (if not identical) working principles to Chobham were made available for T-54/55s and T-62s as well, although never for export.

I hope you guys forgive a little bit of nitpicking: There is no such thing as "BDD". I have no idea who invented this term, but there is absolutely zero trace in russian literature for this. Correct term is "Металлополимерный блок" (metal-polymer block).

[Collimatrix]

On 4/12/2019 at 10:10 AM, skylancer-3441 said:

One could simply redefine allowed trafficability levels, while doing nothing about ground pressure, just making statements that it's worth the increase in survivability.
I mean - back in late 70s XM2 had ground pressure of about 0.5kgf/cm2, and now with Bradley M2A3 w/ BUSK its like what, more than 0.8? It was accompanied with change of Go/No-Go terrain in German Wet scenario from 98/2 percent to 92/8 percent, and they were ready for much worse - while looking for AMPV, US Army was ready to accept 85/15 percent.

 

Yikes!  That seems like asking for trouble from General Mud.

[Zadlo]

Composite add-on armor created by Romanian ACTTM for MLI-84 IFV and P124 tanks.

Version III is after trials, version II will be soon created.

 

[Beer]

One very important aspect of the modernization of the old vehicles was not mentioned here (sorry, if I overlooked it). By adding the new turret and/or more armor you completely change the weight distribution of the vehicle. See Iraqi T-55 Enigma as a funny example of what could happen. 

 

By the way another example (a bit more modern but still) of a modernized serial vehicle with prolonged body, upgraded suspension,new engine and gearbox, completely different sights and everything electronic inside is T-72M4CZ. That modification is pretty weird in fact. On one hand it had modern FSC, panoramatic sights, new power pack with automatic gearbox, new torsion bars, new ERA etc. but it also has the old steel M type turrets (only God himself knows why they didn't take M1 ones - at tleast the body is M1), old 2A46 gun and original autoloader without any modification (only new ammo including Wolfram rods was developed for it). 

[Serge]

 

3 hours ago, Beer said:

By the way another example of a modernized serial vehicle with prolonged body, upgraded suspension,new engine and gearbox, completely different sights and everything electronic inside is T-72M4CZ.

That modification is pretty weird in fact. On one hand it had modern FSC, panoramatic sights, new power pack with automatic gearbox, new torsion bars, new ERA etc. but it also has the old steel M type turrets, old 2A46 gun and original autoloader without any modification. 

This is why GIAT Industries developed the T21 turret from the Leclerc MBT one. 

Changing the turret can be a good option for an upgrade. 

[CrappyHead]

speaking of upgrading non-composite armor tank remember chieftain MBT armor upgrade package ?? 

"SLAP" put on chorbam armor on it 

 

"SLAP" put on more steell!!!! REEEEE!!