How Does Tank Armor Actually Work

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10 Mar 202424:15

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe development of tank armor has evolved significantly since World War I, with innovations such as Chobham and reactive armors enhancing protection. The Cold War spurred an arms race leading to composite armor and the introduction of reactive armor, which disrupts incoming projectiles. Modern conflicts have highlighted the need for adaptable armor solutions, resulting in the use of slat armor and active protection systems like the Israeli Trophy, designed to intercept threats before they reach the tank.

Takeaways

🚀 The development of modern tank armor has come a long way since World War I, with significant advancements made during the Cold War and beyond.
🛡️ Chobham armor, a composite material developed by the British, revolutionized tank protection by combining ceramics, metal, and other materials to enhance survivability against various threats.
🇺🇸 The US M1 Abrams tank, equipped with Chobham armor and other advanced features, has been a formidable force on the battlefield since its introduction in the 1980s.
🇷🇺 Soviet and later Russian tanks have utilized composite armor and reactive armor systems, such as the Kontakt-1 and Kontakt-5 ERA, to improve their defenses against anti-tank weaponry.
💥 Reactive armor is a modular system that explodes outward upon impact, disrupting the path of incoming projectiles and reducing their effectiveness.
🏹 The Israeli Trophy and Russian Arena are examples of Active Protection Systems (APS) designed to intercept and neutralize threats like anti-tank guided missiles before they hit the tank.
📦 The Cold War arms race between the US and the Soviet Union led to significant innovations in tank armor, including the development of composite and reactive armor technologies.
🔩 The T-72 and T-80 tanks are equipped with ERA systems that are effective against shaped-charge munitions, enhancing their survivability on the battlefield.
🛠️ Tank armor design has evolved to include sloped armor, which provides better protection than non-sloped armor and can deflect certain types of projectiles.
🔄 The ongoing research and development in tank armor technology continue to produce lighter and more effective materials, improving both protection and mobility for armored vehicles.
🤖 Future tank protection may include electromagnetic armor and advanced APS like the Israeli Trophy, which can create a neutralization bubble around the vehicle to counter threats.

Q & A

Why were tanks initially codenamed 'Tank' by the British army during World War I?
-The British army gave armored vehicles the codename 'Tank' as a cover to confuse the Germans, utilizing the fact that they were being made in factories that produced boilers, thus acting as a perfect cover for the revolutionary project.
How have tank armor technologies evolved from World War I to the Cold War era?
-Tank armor technologies evolved from simple riveted or bolted steel plates in World War I to more advanced sloping, metal technologies, and exotic materials. This evolution included the development of composite armor during the Cold War, significantly enhancing armored vehicles' resilience on the battlefield.
What is Chobham armor and which country developed it?
-Chobham armor is a composite material developed by the United Kingdom that combines ceramic sheets, sections of steel, and other materials to provide enhanced protection for tanks like the Challenger 2.
What are the characteristics and advantages of Soviet-era reactive armor?
-Soviet-era reactive armor, such as the Kontakt-1 and Kontakt-5 systems, was designed to explode outward when hit by a projectile, disrupting the penetrator's path and reducing its effectiveness. This technology was effective against shaped-charge munitions and improved the survivability of tanks on the battlefield.
How did the US respond to Soviet tank armor advancements?
-The US responded to Soviet tank armor advancements by developing composite armor solutions, including Chobham-derived armor used on the M1 Abrams tank, which featured depleted uranium layers for exceptional protection against kinetic energy penetrators.
What is Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) and how does it work?
-Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) is a type of modular armor that explodes outward when hit by a projectile, disrupting the penetrator's path. It is built around explosive blocks layered onto metal plates, attached to the tank's exterior, effectively 'pre-detonating' the incoming projectile to diminish its penetration capability.
How did the development of ERA systems like Kontakt-5 enhance tank protection?
-The development of ERA systems like Kontakt-5 enhanced tank protection by introducing composite structures in the ERA blocks, which provided superior protection against a wider range of threats, including kinetic energy penetrators and shaped-charge warheads.
What advancements have been made in ERA technology since the Cold War?
-Since the Cold War, advancements in ERA technology have included the development of the Relikt system, which uses a new composition of explosives to provide dynamic protection against both low-velocity and high-velocity projectiles, offering enhanced protection against ATGMs and reducing penetration of APFSDS rounds by over 50%.
What are Active Protection Systems (APS) and how do they differ from ERA?
-Active Protection Systems (APS) are designed to intercept and neutralize incoming threats, such as anti-tank guided missiles, before they reach the tank. Unlike ERA, which reacts to the impact of projectiles, APS systems actively detect and destroy incoming threats using sensors and countermeasures.
What challenges and innovations have emerged in tank armor technology in the context of modern conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine?
-Modern conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, have demonstrated the importance of adaptable and cost-effective armor solutions, like cage or slat armor, to counter anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and drones. Innovations include the use of cope cages and netting around tanks to protect against top-down attacks and drone threats, although their effectiveness varies.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ The Evolution of Tank Armor

This paragraph delves into the development of tank armor, starting from the birth of the tank in World War I to the modern era. It highlights the initial use of simple steel plates for protection, the strategic naming origin from boiler factories, and the evolution through World War II with the introduction of thicker, better-sloped armor and cast steel hulls. The Cold War period is marked by significant advancements in composite armor, with a focus on the arms race between the US and the Soviet Union, leading to the development of revolutionary designs and materials for enhanced tank protection.

05:05

🏹 Responding to Advanced Threats: Reactive Armor and Composite Solutions

This section discusses the introduction of reactive armor and composite armor systems as responses to the increasing threats posed by advanced anti-tank weapons. It details the Soviet Union's development of Kontakt-1 and Kontakt-5 Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) systems, which were designed to protect against shaped-charge munitions and kinetic energy penetrators. The paragraph also covers the West's response with the development of Chobham armor by the British and its衍生 variation used by the US on the M1 Abrams tank, emphasizing the use of depleted uranium layers for exceptional protection.

10:05

🚀 The Cold War's Impact on Tank Armor

This paragraph focuses on the impact of the Cold War on tank armor technology, particularly the arms race between the Soviet Union and Western powers. It outlines the Soviet approach to tank design, emphasizing low profiles and the use of composite armor with various layers of steel and non-metallic materials. The paragraph also discusses the Western response, including the development of the TROPHY system by the Israeli army, which provides a neutralization bubble around the vehicle to counter chemical energy threats and ATGMs. The paragraph concludes with a look at the Russian Relikt system, a 3rd generation ERA designed to counter Western ATGM technology and depleted uranium penetrator rounds.

15:09

🏹 The M1 Abrams: A Tank Built for Superiority

This section provides an in-depth look at the M1 Abrams tank, the principal battle tank of the United States, and its evolution in armored protection. It discusses the tank's development during the Cold War, its命名 after General Creighton W. Abrams, and its design focus on crew protection, firepower, and mobility. The paragraph details the Abrams' composite armor, its effectiveness in the Gulf War, and subsequent upgrades, including the installation of depleted uranium armor inserts and the Tank Urban Survival Kit (TUSK) to counter unconventional threats like IEDs and RPGs.

20:12

🛡️ Modern Innovations in Tank Protection

This paragraph explores the latest developments in tank protection, including the use of 'cope cages' by Russia to counter top-down ATGMs and the Ukrainian military's adaptation of cage armor for various armored vehicles. It also discusses the limitations of these primitive forms of protection against modern threats like Javelin missiles. The section then moves on to discuss Active Protection Systems (APS), such as the Israeli Trophy and Russia's Arena, which are designed to intercept and neutralize incoming threats before they reach the tank. Finally, it mentions ongoing research in electromagnetic armor, a promising but potentially expensive technology for future tank protection.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Chobham armor

Chobham armor is a type of composite armor developed by the British and used in various tanks, including the Challenger 2. It is made of a classified blend of materials such as ceramic sheets, sections of steel, and other components, designed to provide enhanced protection against a range of threats. In the context of the video, Chobham armor is highlighted as a revolutionary development in tank protection, contributing to the resilience of armored vehicles on the battlefield.

💡Reactive armor

Reactive armor, also known as Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA), is a type of armor that includes explosive elements designed to detonate when struck by a projectile, thereby disrupting the penetrator's path. This technology significantly enhances the survivability of tanks against anti-tank munitions. The video discusses the development of reactive armor, particularly the Soviet Kontakt-1 and Kontakt-5 systems, which were effective against shaped-charge munitions and kinetic energy penetrators, respectively.

💡Cage armor

Cage armor, also referred to as slat armor, is a protective measure used on tanks to counter threats like RPGs (Rocket-Propelled Grenades) and ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles). It consists of a lattice of metal bars designed to detonate the warhead of incoming projectiles prematurely, thereby reducing the damage to the tank. The video discusses the effectiveness and limitations of cage armor, particularly in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, where its use has been both practical and controversial.

💡Boilers

In the context of the video, boilers are mentioned as part of the historical development of tanks. The first tanks were manufactured in factories that also produced boilers, which was used as a cover story during World War I to conceal the development of these new weapons from enemy forces. The term 'boiler' is thus tied to the early stages of tank development and the strategic deception employed by the British army.

💡Cold War

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and its allies, and the Soviet Union and its allies, following World War II. During this time, there was an arms race, with both sides developing advanced military technology, including significant advancements in tank armor. The video discusses how the Cold War era led to the development of composite armor and the emergence of new tank designs, such as the M1 Abrams in the United States and the T-72 and T-80 in the Soviet Union.

💡Composite armor

Composite armor is a type of armor used on tanks that combines different materials, such as metals, ceramics, and sometimes non-metallic components, to provide enhanced protection against various types of projectiles. It is designed to be more effective than traditional homogeneous steel armor, offering better resistance to both kinetic energy penetrators and chemical energy munitions. The video emphasizes the revolutionary nature of composite armor and its impact on improving the survivability of armored vehicles.

💡T-72 and T-80 tanks

The T-72 and T-80 are main battle tanks developed by the Soviet Union, known for their use of composite armor and the incorporation of Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) systems like Kontakt-1 and Kontakt-5. These tanks were designed with sloped armor for improved protection and were lower in height compared to Western counterparts, which made them harder to hit but limited their gun turret's depression. The T-72 and T-80 tanks played a significant role in the Soviet military doctrine during the Cold War and continue to be used by various countries today.

💡M1 Abrams tank

The M1 Abrams is the principal battle tank of the United States, first developed during the height of the Cold War to counter the threat of Soviet armored forces. It is known for its advanced armor, including the use of Chobham composite armor, which provides superior protection against various threats. The Abrams has seen combat in conflicts such as the Gulf War and the Iraq War, where its armor proved to be highly effective.

💡Active Protection Systems (APS)

Active Protection Systems (APS) are advanced defense technologies designed to detect, track, and intercept incoming threats like anti-tank missiles and RPGs before they hit the vehicle. These systems provide an additional layer of protection for armored vehicles, enhancing their survivability on the battlefield. The video mentions the Israeli Trophy system and the Russian Arena system as examples of APS, which represent a significant advancement in tank protection.

💡Relikt ERA system

The Relikt ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) system is a third-generation Russian armor developed in response to new developments in Western ATGM technology and depleted uranium penetrator rounds. It is designed to provide enhanced protection against both low-velocity and high-velocity projectiles, reportedly doubling a tank's protection against shaped charges and significantly increasing protection against ATGMs. The Relikt system is considered Russia's most sophisticated tank armor currently in use and is expected to replace the Kontakt-5 system on many Russian tanks.

💡T-14 Armata

The T-14 Armata is a next-generation main battle tank developed by Russia, which is reportedly being built with a new and classified type of armor, code-named 44S-SV-SH. This new alloy is designed to maintain its homogeneity in low temperatures, suggesting that the Russian government anticipates using these tanks in Arctic environments. The T-14 Armata is also expected to utilize the 4th generation Monolith ERA system, which is still under development.

Highlights

Chobham armor, reactive armor, cage armor, and boilers are all terms related to tank protection technologies.

The name 'Tank' was used as a cover by the British army during World War I, as they were made in factories that made boilers.

Early tanks used vertical, thin, rolled sheets of steel instead of hardened steel to save on weight and cost.

Advancements in armor sloping, metal technology, and exotic materials have improved the resilience of armored vehicles.

World War II saw the development of tanks with thicker armor and better-sloped armor for enhanced protection.

German tanks like the Tiger I and Tiger II, and Soviet tanks like the T-34, featured thick or well-sloped armor difficult to penetrate.

The Cold War marked an arms race for advanced tanks and the emergence of composite armor.

Soviet tanks utilized composite armor with layers of steel and non-metallic materials for resistance against various threats.

British and US tanks employed Chobham armor, a composite material with a classified blend of ceramics, steel, and other materials.

Reactive armor, developed during the late Cold War, explodes outward when hit, disrupting the penetrator's path.

The Soviet Union developed Kontakt-1 and Kontakt-5 ERA systems, providing protection against shaped-charge munitions.

The Relikt system is the 3rd generation of Russian ERA, designed to counter Western ATGM technology and depleted uranium penetrator rounds.

The M1 Abrams tank features Chobham armor and has seen upgrades including depleted uranium armor inserts and the Abrams Reactive Armor Tile system.

The Tank Urban Survival Kit (TUSK) was developed for the Abrams to address threats from IEDs and RPGs.

The Israeli TROPHY system is an advanced Active Protection System (APS) that creates a neutralization bubble around the vehicle.

Cage armor, or slat armor, has been used to protect against ATGMs and RPGs but has shown mixed effectiveness.

Russia has attempted to counter drone threats with netting wrapped around their tanks, though its effectiveness is questionable.

Active Protection Systems like the Israeli Trophy and the Russian Arena are designed to intercept and neutralize incoming threats before they reach the tank.

Research is ongoing in electromagnetic armor, which uses electromagnetic fields to deflect or disrupt incoming projectiles.

The development of tank armor has been a response to evolving anti-tank weaponry and changing battlefield dynamics.

Transcripts

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Related Tags

Tank Armor Military History Chobham Armor Reactive Armor Cold War Abrams Tank Soviet Tanks Composite Armor Modern Warfare Armor Technology