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Subject:
Depletion of Cold War stockpiles
Vympel
7/13/2002 10:46:59 PM
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| A few comments on the latest strategypage article.
- T-80 disappearing in favor of the T-62: Actually this has been the case in Chechnya since the operation began in 1999. There have always been few T-80s in theater; their advanced FCS, gas turbine mobility and heavy armor were simply not needed. The Russian Army doesn''t use the T-62 anymore, but the MVD (Interior Ministry) does. The T-62 is seen as adequate for the fire support roles for which it is used- it rarely engages in direct combat and so none with even light ERA (the small boxes, not the large wedges) have been photographed.
- In Russian Army assaults, however, the most common tank is the T-72B equipped with light ERA. Again, not nearly as advanced as the T-80 in terms of armor protection, FCS, mobility.
- Reliance on Grad MRL: this has been the preeminent MRL in theater for the Russian forces the entire time, even back to 1994; simply because the greater range and power of the Uragan and Smerch is simply not needed. The Uragan was widely used in Chechnya, but not the Smerch; its power and range is simply not required. If it was used, it was only for combat testing.
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