"Cover the enemy with continuous fire": what are the advantages of the tactics of a "tank carousel"

At the Golovenki training ground of the Moscow Region, crews of T-80U combat vehicles of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya division fired and worked out maneuvers of the so-called “tank carousel”. This was reported by the press service of the Western Military District. About 200 military personnel and about 50 units of military and special equipment took part in the classes.

“As part of the training on combat training, tankers fired more than 150 shots from 125-mm guns. The peculiarity of firing with the "tank carousel" method is the pairwise, alternate shooting of tanks. This allows you to cover a conditional enemy with continuous fire and compensate for the reload time, ”the Russian Defense Ministry website says.

As previously reported by the military department, the tankers of the Kantemirov division completed live firing as part of a control check of the troops. The crews of the T-80U with armor-piercing and high-explosive shells destroyed targets simulating tanks, grenade launchers, artillery and low-flying enemy helicopters. Shooting was carried out at a distance of 800 to 2 thousand meters using radio reconnaissance and UAV means.

Non-Stop Shooting

From the materials of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation it follows that in recent years the “tank carousel” has been regularly practiced in exercises and exercises for combat training of the Russian army. The essence of this tactic is the continuous firing on the enemy both from a place and in motion. While the crew of one tank is firing, servicemen of the second are loading ammunition.

At the same time, at the training grounds, tankers are constantly complicated by the conditions under which they must hit targets. As noted in the military department, "a dynamically changing tactical and target situation develops tankers' operational reaction and ability to act non-standardly when solving a combat mission."

• Russian tank during firing
• © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

“The new method (meaning“ tank carousel ”and the sequence of raising targets. - RT ) implements complex tasks for crews of armored vehicles. In particular, the maximum range of firing from a 125 mm tank gun was increased by 200 m to 2200 m. Due to the reduction in the time it was shown to the targets, the aiming time was reduced and the rate of fire increased, ”the Russian Defense Ministry website says.

A significant role in the success of the "tank carousel", as they say in the military department, is played by modern equipment, which is equipped with domestic combat vehicles. For example, target tracking is carried out using the Reflex guided weapon system.

The digital ballistic computer of this system reduces the time for calculating the elements of movement of objects of destruction, and the improved optical channels allow you to “confidently take” tanks at distances of up to 5 km.

According to the tankers, the high efficiency of the "tank carousel" is achieved thanks to the automatic loaders, which are equipped with Russian cars. They significantly increase the rate of fire of the tank unit and create the density of fire necessary to destroy the enemy.

“It (the reception of the“ tank carousel. - RT ) allows you to fire for unlimited time. Cars can be three, six, nine or more. They travel continuously in a circle - one hits, the other moves to the rear and recharges, the third prepares to enter a position and so on. Shooting non-stop, just have time to deliver the shells, "RIA Novosti quoted tank commander Captain Roman Shchegolev as saying.

According to him, the "tank carousel" is especially in demand in situations where the crews of military vehicles do not have information about the weapons of the enemy. On earth, enemy infantry often uses grenade launchers and man-portable systems with guided missiles to counter tanks. According to experts, American Javelin and Russian Cornet are considered the most modern mobile means of tank destruction.

“Imagine: tanks shoot ten, twenty, thirty minutes without a break. On the other side they can’t stand it, return fire, illuminating their means. And immediately our masked sniper tanks with specially trained crews come into action. They quickly and efficiently “flip out” the identified goals, ”Shchegolev explained.

"Massive fire exposure"

A “Syrian version” of the origin of the “tank carousel” is circulated in the Russian media. The inventors of tactics allegedly became tankers of the SAR, who fought against mobile groups of illegal armed groups (IAF).

The army of the Arab Republic used the "tank carousel" in combination with the so-called "Syrian rampart" - a high earthen or sand parapet. He covered the movement of tanks that fired at the enemy through special openings in the shaft. The embrasure for the shot was randomly selected. As a result, the terrorists could not track the movement of tanks and estimate their real number.

• Syrian army tanks
• RIA News
• © Mikhail Voskresensky

However, the experts interviewed by RT adhere to a different point of view on the origin of the “tank carousel”. They believe that the principles laid down in this tactic were, in fact, formulated before the Syrian operation.

“The Syrian campaign, where our military advisers were present, had a certain influence on the tactics of the“ tank carousel ”, but it appeared back in the First Chechen War. Our officers came up with this tactic in order to increase the survivability and effectiveness of tanks due to the fact that the militants had a lot of anti-tank weapons in their hands, ”said Alexei Khlopotov, an armored specialist in an interview with RT.

As the expert explained, a "tank carousel" is necessary in order to exert a "massive fire effect" on the enemy. If the tanks are paired, then using this tactic allows one machine to shoot the entire ammunition in the automatic loader. Then she goes to the rear to replenish ammunition. During this period of time, a second tank fires.

“Part of the ammunition load of Russian tanks is in automated stacking. When the shots are used up from the loading machine, the tank leaves the firing position to replenish ammunition (this is done manually). So that the rate of fire on the battlefield does not fall, the next tank enters the front line, ”Khlopotov said.

The analyst attributes the appearance of the “tank carousel” to a rethinking of the role of heavy combat vehicles in the theater of war. According to him, the nature of modern conflicts dictates the need to use the tank as a mobile, well-protected firing point.

In a commentary on RT, Sergey Suvorov, a candidate of military sciences, noted that the “tank carousel” is in demand in almost all types of modern armed conflicts, including local clashes and anti-terrorist operations.

"Tank carousel" can be used at any scale of hostilities. If this is a counter-terrorist operation, then the carousel will be twisted by a platoon or company. If a more serious and numerous enemy, the battalion will be used, ”says Suvorov.

One of the key advantages of the “tank carousel”, the expert called the possibility of conducting a “highly maneuverable battle”, which does not give the enemy the opportunity to calculate and predict the actions of the tank unit.

“After the Cold War, there were no major clashes with a large number of tanks. Small and maneuverable tank units, including for conducting combat operations in urban conditions, became in demand. In my opinion, the use of the “tank carousel” allows us to fully realize the potential of the Russian tank troops, ”summed up Suvorov.