Open hatches – a mistake that costs Russians hundreds of tanks

14 comments

1. Shhhhh dun tell.

2. I always assumed that these tanks are abandoned.

3. I’m all for clowning on the Russians but that’s just how tanks work. It’s absolutely miserable in a buttoned up tank, especially Russian types that tend to be much more cramped. Visibility goes absolutely to shit and then some when you go totally buttoned up as well.

   It’s standard even in NATO countries that unless you’re under clear, direct fire for the tank commander to have the hatch open and be sticking out to observe what’s going on. Driver’s hatches can also be opened as well so they can actually see, which is rather important for the person driving the 40+ ton speeding box of medal.

4. shhhhhhhhhh. let them.

5. Hatches open, hatches closed doesn’t really matter. If the tank is stopped and a drone can get that close and hover then it can hit the closed hatch and penetrate it no problem. The only drone that would have a problem would be one dropping a grenade into the tank.

6. I remember reading about Isreali tank crew stories, and in combat situations, they would stay in the tank (Merkava) without getting out for days. Sleep in there, piss in there, everything… never open a hatch for an reason.

7. Once again russia realises that tanks need situational awareness your armour gun and other hard factors mean nothing if the tanks soft factors are bad

8. Something about screen doors made for tank hatches.

9. Its not always that easy to close the driver’s hatch when you get out. I’m not sure about the Russian tanks, but in the M1, the driver has to close the hatch from the inside and shimmy into the turret and exit that way – I guarantee that if the tank has just hit a mine or is on fire, no driver is going to do that.

   I also take issue with the author’s blanket statement that ‘NATO crews are trained to close hatches’, presumably so the tank can be recovered. In the US Army, we were trained to do the opposite – if you had to abandon your tank with its advanced thermals and armor, your mission was to throw enough themite grenades into it to burn it to the ground, and then call in an airstrike.

10. Israeli Merkava tank has a high-performance air conditioning system in the driver and crew compartments to keep the crew comfortable in hot desert environments. Some say that the air conditioning is a big advantage, especially in the Middle East climate, and that heat can significantly decrease crew performance. The Merkava can also be equipped with a toilet for long missions.

11. Plus 3 soldiers each tank minimum. But who cares. We just are looking on how much to loot Russia in future contracts.

12. Having the hatches open at anytime while not in combat is normal. What isn’t normal, and what the Russians are learning  is that Ukraine  plays war different  than everyone else in such a way that they a doing trick shots with spicy potatoes. Nobody  would be ready for a sudden game of hot potato as one drops in your lap from God knows where.

13. 🤫🇺🇦

14. Not really sure about the point of this article.

    The crews and accompanying infrantry are abandoning a tank that has just been hit, they don’t know it was a mine, or an RPG or a drone or artillery fire.

    You really can’t tell when you are on the receiving end.

    So the crew leg it, stopping to close a hatch is straight up ridiculous, as for all they know, a second and third hit is on its way.

    The fact that a clever drone operator can blow the tank up through an open hatch sure is a cheap cost kill for Ukraine.
    But if the hatch was closed, they might just call in some artillery if they are in range and available, better yet, hold off and see if the Russians try and recover the tank.

    So the actions of the fleeing crew have no real impact on the outcome, they don’t actually care what happens to the tank after they leave it and hanging about to shut hatches endangers their lives.

    This article is a bit silly