Interesting piece on CNN about Russian tanks. [View all]

[grumpyduck]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/27/europe/russia-tanks-blown-turrets-intl-hnk-ml/index.html

The article says that there's a design flaw in the way the ammo is stored in the turrets of Russian tanks: they are liable to all go off in the event of a direct hit, blasting the turret right off the tank. The stated reasoning for the design is to give the tanks a lower profile.

It would seem to me, however, that, given how dangerous this is for the crew (as opposed to how other Western tanks are designed), that it might just be that the Russian designers -- or their bosses -- just didn't care about the crews. "Heck, they're expendable, right?" Back in WWII, the Russians just kept sending masses of troops to the front lines even as they were wiped out. So maybe the real reasoning behind the design is, just keep sending tanks and if they get blown up... well... send more tanks.

Which then makes you wonder if the tank factories are also run by oligarchs who just want to profit from having to sell more and more tanks.

Sometimes I can be a suspicious old fart.