Skip to comments.
Russian Slat Armor
StrategyPage ^
| January 24, 2006
Posted on 01/24/2006 7:18:06 AM PST by Cannoneer No. 4
When the Stryker entered service in Iraq with its slat armor cage (to protect against RPGs), there was some criticism, and some crude humor, directed at that particular rig. But the slat armor did the job, and now Russia is offering its similar BTR-80 vehicle, equipped with slat armor. While the United States abandoned wheeled armored vehicles after World War II, Russia kept theirs, and constantly improved their BTR series. While not as heavy, or as high tech, as the American Stryker, the BTR vehicles are popular with many nations, especially for use by police and paramilitary forces. The current export model of the BTR-80, the BTR-90, is equipped with a turret and a 30mm auto-cannon and weighs about 16 tons. The BTR-80, introduced about twenty years ago, is actually more similar to the U.S. Marine Corps LAV, which entered service about the same time.
TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Russia
KEYWORDS: armor; bronyetransporter; btr; btr80; miltech; stryker; strykerarmor; stynker; wheeledarmor; wheelies
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-67 next last
To: Cannoneer No. 4
I was never in armor, but I'm presuming the slat armor is the wire cage effect I see, correct? Does the armor set off RPGs prior to their hitting the body of the vehicle?
2
posted on
01/24/2006 7:27:01 AM PST
by
GarySpFc
(De Oppresso Liber)
To: GarySpFc
I was never in armor, but I'm presuming the slat armor is the wire cage effect I see, correct? Does the armor set off RPGs prior to their hitting the body of the vehicle?I believe so.
3
posted on
01/24/2006 7:27:49 AM PST
by
Lazamataz
(I have a Chinese family renting an apartment from me. They are lo mein tenants.)
To: GarySpFc
4
posted on
01/24/2006 7:29:05 AM PST
by
null and void
("Never place a period where God has placed a coma" --Gracie Allen)
To: GarySpFc
My understanding is that the slats activate the point detonating fuze causing pre-mature detonation so the explosive jet isn't in contact with the vehicle. This allows the armor to disperse the effects better and provide greater survivability.
A friend of mine told me that the "slat armor" was actually a Russian developed item. I don't know, but if it works who cares what it looks like.
5
posted on
01/24/2006 7:31:39 AM PST
by
Cliff Dweller
("get thar fustest with the mostest." GEN NB Forrest)
To: GarySpFc
The RPG hits the wire cage. The HEAT round inside the RPG warhead then makes it's plasma jet, but since it is in open air it's not effective at cutting through the armor of the APC/AFV.
IIRC some soldiers used to do the same thing with chicken wire to defeat HEAT rounds.
6
posted on
01/24/2006 7:34:20 AM PST
by
Centurion2000
(Governments want to copy all the data on you in existence, but will prosecute you for an mp3 copied.)
To: GarySpFc
Yes, this is particularly good against shape charges. it's not just whether the round hits the vehicle, it's designed to detonate at a particular distance to maximize the blast. Won't work as well against a KE round, but I think all RPGs are designed to carry shape charges.
7
posted on
01/24/2006 7:36:13 AM PST
by
.cnI redruM
(Shame, not sanctions - UN policy on Iran)
To: .cnI redruM
Yeah, the kickback from a KE round would be a bit more than a foot soldier could handle...
8
posted on
01/24/2006 7:39:18 AM PST
by
null and void
("Never place a period where God has placed a coma" --Gracie Allen)
To: GarySpFc
9
posted on
01/24/2006 7:41:30 AM PST
by
Leatherneck_MT
(An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.)
To: null and void
"...the kickback from a KE round ..."
RPGs are rockets -- no kickback.
To: Cannoneer No. 4
I have recently had opportunity to compare the Romanian TAB-77 with the Canadian LAVIII, neither of which had slat armor.
The TAB-77 appears more robust, less refined, bigger wheels, less nimble, noisier, smokier.
The LAVIII compared to the TAB-77 is much quieter, can turn around in a much smaller space, seems faster although I never saw them race, and is generally better suited for sharing the public highway with civilian vehicles.
I am not an unbiased observer. Viewed from the driver's seat of a Ford Ranger, an oncoming LAVIII appears less threatening than an oncoming TAB-77. That might be more because the Canadians are known to be very courteous drivers and the Romanians are known to be crazy.
11
posted on
01/24/2006 7:52:37 AM PST
by
Cannoneer No. 4
(Amateurs study tactics. Professionals study logistics.)
To: Born to Conserve
Precisely.
12
posted on
01/24/2006 7:54:54 AM PST
by
null and void
("Never place a period where God has placed a coma" --Gracie Allen)
To: null and void
"Precisely."
Then why did you say the opposite?
To: Born to Conserve
I think you misread me. I was agreeing with an earlier poster that slat armor was designed only to stop shoulder fired shape charge rockets, and wouldn't stop a KE round.
This is a good match to the more common battlefield/urban threat.
I then imagined what a shooter would look like if he could fire a KE round, and weighed somewhat less than a main battle tank...
14
posted on
01/24/2006 8:01:07 AM PST
by
null and void
("Never place a period where God has placed a coma" --Gracie Allen)
To: Calpernia
15
posted on
01/24/2006 8:04:25 AM PST
by
Cannoneer No. 4
(Amateurs study tactics. Professionals study logistics.)
To: Cannoneer No. 4
To: Cannoneer No. 4
The problem with the BTR is that it still carries gas tanks in the doors under inadequate armor.
17
posted on
01/24/2006 8:23:31 AM PST
by
Spktyr
(Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
18
posted on
01/24/2006 8:27:47 AM PST
by
Cannoneer No. 4
(Amateurs study tactics. Professionals study logistics.)
To: Cliff Dweller
A friend of mine told me that the "slat armor" was actually a Russian developed item.
The first was aware of slat armor was on US Army boats running the rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta. The crews welded cages of rebar around the wheelhouse and gun positions.
19
posted on
01/24/2006 8:29:04 AM PST
by
R. Scott
(Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
To: tumblindice
It's kinda tough on the dismounts when it reacts.
20
posted on
01/24/2006 8:35:50 AM PST
by
Cannoneer No. 4
(Amateurs study tactics. Professionals study logistics.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-67 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson