Turret side - ERA
Skirts - thin rubber/metal screen
New Type98/99 MBT thread
- Thread starter Dongfeng
- Start date
Skirts - thin rubber/metal screen
Side skirts are supposedly only for the purpose of stopping CE projectiles such as those from RPGs (e.g. PG-7VR). Not going to do much against KE threats, but if an APFSDS is fired at the side, it is going to go through with or without ERA or composite modules.
Supposedly, the reason why these additional side armor is not added is because it would be pointless to have it during peacetime training. Tbh that doesn't make since because even if that were the reason, at least we would see even just one instance of it being applied, such as the way we have for the side armor of ZTQ-15.
Common reasoning would be that if the PLA had to hypothetically deal with a Grozny-type situation and these tanks had to be stupidly charged in, then at minimum they would have the side hull reinforced with light ERA at least. More probably than not, the 99/99A already has such kits available. But the fact is that there is no visual confirmation of its existence yet, and so it would still be more reasonable to believe that it does not have one ready at least for now.
The camo net makes me want to eat a chocolate covered ice cream bar.
What is composite armour service hatch?.
Which one are you referring to? Generally it's the hatch you open up to access the components inside the composite module when you are repairing or replacing them. Example:
E: Reworded some things
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Panzerung Type 85 96 Al Khalid.png
New CCTV-7 show about ZTZ99A:
Looks like a 99A. I thought this tank was too heavy to get up there. Maybe they made some improvements?
The problem is not the weight per se but reduced engine capacity at higher altitudes. Even heavy tanks can crawl along at 20 Kph, which is sufficient for transportation purposes. They are still useful near Rechin La, where India fields T-72/T-90.