PLA Next Generation Main Battle Tank

T

taxiya

Brigadier
Registered Member
Tanker_MG said:
Yes the prototype image displays the mounting point for the upper side skirt armor block (or ERA), but the bottom block does not appear to have a form of mounting. That could indicate that the lower blocks are fixed to the upper blocks. Which means you have to remove the entire section to conduct track maintenance. Which sounds like protection requirement was more important that maintainability requirement.
Or the lower side blocks have some sort of attachment to the upper blocks that the crew can remove with the tools they have on hand.

Finally if you have to request lift assists from Combat Service Support BN (or CO) to remove armor to conduct maintenance, that would add extra requirements onto the CSS maintenance Soldiers without increase the number of materials handling equipment (HME). That would increase the number of MHE in the CSS unit to support the Armor units every time the armor unit conduct maintenance. Which I find impractical. That is why I lean to the crew must have some sort of way to take the lower armor block on with the tools on hand without lift support or MHE.

Since we cannot see up-close the lower armor blocks and how they are attached, I think for the parade these blocks are on for show. Does this make sense?
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There is one mounting point (hole like) below every top mounting structure in the prototype. I think the straightforward way of mounting is put the lower blocks by hanging it to the holes first then put on the top block and screw it. The top block will secure the lower block. Yes you have to remove both blocks to repair the track but workwise it is only one extra lifting.
 
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plawolf

plawolf

Lieutenant General
alanch90 said:
So theres this going on. For the moment I think these things are some kind of smoke evacuators or ventilators. But in one sample they look like they have covers of some kind and also the seem to be retractable for some reason. I´m puzzled. And what the third circle thing might be?

View attachment 159111
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It’s more interesting how you have very different cuts for the two seemingly identical nozzles.

I would say that the more intrusive square cut-out is to allow more airflow, so that nozzle is meant to operate in its current position. Which makes sense since any extension upwards will interfere with the RWS.

The one with the round cut-out doesn’t have enough clearance to work effectively as an inlet/outlet, and is likely to be telescopic.

My guess is that these are NBC grade air inlet filtration systems for the tank crew. The extendable one is to facilitate fording, and removes the need for the crew to get out of the tank to assemble traditional fording rings.
 
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