Saturday, January 10, 2015

My opinion? The new Chinese Light Tank is built to counter the Japanese MCV

Japanese MCV

New Chinese Light Tank

Chinese Defense Blog is reporting that the new Chinese Light Tank is being designed to fight in mountainous terrain.

Maybe.

But after chewing on this a bit I believe that not only is it set to be given to their Airborne, Amphibious Mechanized Infantry, and Marine Corps...but I'm also guessing that it designed as a direct counter to the Japanese MCV.

Additionally I believe that just like the MCV, the new light tank is being built with the Senkaku Islands (sorry for that to my Chinese readers...I am an ugly American after all!) in mind.

In the scenario of it being a race to the islands the nation that gets there first might not be the winner.  The victory might belong to the nation that is able to land the most capable all around force...to include armor and artillery (this is a scenario which will make air support iffy at best...the JASDF, USAF, USN Air, and Marine Air will be battling for air superiority...ground forces will be on their own).

Do you believe that an "Air Enabled Ground Force" (SLD Info's term for Marine forces inserted by MV-22) will be able to hold the line against a Amphibious Mechanized Infantry Division and Chinese Marine Corps attempting a forcible entry with these light tanks and the other armor that has been trotted out? Someone should hope that the Combat Assault Battalion can arrive in time and when they do they better have more Javelins and TOWs ready to go than I've ever seen for it to be helpful.

Everywhere you look its becoming an armor heavy world.  S. America is upgrading, Asia is on an almost terrifying buying spree and Europe is moving forward with speed.  We don't even need to talk about the Middle East!  Africa is probably the only place in the world where a pure infantry force has a chance of success and even there only in places.

Ground combat is again becoming mech centric.  You would think that the Marine Corps learned that lesson well in the run into Iraq in 2003.

36 comments :

  1. or the Taiwanese CM32 105mm mobile gun.

    Senkakus chain doesn't really have terrain suitable for vehicle. A few roads, but nothing worthy of armor, wheeled or otherwise.

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    Replies
    1. the Japanese seem to think so and if thats the case i believe that the Chinese would seek to counter them.

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    2. Solomon

      The MCV is basically a mobile coastal gun, intended to deny landing by the PLA. It is not a main battle tank substitute, and it will pull back if the PLA landing force does make a successful landing. Unfortunately for Japan, there is no means to transport this gun system to the Diaoyu Islands, which are rather tiny and don't have enough spaces for troops to establish tent bases for 1,000 troops, much less have armors run around.

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  2. MCV, ERC-90, AMX-10RC, Centauro 105mm, LAV-300 105mm, MGS 105mm, a few 90mm gun light tanks.

    The M8 is better than all of them. Let's get on with it.

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    1. How you can make an assessment and comparison between operational tanks and a prototype that never made its way to combat brigades and never saw any action is a mystery to me.
      Other thing is that it would be worrying if a weapon system developed in 1990s wasn't better than tanks developed between 20 and 30 years earlier for some of them.
      Let's not compare apples with old oranges.

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    2. M8AGS particuarly thunderbolt is much more heavily armoured, and features a much more modern drivetrain (hybrid-electric). It is also not aluminium which is nice.

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    3. Oh did I mention, can fire standard nato 120mm rounds...

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  3. i dont think china looking for armed confrontation against japan , maybe a few small conflict on those disputed island but certainly china wouldnt dare to risk full japanese wrath.. why would they wake up a sleeping samurai ? better to keep it asleep and weak, instead of givinng it purpose and motivation... not to mention it is expensive to conduct war..

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  4. Some discussion about this from the famous Ukrainian tank-lovers (google translation with my corrections):

    mrbolshevik
    Dec. 31st, 2014 01:11 pm (UTC)
    Support infantry in terms of the Tibetan plateau. There war theatre is perfect for tanks, but today there are only a few of fighting vehicles suitable for use at an altitude of 4000 meters.
    Кара Май
    Dec. 31st, 2014 01:20 pm (UTC)
    Maybe, but "in the conditions of the Tibetan plateau." No one to fight over. I thought maybe for the Chinese South and Taiwan as an analogue of the Soviet PT-76?

    dr_vladson
    Dec. 31st, 2014 01:47 pm (UTC)
    Disagree – there they have someone decent to fight over. Hindus control of the valley onto the plateau, the Chinese with this strongly disagree, believing these territories are their own. Hindus, since the late 60s had deployed mountainous units in the region, which they try to equip and technology, not just donkeys. So that at least a Hindu BMP this tank can meet.
    Perhaps it can be used in the swamps, but this feature adjustable suspension arm for all "mountain" tanks (Japanese, Korean), there it is vital to fire up \ down the slope. Plus says something that it has some tricky boosted engine, most likely also for normal operation in the thin air. Well, the first time this tanks were noticed the train- platforms heading to Tibet.
    Taken here:
    http://andrei-bt.livejournal.com/328463.html

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    1. Lol....dont discount those Mountain Donkeys...or Khachars as we call them. When the holy grail of science and technology fails.....the donkeys succeed in transporting everything. And when even donkeys fail.....the good old Nepali and pahadi tribes get going as porters.

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    2. Wondering if your mountain units have monuments to them as we do :)
      http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/it/d/d3/Monumento_Alpini,_Lago_Maggiore_(fronte).jpg

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    3. the beasts of war, my maternal grandfather was a veterinary doctor in the army and he know more than any what these animals value was. I bet we have a monument like that somewhere.

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  5. 21 Army corps drillings Qinghai (Oct.-Dec. 2014)
    http://i.imgur.com/eIK8dBL.jpg
    http://i.imgur.com/ACrPJrp.jpg
    http://i.imgur.com/O0PVBuF.jpg
    http://i.imgur.com/N4jJRV3.jpg
    http://i.imgur.com/D0r22BY.jpg

    I guess Chinese BMP-3 analog is more decent for dealing about Senkaku Islands

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. I had a reading on this tank on mainland articles a week ago before it showed up on western media. It was made very clear from Chinese articles it was meant for the Himalayan ranges, and this development should concern the Indian army the most because they don't have tanks that could operate at such a high altitude of 4,500 m.

    At 30 tons, this tank is too heavy for an air drop or nor can it swim, which clearly indicates it is not meant for Japan.

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    1. 30 tons is NOT too heavy to be airlanded and being amphibious is NOT a requirement for a vehicle to be used by a Marine COrps.

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    2. Solomon

      Chinese do not have means to airland this tank onto Diaoyu Islands. No, you cannot airdrop that tank from a cargo ship because it will most likely head straight toward the bottom of ocean, and no Chinese helicopter would airlift a 30 ton tank. Let us first think about the intended battleground conditions before it makes any sense.

      If you are talking about a Chinese invasion of Okinawa where such a tank could be operated on, then that's a whole different matter, and I doubt the PLA would even seriously consider it. Diaoyu Islands : http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02744/CHINA-JAPAN_2744250b.jpg

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    3. you keep bulding strawmen. no one said that the tanks are going to be airdropped. no one airdrops any armored vehicles from cargo ships today! what exactly are you talking about! i'd be upset but i'm a rather amused by your talking points and really would like a bit more insight into where you're coming from. having said all that....strike one.

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    4. Solomon

      "Cargo ship" <= I meant "Cargo plane". Sorry.

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    5. For more info on tanks deploying at high altitude-

      http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1990s/Bewoor.html

      Granted it is an old article written when we first deployed T-72's on the Himalayas in 1987 it is still very informative. A lot has changed since then.

      The closest chinese armor formations that I know off are some way off in Lanzhou (1 tank division) and Chengdu (2 tank brigades)

      In this scenario, our T-90's already deployed and home based at Leh, Ladakh and at Sikkim and Arunachal will have quiet an advantage till the time the Chinese show up. Even when they do show up...that will be unfamiliar terrain and atmosphere for the vast majority of Chinese tankers.

      If the second Mountain Strike corps moves ahead from planning stage into implementation stage....that will give us almost 2 divisions worth of Tanks which will be home based right next to the border (hence the name strike corps).

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  8. This is what I would get as an airlift capable tank:

    http://www.military-today.com/tanks/cv90120t.htm

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  9. Turkey wants to go ahead with a development of its own twin engine fighter jet.

    http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/strike/2015/01/10/turkey-indigenous-fighter/21497167/

    Turkey Insists on Indigenous Fighter Jet
    By Burak Ege Bekdil 10:29 a.m. EST January 10, 2015

    ANKARA — A top procurement meeting of Turkey's government and military leaders Jan. 7 produced several critical decisions, but officials and analysts agree a move to further efforts to build the country's first indigenous fighter aircraft was most important.

    At the Jan. 7 meeting, SSIK also decided to move on to the "pre-design" phase in Turkey's bid to design, develop and produce an indigenous fighter jet.

    Davutoglu told reporters after the meeting that a twin-engine model would be pursued in the national fighter aircraft program.

    ===============================

    I can expect Turkey building something off the J-31.

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    1. North Korea is demanding a number of Su-35s in exchange for rail and ga pipeline connection that Russia is demanding from North Korea. Once North Korea is armed with Su-35, the balance of airpower shifts in Northeast Asia, as both Japan and Korea do not have means to challenge North Korean Su-35 in international water. Earlier reports had Choi Ryong Hae demanding PAK-FA as payment of its cooperation with Russian agenda.

      http://itar-tass.com/en/world/770538

      North Korea asked Russia for Su-35 fighter jet supplies - reports

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    2. bggg, And some nuke bombs as a bonus))). Sweet dreams...

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    3. Our NATO ally Turkey is a potentially very dangerous future enemy. Their blend of Islam and nationalism is incompatible with the freedoms and democracy we strive for.

      Already has Turkey aided ISIS because our current other allies.. the Kurds are not really their friends.

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  10. Don't panic....Just send 40 Spanish soldiers to put some order in the region.... kKK

    40Spanish soldiers,Defeat 1000 Japanese/Chinese P…: http://youtu.be/aQV__QJQ5GE

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    1. Superrhinoceront

      The katana was reserved for only a handful of samurais. The vast majority of Japanese troops were armed with long spears and muskets, which at one point Japan had as many as the entire Europe combined.

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    2. Slowman it isn't the lack of ronin, probably the main reason for the defeat is that they weren't used to fight rodeleros they had no idea what techniques spanish used and in consequence a simple buckler made a big difference.

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    3. The Spanish fencing was the most effective of Europe. Not as fancy as the French or Italian but way more lethal and the Toledan swords were the best. Samurais were overrated swordmans and they lost miserably against 40 Spanish soldiers. Not for nothing tjey conquer the world at one time. Maybe we should resurrect some of them tondeal with the Fking muslim terrorist.

      Esgrima Española: http://youtu.be/Ew8pLnv_D4Q

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    4. Unfortunately there are not English sub titles but you can get the idea of the ancient spanish fencing art.

      La verdadera destreza Antena 3 - Entrevista Jesús…:

      http://youtu.be/gdJdyVhCh3s

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    5. Un just to finish the Off Topic

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqrbbn41BrA&feature=youtu.be

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. This would be a good AFV for China in an invasion of Taiwan: a Chinese thorn that has been around longer than the Senkaku claims. These could be airlifted to the opposite (non-china facing) side of the island as well as part of an amphibious force.
    Oh, for a possible "tripwire" on the Senkaku check out http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/why-china-is-building-the-worlds-largest-coast-guard-1677699141...The Chinese are building a Coast Guard ship that is as big as an American Cruiser and better armed than our pissy little LCS. Have it push around some Japanese fishing trawlers or oil exploration ships in the South China Sea and you have upped the tension enough that another nation might respond...and then since it is a Chinese CG instead of the PLA-Navy, the other nation looks like the bad guy

    Fact is, there are multiple use for a light Tank in multiple possible theaters for China. You are right; everyone is building up armor because everyone looked at our double invasions of Iraq and saw their successful use. For that matter there were light Tanks were even surprisingly useful in Vietnam and the M2/M5 were useful in WW2 in some jungle locations. The Sherman in the present day would in fact be a light tank, and the Israeli makeover of the Sherman with a 105mm did surprising well for them.
    A tank doesn't have to be as indestructible (and therefore as heavy) as an Abrams to be useful.
    Imagine an airborne invasion with tanks on the Syrian side of ISIS, an American heavy armored thrust from Iraq and an NATO armored thrust from Turkey. You would have a fast moving armored envelopment that could overrun them in a matter of days.

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  13. Chinese “wheel-tank” ST1 (fresh photos) - an analog of Japanese MCV
    http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/i_korotchenko/20427537/562600/562600_original.jpg
    taken here
    http://i-korotchenko.livejournal.com/982309.html

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  14. http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/i_korotchenko/20427537/563956/563956_original.jpg
    http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/i_korotchenko/20427537/564164/564164_original.jpg
    http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/i_korotchenko/20427537/564431/564431_original.jpg
    http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/i_korotchenko/20427537/564493/564493_original.jpg

    Chinese battle modules

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  15. Offtopic
    Serbian AV "Palanca Negra"
    http://s020.radikal.ru/i704/1412/b5/f809dbd29385t.jpg
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4Q_aN6zj5I
    interesting idea with radiator fans.

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