A video, showing Arab military, using the Soviet T-34-85 tank in Yemen, was published online.
Photo: YouTube / Media Centre of the Yemeni Armed Forces
A video, showing a process of combat usage of the Soviet T-34-85 tank in Yemen, was published online.
According to an annotation to the video, the tank is used by Arab military, fighting on the side of Saudi Arabia, as a stationary firing point in the province of Dhale. The footage shows a tankman, who shoots from a turret gun with the help of a rope cord, being outside of the tank.
Soviet tanks became even more popular in Yemen, where fighting has been ongoing for more than ten years. During this time, the most part of tanks, which were in service in the Yemeni Army, has been destroyed by supporters of expelled President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. This led to the fact that the Houthis and Yemeni troops also began to actively use very old military hardware – the T-34 tanks and the SU-100 self-propelled guns.
The T-34-85 tank became a part of the Red Army in the spring of 1944. In contrast to its predecessor, the T-34-76, the tank had a new cast turret with reinforced armor protection and a 85-mm cannon. Its armor-piercing projectile, weighing 9.2 kg, was capable to pierce a 102-mm armor from a distance up to 1000 meters, as well as to hole a 111-mm armor from a distance up to 500 meters. An AP composite shot could break through a 138-mm armor from a distance of 500 meters. The number of a tank’s crew increased to five people. Officially, the T-34 tank was removed from service in the Russian Army in 1993.
Wait what ? They used it till 1993 ?
They were in “reserve” probably just parked in a junkyard somewhere out east. Some were perhaps housed in caves and storage halls, but I guess the was majority was just left to rot. Armies never get rid of things if they can help it.
Yeah, the Soviets/Russians wont entirely trash something if it can still cause damage to a potential foe. The Bmp 1 & 2, T55, T62, T64, T72, MT-12, etc. in syria and Ukraine have proved that in the skilled, patient , capable hands of a skilled and confident operator, these weapons can be *deadly.
If im not mistsken, those old ww2 era tanks were also broken down for ‘long-term’ storage. Put it on blocks, grease the metal components, remove the turret, basicwlly just break7ng it down and storing it in several pieces. easier on the components that way.
They ARE STILL BEING USED. For parade purposes. Every year at the victory parade. And others with various modifications like towing tank based on T-34 and similar.
The 100’s (the tank destroyer) were very good (used a T-34 body), using a Naval gun (resentment from the Army delayed its production), first big action was against the Waffen SS in Hungary in 1945.
The IS line of tank destroyers was far more deadly, the one with the Joseph Stalin tank chassis, was far more deadly. I thought a lot of them saw action in 1945, like the ISU-152.
In any case, it’s a pity to see the T-34 being used by the bad guys.
WWII tank with a rope, yeah totally sounds like medieval wahhabi jihadists. You know, a rope has many uses, would be better if these terrorists would wrap it around their necks.
@Igor Ochocinszk : what do you know about Yemen and you call Houthis terrorists? They won the election in their country and they are fighting against a coup my friend…. Also against an invation.