Russia and Ukraine

[Anomalocaris]

According to TASS, Russia is withdrawing all T14 tanks from the battlefield. The interesting thing is that the T14 has never been seen on the battlefield.

Boru

They only have 20 of those tanks. They never had the money to mass-produce them.
 
Another example of Russian Genius in the hand of Russian thugocracy

the T-14 is designed around an extremely compact diesel engine with cylinders arranged in a X configuration around a central crankshaft.   it is not exactly a new engine.   it was first developed in the early 1970s as candidate for the next soviet tank expected to be fielded in the 1980s.   however what engine the next soviet tank should have was the subject of a intense bureaucratic battle between two fractions within soviet military industrial complex, and the rival camp, which advocated the use of gas turbines and had as its champion the powerful soviet defence minister, won.  So the X diesel engine only reached prototype stage, and was not fully developed to an operational state. 

as it turns out, selection of gas turbine engine was recognized as a mistake by the mid 1980s, and the powerful defense minister who championed the gas turbine camp had also died.   but the soviet union fell before the X-engine development can be revived. 

fast forward 20 years, Russia is once again looking for a new tank, and it seemed like a good idea to base it on the revived X-engine which had been languishing,  because on paper its performance and compactness was still highly competitive.    Using this engine would allow the new tank to be much more compact and this better protected.

but unfortunately, either because the X-engine concept is subtlety but fatally flawed, or the capabilities of russian tank automotive research establishment is no longer the equal of what it had been under the USSR,  the teething troubles with the prototype proved insurmountable.  

So the russians are left with a tank that could only use an engine that doesn’t work.

[LinuxGal]

[Thumpalumpacus]

They only have 20 of those tanks. They never had the money to mass-produce them.
 
Another example of Russian Genius in the hand of Russian thugocracy

the T-14 is designed around an extremely compact diesel engine with cylinders arranged in a X configuration around a central crankshaft.   it is not exactly a new engine.   it was first developed in the early 1970s as candidate for the next soviet tank expected to be fielded in the 1980s.   however what engine the next soviet tank should have was the subject of a intense bureaucratic battle between two fractions within soviet military industrial complex, and the rival camp, which advocated the use of gas turbines and had as its champion the powerful soviet defence minister, won.  So the X diesel engine only reached prototype stage, and was not fully developed to an operational state. 

as it turns out, selection of gas turbine engine was recognized as a mistake by the mid 1980s, and the powerful defense minister who championed the gas turbine camp had also died.   but the soviet union fell before the X-engine development can be revived. 

fast forward 20 years, Russia is once again looking for a new tank, and it seemed like a good idea to base it on the revived X-engine which had been languishing,  because on paper its performance and compactness was still highly competitive.    Using this engine would allow the new tank to be much more compact and this better protected.

but unfortunately, either because the X-engine concept is subtlety but fatally flawed, or the capabilities of russian tank automotive research establishment is no longer the equal of what it had been under the USSR,  the teething troubles with the prototype proved insurmountable.  

So the russians are left with a tank that could only use an engine that doesn’t work.

It's essentially a dressed-up T-34 engine.

[LinuxGal]

'Never believe anything until its been officially denied by the officials' according to an old UK sitcom.

Now that Putin has denied involvement in Prigozhin's death, I think it's safe to say that he did it.

[Thumpalumpacus]

'Never believe anything until its been officially denied by the officials' according to an old UK sitcom.

Now that Putin has denied involvement in Prigozhin's  death, I think it's safe to say that he did it.

This was a foregone conclusion ten weeks ago.

[The Architect Of Fate]

I mean it's not like they are just going to come out and say they did it.

[The Architect Of Fate]

the T-14 is designed around an extremely compact diesel engine with cylinders arranged in a X configuration around a central crankshaft.   it is not exactly a new engine.   it was first developed in the early 1970s as candidate for the next soviet tank expected to be fielded in the 1980s.   however what engine the next soviet tank should have was the subject of a intense bureaucratic battle between two fractions within soviet military industrial complex, and the rival camp, which advocated the use of gas turbines and had as its champion the powerful soviet defence minister, won.  So the X diesel engine only reached prototype stage, and was not fully developed to an operational state. 

as it turns out, selection of gas turbine engine was recognized as a mistake by the mid 1980s, and the powerful defense minister who championed the gas turbine camp had also died.   but the soviet union fell before the X-engine development can be revived. 

fast forward 20 years, Russia is once again looking for a new tank, and it seemed like a good idea to base it on the revived X-engine which had been languishing,  because on paper its performance and compactness was still highly competitive.    Using this engine would allow the new tank to be much more compact and this better protected.

but unfortunately, either because the X-engine concept is subtlety but fatally flawed, or the capabilities of russian tank automotive research establishment is no longer the equal of what it had been under the USSR,  the teething troubles with the prototype proved insurmountable.  

So the russians are left with a tank that could only use an engine that doesn’t work.

It's essentially a dressed-up T-34 engine.

I would actually argue it's inferior to a T34 engine in many respects and that's saying something

[The Grand Nudger]

The t34 is the prototypical mbt. Being lesser than is acceptable - unless you're the newer t series. Womp womp.

Challenger/T series engagements are starting to be visually confirmed. It's going as expected. Ukrainian tankers want more western mbts. 120mm smoothbore du rounds are headed out.

[Thumpalumpacus]

It's essentially a dressed-up T-34 engine.

I would actually argue it's inferior to a T34 engine in many respects and that's saying something

I'm not a gearhead and so cannot debate pros and cons. My understanding is that it's two T-34 engines backstrapped.

[LinuxGal]

Russian front line troops to Putin's army HQ: Ukraine is hitting us hard, we need backup,
fast.  This is turning into a total Charlie Foxtrot.

Putin HQ to Russian troops: Foxtrot Oscar comrades.

https://kyivindependent.com/isw-russian-...ront-line/