KMDB Oplot main battle tank, the tank has 48 ton weight (photo : Manaxob)
The armys decision to buy a new batch of about 200 main battle tanks from Ukraine has upset soldiers who prefer South Korean vehicles.
"The troops who will have to operate the vehicles do not want the Ukraine-made tanks because they are equipped with an auto-loader that requires the tanks to stop moving when ammunition has been used up and new loading is necessary," said an army source.
"This feature could become a problem when fighting in a war. Thats why operators prefer tanks with a manual ammunition-loading system."
An auto-loader is a mechanical aid that removes the need for personnel to load ammunition into weapons.
The army has resolved to replace its old US-made M41A3 tanks with about 200 new ones. Among the top choices were the K1 tank from South Korea and the T92 Oplot tank from Ukraine.
The procurement of 200 Ukraine-made tanks will cost about 7 billion baht, said the source.
The US tanks have been in commission in four cavalry battalions since 1962, just prior to international involvement in the Vietnam War, said the source.
The new tanks will be stationed at the 4th Cavalry Battalion (Royal Guard) in Bangkok, 8th Cavalry Battalion in Nakhon Ratchasima, 9th Cavalry Battalion in Phitsanulok and 16th Cavalry Battalion in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
It is believed the armys procurement committee of high-ranking military officers chose the Ukrainian supplier over the South Korean one because of its connections with the supplier, said the source.
The supplier is the same one that supplied the controversial 96 ! Ukrainia n-made BTR-3E1 armoured personnel carriers to the Royal Thai Armed Forces at a cost of almost 4 billion baht, the source said.
The tank procurement is part of the 10-year package of weapons purchases the government recently approved for the army.
The other choices proposed for consideration by the procurement committee included the Russian-made T-90 tank and the German-made Leopard 2 A4 tank. But the German tank was too expensive, said the source.
ที่มา :
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/228666/new-ukraine-tanks-leave-soldiers-riledปล. กลายเป็นหวยล๊อคไปซะแล้ว ไปซื้อกับยูเครนเจ้าเดียวกับ BTR เจ้าปัญหาซะงั้น
งานนี้ทหารผู้ใช้เขาไม่ปลื้ม เพราะเป็นออโต้โหลด พลประจำรถ3นาย
อยากได้ K1A1 หรือ Leopard2A4 ที่ใส่กระสุนเอง+พลประจำรถ4นาย มากกว่า
