no matter what ya gotta turn-em over to keep the oil from setting up or they won't turn at all...
Posted on 07/21/2016 6:49:18 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
LADAKH: Tipu Sultan, Maharana Pratap and Aurangzeb are surveying the vast open valleys hugging the mountain ranges of eastern Ladakh, ready to counter any threat from China, which lies just across the border. If you are wondering how the three rulers, separated by hundreds of years, have come together, these are the names of three tanks of a regiment the Indian Army has positioned about six to eight months ago in eastern Ladakh.
India did briefly use tanks here in the 1962 India-China war (five were air dropped) but they were withdrawn after the humiliating defeat. Now, the tanks of the Indian Army are back in Eastern Ladakh for good.
For strategic and security reasons, NDTV will not identify the tank base in Eastern Ladakh just a few kilometres from the India-China border. Nearly 100 tanks have been positioned near the border; more are expected soon. "The vast flat valleys along the mountain ranges allow for armoured movement; besides, there has been an increase in the force levels across the border as well," a senior officer who didn't want to be identified told NDTV.
But maintaining tanks in these heights isn't easy. "The air is rarified and temperatures go down to -45 degree Celsius, these affect the performance of the tanks," Colonel Vijay Dalal who commands the tank unit told NDTV. The Indian military uses special lubricants and fuel to keep the tanks running, he said, and added that at least twice every night, the engines are revved-up to keep the systems in order. "It is indeed a very difficult task, but we have worked out a process to overcome these challenges," he said as a set of three tanks maneuvered into potential attack positions.
The weather and the terrain are exacting for the soldiers. The air, thin in oxygen, makes it difficult to breathe. The fierce winds amplify the chill. The accidental touch of a piece of metal can lead to chilblains and other injuries. "We work, therefore the machine works," quipped Major S Singh, the second-in-command of the unit who christened his tank Tipu Sultan.
With repeated incursions at different points of the border, China has signalled its aggression. Its hefty investments in roads and airstrips have left India playing catch up in strategically crucial regions. The positioning of the tanks is meant to prove that India is determined to assert its authority and rights over parts that China tries to claim as its own.
“turn over their engines”
Its a lot in that place. That very high plateau is a problem for logistics, both India and China face the same problems keeping major military units there.
Start their engines.
To keep them from freezing/lube freezing.
Yes indeed, in 1962, look it up.
The Chinese won, using very Korean-war like tactics.
The border didnt move by much though, logistics there making it very hard to exploit a victory.
Some models of the Sherman tank were made with Diesel engines in WWII. These were sent mostly to allied armies and the USMC. It’s my understanding that this was due to the desire to keep a single fuel type in the logistical pipeline.
I don’t believe any of the German tanks ran on diesel fuel, nor the British, but the Russian T-34 did.
And the only way to kill a Tiger was to get them right in the ass.
I’m pretty sure that Tiger tanks were gasoline fueled. They had horrible logistics problems and gawdawful reliability. The mean mileage between failure was about 100 km. The final drive was only good for 1500 km. Sherman AP rounds could defeat their armor, except frontally. When hit frontally, side welds would crack. The fuel system leaked, the interior always smelled of gasoline.
Load AP rounds instead of paint filled.
Someone’s paying attention......
I think that came from Donald Sutherland in “Kelley’s Heroes”.
Oops, should have pinged you.
Interesting
Obviously 100 tanks would be a trip wire. Though I expect India to duke it out with Pakistan before China.
no matter what ya gotta turn-em over to keep the oil from setting up or they won't turn at all...
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