Turtle tank

The Tsar Mangal (Russian: Царь-мангал,^[1] Tsar Mangal, lit: King's Grill) or Turtle Tank refers to Armored Fighting Vehicles that were fabricated from T-62, T-72 and T-80 tanks used by Russian Forces, and modified with extensive improvised steel roof and siding, as well as copious amount of anti-drone slat armor which cover the sides and rear of the host tank. The heavily modified armored fighting vehicles were spotted in action in early April 2024 in Krasnohorivka^[2] on the battlefield of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Equipped with extensive electronic warfare, these tanks resemble moving barns with turrets sticking out, making them a large and unusual sighting within the battlefield^[3][4] Newer models are equipped with KMT 7 mine-clearing rollers with electromagnetic mine detector/trawl (Russian: Электромагнитный Тральщик Приставка ЭМТ.) ^[1]

A Turtle Tank in May 2024, showing its improvised armour and mine clearance roller

Name

The main Russian term for these vehicles is Tsar Mangal, derived from the Russian slang "mangal" for anti-drone slat armor, in an analogy with other large weapons such as the Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bomba.

Most western sources denote it as the "turtle tank" for their unusual turtle shell appearance.^[4] Ukraine military also dubbed it a "mobile barn".^[5] Other monikers include ‘blyatmobile’ (Блятьмобиль)^[6] and ‘assault garage’ (штурмовые гараж).^[7]

Effectiveness

A damaged turtle tank in May 2024, showing armour built from corrugated iron

Captured Turtle Tank, June 2024

Due to its extensive slat armor covering the entire tanks, the tanks were able withstand numerous FPV drones and due to the fact that Ukrainian forces heavily reliant on FPV drones as a result of artillery shells and ATGM shortages.^[8][9] However turtle tanks have suffered from a number of problems, with extensive footage of damaged turtle tanks appearing as they were increasingly utilized in combat roles.^[10] The major drawbacks come mainly from its barnlike structure, including poor visibility and mobility, as well possessing a non-rotating turret. It reportedly serves well as a demining vehicle during armoured assaults,^[4][3] but still can be damaged by mines and artillery.^[11] On 17th June 2024, Ukrainian media sources claimed that the Ukrainian army had captured one of the AFVs along with its crew somewhere in the Donetsk Oblast.^[12] The AFV was a T-62M with its ammunition removed and its turret fixed in place.^[13]

See also

• Anti-drone cage
• Loitering munition
• Cope cage