Russia's latest "turtle tank". A hybrid war machine evolves
Russians are not backing down and, once again, showcasing their new design. This is another version of the so-called turtle tank, which first appeared on the front in April 2024. The Ukrainian Front profile on the X platform reports that the latest edition features a tank converted into an assault gun equipped with a KMT-7 mine plow.
Hybrids resulting from the combination of two different designs are commonplace in Ukraine. Both Ukrainians and Russians reach for such amateur solutions. The latter recently showed the so-called turtle tank, first observed last month.
The machine quickly became the subject of mockery and jokes by netizens commenting on videos with the uniquely looking tank covered with steel plates. However, emotions were soon cooled by an American Foreign Policy Research Institute worker, Rob Lee, who pointed out that the new Russian construction might not be a "crazy adaptation". He noted at the time that Russian modifications are essentially an adjustment to the conditions prevailing on the front.
The turtle tank must have proven effective in combat since its destruction has not yet been confirmed. The Russians decided to continue their streak of building strange machines. In this way, another video showcasing the second version of the turtle tank made its way online.
The new Russian turtle tank
What distinguishes the latest aggressor's construction from the previous one? First of all, the changed armor stands out. The first version covered the tank with metal plates without additional protection. This time, however, attention is drawn to additional (most likely) metal reinforcements placed on the plates. Their role is to limit the effects of an attack using drones. The drone hitting the metal rods explodes earlier, so there is a smaller risk of destruction during the detonation of the main armor.
However, the modernized tank does not have an additional electronic warfare module, which in the first version of this type's construction was located at the very top of the machine. It is possible that in this edition, the Russians decided not to install the system for jamming drones due to the presence of the mine plow located at the front of the tank. This determines the application of the new turtle tank.
The Ukrainian portal Fofanov explains that the addition designed for mine removal is the KMT-7, a construction combining roller and plow elements. It comprises two roller sections, two plow sections, and two mounting frames. It is a simple construction whose role is to detect and remove mines on the road. The mine plow is not permanently mounted to the tank. It can be removed and installed on another construction site. Therefore, it cannot be excluded that the new turtle tank will soon change its role.
