T-80 autoloader in action

**jlvfr** · 14 Nov 11,, 10:08

A friend sent me this, thought the forum tankers might enjoy it:

Very snug fit, that turret...

**tankie** · 14 Nov 11,, 15:35

Very good , but very slow , a good loader n gunner got 3 hesh in the air on cents , hand loaded

However does that system employ a 3 man crew

**jlvfr** · 14 Nov 11,, 15:43

Originally Posted by tankie

Very good , but very slow , a good loader n gunner got 3 hesh in the air on cents , hand loaded

I noticed that it took a long time between 1st and 2nd round, but the interval between 2nd and 3rd is much shorter. Wonder why...

Originally Posted by tankie

However does that system employ a 3 man crew

Yep, 3-man. I assume the CO's position is where the photographer is...

**dave lukins** · 14 Nov 11,, 15:48

It looked a little slow to me also but a polished crew may be a lot quicker.

**tankie** · 14 Nov 11,, 16:01

Dont see how nuts cept if the gunner is good , but whats the cyclic rate of the autoloader , in scimmies we could only fire auto 6 rounds as fast as the gun would allow .

**USSWisconsin** · 14 Nov 11,, 17:01

What kind of ammo is that? Practice?

**NUS** · 14 Nov 11,, 18:26

Originally Posted by tankie

Very good , but very slow , a good loader n gunner got 3 hesh in the air on cents , hand loaded

Only if tank is not moving, loader is not tired and dont have radiation sickness. Autoloader gives his 6-7 rounds per minute regardless.

**bigross86** · 14 Nov 11,, 18:53

Human loader gives another person to help maintain the tank and work on the tank if it breaks down. We're trained to shoot 4 rounds in 15 seconds, and then scoot

**Red Team** · 14 Nov 11,, 19:43

The way I see it, an auto loader is one less able body that can cover for you.

**zraver** · 14 Nov 11,, 19:46

Originally Posted by NUS

Only if tank is not moving, loader is not tired and dont have radiation sickness. Autoloader gives his 6-7 rounds per minute regardless.

If you don't miss you don't need a super high rate of fire under most conditions....

**zraver** · 14 Nov 11,, 19:49

Originally Posted by Red Team

The way I see it, an auto loader is one less able body that can cover for you.

yup it reduces the tanks maintenance and guard crew from 3 to 2. The tank still as many or more man hours of care to keep operational and the crew still does not get to eat or sleep until those tasks are done. The commander still has other jobs to do when the tank is stopped that keep him from being a full time member of the maintenance and guard team.

Plus in the case of illness or injury the now 2 man battle crew- commander and driver is a lot less effective than a 3 man crew in a 4 man tank.

**omon** · 14 Nov 11,, 19:55

the turret and the whole tank is too small for 4 man crew, i tried to sit in t64 about 20 years ago and i couldn't fit (i,m 6,5 now was may be 2 inches shorter than).
but boy does it burn, ammo\powder charges under the floor, one hit and turret flys off due to all that pressure from buning powder, ever seen videos of real t-xx burning? flames are 20 feet high or so, red flames, comming from every possible hole.
very bad design, no wonder ussr build that many, one time use tank,

**dave lukins** · 14 Nov 11,, 21:57

Originally Posted by omon

no wonder ussr build that many, one time use tank,

Quantity over quality. They have used that tactic with great effect for many years.

**Mihais** · 14 Nov 11,, 22:13

That's about to change.We'll probably see new Russian goodies this decade.The Armata family of AFV's looks different than anything so far.

**USSWisconsin** · 14 Nov 11,, 22:52

Isn't loader the natural "entry-level" position on a tank crew? Helping train new tankers for the other jobs? IMO, the autoloader isn't an ideal solution.