schnuersi said:

We want MW-1 back!

YouTube

German Tornado with MW-1 munitions dispenser

The MW-1 (Mehrzweckwaffe 1, multipurpose weapon) is a German munitions dispenser designed to be carried on the Tornado IDS. The MW-1 started to be phased out...

Yes indeed.

I've thought a few times that a modern version, based either as a stealth drone or big cruise missile / glide munition, would be worth pursuing.

Something like a upsized version of the JSOW in the 2000-5000lb class, designed dispensing submunitions. It could fire them all at once, or glide over multiple targets dispensing partials.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGM-154_Joint_Standoff_Weapon

A couple of those could have wiped out a large section of that infamous 40km convoy to Kiev in the early part of the war.

Mr. T (MrT4) said:

Interesting layout for 30mm grenade launcher magazine

Very. Also just a tremendous amount of linked 30mm. Impressive that the gun has enough energy to cycle a belt that large. 

Some rumint as to if/why T-54/55's may be used by Russia. Main takeaway is that there are supply bottlenecks with bearings and electronics for refurbinf modern tanks. And with a shortage of trained tank crews and very lethal anti tank weapons, all tanks are essentially disposable and there will be little difference in how long a modern vs old tank lasts.

gatnerd said:

Interesting thread on Russias shifting tactics and formation of 'Assault Units' and the weapons employed. Whole thread worth reading.

Nomeclature is weird. Their Platoons are suqad sized, their companies platoon-sized, if I read this correctly

Indeed T55 is actualy quite rare beast these days , supposedly sub 500 of them in total in storage. , while T72 (7000+ in storage)and T80 are in thousands even of t64 there are 1400 units in storage.

One important factor often overlooked by internet commentators is that T62M did not replace lost tanks but was replacing BMPs and BTRs ( you don't see any train loads of BMPs being reactivated ) , as mobile warfare ground to a near halt there is little use for IFVs and APCs when you can field tanks, sure the tank has a higher logistic footprint but is also much more resilient.T55 and T62 are indeed simple machines, my friend privately runs and maintains a T54 , M36 and ZSU57-2 all with same T54/55 powertrain.

When it comes to parts, costs and electronics, outfitting a T62 with thermals and upgraded electronics costs the same as adding that to BMP or BTR , so if we are talking lack of $$ parts and electronics, you would take T62M any day over BMP1 ,2 or BTR82 .  In any case we will see what will happen with the T55 as they might end up being modified into XYZ (particularly as shells for the T55 might be rarer than the bearings for T72)

But my bet for the T54/55 are to be used as parts donors for the T62M modernization contract. T55 and T62 share many parts production of which mostly ceased in 1974 !  

T54 have been taken from The 1295th and 111 Central Storage Bases, most likely end up at the 103rd repair armored plant. The one that received an order to upgrade 800 T-62 tanks to the T-62M level. The contract for 800 tanks stipulates 270+ Upgraded tanks per year , to upgrade 800 tanks and provide spares for them, they might need spare parts from well over a thousand T62,54,55 tanks . so it makes much more sense T54/55 are being cannibalised than sent to the front.

All in all 1500 tanks are supposed to be refurbished in 2023 , how realistic the goal is who knows ? but like previously mentioned UVZ is upgrading 2-3 per shift at 3 shifts per day. but still its only one tank factory that also ,makes new tanks , while there are over 20 repair plants that can handle refiting armored vehicles including tanks.

Mr. T (MrT4) said:

But my bet for the T54/55 are to be used as parts donors for the T62M modernization contract. T55 and T62 share many parts production of which mostly ceased in 1974 !

I disagree.
The T62 is quite a rare tank by comparison. It has not been widely exported. The T55 on the other hand is the most produced tank in history. Its in use all over the world. Production of spares and ammo is up and running. Maybe not in Russia but certainly in China.
The use of T55 is most likely because its possible to quickly get the needed spares and supplies. Which is not the case or if only to a much lower degree with the T62. Ironically the T72 is hard to support as well. Its out of production. Parts for the modernised versions are much harder to get and China neither uses nor supports this system.
In addition it makes little difference. If tanks are mostly used as long range fire support the advantages of a T62 or T72 over a T55 are limited.
Most likely a T55 with thermal imager would be more usefull than a T72 without.

2 tanks per shift, 3 shifts per day, 5 day week= 30 per week x 48 weeks  ( 4 weeks off for factory maintenance) = 1,440 refurbished tanks, so pretty close.

That is the whole point T55 is AK47 of tank world and plentiful around the world,but not in Russia , Having spare parts available throughout the world hardly matters, and in all practical terms T62 has a huge parts commonality with T55 , practically compete drivetrain,From what i can read in Russian forums, T55 stock is near non existant (some sources claim less than 300in total) as is T55 100mm ammo in comparison to 115mm. (Note tanks on the train are actualy T54 so pre-nuclear, as such possibly virgin stock.

T62 is rare outside Russia but vastly outnumbers T55 stocks in Russia,T62 was constantly rebuilt and upgraded in the Soviet Union trough 80's and 90s while the T55 stocks were not  ,T62 has superseded T55 since 105mm canon became NATO mainstay. T62M was also being upgraded in numbers for Syria , last order for modernization of T62MV was issued in 2021. pre Ukraine war , they did not bother with T55 , Up to 1991 T62 was kept as a Reserve type , was used in Afghan ,Chechen and Georgian wars so its quite obvious its the 'ersatz' tank since ever.

And like said we know of a contract for 800 T62 to be rebuilt to T62M, and none in regards to T54/55 , so till there is some more data besides a photo on the railcar its hard to deduce much else.

Also remember 7 main factories produce 52 or so different types of armored vehicles , while more than 20 repair plants can handle simple refits like T62M , its about adding 'production' capacity without actually producing the parts. Same as the German scrapyard that cut 500 or so pieces of armor per year , was cannibalizing useful parts all the time and those parts will now be used in any refurbishment programs.

And the end of the day Leopard1 being upgraded by the German industry fits the same mold and we hardly see ridiculing articles about 60y old tanks being refurbished for Ukraine, instead we are seeing articles about modern western tanks for Ukraine.

gatnerd said:

I've thought a few times that a modern version, based either as a stealth drone or big cruise missile / glide munition, would be worth pursuing.

You mean like this:
 

YouTube

Deutsche Aerospace Dws-39

A new generation air to ground area (cluster bomb)

The follow up developments of MW-1 where killed by the cluster munitions ban as well.

Yes similar to that or the JSOW, but larger sized to replicate the payload of MW-1.