A Blog by Jonathan Low

 

May 6, 2022

Dear Russian Soldiers: How To Sabotage Your T-72 Tank To Get Out of Ukraine

There are increasing reports of Russian soldiers reluctant to serve in Ukraine burning fuel depots and recruitment centers - and even sabotaging their own armored vehicles. 

Some US army officers with experience in tanks, hearing of the Russian soldiers' plight are now providing helpful information - as a public service - on how to do that without getting caught. JL 

Mark Hertling and Scott Kelly report in Twitter:

Dear Russian Soldiers, We understand some of you are sabotaging your tanks which means others may want to and do not know the best way. Here are some basic tips for how to render the T72 inoperable: Pour dirt or sand into the fuel tanks to clog the lines; drain the oil in either the engine or the transmission, and it will eventually burnout either system; sabotage the road wheels.....just by not greasing them…they’ll lock up; The T72 only has 48 cm (19 inches) of ground clearance, so driving it into a mud bog or river will make it hard to get out(Growing numbers) of young Russian soldiers see the invasion of Ukraine as illegal.

 

“How to Sabotage your Russian Tank 101.” Dear Russian Soldiers, We understand some of you are sabotaging your tanks which means others may want to and do not know the best way. Here are some basic tips for how to render the T72 inoperable.

 

1. Pour dirt, sand or sugar into the fuel tanks to clog the lines. 2. Drain the oil in either the engine or the transmission, and it will eventually burnout either system. 3. Since the T72 runs on a “Christie” track/suspension, it’s easier to sabotage the road wheels.....just by not greasing them…they’ll eventually lock up. If you take off the grease fittings, or pump water into the fittings, they’ll also freeze up and the tank will eventually throw the track. 4. You can also do the same thing to the road wheel arms that attach the wheels. 
5. Loosen the lug nuts on each of the road wheels. Loosening – or taking a few off - will cause the road wheels to eventually roll off after several miles. That will also likely cause the track to come off and deaden your tank.  
6. Another way to sabotage your tank: bury it. The T72 only has 48 cm (19 inches) of ground clearance, so driving it into a mud bog or river will make it hard to get out. If you really want to get serious 7. You can find a way to jam the autoloader, or destroy the tank by using the powder cannister for the round. The rounds are placed in the autoloader as two distinct parts (the “bullet,”or round, and the powder cartridge) and are linked together in the cassette so they can......be loaded into the cannon. When the “cartridge” is separated from the round, you can slice that cartridge, and it will spill the powder and when lit will cause a powder fire. That will cause a fire in the turret, which will explode other rounds in the autoloader. 
8. Finally, stuff a a bunch of mud in the end of the gun tube from the outside, then fire a round. That will cause the tube to “banana peel” and will make the tank inoperable. These final 2 methods could cause you injury, so while effective take care when you execute them.

 

A final recommendation: Put a white flag on the turret, turn the gun tube to the rear and point it skyward, and drive toward Ukrainian lines. That’s the universal sign among tankers to surrender

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