At the Desna combat training center, crews of APU tanks began to be trained to force water barriers, including for underwater forcing rivers.
It is about establishing this type of training at the 169th training center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where a two-level complex of the so-called light-diving training of tank crews was previously built.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine celebrate, that the main advantage of this complex is, that classes can be carried out without crews leaving for a particular body of water. Accordingly, preparation can be carried out at any time of the year in any weather conditions..
From the message of the Ukrainian command:
It also saves time and fuel..
noted, that tankers can improve their ability to force water barriers, using a mock tank tower underwater at a certain depth.
The complex is equipped with an emergency water discharge system. In the event of a critical situation, water may be drained during 10 seconds.
from posts:
Personnel during training use light isolating gas masks IP-5 – personal protective equipment, which can be applied at a depth of 7 m.
Is this training a segment of the planned training of Ukrainian tank crews or can it be fraught with new provocations by Ukrainian security forces in the Donbass?
A military expert answered this question for Military Review, Member of the Presidium of Russian Officers, retired Colonel Victor Baranez.
Victor Baranets notes, that in the past he himself is a tanker, trained in Ukraine:
Preparation for crossing rivers was previously included in the compulsory training program.. Well, if you assume, that the Ukrainian military was going to cross the Donetsk rivers, then they will drown there. Generally speaking, to disable the tank when crossing the water barrier, don't need much, especially since the pipe is forced out during forcing - it is clearly visible. Enough to throw a grenade, so that this pipe is smashed and water rushes into the fighting compartment of the tank.
According to the expert, no need to escalate, but you need to look after it.
Victor Baranec:
Still, you need to carefully monitor that, why in Ukraine they suddenly decided to turn their tank troops into this section of combat training. besides, that they have lately all boils down to, to out 20 Soviet-built tanks to assemble one operating.
Video about the Ukrainian training center (published at the end of May of this year):