TechDrones turn the tide: A single grenade destroys a Russian tank in Ukraine

Drones turn the tide: A single grenade destroys a Russian tank in Ukraine

T-72B3 destroyed in Ukraine

Images source: © X, @front_ukrainian

2:41 PM EDT, May 6, 2024

A video has surfaced online showing an attack on a T-72B3 tank, which is being used by one of the Russian units in Ukraine. Surprisingly, a grenade dropped from a drone was all it took to destroy the valuable piece of machinery, a testament to the capabilities we are reminded of.

Both sides are employing first-person view (FPV) drones in the conflict. While these drones may not match the destructive power of classic anti-tank missiles, their use in deploying unmanned aerial vehicles to destroy enemy armored vehicles is becoming increasingly common. They carry explosive charges, grenades, or bombs, which are dropped from above onto their targets.

The T-72B3 tank destroyed by Ukrainians

In a striking instance, we observed a Ukrainian drone utilizing an American M67 grenade skillfully dropped into the open hatch of a Russian tank. From the perspective of the attacking forces, this method presents an optimal outcome, maximizing the chances of disabling the enemy armored vehicle.

The M67 grenade, designed as an improvement over the M33 grenades, has been in production since 1975. Its weight of about 14 ounces allows for easy transport by small drones, which typically have a payload capacity of several pounds. Each M67 grenade contains around 6.3 ounces of explosive material.

Achieving the destruction of an enemy tank with a drone and a grenade marks a significant victory, removing a valuable enemy asset from the battlefield at minimal expense. This is especially true when the target is a T-72B3, considered among the superior tanks deployed by Russia in Ukraine.

What can the T-72B3 do?

The T-72B3 represents an advancement over the older T-72B model, entering Russian service post-2010. It features the Sosna-U sight equipped with Catherine-FC thermal imaging cameras by the French conglomerate Thales. This allows its crew to effectively engage targets at long distances and in nocturnal conditions—capabilities not afforded by many other Russian tanks used in Ukraine.

Weighing approximately 50 tons and stretching nearly 23 feet in length and 7.2 feet in height, the T-72B3 boasts a range of about 310 miles. It offers enhanced armor with reactive modules over its predecessor and is armed with a 125 mm smoothbore gun. Notably, the T-72B3 is equipped with an autoloading system compatible with the recently introduced Svinets-2 rounds, supplementing its firepower with 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns.