Why Russia turned its 'legendary' tank into a mine-clearing vehicle

The Russian Armed Forces have converted T-62M tanks from their main combat role to mine clearance vehicles on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Recently, the Russian armed forces have converted the T-62M tank from its main combat role to a mine clearance vehicle, in order to meet the growing need to deal with obstacles and minefields on the battlefield.

Originally designed during the Cold War, the T-62M has undergone several modernizations to suit modern combat realities. However, its offensive role has been gradually replaced by more advanced tanks such as the T-72 and T-90, leading Russia to decide to convert a large number of T-62Ms into mine clearance vehicles, supporting ground operations facing large minefields, such as in Ukraine.

The T-62M is a Russian main battle tank converted to mine clearance. Photo source: Social Media

The conversion of the T-62M to mine clearance includes the installation of a modern mine clearance system, typically the KMT roller mounted on the front of the tank. This device activates and neutralizes mines before the vehicle passes through, creating a safe path for the Russian army to advance with minimal risk of damage. In addition, some T-62M tanks are equipped with additional armor to withstand the destructive power of mines, ensuring optimal protection for the crew against large explosions, which are a serious threat even to heavily armored vehicles.

Instead of investing in expensive and specialized vehicles, Russia has chosen to convert its large number of available T-62Ms into economical, functional solutions. This approach optimizes military resources for ground support missions, reflecting a flexible strategy in the context of modern and asymmetric conflicts.

While the converted T-62M provides an immediate solution, it still has limitations in protection and effectiveness compared to modern dedicated vehicles. The crew is at greater risk, even with the enhanced armor, underscoring the challenge Russia faces in trying to mobilize large numbers of mine-clearing vehicles at short notice.

The T-62M not only serves as a support vehicle but can also participate in attacks when necessary. The vehicle is equipped with a 115 mm 2A20 smoothbore gun, suitable for dealing with armored vehicles and other ground targets. Accompanying it are a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun and a 12.7 mm DShKM heavy machine gun, giving the T-62M the ability to defend itself against infantry and close-range threats, including from the air.

To ensure the survival of the crew, the T-62M is designed with thick armor on the front hull and turret. However, this armor is not up to modern protection standards but is still enough to resist frontal attacks. Despite weighing 42 tons, the T-62M has a maximum speed of 50 km/h, enough to support the mission of expanding the front with an operating range of about 450 km without frequent refueling.

The T-62M is an upgraded version of the standard T-62 main battle tank produced by Russia. Photo: Vitaly V.Kuzmin

The T-62M's control and targeting system is equipped with modern equipment such as infrared sights, night vision devices and nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection systems. A crew of four, including commander, driver, gunner and loader, controls a vehicle over 9 meters long with good maneuverability.

Widely exported, the T-62M is in service in countries such as Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and Kazakhstan, affirming the tank's role in militaries seeking durability and low cost. The move to convert the T-62M into a mine-clearing vehicle shows that Russia is optimizing its existing vehicles to deal with increasingly tense battlefield situations, especially as mines remain a common threat on fronts such as Ukraine.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/ly-do-nga-bien-xe-tang-huyen-thoai-thanh-xe-ra-pha-bom-min-355970.html