"The Russian Army Is Inflating Giant Dummy Tanks" Topic

"Before the Allied invasion of Normandy in World War II, the American and British armies constructed armies of dummy tanks and landing craft in the south of England to confuse the German high command of their intent. Imagine a Sherman tank in the form of a bouncy castle — ridiculous up close but enough to fool a fighter pilot in the air.

This tradition of inflatable dummy tanks and phony ballistic missiles — imitasiia or imitation — is still alive and well in Russia thanks to the 45th Separate Engineer-Camouflage Regiment based in Vladimir Oblast east of Moscow.

The unit has a variety of blow-up tanks, missile launchers, armored personnel carriers and other weapons. While these tactics are hardly new in Russia or elsewhere, Russia recently finishing reforming the 45th Regiment, nicknamed the "Inflator Regiment" in June 2017. In fact, the unit descends from the 45th Engineer and Sapper Regiment, which served during the Soviet war in Afghanistan…"

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As yet???

Amicalement
Armand

Hey, so when do WE get to have our own brand new inflating giant dummy tanks?

Dan

We've got an inflated giant dummy.

ah, those journalists…they are not giant, they're exactly the size of real tanks ;)
At least now we now what they mean when they say "inflated defense budget"…

The British Army had inflatable dummies of Soviet tanks and other AFVs back in the 1980s.

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Used for training pilots and other troops in vehicle recognition.

Barrie

If enough cabbage was a steady part of your diet, you could inflate one too.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I want one.
It would be the ultimate Christmas decoration.

Didn't the US expend bombs on plywood and fabric tanks in Serbia back in the day? What would be great is if they could make some type of super cheap heater to go in and give it a signature, or have the fabric contain a metal that will absorb sunlight.

Yes we had one for training in the UK 1981 don't know what it was supposed to be didn't really look like anything, just a big green rectangle, told not to puncture it as it cost a fortune.
I remember thinking what a waste of money! There was only one in the whole depot! Usually plonked in a field with a couple of sentries walking round playing enemy.
Used to fire LAW/MAW at mine taped tank outlines on a hillside, much cheaper and no danger of punctures.
Why do the Russians need them ?

"Why do the Russians need them?"

Excellent question! On which border were they expecting to need them?

Dan

My guess is that it's to confuse satellite and/or aerial photos.

Lets you load up a bunch of tanks and put them someplace else, without tipping your hand that you're moving the tanks. If you can get the loading done and the train under cover between orbital passes, anyways.

I want one for a bouncy castle.

There's a giant inflatable dummy tank gap!