Russian Tank Turrets Keep Flying Off When Hit So Crew Ejection Module Is Patented

Derisively referred to by Ukrainian and NATO forces as 'the jack in the box' effect or 'the Russian lollipop,' Russian tank turrets have become infamous for flying off when the tank is hit because Russian tank designers put ammo storage under the turret. 

Rather than repairing that design defect, the Russians have recently patented tank crew ejection capsules. Which could make for a fun ride, assuming the crew survives. JL

Defense Express reports:

The Russian army inadvertently created forced ejection of turrets from tanks, eg, the design where the ammunition rack is situated right under the crew. This jack-in-the-box (effect has led to) a tank with a crew ejection system being patented in Russia. Inside such a tank, the crew will be seated in an ejection capsule equipped with a pyrocartridge. The innovation is a logical direction in tank development, considering that as of  June 5, 2024, the Russians had lost 7,806 tanks of all types in Ukraine - twice as many as the Russians had before the start of their offensive in 2022.

Armor-themed blog btvt.info reports that a tank with a crew ejection system has been patented in the russian federation. What is the specific type of tank that is supposed to receive such an upgrade is not detailed, only a general description is given. In particular, it is noted that inside such a tank, the crew will be seated in an ejection capsule equipped with a pyrocartridge.

Between the capsule itself and the crew compartment of the tank, a partition made of arc-shaped armored plates is placed, and the ammunition rack should be placed "to the side of the crew," the blogger notes. When the capsule with the crew is ejected, the tank must stop.

 

Pictures from the russian patent for a tank with crew ejection / Image source: btvt_2019 on Telegram

At first glance, this patent on the part of russian engineers looks strange, especially in light of the russian army's inadvertently created system of forced ejection of turrets from tanks — namely, the design where the ammunition rack is situated right under the crew. This jack-in-the-box tank arrangement works so well that it's possible to list down the best examples based on how high a turret was tossed after catching a hit from an anti-tank weapon.

Jack-in-the-box effect of a russian tank: the turret is tossed over 100 meters up after the tank due to a hit to the ammo rack / Screenshot of an open-source video

Nonetheless, the innovation itself is a logical direction in tanks development, considering the fact that as of the morning of June 5, 2024, the russian invasion forces had already lost 7,806 tanks of all types in Ukraine — twice as many as the army of the russian federation had overall at its disposal before the start of its offensive campaign in 2022.

Pictures from the russian patent for a tank with crew ejection / Image source: btvt_2019 on Telegram

When it comes to practical aspects of implementing this project, the first issue that comes to mind is the cost/effect efficiency. Introducing an ejection capsule for the crew on any MBT can dramatically increase vehicle production costs.

As for the precedent with the mass upgrading of tanks with slat armor (colloquially known as "cope cages"), which first affected the russian armed forces and then spread to other armies of the world, even the Israel Defense Forces, the situation is actually quite different here. A slat armor cage as an improvised method of tank protection can be manufactured both in the field and in factory conditions, and its installation does not require any special adjustments to the vehicle design.

Earlier, Defense Express reported that the TOS-3 Drakon, a new version of TOS-1A Solntsepyok, was shown for the first time in russia.