The T-90M "Proryv" received an element unusual for the Soviet school of tank building — a massive armored box at the rear of the turret. At first glance, it resembles an ordinary storage basket, but inside there is additional ammunition.
Uralvagonzavod designers provided not just a metal box for it, but a separate protected compartment with blow-off panels. "Pervy Tekhnichesky" analyzes the unusual solution of Tagil engineers.
Shells are only in the center
The T-90M's rear module is divided into 3 sections. However, ammunition is only in the central one. The side compartments are designed for spare parts, tank equipment, and additional equipment.
The central section serves as a protected stowage for additional rounds, while the main part of the ammunition is still connected to the autoloader inside the tank.
Blow-off panels are provided on the roof of the rear module. In case of propellant charge ignition, they are designed to direct the resulting gases and overpressure outwards, reducing the risk of crew injury.
Abrams bet on the same idea
The American M1 Abrams uses a more pronounced version of this layout. Its main ammunition is located in the rear turret bustle behind an armored door. In case of fire, blow-off panels allow pressure to be vented outwards, rather than into the fighting compartment.
The T-90M's principle is similar, but the purpose of the rear module is different: it supplements the autoloader, rather than replacing it. The Russian tank retained the compact Soviet layout and carousel autoloader, adding a separate protected volume behind the turret.
Leopard 2 is designed differently
The German Leopard 2 also uses a rear bustle for ammunition, but it only holds 15 rounds. Another 27, which is the majority of the ammunition, are placed in the hull to the left of the driver.
This is where the fundamental difference from the Abrams lies: a significant portion of the Leopard 2's ammunition is outside the protected rear bustle with blow-off panels. If the front of the hull is hit, this creates a separate risk for the tank and crew.