Canada's tanks

[markppcli]

Frankly we shouldn't touch Ajax with a 300ft pole until the vibration and sound issue is solved. Id rather not condemn a generation or two of troops to intentional hearing loss due to poor design.

Been solved for a while now hasn’t it?

 

[Rifleman62]

Id rather not condemn a generation or two of troops to battling with VAC due to intentional hearing loss due to poor design.

 

[AmmoTech90]

Been solved for a while now hasn’t it?

Yes, but no, according to the story Kirkhill posted above.

Soldiers injured in latest mishap with Ajax armoured vehicles

‘World-beating’ fleet of tanks has been plagued by litany of problems with several troops needing hospital treatment over hearing loss

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Might be at certain revs/speed that excessive vibrations/noise appears. Generally not great for the vehicle or crew. Harmonic dampers, track guides, changes in the drivetrain mounts might be needed.

 

[FJAG]

Yes, but no, according to the story Kirkhill posted above.

Soldiers injured in latest mishap with Ajax armoured vehicles

‘World-beating’ fleet of tanks has been plagued by litany of problems with several troops needing hospital treatment over hearing loss

www.telegraph.co.uk

It doesn't sound too excessive now based on the numbers reported. The vehicle has a reputation now and regardless of what the reality is will always become the focus of any medical claim by a soldier who has worked with them.

Military vehicles are noisy and vibrate. Tracked vehicles travelling at speed especially. It's inevitable. It can be controlled to a certain point but can never be eliminated.

We had ear defenders for all our gunners which were worn around the gun position when firing but rarely worn in the vehicles when traveling. Those needing to be on the radio or intercoms couldn't wear them because of the radio headsets which were inadequate. The others just didn't.

 

[KevinB]

It doesn't sound too excessive now based on the numbers reported. The vehicle has a reputation now and regardless of what the reality is will always become the focus of any medical claim by a soldier who has worked with them.

Military vehicles are noisy and vibrate. Tracked vehicles travelling at speed especially. It's inevitable. It can be controlled to a certain point but can never be eliminated.

Some tracked vehicles are deceivingly quiet.
The ones with full rubber tracks especially so.
I saw a prototype hybrid system that was for all intents and purposes silent when on electric drive

We had ear defenders for all our gunners which were worn around the gun position when firing but rarely worn in the vehicles when traveling. Those needing to be on the radio or intercoms couldn't wear them because of the radio headsets which were inadequate. The others just didn't.

These days with modern integrated headset earpro/comms and helmets, it’s hard to justify not wearing them.

 

[Kirkhill]

Brits still proceeding with AJAX

Introduced something new to me...

20 40 40

20% Survival Layer
40% Attritable/Reusable Layer
40% Consumable Layer


Survival Layer - Conventional Weapons (Challenger, Artillery, Attack Helicopters (Ajax))
Attritable/Reusable Layer - High End Surveillance, Reconnaissance Drones, AI Enabled
Consumable Layer - Loitering Munitions, Kamikaze Drones

Presumably that is the budget effort.

 

[Maxman1]

There's probably a Sunk Cost at play with it.

 

[KevinB]

There's probably a Sunk Cost at play with it.

Undoubtably - but I think the UK is in a tough spot regardless as they pissed away the work on the Warrior - and admittedly AJAX offers some capabilities they really need.
Remember when the Bradley was the worst possible Infantry Fighting Vehicle ever? Now it's considered the best performing IFV in Ukraine, in a two generations removed version from current issue M2A4 down here.

The UK has done a lot of work on the platform and from all reports the fixes to the modular armor packing (less modularity and a heavier base vehicle) as well as some other work, has solve the major issues.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

It doesn't sound too excessive now based on the numbers reported. The vehicle has a reputation now and regardless of what the reality is will always become the focus of any medical claim by a soldier who has worked with them.

Military vehicles are noisy and vibrate. Tracked vehicles travelling at speed especially. It's inevitable. It can be controlled to a certain point but can never be eliminated.

We had ear defenders for all our gunners which were worn around the gun position when firing but rarely worn in the vehicles when traveling. Those needing to be on the radio or intercoms couldn't wear them because of the radio headsets which were inadequate. The others just didn't.

M548 says hello......

 

[Rifleman62]

The Army's newest tank is officially in service – eight years late after making troops deaf.The Ajax fighting vehicle is five times heavier and at least 50 times more expensive than the Scimitar recce vehicle it replaces.But troops insisted its game-changing advantage is gun sight that can spot and track enemy targets from more 5 miles away.It also has bigger main gun – a 40mm canon – that can fire on the move at fast moving targets, as well as better armour.The Anglo-French canon fires “telescopic rounds” that do not have shell cases like ordinary bullets which saves on weight and space. Army chief General Sir Roly Walker hailed it as the “world’s first truly digital armoured fighting vehicle”.One soldier boasted Ajax’s sensors “broke Salisbury plain,” the Army’s largest training area because it could spot targets so far in advance.Major James Faire, 35, who commands the Army’s first Ajax squadron in the Household Cavalry Regiment said there was “no comparison” between Ajax and the old Scimitar family of vehicles it replaces.But he said Top Brass were still understanding how best to use armoured vehicles in war zones like Ukraine that are “saturated with drones”.He said: “There will always be a place for armour on the battlefield and I would much rather be in an Ajax than a Scimitar.”At least two of Britain’s Challenger 2 tanks – which have the heaviest armour – have been hit and destroyed by Russian drones in Ukraine.The Army is set to buy 589 Ajax vehicles for £5.5bn – roughly £10m each. More than 165 have been delivered.