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Leclerc MBT in Yemen - An AAR


Galileo

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The article was published in French.

 

Various tactical jobs

Leclerc units were employed to complete several missions in different contexts. The tanks were divided into two armored battalions in an armored brigade which also included a mechanized battalion on BMP3 and an artillery battery equipped with G6. Initially engaged together for the capture of Al-Anab, the two armored battalions were separated for the rest of the operations, one remaining on Aden and the other continuing inland.

These units were first used in urban and suburban roads in offensive action from the start of their commitment to the battle of Aden (March-July 2015) and for taking the air base of Al Anad . Shortly after the conquest of this basis, the first armored battalion found itself in a defensive posture and led against attacks in urban and mountainous areas, certainly in the form of armored raids to chase the enemy that threatened the basis for the neighboring heights . Thereafter, the UAE forces used the Leclerc tank battalion second in offensive actions in mountainous area around Ma'rib and urban areas on Sabr but with mixed results . The tanks also served in

 

Logistical support in theater

The deployment of Leclerc tanks Yemen has enjoyed a remarkable logistical support. The supply chain for spare parts or equipment was provided by air or sea (the port of Aden will serve as a refueling port after the capture of Al-Anab and the reconquest of the city) and then by land Troops to the contacts. The logistical units of the UAE have opened technical repair and refueling routes to the lowest level, which is obviously crucial for the operational readiness of the missiles and their tactical capability. Over three months of fighting, a battalion of tanks could thus consume on average 200 shells of 120mm of three different types.

The evacuation of injured personnel, many times such as during the fighting in Ma'rib, was not neglected and participated in the good performance of the troupe. Again, air or ground sanitary support was created to evacuate the wounded as soon as possible.

 

In combat

Enemy fire was applied to the Leclerc pragmatically. The optics of the main sight and the shooter were systematically machine-gunned by collective weapons or precision rifles. The armament of the roof was also strafed in order to render it unusable (firing cables cut off or body of the perforated weapon). Some tanks underwent heavy collective weapon fire on the rear to destroy the powertrain (GMP) but without much success. Leclerc have also been victims of anti-tank mines and IEDs that have strained the trains rolling three gears, but without causing casualties. All damaged tanks were successfully repaired. In contrast, Leclerc was finally neutralized by a direct fire anti-tank guided missile. The hollow charge would have crossed the front part of the tank at the driving area killing the pilot and injuring the tank leader in the legs. The model of the missile is not known but in light of the pictures of the damage and following the videos posted by the rebels on the fighting around Ma'rib can reasonably think that this is not Kornet but of AT5 or AT5B Konkurs / Konkurs M. The machine could have been re-engaged after repairs because no technical elements necessary for the implementation of the weapon system were damaged. This reminds us that no chariot is indestructible. Moreover, the Saudis have lost at least 9 M1A2 following anti-tank fire. Study the possibility of laying a comparable additional protection for the LED system or reactive armor as the Russian system Relikt could help overcome the lack of protection on parts of the tank.

 

Finally, Houthis rebels have waged an intense electronic warfare against communication systems. The radio stations of French origin of the tanks were thus affected by interference, intrusions or interceptions.

 

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fultimaratio-blog.org%2Farchives%2F8148&edit-text=

Edited by Galileo
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I'd like to know what our French community are able to learn from the original text.  I feel like sometimes too much is lost from machine translation.

 

Were there any reports of the gun mount area being targeted to take advantage of the weak armor there?  Is this relatively unknown still?  Or is the area more protected than we think?

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