bmp-1 | Blind Bat News

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

Operation Desert Storm, 17JAN1991–28FEB1991

Just a smattering of armor destruction from Desert Storm:

A shot-up Iraqi Faun Herkules, hauling a ZSU-23-4, failed at trying to escape Kuwait via the Basra-Kuwait Highway. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Holmes, 28JAN1991.

Iraq used a lot of Soviet and Chinese armored ground vehicles, including both the T-55 and Type 69-2. The Chinese Type 69 series is the result of combining hull parts of a T-62 and a T-54, then adding an infrared spotlight and laser range finder over the main gun mantlet, and headlight groups on the both fenders. The Type 69 retained the roof mounted ventilator of the T-54. Early versions of the Type 69 series did not have the turret mounted stowage racks, which were actually a stand-off armor design that doubled as stowage racks. The main gun of the Type 69-1 was a Chinese designed 100mm with smooth-bore (bore evacuators on the guns varied in their position), the Type 69-2 has a 100mm rifled bore. The Type 69-2 had fender skirts, but it seems that most of the Iraqi Type 69s did not use the skirts.

Destroyed Chinese made Iraqi Type 69 (indicated by the T-62 style rear end) inside Kuwait. Photographer unknown, photo dated 01FEB1991.

This shows the squared-off butt of a Soviet built T-55. Photographer unknown, dated 01FEB1991.

This appears to be a T-55 with skirts. No evidence of turret top ventilator, no laser ranger, no stand-off/stowage racks. The Iraqis did modify their vehicles. Photographer unknown, dated 01FEB1991.

A Chinese built Iraqi Type 69-2 (note ventilator on turret roof and remains of stowage rack/stand-off armor, barely visible is evidence of fender mounted light groups), charred by an air strike. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Elliot, 07FEB1991.

The remains of an MTLB(?) on a highway south of Kuwait City. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Kit Thompson, 27FEB1991.

Photo dated 28FEB1991, an Iraqi tank explodes after an attack by the First United Kingdom Armoured Division. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Holmes.

Photo dated 28FEB1991, a Type 69 burns after an attack by the First United Kingdom Armoured Division. Photographer unknown.

One tank was trying to tow the other out of Kuwait, when they were both hit. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, 28FEB1991.

Same T-55 tanks, different angle. Turret has no roof ventilator, and has the single T-55 headlight group on the front slope. The ‘ring’ sticking out of the ground behind the T-55 is the mount for the 12.7mm heavy machine gun. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, 28FEB1991.

Iraqi T-72 in Kuwait. Destroyed or abandoned? U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sergeant J.R. Ruark, 01MAR1991.

Bullet hole to an Iraqi T-55, Jalibah Airfield, Kuwait. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Otero, 02MAR1991.

Type 69 destroyed by the French Sixth Light Armored Division. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, 02MAR1991.

This T-55 died on Al Mutla Pass, north of Kuwait City. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Perry Heimer, 02MAR1991.

Same T-55 still on Al Mutla Pass, more than one month later, covered by graffiti. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Joe Coleman, 18APR1991.

Stopping to check out a burned-out T-72. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, 03MAR1991.

Just outside Kuwait City, a T-55 failed to escape on the Basra-Kuwait Highway. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Bill Mohl, 04MAR1991.

Same tank, different angle. U.S. Army photo by Specialist Bill Mohl, 4MAR1991.

A line of destroyed armor, Euphrates River Valley, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, 04MAR1991.

A destroyed BMP-1 and what is left of a T-72, Euphrates River Valley, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, 04MAR1991.

Chinese made YW-531 (Type 63 family) followed by a Soviet made MTLB, Euphrates River Valley. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Dean Wagner, 04MAR1991.

What happened to the main gun? U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, 04MAR1991

The rear end indicates this is a Chinese Type 69 flipped on top of a U.S. made Chevy van. U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Billings, 06MAR1991.

MTLB, U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Billings, 06MAR1991.

Iraqi T-55, indicated by single headlight group on front slope. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, 27MAR1991.

A Chinese made Iraqi Type 69 (note laser ranger on the mantlet, turret-top ventilator, but no stand-off armor/stowage racks, has the fender mounted light groups) and a Chinese made YW-701 (Type 63 family) Command Post. The Type 69 was towing the YW-701 when they were both hit. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Robert Reeve, 27MAR1991