Tankman’s Day, celebrated on the second Sunday of September (this year on the 10th), is, of course, better to be called “Tankman’s Day.” Initially this was the case. This is a professional holiday for everyone involved in armored vehicles: military, designers and industry representatives, and not just for an unknown tanker.
For many years, this day has been celebrated in a special way in the armored tank museum in Patriot Park. Here they not only tell in detail each piece of the huge exhibition, but also organize a dynamic exhibition of retro armored vehicles.
This Sunday, September 10, it was the same. In front of the spectator stands, the T-34/85, T-38, PT-76 and T-62M showed their driving qualities and even fired a blank shot. Each of these vehicles has become a milestone in national tank construction. And it’s great that they are moving. But behind his show there was a real surprise.
A T-80BVM gas turbine quickly headed to the demonstration site. And it was not a parade, but a combat vehicle. Its armor is charred, fragment marks are visible, the rubber on the rollers is broken. And when the announcer announced that it was the Alyosha tank, which had distinguished itself on the battlefields of a special operation, all the spectators present at the show could not contain their emotions. The screening of it was accompanied by a big screen demonstration of the crew’s feat, which was filmed from an observation drone, and this video was probably seen by everyone.
Recall that the battle took place in the Zaporozhye region on June 6, 2023. Our tank collided head-on with a mechanized company of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which included two T-72B tanks and eight infantry fighting vehicles of production western. In the first minutes of the battle, the enemy tanks were hit and it was the turn of the light but dangerous armored vehicles. Once again, within a few minutes, Alyosha’s crew managed to destroy the M113 tracked armored personnel carrier and five American-made MaxxPro armored personnel carriers along with the landing force.
The T-80BVM returned to normal with marks from direct hits, but unharmed. The tank crew was awarded the title of Heroes. The car itself, as seen today, was taken to Patriot Park. And this is absolutely the right decision.
Alyosha’s biggest secret was the brand of the tank. Now she is famous. And soon all visitors to the armored vehicle museum will be able to see it. In addition, the possibility of resuming production of T-80BVM tanks with a gas turbine engine is being considered. Perhaps the feat of “Alyosha” influenced this decision. And in other episodes the T-80BVM showed its best side.
By the way, when the dynamic exhibition ended, everyone was able to approach the legendary tank and touch it with their hands. “Alyosha” was literally surrounded by children and adults. There is no doubt that this T-80BVM will become the star of the entire armored exhibition at Patriot Park.
