Battle tanks, often referred to as the beasts of war, send the shivers down the spine of most seasoned soldiers. The machines are hugely expensive and every nation tries to make their best use.
As such, these platforms are often used for 30 to 40 years. Obviously, mid-life resets and a full overhaul are called for. For the Indian Armoured Corps, the 505 Army Base Workshop (ABW) in Delhi, has been entrusted with this massive exercise and is the only centre in the Indian Army equipped to handle T-72, T-90 and Arjun tanks that make up the inventory of the Indian Army’s tank resources.
The ABW is equipped with the latest repair facilities, testing equipment and, most of all, skilled manpower to undertake the massive task. About eight decades old, the workshop manages its inventory of thousands of components by forecasting the requirements and procuring them almost a year in advance.
The process is long and complicated. The tanks are completely stripped and each of the 8,000 parts and sub components, the turret and the barrelare removed, cleaned, tested for wear and tear, each part is degreasing, re-cabling is done and damaged parts are replaced with new ones, to begin the process of putting it together again.
Testing is undertaken at each stage to ensure all parameters are fully achieved. After the process cycles are completed, the tank is ready for another battle, another day.
Brig Ashish Johar, then Commandant of ABW (he has since moved to another assignment), explains the sequence and importance of the process to Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale.
