Madness or Genius: Evaluating Russia’s new “Turtle Tanks”

Russia’s turtle tanks look like a bunch of welded together scrap metal, but is it wrong to completely disregard these new improvised weapons? (Image: noelreports)

A few weeks ago, images emerged from Ukraine showcasing Russian tanks fully clad in welded metal plates and completely caged up. Quickly dubbed “turtle tanks” or “mobile turtles,” these modified tanks initially appeared absurd and were ridiculed. However, their sudden proliferation on the battlefield prompts the question: are these tanks actually effective? Let’s explore:

The Evolution of Battlefield Tank Armor

Sarcastically dubbed “cope cages”, both sides have deployed makeshift defensive tank modifications designed against suicide drones or HEAT-Projectiles (image from tysknip)

Even before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, improvised additional armor appeared on battle tanks, earning the nickname “Cope Cage” on the internet. The trend of retrofitting tanks at the front lines is as old as tanks themselves, and this war is no different. Initially, these cages were dismantled and replaced with nets due to the increasing threat from drones. However, a new variant emerged in the spring of 2024. In early April, during attacks on Krasnohorivka, a T72 battle tank appeared, looking as if it were carrying a barn around. Plates were mounted on a framework around the vehicle, open only at the front. The vehicle, equipped with a mine plow, withstood a direct hit from cluster munitions effortlessly and penetrated…