Noteworthy photo report from a Ukrainian warzone has been published recently. ArmyInform, the official media agency of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, has shown the work process at a repair depot of the 3rd Tank Brigade, situated within the abandoned premises of an agricultural enterprise. In particular, the technicians explained how components obtained from captured russian vehicles can come in handy.
The journalist mentions that in such field conditions, the equipment can only get minor repairs from damage sustained during fire contacts with russian forces. It is also possible to swap worn-out engines with brand new ones, straight from the factory.
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Beyond engine-related issues, the repair battalion of the 3rd Tank Brigade can address problems with the undercarriage, braking and fuel systems of tanks or self-propelled artillery systems.
In some cases, spare parts stripped off from captured russian equipment, such as road wheels, tracks, gearbox shafts, or other power plant components, are repurposed for repairs. Even a burned-out russian vehicle still has many useful parts, says the repair team commander Dmytro.
The report notes that up to 80% of the personnel in the repair battalion of the 3rd Tank Brigade are mobilized individuals who, in civilian life, may have had no prior knowledge or experience with equipment repairs. In the army, they have mastered the skills required for repairing combat vehicles.
Interestingly, the unit also includes a mobilized serviceman who worked with 3D printers before joining the army. This person introduced 3D printing technology for the field repair of armored vehicles, creating plastic spare parts that were otherwise unavailable, and added programmed control to the lathe for fine turning operations on small components, sometimes as small as a bolt.
The report also mentions a notable detail that Ukrainian repair crews prefer using pickup trucks to carry around equipment from their mobile workshops because they find this vehicle type the most maneuverable. It's a paramount quality since mobile repair and maintenance workshops are considered high-priority targets for russian forces.
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