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Monday, July 04, 2011

India's former Main Battle Tank [MBT] Vijayanta at Avadi [Photographs]

Found these pictures of the Main Battle Tank, Vijayanta, earlier in service with the Indian Army. These are licensed manufactured British Vickers Tanks that were later successfully adapted for use in varied configurations as Bridge laying, Armoured Recovery Vehicle etc. Successful demonstration involving incorporation of a more powerful & reliable power-plant & up-gunning its main gun to a higher caliber were also made, but did not find a favorable response from the end-user.

They were to be withdrawn from service by 2008. Counted four of them at my place, being used as monuments outside defence establishments - quite imposing, they look.

The Heavy Vehicles Factory [HVF] in Avadi [an acronym for Armoured Vehicles and Ammunition Depot of India], Tamil Nadu currently houses the country's only assembly line needed for putting together battle tanks in service with the Indian Army.

Click on the thumbnails to view larger-sized images

Main Battle Tank [MBT] Vijayanta [Vickers derivative] at Avadi factory Main Battle Tank [MBT] Vijayanta [Vickers derivative] at Avadi factory
Main Battle Tank [MBT] Vijayanta [Vickers derivative] at Avadi factory Main Battle Tank [MBT] Vijayanta [Vickers derivative] at Avadi factory

via www.photodivision.gov.in

Godspeed