In a recent development on the international web, explosive information has surfaced, suggesting a potential breach of security within the Thai military. It is alleged that a Thai armored forces soldier posted an extensive 624-page VT-4 tank user manual on the “War Thunder” forum, effectively exposing critical data about the tank. The repercussions of this breach are severe, and the individual responsible for the leak is likely to face serious consequences.
The leaked content, reportedly downloaded and translated by someone with ulterior motives, reveals significant details about the VT-4 tank. The manual indicates that the tank’s basic armor thickness is 550KE/750CE (where KE represents kinetic energy penetrators and CE represents chemical energy penetrators, with the numbers denoting the equivalent thickness of homogeneous steel in millimeters). With the FY2 modular armor module attached, the thickness increases to 750KE/1300CE. The tank is equipped with a 125mm tank gun, capable of firing at a rate of 7/9 rounds per minute. Additionally, the maximum reverse speed of the tank is 17 km/h.
The global military enthusiast community has taken keen interest in the incident, with particular enthusiasm from Vietnamese and Indian military circles. The VT-4 tank was specifically designed with these countries in mind. Thailand’s army had recently received the final batch of 12 ordered tanks in mid-October. The leak of such critical data poses a significant threat to the tank’s deterrent capabilities. Vietnam, having gained access to this information, is likely to capitalize on it by procuring 125mm armor-piercing shells, potentially including depleted uranium rounds, and heavy anti-tank missiles from Russia. This compromises the VT-4’s effectiveness as a deterrent.
The leak also has implications for Pakistan, as the Heavy Industry Taxila Pakistan tank factory, upgraded with Chinese assistance, now produces the Haider tank (a variant of the VT-4). Pakistan’s plan to equip approximately 700 VT-4 tanks for its army, intending to counter India’s T-90 tanks, is now jeopardized with this fundamental breach of secrecy.
