Just out of curiousity; British Challenger, and some Russian T-series tanks "hang" a couple of fuel drums on the back of the tank body. Wouldn't it become the tank weakness spot? I mean, a stray bullet or a small spark could lit the fuel, right ??

Yes, but what does it matter, you have 5-6 inches of steel between you and the fire, and it would burn out quikly enough. These are usually auxilarry tanks, not the main fuel tanks, and are sometimes dropped prior to combat.

Rob

Most tanks run on diesel, not a highly flammable fuel type. In fact, current vehicle on board smoke generators work by spraying diesel directly onto the hot exhaust and the diesel starts to burn and create smoke. External fuel drums can be jettisoned from the inside of the tank.

For the most part, the rear fuel tanks are used to extend the range of the vehicle, and the fuel in them is used first. In war, at least on russian tanks, the barrels would be used and when going into battle, they are supposed to be ejectable.

I do not think i would be too happy with burning fuel tanks on the back of my tank, with fuel lines still hooked up...I would worry about the fire following the fuel lines.

It is my understanding that when the rear deck tanks were used on soviet armor. it was used to increase the range and the fuel in the tanks was used first so that they would be empty by the time they reached their combat area. I have also read that most soviet tanks that used the exteral fuel tanks had a method of jettioning them if needed.

I do think that You did NOT want to get a ruptured fuel drum burning on the rear deck of any tank because you didn't want to get burning fuel pouring into any opening in the rear deck over the engine. That is why most soviet tanks with the fuel drums mount them overhanging at the rear as far back as they can go.

Ahhhh...it makes more sense now...thanks for the info