Tank Lovers Group
Hobbies & Interests
This group is for everyone who like tanks, sci-fi tanks, real tanks, funny tanks, you can put here tank mods, tank maps, simply everything with straps, armor and gun :D
The Osorio main battle tank was developed during the mid-1980s by Engesa both for Brazilian Army and export customers. This MBT was developed as a private venture, with only little support from the government. The first prototype was completed in 1985, the second followed in 1986. While it was a extremely successful design as proved by it's performance trials in the mid-east, where is outperformed he British Challenger, The American M1 Abrams and The French AMX-40 , it was doomed due political opposition. The Brazilian Army showed no interest to buy this tank. This MBT also received no production orders from export customers thanks to US intervention. Eventually the Osorio project was abandoned as Engesa went bankrupt.To this day the the Osorio prototype with 120mm gun is still the most advance and capable tank in the Brazilian army, being two generations ahead of the Leopard-1A5 main battle tanks currently in service.
This is the 120mm gun armed prototype.
Not bad. Wonder how it fared in armor category against all these modern tanks. Mostly likely mobility/ surprise due to it's small size and weight.
The EE-T1 Osório armor was entirely developed by Engesa and was a combination of aluminum/steel and carbon fibers and ceramics (bimetal+composite/laminate armor). This armor was said to provide complete protection against all HEAT threats existent at that time and can also supposedly supported ERA. It's armor protection is speculated to be equal of that of the M1 Abrams.
You can read more about it here: Fprado.com
I wonder if Brazil will re-stat it's development. Even after 3 decades of it's introduction, this tank is still a top-of-the-line machine.
What's with the - karma?
World Needs Moooaaar tanks! long live for da TANKS! =o =D =P XD