BREM-1 (USSR)

The BREM-1 is an armoured repair and evacuation vehicle developed on the T-72 tank chassis and adopted in 1975 in the Soviet Army. It was intended to support the T-64, T-72 and T-80 equipped units. As to 1990, 342 BREM-1 have been delivered, which is not much considering the number of Soviet tanks.

The kit is a conversion resin from ModellTrans on a Revell T-72 base. It gave a very good impression of this vehicle which is an original and important (in wargaming term) addition to my Soviet vehicles. (made 2021)

Challenger 1 (UK)

Developed for the Shah of Iran, the Challenger 1, following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, was rapidly redesigned to become the accidental Chieftain successor, entering British Army service in 1983. First British tank to be fielded with the revolutionary Chobham armour, which gave it high level of protection and survivability, the Challenger was produced at 420 exemplars.

The kits are from Trumpeter. Easy to build and very good looking 😉 (made 2016)

CVR(T)s Scimitar - Spartan - Scorpion (Belgium)

In the early 1970s, the Belgian government signed an agreement with the British company Alvis for the supply of 701 vehicles from the CVR (T) (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Tracked) family of armoured fighting vehicle. In compensation, most of the vehicles will be assembled in the workshops of the British Leyland factory in Malines, Belgium. 133 of these vehicles were of the Scorpion type, the Reconnaissance and Fire Support version armed with a 76mm gun and 153 of the Scimitar type, also a Reconnaissance version but armed with a 30mm Raerden rapid-fire gun. 266 Spartan were also ordered. A Reconnaissance and Personnel Carrier version, the Spartan was only armed with a 7,62mm MAG, but its lengthened and heightened hull can accommodate, in addition of a crew of 2, a section of soldier of 5 men or special command and transmission material.

The models are from S&S and their simplified aspect were hardly improved by my few interventions. I was definitely more motivated at the time by fast and large production than by attention to detail. The arrival of new injection kits could certainly in the future push me to review the CVR (T) family. Wait & see... (made 2013-2014)

T-55A + KMT-5 mine clearing device (East Germany)

The T-54/55 tanks are the most produced tank in history with an estimated productions numbers between 86,000 and 100,000. Having debuted in 1958, many T-55s are still in service today. During its very long service life, the T-55 has of course been upgraded may times (see the T-55AM2 here). Mechanically simple and robust, having a good mobility and easy to operate, the T-55 was also very cramped underarmed and under amored  facing its counterparts in the 80's. Nevertheless the T-55A were still the main battle tank of the East German Army in 1989.

First introduced in the 1960s the KMT-5 is a Soviet tank mounted mechanical mine clearing device designed to disable anti-tank mines by plowing up or mechanically breaking them from the lines in front of the tank tracks. It can be mounted to T-54/55, T-62 and T-64.

The models are the HobbyMaster, just needing some repainting and small additions to go to the tabletop. The KMT-5 come from the Trumpeter kit and to give more flexibility in its wargaming use it based separately. (made 2016)