Tiam (tank)
Main battle tank
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tiam (چشم ها lit. Eyes)[1] is an Iranian main battle tank optimized from the Sabalan with a 105 mm gun. The tank was announced on April 13, 2016, and has a similarity to the Type 59 turret, with a Sabalan chassis, which is an Iranian modernized version of the M47M Patton.[2] Iran stated that it possessed a brand new turret housing a smoothbore 105 mm cannon. Iran said it had a new fire control system, and new communication equipment, sideskirts and other improvements and cost less than half of the price of the Zulfiqar main battle tank.
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| Tiam | |
|---|---|
Tiam in 2023 | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | Iran |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Iran |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 2016–present |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 44.1 tons |
| Length | 8.51 m (hull) |
| Width | 3.4 m |
| Height | 3.35 m |
| Crew | 4 (Gunner, Commander, Loader and Driver) |
| Armor | Applique composite armor, with ERA |
Main armament | 105 mm smoothbore gun based on the 105 mm M68 |
Secondary armament | 12.7 mm machine gun 7.62 mm machine gun |
| Engine | Continental AVDS-1790-2A diesel 750 hp (560 kW) at 2400 rpm |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
Operational range | 600 km |
| Maximum speed | 56 km/h |
History
Before the fall of the Shah, Iran obtained modernized versions from the United States of the M47 Patton, known as the M47M.[3]
After the Tiam was unveiled to the public in April 2016, Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan announced there would also be a new Karrar main battle tanks.[2][4]
Design
Iran created the Tiam tank from a modernized version of the M47M and a modified Chinese Type 59 turret.[4]
The main armament of the Tiam consists of a 105 mm smoothbore gun fitted with a fume extractor and a thermal sleeve. It has a crew of four, including commander, gunner, loader and driver and has a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and a 12.7 mm DShK heavy machine gun mounted on swivel station at the commander hatch.[3]
The Tiam was fitted with latest generation of composite armor, with explosive reactive armor (ERA) panels mounted on the front of the hull and turret.[5]
