What Planet Did This Tank Come From?

3:00PM July 28, 2010 | Jesus Diaz

There are no details of this tank, which could be from the Soviet Era. The picture finder says that some people suggested it’s a fog/smoke generator but, for its looks, it could be an armoured antimatter cannon.

Why a smoke/fog generator? The finder says it could be a water cannon for “burning oil wells”, but it may as well be a flamethrower. Whatever it is, it looks very menacing. Any idea of what this thing really is? If you have any clue, tell us in the comments. [DRB]

Comments

  • stevjosco

    July 28, 2010 at 3:23 PM

    I know why you’re so perplexed, you’re looking at the rear view. That’s not a cannon muzzle, it’s the jet exhaust of the world’s fastest tank :D

  • Dylan

    July 28, 2010 at 3:39 PM

    It is essentially a tank with a turret mounted jet engine used for burning people/things very quickly.

    Here is another example: http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/38839/2342339440103673033S600x600Q85.jpg

  • Mikee

    July 28, 2010 at 3:41 PM

    Amy Winehouse’s unused hair dryer?? …Boom!…

    • Mr. Sanchez

      July 28, 2010 at 5:20 PM

      People there is no mystery here, it is a tank fitted with a jet engine used to dry runways or clear them of debris so it doesn’t get sucked into a supersonic spy planes engine….

  • Griever

    July 28, 2010 at 3:43 PM

    Found a site that’s hosting the same image.
    Looks like a Russian site.

    http://www.dirty.ru/comments/246045

    The image above has cut off the watermark in the bottom-right, which is krasmana.org. I suggest that the image and information about the tank originates from there?

  • Craig

    July 28, 2010 at 3:56 PM

    Using TinEye on FireFox I found a matching picture on this site http://everyravlik.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html that lists it as the Gasdynamic trawler “Progvev-T”. Knowing that name allowed me to find this site http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/postwar/26602-big-scary-tank.html where someone explains it is for clearing mines.

  • chazs123

    July 28, 2010 at 3:58 PM

    I believe it is from the planet Arrakis.

    A Siege Tank if I am not mistaken.

  • ozdavo

    July 28, 2010 at 4:07 PM

    Could be a an earlier design of the Tanks that had twin mig jet engines attached (replacing the turret) that were used to extinguish oil well fires in Kuwait http://misterian.com/2009/08/jet-engine-used-to-extinguish-kuwait-oil-fires/

  • RB

    July 28, 2010 at 4:19 PM

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-54/T-55_Operators_and_variants#Firefighting

    The second one? No pics unfortunately :(

  • Jake Katrakis-Larkin

    July 28, 2010 at 4:28 PM

    Wow, that thing looks awesome… Maybe Apple’s new Magical Product?

    Seriously though when was this picture taken? It looks very Sci-Fi.

  • dude

    July 28, 2010 at 4:38 PM

    If it was to generate a sonic boom out of that turret, it would be widespread but on a flat level.. plus the sound bouncing off the opposite wall at the end of the turret but travelling out slightly in the other direction could be redirected forwards to create a narrower beam by the stick on hydraulics above it when extended.
    I would agree with it being a smoke/fog generator since those two control methods of dispersion would also work for that, though not as effectively.. but a smoke generator does not require a large cylindrical object which needs to be perfectly in line with the barrel, does it?
    On the documentary “Secret Weapons of WWII”, the Nazis developed a Sonic Boom Cannon to use against the Soviets, but though incredibly damaging, it was in-effective in battle due to it’s short range of about 40 feet and inability to aim.

    Conspiracies aside, that dangley bit could also be an ignition mechanism, though the specification of it’s specific stylised shape would be rather pointless and doesn’t fit the style of a machine which is clearly designed purely for functionality than cosmetics.

    And while I’m here, I know what people are like with strange pictures so if anyone thinks the picture is fake, I can personally vouch for it, as an expert in such things, that due to probability, it is not.
    It could be faked, don’t get me wrong, but the stylisation of it and the way it’s created, if made in 3D (the way it would easiest be done), would be by someone qualified to work for Pixar or Dr. D, and for a prank, would be too much time off the hands of such an individual who barely has time to spend with his/her family.
    Creating the top half of the model on it’s own would likely serve no purpose, and the bottom half shows even more diversity which would take a great amount of time and skill to recreate.
    Basically, if you don’t see this tank driving around in a movie in the next 3 years, that picture is real. I certainly look forward to hearing other’s opinions on the matter.. and I get the first post. Does anyone else have these links on their Google Homepage? Lol =P

  • Greg Randolph

    July 28, 2010 at 4:47 PM

    Looks like the rear end of an aircraft engine. Could it be mounted on the tank chassis to blast out huge quantities of hot air? Don’t they have enough politicians?

  • Gareth Redshaw

    July 28, 2010 at 4:52 PM

    Kane’s solution to the mammoth tank.

  • rhys

    July 28, 2010 at 6:24 PM

    is it a failed attempt at sonic boom cannon, from the size and the way it is designed it was probably a failed attempt at a leaf blower!

  • MrTaco

    July 28, 2010 at 6:44 PM

    Looks to me like some kind of gigantic can-opener. It’s got the big hooky thingie for levering the metal open, and that big syringe-like part for piercing and draining.

  • Spotty

    July 28, 2010 at 9:31 PM

    Well,,,, it gets really really cold in Siberia….lots of snow and ice Perhaps this is a secret prototype of the Soviet armoured snow plough! No point having lots of tanks stuck in the snow. ;-)

    Cheers

  • BJM

    July 29, 2010 at 12:13 AM

    It’s an experimental minefield clearing vehicle, a Progvev-T. The heat from jet exhaust was used to heat up and explode mines.

  • Ollie

    July 29, 2010 at 10:35 AM

    Clearing runways I’m afraid, there’s a couple of threads on EnglishRussia about these beasties.

    • Osiris

      July 30, 2010 at 12:53 PM

      This is the right answer, I’ve seen an article about this tank (and other tanks) before, and it is for clearing ice and snow from runways in a hurry (it is a “jet” engine if you could call it that). Yes, it is Russian too.

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