A T72 AV battle tank of the Nigerian Army and a Landcruiser gun truck at a combat zone in the Mandara Mts districts
Inspecting BTR-4 Infantry Fighting Vehicles; Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah(r), Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff. Beside him is Maj Gen Kenneth Osuji, GOC 1 Mechanised Division.
BTR-4 Infantry Fighting Vehicles
Beegeagle's Blog 
The foregoing represents the indubitable fact that the Nigerian Army not only operate an unknown number of T72AV and T72M1 tanks but the first consignment of T72AV tanks was shipped to Nigeria in 2014. This happened months ahead of the January 2015 report of the sale of T72M1 tanks to Nigeria by EXCALIBUR, from a batch of 58 T72M1 tanks acquired in Hungary. Photos depicting the airfreighting of a batch of four T72 tanks from Ostrava in the Czech Republic.
On the part of some simple-minded or mischievous folks, this led to the convenient but lazy conclusion that Nigeria operate four T72 tanks.
Also pictured above are BTR-4 IFVs at a yard in Nigeria as they were being inspected by Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah(right) and the GOC 1 Mechanised Division, Major General Kenneth Osuji (2nd right).
Now, these photos were extracted from a Nigerian Army 2015 almanac produced in Nov/Dec 2014. It conclusively PROVES the following
– the NA already owned T72 tanks before the much-publicised sale by EXCALIBUR late in January 2015
– the most honourable thing to do is not to try and put a figure to the numbers acquired unless backed up by exhaustive checks. This is because EXCALIBUR acquired 58 units of T72M1 tanks from Hungary which are being transferred to Nigeria. However, the sale of T72AV tanks to Nigeria by Ukraine preceded the EXCALIBUR deal and those T72AV tanks had already entered NA service as of H2 2014
– the T72AV tank pictured above has been fielded in battle in the Far Northeast and the hilly terrain should give an idea of where in the Northeast the photo of the tank was taken.
– the NA have now also been unarguably proven to operate the BTR-4 IFVs.
I KNEW YOU WERE UP TO SOMETHING OGA BEEEEEEGGS!
Dammn can you image the boko haram when he saw the T 72 AV lower its cannon, the last thoughts in the ass— fetid head as the FLASH ( Sorry i have to laugh light travels faster than sound) went out followed by the concussive sound,
There are no virgins go to hell
do not pass go
do not collect $200.00
I am glad they did not show close up of those kills in MUBI OR IN BAGA.
the day our soldiers will storm bama!
Nigeria probably ordered some T 72 tanks as far back as the OBJ regime paid for and got delivery of only a token few so the more significant numbers coming in while commendable are not really that head spinning. I don’t believe T 72s are a new acquisition for uses.The BTR -4s are a little more interesting, ours seem to have the GROM module or something more modern fitted on them. As far as land assets go, there is few competition in the neighbourhood. Chad has not invested in heavy armour, neither has Niger. Cameroon has a token number of Chinese tank-killer IFVs. But the T72 is agile and there are add-on enhancements (APSs) that will make our tanks survive their guns .
*for us*
No .Please let us place credit to whom it is due.The first T 72s were ordered by the GEJ AAdministration. This is fact as disclosed first by Zachary and then independently verified by me.
Conceded. Good buy all the same.
Some correction on the turret, Wikipedia has it down as the Shkval module. Most of their information came from this blog anyway so somebody must have gotten it right here.
Yes, oga Jimmy. According to the words of the head of the L’viv tank factory, the order from Nigeria for refurbished T72 tanks came about two to three years ago (I posted the video). Again, after the visit of the COAS to Ukraine early summer of last year, the tanks ans BTR 4s started trickling in.
For the BTR-4E, numbers is key. I hope we ordered them in good numbers, and not a handful.
Good job oga beegs. gradually, the Nigerian infantry and armoured corps is being modernised. by the time the 1billion dollars is utilised, we will have an army that is fairly equipped.
Continue the good work.
I would put most of the $1bn to work on the NAF and NN. Land systems can be bought gradually or old ones upgraded incrementally in country as required. We are a large country it is only an idiot that will attempt a land invasion of a country that can out 600000 men in uniform in two months. However, getting combat aircraft especially the 4.5gen aircraft variety that we require and truly offensive naval platforms is a big issue.
A picture of a powerful military looms large over the horizon.
Good morning my ogas on beegeagle. The Month of March, a blessed month indeed. A month of total victory and shame to the adversary.
Well done oga beeg.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!!
Please not to derail my Ogas but here is the point I was making in the last thread for February: The need for the internal security agencies to quickly swing into action and curtail the indiscriminate bombings (The trashing head of a dying snake). http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/on-the-latest-military-successes-against-boko-haram/203011/
The article is just partly correct. It is the NPFs work even more than SSS..I believe state governments should also help with their civilian security networks which all governors in the northeast keep telling that they don’t have but we know they do.
Terror cells may indeed be lying in wait to unleash mayhem on civilians population centers but it is Policing at the micro level that will reveal them and not sophisticated stuff coming from the SSS.
It is important to find out if the Nigerian BTR-4 came in with ATGM and how many units of the IFV we bought. Vehicles combat effectiveness on battlefield depends on it’s armament, not it’s brand name…..lest we forget
Apparently its grenade launcher or reduced number ATGM. One side or two sides of turret.
http://worlddefensereview.blogspot.com/2012/07/shkval-overhead-weapon-station.html
SHKVAL module:
Armament:
1x 30mm automatic cannon
1x 7.62mm coaxial machinegun
2-4x 9P135M Konkurs or Baryer AT missiles (optional 30mm automatic grenade launcher with reduction to two AT missiles)
Capacity:
3x crewman(driver, commander, gunner)
8x Vehicle-borne troops
Really exciting times for the Nigerian Army (and indeed armed forces). Its great to have all these new systems especially now that we need them for the BH conflict.
Only hope that the high command is keeping a close rein on the diversity in comparable systems we now have in the Order of battle. For example for APCs we still have cobras, steyrs, igiris, BMP2s, BTR 4s, etcs. this situation is now similar with the MRAPs and to some extent other major systems.
This panoply makes maintenance even more difficult.
The way forward would be to make a clear policy choice for 1 or 2 types per system and stay with that especially as we begin to spend the $1b windfall.
A lot of the emergency procurement was driven by exigencies that did not permit the luxury of forward thinking. We should put more deliberation before spending the main $1bn credit line.
For the emergency procurement I expect no major issues with stuff coming from Ukraine. Those guys dumbed everything down and deliberately looked for commonality with western or commonly available components as far as was possible. Guess what engine the BTR-4 carries?. DEUTZ Engine. I expect lots of German, French and Japanese dual use components in the drive train, gunnery, ammo guidance systems and so on. Turret and Weapon modules have been made removable/ replaceable, so you could actually order and keep complete sets as spares and install when you have breakdown. It is almost as if that country was expecting the day when they wont be so friendly with Russia and they would still need to run their armoured vehicles..
For Russian stuff there is no other choice, we have to do proactive failure analysis and stock up on the parts and the little things that can keep equipment down.
The source said: “They brought some of these game changing tanks and armoured vehicles. The APCs, T-72 battle tanks, T55 armoured tanks with mine sweeping capabilities, which are used in Baga and currently in Sambisa and Gwoza; and the attack helicopters, especially the Cobra equipped with night vision capabilities have turned the tide against Boko Haram.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201502232027.html
I read about cobra helicopters in various articles now, didn’t some people on here mentioned we were denied such asset?
A source informed me that as the end of January 2015, Excalibur Group had prepared 16 units of T-72M1 tanks for deliveries to Nigeria from a batch of 58 tanks acquired in Hungary………….
We are getting things right:
Presidential Committee On Defence Visits Innoson Motors:
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=99446
A little bit out of topic,but still very interesting:
http://www.nigeriannation.com/news/nigeria-too-strategic-to-be-ignored-france.aspx
Havent read what’s in that link oga, but when Western nations call you “strategic”, beware lol
I advice you to read it.
I did. So my ealier comment remain valid. Because we are strategic to them doesn’t make them our friends. These folks are opportunistic in nature. They see us as strategic simply because they need us for one reason or the other
I am not talking about any friendship, I am just posting an article in which our importance is acknowledged, after all the disrespect we have been met with. So what I read in that article is that we are important. Nigeria must develop expecially in the field of technology, we must be among the great.
I know that brother, wasn’t bashing your opinion, simply stating mine regarding the article.
I concur. He only mentioned 3 areas of interest but i believe they are interested much MORE in one more thing–MILITARY. They aint seeing us just as on politics/economics, their main “interest” is our Defense structure. Politically, they want to divide us. They have prophesied that their country(not my own Nigeria) will split this year. Economically, they are trying to bring us down on our knee. They are forcing us to devalue the naira. Is it a coincident that oil price slumps? They knew we rely on oil. So, when they say “strategic”, we should know they target our Security. Crumble/destabilize Security, economy will SURELY collapse.
Nigeria’s new T-72M1 tanks photos show no ERA armour, it’s looking like the basic Iraqi 1980s variant Lion Of Babylon with ordinary steel armour RHA. Our dearly beloved Nigerian army needs to add ERA like Poland has done.
Our T-55 oldies should be redesigned and upgraded into other roles as this blog recommended.
After this war, NA should sell off the old Vickers tanks if there is no guarantee of future spare parts. We can raise about $100 mililon from the sale and use that to buy 50 more T-72 tanks with ERA.
FG should not forget to please and please buy 3rd generation tanks with full composite armour for Nigerian army, composite armour main battle tanks are the kings of land warfare in these modern era, lest the whole of our army goes off balance in technology again.
BTR-4 IFV, they are very vital COIN war vehicles for their speed, protection, firepower, night/day fighting capabilities, and advanced targeting systems, and amphibious water fording capabilities.
Nigerian army needs at least 500 units of BTR-4 IFV in a mix of all different variants, 30 mm cannon, Ant-Tank Guided Missile, Mortar carrier, 105 mm cannon tank destroyer, Command & control vehicle.
Burma went for 1,000 units of the earlier BTR-3 and Iraq went for over 400 units of the newer BTR-4. Armies around the world today see combat requirements evolving and the need for buying large numbers of first class IFVs like the BTR-4 is inevitable…..simple wisdom.
These variants will give the flexibility of using the BTR-4 interchangeably for both COIN and conventional warfare against enemy states.
Large numbers needed, we should get local production and technology transfer deal with Ukraine for hundreds of numbers, BTR-4 is likely the fastest IFV in this world, speed is very vital in COIN war, remember the days when Boko Haram attacks and disappears with speed before NA wakes up. Amphibious capability will enable Nigerian army BTR-4 IFV to cross Lake Chad or river Niger/Benue.
BTR-4 IFV is technically the best IFV option Nigeria can get today 2015 and likely into the near future, nothing better all round seems to be coming up in the market even in NATO countries.
I am seeing some ‘stick on’ ERA armour arranged all over the tank body. What I don’t see is any new generation protection system, the kind that detects RPG light flashes and in 1sec calculates and showers all probably trajectories of the incoming warhead with sharpnel and ball bearings to destroy them.
With night vision equipment and good day optical sights, these tanks will detect Boko ambush positions and hidden convoys of technical vehicles 2 km away and engage them at a distance safe enough from RPGs anyway, it is against more conventional forces that we might need upgrades.
There is ERA on the tank.
Our Vickers will only attract scrap value, there is no way we can get $100 million for them.
Instead. we can cannibalise them for their guns, electronics and other system to mount on more nimble vehicles; then repurpose the hulks for heavy duty work like mine clearing, bridge laying, bulldozing, or for target practice, some categories of war games etc. That way, phasing them out won’t be a loss.
There’s are 2 other conversion options for the Vickers:
1) Heavy APC – remove the turret and reengineer the hull to carry troops.
2) Infantry Support Vehicle – remove the turret and replace with a different turret more suited for COIN Ops (a remote gun system carrying a 30mm cannon for instance).
Please, they are NOT yet for target practice.
Doing our own conversions and upgrades will lay the foundations for our own designs and manufacturing.
And you are right, only Nigeria will pay $100million for those Vickers.
Naa, Are James. ALL these T72s were ordered by GEJ. Like I said the other day, OBJ despite being a General of the Nigerian Army, did not spend more than US$125-150m on acquisitions for the NA.
47 BTR-3
204 Otokar Cobra
18 Oto Melara 105mm guns
That is the real imprint he left on the NA after 8 years as President. His miserly provisioning needs not be accorded greater significance than it really amounted to.
There is this belief that 77 T72 tanks were brought in under his watch. However, seeing that this coincided with the spike in the numbers of T55s from 50 units to 129 units, I am led to believe that what we actually got back then were 77 units of T55 tanks.
Correction, OBJ also bought two squadrons of obsolete F7 NI jets aka “F7 fighter bombers”.
Correction, one squadron (in small letters)
Wish we could get here some day “Algeria to assemble 200 T-90 tanks”
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38132:algeria-to-assemble-200-t-90-tanks&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105
From this article alone, these are the recent Algerian defense acquisitions till date, some have been delivered, others in the process of being delivered:
Army:
305 T-90S MBTs from Russia (Rosboronexport) with additional 200 T-90S MBT for local assembly;
24 Fuchs vehicle kits from Germany plus 1 200 Fuchs APCs for local assembly;
60 73 mm HATGL recoilless rifles and 214 light machineguns from Bulgaria.
Co-producing the NIMR light armoured patrol vehicles with the UAE.
Navy:
3 new C28A corvettes from China;
2 new Meko A-200N frigates from Germany;
2 new Tiger class corvettes from Russia;
2 new Project 636 Varshavyanka (Kilo class) diesel electric submarines from Russia;
1 new amphibious warfare vessel and LPD (its nerw flagship vessel ) about 8800 tons, from Italy;
Airforce:
6 Mil Mi-26T2 heavy lift helicopters;
42 Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopters;
39 Mi-171Sh helicopters for modernisation
From the foregoing, their largest (most trusted) equipment provider is Russia. You see they are gradually including Chinese products. None of their equipment comes from the US. So those that keep whining about USA this, USA that, should take a second look. When you take yourself seriously, others will do the same.
this twit throws some light on how BH got some of its initial weapons
“More than 30 Communities liberated”
http://prnigeria.com/2015/03/troops-battle-weakening-terrorists-in-kukawa-geri-gujba/
Edward @DonKlericuzio
“A Nigerian army MRE (field ration) truck successfully beat an ambushed by #BokoHaram gunmen near pulka leaving a female WO injured”
lol, these boko fools actually trying to steal food meant for our troops? lol, or they didn’t know it was a field ration truck.
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38076:agustawestland-receives-west-african-aw139-orders&catid=124:military-helicopters&Itemid=282
Edward @DonKlericuzio · Mar 1
Fightings in madagali sat. saw a Nigerian platoon cut off & forced in2 defensive positions E. near a ridge for 7hrs wit #BokoHaram closing in on them, a recce team nearby wit a nigerian made APC charged tru for rescue but couldn break out wit its friendlies. #BokoHaram then made move for coup de grace by a manouver of double envelopment attacking troops flanks directly while another enemy diversionary unit attacked the 2 APC frontally. Troops eventually broke out by drawing d enemies in a sniper team kill zone. Few wounded n sector cleared
Thanks Oga for the update, glad it ended well
Sniper team kill zone. Explain?
I think he meant a kill zone.
There is a range for a sniper to make a kill shot, right? if they are out of range then having a sniper or snipers would be useless.
I won’t try to interpret what i posted, i wasn’t there, so only the Original poster can explain that better. Everything else is just guess work
To the best of my ability
An enemy can over a period of time due a long fire fight in a helter skelter battle can be drawn into a designated area…….
True
You can draw single digits enemy personnel into a sniper kill zone but how do you ‘mass kill’ thousands of Boko s using snipers?.
…or rather, Boko AA gunners, technicals drivers and RPG carriers were taken out in quick succession by snipers who were waiting somewhere as the NA platoon fell back in a fake retreat. This action then left the other Boko’s without high calibre weapon advantage and they either ran or were killed.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/177813-nigerian-troops-gun-down-73-boko-haram-terrorists-in-fresh-attack-on-konduga.html
Interesting. This tells me that the operations to retake Bama has not started.
The BH in the Bama-Gwoza axis still have a lot of room to maneuver.
Also, we still need a lot more airpower.
My Oga, it would seem events agree with you. The boko haram ambush of the MRE was at Pulka, which is halfway up the road from Bama to Gwoza. So boko haram most likely still has an appreciable number of fighters holed up in Sambisa Forest from where they can attack both Highways and nearby towns like Konduga and Bama, while still being able to retreat to Gwoza.
The attack on Konduga would almost definitely have been a desperate attempt to break out of encirclement. The army is trying to surround Sambisa Forest (and has almost succeeded), judging from the simultaneous movement toward it from the Adamawa and Baga-Kukawa-Monguno axes; in that case, Gwoza will be next to fall to completely cut off any escape and logistic routes. The only way the army could have reached Pulka, is if they either came through Cameroon or drove along the border. Once Gwoza goes, both prongs of attack will link up… Then good everlasting night boko haram!!!
Pulka is pretty close to Gwoza.
I didn’t realize that they were that close to the north approaches of Gwoza.
Based on Peccavi’s SITREP, it appears that the NA directed a prong of attack behind Gwoza, cutting BH off from the Cameroonian border.
The Cameroonian Army had also moved up, reinforcing their side of the border in Ashigashiya (which I believe BH had initially taken over.)
The attack on a convoy bringing “food reinforcements” to the NA tells a story.
We truly shouldn’t be cooking in the middle of intense combat, but that’s another story.
Bear in mind some of these Soldiers have been in these area for more than year.
http://news.yahoo.com/nigeria-stalls-chad-aims-beat-boko-haram-election-063211309.html
Sound like another madness to me.
The article is a blessing in disguise.
Now Chad backed by France can never ever play the foolish lying game they had planned.
Chad can busy itself better now with its weekly “liberating” of Gamboru and other rubbish.
Chad has been warned not to stray away from their border duties and into Nigeria.
Oga Beegs, I de hail oooooo! E be laik say awa Oga’s at di top de hear wetin you de talk!
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN0LZ0DU20150303
Same BS. Chadian and Cameroonian Armies doing all the work, Nigerian army not doing enough, and mention of cameroon using drones for surveillance.
The BS is on a new level
It’s just spin and anti-Nigeria propaganda. It will be against the interests of certain interested parties for Nigeria to be seen as succeeding in the renewed offensive.
You can see how they publicise any military manoeuvre by our neighbours and either ignore our many successes or grudgingly report it way after the fact.
Who knows if the Chadians are actually creating safe passage for boko haram with their failed clearing of Malam fatori and Gamboru? Only for boko haram to attack through those areas within hours.
You never know. They appear to be glory hunters.
WARY WARRIOIRS:Boko Haram: Can regional force beat Nigeria’s militant Islamists?
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-31695508
The same francophile, western media, anti-Nigeria hating.
God pass all of them.
These clowns think say Nigeria dey play.
We have been telling them for the past 6 years to patrol their borders with Nigeria and deny boko haram safe haven and training camps..
We’ve asked for right of hot pursuit…
ALL the countries-Cameroon, Niger, Chad have ignored this, laughing and sneering at Nigeria.
Now the chicken has come home to roost and boko haram has started making things difficult for them, they have all woken up to the need to fight boko haram.
Holding endless meetings and swearing that Nigeria should do more.
PRAY- are these not the same countries that abandoned Nigerian troops in Baga???
Now they are running around with CNN crews in Gamboru seeking glory.
DHQ should continue to decimate and push boko haram towards the anvil.
GEJ said on Al jazeera that we have maybe 70% of the weapons we need to prosecute…
DHQ should endeavour to land the remaining assets in a timely fashion.
DHQ must also warn Chad; if they venture more than 10%past the border areas, we go bomb their nyash back into the stone age.
Nonsense and ingredients.
Oga Rugged don vex ooo, I feel you sha. I’ve left thousands of comments on Yahoo news page over and over, it get tiring some times, it just never stop coming, all the bashing.
Do Nigerians always have to self-denigrate everywhere they go?
http://www.m.voanews.com/a/chad-president-boko-haram-leader-must-surrender/2667811.html