It s just as its name suggests – a vehicle with a mounted tank gun that can travel across water, and it s a concept that probably makes a lot of sense but has never really seen anything remotely close to mainstream popularity.
But after years of development, the new Antasena Tank Boat has now begun offshore trials off the coast of Banyuwangi, East Java, just opposite of the island of Bali, and will look likely to become a new staple of the country s defense system that is responsible for defending thousands of individuals islands.
Seeing as its a pretty new machine, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense has so far purchased one Tank Boat from defense contractor PT Lundin, but will opt to purchase quite a lot more should they be impressed by its capabilities.
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Indonesia has begun constructing floating tanks capable of patrolling the country’s maritime territories.
Designed by PT Lundin, the new Antasena Tank Boat is 59 feet (18 meters) long and 21 feet (6 meters) wide, and can travel 600 miles (966 kilometers) across water on a single tank of gas.
The vehicle is reportedly meant to operate in Indonesia’s “brown water,” or coastal areas where the land meets the sea. It is large enough to carry more than a platoon of Indonesian Marines.
“It is hoped that the Tank Boat can support the Indonesian Armed Forces in conducting patrols along Indonesia’s seas, rivers, and coasts, and also support coast guard operations,” state-owned defense company PT Pindad said.
Indonesia is a unique country, strewn about thousands of islands scattered across the sea. But it just introduced a long-awaited hybrid vehicle called a tank boat into its suite of defense craft.
Tank Boat can patrol 600 miles on one tank of gas, which is ideal for defending a nation scattered on islands. The vehicle can transport more than a platoon of Indonesian Marines, whom it can cover with a gigantic integrated turret.
Tank Boat started sea trials near the coast of Banyuwangi in East Java (opposite of Bali) on April 28, according to an Indonesian defense blog.
Tank Boat is designed for coastal skirmishes
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Indonesia has constructed a tank that s also a boat, and it s called a Tank Boat.
It s just as its name suggests – a vehicle with a mounted tank gun that can travel across water, and it s a concept that probably makes a lot of sense but has never really seen anything remotely close to mainstream popularity.
But after years of development, the new Antasena Tank Boat has now begun offshore trials off the coast of Banyuwangi, East Java, just opposite of the island of Bali, and will look likely to become a new staple of the country s defense system that is responsible for defending thousands of individuals islands.