They drop the big jug of gas on the tank, shoot it, and it blows up. Destroying tanks is not near that easy, which is why you have to invent special armor penetration rounds for that purpose. I'm surprised that for a serious war movie that was trying be more realistic than James Bond, actually made a mistake like that.
shareFuel tanks for the T-54 werent highly armored. Light those up, and it is tank bbq.
shareIn addition, the top rear of most tanks is *very* vulnerable: it's where the venting for the engine is. Lighting gasoline on the engine deck is a good way to set the engine's fuel system on fire.
Ever heard of the Molotov Cocktail? When the Hungarian people tried to chase the Soviets out of their country in 1956, Soviets lost a lot of tanks to molotovs dropped onto them from rooftops. So, yeah, there's precedent in the real world.
Okay, but even if you did ignite the tanks fuel tank, wouldn't the people in the turret be fine, since the turret is highly armored? If a turret can withstand explosions on the outside, and still be in one piece, then what difference would the explosion of the tank's own gas do?
shareElementary, my dear Watson... the tank's own gas goes inside the tank. Fire / explosions and smoke inside the tank? That's kinda bad, you know.
shareThe hatch was open. Ten feet of armor doesn't do you any good then.
shareYes.
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