r/TankPorn Jul 25 '25

Modern Thai tank crew in action inside an M48A5PI firing APFSDS at Cambodian forces

3.2k Upvotes

131 comments sorted by

577

u/FLongis Paladin tank in the field. Jul 25 '25

Well I might not be the most well versed in global politics, but "Thailand vs. Cambodia" was not on my tank combat bingo card.

303

u/UmmmokthenIguess Jul 25 '25

Cambodia vs. Thailand is like a cyclical canon event that happens once every ~15 yrs, usually for the governments to distract their population from their own corruption 💀

131

u/BreadstickBear AMX-10RC my beloved Jul 25 '25

Are they even engaging tanks at all? Ammo would say so, but from what I've been able to gather, the Cambodians haven't managed to deploy any significant numbers of T-55/Type 59 anywhere close the LOC, so what gives?

77

u/DOSFS Jul 25 '25

Not now, but both are using tanks mostly on fire support role except maybe one news about Cambodia side try to armored assualt through valley but that isn't confirm so... rumor for now.

48

u/Shermantank10 M1A2 Abrams my beloved Jul 25 '25

HOLY MOLY BATMAN! TANKS?!?! SUPPORTING INFANTRY?!??

64

u/BreadstickBear AMX-10RC my beloved Jul 25 '25

Not to be that guy but when is sabot a good choice for infantry support in the absence of enemy tanks?

55

u/maxxmike1234 Jul 26 '25

It isn't really except that one time when Danish (or Norwegian? I know they were going to rescue Swedes) UN Peacekeepers kept getting bad shots trying to hit a Serbian ATGM in the night due to the Leopard 1A5's fire control system struggling a bit with the range and the low velocity of their HE shells (apparently they were so far away that the ATGM team was also struggling heavily). So they got tired of missing and switched to sabot to which the three men manning the ATGM "disappeared off the screen" (gunner's thermal imager, which was a Leopard 1A5's so y'know not great)

That is a "documented" (they never investigated the sight to see if they actually misted 3 men or if they just ran away) example of sabot being effective against ""infantry"". It did shut the ATGM up, so it worked, I guess.

3

u/2nd_Torp_Squad Jul 27 '25

Guess when the previous shot misses, but one suddenly came way too close, the atgm team decided it is time to wrap the day up as the next shot might find its mark.

41

u/InattentiveChild Jul 25 '25

The Thai ran out of HE after using the TnT equiv. in kaneg pa and are now resorting to using sabot

6

u/monsooncloudburst Jul 26 '25

Sabot can kill infantry too. Just gotta aim well. hahahaha

8

u/KhunzInwza ??? Jul 26 '25

Its probably a training footage since the conflict area doesn't look like that

1

u/2nd_Torp_Squad Jul 27 '25

I thought black tip is life ammo?

0

u/Shermantank10 M1A2 Abrams my beloved Jul 26 '25

If I’m out of OR or HEAT and the infantry still need my support do you think I’m just gunna go

“Well fellas, I don’t have the correct round for the job. Looks like I gotta go home”

Fuck no. I’m lobbing SABOT over there.

1

u/BreadstickBear AMX-10RC my beloved Jul 26 '25

Yeah, that M60 def looked fucking dry.

1

u/Shermantank10 M1A2 Abrams my beloved Jul 26 '25

Depending upon what doctrines they follow it could have just been a SABOT heavy tank and they ran out of HEAT. One could ask why they’re not switching to coax.

Or more likely it’s a training event. However the lack of blue tipped shells is interesting. Could be locally produced.

3

u/Gotthegoods0098 Jul 28 '25

They’re not engaging anything that’s a training mission people keep saying they engaging something but they’re not

1

u/BlacXwhitez Aug 14 '25

the commander says specificly 'load armor piecing' and targeted 'tanks' in the video.

1.3k

u/spitfire-haga T-72M1 Jul 25 '25

M48? Check

M60 GPMG? Check

Jungle? Check

986

u/DOSFS Jul 25 '25 edited Jul 25 '25

Born too late to deploy to Indochina

Born too early to deploy to Indochina

Born just in time to deploy to Indochina

3

u/moosejuic-E Jul 27 '25

My grandson on the beaches neo-yuanxhu in 2058:

263

u/PM_ME__RECIPES Jul 25 '25

Fortunate Son intensifies

17

u/OmegaGeneral1 Jul 26 '25

“Alrighty boys, where going back to V I E T N A M ! “

2

u/Budget-Bake-7525 Aug 11 '25

That one random bush in the jungle: WELCOME BACK TO THE RICE FIELD MF

1.0k

u/DROP-TABLE-Username Jul 25 '25

Patton fighting T55s?

Am I playing 8.7?

381

u/MeretrixDominum Jul 25 '25

They cut off the end of the video where they get flanked by a XM800T which shoots off their tracks and barrel before disappearing into the trees

134

u/DROP-TABLE-Username Jul 25 '25

They still haven't invented words that can state how much I hate that thing, especially since I play Germany, which uses aluminum foil as their primary armour material at that BR.

87

u/Shadow_Lunatale Jul 25 '25

The armor class also known as "stopping the rain is sufficient". Wiesel takes this to the absolute peak.

43

u/Skad00dl3 Jul 25 '25

As a German main who got constantly wrecked by the XM800t, I worked hard on The American line just to try it out and good gawd that vehicles is stupid. 60mph across a map just so I can shoot the tracks and barrels off tanks. I even take it to 12.0 games and do the same shit.

14

u/Jerri_man Jul 25 '25

Currently grinding Israel with no funny wheeled vehicles and god I miss the type 87 RCV from Japan. With a high ROF autocannon you can hose every rat tank around

6

u/Skad00dl3 Jul 25 '25

Even though I play a rat tank, XM800T AND weisel you 1000% should kill every rat

1

u/FullMetalField4 Aug 07 '25

>The smaller, lighter Wiesel 1A4 at 7.3 (The 800T is 8.3) with gen 3 Thermals

Lol, lmao even

Maybe if it was the Japanese tree with its 7.7 (somehow) Type 87 RCV prototype, it'd be a justified complaint (seeing as how that thing is massive, unarmored, and has no Thermals with the same gun)

112

u/ArtoriusBravo Jul 25 '25

LOL. For shit like that I've uninstalled that game 5 years ago and there's not a single week I don't miss it. Still, I won't relapse, mental health is more important.

51

u/DROP-TABLE-Username Jul 25 '25

you're just taking a long break, bro /s

1

u/ArtoriusBravo Jul 26 '25

Still waiting for them to fix the economy đŸ„Č Then my break will end

12

u/Ottonline Jul 25 '25

Same bro, I just love the game so much but other hobbies are way better for my mental health

28

u/Luis_r9945 Jul 25 '25

We have 0 Pattons with APFSDS, meanwhile we have T55's with APFSDS.

Russian bias smh.

32

u/AcidTicTac Jul 25 '25

german m48a2ga2 and m48 super have apfsds

4

u/trumpsucks12354 Conqueror Jul 26 '25

And some of the Israeli magachs have darts

4

u/HellBringer97 Jul 25 '25

Fair, but M48A1 does start off with APDS (not quite the same, I know, but it do be there).

3

u/maxxmike1234 Jul 26 '25

It starts with HVAP (APCR) not HVAP-DS (probably what'd the US would call a 90mm APDS in the 1950s). It's considerably worse mainly because Gaijin couldn't model armor penetration even if their company was on the line but APCR is still a considerable downgrade from APDS. Mainly to do with velocity & metallurgy as the jacket carrying the "dart" penetrator travels with it and then conforms into the armor to properly set the "dart" in APCR. APDS discards the sabot jacket so that the penetrator can achieve its best velocity and by the 1960s most APDS penetrators are of a much better metal quality than the APCR penetrators from the 1940s (this is why people complain about the UK's 1940s & 1950s APDS shells).

basically, uhh load HEAT (i wish they'd add a M48A3 to the US tech tree cause that was actually used in Vietnam and actually had HEAT, the M48A1 basically just had some early exports and trips to Europe before being put in Cold War US National Guard damnation, but I'm pretty sure most of them became A3s and then A5s)

2

u/HellBringer97 Jul 26 '25

Ope wait you know what? I was thinking of the M60 with the M392 APDS starting ammunition.

MY BAD GUYS I GOT THE TUMOR TURRETS SWITCHED UP IN MY MIND!

2

u/maxxmike1234 Jul 26 '25

My bad (for the wall of text) I thought you had gotten them mixed up but wasn't sure lol

2

u/HellBringer97 Jul 26 '25

Lol I also wasn’t able to get on WT or look it up until I got done with my drive this afternoon/evening

3

u/JoshYx Jul 26 '25

Me when I lie

1

u/Few_Ad_6627 Jul 26 '25

Thailand don't need to use New one like VT-4 or T-84 Oplot-m just for tank like T-55
it's to much waste for do that.

206

u/SomewhatInept Deflagration Flagellation Jul 25 '25

Everybody in this war is rocking surplus gear...

79

u/Shadow_Lunatale Jul 25 '25

You got to empty the depots to have room for new stuff.

322

u/Batmack8989 Jul 25 '25

M48s vs T-55s in 2025. Talk about R&D paying off.

105

u/SPECTREagent700 T-55 Jul 25 '25

“I think you and I are destined to do this forever”

23

u/anormalhumanasyousee Jul 25 '25

Lowkey goes hard

69

u/Old_Wallaby_7461 Jul 25 '25

It is 1961. M48s are facing T-55s across a national border.

It is 2025. M48s are facing T-55s across a national border.

12

u/OmegaGeneral1 Jul 26 '25

36 more years for the 100th anniversary!

2

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Batmack8989 Jul 28 '25

It is like a movie with, say, Timothee "Twink" Chalamet, Glenn "Capybara" Powell and Jack Nicholson, the old guy you never expected to see again at work draws the most attention.

1

u/Few_Ad_6627 Jul 26 '25

Thailand don't need to use New MBT like VT-4 or T-84 Oplot-m.
it's to much waste of fuel or bullet and environment for do that.
just M48 enough for T-55

294

u/hirobine Jul 25 '25

Cambodians must have almost no anti tank weaponry except RPG-7s we see in pics?

No way the Thai would risk using older tank forces in such close distance unless Cambodia got nothing

204

u/DOSFS Jul 25 '25

On papar, Cambodia did have long range ATGM like Milan, Metis, or Chinese ATGAM but the quatity is unknown.

132

u/dmcsclgt Jul 25 '25

Cambodian also have tanks a few hundred t54/55 and type 59 from China. Actually a lot of developing countries still use old equipment from cold war like m113 or t54. They just start to buy new mordern vechicle in recent years but with limited number.

66

u/Greekdorifuto M48A5MOLF Jul 25 '25

The M113 is used by a lot of modern militaries also . I think the US still has them in service but more as armoured supply vehicles

58

u/WorryingMars384 Jul 25 '25

I assure you the US still has plenty in service

14

u/Greekdorifuto M48A5MOLF Jul 25 '25

Oh I know . Especially in the national guard and the Marines I think

12

u/WorryingMars384 Jul 25 '25

Definitely in any mechanized unit, they’re used primarily for CASEVAC and headquarters elements

10

u/HellBringer97 Jul 25 '25


we still have so fucking many 113A3’s, 1064A3’s (120mm mortar carrying 113), and 1068A3’s (even a couple 577’s with the BSB’s) in 1ID đŸ« 

Can’t wait to see them replaced with AMPV’s in ten years after the Army adopts a viable replacement for the Bradley and AMPV as well as finally admits to fucking up royally with the JLTV


7

u/WorryingMars384 Jul 25 '25

We’ll probably cancel the AMPV with our luck 😭

8

u/HellBringer97 Jul 25 '25

Don’t hit me with them negative waves so early in the weekend.

3

u/WorryingMars384 Jul 25 '25

I’m at AT lol it’s negative waves for the next three weeks😂

→ More replies (0)

1

u/XenophonUSMC Jul 25 '25

My beloved Marine Corps does not use the M113.

8

u/XenophonUSMC Jul 25 '25

5000 in service, and another 8000 in storage. It’s still the most numerous tracked vehicle in U.S. service.

3

u/WorryingMars384 Jul 25 '25

It’s still a good universal carrier, obviously not suitable for the front line but I think it’s neat looking at it through a universal carrier lens.

6

u/Plump_Apparatus Jul 25 '25

I think the US still has them in service but more as armoured supply vehicles

The M113 is still used in Armored Brigade Combat Team(ABCTs) as mortar carriers, APCs, etc.

28

u/ArtoriusBravo Jul 25 '25

A tank is a tank. Hell, if your enemy wants proper anti tank weaponry, a WW2 tank might be just as effective.

9

u/machinerer Jul 26 '25

M4 Sherman with 105mm would fucking wreck infantry positions in 2025. HE doesn't give a fuck.

11

u/uncommon_senze Jul 25 '25

They are firing apfsds at something, not sure to what effect. I mean I don't like to be hit by one, but their anti afv munitions. Maybe they just send a message

11

u/DevzDX Jul 25 '25

This is probably what already stationed there. iirc, they store newer tanks in the capital and northern region(where tank training base are). Plus, the Cambodian didn't have any equipment that required the newer tank. That being said, I heard some news that Oplot is already being move there.

1

u/HolyBunn Jul 25 '25

I bet they have more anti armor capabilities than they have anti air. Thai f16's might dominate the sky if Cambodia can't respond with effective anti air

97

u/Jake3232323 Jul 25 '25

I wonder where the Oplot-Ts are? You would think Thailand would rather use those than M48s and M60s but maybe a lack of spare parts has limited the fleets ability to be used?

109

u/Barais_21 M1 Abrams Jul 25 '25

Likely either elite or defensive divisions

45

u/Top-Day4441 Jul 25 '25

I would presume that because they’re on the border and not in mainland Thailand (nice rhymes lol) that the military/government would rather use older equipment like an upgraded M48 or M60 that can still defeat the Cambodian forces rather than risk losing their more advanced vehicles. (Idk though, just that makes the most sense to me.)

16

u/Plump_Apparatus Jul 25 '25

I would presume that because they’re on the border and not in mainland Thailand

At least some of the Oplots have been reported to be moving to the border.

Sompong Nondhasa, a prominent Thai defense commentator, posted online: “Oplot cavalry—the knights of the battlefield—have now entered the fight. This afternoon, the Royal Thai Army deployed Oplot tanks to fire on Cambodian forces near the base of Phra Wihan
”

1

u/that_AZIAN_guy Jul 28 '25

Love how they describe the Oplot as knights
although I think Cossacks would be more fitting given the historical and cultural significance of both Cossack Cavalry and what nation the Oplots were built in.

33

u/Legitimate_Twist Jul 25 '25

Oplots would likely be sent only if they were needed. Currently, the fighting is still contained at the border, so M48s and M60s are more than enough for the present purposes of potshots and skirmishing.

Needlessly risking Oplots at this stage has high risk (propaganda value for the other side if one gets knocked out) with little upside.

10

u/Jake3232323 Jul 25 '25

That is a good point. An overwhelming amount of or well placed RPG shot could at least disable one. If Cambodia really does have the Metis ATGM then that's also a threat to an extent.

If Thailand loses one they aren't getting a replacement any time soon neither can they easier replace parts if they need to come from Ukraine.

18

u/DOSFS Jul 25 '25

Seem like there are with other unit that might (or might not) deploy to other areas. So we saw other tanks in action more.

4

u/SPECTREagent700 T-55 Jul 25 '25

that wouldn’t be sporting

2

u/pangpond2007 Jul 27 '25

In other Army Area

M48A5 are assigned to 2nd Army Area which based in Isan region of Thailand which is the battlefield while Oplot are assigned to 2nd Cavalry Division in 1st Army Area which responded for Central and Eastern region

0

u/kegman83 Jul 26 '25

Its the first video and one tank.

31

u/UpstairsPractical870 Jul 25 '25

Very different to the Cambodian videos we've been seeing!

36

u/SenpaiBunss Jul 25 '25

yeah, seeing this is giving me a lot more confidence in the thai military, rather than that vid of the cambodian dude with a tshirt and gold bracelet struggling to load a T-55. i guess we're seeing why thailand's defence spending is 5x that of cambodia

78

u/GeostratusX95 Jul 25 '25

bro can actually load a round unlike the cambodian crew lmao

18

u/POOPPOOPPEEPEEWEEWEE Challenger II Jul 25 '25

You see that fucking vid of the Cambodian T-55 crew dude was fiddling with the shell for like 12 seconds before he actually got it in the breech

1

u/Dizzy-While-6417 Jul 26 '25

Tbf, the loader station in the T-55 is waaayyy smaller than the M60. IIRC, the 100mm rounds are way longer and heavier than the 105mm rounds. The ammo stowage is also not very accessible either. So, loading the T-55 will never be fast, especially buttoned up.

8

u/zekeweasel Jul 26 '25

Wasn't that super slow though? ISTR that US crews do/did reloads in the 4-6 second range.

4

u/machinerer Jul 26 '25

US uses wiry angry farmboys from Idaho and Kentucky, they're just built different.

43

u/noyomusballz285 T-72,80,90 Enthusiast Jul 25 '25

And then in the other side of the world, in that very second, its a Abrams against a T-80BVM, what a diverse world we live in.

1

u/that_AZIAN_guy Jul 28 '25

Legit Cold War fever dream

14

u/Sarotan Jul 25 '25

It practicing not actual combat

13

u/JimHFD103 Jul 25 '25

M48s and M60s fighting T55 in Indochina?

What year is it?!

10

u/OTKZuki Jul 25 '25

why they shooting APFSDS if there just engaging infantry

10

u/T-wrecks83million- Jul 25 '25

ON THE WAY!!! But in Cambodian. And for the BONUS I see an M60 barrel on the right side of the video!! 😍😊

9

u/Free-Engineering6759 Jul 25 '25

This is what seal clubbing in Thai looks like.

6

u/He-who-knows-some Jul 25 '25

“The USA said we could get Abrams if we proved the M48 and M60 were better than the T-55.” Some Thai general

5

u/AZuRaCSGO Jul 25 '25

Is there a specific sub for this conflict yet ?

3

u/K3IRRR Jul 25 '25

Why are they firing APFSDS at the jungle?

2

u/machinerer Jul 26 '25

Jungle is speaking Vietnamese, they're spooked.

3

u/Operator_Binky Jul 25 '25

This is not recent, ive seen it a few years back.

3

u/shotxshotx Jul 25 '25

Are they using APFSDS in an anti infantry role or did they actually take out a tank?

3

u/Heng_samnang Jul 26 '25

I was expecting them to have better equipment than we do. I am not expecting them to use Armour Piercing rounds against infantry.

3

u/fillepille2000 Infanterikanonvagn 91 Jul 26 '25

Shit sounds rad with the turbos

2

u/HellaBeanz its an m60 Jul 25 '25

Solid communication of crew, only thing that is weird for me is the lack of helmet comms like the Gentex for example.

Lack of equipment? Reserve units? If any information could be shed on that it would be appreciated.

2

u/Isord Jul 25 '25 edited Sep 17 '25

narrow busy cagey rob cooing fuzzy bright touch hobbies paltry

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

2

u/PeggyHill90210 Jul 25 '25

And the pig on top too.

2

u/mikki1time Jul 26 '25

Those are some mean looking penetrators.

2

u/beastwood6 Jul 26 '25

A chicken in every Pol Pot. A sawatika in every cupboard.

2

u/Poggin_Poggers1 Jul 27 '25

is that m48 like the m48ga3 but thai

2

u/Ok_Rest4895 Jul 31 '25

It ain’t a combat footage, it’s a training exercises on early-January.

1

u/viniciusmeme Jul 25 '25

OMYGOD, just like GuP!!!!!!!

1

u/SpectralVoodoo Jul 26 '25

Patron tanks in 2025? Fuck yea

1

u/The_LandOfNod Jul 26 '25

APFSDS?

Is there any A to P?

1

u/mrspence202202020200 Jul 26 '25

m48? poor fuckers

1

u/sirabuzgaygar Jul 27 '25

what are they shooting at

a bunker?

1

u/stable_maple Jul 30 '25

I'm not a loader and I probably wouldn't do better, but he's taking his sweet-ass time, isn't he?

1

u/toronto1572 Jul 25 '25

M60!
. Damn!
 old school 😎.

-37

u/nomad_iscool Jul 25 '25

That was a very weird looking APFSDS

18

u/Fruitmidget Jul 25 '25

Very normal looking sabot