Artillery and Tank Barrel Cleaning Machines (Discussion and Info)

[sal29]

Barrel cleaning is required for artillery and tank barrels both smooth bore and rifled after use due to deposit of copper, carbon, build up of rust due to corrosion etc. This process used to be manually done by the crew using brushes with long handles. Now a days machines are available in both very portable category (ones can be carried with each individual tank and artillery unit) as well in semi portable category. Most of these machines are manufacture by international manufacturers and are expensive, repair and support are not easily available within Pakistan.

There were multiple attempts to manufacture a machine locally which works with both rifled and smooth bore guns of various sizes and is durable for long term use however the information about it is not readily available. Currently manual method is mostly used in Pak army which is very time consuming and results are not that good. Also it could pose health risk due to certain chemicals used.

In this thread I would like members to contribute if they have information about the machines manufactured locally, evaluated, accepted or rejected by Pakistan army. If you have videos or pictures available with specifications please share that.

The reason why information is required as I am working on a project to solve this issue for the army and I would like to get more information regarding past experiences.

 

[PAR 5]

Army had tested a few years ago auto barrel cleaning systems from Finland and UK for Tanks and Artillery Guns. These systems were quite effective in cleaning the barrels from the various harmful deposits due to continuous firing. Unfortunately at that time they were unable to make any decisions on which systems to buy because some Junior officer at the time recommended that they same systems can be made locally. They tried for a good number of years to develop a local system, failed miserably and here we are today. My experienced suggestion to you is don’t waste your time or money on this because that Junior Officer May have retired by now but the mentality within the cadre has not.

 

[sal29]

Army had tested a few years ago auto barrel cleaning systems from Finland and UK for Tanks and Artillery Guns. These systems were quite effective in cleaning the barrels from the various harmful deposits due to continuous firing. Unfortunately at that time they were unable to make any decisions on which systems to buy because some Junior officer at the time recommended that they same systems can be made locally. They tried for a good number of years to develop a local system, failed miserably and here we are today.

My experienced suggestion to you is don’t waste your time or money on this because that Junior Officer May have retired by now but the mentality within the cadre has not.

Its a little late regarding investing time and money. A significant effort and investment has already been put in and the machine is in trials with PA. I was curious what was rejected previously as that information was not readily available so I started this thread.

 

[PAR 5]

One more thing, the magic of proper cleaning lies not in the mechanical system but in the foam that is made through special chemical compositions. The foam is the ONLY thing that makes the difference. Army at the time also got spooked of perhaps having the foam banned for export to Pakistan despite if I remember correctly the manufacturers offer to make it locally for large number of Pakistani tanks. The British made system did not have a cleaning fluid.

Simply because of the ineptness and lack of vision of the senior officers at the time, Armoured Corps soldiers are still cleaning barrels with a pungent smelling and health risk acid

Its a little late regarding investing time and money. A significant effort and investment has already been put in and the machine is in trials with PA. I was curious what was rejected previously as that information was not readily available so I started this thread.

I would like to wish you good luck but I’m sure that will not help either for the reasons I’ve stated above

 

[sal29]

One more thing, the magic of proper cleaning lies not in the mechanical system but in the foam that is made through special chemical compositions. The foam is the ONLY thing that makes the difference. Army at the time also got spooked of perhaps having the foam banned for export to Pakistan despite if I remember correctly the manufacturers offer to make it locally for large number of Pakistani tanks. The British made system did not have a cleaning fluid.

The one currently in trials uses existing liquid they use for cleaning (kerosene mostly) and the results have been really good as per feedback we got. It can cleans both rifled and smooth bore of all sizes (one of the requirements).

 

[PAR 5]

The one currently in trials uses existing liquid they use for cleaning (kerosene mostly) and the results have been really good as per feedback we got. It can cleans both rifled and smooth bore of all sizes (one of the requirements).

Yes I remember that liquid being used with the UK made system. The only problem was that owing to its high acidity the brush based system of the British company got scathed and non functional. Again, this highly toxic witches brew that they use manually will not work with any automated cleaning system

 

[Ahmet Pasha]

So is Pakistan making its own cleaning device or buying from gora again??

 

[sal29]

So is Pakistan making its own cleaning device or buying from gora again??

Not sure 100% yet. Locally made machine in semi portable category is in trials.

 

[PAR 5]

Not sure 100% yet. Locally made machine in semi portable category is in trials.

If you share the details and photo of your locally made device on trials, I will immediately tell you whether it will succeed or not. Up to you.