// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Loggim program say? "I'm logged on.
| Tank Technology Demonstrator | |
|---|---|
| Type | Main Battle tank |
| Place of origin | South Africa |
| Service history | |
| In service | Never entered service, tested from 1992-1994 |
| Used by | South Africa |
| Production history | |
| Designer | ARMSCOR, Olifant Manufacturing Company Lyttleton Engineering Works |
| Designed | 1992 |
| Manufacturer | ARMSCOR, Olifant Manufacturing Company Lyttleton Engineering Works |
| Developed from | Olifant (tank) |
| Developed into | Systems helped create the Olifant Mk.2 |
| Variants | Prototype Variant, Proposed Production Variant |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Battle ready: 58.3 Tons |
| Length | 7.78m (25.5ft) |
| Width | 3.62m (11.9ft) |
| Height | 2.99m (9.8ft) |
| Crew | 4 |
| Armor | Armor Thickness of 750mm with compatibility for ERA, Effective Thickness Unknown |
Main armament | 105mm GT3 QF Prototype Variant, 120mm GT6 QF Proposed Production Variant, Upgradable to 140mm QF GT6 |
Secondary armament | 7.62mm Machine Gun and or 7.92mm Machine Gun |
| Engine | Twin-turbo intercooled V-8 Diesel engine 1234hp (920kw) @ 1200rpm (21.16 hp/t) |
| Power/weight | 21.16 hp/t |
| Payload capacity | 54 rounds of 105mm Ammunition |
| Transmission | 4 forward and 2 reverse gears |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
| Fuel capacity | 1600L (422gals) of diesel fuel |
Operational range | On Road 400km (249mi) Off Road 300km (186mi) |
| Maximum speed | On Road 71kph (44mph) Off Road 35kph (22mph) |
The Loggim program or TTD Program was a project to develop a new main battle tank (MBT) for the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the 1980s. It was initiated after combat experience in the South African Border War made it apparent that Olifant MBTs were increasingly unsuitable to counter Soviet-designed tanks being deployed to the region.[1] The project was cancelled in the early 1990s, before any new tanks were delivered for trials or operational purposes.
History
[edit]The Loggim Program began in the early 1980s after the SADF recognized from their combat experience in South West Africa (now Namibia), and from their experience in Angola during the South African Border War that they needed a new MBT to counter the rising threat of Soviet MBTs, and that their old Olifant MBTs were in need of replacement.
The project was called "Loggim" and involved Reumech Olifant Manufacturing Company (OMC) building the hull, while Lyttleton Engineering Works (LEW) designed the turret.[2][3]
The project was developed from about 1983, with the prototype (TTD) completed around 1992.[4] The prototype was developed in the early 1990s by ARMSCOR (later Denel) and OMC. It resembled the Leopard 2 in profile because of the use of Composite armour and because that design suited the harsh African climate the most. It weighed 58 tonnes (64 tons) and was driven by a 1,250 horsepower (930 kW) diesel engine. The prototype was equipped with a GT-3 105 millimetres (4.1 in) main gun but the production units were planned to have a unique GT-6 120 millimetres (4.7 in) gun that had the modular ability to change breaches from a 120 millimetres (4.7 in) gun to a 140 millimetres (5.5 in) gun.[5][6]
During the development of the TTD, it had a competitor, the Olifant MK1B Optimum, the Olifant MK1B Optimum was a continuation of the Olifant tank family which had a very similar turret profile to the TTD when the Sharp Composite package was removed, Although it was competing with the TTD, in the end it was more of a stop gap that the SADF was using while working on the TTD, it used a GT-8 105mm Rifled Main Cannon and a 7.62x51mm MG-4 Browning Coaxial Machine Gun, with a 950 horsepower V-12 Engine, Advanced Ceramic Armor, a advanced Fire control system and advanced optics.[7][8][9]
The program was cut in the early 1990s following the end of the South African Border War, and due to changes in the political climate, but not without showing that the program was ultimately successful, proving in tests that it was a great MBT that accomplished its main objective of countering Soviet T-Series tanks and being on par with most Western MBTs.[1][4]
It is also safe to assume that the SADF used a lot of the information that they got from Operation Carbenet, an Operation that involved getting T-72M1 tanks from Poland to research their strengths, weaknesses, what the SADF could do to the Platform to make it more advanced, better and to see what technology they could use on the T-72 platform (Which led to the T-72 IST "Tiger" and T-72/35 (ZA-35) to help develop the Loggim tank.[10][11]
Variants
[edit]The TTD had 2 variants, 1 was only proposed.[4]
Prototype Variant: The prototype used a 105mm GT-3 QF Cannon[12] and had no machine gun or ERA (Although ERA was used during hull testing). It featured second-generation thermal vision devices (TVDs), night-vision devices (NVDs), a Laser Rangefinder and also had access to a Hunter Killer Fire Control System.[4]
Production Variant: The production variant was planned to use the 120mm GT-6 QF main cannon,[13][14] It was planned to use ERA, a 7.62mm or 7.92mm machine gun that would be placed on top of the turret (Although some sources including the Official South African Armor Museum claim that it was planned to use a Coaxial Machine Gun Aswell.[1]) and would have Modular Armor pieces leaving room for upgrades to the TVD, NVD, Armor, FCS, Primary Weapon and Secondary Weapon systems.[15]
Upgraded Production Variant: The Upgraded Production Variant was planned to use a 140mm GT-6 QF main cannon, and would be exactly the same as the Production Variant being able to use ERA and a 7.62mm or 7.92mm machine gun on the turret or as Coaxial inside the turret.[16][4]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Tank Technology Demonstrator". sa-armour-museum. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
- ↑ Engelbrecht, Leon (2009-05-26). "SANDF projects: past, present & future - DefenceWeb". Retrieved 2026-03-21.
- ↑ "Stimpy75's Content - Page 6". Sturgeon's House. 2015-11-18. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Venter, Dewald (2019-04-06). "Tank Technology Demonstrator (TTD)". Tank Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2026-03-21.
- ↑ Ludeke, Alexander (30 January 2018). International Tank Development From 1970. Pen and Sword. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-4738-9143-2.
- ↑ "Reumech TTD (Loggim) GT6 120 - Left in the dust". War Thunder — official forum. 2025-07-07. Retrieved 2026-09-22.
- ↑ "Olifant MK1B "Optimum" suggestion". War Thunder — official forum. 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ Engelbrecht, Leon (2010-01-21). "Fact file: The Olifant main battle tank - DefenceWeb". Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ Venter, Dewald (2017-11-24). "Olifant Mk1B Main Battle Tank - Tank Encyclopedia". Tank Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 2025-11-27. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "T-72M1 (ZA-35)". War Thunder — official forum. 2024-02-05. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ "Tenk T-72". MyCity forumi. Retrieved 2026-09-03.
- ↑ Foss, Christopher F. (1997). Jane's Armour and Artillery, 1997-98: The Latest on Battlefield Weapons. Jane's Information Group. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-7106-1542-8.
- ↑ "South African prototypes, projects, concepts, etc". Secret Projects Forum. 2010-01-21. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ Jane's International Defense Review: IDR. Jane's Information Group. 2004. p. 35.
- ↑ "Tank Technology Demonstrator [TTD]". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2026-09-04.
- ↑ "Tank Technology Demonstrator". sa-armour-museum. Retrieved 2026-08-20.