Rejuvenating the Beasts of War: Inside the 505 Army Base Workshop
Battle tanks, known as the “beasts of war,” are among the most formidable and expensive military assets any nation possesses. Designed to serve for decades, these machines require periodic overhauls and mid-life resets to maintain peak performance. For the Indian Army, the monumental task of refurbishing and maintaining tanks such as the T-72, T-90, and Arjun falls to the 505 Army Base Workshop (ABW) located in Delhi.
The Heart of Tank Maintenance in India
Established over eight decades ago, the 505 ABW is the only facility in the Indian Army capable of handling the comprehensive maintenance and overhaul of the country’s main battle tanks. Equipped with cutting-edge repair technologies, advanced testing equipment, and a team of highly skilled personnel, the workshop plays a critical role in extending the service life of these armored giants.
The maintenance process is painstaking and highly technical. Each tank, consisting of approximately 8,000 parts and sub-components, is completely dismantled. The turret and barrel are removed for separate inspection. Every component undergoes cleaning, degreasing, and rigorous testing to assess wear and tear. Damaged or worn-out parts are replaced, and essential maintenance such as re-cabling is conducted to ensure reliability.
Precision and Quality Assurance
The entire refurbishment process involves multiple stages of assembly and disassembly, with testing at every step to guarantee the restored tank meets operational standards. This ensures that once the process is complete, the tanks are battle-ready and reliable for years to come.
The workshop also employs meticulous inventory management, forecasting parts requirements almost a year in advance to avoid delays.
Expert Insights
Brigadier Ashish Johar, who was the Commandant of the 505 ABW at the time, explained the complexity and significance of this process during an exclusive conversation with Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale. Brig Johar emphasized that maintaining and upgrading these tanks is crucial for India’s defense preparedness and operational readiness.
Conclusion
The 505 Army Base Workshop stands as a testament to India’s commitment to sustaining its armored forces with state-of-the-art technology and expert manpower. By rejuvenating these powerful “beasts of war,” the Indian Army ensures its tanks remain formidable on the battlefield for decades.
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