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. The project was cancelled in the early 1990s, before any new tanks were delivered for trials or operational purposes.
History 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.
The project was developed from about 1983, with the prototype (TTD) completed around 1992. 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 and was driven by a diesel engine. The prototype was equipped with a GT-3 main gun but the production units were planned to have a unique GT-6 gun that had the modular ability to change breaches from a gun to a gun.
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.
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.
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.
Variants The TTD had 2 variants, 1 was only proposed.
Prototype Variant: The prototype used a 105mm GT-3 QF Cannon 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.
Production Variant: The production variant was planned to use the 120mm GT-6 QF main cannon, 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.) and would have Modular Armor pieces leaving room for upgrades to the TVD, NVD, Armor, FCS, Primary Weapon and Secondary Weapon systems.
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.
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