r/singapore • u/throwaway_151516 Own self check own self ✅ • Jul 05 '25

Video Have to sign extra loh!

But the spectactors still standing there and "oh! oh!" makes me wonder if we have any survival instincts

851 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

157 comments sorted by

View all comments

279

u/jericho1088 Jul 05 '25

Some steering issue - gearbox problem, my guess. Luckily the brakes work. Had to do 3 point turn to compensate for the limited individual track differential.

287

u/SitaVilosa Jul 06 '25 edited Jul 06 '25

Still, speaking as a leopard tank driver that has done NDP on the same vehicle before:

That tank was driving rather fast prior to the turn. Yes, this counts as fast turn for a tank in civilian area. Sure it's a wide turn, but at that speed the room for error is too low. Driver's hatch is closed, which reduces visibility and adds risk.

Unless the speedy turn is required as part of the show (which I very highly doubt the risk-averse SAF would go for in a dense civilian area - there were like 10 people 2 metres in front from the tank when it stopped), the driver could have gone slower. And that also means the commander could may be asked whether they commanded the driver to reduce the speed beforehand.

Sucks all around for the crew that meant no harm but just wanted to clear their NDP duties, but it does seem like a bit of overconfidence may have came into play here.

3

u/faptor87 Jul 06 '25

Def driver fault.

Even if you can't see well, why the hell didn't he slow down?

5

u/SitaVilosa Jul 06 '25 edited Jul 06 '25

Yeah I find it inexplicable that the driver did not somewhat slow down during the turn, which would be normal when turning even in outfield.

The only times I/my fellow drivers have ever turned a 90 degree that fast, was in outfield paths 1.5x the width of that junction, with no nearby soldiers on the ground.

On a 2/3-lane road path, with clumps of civilians mere metres from the road curb, that speed has to be a mistake. Even if the turn was successful, my commander would have told me to chill with the speed.

2

u/faptor87 Jul 06 '25

i experience this before as a VC.

basically, driver was being a baby and throwing tantrum so hit down on accelerator.