This is a remake of the heavy tank Concept 130 'Singa' that I originally created back in February.
KRE-129 is a revolutionary experimental heavy tank developed by Indonesia during the period of 1949 to 1952. Known as one of the most ambitious and innovative armored vehicle projects to emerge from Southeast Asia in the post–World War II era, the KRE-129 was once dubbed “the most perfect tank of its time.”
However, like many military masterpieces that were born too early, the project was eventually forgotten—left behind by the rapid advancement of technologies such as guided missiles (ATGMs) and APFSDS projectiles, which rendered conventional tanks increasingly obsolete in future warfare.
History:
In 1949, the world witnessed rapid developments in military technology following WWII. The Soviet Union introduced the concept of the Unmanned Turret, where some of the crew—such as the commander and gunner—were no longer positioned in the main turret, but instead in the turret basket or even inside the hull. While still in its infancy, this technology inspired many countries.
Indonesia—at the time building up its military strength following independence—saw great potential in this approach. Backed by technical cooperation with France and West Germany, Indonesia launched the Experimental Armored Vehicle Concept (KRE) project, which included a full line of combat vehicles: tanks, tank destroyers, IFVs, and SPGs. One of its peak prototypes was the KRE-129, a heavy tank featuring state-of-the-art technology for its time.
The concept mock-up of the KRE-129 was completed on October 18, 1949, to present the vehicle's design to military officers and the Indonesian President. It was approved for prototype production, and by August 9, 1952, 9 prototypes were built and tested. The trials lasted until August 16, 1952. The results? Extremely satisfying.
Not only could it traverse all types of terrain with ease, but its deadly 135 mm autoloading cannon could easily pierce the armor of the IS-2 (which had been purchased by Indonesia). The 20 mm automatic cannon was effective against lightly to moderately armored vehicles, while the 15 mm machine gun was excellent against infantry and could even penetrate light armor.
One day after testing, the KRE-129 was revealed to the public during a military parade in the capital, Jakarta, to celebrate Indonesian Independence Day on August 17.
However, due to its heavy weight, expensive engine, long dimensions, and changes in Indonesia’s military doctrine which began to favor light and medium tanks—and a presidential preference for the development of guided munitions such as ATGMs and APFSDS rounds—the KRE-129 was never mass-produced.
Despite production costs being comparable to the USSR's IS-7, this tank never entered full-scale production. In the end, 6 units of the KRE-129 were scrapped, and the remaining 3 units were preserved in TNI AD Dharma Wiratama Museum, Brawijaya Museum, and Satria Mandala Museum. If you want to see the KRE-129 in person, you can visit one of the aforementioned museums.
Type: Heavy Tank
Origin: Indonesia
Production History
Manufactured: 1949–1952
Number produced: 9 (Prototypes)
Specifications
Weight: 65 tons, possibly up to 72 tons
Length: 7.48 meters (24 feet 7 in), 11.2 meters (36 feet 2 in) with gun
Width: 3.64 meters (12 feet 16 in)
Height: 2.3 meters (6.6 feet 12 in)
Crew: 3 (Commander, Gunner, Driver)
Armour
Hull:
Upper glacis: 185 mm @70° = 541 mm
Lower glacis: 175 mm @63° = 385 mm
Side (upper): 165 mm @28° = 351 mm
Side (lower): 150 mm
Rear (lower): 100 mm @42° = 135 mm
Rear (upper): 100 mm @70° = 292 mm
Top: 40 mm
Bottom: 40 mm
Side skirt: 20 mm each side
Turret:
Front: 200 mm
Side: 175 mm
Rear: 150 mm
Gun Mantlet: 225–250 mm
Top: 50 mm
Armor type: MSRHA
Main Armament:
13.5 cm K-49 L/55 Cannon (45 rounds)
Elevation: -7° to +35°
Secondary Armament:
2 cm AC-45 L/100 autocannon
15 mm SM L/100 HMG (Coaxial)
Engine:
DRT28S-1M 12-cylinder Diesel, 1150 hp
Power-to-weight ratio: 17.7 hp/ton
Max speed: -60 km/h to +60 km/h
Suspension: Torsion bar
Armament Penetration Data
135 mm K-49 L/55 Cannon
- APCBC
Shell weight: 38.4 kg
Muzzle velocity: 1364 m/s
Explosive mass: 0.25 kg
Penetration: 602 mm
- HEAT
Shell weight: 20 kg
Muzzle velocity: 1264 m/s
Explosive mass: 2.5 kg
Explosive type: Composition B
Penetration: 850 mm
- HE
Shell weight: 38.4 kg
Muzzle velocity: 1002 m/s
Explosive mass: 4.1 kg
Explosive type: Composition B
Penetration: 71 mm
2 cm AC-45 L/100 Autocannon
- HVAP-T
Shell weight: 130 g
Muzzle velocity: 1285 m/s
Penetration: 75 mm
15 mm SM4 L/100
- AP-I(c)
Shell weight: 80 g
Muzzle velocity: 1055 m/s
Penetration: 55 mm
Additional Features:
Autoloader:
The 135 mm gun features a revolver-type autoloader capable of 15 rounds per minute.Dual RangeFinders:
One for the commander, one for the gunner.Three Night Vision Units:
For commander, gunner, and driver respectively.Rear Transmission:
Allows for more crew space.Dual Control System:
A crew member can take over the role of a disabled crew member without needing to change position. If the gunner is incapacitated, the commander can fully operate the main gun from their position, and vice versa.AI-Controlled 2 cm Autocannon:
Functions as an anti-aircraft weapon with auto-aim capability.Modern APCBC Projectile Design:
Extremely high muzzle velocity due to advanced shell engineering.
Controls:
Yaw: to rotate the tank