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Mb69's avatar

Tanks are generally disposable items in high intensity combat and need to be simple, reliable, interchangeable (parts and mission) and FIT FOR PURPOSE. They also have to fit the operational doctrine and tactics -- not sure Ukraine has any of it anymore with all the advice, pressure and "training" they are getting from NATO. I think they are desperately plugging holes, which really shows now.

The idea that Western tanks will do well in Ukraine was spun by idiots in Kiev, who quickly ran out of 2000 Soviet tanks (plus whatever old Warsaw pact donations they got). Since the West could not find more old Soviet tanks, this decision was the last resort...

The western Leopards, Abrams, Challengers were designed for a different environment and purpose and, in the right application, are decent (not brilliant) machines. All tanks have strong and weak points.

I can see nothing but disadvantages of giving Ukraine these western tanks:

1) very heavy for the environment (>60-70 tons vs Soviet/Russian tanks in 40-50 range), which affects their logistics and ability to navigate mud. On top of that they have higher profiles making them better targets.

2) complex and high cost to operate and to train (a lot higher initial cost - 3-4X of Soviet/Russian tanks)

3) Maintenance/logistics due to differences in ammo, spare parts, training are not trivial

4) A few unique items, just to highlight these machines are not all that:

a) Leopards have weak protection from mines

b) Abrams are fuel guzzlers (jet fuel, mind you) and have a terrific heat signature

c) Challenger is just overhyped, technologically its gun, sights, armor are old. Vulnerable to its ammo ignition due to the layout

In high intensity conflict, logistics is everything... I don't see how any of the above helped on the battlefield. As a moral booster or a very expensive gift to Zelensky that worked.

By the way, F-16s, if they make it to Ukraine, will be even a bigger fiasco!

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Abigail's avatar

Tanks produced by our corrupt and incompetent U.S. military industrial complex are multi-million dollar fighter jets with treads. That's what makes them money.

According to manuals, they should be treated like racehorses. Like Italian sports cars. They belong in the garage, until they can go out and do their thing.

And what is the one thing they can do? Race across a smooth desert for four to five hours and shoot up WWII-era equipment manned by Third World armies with no training while protected by total air superiority, GPS, and total satellite oversite.

The Abrams is a joke.

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