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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Tanks are obsolete, apparently since 1919: Military History Visualized breaks it down
2022-04-13
[YouTube] Since the Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022) a lot of statements about the "end of the tank" came up. Most of these statements are old, very old and they show up every few decades, particularly if a new technology is invented and/or some factions suffers - for whatever reason - a certain amount of tank losses. This video discusses the various factors about the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and a lot of the previous arguments that often have not changed for decades and generally still invalid, since people forget combined arms warfare.
"Modern times: aircraft carriers A-10 Warthogs, infantry are all obsolete"
Posted by:DarthVader

#19  #17 Tanks are obsolete,
until you see one coming at you.

Summed nicely.
Posted by: Woodrow   2022-04-13 20:07  

#18  Right there with "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-04-13 17:57  

#17  Tanks are obsolete,
until you see one coming at you.
Posted by: Skidmark   2022-04-13 17:50  

#16  Tanks will go away when Mechs come online. Japan is probably way ahead of the rest of us on that.

Oh... they will still be around. RCTs (Regimental Combat Teams) like the ones the Federated Suns ran were 5 regiments of infantry, 3 of armor and 1 BattleMech regiment.

I can see something like that in our world if 'Mechs ever get developed. Just don't get stepped on if you are a tank.
Posted by: DarthVader   2022-04-13 15:42  

#15  Type 1 Bolos or OGREs with friggin lasers.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-04-13 15:39  

#14  Tanks will go away when Mechs come online. Japan is probably way ahead of the rest of us on that.
Posted by: ruprecht   2022-04-13 15:01  

#13  War is always evolving...

Just ask CSA Gen.Picket 1863?
What was good just 20 years ago is old school now.
The 100+ year concept of tanks is an example.

Posted by: NN2N1   2022-04-13 14:45  

#12  Papers will be written at Benning and Leavenworth on this conflict for the next 15 to 20 years

Mostly on how NOT to launch an armored invasion during the season of mud with no logistics.
Posted by: DarthVader   2022-04-13 14:07  

#11  Ref #9: Papers will be written at Benning and Leavenworth on this conflict for the next 15 to 20 years.
Posted by: Besoeker   2022-04-13 13:44  

#10  there is not 1 military armament that cannot be defeated in some way. Guess we should get rid of them all then right?
Posted by: Chris   2022-04-13 13:07  

#9  As a retired 12A (Armor/Cavalry) Officer, i find this amusing. The rumors of the end of armor as a combat dominant force are premature as always. Like all things, context is everything when predicting major turning points from afar.

In the case of the Russian armor performance in Ukraine. one wonders about the motives for linear, road-bound convoys, and the apparent absence of significant flanking security out at least to ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Munitions)ranges? All the more puzzling if terrain mobility problems made keeping to the hardstand critical. Given that possibility you encounter the sniper-countersniper dynamic, and the MANPAD threat to aviation as flank security, but this is all about creeping advance movement with good IPB (Intel Prep of the Battlespace) and drones to neutralize that threat. All this argues as others here have observed that the paucity of infantry and lack of combat power density on the flanks made movement of heavy armor and the log tail prone to easy kills. Even arty prep on flanking dominant terrain seemed lacking. It seemed like it was just a shooting gallery and the conscripts were apt to bail quickly as morale plummeted?
(Just an old guys musings from the safety of my little corner of heaven in the Carson Valley)
Posted by: NoMoreBS   2022-04-13 12:53  

#8  I want to see the article discussing airpower on the battlefield since the Russian airpower has been mostly absent (presumably because of anti-aircraft weapons?).
Posted by: ruprecht   2022-04-13 10:27  

#7  ...Part of the problem here is that the Russians don't have anything resembling a functioning modern air force over Ukraine - they have a poorly supplied, disorganized, and unscheduled airline that drops bombs at the end of its runs.

If there was coordinated, properly employed air power from the Russian side, the Ukranians would be having a much, MUCH tougher time of it, even allowing for the extraordinary bravery they've shown.

Overall, though, the basic point stands - the tank is much like Samuel Clemens; "the rumors of (its) death are greatly exaggerated."

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2022-04-13 10:25  

#6  
I would go so far as saying the current "modern warfare" solutions currently deployed will soon be a thing of the past.

Battle Drones and remote control attack weapons cost far less, are easier to produce, require less support personnel to maintain, and can be single or multi-used.

But, Technical Logistics and Rare Earth Raw Materials will be the Achilles Tendon for many nations.

But there will always be a citizenry with firearms scaring the hell out of, or "retiring" a few field officers during any battle.
Posted by: NN2N1   2022-04-13 08:41  

#5  
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-04-13 07:28  

#4  And the log tail. Anyone seen any pictures of Russian recovery and repair units? I've seen pics of Ukrainians doing recovery and salvaging but little of the other side. That infantry is needed for security for things like that along with the loggies just behind the front lines for refuel and repair and hauling PLL. It appears to be 'use and throw away' or 'burn it up' institutional mentality.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2022-04-13 07:24  

#3  The Russians attempted to "do it on the cheap" using armor without supporting infantry. It was a recipe for disaster from day one.

Certainly looked that way.
Posted by: badanov   2022-04-13 04:27  

#2  .....since people forget combined arms warfare.

The Russians attempted to "do it on the cheap" using armor without supporting infantry. It was a recipe for disaster from day one.
Posted by: Besoeker   2022-04-13 04:04  

#1  Yeah the Italian tanks had five speeds in reverse.
Posted by: crazyhorse   2022-04-13 01:22  

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