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2022-04-13 -Short Attention Span Theater-
Tanks are obsolete, apparently since 1919: Military History Visualized breaks it down
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Posted by DarthVader 2022-04-13 00:00|| || Front Page|| [9 views ]  Top

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

#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||   2022-04-13 04:04|| Front Page Top

#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||   2022-04-13 04:27|| Front Page Top

#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||   2022-04-13 07:24|| Front Page Top

#5 
Posted by M. Murcek 2022-04-13 07:28||   2022-04-13 07:28|| Front Page Top

#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||   2022-04-13 08:41|| Front Page Top

#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||   2022-04-13 10:25|| Front Page Top

#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||   2022-04-13 10:27|| Front Page Top

#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||   2022-04-13 12:53|| Front Page Top

#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||   2022-04-13 13:07|| Front Page Top

#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||   2022-04-13 13:44|| Front Page Top

#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||   2022-04-13 14:07|| Front Page Top

#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||   2022-04-13 14:45|| Front Page Top

#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||   2022-04-13 15:01|| Front Page Top

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

#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||   2022-04-13 15:42|| Front Page Top

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

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

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

Summed nicely.
Posted by Woodrow 2022-04-13 20:07||   2022-04-13 20:07|| Front Page Top

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