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Leading The Charge: Twice As Many Horses As Tanks In British Army
Forces.tv ^ | 2015-07-13

Posted on 07/17/2015 5:14:01 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki

Amid ongoing changes to the British Army under the banner of austerity, the bemusing statistic of four legged firepower outweighing the heavy metal variety persists.

Recently, the Conservative Defence Minister Lord Astor admitted:

“The Army currently has 485 horses, serving in the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the Household Division and at the Defence Animal Centre."

The last time horses were used in a combat role by the British Army was World War I, when a million were sent to the frontline and only about 62,000 survived.

During World War II, General Orde Wingate and his British Chindit raiders used horses and mules to carry supplies behind enemy lines in Burma.

Despite their historic sacrifice, the use of horses in modern military is mainly ceremonial, with the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and Household Cavalry taking on most of the official roles.

Despite the tank being a key feature of the Army since World War I, with significant numbers sent to the former Yugoslavia during the Balkans War and the US-UK Iraq invasion in 2003, Lord Astor conceded:

“The total number of Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks is 227.”

The chairman of the British Armed Forces Federation countered: "The figures don't necessarily mean we have got too many horses, it's more likely the figures mean we don't have enough tanks.

Tory peer Lord Astor said as well as the 227 main battle tanks, another 141 “Challenger variants are also in service”.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: britisharmy; challenger; mbt; uk; uktroops; workingdogs
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1 posted on 07/17/2015 5:14:01 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
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To: sukhoi-30mki

How about suits of armor? Do they have many in stock?


2 posted on 07/17/2015 5:15:36 AM PDT by proxy_user
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To: sukhoi-30mki

At least they are environmentally friendly and flashy.


3 posted on 07/17/2015 5:17:35 AM PDT by Redcitizen
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To: sukhoi-30mki

mounted drummers are animal cruelty


4 posted on 07/17/2015 5:18:08 AM PDT by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc.;+12, 73, ..... No peace? then no peace!)
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To: Redcitizen

“At least they are environmentally friendly and flashy.”

Possibly more reliable and maneuverable in close quarters, also.


5 posted on 07/17/2015 5:25:35 AM PDT by The Antiyuppie ("When small men cast long shadows, then it is very late in the day".)
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To: Redcitizen

I preferred Jeremy Clarkson Range Rover going against the Challenger. Lots of steel and fuel.

There was that good natured jab about British rifled main gun being supposedly better than the smooth bore we Americans use.

No experience with Challenger but some seat time in an Abrams.


6 posted on 07/17/2015 5:29:27 AM PDT by wally_bert (There are no winners in a game of losers. I'm Tommy Joyce, welcome to the Oriental Lounge.)
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To: The Antiyuppie

Why buy a battle tank when you can hire 10 National Health Service bureaucrats for the same money?


7 posted on 07/17/2015 5:30:40 AM PDT by heye2monn
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To: sukhoi-30mki

horses eat grass, thus can double as ‘lawn mowers’


8 posted on 07/17/2015 5:37:07 AM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: GreyFriar

In the Book of Revelation, it speaks about the armies who come up against Israel in the latter days, as riding horses. It also says how the blood will be up to the horse’s bridles during this war. I often wondered about this because of the military use of tanks, etc., but, now it makes sense.


9 posted on 07/17/2015 5:43:17 AM PDT by Catsrus (WWWW)
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To: Catsrus

Tanks and armored personnel carriers are the modern horses and chariots


10 posted on 07/17/2015 6:24:07 AM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Horses can make more horses... let’s see a tank do that.


11 posted on 07/17/2015 6:25:57 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: sukhoi-30mki
...a million were sent to the frontline and only about 62,000 survived.

The humans didn't fare much better.

12 posted on 07/17/2015 6:42:28 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: Catsrus
In the Book of Revelation, it speaks about the armies who come up against Israel in the latter days, as riding horses. It also says how the blood will be up to the horse’s bridles during this war. I often wondered about this because of the military use of tanks, etc., but, now it makes sense.

After hell on Earth breaks out, there may not be fuel to run tanks, so it may well be horses.

13 posted on 07/17/2015 7:09:20 AM PDT by Smittie (Just like an alien, I'm a stranger in a strange land)
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To: DuncanWaring

The leftists believe their will never be another big war—do you really believe that? The UN prevents big wars? Hasn’t stopped the little ones yet. The EU can’t hold itself together—how can it stop Turkey or Russia. They are as ripe fruit to be plucked by an enemy with ruthless courage and barbarism.


14 posted on 07/17/2015 7:29:14 AM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade (Into the Jaws of H*ll Onward! Ride to the sound of the guns!)
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To: Forward the Light Brigade

The Europeans were telling themselves in the early 1900’s that there would never again be a major war on their continent.


15 posted on 07/17/2015 7:48:03 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

I’m pretty sure that the SAS forces that were deployed to Afghanistan in the wake of 9-11 rode horses for mountain operations. Making the the last/most recent elements of the British Army to use horses in combat.

US Special Forces did the same.


16 posted on 07/17/2015 7:53:31 AM PDT by tanknetter
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To: proxy_user
The UK's latest anti-tank weapon:

(And, no, the Polish lancers did not attack German Tanks.)

17 posted on 07/17/2015 9:35:15 AM PDT by Oatka (This is America. Assimilate or evaporate. [URL=http://media.photobucket.com/user/currencyjunkie/me)
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To: wally_bert

#6 Tank vs Range Rover Challenge Part 2 - Top Gear - BBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wKfpPrRVIo


18 posted on 07/17/2015 12:14:26 PM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: minnesota_bound

A favorite episode.


19 posted on 07/17/2015 12:29:58 PM PDT by wally_bert (There are no winners in a game of losers. I'm Tommy Joyce, welcome to the Oriental Lounge.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
Pretty soon they won't even have the horses....


20 posted on 07/17/2015 12:32:38 PM PDT by dfwgator
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