I was an M1A1 Tank Commander. We dug in all the time.
We would typically have an Engineer BN tasked with us, to dig the holes.
In the Army, you are usually holding ground or taking ground...and if you’re holding it, you dig in.
The engagement you envision is a ‘meeting engagement’. We would train for that too, but not all the time.
I can’t get my html to work, but here is a link to a straight M1 in Hull Defilade:
http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/sbgallery/main.php?g2_itemId=2954
God bless you for your service.I read ‘’Warriors Rage’’ by Col. Douglas McGregor of the 2 Battalion 2 Armored about the Battle of 73 Easting. So are what you are describing is what you do when not engaging the enemy right? You wouldn’t fight hull down in an Abrams ordinarily right?