Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The M1 Abrams Tank Is No Rockstar in Ukraine War
National Security Journal ^ | 8/5/2024 | Brent M. Eastwood

Posted on 08/05/2024 11:52:12 AM PDT by whyilovetexas111

Ukrainian tank crews are struggling with their M1A1 Abrams tanks, the M1 Abrams variant Kyiv is now using against Russia. They believe that the Abrams is not suited for modern warfare in the Donbas region. The tanks are reportedly challenging to maintain, spare parts are hard to acquire, and the tank must be kept in the rear for fear it will be destroyed.

M1 Abrams Tank: What’s the Problem in Ukraine?

Ukrainians also believe that condensation from the humid, foggy, and rainy weather obscures instruments onboard. They have complained that the M1 Abrams gun is not effective against buildings and that the tank is susceptible to drone attacks.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalsecurityjournal.org ...


TOPICS: Government; History; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: russia; tanks; ukraine; warinukraine
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last
Well, well. So those expensive tanks can't beat the Russians. Shocker.
1 posted on 08/05/2024 11:52:12 AM PDT by whyilovetexas111
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

Expensive tanks that don’t have the astronomically expensive and massive logistical tail that allowed the Abrams to gain it’s reputation.

Tell me something is a MIC money-grab without saying it’s a MIC money-grab...


2 posted on 08/05/2024 12:00:07 PM PDT by larrytown (A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Then they graduate...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

operator error I suspect.


3 posted on 08/05/2024 12:00:28 PM PDT by Qwapisking ("IF the Second goes first the First goes second" L.Star )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

Armor can only be effective in an envelope of help. Maintenance, supply, air cover, intel, data, infantry.


4 posted on 08/05/2024 12:02:04 PM PDT by lurk (u)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111
The tanks are reportedly challenging to maintain, spare parts are hard to acquire, ....Ukrainians also believe that condensation from the humid, foggy, and rainy weather obscures instruments onboard....and that the tank is susceptible to drone attacks.

So said pretty much every serious commentator on cable TV, Youtube, social media and elsewhere, on both sides, in 2022 and 2023 before they were introduced into the war.

5 posted on 08/05/2024 12:03:48 PM PDT by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111
...They have complained that the M1 Abrams gun is not effective against buildings...

Guess the Ukes should've requested Sturmgeschutzen...

6 posted on 08/05/2024 12:06:14 PM PDT by Who is John Galt? ("...mit Pulver und Blei, Die Gedanken sind frei!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

So ungrateful. Then don’t use them


7 posted on 08/05/2024 12:07:16 PM PDT by pghbjugop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111
the tank must be kept in the rear for fear it will be destroyed.

One silver lining from the billions we're giving to Ukraine in military aid - we get to find out which of our expensive weapons systems are useless.
8 posted on 08/05/2024 12:12:02 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111
We are so screwed.

Here's the problem:
They claim we're sending UKR our old crap, yet our top-of-the-line stuff remained in Afghanistan and is being sold on the black market to our enemies.....thanks, Brandon.

We're not keeping up to replenish our own military materiel (yet the money goes out the door to MIL contractors), so UKR has our old crap, our enemies have our newest stuff, and the active duty US military is under-equipped and understaffed.

We asked our ally, South Korea, to send UKR artillery shells, so SK may be under-equipped, too, to fend off NK.

Add in that the Pentagon is an active crime scene with trillions of US dollars missing or unaccounted for.

We have to stop being stoopid.

9 posted on 08/05/2024 12:14:59 PM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

So those expensive tanks can’t beat the Russians.

They are left over surplus of the earliest versions stripped of their DU armor and other parts. Plus, they were not used in the intended manner.


10 posted on 08/05/2024 12:15:26 PM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

These M1A1 tanks are performing exactly as intended. They weren’t sent to Ukraine for combat against Russian drones, artillery, and armor. They are much better suited to the international arms markets where each one will easily launder millions of dollars for the Ukrainian oligarchs and 10% for the big guy.


11 posted on 08/05/2024 12:17:49 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111
Meanwhile, Russia has lost more than 3300 tanks of all types.

Bradleys btw have been proven to be much more useful for the Ukrainians than Abrams tanks. They're cheap and survivable and have enough firepower to mess up the Russians.

12 posted on 08/05/2024 12:18:06 PM PDT by Alter Kaker (Gravitation is a theory, not a fact. It should be approached with an open mind...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111
After the high grade armor was removed from the M1 and replace with less effective export armor, the M1 is fair game for drones and even the older T-55 tanks if the M1 tanks are not properly maintained and skillfully crewed. The M1 is just not a really great fit for the Ukraine.
13 posted on 08/05/2024 12:18:51 PM PDT by rdcbn1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

Well, tank wars rely on massing of units. Ukraine doesn’t have enough of them to do much.

The US rolling into Eastern Europe with hundreds of them in a coordinated attack would destroy anything they ran into.

They will find F16s operate the same way.


14 posted on 08/05/2024 12:23:18 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (Don’t vote for anyone over 70 years old. Get rid of the geriatric politicians.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

добро пожаловать в Свободную Республику, русский ублюдок


15 posted on 08/05/2024 12:28:54 PM PDT by Dartoid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

Yeah, they can. But you cannot give them to Uke idiots who feed them in twos and threes to a battlefield. Tanks are not meant to be used the way these morons use them.
They are meant to be part of a combined arms team, coordinated with artillery, air supremacy and CAS, intel, etc.
The problem is not the M1 tank, nor with the F-16.
If they were part of the 2nd Armored division, or a US Fighter Squadron, it would be very different.


16 posted on 08/05/2024 12:39:31 PM PDT by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

since they were free for Z
i guess he’s getting his moneys worth...LOL
welfare tanks .. who’s surprised?


17 posted on 08/05/2024 12:40:41 PM PDT by CarolinaReaganFan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

“M1 Abrams Tank: What’s the Problem in Ukraine?”

Go hand an average housewife a Browning Hi-Power, and she doesn’t suddenly perform like SAS. Same with Ukes and good gear.


18 posted on 08/05/2024 12:41:10 PM PDT by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111

“the Abrams is not suited for modern warfare in the Donbas region.”

That is literally what it was -designed- for. War in Europe.


19 posted on 08/05/2024 12:42:47 PM PDT by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: whyilovetexas111; Qwapisking
Well, well. So those expensive tanks can't beat the Russians. Shocker.

Well, well, based on the article posted that is quite a stupid statement. Why? I'll give it a go ...

The tanks are reportedly challenging to maintain

Complex machinery typically is. When those using it are not well trained it becomes much worse.

spare parts are hard to acquire

Ya think? There is a war underway and the limited parts they do have are likely difficult to get from A to B.

the tank must be kept in the rear for fear it will be destroyed.

Take a good look at this sentence. Are you actually suggesting there is a problem with the tanks because the Ukrainians fear loosing them? If they are ineffective and shitty why would they?

Ukrainians also believe that condensation from the humid, foggy, and rainy weather obscures instruments onboard.

What they believe is irrelevant; What is happening is. And considering their use is suspect more information is needed.

They have complained that the M1 Abrams gun is not effective against buildings

Yet another telling comment. The gun is a tube. Buildings are easy to hit; they don’t move. If you can’t damage one sufficiently you may not be using the proper round in the gun (or you don’t have it – remember those pesky supply lines?).

the tank is susceptible to drone attacks.

This is just stupid … essentially ALL tanks are susceptible to drone attacks. They are built with a lot less armor on top. I’m surprised whoever wrote this tripe didn’t complain that Ukraine has difficulty shooting down aircraft with them. This is nothing but a simplistic and poorly done hit piece, likely from some libtard asswipe who doesn't like the military or the US.

Qwapisking posted: operator error I suspect.

I think he is right.

20 posted on 08/05/2024 12:44:01 PM PDT by 70times7 (Serving Free Republic's warped and obscure humor needs since 1999)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson