A shortcoming of mechanized tactics as well as equipment.
Hm. The Daily Mail seems to take particular glee in pointing out the decades old tank is performing poorly in today’s combat environment.
I would suspect if our Abrams tanks without all the modifications were sold to any arab country without the will or desire on their part to train in tactics, provide upkeep and maintenance, or infantry/air support, that those Abrams tanks would get toasted too.
I am not a fan of “Oh, the German tanks are the best in the world” people, but I am not sure this is valid criticism.
You get what you pay for, and if some Turkish sucker wants to overpay to buy a 1970’s tank and expect it to survive on today’s battlefield...I just think it is unrealistic.
They are Leopard 2A4s and the BdW is running A6s and working on A7s. I am a former tanker. If you put the best tank in the world in a crappy tactical situation it can be killed.
A testament to Russian munitions.
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Tanks are subject to the competitive cheetah-antelope balance of survival skills. TOW and shoulder rockets signal an ever-tightening theater niche for armored vehicles.
This is one of two articles on FR today about the Leopard II. The second one is at: https://warisboring.com/germanys-leopard-2-tank-was-considered-one-of-the-best-until-it-went-to-syria/ The ‘War is Boring’ article provides a good discussion of good and bad points for the Leo II, it is worth reading versus the DM article that only has good photographs.
If I remember correctly the Leo II was fielded during the early 80’s when we had M-60A3’s in Germany and were slated to begin receiving the first M-1’s in 1986. It is more of a contemporary with the T-72.
I heard a rumor about two years ago that Erdogan approached Netanyahu for the Merkava.
Fwiw.
5.56mm
The way I see the photos and as others have pointed out I would go with the not properly supported/tactics belief.
None of these pictures show armor penetration from a missile/RPG but rather bottom up mine damage. You’ll also notice the top panels on the turret are blown upwards as designed in case of an ammo bake off.
The Turks probably believe they can send in a platoon of armor and pick stuff off at will with no support.