Posted on 02/10/2023 6:47:43 AM PST by logi_cal869
It was in the summer of 1995 when I, an 18 year old recruit, first drove an M1 Abrams tank. Is to continue to support Ukraine with what it needs on the Current Time 0:30 / Duration 1:10 Newsweek U.S. Dismisses Russia's Reaction to Abrams Tanks: 'Heard That Line Before' 0 View on Watch More videos More tanks for Ukraine: Germany, Denmark and The Netherlands make new pledge Euronews/Euronews More tanks for Ukraine: Germany, Denmark and The Netherlands make new pledge 1:02 Ukrainian troops plead for more tanks and munitions in battle for Bakhmut France 24/France 24 Ukrainian troops plead for more tanks and munitions in battle for Bakhmut 2:18 August in Fort Knox, Kentucky, was oppressive to say the least, but I don't recall any of that. I was excited and nervous. I didn't even have a car driver's license yet but here I was about to drive a 60 ton tank around a carefully planned course. I remember that the tank didn't feel at all cumbersome or slow. It jumped at the twist of your wrist, and turned nimbly at the slightest input of the t-bar steering column. The driver's seat is amazingly comfortable. The other seats, not so much, I would find out later. But the view when unbuttoned, which means the tank hatch is open, is very good. What it takes to be a tank gunner I would go on to serve nearly 10 more years on tanks during my time in the U.S. Army, serving in every position; loader, driver, gunner, and briefly, commander.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Yet I hope for success for my Ukrainian brothers and sisters in arms, should their performance prove to once again, exceed expectations.
You are sending FR’s hits to MSN first, and then we go to Newsweek for the full article and photos?
I didn’t read the article!!! We are just handing our military secrets to the world. Evil and good nations are for sale so will sell it to evil for a price so they can take it apart and copy and/or better the weapon against us. Just MORE evidence our government is trying to kill us off and we keep giving them more and more power over us cause we want to sit at home and watch TV and grammy’s, etc.
You could replace M1 Tank with F-16 or F-15 fighter jets and other high-tech equipment given to Ukraine. In the hands of a properly trained competent force, the weapons could very well be game changers, in the hands of poorly trained but motivated force, the equipment will probably become very expensive hulks of burning metal with loads of propaganda potential.
The M1s given to both Iraq and Saudi Arabia were equipped with conventional armor, not the highly classified composite armor of U.S. Abrams tanks.
M1 Abrams Tanks In U.S. Inventory Have Armor Too Secret To Send To Ukraine
Good read???
The first two non existent paragraphs are unreadable.
Extensive training is required for a modern M1 Abrams crew. It's not just point and shoot.
Crikey.
It’s a propaganda piece.
If there was such a topic, I’d have chosen it.
Can someone explain that statement to me? Just read the wiki account of the Battle of 73 Easting, but the author's statement above doesn't make sense.
The author is an idiot uke supporter.
I thought the piece would speak for itself.
There is ENTIRELY too much quoting of MSM websites here on FR nowadays, creating clicks and ad revenue for the enemy.
It’s bizarre.
I don’t know what that post meant, what do you mean by “such a topic”?
As far as the article, I googled the article and went to Newsweek and read it, it was a good opinion piece to read from an experienced tanker.
They do it with other sites too, sometimes it can take up to four links to get to the actual article or video, or photo.
31 M1 tanks to Ukraine is just throwing them a lifesaver instead of giving them a battleship.
It’s good money thrown after bad.
Thought that too.
IIRC there are ~4,000 or so just laying around Sierra Army Depot. Were any of those sent or just the upgraded few?
Tanks are as obsolete today as battleships were in 1942. Just like during WW II, air superiority will dominate like never before.
Extensive training...
I disagree. I was lucky to experience 4 hours in an M1 simulator with my son, daughter and brother in law. After about 15 minutes of training at each position you could operate it. It was very much point and shoot. It’s very used friendly. I say a good week of training and you have a compatent crew. They need a good tank commander who knows tank tactics and they need a strong will to fight cause getting shot at isn’t fun.
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.