Posted on 06/03/2016 7:51:18 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
I like the idea of the raised cockpit and the visibility, but it sure looks like a nice target for a RPG........
FR Treadhead Ping.
We’ll kick their ass in the city too!
It’s a homely thing, isn’t it?
Definitely an easy aiming point.
It’s to be fitted with the Arena active protection system - aka the RPG shield or CIWS for tanks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_%28countermeasure%29
Once the Arena system goes off, you can bet the commander’s going to drop back inside and pull the hatch behind him. Looks like a great target, isn’t.
There is something to be said for isolationism and staying out of all the little scrapes around the world but speaking from a strictly technical point of view, the experience and knowledge gained from engaging in these actions is invaluable in developing out military. Not sure if that is worth people’s lives but it will costs lives if we are not prepared.
The German Stuhrmtiger had a stubby 38 centimeter tube that fired rocket launched (naval) shells. They had to be loaded with a little crane.
After their initial experience with Russian urban warfare, they wanted something that flattened buildings.
No, we won’t, because most of our M1s can’t advance with infantry in direct support due to the exhaust temps. The MOUT kit (which makes the M1 look a lot like this) does alleviate that but it’s not perfect. At best we have a slight advantage in city fighting, where it’s usually the tank that shoots first that wins.
Also, the T-72 now has a tandem-warhead round intended to burn through the M1’s armor.
The Germans found out that the Russians were the past masters of urban warfare - something that’s probably still true today.
“Well kick their ass in the city too!”
Are you still living in the 80s?
Also, as the Germans found out, even flattening the building wouldn’t get all the Russians out.
You'll note that the weapons station on top is unmanned so if the commander goes heads up there's not really any protection for him. And the M1 still doesn't have an active protection system, so the CROWS station on top *does* make a dandy RPG target where the splash will kill the commander unless he's buttoned up. The CROWS turret also means the commander's got some pretty big blind spots.
...I ,like the idea of the raised cockpit and the visibility, but it sure looks like a nice target for a RPG....
But, will the cockpit armor and windows stop high power rifle AP or .50 AP?
The Reds liked to knock holes in walls between apartments so they could run from one end of a building to the other.
The krauts thought they’d cleared a building but the sniping continued.
Yeah, like roaches move next door when their home is sprayed, then return.
I like the cupola on the T-72.
My choice / thoughts.....
CROW system versus crew commanders noggin exposed with the equal of a GAU19 in 12.7 or M134DT Dillon minigun.... maybe a stubby barrel main gun like the old engineering M48 patton or M558 with the 152mm Demolition main gun used to kill bunkers and buildings...... add RPG screens and reactive armor for dual shape charge munitions.....
And of course their variant of the M9 dozer blade ...
They also used to tunnel between basements - not just out the walls of the basements, but down through the floor, well down past the range of bombs or artillery, over to another building or six then back up. The number of tactics like these that they used can and do fill several not insubstantial books.
Yeah, without Arena it’s an interesting if perhaps questionable decision. With Arena, it makes a *lot* of sense.
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