All good training for deployments across the country, as we would during war.
I think you missed the parade that was held in Washington at the end of the Gulf War: we had M-1 tanks, M109A3 Howitzers, Bradleys and a host of other vehicle - plus aircraft flyovers. Easy-peasey.
Oh yes easy. At 120 bucks an hour for lowboys to haul the dam things is really easy.
A good pass and review is more appealing to everyone than a typical welcome home parade, like was done after the gulf war when a lot of those pieces of equipment were on board of a vessel and could be unloaded dockside right near the heart or NYC.
BTW. Rail Freight for such is about 4 cents per ton per loaded mile
Let me make it a tad more clear to you per hauling one of those tanks. An abrams weighs abt 60 tons. Thats about 120,000 pounds. Its over weight, and over width. Now for anything OTHER than national emergency, they have to obtain the proper permits to transport-requires pilot cars as well as designated routes. They CAN NOT be transported over restricted bridges or routes. They CAN NOT be transported after dark or before dawn.
The combined weight of the truck, trailer, and tank would be in excess of 150,000 pounds. Then you have to get it to the final destination, which would be on the mall in DC. Unload it as to NOT damage to roadbed-dont think you can simply drive the mother effer off the truck and do whatever.
The ground weight of that tank on the road bed once it is unloaded is no problem, but I assure you..when they run those things down the road like they do in Europe, they DO NOT turn sharply BECAUSE WHY? Because they will rip the hell out of the road. Especially if its hot out.