Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe UK Invented The First Tanks. Now It May Retire Them For Good.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2020/09/01/the-uk-invented-the-first-tanks-now-it-may-retire-them-for-good/#6e228ef23633Over a century ago, as trench warfare imposed a seemingly perpetual blood-soaked stalemate in World War I, a commission in the United Kingdom made military history. It adapted technology from Creeping Grip treaded tractors imported from Chicago into armored war machines that could negotiate mud-soaked battlefields and trenches, seemingly impervious to bullets and shrapnel, and blast enemies with their own sponson-mounted cannons and machine guns.
These breakdown-prone, rhombus-shaped land ships are considered to be the worlds first tanks.
Today, the UK may make history again as an integrated review of defense and foreign policy mulls retiring the British Armys fleet of Challenger 2 main battle tanks in favor of more funding for satellites and cyber-warfare. That could make the UK potentially the first major military power to give up on the main battle tank entirely.
The fate of the British Armys armored fighting vehicles is linked to fundamental questions as to what role the UK should play in NATO and future military coalitions.
(excerpt)
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
10 replies, 978 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (4)
ReplyReply to this post
10 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The UK Invented The First Tanks. Now It May Retire Them For Good. (Original Post)
Dial H For Hero
Sep 2020
OP
winstars
(4,220 posts)1. WHAT, NO TANKS? Thats how we lost the Battle of Bowling Green!!!
qazplm135
(7,447 posts)2. if they really needed tanks in the future
it would probably be a lot cheaper to just order and buy whatever main battle tank we are selling at that point, than to modernize, build, and maintain their own tanks.
The problem though might be the lack of trained crews.
sl8
(13,945 posts)3. And the Swiss Army is ready to take advantge.
underpants
(182,931 posts)4. Dammit Karl! Where's the can opener?
Massacure
(7,526 posts)6. I'm not convinced abandoning the tank is in the UK's best interest
That said, it would probably a lot cheaper for them to procure Abrams from the US or Leopards from the Germans. At four tank regiments with 56 tanks each, it's probably cost prohibitive continue development on their own.
unc70
(6,121 posts)7. US Marines are phasing out their tanks
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)8. Tanks for posting
OnDoutside
(19,975 posts)9. Tanks for the memories ...
I had to.
hunter
(38,334 posts)10. Aircraft carriers and manned fighter jets are more obsolete war technology...
... but the U.S.A. is still building them.