Washington pledged 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in January last year. The first batch arrived in September. They finally appeared to make their combat debut in February this year, with the first video footage released on the 25th of Februray. On the 26th, the Russians scored their first Abrams kill.
Two months after entering service, the Abrams tanks are now being withdrawn from the frontline. Five of the 31 tanks delivered last year have already been destroyed.
The Ukraines are misusing the tanks.
Its ability to maneuver at high speed and pack a huge punch gives it a battle winning role.
When used as a pillbox however, it just exploits its firepower at the expense of its maneuverability. This appears to be how the Ukrainian armed forces are deploying it, and makes it very vulnerable to drone attack.
Ukraine must adopt a mindset based much more on manuvre type warfare, where rapid combined arms action can unhinge and dislocate the very static Russian invaders. This will require require air power, artillery and infantry all working together with the tanks to punch holes in Russian defenses and run riot in the rear areas.
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
Considering the destructibility of war equipment, at what point should a country prioritize the preservation of its own resources over the needs of an ally?
@9LVTKXF2mos2MO
I didn't read this because it too long \_'O'_/
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@9LVMWQP2mos2MO
When the echnomy is failing so they should safe guard their own country
@9LVMX372mos2MO
When they are running low on resources and it would cause major damage to their country.
@9LVMKDGIndependent 2mos2MO
If the ally is in need and we have enough tanks here. I don't see the issue with giving them some, if we really feel threatened we can make more tanks to protect ourselves. But as one of the worlds 2 superpowers I don't feel like losing a few tanks is an issue and we can let them stay in Ukraine in it's time of need.
@CockyVicunaGreen2mos2MO
The U.S. Abrams tank have been effectively defeated in Ukraine by Russia…
The F-16 is next…
@AbjectVicunaLibertarian2mos2MO
The F16 is just an Abrams tank with wings.
That's if it ever even makes it into the theatre. Which I doubt.
"firepower advantage". LOL.
It is the right move. Abrams is designed for combined arms and air superiority battle spaces where drones cannot swarm, target and disable them at their weak points (engine vents, ammo storage and tracks). Don't waste the firepower advantage until the F-16s come into play
@AbjectVicunaLibertarian2mos2MO
You know when the U.S. had air superiority? When it invaded countries with no functioning air force and no modern air defense. You know who the F-16 will work against? The same defenseless farmers or outdated militaries the Abrams worked against.
"air superiority battle spaces where drones cannot swarm"
what? small drones are here to stay - en masse, no matter the superiority. Large drones are useless unless you want to bully poppy famers in sandals.
@C1vilRightsWidgeonUnity2mos2MO
Meanwhile, the Russians put anti-drone cope cages onto an aging T70, put a huge de-mining roller on the front of the first tank, $200 gopro cameras lashed to the outside so they can see where they're going, create a convoy behind and simply bum-rush the Ukrainian defenses. Not a fair fight at this point.
@Centr1stSamanthaLibertarian2mos2MO
I wonder what lead time and what price tag Northrop Grumann would quote to the US government for the same capability ?
@HouseOtterTranshumanist2mos2MO
Remember all that "Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country" & "Russia is a burning tundra"?
Reality- Russia is better at making high-tech war machines than our vaunted MIC is.
Our rulers are trash-talking morons
All armored vehicles are now vulnerable to ATGM and drones. Hopefully NATO realizes this and are planning accordingly.
@QuorumBrianLibertarian2mos2MO
Another ‘Wunderwaffen’ bites the dust.
The latest in a long line of overhyped and underperforming products of the US military industrial complex. Built for profit rather than for combat effectiveness.
To be fair - these tanks don’t have the usual reactive armour the US operated tanks have - they were stripped because the US didn’t trust the Ukrainians not to let it fall into Russian hands
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
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