*UPDATE*Grim added in the comments that I misinterpreted his statement. Sorry brother.
In an earlier post I asked the question. Why isn't 1st Tanks deployed to the Afghan War zone as a complete unit to support combat operations? You can read it here. Well one of my readers hit me with this...
Grim said.. It might also be useful to note that both the Dutch and Canadians are planning to withdraw from Afghanistan and will be replaced by the US (most likely the Marines based on where they are based now.)
Well my response is "Wait one second!" Is that the case or do we have something entirely different going on and is the US Marine Corps missing out on one of its Life Taking and Life Saving assets simply because they refuse to support this deployment?
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) is modernizing the Canadian Leopard 2A4 CAN tanks previously acquired from German Army surplus. The first batch of 20 tanks was handed back to the Canadian Armed Forces yesterday (October 7, 2010) at the Bergen training ground in northern Germany. The modernized tanks are scheduled to equip the Canadian forces in Hindu-Kush in Afghanistan.Follow the link to read the whole thing but my point remains...tanks are being used to great effect by our allies. Our Marine Corps should follow suit.
The Canadians embarked on this latest upgrade of the tank in July 2009, anticipating their next deployment in the Afghan theater. The new version is specially designed for operations in Afghanistan based on experience gained by other Leopard 2 operators, including the Denmark and Canadian forces. (operating the Leopard 2A6M)
Sol, you misinterpreted me. I was supporting your argument for the need to deploy Marine armour to Afghanistan since it is likely to be Marines that are replacing the Canadian and Dutch assets (including Leopards) as they pull out.
ReplyDeleteI won't comment on any possible reason why the Marines haven't chosen to deploy them, I don't know enough about the topic. I'm still wrestling with why the British haven't bothered either.
With regards to both the British and the US, one must question what role an MBT would fulfil?
ReplyDeleteUnlike Canada and Denmark both the British and the US have invested heavily in MRAP vehicles and so already have the heavy armour capabilities of an MBT in packages of lower unit cost, higher IED survivability and with additional troop transport ability. Furthermore the British tend to overload their patrol vehicles with firepower (pinky or new Jackal anyone?) hence don't require the direct fire support of an MBT (which needless to say is somewhat overkill and illsuited to a 'hearts and minds' campaign).
Whilst MBTs certainly have been used with effect by both the Danes and the Canadians, they arguably are being used to square a circle in those forces caused by a lack of a more appropriate vehicle.