Canada's tanks

[markppcli]

I have nothing but speaking to follow crewmen in the French military. C'est à mon avantage que je parle français Dan's better situation haha.

Everyone pounds track in the troop and many are crossed trained. Investigation is integral to their platoon maintenance plan. It’s not just a "do if you can" type thing - it’s expected. Battle order has a video on it.

I’m familiar with the video, I’d alway take Brendan’s stuff either way a grain of salt. He’s a good guy but at the end of the day he’s a graphic designer with some contacts.

It’s cool everyone pounds track - I’d expect in operations that the investigation guys in the VBLs are in OPs / doing their job while the tanks are static. In garrison? Sure, but if your always side by side then what the fuck is the point

 

[PrairieFella]

I’m familiar with the video, I’d alway take Brendan’s stuff either way a grain of salt. He’s a good guy but at the end of the day he’s a graphic designer with some contacts.

It’s cool everyone pounds track - I’d expect in operations that the investigation guys in the VBLs are in OPs / doing their job while the tanks are static. In garrison? Sure, but if your always side by side then what the fuck is the point

Our tank squadrons are dispersed in harbours, yet people sometimes have to move around for sentry tasks. Its not different for the French. 4 can be up on the OP, 4 on maintenance and 4 on rest, etc etc.

 

[markppcli]

Our tank squadrons are dispersed in harbours, yet people sometimes have to move around for sentry tasks. Its not different for the French. 4 can be up on the OP, 4 on maintenance and 4 on rest, etc etc.

My assumption is that if you have 4 VBL for recce tasks they are out doing those tasks pushed out from the platoon.

If your dispersed harbours are close enough together that troops are doing sentry for each other you haven’t actually dispersed.


Now to the topic actually being discussed: not having an auto loader so you can have an extra body to help pound track seems to me to be putting the cart before the horse.

 

[KevinB]

Rollers and ploughs are Sqn assets operated by the Tank Troops.

Clip on Rollers and Plows yes. Other nations however make dedicated breaching tanks - t that have a significant dozer blade and fire MICLIC’s as opposed to a main gun. That is a breaching tank - not a Squadron asset but generally a Bde or Divisional one.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Clip on Rollers and Plows yes. Other nations however make dedicated breaching tanks - t that have a significant dozer blade and fire MICLIC’s as opposed to a main gun. That is a breaching tank - not a Squadron asset but generally a Bde or Divisional one.

Yup. Engineers man those and bridgelayers. Our BLs had armour drivers.

 

[ueo]

I like that French idea. A reserve of troops who are not getting shot at and who are not getting tired?

Effectively fielding 2 or 3 crews per tank? And supplying security for lagers and ammo points?

OK. how do you sell this at the recruiting center? "you wanna be a tanker, OK 3rd team!"

 

[markppcli]

I like that French idea. A reserve of troops who are not getting shot at and who are not getting tired?

Effectively fielding 2 or 3 crews per tank? And supplying security for lagers and ammo points?

That’s not what the French do. They have an organic recce element at the platoon level. I’m sure they do help with maintenance but like I was saying - if your recce is in the hide beside the tank what was the point of bringing recce along ?

I’m all for having replacement crews. I just don’t think the argument of needing to have 4 people per tank so let’s not have an auto loader holds water.

 

[markppcli]

OK. how do you sell this at the recruiting center? "you wanna be a tanker, OK 3rd team!"

You’re a tanker ! Alright Bloggins you’re assigned to security platoon now.

 

[suffolkowner]

That’s not what the French do. They have an organic recce element at the platoon level. I’m sure they do help with maintenance but like I was saying - if your recce is in the hide beside the tank what was the point of bringing recce along ?

I’m all for having replacement crews. I just don’t think the argument of needing to have 4 people per tank so let’s not have an auto loader holds water.

thats why i keep coming back to the KF51. You can have your 4 crew members and the autoloader. Bonus starting production now

https://www.rheinmetall.com/Rheinmetall%20Group/brochure-download/Vehicle-Systems/B325e0522-Panther-KF51-main-battle-tank.pdf

I believe the updated version is with an unmanned turret as well

with respect to tanks and IFV the updated schedule for the Leonardo-Rheinmetall joint venture

View attachment 94956

the previous schedule as i understand it
View attachment 94957

the first few produced are supposed to be in an "international" configuration which i take to include german power train and not the Italian one

 

[daftandbarmy]

Is it required or just required for how we do it? Presumably the French are able to maintain their tanks with an auto loader, and the Russians have been running 3 man crews for 50 years. We get into these cycles where we’ve done something a certain way for so long we forget to reassess and determine what is actually needed. Holding horses and all that.

We should also beware of borrowing ideas emerging from countries that traditionally rely on the mass conscription of people and national infrastructure, unlike our traditionally bespoke 'expeditionary' approach.

When you have a million troops, backed by a nationalized manufacturing base, it's often easier to replace a whole tank squadron than duct tape the tanks in situ...

 

[Maxman1]

the Russians have been running 3 man crews for 50 years.

I don't think Russia is the model for success.