Article

2009-03-16 Iraq

Iraq/Afghan War News: Iraq to get Abrams Tanks

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by 3dc 2009-03-16 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 Am I the only one who thinks you shouldn't give Abrams tanks to Arabs until you have something who could defeat them as easily as an Abrams would defeat a 1942 Sherman?

Posted by JFM">JFM 2009-03-16 09:07|| 2009-03-16 09:07|| Front Page Top

#2 I imagine (140*high probability) accidents. What IED detection ability will they have?

Posted by Captain Spuling5210 2009-03-16 09:13|| 2009-03-16 09:13|| Front Page Top

#3 Am I the only one

No

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2009-03-16 09:15|| 2009-03-16 09:15|| Front Page Top

#4 Hopefully they have a remote cutoff switch.

Posted by CrazyFool 2009-03-16 10:46|| 2009-03-16 10:46|| Front Page Top

#5 Even an Abrams can't stand up to an A-10, and there are dozens of other weapons that can stop one. Tanks have almost outlived their usefulness - even the Abrams. One $50,000 UAV with a Hellfire missile or two can put a stop to them rather abruptly. All this does is give the Iraqis something to scare the pants off the Iranians.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2009-03-16 11:00|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2009-03-16 11:00|| Front Page Top

#6 Its cheaper to leave them there rather then bring them back and overhaul them. I doubt the maintenance needed to keep them running will be as rigidly followed after we leave. You can bet on cutting that number by 1/3 in the first 2 years of them taking them.

Posted by Yosemite Sam 2009-03-16 11:45|| 2009-03-16 11:45|| Front Page Top

#7 Tanks have almost outlived their usefulness

You could be right and I am sure it will be right one day. But that is what the French were saying May 9th, 1940.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2009-03-16 11:54|| 2009-03-16 11:54|| Front Page Top

#8 And on May 10th, they were saying things like, "Andre, get my brown trousers!"

Posted by AlmostAnonymous5839">AlmostAnonymous5839 2009-03-16 12:02|| 2009-03-16 12:02|| Front Page Top

#9 Well, JFM, if that can make you feel better about it, IIRC, it's the MBT of both egypt & saudi arabia already, courtesy of the US military aid.

Posted by anonymous5089 2009-03-16 12:06|| 2009-03-16 12:06|| Front Page Top

#10 And on May 10th, they were saying things like, "Andre, get my brown trousers!"

The British had brown trousers as standard ones; :-)

Posted by JFM">JFM 2009-03-16 12:46|| 2009-03-16 12:46|| Front Page Top

#11 OP is right about airpower being easy tank killers, even the Abrams. I support leaving some there to keep Iran and Syria honest. They have nothing that can face the M-1 and it is cheaper to leave them there. Even if Iraq goes toes up and we see these on the path to Israel, I'm pretty confident in the IAF's ability to knock them out right quick.

Posted by DarthVader 2009-03-16 12:58|| 2009-03-16 12:58|| Front Page Top

#12 Are the A1 s the item that is in-country? In that case it does make sense to leave them. What's the latest mark? A3?

Posted by Shipman 2009-03-16 13:48|| www.cybernations.net]">[www.cybernations.net] 2009-03-16 13:48|| Front Page Top

#13 Are the A1 s the item that is in-country? In that case it does make sense to leave them. What's the latest mark? A3?

Well, let's wiki it, shall we?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrams_tank#Variants_and_upgrades

Posted by anonymous5089 2009-03-16 16:10|| 2009-03-16 16:10|| Front Page Top

23:36 trailing wife
23:35 buwaya
23:29 CrazyFool
22:56 newc
22:51 M. Murcek
22:46 JosephMendiola
22:39 Muggsy Glink
22:27 newc
22:21 JosephMendiola
22:15 Frank G
22:14 Frank G
22:13 Frank G
22:09 Broadhead6
22:08 Shavins Big Foot8769
22:06 Broadhead6
22:04 Shavins Big Foot8769
22:02 JosephMendiola
21:57 tipover
21:53 Atomic Conspiracy
21:44 Classer
21:44 Procopius2k
21:40 SteveS
21:35 JosephMendiola
21:29 JosephMendiola