I have always been fascinated by tanks. I even have a coffee table monster size book on tanks at my home. These machines were first placed on the battlefields of WW1 and helped defeat the Germans after four years of trench warfare and millions of dead young men. After WW1 many countries went on a design and build binge to create the best tanks and tactics for using them. It seemed that every time there was an advance in tank design someone would come up with a counter-measure to defeat them. Over the years only a few countries would have the resources to build them and now Russia appears to have a new advanced tank.
HERE is the article on this tank which caught my eye as I wandered around the Internet newspapers. I read PRAVDA every once in a while because the wily Russians are always up to something and they are certainly full of their self importance. They usually provide me with a good laugh because they still think they are the other most powerful country.
Well, the Defense Ministry of Russia was actually discussing whether they should purchase German Leopard tanks because of their better technology and price. That did not go over too well apparently with the Russian armaments industry so a major push was made to keep the tanks for their defense a Russian enterprise. The Russian T-34 was the tank that beat the Germans in WW2 and I was surprised the Russians were even considering a foreign tank for purchase.
It appears the Russians armaments market may be having a slow sale s month. After their tanks and other equipment were made mincemeat of by American and Allied tanks during the war in Iraq, I would say they definitely needed to go back to the drawing boards. Well, we will see what this tank will do in September and if it is any good. The Abrams tank of our arsenal is still the greatest battle tank ever built so far and my guess is the T-90AM will not come close.
Todd J. Juvinall
I Miss my Husband very much! Todd was simply all about loving God, County, Family and People. My love , My husband is with Jesus in Heaven. He enjoyed communicating with each of you on Sierra Dragon's Breath. Todd was a Great, Loving, Kind man and will be Missed. Love you honey! Till wee meet again. 
Ofcourse the Abrams is a mighty tank.But dont forget that in Iraq it had to face antiquitated Russian equipment,more comparable to the M60.Furthermore they were operated by Iraqis Not Russians, Which i can assure u are highly competent and intelligent people. Dont confuse the Soviets with the current Russia. The system that held them back is long gone,and now Russia is a modern democracy with plenty of knowhow,natural resources,and a tremendous growth potential.And certainly they are the worlds other powerful country, since like the US, they have the capacity to destroy the whole world ten times over..! The USA is a great young nation,but so is Russia,only with a brilliant history and civilisation that goes way back.As regards the tank,i can tell you that in a number of evaluations the M1a2 lost to the Leopard 2A6,as did the Russian T80. The 90AM seems to be a much improved version,with greater firepower,and active safety(SHTORA)system,but propably inferior night fighting capabilities,compared to the M1A2. Which is better i could not tell.But i am sure they are pretty close.So much so,that in my opinion the difference will only be the quality of the people who operate them. Furthermore, i hope that we never find out in practise,and that the young people who operate these machines,stay alive ,safe and healthy,and prosper as good citizens.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to conceive of a future tank battle between the US and a tank proficient enemy. The US will always be there with F-18As and A-10s (or their future equivalents) to decimate the enemy's armor before any tank-on-tank engagement will occur. In short, since at least Gulf1, tank battles have been won by air power.
ReplyDeleteamerican always depend to air force and satelites, till when? american victory was make after crushing several weak country with demoralized army? with their western allies beaten one small country that weaponized with old and rusty arsenal then claimed US is powerful, give me break will ya! In Afghanistan the "mighty" US think twice to set up ground troop to facing Talibans without Northern Alliance assistance! shame on you US!Don't undermine other country because they have different way of thinking!
ReplyDeleteRussians went into Georgeia and murdered a lot of freedom loving people. Tell us Americans how your apparent outrage against us is any different? How about Chechnya?. Would you say those incursions by your people were OK? Sure, America has mad mistakes but generally we do the right thing. The 70 years of the USSR and the rule of Stalin were not very pleasant for all the peasants he let die of starvation in the 30's. So, we all have some things in our past we are not too proud of. We need to bury the hatchet and become friends. What do you say?
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ReplyDeleteRepost without the profanity and it will stay up.
ReplyDeleteTodd. Get out from under the rock you live under and do some GENUINE research.
ReplyDeleteRussians murdered in Georgia? Are you serious? Russian citizens were murdered by Georgian military, Russian peace-keeping contingent was virtually wiped out, a sleeping town was shelled by Georgian forces at 3am. And when on FoxNews the little girl and her auntie tried and told the truth the anchor kept interrupting and trying to shut them up except truth came out anyway. Russians tried to contact US president, EU and UN. No response so Russians sent a force armed with T-72 and T-62. Russians stopped Georgian assault and made them run for their lives. Did you expect Russians to let THIS happen and not retaliate?
This article is so full of trash I don't even know where to begin. For starters most tanks in Iraq were indeed killed from the air.
Russians are NOT self-important and the tone of this article is obviously nothing but looking down.
Unless you actually understand Russian mind I suggest you stick to writing for your local paper on things IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY.
So it seems its only ok for the US to design newer and deadlier weapons while the rest of the world should explain its need for such. Arrogance much?
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like I have a couple of people who like to rewrite history, Since you don't use a name here I have to suggest you are cowards and therefore not believable. I stick by my article and having grown up qith the USSR undermining and trying to war with most everyone on the planet, I think you are simply wrong. And since you attack me on a personal level I'd sey you are probably a local sock puppet as well.
ReplyDelete"After their tanks and other equipment were made mincemeat of by American and Allied tanks during the war in Iraq"
ReplyDeleteSorry, but seems like you're to bias. The m1s vs against older gene t-72 and lets add on by saying they were monkey versions than the soviet versions
Really seems like you don't know much on tanks author
ReplyDeleteRussia didn't invade georgia, but responded by the attacking "freedom loving people" I'm not sure what country would let its own people die, Russia had the right to defend its people
ReplyDeleteI know more about the tanks apparently than you seem to. I watched big bad Russia overrun little tiny Georgia right here on my TV screen. Maybe it is your press and your country's propaganda you need to be worried more about. We call the action you took a bully fight. Remember Finland kicked your butts 65 years ago. Watch out the military from Lithuania might take you guys.
ReplyDeleteSorry Todd but I'm American. It's a shame that the older generation seem to be over patriotic to an extend of being crazy
ReplyDeleteYeah, that patriotic fervor, how terrible. Are you nuts? Yep.
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ReplyDeleteNo name no post from another angry liberal nut.
ReplyDeleteSo there is no propaganda on your big american TV screen, huh?
ReplyDeleteWe have a free press ere, you don't. So I would say we have a better chance at less propaganda than you.
ReplyDeleteI just love it when people, who have never severed try to tell those of us who have of what they need.
ReplyDeleteD. Smith
Were you a waiter? I never was, a as probably your boss when you were washing the dishes.
ReplyDelete"We have a free press ere, you don't. So I would say we have a better chance at less propaganda than you."
ReplyDeleteHMMM, seeing how you are acting, seems like you grew up with propaganda your whole life causing you to have a narrow minded head. Tell me what you think about Obama, I'm sure to get a laughter out of your response.
Having grown up during the cold war and practicing hiding under our desks at school to supposedly avert death by a Russian missile, I think I have a good handle on things. Wasn't it you Premier Khrushchev at the UN pounding his shoe on the desk screaming "we will bury you"? Yep, and now you have Putin in bed with Gaddafi and Iran, and buddies with Syria. What about the dissolution of the USSR into a loose knit "federation"? Doesn't seem you folks were in control does it? I love Russian history. Named after the Viking traders called the RUS. And all the problems you experienced when the Khan boys invaded. I am proud you beat the Germans in WW2, but Stalin ended up killing more of you then Hitler did. I lke a peaceful world, maybe you do to, but your educational level seems to be lacking.
ReplyDeleteLmao, Todd it's me again Luis that posted that. Seeing how you reacted its obvious that growing up during the cold war, it really made your view of other countries as hostile. The funny thing is you said Gaddafi in bed with Russia...but all the gas deals it had with the west, the visit by Bush as a friendly gesture. Recent documents being discovered by rebels talking about British involvement of helping Libya. By Helping i mean increasing Gaddafi's wealth by buying more oil. You talk about USSR issues but you don't see the many social issues the U.S had. The constant killing/harassing of African Americans in the country and other majorities by the KKK. The KKK being helped by government officials. Any country is bad. Cuban Missile Crisis was the stupidest thing too happen, could of easily been avoided if the U.S.A didn't install nuclear missiles in Turkey right next to Russia. If the U.S.A complained about nuclears missiles in Cuba how do you think the Russians felt?
ReplyDeleteWQe are both talking about the same things from a different perspective. The USA never said we would bury your country un the UN and Stalin was taking over other countrires as were the Red Chinese. Communism and capitalism are like oil and water. They are not compatible. I have a good friend who is a Russian woman from St. Petersburg. She is in her fifties. She confirms the idiocy and atrocity of communism.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the KKK. It was a terrible thing which I and most Americans are sad to say it occurred here. Regarding blacks. They fought for equal rights and won. Our country fought a civil war to free the slaves and 600,000 men died doing so. Perhaps now your country can let you read the truth and it isn't always what they said it was.
Why are you and so many far righties still hung up on Communism? It would be hilarious if not so sad.
ReplyDeleteIT'S OVER TODD. No Commie is going to come take your gun and put you to work in a camp.
Rob
It's OK Rob. Ideology from many sectors is jockeying for power all over the planet. If you were Gaddafi, smug in his palace a couple of months ago, you might rethink the speed things can change.
ReplyDeleteI like the old Boy Scout motto, since I was one once, "Be Prepared". Mentally and physically.
Ah, always gotta be vigilant for them pesky Commies, lurking and ready to take away your fredom and guns. LOL. OK,OK I amend my statement. The paranoia shown by you, Rebane and Co. IS hilarious. Best of luck in your "war" :)
ReplyDeleteRob
No paranoia, just diligence. Liberals are the paranoid ones. You know, greassy knoll, corporations, Tea Party.
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