Thread: MBT's
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Old October 10th, 2022, 03:05 AM
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Suhiir Suhiir is offline
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Default Re: MBT's

Well the last Abrams is gone from the USMC inventory (including those in depots and pre-loaded cargo ships) so starting around mid 2021 if you want tanks use the "Allies" button when purchasing formations and buy Army!

Since they first mounted TOW ATGMs on AH-1s the USMC has seen the tank primarily as an infantry support asset and ATGM armed helos/ground troops as the primary anti-armor asset. With the climbing mass of the modernized Abrams it's been a problem getting them to the beach. The LCAC has a cargo capacity of 60 tons (75 overloaded), and an LST is not a viable assault landing transport.

A plausible answer suitable to the Force Design 2030 concept would be the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) Light Tank Program, two competing tank contenders armed with a 105mm cannon. BAE System’s® M8 Armored Gun System and General Dynamics Land Systems’ “Griffin” weigh in at around 30-35-tons with add-on armor. Two basic 30-ton 105mm MPFs can ride on a LCAC and two MPFs with add-on armor (35-tons) might be able to ride on an SSC. With Active Protection Systems and Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) additions installed, the MPF, in theory, should have adequate protection levels up to the U.S. Army’s M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, with an all-around armor rating against 30mm Armor-Piercing rounds, and active protection against Anti-tank missiles and rockets that the M1A2 SEPv3 with Trophy APS has. A MPF’s 105mm tank cannon might not be powerful enough to penetrate the latest frontal armor of MBTs, but it should be capable of providing direct fire support against bunkers, pillboxes, fortifications, and light to medium armored vehicles in support of advancing Marines.

We'll just have to see what happens in the future.
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