Re: "Tanks, for the Memories"

"Glover, Owen" wrote:

> No, tanks will quite likely have their uses for a long time to come.
> Consider too that the tank will be able to reduce in size dependant on
> its role on the battlefield.

Just as a side note we are currently in the process of converting two
tank/mech brigades into wheeled armor mobile brigades.	One is standing
up this quarter. 3/2ID out of Ft Lewis. They traded in their M1Abrahms
for 46 LAV IIIs on loan from the Canadian Army.  The new brigades are
being termed Initial brigades duwe to where they are slotted in any
intervention.

Now they won't or may not be using LAV IIIs for long. The Army also just
finished a major "test drive" if you will of a large number of new
armored vehicles, tanks, APCs, mortar carriers, etc. The main
requirements were that they had to be wheeled and that they had to be
able to fit on a C130. Over a 1000 tankers were brought in to Knox
(IIRC) and they divied up the 30+ different vehilces and put them
through their paces. Some were APCs some were tanks and there was a
mortar carrier also. All kinds of manufacturers.  Note that the intent
is not to find a replacement for the Sheriden and other light vehilces,
etc. but to create a whole new class of amored unit (hence the initial
brigades) with punch and sustainment but with a much more rapid
capability of deployment.  The rational being that hey heavy armor is
nice but what good is it if you can't get it where you want it in time?

Anyway just some news...

Los