Tuesday 24 January 2023

So now the US is considering sending Abrams tanks after all

There's an unprecedented tank momentum going on. After months of pleading by Presidennt Zelensky for advanced western tanks it now looks like both Germany and the US are going to oblige. I always thought that the Pentagon's argument against sending Abrams M1s because of the logistical problems involved was rather feeble. Yes, it's not a diesel-powered tank like everyone else's, but logistical problems can be sorted out if the will is there. I don't think the will WAS there until Gemany started kicking up a fuss and saying they wouldn't send their Leopard 2 tanks unless the US first sent Abrams. All a bit childish really but Berlin seems to have won the argument because the Pentagon is now examining how and when it might supply Abrams. Biden will still have to give the go ahead but I somehow doubt he will say no. So Zelensky is going to get the full works, a pile of advanced tanks which will overwhelm all the T-90s, T-72s and T-65s the Russians have been driving around in. There's talk of Moscow sending the most advanced of its tanks, the T-14 Armata. But I bet Putin won't risk it if there's risk of his fancy Armata coming up against the Abrams and Leopard 2s. How humiliating would it be for Russia to lose an Armata to an Abrams. Abrams tanks are combat proven whereas the Armata has no war experience and is hardly off the production line. If Zelensky gets both Leopard 2s and Abrams in time for Russia's expected new offensive in the spring, there is going to be a helluva tank battle which I think the Russians will lose.

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