With all the talk of MOABs, naval deployments, and missile attacks...

[Armoured]

I felt like it would be a good idea for a timely reminder that tanks are cool, so here's a link to one doing a 180 degree spin handbrake turn (video in link)

Soldier performs 180-degree rotation in a T-80 tank | Daily Mail Online

 

[Saucy]

I felt like it would be a good idea for a timely reminder that tanks are cool, so here's a link to one doing a 180 degree spin handbrake turn (video in link)

Soldier performs 180-degree rotation in a T-80 tank | Daily Mail Online

That is pretty cool! Something we can finally agree on

 

[USincognito]

Wouldn't it just be easier to turn the turret?

 

[RDKirk]

Wouldn't it just be easier to turn the turret?
View attachment 194653

The heaviest armor is the front glacis plate. You want that facing a major threat that you just noticed behind you.

 

[Armoured]

Wouldn't it just be easier to turn the turret?
View attachment 194653

No.

 

[USincognito]

Free speech is dead here.

 

[Larniavc]

I felt like it would be a good idea for a timely reminder that tanks are cool, so here's a link to one doing a 180 degree spin handbrake turn (video in link)

Soldier performs 180-degree rotation in a T-80 tank | Daily Mail Online

My favourite is the Challenger 2.

 

[TerranceL]

Tanks are pretty awesome.

The Hunt for Red October (the movie then the book) created in me a great interest in submarines, then Clancy's book, "Red Storm Rising" (about a false flag operation in the soviet union which leads it into war with europe and the united states) has a pretty significant section on tanks made me fascinated in them.

One thing that occured to me after reading Red Storm Rising was how similar both are in one regard, you are locked in a hunk of metal separated from the rest of the world. In the case of a sub once you're rendered inoperational you are pretty much DOA. In the case of a tank, once your tank is inoperational hopefully whatever hit you didn't set off your ammo, and hopefully you can get your door open. Now all you have to contend with is being up against active tanks and while it's probably not likely they would waste a shell to kill you many of them do still have guns on them.

Either way, stepping into a tank or a sub you've got to be insanely brave, which goes without saying for anybody stepping into battle no matter your circumstances.

Russians flip tank "drifting"

I can only imagine how that conversation went with their co.

 

[RDKirk]

Either way, stepping into a tank or a sub you've got to be insanely brave, which goes without saying for anybody stepping into battle no matter your circumstances.

I had the opportunity to tour the WWII sub USS Bowfin with an old guy who had served on another sub of the same class. He filled me in, compartment by compartment, of what was life was like when they were underweigh and under water.

For instance, he said that the ambient temperature on the sub while submerged was always greater than 100 degrees. Moreover, because they had to ration their water, they were always borderline dehydrated and underwashed. Moreover, the sub was always filled with diesel fumes. Overheated, dehydrated, foul-smelling, and breathing noxious fumes.

He said that the vibration in the steel deckplates of the engine room destroyed the cartilage in the knees of the engineers.

But I recently caught a very interesting BBC movie trilogy about WWI on Netflix called "Our World War." Each 90-minute movie was based on the letters written by actual British WWI soldiers--the battles they relate and presumably their experiences in those battles are true. Excellent--you ought to locate it and see it.

The last movie was about a crew of an early British battle tank...and what a miserable, hellish, scary occupation that was, very much like being on an early sub...except worse.

 

[TerranceL]

But I recently caught a very interesting BBC movie trilogy about WWI on Netflix called "Our World War." Each 90-minute movie was based on the letters written by actual British WWI soldiers--the battles they relate and presumably their experiences in those battles are true. Excellent--you ought to locate it and see it.

The last movie was about a crew of an early British battle tank...and what a miserable, hellish, scary occupation that was, very much like being on an early sub...except worse.

So very cool that you got to hear what it was like from someone who served.

Found the series: Watch Our World War Online | Netflix

Good stuff. A history podcast I listen to did a multiple hour series on WWI and it was just horrifying.

Current Hardcore History Available for Free

Blueprint for Armageddon is the series.

 

[Armoured]

I thought Jethro would make the facetious nature of my comment clear.

That said, this is the only SP gun I've got any experience with.

SPGs are not tanks, much as they like to pretend.

 

[Armoured]

My favourite is the Challenger 2.

Challenger 2 is a fine vehicle. It was my second choice for the Australian replacement a few years back.

 

[Armoured]

Tanks are pretty awesome.

The Hunt for Red October (the movie then the book) created in me a great interest in submarines, then Clancy's book, "Red Storm Rising" (about a false flag operation in the soviet union which leads it into war with europe and the united states) has a pretty significant section on tanks made me fascinated in them.

One thing that occured to me after reading Red Storm Rising was how similar both are in one regard, you are locked in a hunk of metal separated from the rest of the world. In the case of a sub once you're rendered inoperational you are pretty much DOA. In the case of a tank, once your tank is inoperational hopefully whatever hit you didn't set off your ammo, and hopefully you can get your door open. Now all you have to contend with is being up against active tanks and while it's probably not likely they would waste a shell to kill you many of them do still have guns on them.

Either way, stepping into a tank or a sub you've got to be insanely brave, which goes without saying for anybody stepping into battle no matter your circumstances.
I can only imagine how that conversation went with their co.

Armoured vehicle crews are the only branch of the Australian military other than submariners that are regularly awarded submariners badges, is something else they have in common.

 

[USincognito]

Free speech is dead here.

 

[Armoured]

I know. That's why differentiated them from tanks. Probably something I learned during my five months of Field Artillery Officer Basic Course.

[insert mandatory dropshort/cloudpuncher joke here]

 

[TerranceL]

Armoured vehicle crews are the only branch of the Australian military other than submariners that are regularly awarded submariners badges, is something else they have in common.

View attachment 194670

That's insanely cool.

On a side note: your moniker, did you serve in a tank?

 

[Armoured]

That's insanely cool.

On a side note: your moniker, did you serve in a tank?

I spent a little time in tanks, back in the Leopard days, but most of my time was in M113s and ASLAVs

 

[Nithavela]

If that were a proper german trank, it would tear up the street.

 

[Armoured]

If that were a proper german trank, it would tear up the street.

I'm sure it would have on tarmac. Concrete aprons reinforced for armour tend to be a little more durable.

I bet if he did it a few more times, the concrete would chunk.