The Merkava 4 MBT

[Backis]

PlasmaKrab said:
They are not meant to, but they can. You still find that kind of things on North-Korean propaganda pics. Admittedly not hte best source nor reference, but there you go...

Well, what modern MBT do NK really have, eh?

T-54/55, T-62 and their Chinese clones are really more "proto-MBT" medium tanks. Both are also slow enough to allow crunchies to hang on reasonably secure when taking it careful.

PlasmaKrab said:Some time ago I found in an old US Army field manual the way the infantrymen were meant to be hitching on tanks (it was clearly stated they were to get down as soon as enemy presence was expected), and, as you said, Backis, on an Abrams the guys are all seated on the turret rigs, hanging on the baskets, as opposed to the M60 tank where some could ride on the back. Sitting on the turret avoids turbine heat and gunbarrel shocks problems, but you surely sacrifice commander vision and probably turret mobility.

I'd be interested in that manual, how old is it btw?

In the military there is of course a manual for all manner of activities, no matter how impractical.

I however seriously doubt wether this was regarding tactical use of a tank desant, but rather think its about more operational movement.

If an Abrams carried desants it would have to drive very slow, it couldn't traverse the turret effectively nor do I think firing the main gun would be popular due to pressure effects even if you have a source stating otherwise. I'd need to see that first hand myself.

All crunchies better be wearing hearing aids too... deaf people loose a lot of situational awareness.

In short, I don't believe it would be possible to fight the tank effectively with riders.

PlasmaKrab said:The whole idea looks insane as soon as combat is involved, but between two fire zones a tank can be just another battle taxi as soon as you are pretty sure of your rear area.

The thing is, giving them the carry capacity will give the tank the capacity to fight a full efficiency, drive at full speed through any terrain while carrying those troops.

I understand that this is a compromise, and a compromise is needed, and that this is just not the one that I would prefer.

I just have a differing opinion as to the game designers, live with it. I have to.

It's IMO ok to let older tanks such as the T-55, T-62, M48, M60 and Centurion to name a few to carry infantry, but I'd draw the line at modern fast MBT where you'd have to glue yourself on to stay put.

As soon as I see a half-dozen guys riding around on an Abrams in Iraq I'll stop whining.