Please can someone familiar with modern tank warfare help please?

Question

Question for a friend who wants to join a Challenger 2 (UK) Cavalry Regiment:

Do heavy tanks (eg Challengers, not recon vehicles) operate singly on an operation or as part of a larger unit (in the field)- and how are they applied on today's battlefield?

Also, should a crew have to abandon their tank in the field, do they have personal small arms with which to defend themselves- and if so do they get rifles or only hand guns?

Thanks!

He is referring to the type of reserve small arms used purely out of interest (ie is there enough room for rifles inside the tank). Thanks

Answer 1

I'm not a Challenger tanker, I'm an M1A1 tanker but I think our tactics are probably pretty similiar....

You would operate in 2-4 tank units (Platoons) with other infantry units. A tank by itself is a target.

Should you have to abandon your tank you at least have a handgun and probably a belt fed machine gun of some type.

Answer 2

Tanks operate with other arms: ideally they are the main arm which is supported by mechanised infantry, artillery etc, in the style pioneered by the Germans in 1940- what we call Blitzkreig.

This is the style of battle that would have been used when invading Iraq.

But in some circumstances the tanks have to back off and support infantry: for example when fighting in urban areas or jungle. This would be the type of work British tanks are involved in today in Iraq: protecting roads and supporting ambushed units.

But tanks should never operate alone, either as single vehicles or in a unit of just tanks, because they become vulnerable to anti-tank weapons such as guided missiles.

Often, tanks have to provide this 'close support' to break strongpoints, after which the tanks can break out and use their mobility to outmaneuver the enemy.

Examples of tank-led battles include France 1940, Russia 1941, France August-September 1944 after the breakout from Normandy, Iraq 1991.

Examples of tanks attacking without support and getting walloped include Kursk 1943, and the Sinai Desert 1973.
Examples of close support for infantry include Berlin 1945, Vietnam.

In WW2, the British recognised the two different needs and built Infantry Tanks, heavily armoured, slow tanks, and organised them into Tank Brigades. These were smallish units of just tanks that could be allocated to specific infantry units to support them. Fast, 'Cruiser' tanks were organised into Armoured Divisions with mobile infantry and artillery, for rapid movement and exploitation in the 'Blitzkrieg' style. By the end of the war, most armies were moving toward the idea of an 'all purpose' tank, and in the postwar years this became the 'MBT' or Main Battle Tank.

Armies then became smaller and although NATO armies continue to train for a major clash of armour, the reality of the actual wars we fight means 'infantry support' type operations are most important. But being able to switch the emphasis and have tactical flexibility is the most important skill of all.

Tanks have weapons for use by the crew outside the vehicle: I'm not sure what Challenger tanks have but there is a demountable machine gun on the roof, and either a Sterling submachine gun or short version of the infantry rifle for the crew, plus any pistol the tank commander would carry, plus any weapons the crew would acquire privately.

Depending on the type of fighting, these would change: in urban or close warfare, extra weapons like this are carried or even added to the tank.

Answer 3

At the lowest lever tanks operate as a 'tank section' consisting as a 'lead' tank and a 'wingman' tank. Two of these sections operate as a platoon. Generally, a tank unit will operate as a 'company team' - where a tank company and an infantry company trade one platoon each. This makes one company with 2 platoons of tanks and 1 platoon of infantry and another with the ratio reversed.

It is almost unheard of for tanks to operate without some sort of infantry.

Generally, a tank crew will prefer not to abandon a disabled tank. Inside they are still protected by the armor and retain a significant amount of firepower. Outside the tank they become infantrymen without the weapons or the training.

Answer 4

Tanks operate together as troops, squadrons and regiment. Tanks can operate against other tanks, they often support the foot soldiers. Tanks can act as cover, basicaly soldiers hide behind them. They also use thier fire power to help the soldiers, shooting at targets for them from a differant location or moving together.
Tank crews usually carry pistols. If a tank crew is in the position of debating the effectiveness of rifles over pistols, hey, your day has already turned bad. Really, really bad.

Answer 5

Well in the American Army tanks work in companies of 5 tanks each. A tank working alone is vulnerable to the sides and rear. There are small arms available, and officers get pistols

Answer 6

It depends on the mission, generally they work best by themselves or in groups up to six.

Yes at the very least they will have there standard sidearm pistols.

Answer 7

the top spins and it take off like an alien craft...the crew is equipped with super soakers.

Answer 8

Both, but generally as part of a larger unit.

The crew has sidearms.

You're welcome.