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The US learns from Canada's military tactics

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
It's hard to believe that the US has not had tanks present in Afghanistan up until now, but when I thought about it, I don't ever remember seeing any photos of US tanks.

Canadian tanks in Afghanistan inspire U.S. deployment


Matthew Fisher, Postmedia News · Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The United States is to follow Canada’s lead by deploying tanks to southern Afghanistan.

The decision to significantly up the ante in the war against the Taliban by sending 68-ton Marine Corps M1 Abrams tanks to Helmand province comes as Canadian heavy armour plays a vital but little known role in the war.

U.S. commanders have called on the tanks of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) to assist them during key combat operations against the Taliban including during a recent offensive. The German-built Leopards have also provided frequent fire support for American troops from within a base in Panjwaii District that overlooks Zhari District.

Even before the decision by the Marines, the U.S. army was taking “a hard look at bringing them (tanks) over,” to Kandahar when Canada’s combat forces are withdrawn next summer, because of the successes that the Strathconas have had with them here, said Brig.-Gen. Frederick Hodges, who ran the war in Regional Command South until this month and now heads the Afghanistan Pakistan Co-ordination Centre for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington.

“I don’t think anyone saw a need for them, but we now see value in it.”

Other than Canada, the only other country to have fielded tanks in Afghanistan is Denmark.

“Nobody else can give what the tank gives,” said Maj. Rob McKenzie, commander of the Strathcona’s A Squadron, whose seventh tour overseas ended in Kandahar on Friday.

“We provide an all-weather 24-hour presence with precise fire that limits collateral damage. Because we are so self-sufficient, we can be left out in a blank spot or we can penetrate an area and sustain the breach.”

The Edmonton-based tankers had only been engaged a couple of times by the Taliban during Maj. McKenzie’s seven-month tour.

“The paucity of direct fire suggests that they did not want to take us on,” he said. “As I tell my guys, if we go somewhere and don’t fire a shot, and neither does the enemy, we have achieved our aim.”

A group of Leopards, with their 120-millimetre main guns, provided a block last month during a major offensive by U.S. and Afghan forces in the Horn of Panjwaii. At the same time, other Leopards occupied a river bed in Zhari in support of a paratroop company from the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division.

“The purpose was to squeeze them inside there,” Hodges, the American general, said of the operation in the Horn, which resulted in three villages falling to coalition forces.

“I thought it was a great use of a system. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t love tanks.”

An ex-tanker, Brig.-Gen. Dean Milner, who commands Canada’s task force in Kandahar, said he wasn’t surprised the Leopards had performed well.

“They have such a great deterrent capability you don’t have to use them in large numbers,” Brig.-Gen. Milner said. “They are agile and aggressive and have great IED protection. You need to have something really big to penetrate their hulls.”

Speaking of the recent operations involving the Strathconas and the Americans, Maj. McKenzie said, “U.S. forces at the company level were always happy to have us.” This was not only because the tanks provided a powerful overwatch capability but because of their ability to pull lighter vehicles when they got stuck, he said.

Another plus is that the Leopards bring a strong support tail with them and can help sustain light infantry units, such as paratroopers, in the field by providing extra food and water.

Canada was getting rid of all of its tanks when the Martin government gave the army a combat mission in Kandahar. The country first borrowed and is now acquiring a small fleet of upgraded Leopards from the Netherlands.

“I was as disappointed as anyone,” about the original decision to do away with tanks, said Maj. McKenzie, who first served in an earlier version of the Leopard in 1985.

Stressing that he was expressing his personal opinion, the major added: “It is my hope that we will retain the capability and keep them in a high level of readiness. If we can do that it will help in the retention of our soldiers.”



Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Canadian+tanks+Afghanistan+inspire+deployment/3856144/story.html#ixzz165Hdk7H9
 

Silver

Well-known member
These new Leopards with the Canadian weapons systems in them are probably the worlds best tanks. Absolutely amazing for sure. The old girls that we took over there originally were mechanically pretty rough though. They had no air conditioning and apparently could get up over 140 F inside. Yikes.
 

Steve

Well-known member
I believe the lack of tanks was a dependence on light fast attack units.. and combat air support,

but as the mission shifted the strategy didn't. and once the air support became limited, it left our troops vulnerable,

I feel the tanks will be a valuable asset and save American/nato lives..
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Silver said:
These new Leopards with the Canadian weapons systems in them are probably the worlds best tanks. Absolutely amazing for sure. The old girls that we took over there originally were mechanically pretty rough though. They had no air conditioning and apparently could get up over 140 F inside. Yikes.


“The paucity of direct fire suggests that they did not want to take us on,” he said

Maybe the Leopards are like Americans travelling through Europe? Just hang a Canadian Flag on them, and no one wants to "take them on"

:wink: :lol: :lol: :lol:


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