"A New Power Rises"

[Xystus]

Have we had a tank battle since WW2?

In both Iraq battles, our air power decimated their vehicles before our tanks engaged.

Our hand held anti-tank missiles have also come a long way since WW2

Battle of Medina Ridge - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[MonteRCMS]

Israel has had tank battles.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Have we had a tank battle since WW2?

We haven’t, to speak of. There were some tank-on-tank battles in Desert Storm. Not many. But the Israelis have had very serious tank battles with Syria in the past, and some of the engagements were a near thing for the Israelis. However, it must be admitted that Israel discovered the Soviet tanks used by Syria had a serious vulnerability to air attack. Some have claimed the 1973 war prevented WWIII in Europe inasmuch as Israel shared the information with the U.S. At least some in the Soviet high command really intended to start a war in Europe in the early 1980s, but the Israeli revelation which resulted in some American tactical changes were dissuasive.

Dreadful as such thoughts are, I have also read that the Soviets were, in the early '80s at least somewhat dissuaded by the prospect of the Poles at their backs and across their communication and supply lines if Soviet tanks went surging through the Fulda Gap and North German Plain. The Soviet plan was to disarm and quarantine the Polish Warsaw Pact forces. But even so, the Soviet lines of supply and communication would have been long ones, and in unfriendly territory.

All sort of interesting to think about.

 

[Theo520]

All sort of interesting to think about.

Yes it is.

Without air superiority, tanks are little more than target practice, from what I just read on several Iraqi battles.

Owning the air means your AWAC planes p(name removed by moderator)oint their location for your team but they can’t see you. Apache Helicopters and Warthogs were designed to kill these tanks as I recall. Our own tanks can probably strike at distances before we are even in range of enemy tanks returning fire.

 

[JW55]

Good for Japan. I am glad to see these countries around North Korea taking more of an active role in their own defense. Same should go for Europe. Now get the US out of there. .

 

[JimG]

Now get the US out of there. .

Exactly Kim Jong Un’s goal. South Korea would, however be doomed to war and absorption.

 

[Theo520]

Exactly Kim Jong Un’s goal. South Korea would, however be doomed to war and absorption.

Uhh, nope.
The South would win that war unless China intervened and supplied the manpower.

 

[JW55]

JimG-

If you will look back on some of my earlier posts on similar topics you can see that I indicated South Korea and Japan already have better military capabilities than North Korea. North Korean Resources are very limited as well, particularly in the area of fuel.

Recent news report from China seem to indicate that they may even be considering somewhat severing their close association with the North Korean bad boy if he can’t be reigned in a little. A North Korean conflict could seriously jeopardize the Chinese booming economy. Money talks and the Chinese are receiving that message well.

We Americans have taken the bait through our politicians and media that the rest of the world are like baby ducks if we are not there to help them out and provide military support. It is simply not the case. We in America spread ourselves thinner and thinner around the world. There is a limit to everything. Even a steel beam will crack if you spread it thin enough to support the load. This is costly to American taxpayers as well with the amount we pay for these international conflicts. This oftentimes is not a matter of “defense” but of “offense” to the point of pre-emptive strikes.

I am confident you are sincere in your comment, but I don’t see the position inAmerica we have taken ls valid enough to upgrade our military activity in the area.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Recent news report from China seem to indicate that they may even be considering somewhat severing their close association with the North Korean bad boy if he can’t be reigned in a little. A North Korean conflict could seriously jeopardize the Chinese booming economy. Money talks and the Chinese are receiving that message well.

Well, maybe. But it is my impression that China has provided NoKo with all the rocketry with which it is now threatening the U.S. NoKo might simply be China’s pit bull.

 

[JW55]

Well, maybe. But it is my impression that China has provided NoKo with all the rocketry with which it is now threatening the U.S. NoKo might simply be China’s pit bull

It definitely has been the case in the past. However, what I have been reading lately is that China may be looking for a tactful way to either cut the strings or tone him down. A major military action on the Korean peninsula would not be a good thing for China. For a couple of things it could end up putting American and South Korean Troops on China’s doorstep and could also lead to a lot of NK refugees streaming across their borders with no way to deal with them. As stated before such a conflict could seriously upset their economy. China has to be cautious how to handle the pit bull and they may realize they have given him too much rope. The fact that Japan is planning to strengthen their military is not good news for China. They have to a little uneasy with all this.

 

[Theo520]

It definitely has been the case in the past. However, what I have been reading lately is that China may be looking for a tactful way to either cut the strings or tone him down.

China has been forced into that position, it wasn’t one they came to out of self awareness.