01-15-2023, 07:26 AM
https://www.yahoo.com/news/repaired-germ...54757.html
This doesn't mean Germany isn't going to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine soon. It does however make clear that if Germany does so, these tanks will be coming from active Bundeswehr units. There is no "tank reserve" as such, which should give every German (and probably all NATO) members pause. The 350 tanks are (maybe) adequate (with some spares) for about 1.5 Pz/Pzg divisions, which is about what Germany has. The UK has some tanks to spare mostly because it is downsizing (again). The AOTR is a distant memory. The US is in better shape. We do have a tank reserve that is relatively modern and contains "serviceable" units to some extent. However, our tanks are "different" from what Ukraine is used to and are gas hogs.
The idea that one can give a new tank to an armored unit and that unit can become proficient in it's use quickly, i.e. 90 days or less, is a fantasy. There is a war on in Ukraine, which means they do what they have to do, but while we deride Russia for sending troops into battle with no training, sending an armored formation into battle that has only had it's weapons for 90 days isn't a lot better. If there are only "a few" newbies in a formation who are not well trained, you might get away with it, but if it is everybody, mistakes will be made and some of them may be big ones.
This doesn't mean Germany isn't going to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine soon. It does however make clear that if Germany does so, these tanks will be coming from active Bundeswehr units. There is no "tank reserve" as such, which should give every German (and probably all NATO) members pause. The 350 tanks are (maybe) adequate (with some spares) for about 1.5 Pz/Pzg divisions, which is about what Germany has. The UK has some tanks to spare mostly because it is downsizing (again). The AOTR is a distant memory. The US is in better shape. We do have a tank reserve that is relatively modern and contains "serviceable" units to some extent. However, our tanks are "different" from what Ukraine is used to and are gas hogs.
The idea that one can give a new tank to an armored unit and that unit can become proficient in it's use quickly, i.e. 90 days or less, is a fantasy. There is a war on in Ukraine, which means they do what they have to do, but while we deride Russia for sending troops into battle with no training, sending an armored formation into battle that has only had it's weapons for 90 days isn't a lot better. If there are only "a few" newbies in a formation who are not well trained, you might get away with it, but if it is everybody, mistakes will be made and some of them may be big ones.