Our North - SSE Policy Update Megathread

[GR66]

If Canada went to the GDLS XM-30 vehicle as a IFV, then I could see the M-10 being used as a DFS system, (as it’s a common chassis) for those battalions equipped with the OMFV, but one would still want a true MBT to operate with.

I really hope that the XM-30 wins the OMFV competition for the US Army. It would check a bunch of boxes in my CA fantasy world.

• Tracked IFV for a true CA Heavy Brigade
• Commonality with the US Army for logistics purposes
• Potential to be built in London
• M10 Booker as DFS variant using the same chassis
• Training commonality between the M10 and the Abrams (hopefully the AbramsX goes forward so it can replace our Leopard 2's)

 

[markppcli]

Keep in mind that in WWII, the US built some very capable heavy tanks, but choose to keep sending Sherman tanks. The reason was logistics. Eventually some US heavies made it to Europe, mainly to test the support infrastructure.

There are some very good reasons to have a light tank like the Booker and that revolves around logistics, terrain and infrastructure. There are a lot of places that would not allow a tank as heavy as the M1 to operate as the roads and bridges would collapse. so a light tank that can support the infantry there, is worth its weight in gold. The US can easily sustain some light tank battalions and it's likley these will sell as exports to replace the remaining CRVT's and other older light tank fleets out there.

Only it’s objectively not built to do what you said. It’s not meant to do pretty much anything we expect a light tank to do. Rather it’s meant to provide limited direct fire support to the air borne and air assault divisions. The 105 has been an obsolete tank gun since the mid 80s, the armour protection is only good when compared to the ISV, and so the question of what it would add to a mechanized formation looms large. It’s being fetishized by some who love the idea of the “small and handy” while failing to understand the design of the M10 and the intent behind it.

Logistics is exactly the issue, so you want to operate part of a very small production fleet or part of a very large production fleet? The late adoption of the Pershing is as much to do about parts, and the general view of tank destroyers as more important, than an inability to ship them.