Are tanks obsolete?

[Pozieres]

With things like manpads and UAVs slapping soviet tanks/helos around in Ukraine is this the end of the line for the tank and larger weapon platforms? Will cheap UAVs/artillery be the future and if so, will it be represented in WT?

[Shillelagh]

I don't think so. In the current conflict it's been said Russia isn't even trying to deploy air defenses against drones.
Though, I won't get into politics for obvious reasons.
Also, what do MANPADS have to do with tanks?

[Electric Messiah]

he's talking about the obvious nature that warfare is advancing past the limit of usefulness for tanks and manned artillery equipment, pretty soon in the next couple decades tanks and aircraft that are manned will be phased out entirely most likely after the evident disaster of using valuable resources as firewood, modern combat is moving towards computerized weapons and remote operation

[smartest indiana resident]

tanks arent obsolete, its just that russian tanks are being used in city conditions and they arent being used at long range, like they should

[𝒞𝒶𝓈𝓊𝒶𝓁 Sinner]

I've seen some decent takes, and honestly, it's probably both. Tanks have always had to worry about planes, anti-tank teams, anti-tank guns, etc. The main part now is their enemies have gotten a lot better at doing what they do. Precision weapons, laser guided weapons, long range missiles, etc.

But that's not really how modern combat works, in a combined arms role, tanks need to be supported. Any type of unit in the open and unsupported will fail against anything you send out, even a squad of Abrams vs M22s.

[Jaes]

No.

/end thread.

[Omega Sirius]

They're not obsolete, just like warships for thousands of years. It has it's role.

[MaDeuce]

Studies from the early 2000s have shown that armored warfare has no place on the modern battlefield, just like hulking battleships. The U.S. Army told Congress that they didn't want or need any more Abrams, and Congress forced them on them any way. Advancements in armor cannot outpace the advancements in munitions, to try to keep up is a complete waste of resources. The main battle tank is a relic, lightly armored and highly mobile vehicles capable of carrying overwhelming fire power are the future.

[Moldy Squeegee]

Tanks aren't obsolete and they probably wont be for a long time they have their role just like every other piece of weaponry. Using tanks as the spear head for battle is where I believe the Russians went wrong. The tanks were too exposed to ambushes. That doesn't mean they are obsolete though. I think they play a better role as support for infantry but not for spearheading operations.

[Omega Sirius]

Originally posted by Yammy Fz07:

Tanks aren't obsolete and they probably wont be for a long time they have their role just like every other piece of weaponry. Using tanks as the spear head for battle is where I believe the Russians went wrong. The tanks were too exposed to ambushes. That doesn't mean they are obsolete though. I think they play a better role as support for infantry but not for spearheading operations.

The Panzers of Germany were pretty good during spearheads, and so were the Abrams during The Persian Gulf War.

[hsf_]

No they're not obsolete, the way they are being used is obsolete.

It must also be said, without trying to start a flame war that the time of year and the terrain has also played a huge role in the conflict. Restricting vehicles to roads makes them much, much easier targets for things like artillery, drones and ambushing.

Had Russia waited until the summer, it may have been a different conflict entirely. However I'm sure Ukraine would have still flooded the plains to bog down the Russians.

[smartest indiana resident]

as I said tanks currently arent being used how they are designed, its like using a butter knife to cut bread

[Porter]

Originally posted by Jaes:

No.

/end thread.

Completely false. This is why the USMC is getting rid of tanks. They are useless and no longer worth using.

[Porter]

Originally posted by Yammy Fz07:

Tanks aren't obsolete and they probably wont be for a long time they have their role just like every other piece of weaponry. Using tanks as the spear head for battle is where I believe the Russians went wrong. The tanks were too exposed to ambushes. That doesn't mean they are obsolete though. I think they play a better role as support for infantry but not for spearheading operations.

There fare better systems out there for supporting infantry. Tanks are obsolete, and we won't see them much in future conflicts.

[Lunovus]

Tanks have been declared obsolete multiple times in the last 100 years.

UAVs and manpads don't take cities.

[MaDeuce]

Originally posted by Lunovus:

Tanks have been declared obsolete multiple times in the last 100 years.

UAVs and manpads don't take cities.

No, infantry do.