The War In Ukraine: Challenging Cultural Norms

  

 

Picture: Marcus Jacobs,Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land photograph

 

The current unpleasantness in Ukraine has discredited the British Army's approach to armoured reconnaissance,which was in any case more the product of institutional cultural norms than logic,but while it may take many years to develop a solution,such as the proposed Charlatan Cavalry Heavy Armoured Vehicle,in the short term the two hundred or so spare Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks (upgraded to the Challenger 3 standard and either with some ammunition stowage sacrificed to free up space and weight for additional equipment operated by the loader or with the gun replaced by a dummy,both to free up weight for armour upgrades and to free the loader and gunner to operate other equipment) may provide enough reconnaissance,command and artillery forward observation vehicles to equip an entire heavy division.

 

The Cost Of A General Dynamics Land Systems Abrams

 

 

Picture: Sergeant Calab Franklin,United States' Army photograph

 

The advent of military forums exposed the extent to which myths become received wisdom within the British Armed Forces,one of these myths is that,second hand,General Dynamics Land Systems Abrams Main Battle Tanks are a fraction of the cost of upgraded Challenger 2 tanks,herein we shall look at how much other countries pay for Abrams purchased via Foreign Military Sales (Assault Breacher Vehicles,Joint Assault Bridges and Hercules Combat Recovery Vehicles are included in the figures).

 

 

Picture: Specialist Michael Baumberger,United States' Army photograph

 

The sale to Poland of two hundred and ninety-three Abrams Main Battle Tanks,Hercules Combat Recovery Vehicles,Joint Assault Bridges and associated items for six thousand million United States' dollars was approved on the Seventeenth of February,Twenty Twenty-two.

 

 

Picture: Specialist Jordan Talbot,United States' Army photograph

 

The sale to Australia of one hundred and twenty-eight Abrams Main Battle Tanks,Assault Breacher Vehicles,Joint Assault Bridges,Hercules Combat Recovery Vehicles and associated items for one thousand six hundred and eighty-five million United States' dollars was approved on the Twenty-ninth of April,Twenty Twenty-one.

 

 

Picture: Corporal Marco Mancha,United States' Marine Corps photograph

 

The sale to Taiwan of one hundred and twenty-two Abrams Main Battle Tanks,Hercules Combat Recovery Vehicles and associated items for two thousand million United States' dollars was approved on the Eighth of July,Twenty Nineteen.

 

 

Picture: Corporal Jeff Drew,United States' Marine Corps photograph

 

These three recent Foreign Military Sales approvals total nine thousand six hundred and eighty-five million dollars for five hundred and forty-three Abrams Main Battle Tanks,Assault Breacher Vehicles,Joint Assault Bridges,Hercules Combat Recovery Vehicles and associated items,an average of just over seventeen million eight hundred and thirty-six thousand dollars per armoured vehicle,which at current exchange rates is just over thirteen million five hundred and twenty-two thousand pounds sterling each.

 

 

Picture: Marcus Jacobs,Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land

   

In contrast,the Challenger 3 upgrade is costing eight hundred million pounds sterling for one hundred and forty-eight vehicles or just over five million four hundred and five thousand pounds per unit,less than half the cost of a second hand Abrams (it would have cost even less without the obsolescent Rheinmetall Rh-120 L/55 120mm gun,yet another example of quantity being sacrificed in the pursuit of fashion).

 

How To Tell If You Are A British General: Part Thirteen

 

 

Picture: Unknown photographer,Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land photograph

 

You know the Rheinmetall Rh-120 L/55 120mm gun is obsolescent,but you thought sidegrading Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks with it would be transformational.