“Tanks, Mate!”
AUSTRALIA’S newly acquired $560 million fleet of Abrams tanks can be easily disabled by the latest generation shoulder-fired rocket launcher, a government-funded think tank has warned.
But the 59 refurbished M1A1 Abrams, bought from the US by the Howard government, still offer better protection than their ageing German Leopard-1 predecessors, says a paper from theAustralian Strategic Policy Institute.
Unlike the latest US M1A2 model, the Australian variant is protected by ceramic plate instead of superior depleted uranium armour, the ASPI says in its latest report on army capability.
“Although it provides good protection against early-model shoulder-fired anti-armour weapons now prevalent in the region, it is vulnerable to advanced Russian systems proliferating elsewhere, including the Middle East,” it says.
The paper singling out the 70-tonne behemoths emerged yesterday as Kevin Rudd lashed the former government for wasting taxpayers’ dollars on questionable defence purchases.
“There has been billions of dollars in defence waste - in one major project after another. This has got to stop,” he told the NSW Labor conference.
The Abrams was always a controversial purchase, with critics claiming the new-generation Leopard-2 tank was Australia’s best option.
(Austrailian)
Even if they are the M1A1 version the tank crews are still in pretty good hands. Those A1’s still mean business.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:49 pmI love how everyone totes the new generation German tanks to be the best tank in the world but the damn things have NEVER seen any combat at all. How can you lay claim as the best fighter if you have never even fought?
Brian
May 5th, 2008 at 12:18 amWe Aussies don’t really rely too much on our armoured corp. Our SAS lads take care of business in a less “noisy” manner.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:15 amThe M-1 is battle-tested and battle proven. There is nothing better in the world. Love to see a head-to-head comparison in a battle space of choice. Fat chance huh?
May 5th, 2008 at 4:36 amThat’s just a single battalion’s worth. Probably for homeland defense, where they would do pretty well in open ground. If it includes a full stocking of repair parts, $560 MM is a good price. Their tankers will feel like jedi’s in the M1A1 compared to the old Leos.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:38 amThose M1’s went through the best soviet tanks that the Iraqi dinar could buy, twice. The Leopards are still waiting for the Soviets, who got booted out of office over 20 years ago.
May 5th, 2008 at 5:30 am“We Aussies don’t really rely too much on our armoured corp. Our SAS lads take care of business in a less “noisy” manner.”
I can back this claim up personally, worked with them in Afghanistan in ‘01/02 and I have to say of all the non-american forces their the Aussies were top notch at taking care of business.
May 5th, 2008 at 5:41 am