In recent years, Russia's conflict with Ukraine has attracted global attention. In this conflict, tanks play an important role as important combat equipment.
However, it is worth noting that in this conflict, the tanks that Western countries are proud of suffered serious defeats.
The myth of the Challenger-2 tank's protection is shattered
The Challenger-2 tank is the pride of the UK and its protection is known as the best in the world. However, in modern warfare, the glory of the past is no longer there. On the Ukrainian battlefield, the Challenger-2 suffered heavy losses and was destroyed by Ukrainian forces. This has made Western countries begin to have doubts about the protection of their main tanks.
According to foreign media reports, the Challenger-2's tank armor is not as good as previously thought. During the battle in Iraq, the Challenger-2 was also shot through. This means that the tank's defense against new weapons has problems.
The tragic fate of the Stryk Infantry Fighting Vehicle with the Challenger-2 tank
As one of the main combat vehicles of the US military, the Stryk infantry tank was once regarded as a model of advanced equipment. However, like the Challenger-2 tank, Stryk suffered heavy losses on the Ukrainian battlefield. Especially during the battles in the Zaporozhye region, this combination suffered a fatal blow, revealing the tragic fate of Western main battle tanks.
According to reports, the Stryk infantry combat vehicle encountered a serious challenge from new anti-tank weapons equipped by Russia on the battlefield in Ukraine. These weapons have excellent penetration and accuracy, and can easily penetrate Stryk's armor and cause massive damage.
This pessimistic reality has left Western countries worried about the fate of their main tanks.
Russia's focus on Western main battle tanks
Russia has always shown special attention to the main battle tanks of Western countries. Anti-tank competitions were held to encourage soldiers to shoot through and capture Western tanks alive, demonstrating Russia's prowess in the field of military technology.
In addition, Russia continues to develop new anti-tank weapons to meet the challenges of Western main battle tanks. Recently, Russia successfully tested a new anti-tank missile, which demonstrated excellent performance in real combat. This makes Western countries even more worried about Russian deterrence, since even the most advanced equipment cannot withstand the attack of new anti-tank weapons.
Now, two Western main battle tanks have been devastated on the battlefield in Ukraine, and the next one may be the Abrams main battle tank that will soon enter the battle.
Challenges in the ground combat environment
In a brutal operational environment on the ground, tanks face multiple challenges. First of all, minefields are a common obstacle, they limit the movement of tanks. Tanks must carefully cross minefields to avoid triggering mines and being damaged.
In addition, anti-tank trenches and non-explosive obstacles can cause problems for tanks. These obstacles impede the tank's movement and force it to look for curved or detoured paths. This will not only slow down the tank, but also increase the risk of being hit by enemy fire.
Another threat is an attack from heavy anti-tank missiles. When the tank reduces speed, it becomes an easy target for enemy missiles. This means that the tank must travel at as high speed as possible to reduce the probability of being hit. In addition, the appearance of missiles launched by patrol missiles, drones and helicopters poses a threat to tanks, since these missiles can accurately hit weak points of tanks.
The ranking of Western tanks and myths are shattered
In the past, Western countries often ranked their own tanks at the top of the list and Chinese and Russian tanks as lower than those in the back. This view has led to Western tanks being hailed as the best symbol of protection and firepower in equipment, and are praised as invincible. However, in actual combat, these myths were all broken. Western tanks are no longer the safest and most powerful equipment in the world, on the contrary, questions have begun to be raised about their protection capabilities and firepower.
In recent years, a number of conflicts and real combat experience have revealed the limitations and challenges faced by Western tanks. The advent of new types of tanks and anti-tank weapons made traditional protective designs ineffective. Some advanced anti-tank missiles can easily penetrate the armor of a tank, threatening the safety of the crew. In terms of firepower, the main guns of some Western tanks, although powerful, may encounter difficulties in facing enemy armor, especially against modern enemy tanks.
In addition, the mobility and adaptability of Western tanks in complex environments such as urban combat are limited. Narrow streets and buildings in cities limit the tank's ability to move, making them vulnerable to enemy attacks from drones, patrol missiles, and more. In such an environment, lightly armored vehicles and infantry are more likely to function, while traditional heavy tanks face greater challenges.
Challenges in modern warfare
Therefore, the needs of modern military tanks are changing. Attention began to be paid to mobility, adaptability and networked combat capabilities, introducing new technologies and tactical thinking on tanks. For example, some countries have begun to develop light motorized tanks to improve adaptability and mobility in complex environments. At the same time, networked operations have also become an important development direction, improving the overall combat capability of tanks through information sharing and coordinated operations with other combat units.
Summary:
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has exposed the vulnerability of Western main battle tanks. Whether it's the Challenger-2 tank or the Stryk Infantry fighting vehicle, they face a serious test. Russia's attention to and destruction of these tanks has attracted global attention.
As the modern warfare environment changes, tanks, as an important part of land combat, may require more technological upgrades and strategic adjustments to deal with the threat of new types of weapons.