Quote:
Originally Posted by Redliner
This is actually an excellent point and I find myself agreeing with you in spite of the previous point I was trying to make. I just find it frustrating that we seem so able to send materiel overseas but can't seem to re-equip our own forces properly. I do think there is danger in letting our military capabilities lapse or assuming that allies will do all the heavy lifting for us. History has taught us that the ability (or inability) to fight is never a big issue until it suddenly is - and that can happen extremely quickly. While Canada will never be a global military powerhouse, I think it is imperative that we maintain at least a marginal capability to look after ourselves and our own interests.
P12 makes some interesting points but I do stand by what I said about tanks being necessary. Effectively fighting a ground war on a modern battlefield depends on having them, and the simple reality is that tracked vehicles can do things that wheeled vehicles can not. P12's light tank "MPF" definitely has possibilities and could provide a more flexible option than something like Leopard, but I feel like survivability may be a question if that were our only "tank" solution as it would not stand up against a modern MBT.
|
I just don't think Canada will ever have the capacity, outside of a total war situation, to engage in heavy battlefield slugging with MBTs. Best to strengthen our armoured recce capabilities. Plenty of options to add in tank destroyer/hit and run capabilities to that kind of force.
Australia, a Commonwealth mid-sized country with sane defense policies, more or less agrees that it doesn't need a top tier MBT as it recently chose to go with the older M1A1 for its armour.