[big]US. and Germany OK Main Battle Tanks for Ukraine[/big]
[b]• U.S. finally agrees to send Ukraine Abrams Main Battle Tanks • Initially 31 Abrams tanks will be supplied to compliment 14 Leopard tanks from Germany • Russia calls plan an “obvious overestimation of the potential (the tanks) would add to the armed forces of Ukraine.”[/b]
[i][c=666666]A U.S. Army M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank. (Mateusz Slodkowski/AFP via Getty Images)[/c][/i]
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After months of wrangling the U.S. and Germany have agreed to send main battle tanks to Ukraine. The U.S. will be providing the Ukrainian armed forces with M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks and Germany will supply Leopard 2 MBTs. Perhaps most importantly the agreement means that Germany’s NATO allies who already have Leopard 2s in their inventory will be able to supply these to Ukraine.
The Ukraine has long since sought heavier battlefield weapons to counter the expected Russian spring offensive. These tanks would also be invaluable as Ukraine tries to dominate the battlefield and take back territories currently occupied by Russian forces.
The U.S. will initially send 31 Abrams Main Battle Tanks to the Ukraine – and Germany will supply 14 Leopard 2 tanks. The expected delivery dates have not been finalized, however, training tank crews in both tanks – and planning for their support while in Ukraine has already commenced or will commence shortly.
The agreement paves the way for other European countries such as Poland to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2s that they have in their inventory. This was previously not possible in terms of the agreement made with Germany governing the on selling of German tanks to third parties. According to A German spokesperson the long-term plan is for Ukraine to field two battalions of Leopards - 88 tanks. These formations would be bolstered by the more complex and heavier Abrams.
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This places us (the U.S.) and our allies is a new and distinctly different position. We are no longer simply helping Ukraine defend itself, we are now saying it is time to go on the offensive and we are going to party to that and support you with the means to do so. We are entering into and supporting a whole new phase in this conflict.
Personally I think we have been dragging our feet and I am 100% in support of this. Time for Putin to put up or shut up.
@Ontheroad [quote]This places us (the U.S.) and our allies is a new and distinctly different position. We are no longer simply helping Ukraine defend itself, we are now saying it is time to go on the offensive and we are going to party to that and support you with the means to do so. [/quote]
Much as I support the supplies of heavy weaponry from NATO and its allies I don't think the supply of tanks is an act of aggression. Only supplying Ukraine with advanced missiles capable of penetrating far into Russia itself could constitute an offensive - no matter what bollocks the Russians spout.
@ImperialAerosolKidFromEP main battle tanks, which is what the Leopard II and Abrams are, are quite lethal when deployed, and with nearly two battalions worth of tanks deployed properly, they can be quite effective in support of any offensive. As long as Putin doesn't have air superiority, and he doesn't, they will reign supreme on the battlefield.
