What is the point of a tank?

tank, any heavily armed and armoured combat vehicle that moves on two endless metal chains called tracks. Tanks are essentially weapons platforms that make the weapons mounted in them more effective by their cross-country mobility and by the protection they provide for their crews.

Why are tank destroyers not tanks?

While tanks are designed for front-line combat, combining operational mobility and tactical offensive and defensive capabilities and performing all primary tasks of the armoured troops, the tank destroyer is specifically designed to take on enemy tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles.

Are unmanned attack helicopters obsolete?

As far as I know, there’s never been an unmanned attack helicopter deployed in combat. The UH-60 Blackhawk chopper alone has been produced since 1976, and is still used heavily by the United States Air Force. So currently they are far from obsolete.

Why don’t helos use A2A weapons on ships?

Airframe and rotor load limits usually restrict operation to around +2/-1Gs and the ship’s are limited in the kind of maneuvers possible. A2A weapons on helos are at best a last ditch defensive weapon and the helo – even gunships – were never intended to seek and destroy other aircraft.

Does heavy armor have a place in counterinsurgency?

Heavy armor has not only served Western armies well in counterinsurgency, but also the armies of developing countries utilizing more obsolete armor. This was evident during the recent Mosul offensive, which was described as the world’s largest military operation in nearly fifteen years.

Can attack helicopters defend West Germany against SAMs?

Later, the attack helicopter was seen as a solution for defending West Germany during the Cold War in the 70’s and 80’s. It was assumed that fixed wing aircraft would not be able to survive in the dense SAM environment and there would be no time to create safe regions via SEAD attacks.