CW1DR5H5I64A t1_jd76ydz wrote on March 22, 2023 at 10:06 AM

Reply to comment by usrevenge in U.S. will speed transfer of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, Pentagon says by Just_A_Dogsbody

>so anything that is not classified and is already in Europe send it to Ukraine.

That’s the issue, the Abrams we have in Europe with active duty units and the APS fleet have highly classified armor packages on them. Anything we send will need to be overhauled to use an unclassified armor material.

Additionally we are currently in the process of upgrading our existing Abrams to a new variant. The sequestration years a decade ago hit our armored units very hard and we had to skip/delay upgrades and depot level maintenance. That means a lot of our fleet is very old and for lack of a better term “tired”. A lot of the A2s in service with line units need major maintenance overhauls.

Sending the Ukrainians tanks which will have prolonged maintenance issues will not do them any good. Upgrading the MA1A1SAs probably coming from the Marines old fleet or the ones the 3ID turned in for replacement a year or two ago will be much better for them in the long run.

taken_username_dude t1_jd7dchv wrote on March 22, 2023 at 11:23 AM

IIRC 3IDs turn ins are currently being upgraded for the 2028 modernization (which is already very unlikely to hit target schedule)

usrevenge t1_jd9mwrq wrote on March 22, 2023 at 8:40 PM

We been talking about sending tanks for months.

How long does it take to throw any working m1a1 without anything classified on a ship and send it to Poland.

This could have honestly been a good rapid response scenario to train our logistics under. A hypothetical "we have nothing elsewhere in the world how fast could we help this area"

CW1DR5H5I64A t1_jd9qfq6 wrote on March 22, 2023 at 9:02 PM

The actual armor is classified.

It’s not like just taking out some computers or electronics or something. The armor on an Abrams is not one solid sheet of metal, it’s multiple layers of materials, including DU and ceramics. The composition of the armor package on the Abrams is classified and not something we share, not even with our closest Allies like the British, Canadians, or Australians. So they need to be re-built to remove the classified armor components and re-fitted with an unclass alternative.

It’s is a major overhaul.

Folsomdsf t1_jd7lruk wrote on March 22, 2023 at 12:42 PM

You are talking out of your rear as well, Ukraine ordered NEWLY BUILT units.

CW1DR5H5I64A t1_jd7oey6 wrote on March 22, 2023 at 1:03 PM

> The new plan calls for refurbishing tank hulls already in the U.S. arsenal.

Read the article, it’s saying the US is going to send refurbished M1A1 hulls now.

I was replying to a comment saying we should send the existing M1A2 stock that is currently in Europe and am saying that is not an option because they would need to be overhauled anyway.

Also even “new build” tanks rarely if ever are built from scratch. They usually strip an existing hull and re-build it.

Dreadedvegas t1_jd7rtre wrote on March 22, 2023 at 1:29 PM

The US ordered new units for Ukraine but has no reversed course and will be sending mothballed M1A1s that were originally slated for modernization in order to speed delivery from 3 years to this year