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Topic: New Tank vrs afghan IED (Read 292 times)
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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I wonder if we have to pay for it now that the wackos broke it?  Crew's safe, but our best tank is totalled Destroyed by roadside bomb. Canadian officer thanks German officials for the loan, saying vehicle did its job DAVID PUGLIESE CanWest News Service Friday, December 07, 2007 Afghan insurgents knocked out one of Canada's new Leopard tanks, sparking questions in the military about whether the attack was simply lucky or a signal that enemy forces intend to target the armoured vehicles by increasing the amount of explosives used against them. The Leopard 2A6M, on loan from Germany and outfitted with additional armour and protection to deal with landmines, was damaged beyond repair in an explosion last month. Military investigators believe the blast was caused by a landmine, but there have been suggestions that an improvised explosive device was used. At the time of the incident the Canadian Forces stated a crew member was injured in the explosion but did not give details about damage to the vehicle. Members of Canada's tank community now privately confirm the Leopard is a writeoff. But officers are also praising the capabilities of the new tank, saying it did its job in protecting the crew. Only one crew member, the driver, was injured. He suffered a broken hip. Some in the Canadian Forces believe the insurgents will try to focus more attacks on the Leopards because they are seen as highly effective in supporting coalition efforts. Insurgents in Iraq have targeted U.S. tanks with roadside bombs packed with explosives. Afghan insurgents have already tried "swarming tactics" on the Leopards, firing large volleys of rocket-propelled grenades at the vehicles. In one incident, a Leopard was hit by four RPGs but emerged unscathed. Military officials have continually stated any vehicle can be destroyed if enough explosives are used in a roadside bomb or landmine. In Afghanistan, Canada has a mix of older Leopard tanks and the 2A6Ms obtained from Germany. Asked if insurgents are increasing the amount of explosives in their bombs to deal with heavier armoured vehicles like the Leopards, military spokesperson Lt. Isabelle Riche responded experience has shown the Taliban continually adjust tactics in an attempt to achieve greater result. She said the Canadian Forces constantly assesses how these tactics can be countered to minimize risk to military personnel. The military declined to get into details about the damage for operational security reasons. Some officers have suggested the insurgents already knew they had successfully knocked out the tank, since their spies monitored the recovery of the vehicle. The German media has quoted a letter sent to German defence officials from a Canadian officer who was in the Leopard at the time of the blast. He thanked the Germans, noting the tank "worked as it should." © The Gazette (Montreal) 2007 |
1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 3437
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Thanks for the update, Shawn.
One thing is certain, regardless of the tank's current status.
The explosive detonated directly beneath the driver's position and he sustained only a small hip fracture. I would say that is much more acceptable conclusion then the consequences we have sustained when such devices have been used against us in the past.
Very effective, yes?
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 3437
A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Afghans damage Leopard tank 'behond repair'
By SCOTT TAYLOR On Target
Mon. Dec 17 - 5:12 AM
RECENT NEWS REPORTS have claimed that Afghan insurgents damaged one of Canada’s Leopard 2A6M main battle tanks "beyond repair."
In the original incident report, the tank was described as "disabled," and senior officials deny that the vehicle was destroyed. Also not confirmed is whether a conventional landmine or an improvised explosive device generated the blast.
The tank was one of 20 Leopard 2A6Ms on loan to Canadian troops from the German army. Weighing in at close to 70 tonnes, these armoured behemoths are considered to be the best main battle tank in service today. Prior to the Canadians taking possession, these tanks were put through a thorough upgrade at the Krauss Maffei Wegmann plant in the outskirts of Munich. Originally destined for service with the German Panzer brigades, the upgrade included additional armour protection on the belly of the vehicle to improve the crew’s survivability in the case of an anti-tank mine.
Whatever the extent of the damage to the Canadian tank in Kandahar, the additional protection proved to be adequate in this instance. While the driver suffered a broken hip, the remaining crew members survived unscathed. One of the survivors was so grateful that he penned a letter to German defence officials, praising the protection offered by the Leopard 2A6M, noting that "the tank worked as it should."
This letter was shared with the German media and played up as a positive result for KMW technology. The Canadian military saw the revelation of a destroyed tank in a different context and originally refused to confirm the authenticity of the letter in question.
One possible reason for our Defence Department’s reluctance to admit a Leopard 2A6M was rendered hors de combat by Afghan insurgents is the fact that the arrangement with the German military is on a loan basis — not a lease or a purchase. No money was paid to acquire the tanks, and there are no rental fees associated with our use of the vehicles in Kandahar. The only stipulation is that we return all 20 Leopard 2A6Ms in the same condition in which we received them. Obviously, after months (years?) of strenuous front-line service in Afghanistan, there will be a fair amount of wear and tear, which alone will require extensive refurbishment; if battle damage (or destruction) occurs, Canada will have to foot a fairly steep repair / replacement bill before returning the tanks.
In addition to the 20 German tanks, Canada also maintains a squadron of older Leopard I medium tanks in Kandahar. Acquired in the 1970s, Canada’s original 120 Leopard 1s were described as "Cold War relics" in 2004 by then-army commander Rick Hillier and declared obsolete. By the time the battle group in Kandahar realized that the Leopard 1’s 45 tonnes of armour protection would be a welcome addition to their IED-targeted convoys, only 66 of the tanks remained in the Canadian inventory. A dozen of those were quickly dispatched to Afghanistan, with the remainder being used for training in Canada.
Last spring, the Defence Department announced the purchase of 100 Leopard 2s from the Dutch army. Of these, 30 will be the more modern Leopard 2A6 variant, with the remainder being the older Leopard 2A4s. However, to bring these tanks up to the same level of mine-protection as the German Leopard 2A6M loaners, will require extensive upgrades. Until plans are finalized, these tanks will remain in the Netherlands.
In a famine-to-feast reversal, Canada has gone from the brink of becoming a tankless army to one possessing a widely varied fleet of four different generations of Leopards scattered over three continents.
From our experience in Kandahar, the combination of armoured protection and heavy firepower has proven that main battle tanks still have a place on the modern counter-insurgency battlefield. That being said, it is imperative that Canada develops some form of long-term plan to upgrade and maintain our hastily acquired new tanks.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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