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When did the 82nd turn in their last M551A1(TTS) Sheridan?
1997.
How many attempts have there been to replace it?
At least two versions of the LAV-25 with a 105mm gun.
The Ares light tank beloved by Twilight: 2000 players as the LAV-75.
The M8 Buford was type classified and accepted for procurement, but never produced.
The M1128 Stryker Mobile Gun System was fielded, but not for airborne use.
And now the M10 Booker has been type classified and accepted for procurement... and won't be produced.
It doesn't change that there's a need for something like a Sheridan and has been for 27 years.
The funny thing about the M551 is all of the early newsreels of it don't tout it's ability to go toe to toe with main battle tanks. They tout it's mobility and speed with oversized firepower for its weight. They issued them to non-airborne units.
Then found that a light tank isn't a good substitute for a main battle tank when one is called for and nuked the entire idea for everyone BUT the airborne who could show they needed a light tank they could bring with and drop with.
Maybe if we had more than one airborne division we'd care more?
Okay, here's a thought. Take an M2/M3 Bradley. Take the gun system off the Striker MPF system and replace the turret with said Stryker's remote turret system. That will be about.. 28 tons instead of the M10's 38 tons. And there'd be commonality of parts.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, how hard is it to field a 105mm gun in a lighter mount?
The Bradley isn't wide enough for the Teledyne turret from the Stryker MGS. That's designed for the turret ring on the M48/M60 series and it's a fluke there was enough roof for it on the Stryker.
DeleteBut it's not that hard. Or at least it wasn't for the half dozen other nations that have managed a 105mm armed light tank. But they're not making repetitive statements distancing them from the recon mission that light tanks often performed.