Grim. Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Excuse my ignorance (surely a quality I should be proud of as an Australian), but could anyone tell me when was the last time an Australian AFV engaged an enemy AFV in combat? I'm not trying to suggest we don't need that capability - I'd just like to know. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 erm, not sure if it's ever happened. Though it might have during WWII around El Al. The last time you deployed the Koalas was to Vietnam IIRC, where they rendered terrific service (see Coral) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Bluebottle Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Have to be SWPA. Either New Guinea or more likely Borneo. I seem to have a memory in the back of my mind of some Japanese light tanks being encountered by a Mathilda. This does show one of the major problems the RAAC has faced for most of its existence - it needs to justify itself. Indeed, it nearly lost the Leopard AS1s about 15 years ago, because Treasury pointed out their parade queen status, versus their massive costs to keep. The Army lied at the time and hid the true costs. While I think we do need a tank. We need one optomised for our defence environment. Not to provide a means for the Army to run off at the behest of Washington and earn a few more gongs (the main supporter of expeditionary warfare is of course the Army, as it means they can swan around the world on extended tax-payer provided hols and do a bit of duty-free shopping in exotic locations, even if the adrenalin has to be got pumping occasionally and it does mean they have to kill a few of the locals in the process. The other services are much happier supporting "Fortress Australia", as it means they get the biggest slices of the budget pie ). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Originally posted by Private Bluebottle: Have to be SWPA. Either New Guinea or more likely Borneo. I seem to have a memory in the back of my mind of some Japanese light tanks being encountered by a Mathilda.Yeah, I considered that possibility, but discarded it due to the general scarcity of Japanese tanks. Anything in Korea (unlikely)? Tank v. tank isn't the only reason you'd have a tank. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Bluebottle Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Originally posted by JonS: Yeah, I considered that possibility, but discarded it due to the general scarcity of Japanese tanks. Anything in Korea (unlikely)? RAAC didn't deploy any units to Korea. Some individuals may have served, attached to UK armoured units but no Australian Armoured Corps units participated. Tank v. tank isn't the only reason you'd have a tank. Of course not. However, as we are extremely unlikely in our area of strategic interest to encounter tanks, I think its a fairly safe bet that we don't need a full MBT of the most recent types. As much as our turret heads hate to admit it, it is infantry in our region which is still Queen of the Battlefield and thence their job to support it, rather than the other way 'round. [ July 01, 2004, 10:41 AM: Message edited by: Private Bluebottle ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanachai Posted July 3, 2004 Share Posted July 3, 2004 Originally posted by Private Bluebottle: ...it is infantry in our region which is still Queen of the Battlefield... Well, you heard it here first. The Australians are admitting that their infantry are the queens of the battlefield. I never realized 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' was a documentary on the Aussie military... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace Posted July 3, 2004 Share Posted July 3, 2004 Did I mention I look good in a skirt? Mace 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noba Posted July 3, 2004 Share Posted July 3, 2004 Originally posted by Mace: Did I mention I look good in a skirt? Mace Who's skirt ? Noba. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breakthrough Posted July 3, 2004 Share Posted July 3, 2004 Originally posted by Michael Dorosh: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Bluebottle Posted July 4, 2004 Share Posted July 4, 2004 Originally posted by Seanachai: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Private Bluebottle: ...it is infantry in our region which is still Queen of the Battlefield... Well, you heard it here first. The Australians are admitting that their infantry are the queens of the battlefield. I never realized 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' was a documentary on the Aussie military... </font> 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Posted July 4, 2004 Share Posted July 4, 2004 Originally posted by Private Bluebottle: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Seanachai: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Private Bluebottle: ...it is infantry in our region which is still Queen of the Battlefield... Well, you heard it here first. The Australians are admitting that their infantry are the queens of the battlefield. I never realized 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' was a documentary on the Aussie military... </font> 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinetree Posted July 5, 2004 Share Posted July 5, 2004 He's Australian mate,where men are supposed to be men and the sheep are nervous(not to mention the kangaroos) .Besides, it's a waste of a perfectly good bullet. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Bluebottle Posted July 5, 2004 Share Posted July 5, 2004 Originally posted by Richie: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Private Bluebottle: [Yep, even our poofs are tough enough to crack a Macadamia nut with their bum cheeks and what they can do with a well placed stiletto, you won't believe! Are you for real??? </font> 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noba Posted July 5, 2004 Share Posted July 5, 2004 Originally posted by Private Bluebottle: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Richie: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Private Bluebottle: [Yep, even our poofs are tough enough to crack a Macadamia nut with their bum cheeks and what they can do with a well placed stiletto, you won't believe! Are you for real??? </font> 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
average Posted July 7, 2004 Share Posted July 7, 2004 All corps are equal some are more equal than others. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Private Bluebottle Posted July 12, 2004 Share Posted July 12, 2004 Originally posted by average: All corps are equal some are more equal than others. The role of infantry is to take and hold ground. All other corps support that. Unfortunately, they also tend to forget it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruceb Posted July 13, 2004 Share Posted July 13, 2004 Why does Australia need tanks in the first place? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Posted July 13, 2004 Share Posted July 13, 2004 Yeah!?! When, instead, all of that money could be spent on beer! :cool: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingknives Posted July 13, 2004 Share Posted July 13, 2004 Originally posted by Noba: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Private Bluebottle: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Richie: </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Private Bluebottle: [Yep, even our poofs are tough enough to crack a Macadamia nut with their bum cheeks and what they can do with a well placed stiletto, you won't believe! Are you for real??? </font> 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Posted July 18, 2004 Share Posted July 18, 2004 Actually, it's more from 'Jabberwocky'... "Guard, kill that man!" I've always been a little suspect about the 'Kings Cross Spezial Kommando Brigade' though... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace Posted July 19, 2004 Share Posted July 19, 2004 Originally posted by bruceb: Why does Australia need tanks in the first place? Easily answered. To give the lads at Pucka something to do. Real answer is however a combined arms self sufficiency. btw, Australia has had AFVs as part of the force mix since before WW2 (1920s IIRC). Last time our MBTs were used in Combat was Vietnam, where they were used mainly for infantry support (refer JonS' reference above) Mace [ July 19, 2004, 07:37 AM: Message edited by: Mace ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanachai Posted July 20, 2004 Share Posted July 20, 2004 Originally posted by Mace: Real answer is however a combined arms self sufficiency. Mace Wouldn't it just be easier for the Aussie Head Guy to call up the American President and say: "Here, lad, we're sending some of our lot over to Kiwiland, and we need a load a tanks to blast the hell out of their pool cabanas," and the Prez simply sends over an armoured division to carry the Aussie's towels and smite whatever real estate has grown naughty in their sight? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanonier Reichmann Posted July 21, 2004 Share Posted July 21, 2004 Sounds reasonable to me Seanachai. Regards Jim R. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted July 21, 2004 Share Posted July 21, 2004 Originally posted by Richie: Who has bought and is using the Leo BTW? Canada is just phasing them out now. Here is a picture of one I took just last weekend. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Originally posted by Michael Dorosh: [QB]Canada is just phasing them out now.What's Canada replacing the Leopards with, Michael? Nice picture btw. Mace 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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