Tank Country

[Lefty 21]

In my warped imagination, I think that if some foreign or domestic uprising in the US where to happen, Indiana is tank country. How prepared are we (really) to counter or support this? I have no military experience, but it seems that the flatlands of IN are a tankers (or Bradley fighting vehicle's) dream.

Anyone with armed services experience care to comment? Agree or disagree?

[Disposable Heart]

Stay in the cities. The tanks/vehicles would have to come into our realm, molotovs and low powered explosives to knock of treads will reak havoc. They will have two choices, come in and face some heavy losses or stay out of cities and shell them. Most low intensity conflicts will involve military-industrial complex pitfalls, therefore, they will think twice of shelling a town that is full of citizens and innocents.

Indiana has a lot of hills and such towards the south (where I would go). There are passes cut into the hills (great for ambush of even the most heavily armored vehicles). Northern Indiana leaves little to no cover for infantry. There are many cut ins for irrigation, forming a "hedgerow effect", however, there are very little ditches for cover, not to mention the lack of availability of anti-tank weaponry (or at least ones that people want to say ).

[Disposable Heart]

I did forget to mention the lack of visual cover in these flat areas, so there maybe an issue for the tankers regarding attacks from above (air vehicles). However, with many modern military's ability to counter air threats, this may be nil only to a intell standpoint (an aircraft and spot the vehicles, maybe spot arty, but not really engage them due to SAMs and other anti-aircraft fire).

[abnk]

Not a fan of Honest Abe, but I like this quote:

"All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest, with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not, by force, take a drink from the Ohio..."

[Disposable Heart]

Its funny, pertaining to this thread. Ohio has a flat lands area towards the north, before entering into the marshes and flat lands of Michigan (the glacial plains if I remember correctly). That land is perfect for moving armored groups through, however, get south enough, then you got problems (the foothills and valleys). Similar to Indiana, however, Ohio has far more forested areas for concealment (and travel detriment) to armored groups. However, with the proliferation of the interstate (wasnt the interstate system originally created for the rapid movement of armed forces by Eisenhower or was I dreaming in social studies, happened alot), armored forces will be able to rapid travel through each state.

In Lincoln's time, vehicles were a fancy, never really used. Small arms and guerilla tactics of the time period could let fly a whithering volley upon mobile armies. However, in todays digital weapons age, we lack the capability of even denting a tank without means/weapons created that would be considered "illegal". I would suggest one learn the means and theory of rockets, explosives and shape charges, but not necessarily make them until the last minute (no Im not a miltia type, but I do believe in freedom). The armies of the throne today, with their modern weapons and machina, would devestate a citizen army, making me worry about future conflict where a political power begins to threaten their own populace. Electronic warefare (computers) and moral support would be the most powerful weapons, but often employed inappropriately or ineffectively in combat as of late (take THAT al-queer-da), not to mention easily combatted by today's electronic warefare units of the Army. Not an easy time today.

I dream of an age of muskets. My favorite line: Man in the Iron Mask: (cant remember the exact line, but here I go).

"A thunderous roar, flash, explosion of muskets, then silence, only broken by the footsteps of the Third Brigade."

Romantic?

[abnk]

To clarify, he was talking about the Ohio river, not Ohio as a state. While it is very true that technology has tremedously increased the ability to inflict damage, the task of occupying this massive piece of land has not changed much since 1837.

[obijohn]

tanks, alone, aren't really that tough. however, a tank with attached mechinf or dismounted infantry, now that's a problem....

[Disposable Heart]

Dismounted Dragoons give a tank extreme flexibility, in that the tank is then used as cover/short range artillery support while a mobile smaller enemy (the Dragoons) as advancing infanty. Scary stuff. You cant concentrate on both unless one were to split up.

Ohio River? Good god, that would be hell to "take"! You are correct. Occupation is nothing more than alot of men/folks and alot of time/patience. Difficult even for a superpower.

[rhino]

Tanks, schmanks. I'm going to "up armor" my Silverado and mount a biga** cannon it.

Actually, there is an armor museum near where I live with many functional tanks and other armored vehicles. We could always counter-assault with an unarmed Sherman tank!

[SavageEagle]

Originally Posted by rhino

We could always counter-assault with an unarmed Sherman tank!

Funny but might actually HELP.