Kyle Mizokami
In 1994, the U.S. Army dumped decommissioned M60 main battle tanks into the ocean off the coast of Florida. Replaced by the M1A1 Abrams, the tanks were surplus and the service no longer needed them. Their new mission, becoming a haven for sea life, was wildly successful; today, the tanks are a popular diving destination, attracting fish, sharks, lobsters, and other animals.
Now let’s imagine: what if, in a fit of madness, the service dumped all 2,300 of its Abrams tanks into the ocean? While that would create a housing boom for the lobsters, what would happen to the Army’s job of defending the nation, our allies, and our interests abroad? Would the loss of the tank force affect the service’s ability to carry out essential wartime missions?
What the Tank Does
The tank is the principal offensive land weapon of the army. According to the U.S. Army, the fundamental mission of tank units is to “close with and destroy the enemy.” This is an offensive mission that allows an army to take ground and eventually win the war. Tanks do this with a combination of speed, protection, and mobility. Speed gives tanks the ability to advance to the enemy lines, enter them, and move beyond them, while protection permits tanks to shrug off hits from enemy weapons and keep advancing. Firepower, in the form of a large-caliber main gun and machine guns, means tanks can blast away at enemy defenses, including other tanks, allowing the attack to move forward.
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