Do we still need tanks?

Abstract

For over 80 years the tank has held sway over the battlefield. But the end of the Cold War sees to have called into question not only the doctrine but even the trappings of the old confrontation. The current Strategic Defence Review will only be the most official platform for the question posed in the title to this article— should the concept of the tank be cast aside in the new security environment, or should it be retained, but at far lower levels? Here Brigadier Gadsby mounts a defence of the tank based on criteria of utility, highlighting the key areas of mobility, durability and firepower that make the tank such a key tactical weapon. He moves on to show how the use of the tank has been adapted to new circumstance and requirements. The practicalities of new war fighting doctrine requires the blend of characteristics that the tank has to offer, not alone, but as part of a balanced blend of forces. To continue the conduct manouevre warfare and to utilise the important psychological effect of the tank in both aggressive and peace support operations, the tank must be retained, not least to maintain Britain's real operational‐level influence within NATO. Brigadier Gadsby concludes that the UK has already cut its tank levels substantially, and that for versatility and value for money, the armoured warrior is a key component of the country's defence.