For first time in decades, military takes armour to North

Is it really neccessary to broadcast we are incapable of even the most basic defense up North ?


I dont remember Joe or Adolf saying " well, we're not going to fight over there, we might get stuck "

There are still a few German and Russian tankers left over from WW2, maybe we should fly them over
and ask them how to do it.

We know how to do it.

Trouble is, politicians don't like big tracked vehicles...

Yeah, you can do this. You put wider tracks on the tanks and you'll be fine. The Germans did this in WW2 and, to a lesser extent, the US did it with the Abrams in 1991.

And, it's only an excercise. Reducing injury and death isn't an absurd notion.

*facepalms*


I would love big tracked vehicles, but we don't have many, so here's my take:


The Coyote can operate in pretty much any weather conditions, so long as you have the appropriate fuel and oil. I've driven the things at -40, so I have no doubts in their capacity to function in the north. I think the limiting issue is that they want to reduce risks of the vehicles falling through the ice, it even says so in the article. If it weren't a training exercise, this would be a less significant concern, but not outright eliminated. Even then, the enemy would have the same concerns, so it's not really a benefit or a loss. The benefit would come from learning how to optimally use this set of circumstances to our advantage should warfare ever occur.

If it were me... Both theLAV III and Coyote are designed to float. even though our LAVs don't have amphibious capability, they were designed so as to be expandable to an amphibious role, and the Coyote is derived from a previously amphibious design. have 4 tow-cable hook up's on the front and back. Rather that hanging the usual d-rings off of them, build a superstructure capable of handling the weight of the vehicles and hang them off these mounts. now, if the vehicle breaks through the ice, the nose or tail wont go straight in, it will be caught by the superstructure hanging off the front/back. If the things are of adjustable length and/or foldable when not needed, you can retain the majority of the vehicle's inherent mobility while mitigating the risks associated with crossing open, unprepared ice-fields at speed.

If I were to design the things, I'd give them a 10% approach/departure angle, so as to increase the chances of a vehicle simply being able to back out of any hole it falls into. we'd be better off with tracked vehicles here, but you have to work with what you got. As for the length, I'd make them at least 15-20 feet long. Any longer and they will begin to interfere with the gunnery system. it would also make the vehicles incredibly unwieldy to drive if on anything but a flat surface going straight. I'd further make them foldable (preferably automated hydraulics, but manually if costs need to be saved) to 1/3 their length each, for better cross-country performance. Also, as best as possible make them a quick-mount/dismount system.

Finding the problems we will likely encounter, and then finding innovative and effective solutions is the point of exercises like these.

My idea.

Feel free to tear apart, use, laugh at, etc.

Not to worry, if someone tries to invade the North, the Hover Tanks will be deployed...oops, that was supposed to be a surprise.

Hover tanks would be awesome! I'd probably join up just for the chance to drive one.

just make sure the forward thrusters are on when firing

just make sure the forward thrusters are on when firing
Or build something that stores air and fires it in the opposite direction at the time of firing.

just make sure the forward thrusters are on when firing
Or build something that stores air and fires it in the opposite direction at the time of firing.
Or just hang on tight and scream "wheee!" as you fly backwards.

That works too, good way to stop really fast as well.

Wheels. It could protect the snowplow as it follows behind.