Reports: "Arrogance" Behind UK Refusal To Buy German Tanks

[Forces Digital]

Britain reportedly turned down the opportunity to purchase a fleet of second-hand German tanks, even though they would have been able to operate for a decade longer than the upgraded Challenger 2.

The move, which would have cost around the same as the Challenger 2 upgrade currently being looked into, wasn't ultimately opted for.

Full story at: Reports: "Arrogance" Behind UK Refusal Of German Tank Deal | Forces TV

 

[UORMan]

This from the TV channel that posted the "Corbyn" Christmas message to the troops, and I am still waiting for a reply to my email in regards to "Why" they showed it.

 

[Lindermyer]

Arrogance or a realisation that once the logistic, support and training pipelines had been put in place it would have been a far more expensive option

 

[eodmatt]

Arrogance or a realisation that once the logistic, support and training pipelines had been put in place it would have been a far more expensive option

Plus a known propensity for German military things to head east.

 

[Bubbles_Barker]

Arrogance or a realisation that once the logistic, support and training pipelines had been put in place it would have been a far more expensive option

Agreed, but its not as if our current fleets and fleets within fleets don't have logistic, support and training challenges!

 

[Bubbles_Barker]

Plus a known propensity for German military things to head east.

Norwich had better look out then!

 

[eodmatt]

Norwich had better look out then!

Don't tell them, Pike.

 

[DesktopCommando]

Would the spare be on the wrong side like the MAN SV ?

 

[Cold_Collation]

No, but it is right-hand drive.

 

[Cold_Collation]

On the other hand, having a Kampfwagen would probably tick some inclusivity boxes.

 

[Maple]

some kind of doctrinal thing too? Blitzkrieg with Grubber's little tanks vs 'come and have a go if you think you're hard enough' in a Challenger

 

[Chimp]

Such a procurement move would have confused the sh*t out of Peter Rabbit (again and old).

 

[Bouillabaisse]

The writers clearly don't understand MOD procurement. Upgrades are paid from support money which is operating costs but new vehicles are capital expenditure. You can't just switch money from one budget to another just because it makes economic sense. That way madness lies.

 

[ExREME..TECH]

Has the German tank ever been used in battle? The challenger has

 

[scalieback]

Has the German tank ever been used in battle? The challenger has

Canadians used the 2A6 (might've been 2A6M) in Afghanistan. There was a couple of 'm' kills round the back in KAF. Danes used the 2A5DK in Afghanistan and the Turks have been using 2A4s in N Syria during Op Euphrates Shield

 

[Maple]

This from the TV channel that posted the "Corbyn" Christmas message to the troops, and I am still waiting for a reply to my email in regards to "Why" they showed it.

Who's he?

 

[Ruckerwocman]

First Ronnie offered to set you lot up with a set of F117 Stealth fighters and you turned him down. Now you look down your noses at German tanks (battle tested!) Tut Tut.

Ronald Reagan offered Britain the F-117 stealth aircraft

 

[Graculus]

Has the German tank ever been used in battle? The challenger has

I'd hazard a guess that Chally would do as well as the Turkish Leo's against Kornet and similar, dunno if they're acme export models mind.

 

[CH512O]

Would the spare be on the wrong side like the MAN SV ?

I think i answered this question years ago when SV came out. Admittedly its not "suited" for UK roads in the event of a puncture. Firstly the whole truck behind the cab would need to be redesigned with the radiator being on the left side, hydraulic pack and tyre lift mechanism on the right. To be fair i think it was noticed by the customer after we started recieving the trucks on the validation trials but by that time production was starting.
It was decided to train it out which was a common term i remember. If it was safe to do so, pull over on the other side of the road, turn off to an area where there was more space or with TES SV's i think we ended up using runflats so just keep going.
But the 4t Daf and Bedford both had tyres on the right side and the winch deplyed them flat which would involve sliding and lifting up possibly exposing the lads to the traffic anyway. At least SV deploys the tyre upright.

 

[labrat]

Just to check, are they saying that we didn't buy them because we finally realised that the Germans are all arrogant bastards?

I mean, seems like a pretty fair reason not to buy them to me...