The Chieftain / Q&A 20

I asked the question on the May, 2020 Q&A thread. PS while looking for this thread I noticed how quickly your chats went from a dozen questions answered in under 30 minutes to 30, now 50+ question threads, very impressive.

Robert Henry Illston

2021-05-16 17:29:28 +0000 UTC

Sorry to hear about your uncle. The Q&A for this month has already been recorded, so I'm going to ask you repost this in the #21 thread, when I put it up.

The Chieftain

2021-05-16 01:05:24 +0000 UTC

Me and my flat mate are fans of the channel and we’re re watching some of your old videos and one comment started a discussion idea between us. In the video you said that towards the end of the war the US were getting tanks that were closer to what the Germans wanted at the start of the war, which got us thinking… how would things have changed if the Germans had those tanks? Are main points we were back and forth over was how would things like the tiger program turned out? If they had a strong medium tank that didn’t have the same issues against tanks like the Char B1 (bouncing off the armour and things) would they have started the tiger program? How would allied tanks change as a response? I know this is a very deep rabbit hole to go down but any surface level points you have would be appreciated. I also want to take the opportunity to pass on a thank you from my late great uncle who passed back in October from COVID. He is the one who introduced me to this channel and very much enjoyed your videos as it is something we bonded over along with his stories in the Royal Artillery Regiment. A big thank you for all of the amazing content and I I wish you, the family and the viewers all of the best in this difficult time. (Sorry for the kind of sappy ending but wasn’t sure how to finish it)

Jordan Peterson

2021-05-16 00:54:56 +0000 UTC

Where do you draw the line between an MBT and a medium tank? Some people claim that the T-55, M48 or Centurion are MBTs but they served alongside heavy tanks.

Salty_Swede

2021-05-15 17:34:40 +0000 UTC

I addressed single-color schemes on a previous Q&A, but not as a separate video. Can you remind me/link where I said I'd attack it as a separate video? I may have to be reminded what I was thinking.

The Chieftain

2021-05-14 22:18:33 +0000 UTC

Question....In an inf v tank company engagement does the infantry carry enough anti -tank "ammo" to saturate the tank ERA defenses...given a generic definition of "company" and anti tank rounds (round can penetrate v suppress) and the tank has a "normal" array of era blocks.

Mike Quinton

2021-05-12 18:01:30 +0000 UTC

Asking this with tongue firmly in cheek: It has been said that tracks doesn't mean something is a tank, well does something even have to be land capable to be a tank? https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a36354997/indonesia-tank-boat/

J

2021-05-11 00:53:33 +0000 UTC

I've been reading "Spearhead: An American Tank Gunner, His Enemy, and a Collision of Lives in World War II." The book spends no small amount of time mentioning the Sherman's lack of effective firepower and protection against the Panther and other big German cats. After the book mentioned how one simultaneously lucky and unlucky tanker had as many as 5 Shermans knocked out from under him, it got me thinking about the "Tommy Cooker" reputation of the M4 as well as all of your good work on mitigating its infamy. Is it possible that the Sherman's reputation and numerous "spicy" nicknames stuck because so many crewmen survived to tell the tale? PS: If you haven't read "Spearhead" already and have the time, I highly recommend it.

Salty_Swede

2021-05-08 16:34:15 +0000 UTC

Was there anything that you really wish you'd had in the M1 (air conditioner aside)? Anything in the Bradley?

Sebastian Craenen

2021-05-07 22:41:16 +0000 UTC

Also, any chance on a Captain Scarlett twitch viewing party? I rather enjoyed T-34 and everyone's favorite punching bag, Scar

MasonicRat

2021-05-07 22:19:03 +0000 UTC

Thoughts on Challenger 3 that was just announced?

MasonicRat

2021-05-07 22:17:43 +0000 UTC

How does a man as tall as you trick the army into letting him be a tanker?

Sebastian Craenen

2021-05-07 07:50:54 +0000 UTC

During the Normandy Campaign, the Hedgerows provided a natural and dangerous obstacle to the Allied Advance. Now which was do you think was deadlier in an ambush against Allied armor columns, German panzers, AT guns or infantry units? I suspect it would be infantry since they have more freedom to maneuver among the hedgerows and avoid Allied return fire. But I am curious to hear what you think Mr. Chieftain.

Josh Conti

2021-04-30 04:33:42 +0000 UTC

1. The great nation of Elbonia finds itself in a bit of a pickle. The former head of armaments wasted blew the nation's budget on garbage vehicles that are not servicble nor even running. (Don't even get us started on what the small arms situation is like) You have been tasked with giving the local militia instructions on how to stop or deal with armored vehicles. What advice do you give them? Concentrate on tank ditches? Put sugar in all the gas or diesel fuel dumps? Install tens thousands of speed bumps to make the vehicle crews get motion sickness? 2. The Maus and other German wacky tank designs are relativly well known. Are there other strange or 'interesting' designs that your favorite or that is so bad its good? That is besides everyone's favorite Bob Simple. I.e. Tsar Tank, TV-8 or even the Mine Exploder T10?

VanOwen

2021-04-28 21:23:47 +0000 UTC

Any post war or post operation reports on UK/ US opinion on performance of Tetrarch and Locust in battle?

Charles Sherrange

2021-04-28 17:25:32 +0000 UTC

Why do company and higher commanders ride in tanks? In most countries with a couple of exemptions. Company commanders and up never want to engage in direct combat themselves. Why do they still ride in the same tanks(sometimes command variant) as their subordinates? Wouldn't these tanks used by the higher commanders be better used in the platoon level and a command APC/IFV serve as a better command platform. I can see downsides for the tank: - If you have a tank you might want to use the tank. Bad idea as a company+ commander. You have to concentrate on the bigger picture and not on the tactical use of your own track. - MBT fighting compartment isn't the optimal environment to be commanding - Not having to command your vehicle gives you a lot more bandwidth for commanding the company I can see some benefits for the tank: - logistics stay simple as only one vehicle (but still there is always mech elements in the mix almost always.) - commander cannot be identified by the vehicle (still a common IFV platform would not be out of place and if the enemy has to decide between shooting an IFV or an MBT I would think the enemy always shoots at the MBT) - protection (then you could still have a command variant of the MBT with a fighting compartment made in to a command center)

Joona

2021-04-25 16:55:05 +0000 UTC

A question about the 2S7 Pion. Since the M110's retirement from US frontline service, the Russian forces are the only ones with an SPG over 200mm in calibre (2S7 Pion, 203mm and 2S4 Tyulpan, 240mm) - PLA uses 155mm (PLZ-05) and 122mm (PLZ-07), Germany and Britain both use 155mms. The US continues to use the M109 in 155mm calibre, and the XM1299 is also projected to use 155mm ammunition. Considering that you have mentioned smart munitions for artillery before, would it not be an advantage to have a larger calibre to accommodate a greater payload, as the smart targeting systems are bound to take up space inside the warhead? Jumping back in history, what was the motivation behind the general up and down trend of artillery sizes? Just looking at the US, we go from things like the M12, M40 and M43 in WW2 (155mm), to the M43 in Korea (203mm), to the M44 with a 155mm, then M107 with a 175mm, then back to the current M109 with a 155mm.

Kazuki K.

2021-04-22 03:25:08 +0000 UTC

With all rubber tracks being used on more and more civilian and even some of the lighter military vehicle; will they ever become standard on main battle tanks? Why or why not. Also was the US halftracks the first military vehicles to use all rubber tracks?

USAUSA

2021-04-21 06:36:43 +0000 UTC

With M60's being basically everywhere and so many countries keeping them in inventory do you think they will become like T-34's and Shermans where they are kept in service and updated for much longer then they were designed for? While on the M60 what in your opinion is one of the best modification/modification-package do you think looks the coolest, which one do you think is the ugliest and which one do you think is actually the best one currently available.

Grim

2021-04-21 01:04:55 +0000 UTC

What are your thoughts on wheeled AFV vehicles of today such as the US M1128 Stryker? Do you believe they are in a sense, a stop-gap measure to allow MBTs to get to the front and to deploy quickly for smaller encounters/support roles or are they just a cost effective way to produce MBT killers?

The Slavin

2021-04-20 23:47:07 +0000 UTC

Greatings from the home of the strykers. A conversation came up in a group on how Army reserve training cycles work, what's the limiting factor on size of reservist training elements and at what level do officers go from reserve to fulltime?

Oxygen

2021-04-19 17:30:09 +0000 UTC

Congrats on LTCOL. What's the most ingenious way you've seen a piece of equipment used for something it totally wasn't intended for, bonus points for hilarity over just macguyvering it to make it run or go bang.

Sim Crawford

2021-04-19 13:27:12 +0000 UTC

Well, considering that “NI” can be translated approximately as “frightening device”, something of that nature could actually be useful on it.

B-7

2021-04-19 12:03:24 +0000 UTC

You mention in many of your videos the (relatively) low number of US tankers killed during WW2, and that the comparable British study showing higher numbers at least suggests that berets aren't overly protective. I believe in another of your videos you mention that the British did more tank on tank fighting than the US, though correct me if I'm wrong, and I was wondering if you thought that that could be a contributing factor?

Joe Powell

2021-04-19 10:30:21 +0000 UTC

If an armored unit comes under chemical attack, how long could the crew stay buttoned up? Also, is it possible to operate a tank in MOPP 4?

Nuxes

2021-04-18 22:25:37 +0000 UTC

Which side, NATO or the Soviets/WarPact, learned more from the Six Day and Yom Kippur wars ?? And which side do you think put that knowledge to use better ?? Also...is my love of the KV-2 and its 152mm cannon wrong ??

Admiral Tiberius

2021-04-18 12:53:13 +0000 UTC

What's your favorite variant of the Leman Russ?

Thunderchild

2021-04-17 20:11:00 +0000 UTC

If the tank is called NI, It better come equipped with speakers to blast "Ni!" through the enemy lines!

Hammer of Terra

2021-04-17 17:52:26 +0000 UTC

Whilst nuclear artillery was very much existent during the Cold War, was any effort ever made to develop nuclear tank shells? Or were factors such as near-certain proximity of tanks to the blast sufficient to ensure the idea never got off the drawing board?

Hammer of Terra

2021-04-17 17:50:58 +0000 UTC

A certain discussion I had a short while ago was about the merits of having the Green Mace 5" automatic AA on a self-propelled mount as a tank destroyer. Aside from the obvious need for a large vehicle to carry the thing and the 96rpm (which in the discussion came up as good for berm drill burst fire), what are the Cons and Pros of such a system? Would anyone have considered it for service despite the flaws (apart from Elbonia)?

Cdodders

2021-04-17 16:47:18 +0000 UTC

I had asked a question (many Q& As ago) about the US preference for single color color schemes on its AVs, even when a camouflage scheme would be warranted, you had mentioned that it would be answered in a Special video, is that video still in the works?

Robert Henry Illston

2021-04-17 15:37:13 +0000 UTC

How did German equipment such as tanks end up in the post-war Middle Eastern conflicts?

Striker1959

2021-04-17 13:19:03 +0000 UTC

Slightly off the norm, but what is your opinion on the new Army Green Service Uniform and related articles?

The_Sprinklez

2021-04-17 12:40:17 +0000 UTC

Have you ever seen a commie drink a glass of water?

General Jack Ripper

2021-04-17 12:12:28 +0000 UTC

The US Army is seeking submissions for a new and needed AFV. What do you feel is something the US needs replaced or a vacant need filled by the XM87 Moran?

Thunderchild

2021-04-17 11:30:54 +0000 UTC

Everyone knows about Bob Semple tank, and there’s a lesser known NI (НИ, На Испуг) tank, effectively a Ukrainian version of the same concept. I’m pretty sure there’re much more unknown or almost unknown examples of improvised fighting vehicles. Are there any known cases of actually successful combat use of this kind of vehicle, at least to some extent, even a pure psychologic effect? If you would have to choose a civilian mass production vehicle for the build of that kind for whatever reason, what would be you choice, and what modifications would you apply? Considering a modern more or less civilized environment with modern vehicles and armaments availability.

B-7

2021-04-17 10:01:20 +0000 UTC

Historically, what has typically been the first design principal for new tank guns? Calibre, Penetration targets, shell/shot weight, existing turret sizes etc

George Parremore

2021-04-17 07:54:20 +0000 UTC

You once mentioned that you and your staff developed a plan on how to defend your FOB against a Zombie attack in Afghanistan. Can you share some details with us.

Alexander H.

2021-04-17 07:19:11 +0000 UTC

How to defend against ATGMs? What Anti-ATGM systems exist and how do they work?

Christ Ian

2021-04-17 06:27:34 +0000 UTC

This is a bizarre one... What colour was the bottom of German ww2 armour generally. Was it left in primer or did they paint it the same colour as the overall tank - i.e dunkelgrau or dunkelgelb when it was being built? It is hard to tell from the few pictures available of upturned tanks in photos from world war two. I had the opportunity to look under a couple of the tanks on display at Bovingdon but this didn't really answer my question (but I got a couple of strange looks from other patrons!). And yes, I build german armour 1/35 models which is the reason for the question. I'm curious now - was your M1A1 painted underneath or was this left in primer?

Tom Hardy

2021-04-17 05:53:41 +0000 UTC

A question on WWII usage of tanks in South East Asia. The British concluded that tanks were impractical in Malaya's jungle terain and were proven wrong since Japan used tanks in their attack, while the US Army had tanks stationed in the Philipines on the onset of the war. Why did the US Army and IJA reach a different conclusion on tank use in the jungle from the British army, was it a matter of the type of tanks available to the army at that time or something else?

Sface

2021-04-17 05:48:08 +0000 UTC

Can you explain the use of British Armored forces during military operations with British soldiers during The Troubles? Also what was like to live in Ireland during The Troubles?

Josh Conti

2021-04-17 05:30:03 +0000 UTC

I have a question about tanks and the noise that using them produces. Making noise can be both an advantage as well as the more obvious disadvantage. Tanks on the move may be very easy to detect but due to the nature of sound in terrain it can be really tricky to pinpoint the exact location to any useful degree for targeting, as was my experience on many a Nato exercise back when I was still in a recon foot patrol in my country. We also made use of friendly noise (feigned tank engine warmup) masking FLOT/FLET crossings (oh yes those were the days back in the 90s). Reading somewhere about the buildup to the German invasion of Poland, the germans made sure to drive their tanks around as part of what I understood to be PsyOps in order to unnerve polish troops. Is there any current doctrine in modern armies the use tanks for sound camouflage or other uses, and do you know how the discovery came about that tanks and noise they invariably create could be useful?

Mikkel Skipper

2021-04-17 05:03:28 +0000 UTC

In reference to the late Desert Campaign during WWII, how well did the teaming up of the early model Tigers with supporting Pz III Ausf. Ns work in practice?

Minion

2021-04-17 04:49:12 +0000 UTC

Something not necessarily for a video: where are the table and shelves from? I like the rustic yet modern look.

J

2021-04-17 03:32:08 +0000 UTC

Have you ever come across a documented instance of Panther or Tiger’s roadwheels seizing from ice and mud? Had Germany won the war, which vehicles do you think would’ve continued to see service and which would’ve been axed?

Caleb Engelhardt

2021-04-17 03:31:53 +0000 UTC

In Steven Zaloga's 2004 publication on the M18 Hellcat, he makes a rather critical summary of the often praised tank destroyer. He makes the claim that, due to General Bruce's insistence on high speed, the M18 suffered from a poor balance between mobility, firepower, and protection. The 76mm gun was inadequate for fighting tanks such as the Panther at the Hellcat's introduction in 1944. It carried less ammunition and armor than the 76mm armed Shermans, and the 76mm gun was overall less effective in the infantry support role which tank destroyers often found themselves forced into as a result of lacking Axis armor late in the war. While road speeds were high, actual battlefield mobility suffered thanks to the high vulnerability of crew to attacks from artillery and infantry. As such, crews tended to act more cautiously, and advance at a similar pace to other armor. Overall, it is claimed that the significant success of the M18 was to be attributed to the exceptional skills of US Tank Destroyer crews, rather than any outstanding qualities of the M18 (or lack thereof). What are your thoughts on the issue? Was Zaloga's analysis of the vehicle's design correct, and the M18 was somewhat overblown? Or was the Hellcat truly an exceptionally good tank destroyer?

Felicity Longis

2021-04-17 03:27:52 +0000 UTC

Modern tanks have intercoms for the crew yet in various videos inside tanks during gunnery the loader can be heard yelling "up". Is my observation accurate? Why is this yelled? Isn't this the equivalent of the loader yelling directly into the other crew's ears? Example: ~4:40 https://youtu.be/pOtBb3N23nU another example: https://youtu.be/sC2ePKRvo9k

J

2021-04-17 03:15:03 +0000 UTC

During WW2, which country's armoured forces were underrated and why. Also, are there any country's armoured forces operating today that are underrated?

Matthew Lesich

2021-04-17 03:11:33 +0000 UTC

A project is started to design a modern support tank. You are in charge of it. What are you designing this tank to do? What are you arming with it? How do you integrate it into the armoured division? Apart from parts commonality, what features must it have to make it a viable vehicle?

Leon Peters-Malone

2021-04-17 03:05:19 +0000 UTC

It is impossible to read this question without thinking of the Red Alert theme song.

Adam Schindler

2021-04-17 02:52:04 +0000 UTC

Back in the dark ages, circa 2010, I read an article about the F22 and a USAF General officer involved in development of the cockpit was quoted as saying "computers are good integrators of information, while humans are good differentiators. We've tried to design the user interface around that distinction." Does that apply to the UI in tanks, or is there a push to better fit the machine/crewman workload to what each is best at?