Very interesting! I get the feeling somebody is hoping that a year from now the Ukrainians will be training in those tanks as a NATO member in a "post conflict" environment (?)
Thanks for the tank geek columns, Lucien. I’m kind of tired myself of reading Trump Trump Trump stories and it’s nice to get some exposure to military issues. (I like the hippie stuff too.) I was a medic in the mechanized infantry, rode in a 117 track. Noisy, bumpy, hot, not a restful experience at all. If you weren’t wearing your steel pot you’d get knocked out. And we didn’t even have to hear a cannon fire. It’s good to get to read about what it’s really like in a tank, though I’m told the M1 Abrahms is a lot smoother ride.
You're a hell of a writer! Who else could make a story about tanks so clear and fun to read. I learned more about the Abrams story here than anywhere else.
We don't need to have a single M-1 Abrams show up in Kiev for the next year for this to be a major success. We're 'All In' as the saying goes. That's what counts. Getting Ukraine Abrams-capable on a fast track will put Putin on notice that ratcheting up the level of violence by doubling down on his bad bet is just going to bankrupt Russia that much sooner. This war is unaffordable for Russia, and although Russia has a main battle tank that could be competitive with the Leopard II, Russia doesn't have the necessary logistical support system that will allow it to be effective in offensive actions. We've seen this happen before when American client states, specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan essentially wasted the equipment we left behind. Ukrainians have the resolve, where Iraqis and Afghanis did not.
Your excellent description of the sophisticated Abrams working systems really suggests that they require a highly trained crew, and may not actually get into battle. Perhaps, as I suspect, the end of this needless slaughter is thought to be fairly soon after winter. That may be why the Pentagon/Biden agreed to send some to Ukraine. Probably only a token number will be delivered. I imagine the Bradleys cost millions of dollars each, what doesn’t these days, so to preserve them the training of Ukrainians to use them effectively will have to be extensive. I’m assuming that training will happen here, or perhaps in Germany, not in Ukraine. Their presence will have high psychological value to Ukrainian morale, which is important. The durability of the onboard computers must be exceptional to survive the jolts, shaking, and general environment inside the tank that you describe in such detail. I don’t envy anyone who has to be in one. The logistics of keeping the Bradleys fueled also sounds daunting, and may never have been tested in actual combat conditions. I am sorry for the crews being exposed to the radioactivity coming from the depleted Uranium shells. The battlegrounds will also be contaminated indefinitely after the war is over causing lingering misery for decades.
"kicked in the ass by the foot of God" Poetic phrase. Let's hope Vlad the Invader feels that way after his ragtag army encounters a few of these war machines
I've always felt that if the west loaded up Ukr with everything they asked for - and more - putin would see he has zilch chance of winning and mostest chance of getting his ass kicked outa the Kremlin
And if Putin isn't smart enough to figure it out, maybe someone with more sense will realize that when this war is said and done and Ukraine wins, it will be the BEST armed and trained country adjacent to or near Russia with the MOST axes to grind. He has no one to blame but himself for putting this in motion.
It’s about time, but even with all that they have to learn, the Ukrainians will be quick learners because of their higher motivation (revenge comes to mind) and greater exposure to the West through commerce and the internet. Right now General Winter rules the battlefields and things will have to wait until April or May for the real slugfest to start when the Spring mud dries up. Then things are going to happen…quickly and not for the best for Putin’s army. Just the idea of Challengers, Leopard 2s and Abrams tanks facing the remnants of whatever last generation tanks the Russians have left should be enough to give some people in the Kremlin sleepless nights.
Is the Abrams tank a white elephant that’s been over-planned,over engineered, and over budgeted? In battle will it prove to be the Maginot line of tanks? Sounds like a battleship on land susceptible to all sorts of failures. This is worrisome, considering all of the fragility of technology, the need for highly sophisticated fueling, and a great deal of training. Remember the fog of war! 
Fog of war indeed. But there is also a phenomenon known as “war anxiety”. I suspect Lucian knows the information in this story will eventually get to the already demoralized Russian troops and society and result in a serious elevation of their war anxiety. Hopefully his words as well as the impending Abram tank reality will help convince Putin to end this horrible war. Good work Lucian. Our tax dollars for your education at West Point were well spent.
The Maginot Line, sure, if the line could roar along at over 40 miles per hour off road. Facing these as part of a coordinated assault will not be anything the Russian conscripts or Wagner Group's prisoners-turned-cannon-fodder enjoy. The multiple weapons platform aspect of these and the Leopards on their way is also formidable.
There's many reasons the #Russiaterroriststate immediately whined about the Leopard tanks being "worrisome," a provocation. These tanks are not the rumbling stumbling version of World War 1, when your comparison might have made more sense.
I wonder if the $7 million dollar Abrams tank can be disabled with a $5.00 molotov cocktail as were the soviet tanks that invaded Budapest in 1956.....We ought to be training Ukrainian pilots to fly our F-16s and A-10 Warthogs now to prepare for their use in this war....as it ramps up to WWIII
Very interesting! I get the feeling somebody is hoping that a year from now the Ukrainians will be training in those tanks as a NATO member in a "post conflict" environment (?)
Thanks for the tank geek columns, Lucien. I’m kind of tired myself of reading Trump Trump Trump stories and it’s nice to get some exposure to military issues. (I like the hippie stuff too.) I was a medic in the mechanized infantry, rode in a 117 track. Noisy, bumpy, hot, not a restful experience at all. If you weren’t wearing your steel pot you’d get knocked out. And we didn’t even have to hear a cannon fire. It’s good to get to read about what it’s really like in a tank, though I’m told the M1 Abrahms is a lot smoother ride.
You're on a roll Lucian. Great column. I have bruises.
I gotta believe the Pentagon thinks Ukraine us about to prevail soon. The only way out as I see it is Putin gets deposed one way or another...
You're a hell of a writer! Who else could make a story about tanks so clear and fun to read. I learned more about the Abrams story here than anywhere else.
We don't need to have a single M-1 Abrams show up in Kiev for the next year for this to be a major success. We're 'All In' as the saying goes. That's what counts. Getting Ukraine Abrams-capable on a fast track will put Putin on notice that ratcheting up the level of violence by doubling down on his bad bet is just going to bankrupt Russia that much sooner. This war is unaffordable for Russia, and although Russia has a main battle tank that could be competitive with the Leopard II, Russia doesn't have the necessary logistical support system that will allow it to be effective in offensive actions. We've seen this happen before when American client states, specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan essentially wasted the equipment we left behind. Ukrainians have the resolve, where Iraqis and Afghanis did not.
Your excellent description of the sophisticated Abrams working systems really suggests that they require a highly trained crew, and may not actually get into battle. Perhaps, as I suspect, the end of this needless slaughter is thought to be fairly soon after winter. That may be why the Pentagon/Biden agreed to send some to Ukraine. Probably only a token number will be delivered. I imagine the Bradleys cost millions of dollars each, what doesn’t these days, so to preserve them the training of Ukrainians to use them effectively will have to be extensive. I’m assuming that training will happen here, or perhaps in Germany, not in Ukraine. Their presence will have high psychological value to Ukrainian morale, which is important. The durability of the onboard computers must be exceptional to survive the jolts, shaking, and general environment inside the tank that you describe in such detail. I don’t envy anyone who has to be in one. The logistics of keeping the Bradleys fueled also sounds daunting, and may never have been tested in actual combat conditions. I am sorry for the crews being exposed to the radioactivity coming from the depleted Uranium shells. The battlegrounds will also be contaminated indefinitely after the war is over causing lingering misery for decades.
“Everyone’s feet warmed up.”
Genius really.
I had the same thought. I'd never seen that construction before. Quite nice.
My youngest daughter has played enough video games to drive the M-1 with no additional training. She told me it would pay off some day! Just sayin’.
"kicked in the ass by the foot of God" Poetic phrase. Let's hope Vlad the Invader feels that way after his ragtag army encounters a few of these war machines
I liked that, as well.
'Bout time.
Might we hope that despite the delays anticipated due to delivery and training, this will have a deterrent effect?
I've always felt that if the west loaded up Ukr with everything they asked for - and more - putin would see he has zilch chance of winning and mostest chance of getting his ass kicked outa the Kremlin
And if Putin isn't smart enough to figure it out, maybe someone with more sense will realize that when this war is said and done and Ukraine wins, it will be the BEST armed and trained country adjacent to or near Russia with the MOST axes to grind. He has no one to blame but himself for putting this in motion.
It’s about time, but even with all that they have to learn, the Ukrainians will be quick learners because of their higher motivation (revenge comes to mind) and greater exposure to the West through commerce and the internet. Right now General Winter rules the battlefields and things will have to wait until April or May for the real slugfest to start when the Spring mud dries up. Then things are going to happen…quickly and not for the best for Putin’s army. Just the idea of Challengers, Leopard 2s and Abrams tanks facing the remnants of whatever last generation tanks the Russians have left should be enough to give some people in the Kremlin sleepless nights.
With that fuel burn rate and the logistical challenge involved, these Abrams better be outstanding in battle, better yet invincible...
Is the Abrams tank a white elephant that’s been over-planned,over engineered, and over budgeted? In battle will it prove to be the Maginot line of tanks? Sounds like a battleship on land susceptible to all sorts of failures. This is worrisome, considering all of the fragility of technology, the need for highly sophisticated fueling, and a great deal of training. Remember the fog of war! 
Fog of war indeed. But there is also a phenomenon known as “war anxiety”. I suspect Lucian knows the information in this story will eventually get to the already demoralized Russian troops and society and result in a serious elevation of their war anxiety. Hopefully his words as well as the impending Abram tank reality will help convince Putin to end this horrible war. Good work Lucian. Our tax dollars for your education at West Point were well spent.
The Maginot Line, sure, if the line could roar along at over 40 miles per hour off road. Facing these as part of a coordinated assault will not be anything the Russian conscripts or Wagner Group's prisoners-turned-cannon-fodder enjoy. The multiple weapons platform aspect of these and the Leopards on their way is also formidable.
There's many reasons the #Russiaterroriststate immediately whined about the Leopard tanks being "worrisome," a provocation. These tanks are not the rumbling stumbling version of World War 1, when your comparison might have made more sense.
Just what I was worrying about!
I wonder if the $7 million dollar Abrams tank can be disabled with a $5.00 molotov cocktail as were the soviet tanks that invaded Budapest in 1956.....We ought to be training Ukrainian pilots to fly our F-16s and A-10 Warthogs now to prepare for their use in this war....as it ramps up to WWIII