| Autoloader =
1. Notoriously Unreliable.
2. More tech, more stuff to break, more parts to order, more administrative tail.
3. Dangerous. (T72 used to load the gunner's arm into the breech).
4. If it breaks, tank can't shoot, making it combat ineffective.
Manual Loader=
1. Extra set of eyes to help pull 360 degree security.
2. Extra set of ears for radio watch.
3. Extra body for deatils.
4. Extra set of hands to help perform maintainance.
5. If loader gets killed or injured, gunner can move to loaders position and load, and tank commander can still engage and fight the tank.
6. On M1 series tank, loader can troubleshoot radios and get you back on the net when your equipment breaks.
At 15 rounds a minute, S Tank (Swedish Stridsvagn 103) loads a round every 4 seconds. American loaders that can't load at 4 seconds usually get fired. Also, when was the last time the Swedish S Tank saw combat? I don't put any faith in non-battle proven weapons systems. (see LeClerc, Leo 2A4/A5/A6, etc, etc...)
Manual Loader wins.
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\"Each man will charge forward to the very end, irrespective of the cost in casualties. There will be no halt and no retreat. There will only be the assault and the advance. - Gen Israel Tal Israel,1967\"
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