Why not have elite forces for machines like tanks and jets?

WarMachine

Active member
If we can invest money and training into special forces and get results, why not do the same for tanks? Think about it, you would have high-tech tanks from the highest bidder being used with unparalled skill by crewmen who are the best at what they do. Not just tanks, but jets, missleboats, and other vehicles that can have elite forces in them, wouldn't that be a useful asset on the battlefield?
 
To big , to loud, they give off too much of a signiture not good if you want a surgical strike. They also need to be resuped and refitted far to often to be used in any SF role but are good for supporting such operations when the need arises.
 
Well you have to realize what special forces are. They are for "special" missions. Tanks fight in conventional combat.
 
yea, just the best of the best for whatever they do. So for tank combat, you have elite tank units to ensure maxium effectiveness with the most powerful weapons.
 
WarMachine said:
yea, just the best of the best for whatever they do. So for tank combat, you have elite tank units to ensure maxium effectiveness with the most powerful weapons.

Well there are already tank units that have a more elite status then others. They're the first to receive new gear and stuff.
 
In reality though, are there really armoured formations in modern western armies that can be considered 'elite' in practical terms? Are there formations that receive more or better training or better equipment than others? Has the performance of formations in Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom meant that some formations are now considered elite as a result?

In the British Army there are no armoured formations that are considered 'elite' AFAIK. They are all equally highly trained and equipped.
 
Didn't the Germans have Elite tank forces in WW2?

Tanks are a bit noisy for SF ops, but I can see SF units using "more quiet" aromored vehicles to get to their objective and complete the mission. See the SF guys using dune buggies.
 
bushpig1998 said:
Didn't the Germans have Elite tank forces in WW2?

Tanks are a bit noisy for SF ops, but I can see SF units using "more quiet" aromored vehicles to get to their objective and complete the mission. See the SF guys using dune buggies.

Yeah but WW2 was wartime which made a big difference. The initial Waffen SS Panzer/Panzergrenadier Divisions were elite as were the Army's 'Grossdeutschland' and 'Panzer Lehr' Divisions. Other Army Panzer divisions became elite according to their battle performance or who led them. The 2nd and 7th Panzer Divisions were considered elite for those reasons, 7th Panzer being Rommel's division in France 1940.

In peacetime today I'm not aware of the current German Army having any elite Panzer formations though not 100% sure on that.
 
Well, when(or if) the FCS hits the US military, only a few brigades will be equipped at first. So they could probably be considered the best of the armored forces.
 
The ones we have now are fairly good, but imagine men that made careers out of it. That lived and breathed it. If we could set up a program like that, wouldn't it be a force to be reckoned with, especially on a battlefield.
 
WarMachine said:
The ones we have now are fairly good, but imagine men that made careers out of it. That lived and breathed it. If we could set up a program like that, wouldn't it be a force to be reckoned with, especially on a battlefield.

Don't need to imagine it, it is being done by the servicemen assigned to such tasks, again special ops is quite different then operation of the MBT
 
Israeli strike on the Iraqi nuclear power plant way back when would be a classic example of an aircraft based special operations mission.
 
the_13th_redneck said:
Israeli strike on the Iraqi nuclear power plant way back when would be a classic example of an aircraft based special operations mission.

Strategic strike: stealth bomber, stealth fighter.
 
Wid jets yea, we pretty much have that whole special operations down. But how come we only have one mbt? Why not multiple versions for different situations? And like aircraft strike teams, you can have armored strike teams. Why not leave the generic missions to the regulars, and the more dynamic ones to the veteran elite?
 
Alright, my 2 cents... Armor does have an "elite" side, look at the scouts that are assigned to the brigades and battalions. Wether or not it's called "Special" by the military, most do have the best trained and highly motivated people doing "just a little more" than the rest, and teaching someone else to take their places.
 
This is more of what i'm talking about. In order to be successful in an operation, you need verstatility. The abrams is a good tank but not capable of everything. These lighter tanks would've been perfect for urban combat and special teams alike. I think the army sees that now in all the urban fighting that's been going on. Maybe the elite forces themselves would have marksmenship training for these circumstnaces.
 
Back
Top