Street Fighters: Evolution of Tanks in Urban Warfare

[@thetankmuseum]

Hi Tanks Nuts - We hope you enjoyed this video. Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.

[@Blokev8]

Great video. Just waiting for scotish pig to comment about his pride

[@tasman006]

Great video a lot of people seem to not believe that one Challenger 2 took 70 hits I can believe it but not mentioned and seen later with pictures is the 14 RPGs that hit and one Milan ATGM which damaged the Challenger 2 tank. Not one tanker killed and long after repared and put in action its TES 2 kit would have helped. The megatron with the TES 3 kit even better. And the TES 3 upgrade was due to the RPG 29 incident and penetrated the ERA and standard RHA on the lower glasis due to its dual warhead. The TES 3 replased a Dorchester Chobham block and with ERA which is a better improvement.

[@samb7652]

Wonderful presentation, awesome graphics, well done.

[@Mrtweet81]

Much improvement in presentation, down from 127 uhm, ah and eh’s in his first video to none in this one ;)

[@gusgone4527]

More battle tactics videos please. Covering the whole subject from force composition and SOPs for different terrains.

[@TheArklyte]

Tank in 1918: I'd rather not enter urban enviroment. Tank in 2118: I'd rather not enter urban environment.

[@voidtempering8700]

Tank Commander in 2128: You see that city over there? Gunner: Aye sir. Tank Commander: I don't want to see it anymore. Gunner: Aye Sir.

[@Pavlos_Charalambous]

By 2118 the entire globe will be " urban" 😄

[@Violatorsama1]

Tank in 2218: I AM the Urban Enviroment.

[@Arbiter099]

And they'll still be using the Browning 50 cal

[@vapormissile]

​@@Arbiter099"I am a Bolo MkXXXI of the 3rd Dinochrome Brigade. My two-meter Hellbore main gun is capable of vaporizing mountain ranges, and my planetary defense systems can sweep entire moons from the sky. My commander's venerable 1st-Imperium Browning M2 heavy machine gun, although archaic, remains completely functional."

[@paulbusek3446]

Brilliant as always! The tactical deployment of the F bomb was well timed, useful, and added significant value!

[@hansolowe19]

Fork? Fish?

[@paulbusek3446]

@@hansolowe19 Flange

[@hansolowe19]

@@paulbusek3446 falcon?

[@prollins6443]

​@@hansolowe19 butt flutters!

[@trolleriffic]

@@hansolowe19 No, far worse - flugelhorn!

[@ROBERTN-ut2il]

I served my time in an Infantry battalion - 6 months as a Rifle Platoon Leader and 18 as the Antitank Platoon Leader - before I was allowed to escape to where I belonged in a tank company 1) As the AT Platoon Leader, I set up a three day course for each rifle platoon in organizing and operating tank killer teams in close environments. I used Riot City as my urban environment while Ft Lewis had plenty of training areas with thick vegetation which canalized the tanks onto roads and trails so they could be ambushed. The division commander was impressed enough by it, that he told my battalion CO that it was "good training" and I got a commendation. in my 201 File. In addition, every AT Platoon Leader in the division had to attend a special week long course to learn the Gospel and take it back to their battalions to run their own battalion's courses. Those were the days! 2) When I first encountered the M1 tank in Germany as an Armored Cavalry Troop commander I was amazed to find it didn't have an infantry phone like te M48 and M60 series vehicles did. When they finally installed one in the early 2000's as part of tehe TUSK upgrade, my reaction was, "About time, damn it!"

[@RustyShackleford]

Mate you are the ultimate double threat. If your tank gets destroyed and you survive, you have the training and motivation to then equip yourself with a man-portable anti-tank weapon and take revenge on the enemy armour responsible.

[@Proteus6684]

reference point one, I did an exercise in Canada as redfor. Our primary weapon was Javelin but we used bulldogs to move us about and instead of making screens we went to the enemy when spotted and engaged. I was genuinely embarrassed. At that time in my career I was hyper focused. Out of 8 missions, we won 7. It proved that you dont have to set up Javelin, you can attack with it very effectively. There was one mission where they attempted a bridge crossing and we took out their recce units, and then we took out their bridging asset. We won before they could even develop. Im a civvy now, and I really struggle with them. They are useless. I ask them to do a job and they fail every time but they report a success. I cant tolerate this nonsense anymore. I genuinely go to sleep at night wishing someone would invade us so I can do something practical.

[@c3aloha]

Gotta be able to talk to the crunchies hiding behind your tank. 😂

[@BurnCorpoStuff]

German military is chronically underfunded and disregarded

[@jules2545]

Talking of blast from a firing tank gun, I suspect as an infantryman you would not want to be standing by a tank when the ERA gets hit. As a sailor on ship going down to the Falklands, I made the mistake of standing above and behind a Charley G 84mm recoiless gun when it was fired, it made my eyes water I can tell you. I enjoyed the video thank you.

[@CallMeQ900]

Why did they water do you think?

[@Salesman9001]

If you stand right next to tank with ERA being hit.. you really don't have to worry about anything anymore. ERA no-no zone is fairly small (often smaller than HEAT charge triggering it) and crunchie is fine if rattled standing tanks width away from the tank, might have some hearing loss and shrapnel from ERA casing in them if unlucky. If it's not just ERA going off then being anywhere close to tank is not a good lifechoice, in the most unfortunate case the tank maneuvers into cover right over the crunchie who was cleverly taking cover nearby

[@jules2545]

@@CallMeQ900 Royal Marines, I think is the answer to your question.

[@ryanfarmer4882]

​@@CallMeQ900I imagine it was jolly loud old boy

[@user-tv7fg7wt2d]

I don't think you would want to be standing beside or anywhere near a tank or any armored vehicle even if it doesn't have ERA. The armor and penetrator will spit out quite a fair amount of fragmentation outside of the vehicle. So, even if there wasn't any ERA, there wouldn't be any difference, because you would either get killed by the fragmentation caused by metal smacking metal or you would get killed by small arms.

[@malik740]

I just cant get enough of Mr. Copson presenting anything. He could probably narrate paint drying and I would soak up every second of it haha Edit: Dont mean I dont like your other presentors but I just really like his cadence and choice of words.

[@earlyriser8998]

I find it a little too dry and like he is reading vs the others

[@01Bouwhuis]

​@earlyriser8998 well, i like the old British style of presentation.

[@nitt3rz]

I sure he was at least an office in the armed forces; he has a particular way of talking that only officers have.

[@RustyShackleford]

I am not such a fan of his presentations compared with the other the other two but he is clearly well-connected to serving and veteran military men that can provide him with information on current-era weapons systems that most civilians simply do not have first-hand experience with.

[@dekyras]

Excellent video with a refreshingly blunt yet accurate assessment of the challenges, benefits and options of using heavy armour in urban areas.

[@greyjedi4794]

Seyla

[@robertpreston3965]

Got to visit the Tank Museum this week for the first time. These videos are even more impressive when you get to see the machines upfront. Very much like the frank delivery.

[@ThisIsDale09]

Another quality Tank Museum video to see out a Friday, absolute bliss

[@skittlesbutwithchocolatein2274]

bliss 🙏🏻

[@hoodlum1107]

The production quality on this video is really good, well done to the team!

[@ebla83]

My dad crewed an M50 Ontos in Vietnam. Thank you for mentioning this often forgotten vehicle!

[@alfnoakes392]

I remember seeing them on News reports as a kid but never knew what they were called. Am now wiser.

[@aaronhollinger7005]

​@@alfnoakes392 You can always refer to them as "The thing" as that's what it's nickname was

[@greybuckleton]

Excellent video. I really appreciated the use of long periods of history to explain the same lesson rather than a focus on a single conflict.

[@tedstrikertwa800]

16:21 I genuinely spat my tea out 😂 Another very excellent episode . Tank you TTM 🥰

[@julmdamaslefttoe3559]

great video as always, May not learn something new, in every video, but finding British crews using concrete training rounds against snipers in buildings was a VERY interesting fact.

[@RustyShackleford]

It seems quite odd to me in all truth. I suppose that they were used to penetrate thick walls which the coaxial machine gun simply couldn't and therefore eliminate enemy combatants from their concealed positions. I can't imagine they were using the main gun with those concrete rounds to target enemies that were not behind some form of cover.

[@TJ_Low]

@@RustyShacklefordA coaxial might only suppress the sniper, and at range might not be accurate enough to neutralize them.

[@julmdamaslefttoe3559]

@@RustyShackleford well imagine the fragmentation of the round hitting other concrete, I can 100% imagine it.

[@tomhenry897]

Weren’t allowed to use HE

[@julmdamaslefttoe3559]

@@tomhenry897 not the fact they where not allowed, UK doesnt field HE in the challenger 2. Only HESH/SABOT/HEAT/And now supposedly training rounds

[@PalmettoNDN]

I always enjoy this man's lectures. They're less like a boring lecture I have to come back to several times to finish and more like a encouraging lesson from a likeable, respected and down to earth senior NCO that soldiers had better listen to if they want to live.

[@mdog111]

Another brilliantly explained deep dive into an aspect of tank warfare. Thanks so much for this.

[@01ZombieMoses10]

Top notch. I had been waiting for a great rundown on tanks in urban warfare and hadn't realized it.

[@DoorlessSword]

The production value of these videos just keeps going up! Particularly liked the focus shift when Mr Copson talked about the ECS on the Scimitar

[@Alan.livingston]

Great content.

[@steveyountz9184]

Excellent and informative as always..........All of your presenters are great but I really like the 'gravitas' of this Mr. Copson.

[@FinsburyPhil]

Yet another excellent, very interesting video - Chris Copson's presentation style just gets better and better.

[@chriscookesuffolk]

Wonderfully produced and presented.

[@briantombaugh5157]

Great video! Very informative! Thanks!!!

[@stuartpeacock8257]

Most enjoyable narrative, direct simple to understand and delivered with authoritative military impact

[@kenbrown2808]

using practice rounds as slugs to take out snipers has to come close to qualification as "swatting a fly with a buick"

[@robertthomas3777]

🤣🤣🤣👍🇦🇺🦘

[@KMac329]

An engaging and informative presentation. Straightforward, no nonsense, well researched and documented.

[@russwoodward8251]

This is really great. Thanks again Chris and The Tank Museum!

[@markmuldoon805]

Excellent presentation, as always from Tank Museum, but this one was particularly good and timely.

[@mzhardy10]

I enjoyed the people running and hiding from the camera frame. But I also enjoyed the entire video. Lol

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

It was a wonderful explanation of tanks fighting in urban areas and infantry necessary existed nearby tanks for fighting nearly enemy infantryman .. thank you for sharing

[@wowzersx-xwowzers]

Interesting video! Learned a couple of things like the communication systems installed so infantry/tanks can communicate to each other. Also never knew what TUSK stood for until today so that was a cool learn.

[@SailingCartagena]

This latest series is a logical, sequential, considered, and informative course upon the disparate topic of tanks. Very much appreciated. Thank you.

[@andrewbarratt8551]

Excellent presentation - thanks again for these weekly nuggets of gold. One point though. 2:28 onwards - you might want to wipe your feet next time instead of leaving those footprints - the cleaners will have your guts for garters ;)

[@fjardine]

Thank you! but please bring back workshop diaries :)

[@alamore5084]

Another fantastic tank chat. Very informative and interesting. Chris Copson is a superb narrator/ tank exert I have learned of a new rating as well 'The F-Off Factor'💪💪💪💥

[@heathsaunders7426]

Thankyou sir, very clear and precisely executed content.

[@EnsignGeneric]

Imagine the last sight you see in the world is a flash of light and the words "PRACTICE ROUND" growing to fill your field of vision

[@ironpirate8]

Funny that a modern weapon is a concrete block launched at 3500mph. Nothing about receiving that would feel like "only practice" though 😬

[@otdosa]

i would just die. (see what i did there?)

[@paulbellingham3948]

Definitely the tank museum’s best presenter, thanks

[@Cancun771]

When I was a conscript in the Bundeswehr a million years ago, on an exercise in northern Germany, at one point during basic training I found myself in the undergrowth with a buddy, a couple meters behind a Leopard II from some completely different outfit. The tank was rummaging back and forth beneath a tree for some reason, much like a wild boar digging for acorns or truffles. And for the first couple seconds we thought it was kinda funny. They obviously had not the slightest clue we were there. Then it dawned on us how dangerous this was because chances were they wouldn't even notice if they accidentally backed over us, not even if we were screaming at the top of our lungs. And we cheesed it. Later I found out that some tanks actually have a telephone on the rear for infantry to communicate with the tank crew, and I have been wondering ever since how they avoid getting squished, and how many have been run over while trying to use that phone. Regarding weaknesses, at one point I saw a Leopard II standing around in the barracks, and a thin maintenance door in the middle of the left side was open, and behind it seemd to be the oil filter. You could probably penetrate that flimsy panel with an assault rifle, and it would be blown completely to bits if anything stronger happened to hit that spot. And I couldn't help wondering, wasn't that design a massive oil loss waiting to happen, and eventually cause the engine to seize up.

[@TheGrenadier97]

Top-notch presentation. Excellent!

[@HistoryJunkie1776]

Very well done, and I say that as someone who did their military history PhD dissertation on urban warfare. Interesting note from WW2, the US Army's doctrine for urban warfare got the role of armor fundamentally wrong, saying it really didn't have much of a role, leave it for the infantry. Thankfully, US forces in Europe learned some valuable lessons when fighting in the bocage country around Normandy, where the hedgerows greatly restricted viability. The infantry and armor learned they needed each other, and very close cooperation was essential. When some of those same units then battled through Aachen Germany, they applied those same lessons. Doctrine eventually caught up, with the revisions to US Army field manuals in the early-1950s.

[@scottcampbell7249]

Don’t know where you got the information about Strykers but I operated 2 years in Iraq with Strykers and they were never replaced by tanks or Bradley’s. The threats we faced over there all Armor vehicles were in danger of being destroyed. In fact when it came to survivability from IEDs the Strykers were better suited because of their ground clearance

[@RustyShackleford]

Fascinating. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

[@neurofiedyamato8763]

I don't think he was referring to the entire conflict but during a specific battle/engagement

[@scottcampbell7249]

Yes He was speaking about operations inside Sadr city which I was a part of. He was stating that the Strykers armor was lacking but the truth of the matter was that the stuff they were throwing at Strykers was also penetrating Bradleys and tanks. I understand he was stating that tanks are better suited for certain operations which is definitely true but Strykers definitely handled allot of punishment and we didn’t stop using them in Sadr city

[@grahamstrouse1165]

@@scottcampbell7249I suspect that was at least partly because there weren’t a lot of alternatives.

[@scottcampbell7249]

Bradley's and Tanks Shined during the invasion, but honestly in a Counter-insurgency operation they aren't an everyday use tool. There are some many advantages that Stryker's have over other armored platforms in Urban environments. Quick to repair ,speed, quiet, better ground clearance for IED's, run flats instead of tracks, full squad of infantry, better situational awareness, modular composite armor. This is why they attempted to create the MGS variant of the Stryker. All we needed was a large caliber stand off weapon ( Other than Missiles) weapon system for support. The US Army's new M10 Booker would have been a great tool in Iraq.

[@zippy5131]

During GW II, as an armourer on Harriers. We were loading HES GPS guided 1'000lb's and dropping these on targets in BUA's, ie taking out tanks hiding in side streets with no collatrel damage. When called in for a strike for the SAS, they weren't impressed that it didn't go 'BOOM!'.

[@ttaibe]

this video was not long enough, did not have enough information. It was too interesting. so pls do make more.

[@engasser]

Another quality lecture from the headmaster!

[@johnmitchell3831]

Excellent video!!! Hope to visit the Tank Museum soon.

[@Rainersherwood]

Regarding visibility out of tanks: I give it ten years before tank crew members have full augmented reality goggles. The tanks we have now will be here for a while, but their software and interface with humans will massively change here very soon. Several cameras and some code to merge the images cost less than a few main cannon rounds. It’s coming and the f35 already has had this tech for a decade plus.

[@horrido666]

Very interesting stuff, especially while we are under going humongous changes in warfare due to AI/drone technology. Seeing heavy warships attacked by swarms of cheap $10k drones has got to be puckering butt holes. BTW, cities are usually built on rivers, and 74 ton tanks can't cross most bridges.

[@michaelguerin56]

Even bendy buses are verboten, in some places, due to high axle loadings😁! One of the best ways to find out if you can drive an MBT through a particular area, is to look up the local designated heavy transport routes.

[@earlyriser8998]

I think every army is looking at the drone technology and going 'holy sh*t' how do we defend against this. Each scale is its own problem; soldier, vehicles, buildings, ships

[@samb7652]

Excellent point. As an old, old, lol, tread head. I thought there was no need to go urban, bypass, they will be outta food in three days anyway.

[@Sturminfantrist]

In the 70s, 80s in germany we had MLC (military load class) signs in yellow on every bridge.

[@michaelguerin56]

@@Sturminfantrist We could do with that here in NZ. Even those who have never served, would get the idea and think about their current vehicle mass or combination vehicle mass. The harder part is getting s*&$heads to observe speed limits for bridges! I remember one annual camp, where we were repairing a light vehicle bridge, everyone except the military police observed our posted speed limit. They would have paid for that later, given that the brigade was based in an engineer camp🙂!

[@peterking8586]

We definitely trained in “All Arms warfare”. As a tank commander I could direct the various assets of the battlegroup to overcome the objective. We had an infantryman use the tank telephone, he stated “Enemy to you front, get out of here”. Unfortunately the driver heard the conversation and thought it came from the commander and high reversed over the Grunt. Understand that when a tank advances in to position it will reverse out of that position, to avoid exposing in vulnerable areas.

[@BurnCorpoStuff]

This scenario was my immediate reaction when they showed where the phone was.

[@RustyShackleford]

A very interesting and well presented video. Much of this was not news to me but I was unaware of many of the more modern tech improvements.

[@mrtwomore]

What an insightful video! Thank you

[@cedhome7945]

Met a Sgt from the tank corps at bovington he was in Iraq and said he saw some action I stupidly asked what happened.we had a t72 round bounce off the front ....what happened then I asked.he with a smile said well we sent one back 👍🇬🇧

[@fclfclfcl]

Lazerpig credited as Executive Producer 🐽

[@NorroTaku]

good job sound person audio was butter nut!

[@benmcreynolds8581]

This is why i think it's really important to have a big mixture of military grade ATV vehicles that are highly maneuverable, and adaptive in urban scenario's. Mix in tanks alongside group swarms of a ton of highly mobile small vehicles and i think it can be very beneficial for the manner in which a military could conduct themselves in urban environments.

[@dannyzero692]

Depending on the resources, budgetary limits and tank models, one may find large differences in urban tank doctrines between the armies. The Russians having poor elevation on their tanks decided to made an entirely new line of vehicle for urban combat which was the BMPT series, the US and UK often do tank raids on the outskirt or suburban areas outside of the city centers to destroy enemy fortifications, communication or infrastructure as in the case of Basrah. Tanks are still highly vulnerable in urban areas, most recent examples are the Israeli tank raids on Gaza during October 2023 around a week after the massacre, where several Merkavas are hit by RPG fire from concealed positions along the tight roads of the city. None has been reported to be total loss (destroyed and must be replaced) during the fighting but several crewmen did get injured which is an impressive feat given how dangerous that area really is for tanks in general.

[@alfnoakes392]

Innovative use of a concrete-filled round in order to limit damage to just where it was required sounds a very 'British' solution 😉. Remember seeing the spent concrete rounds on the ground along the coastal tank gunnery range in Dorset (the cliff-top Right-of-Way was open most days).

[@Justapples_0339]

so, to preface this, I only know Milsim and Arma 3 things; While I was trained by people who are vets and deployed or are currently enlisted, I understand it isn't like real life and all but with that all said, I still enjoyed doing combine arms with the abrams crew as an infantry and calling out "Do not stand behind the tank, this is your first and only warning, Second warning is the tank reversing."

[@theflyingfool]

Excellent, as always! Thanks!

[@johnbovay8353]

Most informative. Thank you.

[@robertthomas3777]

Sir, in tradition of those before you, your presentations - knowledge, diction, articulation…etc, are superb. Many thanks. MC and HNY. 🦘🇦🇺👍

[@TheRisenPeopleEire]

Very interesting 2 things I was unaware of was the upgraded survivability kit on the tanks such as that Japanese buzzer & the phones on the Chieftans & Abrams but also that the British employed tactics of using practice rounds to knock out certain rooms or areas in a smaller radius.

[@WorldofTanks-BestReplays]

well made video & interesting! :)

[@kylesprengeler5965]

very much enjoy this new format

[@oliver5403]

Awesome video!

[@Stroopwaffe1]

Good channel for You = Tanks in Space. Early Syrian wzr footage from various cities including a tow strike filmed from both sides including the insurgents targeting the group of 27 armoured vehicles.

[@MAACotton]

What a great video. Thanks for the content

[@michaelcorall3282]

A timely question. Wheels or tracks? Big gun, small gun, missles. How much armor is best? Every country is studying this.

[@Codoloco1]

You guys are awesome!

[@DJ-TimeShift]

This is gonna be great!

[@jm9371]

I really enjoyed this video!

[@norad_clips]

Fantastic content!

[@penchant4]

Excellent video!

[@michaelhorlings7272]

These modern battlefield videos are amazing

[@michaelguerin56]

Thank you. Excellent video.

[@VictorianTimeTraveler]

1000 like :) I was actually thinking about this topic the other day

[@RJN82]

Thanks for the great video!

[@jamesocker5235]

Combined force training has to happen for todays forces to be effective, thanks for excellent vid

[@rafis117]

The challenges of urban combat are enough to make you appreciate hard-kill active protection systems like TROPHY. Can’t kill what you can’t hit.

[@matthewgallagher8491]

Great Video, but during the fight in Sadr City, in Iraq the Strykers weren't withdrawn to be replaced by the Brads and Tanks. We still had them doing all kinds of combat and supporting missions.

[@gusgone4527]

Superb video, nothing else to say.

[@chrisdrake447]

Excellent video! And listening to Chris Copson getting bleeped-out must be like almost hearing God swear ...

[@mattgrandich3977]

Subscribed baby bring more tanks!

[@CMDRFandragon]

I also remember watching saving private ryan and how a well placed 20mm cleaned the Tiger off like a Mr. Clean magic eraser.

[@madzen112]

On one of my first games of Panzer General on the PC, I drove my tanks into a city. Lesson learned.

[@liammc546]

Very engaging, as always.

[@audacity60]

As a rough guide, I would say that tanks under 40 tons stand a chance in urban areas. Those over 40 tons will struggle with tight streets & narrow weak bridges.

[@luciusvorenus9445]

Fantastic video.

[@wayne1559]

Excellent video....thank you!

[@billjose3996]

I liked video before I watched it because I knew it was going to be gold. . . and it was.

[@terenceballands3321]

Excellent piece.

[@Brightsideofmilitary]

Such a great video

[@GerardMenvussa]

I really like the 🇯🇵 stealthy doorbell ^^

[@MrLaedu]

Thank you for your work

[@JCRichardson117]

14:53 is no-one going to talk about how smooth that focus switch was by the camera operator when switching from the presenter to the scimitars ECM antenna?

[@Spookydrink]

Very interesting and informative

[@gaveintothedarkness]

16:22 Love how LazerPig is one of the executive producers in this video!

[@robertkalinic335]

Absolutely garbage channel

[@Castlelong333]

Hi great video

[@asterisk606]

New vehicles like the M10 Booker, that are aimed to be in close proximity to infantry, have started to implement cameras on the exterior of the vehicle to supplement the vision ports and give the crew better awareness around them and limit the blind spots. Seeing allied infantry that are close to you is just as, if not more, important than seeing the enemy close to you. I think vertical fighting and vision capability will always be severely limited for tanks and armored vehicles in urban environments. There is no way around it.

[@GeneralBrae]

Wonder if there's likely to be any return to heavier tanks in future, just for the urban warfare setting? Sounds like fighting in cities like this is where older designs with multiple weapon pods and thick armour would actually be useful (in conjuction with modern sensor and other tech removing/limiting the need for extra crew), as the maneuvering isn't such a priority. I may be looking at it too simply though

[@edl617]

Two of my Uncles were infantry in the ETO. From reading the history of one uncles regiment. Tanks would pop up from time to time where the Tanks would slow down to carry infantry near the point of contact. So the tanks would have infantry support. One reference was the tanks were used as rolling pillboxes in urban areas