Tank warfare in the Russia-Ukraine war
In contemporary warfare, tanks are an essential component for aggressive operations such as breaking through enemy lines and reclaiming occupied territory. Properly employed, they can offer mobile firepower, protection, and shock, thereby achieving surprise. In large numbers, tanks can disrupt an adversary's defences. Nevertheless, they require artillery support to weaken the enemy's fortifications initially, followed by infantry support to hold the reclaimed ground.
Records have demonstrated that tanks by themselves do not guarantee victory. For instance, the British first deployed numerous tanks during the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 to break the deadlock of static trench warfare. While initially successful, many tanks soon broke down, and a German counter-attack turned British gains into losses.
Tanks can also be utilised for defensive purposes. In 1940, the British and French armies utilised them during their retreat at Arras to impede the Nazi invasion, ultimately facilitating the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk. Ukraine has expressed its desire for weaponry not only to impede any potential Russian spring offensive but also to retake its territory and launch an attack.
Ukraine Needs Tank
Distributing its additional tanks across a front line of more than 1,000km (621 miles) would be an impractical move for Ukraine. Instead, the country will need to concentrate its forces within a smaller area, possibly between five and 20km (between three and 12 miles), in order to penetrate Russian defences.
According to Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former colonel in the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment, the number of tanks is critical for a breakthrough. For a significant offensive operation, an armoured brigade would normally require at least 70 tanks. Therefore, over 100 Western battle tanks could make a significant difference.
If Ukraine had access to more tanks, it could attempt to conduct simultaneous offensives in different locations, similar to its actions last year in the north and south. Additionally, the military requires support for "combined arms manoeuvre," which includes artillery self-propelled guns, armoured vehicles to carry and protect troops, and mine breaching and bridge-laying vehicles.
The UK's support package to Ukraine includes 14 Challenger tanks, 30 self-propelled guns, and armoured vehicles to carry and protect troops. The US is also providing Ukraine with over 100 Bradley and Stryker armoured vehicles, and Germany is offering 40 of its Marder infantry fighting vehicles as well as tanks. Tanks serve as the spear's tip, designed to move rapidly over open ground. The Challenger 2, Leopard 2, and M1 Abrams are quicker than most Russian-made tanks, capable of speeds of more than 25mph (40km per hour) on rough terrain.
The Russian Dilemma
The upgrade of Russia's T-72 fleet for the conflict in Ukraine is being complicated by Western sanctions. The most advanced tank sight, which was obtained from a French supplier through questionable means around a decade ago, is becoming increasingly difficult to acquire. As a result, the Kremlin is replacing it with less capable Russian-made sights that have a reduced range from four to two miles. The T-72 and most other Russian tanks also suffer from a flaw in ammunition storage design, where a hit almost anywhere in the turret causes the ammunition to explode, killing the crew and often propelling the turret many meters into the air.
The loss of at least 1,600 tanks in Ukraine has created a dilemma for the Russian military. It can deploy more advanced tanks, leaving itself vulnerable to other contingencies, or use older models, hoping to have enough of them to make a difference on the battlefield. However, both choices have their drawbacks. Russia only has approximately 600 T-90 tanks and only about 400 of those are operational. It has even fewer of its most advanced tank, the T-14 Armata, which is comparable to the best tanks used by NATO militaries. Although several hundred advanced tanks would be advantageous in Ukraine, they would leave Russia exposed along its Western flank bordering NATO countries. Russia initially intended to purchase 2,300 T-14s, but this has since been reduced to just 132.
Adapting to the increased capability of Western tanks in Ukraine will be challenging for Russia. However, the current tanks being offered, such as the thirty-one US Abrams, fourteen UK Challengers, and fourteen German Leopards, are not sufficient to turn the tide of the war. Other countries, including France, Poland, and Canada, may also provide tanks to Ukraine, but the exact number and timeline are unknown.
The Western Initiatives
In January 2023, it was announced that German and American tanks were being sent to Ukraine to assist in its ongoing resistance against the Russian invasion. This move is expected to have a significant impact on the length and outcome of the war, as tanks have played a crucial role in European battlefields throughout history. Tanks were first introduced in World War I and proved to be effective in breaking the stalemate of trench warfare.
The decision to send tanks to Ukraine shows increasing Western confidence in the country and a willingness to support its efforts to reverse Russia's aggression. At the start of the war, Western countries were hesitant to provide military assistance as they believed Ukraine would likely succumb to the Russian invasion and that providing complex weapons would increase the risk of escalation with Russia. Therefore, the initial assistance provided by the West consisted of simple, defensive weapons like Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank and Stinger air defence missiles.
However, the decision to send tanks to Ukraine represents a shift in the Western strategy, as they now believe Ukraine has a chance to resist the Russian invasion with the help of more potent weapons. Although sending tanks may not change the course of the war in their current numbers, it shows the West's increasing tolerance for risk in supporting Ukraine's efforts to defend itself against Russian aggression. Nonetheless, the Western countries are aware that providing more potent offensive weapons still risks an escalation with Russia, and they must carefully balance the need to support Ukraine's defence with the potential consequences of their actions.
The military leaders of Ukraine are seeking Western tanks to strengthen their forces in the ongoing conflict against Moscow's troops. They aim to break through the trenches in Luhansk and the Zaporizhzhia region. NATO allies, including the US, France, and Britain, have recently pledged to provide armoured vehicles, after initially hesitating. This highlights the significance of ground force in modern warfare, despite its technological advancements. Bernard Jenkin, a senior Conservative parliamentarian, has acknowledged the importance of armour in modern warfare, a point also agreed upon by UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. Ukraine is requesting 200 to 300 tanks, 600 infantry armored vehicles, and 500 Howitzers, a type of cannon, as the beginning of their needs.
To enable a Ukrainian military victory with Western assistance, four key factors must be addressed. Firstly, Western countries must provide enough tanks to give Ukraine a devastating offensive capability. Currently, only fifty-eight tanks are available, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested 300-500 tanks. This number would allow Ukraine to form four new brigades, each consisting of three battalions, which is the optimal structure for tank formations. With four new tank brigades, Ukraine would possess a ground offensive capability that could be decisive if utilised effectively. Zelensky's request was likely informed by his military commanders, and it is designed to maximise Ukraine's chances of success.
Moreover, in order for Ukraine to use the new tanks effectively and avoid vulnerabilities, they must integrate different capabilities and systems that work together to maximize their potential. Tanks are most effective in open terrain where their speed and long-range targeting can be used to their advantage, but moving through forests or built-up areas can be dangerous without support from dismounted infantry, engineer teams, reconnaissance forces, air defence support, and artillery or air support. With this type of support, tanks are a highly effective offensive weapon, but without it, they are vulnerable to significant losses like the ones experienced by Russian tanks at the beginning of the conflict.
It is necessary for Western nations to provide training to Ukrainian troops on how to operate the new tanks. The United States, United Kingdom, and Germany have all committed to providing this training, but it may take several months to complete. Germany and Britain will be supplying tanks from their existing stock, which should arrive in Ukraine by April. However, American tanks will need to be newly manufactured and will take longer to arrive, as stated by the White House. Ukrainian tank drivers, gunners, and commanders who are familiar with operating simpler Soviet or Russian-made tanks will need to learn how to use the more complex Western tanks. Additionally, Western tanks require a human loader, whereas Ukraine's current tanks have an automatic loader, meaning an extra crew member will need to be assigned and trained for each tank.
For Ukraine to effectively support its new tanks, it is essential to establish and maintain a strong logistical capability. As General Omar Bradley of the US Army famously stated, logistics is a critical component of modern warfare. Russia learned this lesson the hard way at the beginning of the conflict, as modern mechanized warfare poses significant logistical challenges. Tanks require large amounts of fuel, with the Abrams, for example, consuming approximately 0.6 miles per gallon of fuel on the road and even more off-road. Each tank requires roughly 300 gallons of fuel for every eight hours of operation, making fuel supply a critical aspect of logistics for Ukraine's new tanks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, tanks continue to play a significant role in modern warfare, as seen in conflicts around the world. However, their effectiveness depends on various factors, such as the terrain they operate in, the support they receive from other forces, and the logistical capability to maintain them. Ukraine's recent efforts to acquire Western tanks and their plans to integrate them into their military strategy highlight the continued importance of tanks in modern warfare. As with any military technology, the value of tanks lies not just in their capabilities, but also in the ability of their operators to use them effectively and efficiently in the context of a larger military operation.
While Ukraine is receiving support from Western allies, Russia is facing challenges in upgrading its own tank fleet due to Western sanctions and design flaws in its existing tanks. The loss of tanks in Ukraine has created a dilemma for Russia, as it must balance the need for advanced tanks in the conflict with the risk of leaving its Western flank vulnerable to NATO. Adapting to the increased capability of Western tanks will be challenging for Russia, but the exact number and timeline of tanks being provided to Ukraine by other countries remains uncertain. The situation in Ukraine serves as a reminder of the strategic importance of tanks and the logistical challenges involved in their deployment.
Reference list
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