Modern Use of Wheeled Armor Vehicles

armor vehicles.

Despite the increase in the power, range, and accuracy of today’s weapons, and despite the increase in efficiency of surface-to-surface and air-to-surface antitank missiles, the main battle tank (MBT), used in conjunction with the attack helicopter, is the decisive offensive weapon for ground combat. There are, however, many offensive and defensive operations that require armored vehicles, but not necessarily the sophisticated and expensive MBT.

Lower-cost wheeled armored vehicles could be used for certain operations, given the quality and density of the road network systems (particularly within the European Theater) and advances in technology. This would in turn save the MBT for the critical jobs it does best. Alternatives to the MBT should be considered for operations that do not involve frontal engagements of enemy MBTs, or assault of heavily fortified positions. Alternatives should be considered also because current and future con-by General Andre’ Sciard straints on the military budgets of Western countries force them to maximize efficiency at the lowest possible cost. Further, concepts proposed by the U. S. Army’s Air-Land Battle 2000 and exercised by the Soviet Operational Maneuver Groups indicate the need for armored protection for quick heliborne thrusts to the enemy’s rear and protection in depth for one’sown rear. Wheeled armored vehicles are part of the solution to these issues.

The Historical Position of MBT Historically, the MBT was developed as the only combat vehicle capable of combining firepower, protection, and cross-country mobility. MBTs became tracked vehicles.

As time passed, three factors have strengthened the reliance on the MBT. The first is residual. The WW I1 campaigns demonstrated the superiority of the tank, and people are reluctant to question lessons learned from history.

The second comes from the trend toward increasing the weight of tanks because of the increase in gun calibers and the use of laminated armor for increased protection. For heavy tanks, tracks seem to provide the optimum weight/ ground pressure ratio and, therefore, the best cross-country mobility.

The third results from current habits. The large national military training centers of Western countries have terrain that is unique. This terrain is typically muddy in winter, dusty in summer, and does not allow the cross-country travel of heavy vehicles, except those equipped with tracks. This terrain provides an argument for military officials who believe that tracked vehicles are the only option. Wheeled Vehicles Reconsidered There are several recent trends that provide arguments for reconsidering wheeled armored vehicles. Highway infrastructure: Most industrial economies are oriented toward the maximum development of highway infrastructures. Wheeled vehicles are better than tracked vehicles for exploiting these infrastructures. Only tires allow long distance travel at low cost and high speed. "There are several recent -trends that provide arguments for reconsidering wheeled armored vehicles..."

Larger guns on lighter vehicles: Lower turret silhouettes, low/ long recoil mechanisms for 90-, 105, and 120-mm guns, the development of lighter composite armor plat-ings, and the increase in the use of hydraulic suspensions now enable heavy-caliber guns to be mounted on light vehicles (15 to 20 tons). Realistic training: Training of modern units requires conducting maneuvers on more realistic terrain than military training centers. Emphasis on Rapid Deployment Forces in non-European scenarios has accelerated this trend. There are several features of wheeled armored vehicles that distinguish them from MBTs. They are more cost-efficient in terms of purchase price and maintenance costs. Wheeled armored vehicles are multipurpose and can be used for conventional combat operations as well as for rapid deployment or antiguerilla warfare. Wheeled armored vehicles also have greater primary and secondary road mobility, easier maintenance, and smaller crew requirements than MBTs.

The Combat Zone ofthe1990s Within the European Theater in the late 199Os, the air/ground offensive component of the Allied Forces is anticipated to be based on the MBT/attack helicopter team. It is planned that this team will include up-to-date technologies and will be able to move and hit targets between 2,000 and 4,000 meters in less than five seconds during day and night, under any weather conditions. This team will be expensive and, therefore, used only in small quantities.

The MBT in this team will be vulnerable because of its size. Likewise, the attack helicopter -whatever its speed and its low altitude capabilities - will be vulnerable to forward area air defense svstems. Both would be mime tar-At right, U. S. military police made wide use of wheeled Commando armored vehicles in Vietnam.

Below, the French VBC-90 6-wheel armored vehicle is one of many newer designs capable of carrying large-cal- p;"' iber gun despite their low overall weight. World War I1 US Armored Cars TheU. S. madewidespread useof wheeled armor during W I I. which paid off during high-speed exploitations in Europe. The M8. at left, mounted a 37-mm gun. The heavier (26 tons) Boarhound heawarmored car. seen below. was. --r@Q designed for desert fighting, but too late. It was never produced in large quantities or used by U. S. troops.

L-gets for a number of ground-to-ground, air-to-ground and ground-to-air weapons having an always-increasing lethal power. Therefore, it can be anticipated that offensive actions of the MBT/attack helicopter team, which are aimed at the center of gravity of the hostile forces, will be limited in terms of space and time. The Middle East conflicts of the past decade emphasize this point.

Offensive actions, therefore, will have to be prepared and covered by highly mobile units to prevent slowing down the main action. These units should be capable of carrying out extensive reconnaissance operations well forward and into the rear of hostile forces, as demanded by AirLand Battle 2000.

These highly mobile units should be able to “charge to reconnoiter”, to use an old expression. These units would screen the battlefield and have features to protect themselves against an NBC threat and the presence of infiltrated or parachuted units behind friendly lines. Wheeled armored vehicles under 15 tons, capable of being transported by planes or helicopters, can provide forces with protection, firepower, mobility, flexibility, and increased efficiency. Existing wheeled armored vehicles with 4-, 6-, or 8-wheel drive have the caDabilities needed by these highly mobile units and would complement the MBT/ attack helicopter team. Wheeled vehicles could provide screening and reconnaissance forward of the MBT and on the flanks as well as rear area protection against Soviet MBTs.

Further, wheeled armored vehicles can be rapidly transported to distant points for intervention and peacekeeping operations. Wheeled vehicles are especially suited for urban environments where jeeps cannot provide the needed protection and tracked vehicles cannot provide the needed flexibility.

In spite of history and habit, it seems that, under the pressure of technical improvements, doctrinal changes, and budgetary constraints, the military is obliged to reconsider some of the concepts of employment of its ground forces. If the MBT/attack helicopter team is to be kept until the end of this century as the principal weapon of decision, it is important to include, for the purpose of greater cost efficiency, the maximum number of complementary wheeled vehicles. By using existing products, the military can increase its combat capability without increasing its budgets.

ANDRE’J. F. SCIARDjoined the Panhard firm in 1984 after along career in the cavalry branch of the French Army. His combat record includes service as a tank platoon commander during WW II and as a squadron commander in the Algerian and Indochina campaigns. He also served as commander of the French armor/cavalry school and of St. Cyr, the French military academy in western France, and he was Army schools Commander at Paris headquarters prior to his retirement. A graduate of his nation’s National War College, he also holds a law degree and served as commander of the French 5th Armor Brigade in the FRG in the mid-1970s.