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Barrett
Yes I keep in touch with a major still in the RAAC and the answer was support and inter-operability. And apparently everyone is happy with them. But it seemed to come out of the blue. I get the annual RAAC journal and circa 2002 - Leopard with upgrades was going to be good until 2015, then there was an apparent overnight 'done deal' between our 'little' Jonnie Howard and your George 'doubleya' Bush. Gee that Oliver Stone movie scarred me!
My worry is the logistics of keeping the Abram's fuel guzzling turbine fed. Your US boys had to have enforced halts in both Iraq wars in order to get supplies up - I've been a guest and worked with US military and know full well that you guys have a far better logistics machine than the Aust Army.
Even in my day with Leopards - track kilometers were always an issue. But yes the Leopards were good in my books - I actually caught the tail end of the Centurion, which one of our Brit exchange corporals dubbed - '52 tons of plumbers nightmare!' Proved to be tough old buggers in Vietnam though - took lots of RP7 hits but none were actually knocked out. No I didn't serve in Vietnam, (did travel through Vietnam in 1996 and did tour the DMZ) but there were still lots of guys who had when I joined. But Leopard was like dream compared to the old 'Cents'. When they decommisioned them and put some on plynths - I really started too feel a little old, because I can still remember how new the Leopards smelled.
For my sins I also ran around a lot in M113 & M588's when I got stuck on a Brigade headquarters. Actually stood in presence of Gen Franks when he visited us.
Old Tankie / Tanker
Russ
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Our hearts so stout has got us fame
For soon 'tis known from where we came
Where'er we go they fear the name
Of Garryowen in glory.
Last edited by R Gannon; 7 July 2009 at 05:52 PM.
Reason: slight edit
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