Where do you want to be in a modern battlefield, in a tank or in the infantry?

This is an obvious question that is not asked in order to sustain morale.  A tank is a visible large target for just about everything on the battlefield.  Today we hear of literally hundreds of tanks destroyed in the Ukraine.  The crews did not survive.

Infantry is much harder to directly target and can always go to ground.

Recall the Canadian regiment in Korea that was been over run by a couple thousand Chinese soldiers.  They hit their fox holes and called down their own artillery.  I think they lost one or two in the process while destroying the Chinese assault.

So yes, infantry courts death in any assault, but then so does a Tanker.  It is the advantage of defense that works for infantry.  They can really hide while this is much more tricky for a tanker..

Where do you want to be in a modern battlefield, in a tank or in the infantry?

Roland Bartetzko ·

former German Army Paratrooper, Croatian Defense Council, Kosovo Liberation Army2y

Always with the infantry. This has nothing to do with presenting a smaller target to the enemy or my survival chances (which are about the same in infantry and armor units).

The reasons why infantry is preferable are:Control. An infantry commander has more direct influence regarding the outcome of a battle than a tank commander. Tanks fight in bigger formations than infantry units which means that your fate is often in the hands of someone who is far away from you.

The infantry usually has better knowledge of the terrain than a more mobile tank unit. This is a big plus.

M1-Abrams having difficulties with the road (photo: US Army)Reach. The infantry can go everywhere while tanks often have limited or no access at all to certain areas (urban environments, mountains, forests, etc.).

Situational awareness. When you sit in a tank, you have a very limited field of view, especially at closer distances. You also can’t hear and smell what’s around your vehicle. An infantryman, on the other hand, has a more complete image of the area around them.

Lack of speed. The infantry moves at a slower speed and therefore, many (but not all) decisions can be taken with more caution. Tanks are fast which means they can also find themselves very fast in serious trouble and wrong decisions can’t be undone anymore.

Resourcefulness. When you’re in the infantry, you don’t have to worry about fuel, spare parts or maintenance. All you need is ammo, food, and water.

Of course, the life of an infantryman is much harder than that of a tanker, however, you get used to it.

When I fought in Bosnia (as an infantryman), I always felt sorry for our tank units. I often had the impression that these guys didn’t exactly know what they were doing.

Tank warfare can be a very confusing mess while as an infantryman, you usually have more clarity.