Light Tanks in the T2K ACR's

[schnickelfritz]

After reading my copy of The Black Madonna for the millionth time, I was left wondering why light tanks (either LAV-75 or M-8, I'm not getting into that) were designated for the M113/M115 ACR's. Specifically, why there would have been light tanks in the TO&E for B Toop, 116 ACR. Being that the only light tank in the US Army's inventory was in very limited use at the time these were written, could it have been to balance game play? It seems like 3 M1/IPM1/M1A1 tanks may have been too powerful/thirsty, but something was needed to create some measure of parity between the major armed factions in the area covered by the Module.

Any thoughts?

Thanks-
Dave

[Raellus]

It may have something to do with the fact that the M113 was/is too slow to keep pace with an M1 moving at full speed. Back in the '80s, when the original books were written, as a general rule, units equipped with M1s were also equipped with M2 Bradleys. Units still equipped with the M60 were equipped with the M113.

The authors foresaw the retirement of the M60 series. It appears that they also assumed that production of the complex and expensive M1 would not be able to fully replace all of them by 1997. In a similar vein, it seems like the authors conceded that the M2 would not fully replace the more numerous M113. So, there would still be mechanized units equipped primarily with the M113 and they would need a tank that was neither the old M60 or the more advanced M1. Therefore, they looked around at some of the light tank options being considered for the U.S. Army at the time and selected the LAV-75 & Stingray (orginally) and then the M8 (for version 2) to fill that gap.

That's my take on it. Armor parity (in terms of quality) may also have been a factor being as, even during the '80s, most knowledgable folks knew that the T-55/62 was no match for an Abrams.

[dragoon500ly]

The Series J Armored Cavalry Regiments had mixed tank/apc platoons.

At the time T2K came out a platoon was organized as

4 tanks
4 APCs (scouts)
1 APC (platoon leader)
1 mortar APC (usually detached to troop headquarters)

There would be three such platoons as well as a headquarters platoon (2 tanks) in each troop.

Three cavalry troops, plus a 14 strong tank company, a howitzer battery and the usual support would make up a squadron.

Three cavalry squadrons, plus a air cavalry squadron, a engineer company, a ADA platoon and support would make up a ACR.

[HorseSoldier]

There were Sheridans organic to the ACRs under previous MTOEs as well. The idea that an ACR was an elegantly compact buzzsaw of destruction is kind of created by the M1/Bradley combo, so in a setting where viable light tanks followed on the Sheridan design there may have been a school of thought for the ACRs remaining heavier on the recon side of things than the fighting for information/economy of force role.

Alternately, you could just chalk it up to B/116 being rebuilt after earlier losses in the war (or stripped of their M1s or M60s to cover battlefield losses by other units and rebuilt with lighter tanks).

[Adm.Lee]

Originally Posted by HorseSoldier

Alternately, you could just chalk it up to B/116 being rebuilt after earlier losses in the war (or stripped of their M1s or M60s to cover battlefield losses by other units and rebuilt with lighter tanks).

Maybe the whole 116 ACR got LAVs, or just B Troop, so that XI Corps could have a really light cavalry unit for special uses?

Or, it was what was available in the replacement pool, and they had to give up their M1s and M2s to a division.

[dragoon500ly]

In real life, the 116th was equipped with M48A5s and M113s in the mid 1980s, later being reequipped with M-60A1s released from the Regular Army as M1s came on line.

The 116th ACR was originally slated as a National Guard NATO reinforcement (available for shipping 45-60 days after activation).

So perhaps the original thought was replacement of their equipment through combat loss.