US Army's last tanks depart from Germany

[Deleted]

http://www.stripes.com/news/us-army-...rmany-1.214977

STUTTGART, Germany — The U.S. Army’s 69-year history of basing main battle tanks on German soil quietly ended last month when 22 Abrams tanks, a main feature of armored combat units throughout the Cold War, embarked for the U.S.

The departure of the last M-1 Abrams tanks coincides with the inactivation of two of the Army’s Germany-based heavy brigades. Last year, the 170th Infantry out of Baumholder disbanded. And the 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade at Grafenwöhr is in the process of doing the same.

On March 18, the remaining tanks were loaded up at the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s railhead in Kaiserslautern where they then made the journey to the shipping port in Bremerhaven, Germany. There they boarded a ship bound for South Carolina.

The tanks belonged to the 172nd along with a mix that were leftover from other units, according to the 21st TSC.

“It is an honor to be one of the soldiers escorting the last battle tanks out of Germany,” said Sgt. Jeremy Jordan of the 529th Military Police Company, in an Army story about the journey. “As these tanks sail back to the U.S., we are closing a chapter in history.”

From World War II on through the Cold War, tanker units were a heavy presence in Germany. At its peak, Germany was home to 20 NATO armored divisions, or about 6,000 tanks, according to the 21st TSC.

“There is no [U.S.] tank on German soil. It’s a historic moment,” said Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto, 21st TSC spokesman.

[Kivimetsan]

Good morning Russia you are now free to drive your tanks into Berlin again

xxx

[Deleted]

Good morning Russia you are now free to drive your tanks into Berlin again

xxx

Assuming Russian tanks could ever get there without breaking down or running out of fuel.

[niki]

Assuming Russian tanks could ever get there without breaking down or running out of fuel.

the new russian tanks are quite good

[Ausr]

the new russian tanks are quite good

Probably think those North Korean videos about their military tech are awesome as well.

[Catta]

Good morning Russia you are now free to drive your tanks into Berlin again

xxx

Russia: Oy China, what do you wanna do tonight?
China: The same as every night Russia... TRY TO TAKE OVER GERMANY!

[Deleted]

the new russian tanks are quite good

The tanks are, I agree, however the Russians are really shit at logistics not to mention their military is flat out broke. They can barely afford to feed, clothe and pay their troops, let alone deploy them against modern well equipped European forces.

[goobernoob]

good, the threat of soviet invasion has been gone for a while, its about time we caught up with our deployments, all we really need in germany for now is air bases and hospitals as a stop over from any wars east of there, those tanks and army bases were just burning our money protecting a country that doesn't need it anymore.

japan and south korea on the other hand... different story, hopefully we can do the same if the kim family gets knocked out of power and china stops claiming every island they see.

[Deleted]

good, the threat of soviet invasion has been gone for a while, its about time we caught up with our deployments, all we really need in germany for now is air bases and hospitals as a stop over from any wars east of there, those tanks and army bases were just burning our money protecting a country that doesn't need it anymore.

japan and south korea on the other hand... different story, hopefully we can do the same if the kim family gets knocked out of power and china stops claiming every island they see.

US fu*king A, saviour of earth.

Infracted.

[Wildtree]

about damn time.... There's really not much more to say about that.
Now for all whats left, take your nuclear warheads with you, and us Germans start to love you long time again.

---------- Post added 2013-04-07 at 06:29 AM ----------

The tanks are, I agree, however the Russians are really shit at logistics not to mention their military is flat out broke. They can barely afford to feed, clothe and pay their troops, let alone deploy them against modern well equipped European forces.

They have no need to come and invade Germany.. Russian hookers are cheaper.

[goobernoob]

US fu*king A, saviour of earth.

where did I state or even imply that? were acting in our interests, which happen to align fairly well with the interests of south korea taiwan and japan as far as those island disputes go, and have been rather helpful to germany post ww2, I don't make any mistake about it though, we use our military to help ourselves, just like every other country. We just happen to have the most well funded military on the planet.

[Wildtree]

where did I state or even imply that? were acting in our interests, which happen to align fairly well with the interests of south korea taiwan and japan as far as those island disputes go, and have been rather helpful to germany post ww2, I don't make any mistake about it though, we use our military to help ourselves, just like every other country. We just happen to have the most well funded military on the planet.

don't worry about it, you said nothing wrong.
We can alter a few details tho. There's no need for US air bases in Germany, really.. You have special treatment at Germany's largest airport already, FFM. Plus, there's joint venture too. No need for your own airbases if you can perfectly share those with the German forces. Which you already do in parts.
Keep a few thousand troops there for Nato purpose, and everything should be fine.

[Deleted]

I remember the thread of yours where you said the last troops of Britain depart from Germany, I even was the first one to reply and again I'm happy about that, all those years were definently enough. :P

I guess I will take a walk today visiting the old american sector border in Berlin, always something special to stay at this place.

[Cybran]

Russia: Oy China, what do you wanna do tonight?
China: The same as every night Russia... TRY TO TAKE OVER GERMANY!

Most western europeans tried to conquer Russia and failed, not the other way around.

On topic: When will the American soldiers leave from their two bases in my country? They don't even pay rent...

[goobernoob]

Most western europeans tried to conquer Russia and failed, not the other way around.

On topic: When will the American soldiers leave from their two bases in my country? They don't even pay rent...

which country is that?

---------- Post added 2013-04-07 at 04:48 AM ----------

don't worry about it, you said nothing wrong.
We can alter a few details tho. There's no need for US air bases in Germany, really.. You have special treatment at Germany's largest airport already, FFM. Plus, there's joint venture too. No need for your own airbases if you can perfectly share those with the German forces. Which you already do in parts.
Keep a few thousand troops there for Nato purpose, and everything should be fine.

while what you say might be in germany's best interest, it would be best for the US if we keep at lest one airbase and hospital there as ours in case the political climate changes, it makes it much more difficult to have our support cut off in the middle of a war. it would suck to have our wounded die waiting for an alternate route back to surgical care.

[Deleted]

I remember the thread of yours where you said the last troops of Britain depart from Germany, I even was the first one to reply and again I'm happy about that, all those years were definently enough. :P

I guess I will take a walk today visiting the old american sector border in Berlin, always something special to stay at this place.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...e-8549130.html



The return home of what was the British Army of the Rhine after 70 years is, says the Government, the inevitable consequence of the end of the Cold War and hard economic reality. For those whose lives would be changed by it forever, there are fond memories – but also regrets and recriminations at the parting of the ways.

Under current plans, 11,000 British troops based in Germany will return home by 2016, with the remaining 4,500 back by 2019. It is the responsibility of Major General John Henderson to ensure that the move for the largest British forces overseas – a third bigger than the Afghan deployment at its height – goes smoothly. This applies not just to the 15,500 troops and their families (around another 18,000) but also for the 3,500 local employees and in relations with the German government.

A quick recap for those that missed it.

[slime]

which country is that?[COLOR="red"]

I think he is referring to napoleon and hitler.

[Catta]

I think he is referring to napoleon and hitler.

I think he is refering to the two US military bases.
Iirc Cybran is Romanian?

[Deleted]

Russians at the moment have one of the best if not the best special forces ( spetznaz) in the world, competing with Israel, Britain, USA etc. RF army forces are ranked 2nd by ''globalfire''.And that's not surprising considering resources, manpower and rich experience in military. In the last decade they have proven themselves in 2nd Chechnyain war, Dagestan, defence of South Osetia(Georgians on US hammers,fyeah), bloody Beslan school hostage crisis, Nordost and so on and on. So I am not really sure if you are a troll or totally duped and brainwashed hater.
On topic, Americans also should take back their Ballistic Missile Defense from Europe. Peace.

[Deleted]

I think he is refering to the two US military bases.
Iirc Cybran is Romanian?

If he is Romanian, it would be beneficial to allow the US forces to stay in his country, the Romanian forces are horribly outdated.