US Army's last tanks depart from Germany

[Deleted]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Deutschland!

I wonder what else the US have parked in Germany and whether Germans have any say in removing it...

Perhaps this will give Japan ideas too.

[Deleted]

If anything the russian army lacks is numbers.

[Deleted]

Yeah, it only took them 69 years to make this decision? That's money well spent indeed.

[smelltheglove]

Yeah, it only took them 69 years to make this decision? That's money well spent indeed.

they finally got through a filibuster, lol

[Maneo]

Yeah, it only took them 69 years to make this decision? That's money well spent indeed.

To be fair, until Russia fell it seemed to me from the people that were stationed in different bases and posts in Germany rather enjoyed having U.S. forces around.

Agreed a few years after the U.S.S.R fell they should have begun to remove the forces, but a great deal of politics, and bureaucrats get involved and it takes forever for anything to get done.

[Twotonsteak]

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.

I support his move.

The US military was designed to protect our borders. We aren't protecting our borders with tanks stationed in Germany. This doesn't even address the money saved by not paying for all the service personnel and equipment to be stationed there.

[Deleted]

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

He's Bulgarian. In Romania we have 2 USA bases too, but I don't mind them.

the Romanian forces are horribly outdated.

So what, are we going to war with anyone? Do you know something us civilians do not? Because otherwise I don't see the use of our massive rusting army. We could instead sell all the crappy rusted old shit and buy 1/10 of that in good stuff like drones, training of special operation teams and guided missiles.

[Deleted]

He's Bulgarian. In Romania we have 2 USA bases too, but I don't mind them.


So what, are we going to war with anyone? Do you know something us civilians do not? Because otherwise I don't see the use of our massive rusting army. We could instead sell all the crappy rusted old shit and buy 1/10 of that in good stuff like drones, training of special operation teams and guided missiles.

You tell me, I cannot predict the future. Better to be prepared than not, a well equipped force can hold out longer than an outdated one, hopefully long enough for NATO to respond.

[Theinquisition]

You tell me, I cannot predict the future. Better to be prepared than not, a well equipped force can hold out longer than an outdated one, hopefully long enough for NATO to respond.

A well equiped and trained force is also pretty good at imtimidating any would be bad guys to rethink their posturing.

Peace through strength

[Deleted]

A well equiped and trained force is also pretty good at imtimidating any would be bad guys to rethink their posturing.

Peace through strength

Not to mention it is easier to defend a position than to retake it from entrenched, fortified forces.

[Theinquisition]

Not to mention it is easier to defend a position than to retake it from entrenched, fortified forces.

hee hee unless you have napalm or WP

shit ill probally get flamed for that one

[Deleted]

hee hee unless you have napalm or WP

shit ill probally get flamed for that one

I see what you did there!

[Theinquisition]

I see what you did there!

A perceptive brit

[Catta]

hee hee unless you have napalm or WP

shit ill probally get flamed for that one

Let me get my flamethrower

[Deleted]

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.

Russia has 3rd biggest military budget and 9th largest economy in the world. Something doesn't add up in your story.

[Deleted]

Ignore rich, he's a russophobe and wishes to insult my homeland whenever he can.

[Catta]

Russia has 3rd biggest military budget and 9th largest economy in the world. Something doesn't add up in your story.

The US has the largest military budget in the world. They cant afford it either.

---------- Post added 2013-04-07 at 06:39 PM ----------

Ignore rich, he's a russophobe and wishes to insult my homeland whenever he can.

He doesnt seem particularly afraid of Russians...

[Cybran]

He doesnt seem particularly afraid of Russians...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...92D0EL20130314

"Indeed, the increase in Asian spending has been so rapid, and the defense austerity pursued by European states so severe, that in 2012 nominal Asian spending ($287.4 billion) exceeded total official defense spending not just in NATO Europe, but across all of Europe, including spending by non-NATO European states," it said.

He should be. China and India are allies of Russia.

[Deleted]

Ignore rich, he's a russophobe and wishes to insult my homeland whenever he can.

Hardly, I love the Russian people, I respect the hell out of them, except for those that look for insults when none are due and play the victim.

---------- Post added 2013-04-07 at 05:57 PM ----------

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...92D0EL20130314



He should be. China and India are allies of Russia.

India is a member of the Commonwealth, they will side with the UK before Russia or China.

[Slummish]

He's Bulgarian. In Romania we have 2 USA bases too, but I don't mind them.


So what, are we going to war with anyone? Do you know something us civilians do not? Because otherwise I don't see the use of our massive rusting army. We could instead sell all the crappy rusted old shit and buy 1/10 of that in good stuff like drones, training of special operation teams and guided missiles.

No drones for you.