From now on an entire company of tanks will be able to fire in a straight line instead of just the first tank, "a creative idea that enables incredible operational capabilities"
Date: 29/05/2012, 8:49 PM
Author: Iddan Sonsino
The IDF Armored Corps will implement groundbreaking changes in the upcoming weeks, significantly increasing tank firepower capabilities.
Strict safety regulations were recently altered, enabling an entire company of tanks moving forward in a straight line to simultaneously fire at enemy targets. Prior to the modification, only the first tank in the line was permitted to fire when confronted with an enemy ahead. "As a result of cooperation within the Israeli Ground Forces, we were able to come up with a creative, outside the box idea that allows tanks to fire together in a column," explained Lt. Col. Avi Marks, Head of the Armored Corps' training department. "This enables incredible operational capabilities," he said.
Last week the Armored Corps held the first ever operational test of the new regulations, which define new shooting angles that enable simultaneous attacks. Maj. Arieh Berger, from the Armored Corps Headquarters, said "the test was extremely successful and the new shooting technique will be implemented into future training and combat scenarios."
Other sources from the Armored Corps explained that the different combat scenarios the Corps is preparing for use the line warfare technique in both urban and mountainous regions, while facing numerous barriers as well as anti-tank missiles. Many of the combat scenarios include fighting in a tight region, and increasing the firing possibilities in such an area will most likely acquire a significant advantage, according to the sources. "We took an old combat organization, restricted by non-practical instructions, and turned it into an entirely new combat doctrine that will significantly influence future battlefields," concluded Lt. Col. Marks.
