Whats you favorite AFV or tank - and why

[kicker]

What tank or AFV is your favorite and why- this is not who tank is better than whos but rather a chance for you to just list your favorite tank of all time. Like I think that the M1a2 is the best tank, but I think there are alot of other ones that are realy cool too. My favorite I would have to say would be the Merkava mk4 MBT, because it is so different from other tanks in design and mind set. Man its hard to make up my mind. List 2nd and 3rd place if you want to.

[kruser79]

I enlisted as an M1 Mechanic. I cut my teeth on the first-fielded XM1s. I've seen it's early problematic days, and watched it grow into the powerhouse that everyone lauds today. Of course it's my favorite because in twenty-one years I've come to know it quite well (you know how you can tell when your ol' dog just ain't feelin' up to par? Yup...). The big tank makers amongst us allies (Abrams, Leo, Chally) all have awesome machines, but THAT one is my baby.

My other tie for first isn't a fighting vehicle per se. The M88 came out during the Vietnam war. When they started looking for something to augment the ever-increasing weight of the M1, they came up with a couple of designs. One by one they all fell to the wayside, with the improved M88, the HERCULES coming out on top. It has enough improvements to keep it current for many years to come, while keeping all of the things that have made the 88 an invaluable tool. Very few recovery vehicles have all of the capabilities of the 88. The German mechanics were envious of our refuel/defuel and hydraulic impact wrench, but what they really ooh'd and ahh'd over was the amount of sleeping and working space we had, lol. (Not to mention the fact that we could hook to the Leo II, and drag it like an M577, shifting up through the gears all the way, lol.)
Okay, so I spent the first half of my career on 88's. Anytime you're greeted by grinning tankers saying, "Man, have we been waiting for YOU guys!" And slept on a vehicle long enough to know exactly where to position yourself in order to miss all the exposed bolt heads, you kinda get attached....

[Garandman]

There are two tanks that to me were most significant if "best" means "our side wins."

The first is the Renault FT17/18 light tank. This tank had a rotating turret, good crew visibility, mobility, and other features which made it the pattern which most later tanks followed. It was produced in many countries, including the U.S.. One was recently recovered in Afghanistan and the French gave the U.S. permission to bring it back. A web search will give you many references.

The other is the Russian T34. This tank was developed and built during desperate fighting by a barely industrialized country and in some instances driven from the factory to battle. Yet it overmatched the best efforts of every other country and sent them all back to the drawing boards. Contrast this with the numerous but usually overmatched M4 Sherman. Imagine if the M26 Pershing had been widely fielded in June 1944 or earlier.

[CavScout2]

Leo2A6 I think it's better than the M1A2SEP. M8 AGS, wish we coulda had it but it fills a slot we need. Best light gun period.
Of course I like the Stryker FOV. This also includes the NBC and ADA vehicles. Since I am a Scout I like the Coyote the C'nucks got.

Thats me.

FORWARD!!!
OUT FRONT!!!

[kruser79]

Originally Posted by CavScout2

Leo2A6 I think it's better than the M1A2SEP. M8 AGS, wish we coulda had it but it fills a slot we need. Best light gun period.
Of course I like the Stryker FOV. This also includes the NBC and ADA vehicles. Since I am a Scout I like the Coyote the C'nucks got.

Thats me.

FORWARD!!!
OUT FRONT!!!

I was doing a little recon for an upcoming test while checking some training for the Mortar Carrier test. Got to talk to one of the MGS gurus and take a closer look at it. A bunch of the components are said to be AGS components (I could tell, some of them actually are), and he said they're making progress on reliability problems (only time will well, huh?).......

[NDak]

You know, for all it's shortcomings, I would have to say that my favorite tank is the M4 Sherman. Granted it had a tough time in WWII, but I think it's just a beauty to look at and was the first widely recognized armored vehicle the US produced. I see it as kind of an icon for WWII. I take off for 19K OSUT at Ft. Knox Feb. 4 and I know I'm going to love the Abrams, but it would be awesome if I could take a Sherman for a spin sometime!

[BrianOKeeffe]

Well Men, I don't care what kind of tank it is, if it don't shoot canister or flechette, it ain't ****