I understand infantry is mechanized and only travels on foot when in actual combat. However tanks travel faster than people can walk and run. How do tanks and infantry support each other without tanks being vulnerable by moving slow, given that tanks are also vulnerable without infantry support?
In: 11
You can move the tank fast if it is supported by dismounted infantry.
One option is to design tanks that have a low max speed and increase the armor of the tank. That was done between the world wars and you end up with tanks like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_II) with a top speed on-road of 24km/h and 14km/h off-road. It had armor that with a thickness up to 78mm and other tanks in the early part of the war could not take it out. During the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arras_(1940) Germany had to use the 88mm anti-air/anti-tank guns to take the mount.
The British also had fast but lighter armored cruiser tanks for exploration behind enemy lines.
Later in WWII and after it it was clear that that was not the best idea and you could build well armored and fast Main Battle Tank, this is what we have today.
Today infantry is transported in IFV and APC so they can move as fast last the tank if they are in them. If they are dismounted you need to have a slower avrage speed.
A tank that is still or moves slowly is not necessary a vulnerable tank. A tank that moves fast is not necessarily a take that is safe. If it is still or moving on an open field with enemies that are in range and are not detected is vulnerable. If a tank is stationary or drives in a location where the enemy can see it is safe.
So you can have that is in a turned town position behind the crest of ground. That means only sensors on the turret are exposed. You can then move forward engage the enemy quickly and move back in cover. You can be completely behind the crest and only move forward you get information about a target from someone else like infantry on the ground https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hull-down
You can see a tank during something like this in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9euAYAUyGs It is exposed for quite a long time but still, it manages to fire and back away before an anti-tank missile fired at it reach the tank.
So stay in an overwatch position like that and have infantry advance in front of you. Engage target as required.
Tanks should not operate alone so when some tank is in a position like that ready to engage the enemy other tanks can quickly drive forward to a new position where have some protection and can engage the enemy.
Advancing with your friend covering you is what infantry too.
Latest Answers