I really hope that the XM-30 wins the OMFV competition for the US Army. It would check a bunch of boxes in my CA fantasy world.
Only it’s objectively not built to do what you said. It’s not meant to do pretty much anything we expect a light tank to do. Rather it’s meant to provide limited direct fire support to the air borne and air assault divisions. The 105 has been an obsolete tank gun since the mid 80s, the armour protection is only good when compared to the ISV, and so the question of what it would add to a mechanized formation looms large. It’s being fetishized by some who love the idea of the “small and handy” while failing to understand the design of the M10 and the intent behind it.
Who knows, with this Government.
Agreed. When it comes up in conversation with fellow blackhatters, the rough consensus is that the Booker would only be useful in a light bde scenario where for example 5CMBG is converted to 5CABG (Canadian Airmobile Brigade Group) as a DFS or light armoured cav element. 3 Sqns plus an RHQ worth of Bookers and compatible wreckers along with some spares for 12RBC would be all we need max. They'd add some teeth to a bde otherwise mounted up in MRZR/DAGOR type platforms or whatever IMV the LUV program may provide. The main benefit of the Booker is the ability to move 2 in a C17 at once. We desperately need a new real tank, not a StuG.
Do you see a use for the Booker in amphibious landings for the USMC?
I'm certainly not an amphibious expert but I'd say no, simply because they aren't amphibious. If the USMC wants a second-wave light tank that lands after the marines then maybe it could be useful but I think they'd rather have real tanks from the Army land instead of tracked assault gun in those scenarios. Anywhere the USMC needs tanks the Army will be there anyways. That was the rationale for getting rid of USMC tanks in favour of a more agile force.
not amphibious no but neither is the M1. The landing part being carried out via landing craft
Exactly, so if you need a landing craft anyways, may as well have an army MBT. Better armour, better gun.
except that the tanks were too big for the landing crafts as i understood or limited to one
They are on the cushioned landing craft. One tank max. The Booker would also be limited to one. Maybe two if the combat load is severely limited and the craft dimensions allow for it and that'd really be pushing it. I'd still rather have one real tank as opposed to one assault gun or two ammunition-limited assault guns.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Mass | 42.2 tonnes (increased on later models from original 40 tonnes)[1] |
| Length | 9.54/8.29 m (gun forward/rearward) |
| Width | 3.37 m |
| Height | 2.39/2.7 m (turret roof/absolute) |
| Crew | 4 (commander, driver, gunner, radio operator/loader) |
| Armour | Steel: 10–70 mm RHAe |
| Main armament | 1 × 105 mm Royal Ordnance L7A3 L/52 rifled gun (13 rounds in turret 42 rounds in hull) |
| Secondary armament | 2 × 7.62 mm MG 3 or FN MAG (co-axial and commander's hatch) (5500 rounds) |
| Engine | MTU MB 838 CaM 500, 10-cylinder, 37.4 litres, multi-fuel engine 830 PS (819 hp, 610 kW) at 2,200 RPM |
| Power/weight | 19.6 PS (14.5 kW) /tonne |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
| Operational range | 600 km (on road), 450 km (cross-country) |
| Maximum speed |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Mass | roughly 38–42 tonnes (37–41 long tons; 42–46 short tons)[2][3] |
| Main armament | 1 × 105 mm M35 tank gun |
| Secondary armament | 1 × 12.7 mm M2HB heavy machine gun 1 × 7.62 mm M240B machine gun |
| Engine | Diesel MTU 8V199 TE23[4] 15.9 L, 1,070 hp (800 kW) |
| Transmission | Allison Transmission 3040 MX cross-drive |
| Suspension | Hydropneumatic[5] |
| Operational range | 250–350 mi (400–560 km) |
| Maximum speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
Strategic airlift capabilities are vastly different now compared to the 1970s-1980s. The Globemaster III can carry over double it's predecessor (Starlifter). Nowadays maybe you could use the Leo 1 in an Airmobile bde. Maybe you can use a Sherman. Wouldn't be advisable though since they aren't designed as such. The Booker is designed as such. The first div to get it is the 82nd, pretty clear what the intent is there.
Actually the M1A2 was too heavy. Hence why the USMC never bought into it, but stuck to A1 variants.
I imagine that would be rectified with the SSC landing craft program? Isn't delivery starting this year or next?
