DWDD: URBAN WARFARE | DND might acquire medium-sized tanks

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Aug 18): URBAN WARFARE  |  DND might acquire medium-sized tanks

CAMP GEN EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City (DWDD) – The Department of National Defense (DND) is studying the possibility of acquiring medium-sized armoured vehicles to augment its current units.

According to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, they are looking into getting tanks / armoured vehicles weighing 20 tons or less, with medium-caliber cannons, but capable of breaching concrete walls compared to the heavy 40-ton tanks

Sec Lorenzana added that they this type of armoured carriers could fit well the needs of our Armed Forces in dealing with Urban Warfare, like in what is transpiring in Marawi City where the ISIS-inspired Maute terror group seized most of the city and used dwellings and high-rise structures as base of operations, logistics, machine gun nest and sniper positions.

Although he hopes that a Marawi-type conflict will be avoided in the future, any such events will not necessitate the acquisition of a heavy battle tank fleet, but medium tanks would suffice in any urban warfare and for training.

Our Mechanized Infantry Division has in its inventory the Armoured Infantry fighting Vehicle M113A1, the M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers, M706 Commando Vehicle, Scorpion Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance, and the Simba Fighting Vehicle.

Lorenzana believes that the current armour capability that they are using, largely in Marawi (120 armour vehicles), can sustain the needs of the AFP. AES / MCAG



http://dwdd.com.ph/2017/08/18/urban-warfare-dnd-might-acquire-medium-sized-tanks/