Quote:
Originally Posted by nikimcbee
Do you think it would have mattered if they, the T-72s, were manned by Russian crews?
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Yes. Russian crews
would have sat in better versions of the T-72 and in the T-80, and would have had better ammo. As I said, they probably would have been eaten in 91 and 03 nevertheless, but they would have set up more of a fight, and I expect they would have caused higher losses. And where the Russian tank crews would have been, there also would have been Russian infantry, Russian infantry-fired SAMs, Russian Flak-tanks, and other Russian army material. The latest Russian Panzerfausts/RPGs are anything but subtle on tanks. And who knows - maybe there would have been plenty of Russian artillery as well. Plus Russian satellite intel and ELINT.
It makes little sense to single out a single variable only and by that judging the outcome of a complete war, which is a complex formula with much more than just variable. And if their tacticval analysts are worth their payment, they have learned from the Mujaheddin during their Afghanistan war what Panzerfausts can do to overwhelming tank forces, if the right tactics are used. Panjshir valley, anyone? The Russians lost dozens and dozens of Ts and BMPs there.