The Australian M1A1 AIM and M1A2C are coming to the UK TT! This further rounds out the already decently-populated UK Rank VIII, and complements it with doctrinally-similar Western equipment.
It’s a time for celebration, in particular for our Australian cousins who finally have a Tech Tree to officially call home.
But there’s a couple of issues;
With the M1A2C being added to the UK TT’s Commonwealth & Export tank line, the end of the line has now been raised to 12.7, making it a fully top tier line. However, there a large gap has now been created between BRs 10.7 and 12.7.
Fig. 1 Tech Tree of the gaps argument.
There are now two identical Squadron vehicles! The M1A1 AIM in the US Tech Tree was confirmed to be remaining in its current position, with no modification to vehicle name, Operator, or Squadron vehicle status (it was previously rumoured to become a USMC AIM in the event of the UK receiving an Australian AIM).
Fig. 2 Be strong for mother.
Having monitored the situation (heavily), I predicted that the two Abrams would come to the UK TT as Researchable vehicles in a similar manner to the 12.0 and 12.7 Australian Hornets; using Commonwealth ties to inject raw, grass-fed American hardware into the hellscape of 1980s-90s MoD procurement policy. I’ll admit to being a little disappointed.
Fig. 3 Highway to the spider zone
In my own opinion the new Abrams’ would work best as Researchable vehicles in the Commonwealth & Export line, but as an alternative arrangement I’d suggest they trade places to create a Squadron M1A2C and a Researchable M1A1 AIM so that the lower-BR vehicle can be added first.
But rather than a Suggestion, I’ll treat this as a discussion and ask;
Should the position of the new UK Abrams remain as they are currently, with a Squadron M1A1 AIM and Researchable M1A2C?
Make both M1A1 AIM and M1A2C Researchable
Make M1A1 AIM Researchable, and M1A2C a Squadron vehicle
An Arjun Mk.1A, Bhishma Mk.III or Vickers Mk.7/2 could potentially close the gap too.
I’ll say yes, as currently we have nothing to say that either of those 3 are coming (or if they are, as a tech tree),
but if thats the case then the Squadron one should be made more in-line with a normal M1A1 as to add to the 11.7 challengers, but that might not be possible
The AIM being SQV is linking because of a standard that now exists for how sub-tree vehicle are copied (moved) to their new tree, considering they liked it too the Ram II.
But line 2 is also the export and commonwealth line, so need to room fine the remaining Vickers MBTs, the one or too 11.X Indian MBTs (and 12.X if the ever get one), and hopefully the Leo 2A6M CAN.
At the moment the gap is weird and look better right now with AIM in the research tree but it’s not like there isn’t option to fitt that gap that isn’t the AIM, we just need those options to come.
Personally I think it’s a no brainer to move the Challenger 2E over to the export line, seeing as it is an export tank, and then add the Desert Challenger (an earlier export Challenger prototype, still gets the 1,500hp engine) at 12.0, with only L26.
Would start to form a lovely 12.0 lineup alongside the CR3 TD and the AIM.
If we’re going full on Commonwealth of Nations then Sebbo has already given us nearly all the options here:
Though, I’m hoping we hit the breaks on the Commonwealth with the countries we have and stop adding more. I’d personally like to see something more like this:
