Jun 8, 2023
(via What It Looks Like to Load and Fire Inside an Abrams Tank)
Article by Kile Mizokami
skilled U.S. Army tank loaders can load the gun in three seconds, and in the first Gulf War, an M1 Abrams tank destroyed three enemy vehicles in five seconds.
Tank crews are also useful in other roles. The more crew around to do tank maintenance and upkeep the better. During lulls in combat, a four man tank can still have one man outside the tank, keeping watch, while the rest of the crew can still man all the tank's essential functions. A three man tank will have to send the gunner, driver, or commander outside—meaning the tank either can't shoot, can't move, or the commander can't quickly issue commands to the crew.
