[archy]

I would gladly trade the effect of a mortar round for the effect of a tank main gun round in urban combat. The plentiful cover available is usually proof against the shrapnel from mortar rounds, but not so from the blast effects of direct fire from a tank's main gun.

Right up to the point that the bad guys start firing wire guided missiles at your tanks from beyond main gun range, or from *throwaway* positions inside buildings. And the tank crews only defense against those missiles is WP smoke fire from the mortars that obscures the ability of the missile gunners to track their targets and of the WP to burn out and sever the guidance wires. Thast's the reason every Israeli Merkava tank is itself firtted with a turret-mounted light mortar. Ours aren't.

[Poodlebrain]

Life and combat are not without risks. What do you consider to be beyond main gun range? In urban terrain there is seldom a several kilometer, unobstructed line of sight that would exceed a tank's main gun range.

You validate my point by making reference to the Israeli's. They do not bring Merkavas on their raids into West Bank and Gaza cities for the light mortar fire. The Merkava's light mortar is an augmentation to the tank's main gun not a substitute.

[in the Arena]

Ha ! The IDF really likes their MBT...there's a little propaganda in this photo...unless the horizon really is a quarter bubble off in that part of the globe... :O)