"Iraqi brigade swaps Abrams for T-90S tanks " Topic

"Iraq's newly arrived T-90S tanks have been delivered to units that previously operated M1A1 Abrams tanks.

The Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the decision to swap the US-made tanks for Russian ones on 6 June, saying 39 T-90S tanks had been handed over to the 35th Brigade of the 9th Armoured Division to equip two battalions. It said the units' officers and crews had been retrained with Russian assistance and their Abrams tanks transferred to the division's 34th Brigade.

The 34th Brigade has been seen operating T-72s, the tank from which the T-90S was developed…."
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They don't remember how well they work last time?….(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Sounds like the T-90 is a much lower maintenance vehicle both politically and in the field. The US was alarmed at Abrams ending up with Iranian and Iraqi militias and were pressuring the government to report on the tanks whereabouts. I imagine Russians have no such reservations. For the Iraqis, cheaper and easier to maintain, Soviet equipment makes more sense.

39 tanks for two battalions? Things must have changed since I was in. Back in the day a Soviet/Iraqi battalion had 32 tanks.

The lower physical maintenance probably won the discussion.

It sounds like by 'battalion' they mean 'company'!

Surely that's just the first battalion, right?

Glad to hear that all that cash we poured into Iraq is going for a good cause.