https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJgzdhVeq2g

I am sure you will like the Strabokran moving gantry

Would be interesting to hear what the Ukrainian maintainers have to do for the Abrams

I'd also dispute that D&I is to blame for this sort of moral cowardice in Naval leadership. D&I is about recruiting the best people for the job, whoever they are, and retaining those people, whoever they are. The subsidised boarding school places for forces children, allowing parents to more easily serve overseas is an example of D&I. D&I says "This behaviour drives talented and dedicated young ratings and officers away from the service; Write them up."

It is not just one individual or even one service. It is clear there is a complete lack of Strategic Thinking in procurement and operational level. We have to look at both the Civil Servant and Senior Leadership training that is happening in Defence sphere. We have to decouple agreeing with Politicians to getting Lordships and K's. You should have to show you have actually achieved something to get those accolades.

As to this problem. There is a simple solution (If not already sold) there are 98 M10 booker vehicles sitting in the Desert in the USA. Based on the Ascod design (Appreciate not identical). Buy them and this then gives time to take back the problematic vehicles and re-engineer them. In fact in the modern world where we only have 150 CR3's I would suggest asking GDLS to make another 100 and integrate them long term into a mixed CR3/M10 tank fleet as at 48T at Theatre Entry Level either Ajax or M10 (For God Sake change the name) is in effect a tank. I would even go as far since the turret ring is built for it get Rheinmetall to retrofit a 120mm turret on them. Plus all should be fitted with APS. Then turn the 295 Ajax variants into IFV's to replace the Warrior Debacle.

But that would take a lot of humble pie eating something the MoD and Army don't seem capable of.

This reeks of institutional collusion and corruption. Since Ajax contract was placed, BAE have fielded multiple new versions of CV90 without any issues.

If Ajax continues which the CGS insists it will??? The army will be stuck with an unreliable platform with multiple ongoing problems which will never be solved.

Through life costs will be massive, there will be no exports or further work for Merthyr which will close anyway unless HMG are stupid enough to continue placing more vehicle contract to a US company that has over promised and underdelivered on every contract it has ever received

May I humbly suggest something like the old US cavalry orbat which mixed tanks and IFV's? Apparently there 105mm ASCOD version?

For reconnaissance I would use Stormer. A troop being two 'gun carriers' with a drone carrier and a comms / network vehicle.

The gap we have and something nobody seems to care is about is we have nothing for the other cavalry tasks beyond recce. Tanks are for fighting tanks. What about:
screens
advance and rear guard
counter recce
deception
anti-airborne
flank protection
rear area and supply route security
raids
pursuit
seize and hold
recce strike
delaying action
liaison
traffic regulation
escort
communications (dispatches)
Where is the vehicle and formation for all that little lot?

My own view is in view of the size of Ajax maybe we look towards it more as a light tank option.

Build out 3 Brigades of Armoured Infantry based on 30 Tank, CR3 Regiment, Supported by 30 Ajax Light/Infantry Tank Regiment. We have seen in Ukraine the effectiveness of even 30mm guns at taking out Russian Armour, with some research maybe the ammunition can become more deadly against armoured targets, but the reality is for infantry close support the Ajax probably is enough ?

I would appreciate those with expert knowledge's view. As it would appear if it had a Trophy Style defensive suite to be more than capable of surviving in a tank on tank scenario. I think its too late to give them 105mm guns like the M10, but lets use a 48T vehicle in the formation & for the purpose it can achieve rather than deluding ourselves this big monster of a Vehicle can do silent reconnaissance.

You then move the reconnaissance element over to vehicles equipped with drones and other systems using lighter vehicles (6×6 or highly armoured 4×4) and remote control vehicles using the regimental manpower of the those equipped with Jackal. Transferring Jackal into the light deployable regiments such as the RM & Para's where their open cabs is an advantage and a 12.7mm machine gun is punch enough. Transferring the Viking Armoured Vehicles to a medium Regiment in the British Army dedicated to supporting the High North, probably with the 4th Ajax Regiment attached .

Like I say not perfect, but we all know that 150 CR3's isn't enough and maybe pairing them with 150 Ajax vehicles, ultimately at 48T they are a Tank so use them like one.

I remember his favourite recce vehicle was his mountain bike.

Apparently Ajax has the same pressure signature as Chally 2. What I am expecting is Ajax to be purchased but suffering from that complaint often suffered by RN and RAF, FFBNW. I am expecting large and EMPTY vehicles to reach the regiments not the full cream as promised version.

There are some minor quibbles, but so far the by far weakest (IMO bad) chapter was the one about air defence. The other chapters lack a certain comprehensiveness, but don’t lack much in agreeability.

Reconnaissance is a rather blind spot. It’s included in the later offence chapter, but Wilf appears to omit too much about reconnaissance and counterreconnaissance in mobile warfare including when your overall posture is rather defensive. Suppose the enemy successfully advances with fast-moving forces and the situation becomes chaotic/fluid, all plans are obsolete. Reconnaissance becomes all-important and counterreconnassance becomes a hugely important force protection and countermobility activity.

Another thing I’m missing so far is the aspect of adversarial relationship. We counter what’s theirs, they counter what’s ours. The adversarial relationship evolves rapidly in tactics and equipment. Wilf rather conveys a conservative attitude by mentioning mostly things that have been true and steady for a long time. Think about the FPV electronic warfare spiral in Ukraine – jammers and datalinks getting devalued within months. Luttwak had a great insight about this and I believe those who want to understand warfare should understand such adversarial spirals with great clarity.

Overall, it’s a worthwhile books to read (so far).

You are not the only person who thinks outside of the box on these matters………..Normalcy bias is everywhere because most are average thinkers who think average thoughts that are not unique.