Abrams or more T-55s: firepower, maintenance, and support crews

Would a small force of modern Abrams or a larger force of T-55s be preferable in war?

Fleet chooses T-55s for numbers and field maintenance, while other panelists favor Abrams capability and the smaller force's lower personnel burden.

The hypothetical choice is between a small force of modern Abrams tanks and a substantially larger force of T-55s. Fleet favors the T-55s because he expects simpler maintenance to keep them running when supply becomes restricted. More vehicles would also cover a larger area. Other panelists favor Abrams, arguing that greater capability per tank could offset the smaller force. Fewer vehicles also need fewer mechanics and fewer people to feed, so simplicity per vehicle does not by itself establish the smaller logistical burden. The discussion adds a concern about the T-55's arrangement of ammunition in fuel-tank spaces. The exchange remains a disagreement about the assumed operating conditions, rather than a settled ranking of the two tanks.