Q&A · 3:23:30-3:24:45

Have helicopters replaced land-based tank destroyers?

A claim that tank destruction now belongs to helicopters prompts examples of forces that retain wheeled or missile-armed ground vehicles.

Question

Has the tank-destroyer role become the preserve of helicopters?

Short answer

In some forces, but others retain land-based tank destroyers, and a medium force without heavy tanks could still have a use for them.

Notes

A medium force without conventional tanks could still benefit from a dedicated tank-destroyer unit. The Marine Corps' removal of its tanks supplies the immediate example for that proposal. Missile-equipped vehicles in some CV90-based forces and wheeled Italian tank destroyers show that the land role continues in different forms. Helicopters perform it in some forces, while others retain ground vehicles.