Now with lessons pertaining to Ukraine in particular
Lesson 1: Tanks are useless and too vulnerable.
Well, think we've all heard arguments and counter arguments to that countless time, so I wouldn't elaborate on this point too much. Tanks as a blunt instrument of breakthrough are indeed quite dead, Infantry Anti-tank weapons have advanced too much and became too common, infantry screens cannot and will not protect tanks against ATGM, this is simply not possible for rifleman to defend tanks against 2 guys hiding in the tree line 2 km away. I believe tanks nowadays can more accurately be described as firesupport platforms, which are obviously still useful.
Fully agreed with Lessons 2 & 3. However I have a different opinion for Lesson 1. I partially agree with it, but I believe that tanks still have a place in the modern battlefield.
The 21st century battlefield is indeed massively lethal for tanks. There are too many weapons out there that can easily destroy an expensive main battle tank. Nevertheless, tanks should not be viewed as just a lone weapon system that can do it all. The Western media have overhyped the tank into mythical status through its over-glorified portrayal of German WWII Panzers, and Western MBTs as superweapons.
The tank, should be viewed in the same value as other fighting vehicles like IFVs, APCs, SPH, and Armoured Cars in a combined-arms group. Any one of those vehicles alone, are almost useless. The tank is always depicted as the centerpiece of an armoured formation, supported by all the other lighter vehicles. However, that is not true. The tank does support the other light vehicles by doing exactly what the other vehicles cannot do, which is to take hits. A tank is usually the priority target for the enemy, so it has the perhaps the most underrated job: To draw enemy fire to itself, away from its softer teammates. And that is actually a protective role. The tank draws a good deal of deadly anti-vehicle fire away from the other softer vehicles like IFVs, APCs, Armoured Cars, etc. If a tank gets hit by AT fire, that would have saved so many other lives in the other softer vehicles. Plus, people have a much higher chance of survival in a knocked-out tank, rather than in a knocked-out APC.
Another important role of the tank is providing direct fire. The main gun of an MBT is one of the most effective, cost-efficient, and feared direct-fire weapon on the battlefield. There are ATGMs and autocannons, but the big-bore high-velocity gun with modern FCS is still an extremely potent weapon. An ATGM costs more to blow up a garrisoned building. An autocannon can only do so much damage. But a tank gun firing cheap HE shells will get the job done with high-effectiveness and low cost. Additionally, a tank gun can provide much greater volume of fire than ATGMs and autocannons. In 10 minutes, a tank gun can put more 105mm - 125mm rounds downrange than missiles from an ATGM launcher. And can rain more destructive firepower than an autocannon. When attacking multiple big targets, a tank gun is the more efficient weapon, when available. Some might argue: but what about assault guns like the Stryker MGS? They too can bring the firepower of big-bore guns to the field, but on a much lighter chassis. Well, that depends on battlefield necessity. An assault gun is ill-suited to take the firing positions that a tank can take, because of its weaker protection. It can only take firing positions that are relatively safe, like hull-down positions. While a tank can risk exposing itself out in the open for a short while to fire a shot. The tank can bet that its own protection can survive at least one hit from the enemy, while an assault gun cannot.
Tanks, when employed in a role as part of a team can do a good job in the modern battlefield. In my view, they are not obsolete yet. The tank gun is still a very relevant weapon today. And the tank's armour allows it to take risks and enemy fire that no other ground vehicle can handle. I am aware of the arrival of the APS that is supposed to render old-fashioned armour obsolete. But as of today, APS is still quite uncommon, and the current, or older generations are still far from providing reliable and effective protection. Until APS is perfected and widely distributed, the good-old tank armour will still maintain its usefulness.
