Word: tankfuls
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...sudden change in Moscow's policy. In case of a sudden military threat, NATO could not mount a credible deterrent-at present force levels and with the present economic and political weaknesses of many Western governments. In terms of numbers, the alliance today is outmanned, outgunned, out-tanked and out-planed. This is primarily the result of the massive buildup of Soviet armed forces that began ten years ago and has yet to slacken (TIME, March 8). A top NATO official points out that the U.S.S.R. now turns out a new submarine every five weeks and 800 warplanes...
This strategy has made sense to NATO, even though the alliance is so heavily outgunned on the battlefield. For one thing, NATO would be on the defensive, thus requiring significantly fewer troops than an attacker. NATO also benefits from advanced technology. Comparison of NATO and Warsaw Pact tanks serves as a good example of NATO'S superior equipment: although the mammoth Soviet T-62 is heavier than its Western rivals-the U.S.'s M60, Britain's Chieftain and West Germany's Leopard-it is less accurate, slower, and sports a vulnerably exposed rear fuel tank...
Despite such NATO advantages, the flexible response strategy has become less attractive as Soviet forces have increased to a level where they may be able to spring an attack without giving much warning. NATO is poorly prepared for the kind of short, ferocious rocket, tank and artillery blitz that Moscow could launch. Indeed, the Soviets would launch no other kind, for their 75%-to-25% ratio of combat troops to support troops (the U.S. puts 50% in logistics and support) is predicated on a fast-moving front. In a discomfiting break from tradition, Moscow is now training its air force...
...advanced programs. Even so, there have been some encouraging steps. Among them: a new rocket mine-laying system that will use a U.S. mine and a West German rocket, the U.S. purchase of the Belgian MG-58 machine gun, the interchangeable key components of the new U.S. XM-1 tank and the West German Leopard II tank...
...Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank, Bombeck...