Urban warfare is one of the most difficult wars for armored vehicles and tanks, because the fighters on the opposing side can surprise them from close distances, in addition to hiding between residential buildings and exploiting other weak points of the vehicles.
A report broadcast by Al Jazeera monitored the most prominent strengths of tanks, their impact on the course of battles, the extent of their dependence on infantry forces, and the reasons for the difficulty of urban warfare with armor.
Tanks and armored vehicles are considered the backbone of the ground forces, as they bring together various elements, and provide firepower in battle, armor, and artillery power. Therefore, armies use them as an offensive weapon, in raids, and on the fronts.
But the tank crew has a limited range of vision from the inside, and blind angles prevent it from identifying nearby targets, so it needs infantry forces to protect it, and thus it loses the ability to maneuver when entering cities, and the possibility of attackers approaching it becomes greater due to their ability to take advantage of its blind angles.
Even if cameras are installed to inspect the area around the tank, the presence of cement blocks allows attackers to hide, approach it, and surprise it.
The presence of tunnels has another role in concealing fighters, as they can move with difficulty being detected by the opposing forces, as it is possible for the attackers to appear from underground and not just above it, and then it is easier for them to target the armored vehicle, and in this case the short range gives an advantage to the attackers.
Therefore, cities are considered one of the most difficult environments for tanks to operate, as they need protection from infantry forces, which in turn are vulnerable to monitoring and targeting city defenders and those hidden in buildings and tunnels.
