> That’s one reasons why tanks, when not in action, get transported on trailers.
While that may be a minor reason, the actual big reasons are the most current M1A2 SEP tanks at ~147,200 pounds destroy roads, convoy operations are a giant pain, tanks are an immense hazard to trucks and cars, and the fuel consumption is off the charts, making this not economical.
> The text even says “significant numbers of failures were recorded during months with zero usage”, indicating that keeping a M1 parked isn’t easy, either.
Zero usage doen't mean that preventitive maintenance checks & services cease. Given that even idling a 1500hp turbine for maintenance is a major undertaking that is a good amount of start/stop and usage of the entire system, even if getting no road time.
Reading https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monograph_reports..., page number 29 (page 53 of the PDF), it seems many would break down if driven only 375 km. That’s less than the range you claim they have.
That’s one reasons why tanks, when not in action, get transported on trailers.
The text even says “significant numbers of failures were recorded during months with zero usage”, indicating that keeping a M1 parked isn’t easy, either.