subject redacted

[unixronin]

<Brain>  "PINKY!  ...Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

<Pinky>  "Uh, I think so, Brain, but where are we going to find a silencer big enough to put on a tank?"

I gotcher tank¹ silencer right here.

[1]  Yes, I know it's not technically a tank, it's an M109 self-propelled 155mm howitzer.  But do you really think Pinky knows the difference?  He's barking² insane.

[2]  And that's not easy when you're a mouse.

Comments

[johnkzin.livejournal.com]

a) As someone else pointed out, a tank turret can turn in a full circle, and a tank has more armor (it's intended for direct fights). Tanks also have shallow angles of attack for their main gun (ie. usually they only fire at an angle that is closer than 45degrees to the ground), for the same reason: direct fight -> direct fire -> direct shot at target.

b) a mobile howitzer is an artillery piece, and therefore does not engage in direct fights with its targets. As a result, it doesn't need to turn its turret much, and doesn't need much in the way of direct armor (not enough to stand up to a tank attack). Also, they tend to be used for indirect fire, which means steep angles of attack (greater than 45degrees angle between the barrel and the ground).

Though, I'm not sure if the actual cut off is 45 degrees or less. It might be 30. Point is: with direct fire you aim the barrel at the target and shoot, trying to get the shell to hit the side of the target (mostly); indirect fire you aim into the sky and try to get the shell to land on top of the target. Tanks are designed for direct fire and up-close combat. Mobile Artillery pieces aren't designed for either of those.