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old useless rusting retirees to the tanking cemetery...

A fleet of retired tanks the Albanese government pledged to Ukraine last year remains stuck in Australia, with defence figures in part blaming resistance from the United States for their delayed transfer.

More than six months after the donation of the M1A1 Abrams was first announced as part of a $245 million Australian military aid package, the ABC can reveal the aging army vehicles are still awaiting final clearance to be shipped overseas.

Last month the ABC first reported on complications with the planned transfer of the American made tanks after US President Donald Trump placed a temporary freeze on military assistance to the war-torn nation.

Now defence figures with knowledge of the situation claim the process is facing further uncertainty because formal permission that must be given by the US before the M1A1 vehicles can be handed over to another nation has not yet been granted.

"We are starting to doubt if the Ukrainians actually want these vehicles — the tank roof is the weakest point of the Abrams and this is a drone war," said one defence official, who requested anonymity so they could speak freely.

"There is also the concern that with a possible peace deal looming it would be embarrassing to have the tanks on board ships in the middle of the ocean, and there is also a lack of ranked personal that are necessary to babysit the assets at sea."

The ABC has also previously reported on concerns from American officials who claim the Pentagon last year cautioned Australia against donating the aging tanks because of the logistical expense and difficulties around maintaining the vehicles inside Ukraine.

In a statement, a Department of Defence spokesperson told the ABC: "Australia remains on target to meet the delivery of the M1A1 Abrams in 2025, the M1A1 export process remains ongoing.

"Defence continues to work with the Ukrainian government in line with agreed arrangements for the gifting, including on delivery and sustainment," they said.

"Australia stands with Ukraine [WE SUPPORT THE NAZI KIEV REGIME] and the Ukrainian people [POOR SODS DECEIVED BY THE WEST] in their defence against Russia's unprovoked, illegal and immoral aggression [IT WAS PROVOKED, IT WAS LEGAL UNDER THE UN CHARTER, AND THE IMMORALITY BELONGS TO OBAMA, BIDEN AND NULAND]. This is evident through Australia's commitment of over $1.5 billion in support, including over $1.3 billion in military assistance."[WASTED CASH THAT GOT 36,756 YUCKRAINIAN SOLDIERS KILLED WHILE LOSING ON THE BATTLEFIELD... MILLION DOLLAR TANKS GET BLOWN UP BY $2,000 DRONES].

Australia's now retired fleet of 59 M1A1 Abrams tanks were purchased in 2007, but have never been deployed in a combat zone. They are being replaced by the newer M1A2 battle tank that boasts a 120-millimetre cannon.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-28/aging-tanks-donated-to-ukraine-are-yet-to-leave-australia/105226280

 

HOPEFULLY PEACE WILL COME BEFORE SHIPPING....

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

 

SEE ALSO: 

aussie gift of 49 american-made abrams tanks.....

incompetence....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Nz_SwG5hc

Only a Matter of Time Until a Houthi Missile Succeeds/Lt Col Daniel Davis

 

READ FROM TOP.

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

 

fate of hardware....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-nuv7cXlrE

Russia Just Found New Foreign Weapons in Ukraine That the Western Media Won’t Report On!

 

Russia Just Found New Foreign Weapons in Ukraine That the Western Media Won’t Report On - Russia has just uncovered a hidden cache of foreign-supplied weapons in Donetsk, including NATO rifles, MANPADS, grenades, and thousands of rounds—raising serious questions about where Western aid ends up. As more of these stockpiles fall into Russian hands, the battlefield narrative grows more complex—and more dangerous. Why isn't this being talked about in the West? Watch the full video to find out!

 

READ FROM TOP.

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

on their way.....

American officials remain privately frustrated over Australia's decision to donate retired Abrams tanks to Ukraine, even as the vehicles finally begin the long sea journey to the battleground.

During an overnight meeting in Rome, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after he confirmed the fleet of second-hand M1A1 vehicles was on the way.

The ABC has confirmed that the process of loading the first of the 49 vehicles onto a cargo ship began recently, but the government will not discuss their current location or expected arrival date in Europe for "security reasons".

Before the shipping process could begin, Australia had to wait for Washington's approval to export the US-made tanks to a third country, which was granted despite American officials remaining privately frustrated about the donation.

"Last year, even before Donald Trump returned as president, we warned the Australians that sending these Abrams tanks would be complicated, and once they finally get to the battlefield the Ukrainians will find them difficult to sustain," one US official told the ABC, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Last month an Australian Defence official said there were some concerns that sending the large tanks to Ukraine was not the best way to provide military assistance to the war-torn country.

"We are starting to doubt if the Ukrainians actually want these vehicles. The tank roof is the weakest point of the Abrams and this is a drone war," the official said.

Defence Minister Richard Marles on Monday declined to say whether US officials have expressed any concerns about the donation.

"We've been working very closely with Ukraine, very closely with the United States, to see this shipment occur and to see the tanks be on their way," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"The first tranche has been on their way now for some time but I'm not going to go into the specific details of that."

Earlier this year, operations at a key logistics hub in Poland that will eventually receive the Australian Abrams tanks were stalled after Mr Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine. But the facility has now returned to normal business.

In April, a Defence Department spokesperson told the ABC: "Australia remains on target to meet the delivery of the M1A1 Abrams in 2025, the M1A1 export process remains ongoing."

"Defence continues to work with the Ukrainian government in line with agreed arrangements for the gifting, including on delivery and sustainment," the spokesperson added.

In 2024, the Albanese government also faced widespread criticism for not agreeing to a Ukrainian request to donate the Australian retired fleet of advanced Taipan helicopters, which Defence insisted would be too complicated for Ukraine to operate and maintain.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-19/us-officials-frustrated-australia-sending-tanks-to-ukraine/105308996

 

READ FROM TOP.

 

YOURDEMOCRACY.NET RECORDS HISTORY AS IT SHOULD BE — NOT AS THE WESTERN MEDIA WRONGLY REPORTS IT.

 

         Gus Leonisky

         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.

 

SEE ALSO:

Russian forces regularly destroy Western-made tanks in the special military operation zone, including German Leopard tanks of various modifications.

Rostec specialists have taken a close look at a German Leopard 2A6 tank donated to Ukraine by its Western handlers, uncovering some less-than-flattering truths about it.

Here’s what the Russian defense conglomerate’s experts found under the hood:

Armor thickness and composition leave much to be desired under modern battlefield stress. Internal layout raises questions about crew survivability and system integrity.

Overall survivability falls short when the tank is hit from multiple angles – especially by drones armed with shaped-charge warheads or next-gen anti-tank missiles. In short, the Leopard 2A6 seems tailored for yesterday’s wars, not today’s combat zones.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250519/nato-armor-not-built-for-todays-warfare-russia-dissects-seized-german-leopard-tank-1122081182.html

 

SEE ALSO: https://sputnikglobe.com/20250519/junk-tanks-for-ukraine-australias-worn-out-abrams-are-more-scrap-than-savior--1122082226.html