Ukrainian soldier claims video games boosted his efficiency in taking down Putin's prized tank
A video demonstrating the armored skirmish in Ukraine between the M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the T-90M Proryv tank has recently gained significant attention on social media. The highly-valued Russian tank, often referred to as Putin's pride, was no match for the American M2A2 Bradley operated by the Ukrainian crew.
M2A2 Bradley crew discusses the defeat of a Russian tank
In a conversation with local journalists, Bradley's gunner talked about the vehicle and its recent confrontation with the Russians. Particularly intriguing was his claim that experience gleaned from video games boosted his firing efficiency against the enemy tank.
The Ukrainian's testimony has spurred a vibrant debate on social media, with commentators contemplating which games he might have mentioned. War Thunder and World of Tanks, popular multiplayer war simulator games that permit interaction with various heavy equipment, including tanks, in a virtual realm, are frequently speculated. It's important to note that each M2A2 Bradley crew, sourced from the United States, receives proper training. While video games can't substitute it, their experience might be beneficial in specific scenarios.
The M2A2 Bradley's primary armament, the M242 Bushmaster 25 mm automatic gun, fires 200 rounds per minute and is worth mentioning. The M2A2 Bradley also includes an anti-tank missile launcher and a 7.62 mm machine gun, making it a competent infantry fighting vehicle. The variants shipped to Ukraine have the ODS feature, equipped with an advanced laser rangefinder and state-of-the-art optoelectronics with next-generation thermal vision.
M2A2 Bradley's value for Ukrainian assistance
The robust armor of the M2A2 Bradley is also highly applauded. Its high resilience means that the vehicle has repeatedly saved the lives of Ukrainians, enduring even tank fire from the T-72, another Russian machine. Additionally, the vehicle's durability can be further improved using the BRAT (Bradley Reactive Armor Tiles) package comprising reactive panels. This shields the vehicle against enemy automatic cannons or anti-tank grenade fire.
A spokesperson from another unit operating these American vehicles recently claimed that "without them, the northern flank would already have been lost". Hence, he highlighted the invaluable contribution of the M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles in the Avdiivka region.
