Tanks not allowed to participate in parade according to Trump's wishes
The Pentagon will not deploy tracked vehicles such as tanks in a parade in November to avoid damaging roads.
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The US military band marches on the streets of Washington DC. Photo:Military Times. |
"Only wheeled vehicles are allowed, no tanks. Care must be taken to avoid damaging local infrastructure,"Reutersciting the content of a memo released by the US Department of Defense on March 9 regarding preparations for the parade in November.
The Pentagon is developing plans and guidelines for a military parade President Donald Trump wants to stage in Washington, DC, on November 11 to commemorate the end of World War I.
US main battle tanks such as the Abrams weigh around 60 tons, which is too much for many of the capital’s roads. Tank tracks can cause ruts and peel off the asphalt, making post-parade road repairs costly.
The White House announced in February that President Trump wanted to hold a military parade to showcase the US military’s strength and show gratitude to those who have served in the country’s armed forces. The move has been met with strong public backlash, especially since the cost of the parade is estimated to be between $10 million and $30 million.
Mr Trump said a parade needed a lot of planes flying overhead. The US president was inspired by his visit to France in 2017 and the Bastille Day parade.
