History Main / TanksForNothing

Even in more [[RealRobotGenre "realistically" based]] HumongousMecha shows, the mechas can destroy tanks with ease despite being larger targets and not having any heavier weapons or armor than battle tanks. In fact, these reasons are why most militaries consider the idea of HumongousMecha to be impractical to begin with. This can be [[JustifiedTrope justified]] if there is an extreme technological gap between the combatants.

Even in more "realistically" based HumongousMecha shows, the mechas can destroy tanks with ease despite being larger targets and not having any heavier weapons or armor than battle tanks. In fact, these reasons are why most militaries consider the idea of HumongousMecha to be impractical to begin with. This can be [[JustifiedTrope justified]] if there is an extreme technological gap between the combatants.

In RealLife tanks are land forces supposed to fight land targets -- basic AntiAir defences were added long ago, but normally flyers and ships are engaged by something entirely different. There are two classic roles for them: reinforcement of advancing infantry and maneuver warfare (new cavalry). The close third is use as makeshift self-propelled artillery when more specialized vehicles aren't available. Sending tanks without adequate support against strong defences not softened up by bombardment or into movement-constraining terrains such as cities tend to end bad -- but it's [[HollywoodTactics the wrong tactics]] that fails, not tanks as such.

'''Note that this does not involve tanks getting destroyed in the normal course of warfare.''' This is when tanks are completely useless for any purpose other than getting blown up for dramatic effect, even when you'd normally expect them to be effective. A tank column getting wiped out by the enemy through good tactics and properly placed weaponry is not this trope. An entire company of tanks firing at the enemy and doing no damage at all, followed by getting destroyed in one shot is this trope. This is about tanks themselves being useless, not just incompetent leadership.

* The intro of ''Madox-01'' shows tanks being blown up easily by a MiniMecha... in a dense urban area where no sane commander would have [[CripplingOverspecialization deployed tanks alone]] in the first place (It was a mock battle to show off the new prototype Mech).

* Averted in most ''FrontMission'' games that features tanks, MightyGlacier doesn't even enough to describe their potential (they pack a Cannon, think giant sniper rifle but hit harder and less accurate). This trope only played straight by the fact that the Protagonists is incredible BadAss AcePilot compared to generic {{Mooks}}.

* In ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' the finale features a scene [[spoiler: during the taking of Ba Sing Se where pretty much every one of the Order of the White Lotus has fun beating the crap out of Fire nation]] tanks.

* In ''IronMan'', Tony Stark (in his IronMan suit) gets matched up against a tank. He just looks at it, fire a dinky missile at it, and walks away. Said tank then explodes. The tank was, however, able to accurately hit Iron Man and knock him out of the sky in the first place. It was facing off against him one on one that did it in.

* Averted in most ''FrontMission'' games that features tanks, MightyGlacier doesn't even enough to describe their potential. This trope only played straight by the fact that the Protagonists is incredible BadAss AcePilot compared to generic {{Mooks}}.

* Averted in most ''FrontMission'' games that features tanks, MightyGlacier doesn't even enough to describe their potential. This trope only played straight by the fact that the Protagonists is incredibly BadAss compared to generic {{Mooks}}.

** Tanks, as well as many conventional military vehicles, are [[CutscenesPowerTotheMax somewhat more powerful in the cut-scenes]], justified that most of the fight in the game is in close range (or worse, urban environment or packed military base) where Wanzers are more effective.

* The tanks in ''ArmoredCore'' might as well be plushies for all the good they do.

* The intro of ''Madox-01'' shows tanks being blown up easily by a MiniMecha... in a dense urban area where no sane commander would have [[CripplingOverspecialization deployed tanks alone]] in the first place.

* In ''IronMan'', Tony Stark (in his IronMan suit) gets matched up against a tank. He just looks at it, fire a dinky missile, and walks away. Said tank then explodes.

However, this is not true in fiction. Tanks will be destroyed right and left by the HumongousMecha or MonsterOfTheWeek, with their firepower [[TheWorfBarrage doing little to no damage]]. A variation on TheWorfEffect, this is where a normally effective force of tanks serves as nothing but cannon fodder to make the enemy look intimidating.

When tanks are ''not'' useless, and are, in fact, quite awesome, then it's TankGoodness. If the things being destroyed are called "tanks," but really aren't, then it's TanksButNoTanks. A subtrope of ArmorIsUseless. Compare TheWorfEffect and FiveRoundsRapid.

* The tanks in ArmoredCore might as well be plushies for all the good they do.

'''Note that this does not involve tanks getting destroyed in the normal course of warfare.''' This is when tanks are completely useless for any purpose other than getting blown up for dramatic effect, even when you'd normally expect them to be effective. A tank column getting wiped out by the enemy through good tactics and properly placed weaponry is not this trope. An entire company of tanks firing at the enemy and doing no damage at all, followed by getting destroyed in one shot is this trope.

* Played partially straight in the ''MechWarrior'' books. It is made clear that while a tank is no match for a GiantMecha, they can be very dangerous to ignore, particularly as their small size makes it much easier for them to dart in and out of cover and land cheap shots on a distracted Mech Jock.

* In ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' the finale features a scene [[spoiler: during the taking of Ba Sing Se where pretty much every one of the Order of the White Lotus has fun beating the crap out of Fire nation]] tanks.

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* The ''BattleTech'' universe plays this pretty straight. Though there are tanks in the 'verse, they take decidedly second place to the HumongousMecha, even the smaller ones.
** averted in the fan made Mechwarrior Living Legends mod for Crysis where the tanks can very dangerous to mechs in certain situations much like the original tabletop game.

* The ''BattleTech'' universe plays this pretty straight. Though there are tanks in the 'verse, they take decidedly second place to the HumongousMecha, even the smaller ones.

* The intro of ''{{Madox-01}}'' shows tanks being blown up easily by a MiniMecha... in a dense urban area where no sane commander would have [[CripplingOverspecialization deployed tanks alone]] in the first place.

* The intro of ''Madox-01'' shows tanks being blown up easily by a MiniMecha... in a dense urban area where no sane commander would have [[CripplingOverspecialization deployed tanks alone]] in the first place.

[[caption-width-right:300:Nice driving, idiot.]]

However, this is not true in fiction. Tanks will be destroyed right and left by the HumongousMecha or MonsterOfTheWeek, with their firepower [[TheWorfBarrage doing little to no damage]]. A variation on TheWorfEffect, this is where a normally effective force of tanks serves as nothing but cannon fodder to make the enemy look intimidating. '''Note that this does not involve tanks getting destroyed in the normal course of warfare.''' This is when tanks are completely useless for any purpose other than getting blown up for dramatic effect, even when you'd normally expect them to be effective. A tank column getting wiped out by the enemy through good tactics and properly placed weaponry is not this trope. An entire company of tanks firing at the enemy and doing no damage at all, followed by getting destroyed in one shot is this trope.