Lightning vs. tank....anybody have any idea if 70 ton tanks attract lightning and what happens if they get hit? nt

[albacore]

[usonian]

1. On general principles, nada.

Safest place in the universe to be is inside one.

Standouts should worry. And crawl under their seats.

Just my opinion.

[WarGamer]

2. The Army tests lighning damage extensively...

I'm sure the tanks aren't particularly susceptible.

Rubber track pads... an insulator.

[drray23]

3. nothing. The tank will act as a faraday cage.

The metal is conductive all around the tank so the charge would stay on the surface resulting in a net zero field inside the tank.

[Mountainguy]

4. Turns out we can fight wars

in stormy weather.

[ForgedCrank]

5. Tanks are

outside my wheelhouse by a large margin, but if anything like most other military equipment, there is likely zero risk to the equipment or anyone inside. Well, other than eardrum damage from the strike. I've been within 100ft of a lightning strike before (in my car), and my ears were ringing for a day after that.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

6. Won't do much

Maybe char the paint where it hit? There is an outside chance it could disrupt or damage some of the electronics onboard, especially if the lightning hit an antenna or something also connected to electrical components, but those systems are shielded against EMP's so there isn't a guarantee anything would be damage.

[jmowreader]

7. The crew isn't your worry. They'll be fine.

The $1.5 million worth of electronics in one is the big problem. Aristus can fill us in on everything those tanks have onboard - he was an M1 crewman before becoming a man of healing - but you have at least one and probably two digital radios, night vision equipment, an engine management system, a Xenon spotlight and an extremely sophisticated fire control system - none of which is happy about lightning strikes. Oh, and let's not forget the load of electrically-fired 120mm main gun ammo in a compartment between the turret and the engine. The crew will be fine if that detonates; there is a heavily armored door sealing the compartment from the crew. There are blow-off plates above the ammo compartment that allow the blast to go straight up, and those would definitely take out some spectators if they go flying.

[Bluestocking]

8. It ricochets off

and strikes the nearest orange asshole in the area.

[albacore]

9. I was being lazy when I posted this OP. The answers stimulated me do get off my ass and research...

Rubber treads may not help..Google AI says "While the rubber treads may offer some insulation, they are unlikely to stop the powerful lightning strike from reaching the ground. In fact, the lightning could even damage or destroy the rubber treads as it passes through them."

Turns out that they may not be destroyed, but it could damage the electronics or even start a fire.
As a grunt Marine, I never did trust those things, so I guess my feelings are mostly fear of the large, steel unknown.
It IS gonna rain like a Mutha on the parade....thunder and lighting, too. Too bad for the crew, and fuck trump and his limp dick.
Check out the future radar for the area ....starting about 7. Parade runs 6:30-9:30
https://weather.com/weather/radar/interactive/l/c4025fdf0177c872b7fc2e0d09e7c523995ef49e21145e2d2438fe08649ca9e8?fbclid=IwY2xjawK6vQJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFxYzN2aEhrVVQ4bTNCdm54AR7bj68zv635VnxCKqnCVNRztLrA9kvwuTpny5QahfRSVPZ6UNLRmMWOnQkOQw_aem__XLkif1B70NlJx7wdM3lXw

[allegorical oracle]

10. Why so late? (Am not gonna watch) It starts getting dark here in FL at about 8:30 pm., and

we're closer to the equator than DC. Given that it's been a scary day (at least in MN), would think folks are a bit edgy about what could go wrong.