Why Didn't Stargate Command Use Tanks?

Stargate teams were sent across the galaxy, often to hostile worlds, without any kind of armored support. Does this make sense? Would bringing a few tanks along have been a good idea? Would they have even fit through the gate?

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[llLorenzoll]

Because it was the Air Force running the show and the army REFUSED to lend any ground vehicles, meaning SGC had to petition for their own armored core to be formed which took forever to be approved by congress meaning they only got them by 2012 after the show ended

[lordgong]

"WHY didn't the SCG use tanks?"
Budget

[ethansieg]

I was more surprised to see that they so rarely brought any real anti-air capable weapons. Especially with the presence of gliders increasing as the show went on.

[williamsledge]

My and my Brother looked up if an Abrams could fit in a Stargate about a year ago and we were surprised to find out it could

[Werrf]

Armoured vehicles are like lawyers: They're expensive, annoying, and useless most of the time, but when you need one you tend to _really really really_ need one. Yes, _most_ of the time the missions the SGC is running don't need armoured vehicles. But there were a handful of occasions when a nice thick slab of armour would've come in _really_ handy.

And yes, the logistics of running an M1 Abrams down in the Cheyenne Mountain complex would be quite severe, but that's really not much of an objection. Simply _move the Stargate._ Realistically, they should've moved the Stargate to a purpose-built facility out in the middle of nowhere. Situate the Gate in the middle of a nice, spacious vehicle bay, with whatever facilities you need around it.

[skippy]

An Abrams service range could be greatly extended by swapping the fuel tank and turbine for a naquadah generator and electric motor. It would also make the Abrams partially underwater capable seeing as it's already sealed and now the powerplant doesn't require air.

[tatepultro]

That thumbnail image brings much joy to this Stargate fan's soul.

[westrim]

They didn't need tanks. They had a Teal'c.

[Markwjansen]

After the Midway station came online, or even with the first Battlecruiser visiting Atlantis, they should have brought back a couple of puddlejumpers for use by SG teams. Having access to a shielded, invisible, flying craft would have been an immensely useful advantage for the SGC, as shown clearly by the Atlantis teams exploits.

[IanNo]

my jaded brain immediately thought, "well they dont use tanks cause the company paying for the tv shows wouldnt want to spend a crap ton of money on having tanks and the great deal of money needed to keep them running throughout the show and have to design much larger sets for the gates room to have them"

[hithere]

I’d say it’s actually pretty smart to make it impossible for armor to get through the Cheyenne complex. It’s a whole lot easier to deal with a foothold scenario if they’re only able to get infantry sized units through.

[dluff]

The German Wiesel armored carrier would been perfect to fill out this role and small enough to fit through the star gate.

[durantes]

Because O’Neill’s sass couldn’t be heard from a tank. That was half the fun!

[Renigade]

STRYKER. Send in a damn Stryker
Or hey just a fleet of Jeeps.

Realistically no you don't assign armored vehicles to SG teams.
At least not normal SG teams.
However having a mechanized unit would be very helpful when assaulting a base or rescuing personnel. (Like from Hathor)
Also having armored and mechanized units at off world bases(ex: Alpha sites) would make a lot of sense as the base would provide the equipment the vehicles needs to keep on going.

*Note I did post this before I saw the video. Yes the LAV is also a good choice in addition to/instead of a striker.
Also Jeeps are cooler than Humvees and Humvees are being replaced.
*Also I'm really happy to see I sparked off such conversation lol

[Leka]

Even if they didn't want to bring heavy equipment on "routine" Stargate missions, it would be dumb not to have a rapid-reaction force ready to deploy as soon as there is trouble behind the gate. That force needs to be at least platoon-sized and come with light armored vehicles with heavy weapons. Like the LAVs you suggested or just plain old up-armored Humvees. But an airborne tank would be good for fire support and deterrence, and would be very fitting for the Air Force.

[boxhead]

A motorbike makes most sense, electric preferably for noise (alien tech could make up the 30 year tech gap from the series to now). Small robust all terrain, covers large distances and if required can be disposed of or hidden quickly. WWII motorbikes had a heavy logistical and recon role until the need for "armour" became compulsory to modern warfare. That or small ATVs.

[IAmTheAce]

Watsonian: Let's keep a low profile
Doylist: We don't have the budget to depict any number of multi-ton 'f*ck-you!' tanks

[UtopianBroadcast]

The only time a tank make sense is when its in front of a stargate providing cover and fire support when SG units are fleeing into the stargate. Besides that any tank with out air support really makes the tank more of a risk than anything else. Overall nice video :)

[JRexRegis]

You know what would make a LOT of sense for SG teams, though?

Motorcycles.

Think about it - we often see SG teams trek through the wilderness, walk along roads, and make harrowing escapes sprinting to the stargate. Some sort of armored motorcycle, maybe even with one of those neat handheld Goa'uld DhDs on the dash, would make some of their missions quite a bit easier. Not only would they allow for quick escape from Jaffa squads bearing down on their location, they would also make transporting an injured team member easier - no more stumbling through the gate with one hanging onto your shoulder, now you just sit them behind or infront of you and get to the gate very quickly.

Jaffa aren't trained to fight things moving that fast, either - they can shoot fleeing civilians in the back, and take potshots at surrounded targets, but a fast-moving motorcycle blasting past them is much less likely to be hit. They would even make moving cargo a lot easier - with saddlebags or containers, you could move a lot more stuff than by hand, and still stay mobile enough to escape unscathed. Hell, you could even repurpose the engine into a makeshift power source or heater. Sam and Jack would definitely have had an easier time in Antarctica if they had 2 functioning engines to heat their surroundings.

And if one breaks down, standard practice should be to either turn it into a trap for investigating jaffa, or to blow it up outright to avoid giving your enemies any intel on them.

[MareTranquil]

I mean, we kind of know the real reason, right?
If the SGC members drove around in armoured ground vehicles, the viewers would no longer accept that the Gua'old don't have any, the disparity would be much too immersion-breaking. Therefore the aliens would need ground vehicles too, and that would send the production costs into the sky.