Tanks on trains, is exactly how tanks are transported. Lots of tanks on trains is what you do when you have a lot of tanks due for an overhaul, you store them up and ship them all off at once to go get refurbished and upgraded. Those Tanks appear to be M1 Abrams. A very robust and upgradable tank. They are very expensive and go through major up grades all the time.
The time to be afraid is when you see those tanks not on a train, crewed and driving your way.
Reminder that even tanks run on internal combustion engines.
Reminder that all engines need to breathe and have an air intake
Reminder that fire near the intake easily consumes the air needed for the engine
Reminder that metal conducts heat
Reminder that men inside a large metal box which is on fire and not moving will get out of that box
Reminder that men hastily fleeing a flame-engulfed vehicle have little concern for taking cover while fleeing said vehicle
Reminder that once outside the tank, the operators are now without armor and armed only with small arms and carbines
Reminder that magnesium shavings increase the heat of a fire by orders of magnitude
Reminder to save your glass bottles...
In theory, could thermite be projected towards a piece of metal?
Thermite is a solid-solid reaction that I think would be greatly inhibited by any sort of intermediate. So you cant make any kind of solution you could fire like a flamethrower. Best bet is to get the entire charge onto the target before or right after ignition.
Magnets or something sticky would be a better move
Also remember that a fair sized log a couple of feet long can clog the bogies to immobilize the tank.
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