Army to place large metal plates on DC streets to protect them from tanks during June parade
Source: AP
Updated 3:34 PM EDT, May 16, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army will place large metal plates at key points on the streets of Washington to better protect the pavement from the movements of 25 M1 Abrams main battle tanks set to roll through the capital on June 14, a U.S. official told the Associated Press.
The tanks are a key part of a parade that will honor the Army’s 250th birthday and fall on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. Since it was announced, the parade has grown in scope and participation, and one of the highlights will be columns of tanks rolling in formation along Constitution Avenue. Each Abrams tank can weigh 60 tons or more and carry a crew of four.
Concerns over the tanks’ weight, and what that would do to D.C.‘s streets, ultimately kept them from being used for a parade during Trump’s first term. The metal plates are seen as the best way to protect the streets Each plate weighs hundreds of pounds and will be placed at points along the parade route where the tanks will turn — and where their metal and rubber-shoed tracking that helps them move can do the most damage, the official said.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has said if tanks are used on the city’s roads, funding to repair any damage they may do should also be part of the plans. Asked on Friday for a response to the Army’s plan for metal plates, her office referred to her past comments.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/tanks-trump-parade-army-streets-8e65599b1ae08e7a1815f8f05cbf7693
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The logistics are unimaginably hard. Getting all the tanks to D.C. from wherever they're stationed is a good example.
The M1 Abrams, the main battle tank of the U.S. Army, has a width of 12 feet; the width of a freeway lane typically ranges from 10 to 12 feet, although on designated truck or transit routes, lanes may be 11 feet wide.
Wide load vehicles must be used when transporting cargo that exceeds 8.5 feet in width, which is the standard legal limit for most U.S. highways. If a load surpasses this width, it is classified as an oversize load and requires special permits. Additional regulations apply when the load width exceeds 12 to 14 feet, including the need for escort vehicles and restricted travel times.
The M1 Abrams tank weighs up to 73.6 tons. This doesn't include 1,833 lbs of 120mm ammunition, 1,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition and 12,400 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
I'm sure Trump doesn't want "his tanks" to be armed during the parade. 
And then everything has to be returned home . . .
Such a juicy target for drones and IEDs.
We would wear down the streets. He even had one driver take out about 100 yards of the curb on a street. The military paid tens of thousands of Deutsche Marks to have the curb and streets we tore up repaired. It was a real problem.
We obviously have better use for all those funds - like health care and nutrition for the American people. 
Its the orange tater tot's birthday. Its all about him.
Once again, Dems need to spend some money--which we know they have--to get the word out that $43M is being spent on this farce, while regular people are losing their jobs, healthcare, and retirement from government funds being cut. Our money. And rethuglicans are trying to jack up the national debt.:
Im sure they will be sanitised.
