Advantages of a Mech?

[Agent B52]

So, I'm making this essay about what is the best ground combat vehicle. So far I'm pretty happy with what I have for Tanks (defined as having treads and a conventional box chassis) and Walkers (defined as having more than two legs, currently going with six to eight as the basic set up) but I'm coming up short for advantages for Mechs (two legs, both conventional box and humanoid).

I myself already know tanks are best, but what possible advantages other than intimidation does a mech have?

[Grif of Hearts]

Height. Grants better view point and allows for further range, although if you're using a mechanoid then you likely have sensors to do all of that for you.

Other than that, nothing. A mech would be horribly unstable and a humanoid form would pose very few advantages over a typical tank.

[Hunter of Shadows]

So, I'm making this essay about what is the best ground combat vehicle. So far I'm pretty happy with what I have for Tanks (defined as having treads and a conventional box chassis) and Walkers (defined as having more than two legs, currently going with six to eight as the basic set up) but I'm coming up short for advantages for Mechs (two legs, both conventional box and humanoid).

I myself already know tanks are best, but what possible advantages other than intimidation does a mech have?

Other then the fact it's completely implausible?

Not much

Our technology would have to be far more advanced then it is right now in order to make a working and practical mech

[Dervish]

Mechs are quite possibly the worst idea for a military vehicle. The profile is much higher than a tank, the center of gravity would be very high, there would be a lot of exposed vulnerable points, it would be next to impossible to camouflage, the weaponry would be limited (you'd have to consider the considerable recoil of a proper cannon, and that higher center of gravity), and the weight distribution would be awful, since several tonnes would be focused on two (or more, depending on what you had in mind) points. Good luck travelling on loose or wet ground. Plus, you take out a single leg and vollah. You have disabled the target. Also due to it's high profile, it would be a prime target for artillery and air strikes. In short, intimidation wouldn't apply the minute you saw how easy it is to disable one. Even if you don't have a sight line on the legs, there's the problem of a giant, obvious cockpit that is just begging for a 120mm SABOT welcoming gift.

[Omega]

Mechs are a terrible design.

[Elendra]

Mechas, cool in fictional, terribly stupid in reality.

[Assallya]

I would have to disagree on some points. For one, there are serious advantages to a mech, assuming such a thing was possible. For one, they would be able traverse terrain that tanks could not. Their high profile could be advantageous for usage of sensors and getting a targeting angle. One shouldn't forget that a mech can also kneel, lowering it's profile to little more than the size of a tank.

However, the one thing that cannot be denied is the weight distribution. Only specifically hardened surfaces could hold up such a giant structure. Soft earth and mud would compress easily beneath the mech's legs causing it to keel over.

[Sanquin]

I would have to disagree on some points. For one, there are serious advantages to a mech, assuming such a thing was possible. For one, they would be able traverse terrain that tanks could not. Their high profile could be advantageous for usage of sensors and getting a targeting angle. One shouldn't forget that a mech can also kneel, lowering it's profile to little more than the size of a tank.

However, the one thing that cannot be denied is the weight distribution. Only specifically hardened surfaces could hold up such a giant structure. Soft earth and mud would compress easily beneath the mech's legs causing it to keel over.

All of those 'positive' points about a mech could just as easily be done by a walker. Which would have a lot more advantages over a mech. Mechs are just stupidly impractical in real life combat. The only reason they are used in fiction is because they look cooler than walkers or tanks.

[Kadaeux]

So, I'm making this essay about what is the best ground combat vehicle. So far I'm pretty happy with what I have for Tanks (defined as having treads and a conventional box chassis) and Walkers (defined as having more than two legs, currently going with six to eight as the basic set up) but I'm coming up short for advantages for Mechs (two legs, both conventional box and humanoid).

I myself already know tanks are best, but what possible advantages other than intimidation does a mech have?

None. Not even height is really an advantage, indeed, height means you get shot at sooner. But I digress, others have made the points I would make except one.

You can't even ARMOUR a mech properly. It's mobility system simply cannot and would not allow it. The same point applies to Walkers in fact. They simply are not efficient, they cannot do anything that a properly built tank cannot also do. The only possible exception is movement in rough terrain. But when you're less well armoured, cannot carry the same quality of weaponry, and added on to that, are in fact easier to hit due to being a larger target.....

Mechs and Walkers are, as said, quite possibly the worst possible design for a military vehicle.

I would have to disagree on some points. For one, there are serious advantages to a mech, assuming such a thing was possible. For one, they would be able traverse terrain that tanks could not.

Theoretically yes. Practically no.

Their high profile could be advantageous for usage of sensors and getting a targeting angle.

No. So so many times no. Drones are far more likely to take over the role of vehicle sensors. And targeting angle is absolutely false in every sense of the word. Especially when said vehicle will be COMPLETELY INCAPABLE of mounting the weapons that a tank of equal weight can carry. Even if you went "Well he can shoot at the top of a tank from his height" it wouldn't matter if the best that it can carry is a 60-80mm cannon.

One shouldn't forget that a mech can also kneel, lowering it's profile to little more than the size of a tank.

And one shouldn't forget that even kneeling it will have weaker weapons. Weaker sensors. Weaker Armour. A much easier to hit profile and likely a much higher heat signature.

[Wolf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KuPDQ8H3qM

done. Just like the hover car and the water/land/aircraft. Boom.