Except tanks do the same thing with unguided shells. So the tank rounds are something like $500 each. In contrast, guided artillery shells are $100,000 or so e

Except tanks do the same thing with unguided shells. So the tank rounds are something like $500 each. In contrast, guided artillery shells are $100,000 or so each. I mean, Tomahawk cruise missiles ($1+ million bucks) probably have more destructive potential and accuracy than anything discussed here. But they're just too expensive to really be used as a bread-and-butter tactic. ------- The artillery game is important for sure. But there's advantages to a direct-fire system that directly engages with the enemy. Besides, artillery + tanks work together as a team, a force multiplier. Tanks can call for artillery support after all. EDIT: Case in point, a tank can approach the front-lines, and use its thermal-imaging / night-vision to be an artillery-spotter from 3+km away from the target. The tank can also survive "closer" to the enemy (danger close, if you will).