Mind-Blowing Tank Battle in 'The Fate Of The Furious': Leaves Military Expert Stunned!

The climactic tank scene in The Fate of the Furious left military expert Nicholas Moran perplexed. This 2017 installment of the Fast & Furious franchise has been regarded as one of the most absurd, with protagonist Dom turning against his family under the influence of a cyberterrorist named Cipher. As expected from the series, the film is filled with exaggerated action, including a standout scene featuring vehicles driving on a glacier and Dwayne Johnson miraculously redirecting torpedoes with his bare hands.

In a recent Insider video, Nicholas Moran, an expert in military vehicles and a former armor officer, provided his assessment of the realism in various tank battles depicted in movies and television. Among these was the climactic tank scene on ice from The Fate of the Furious, which left Moran completely confused, literally scratching his head. Ultimately, Moran gave the scene a generous rating of 2 out of 10 for its realism. To hear Moran's thoughts, you can either read the description below or watch the video starting at 0:34.

The Ripsaw, a tracked toy vehicle, bears a striking resemblance to its depiction in the movie. Its exceptional speed and agility are a result of its lightweight design and high-powered weight ratio, which has caught the military's attention. The question arises: with a vehicle capable of rapid and versatile movement, could we harness its potential for something more? The Army has been exploring the idea of utilizing the Ripsaw as a robotic combat vehicle known as the RCVM or M5. As shown in the clip, this variant features a remote weapon station on top.

Despite the icy terrain, the driver of the Ripsaw appears to be navigating effortlessly, even though the tracks don't appear to be designed for such conditions. However, there are methods to improve traction on ice for tracked vehicles. These range from using snow chains, similar to those employed during World War II, to modern-day grousers. Grousers involve removing a few track pads and inserting cleats into the tracks. Although the Ripsaw performs various maneuvers at high speed on the ice, its suitability for such conditions is debatable in this particular context.

I can't think of any reason, other than a plot-related addition, for a tank to be equipped with a grappling hook. The fact that the Lambo is partially submerged adds more resistance than this device can handle. However, if we consider realism as a factor, the fact that the door was detached instead of the entire Lambo being pulled out earns it one point. Another point is awarded for the presence of tracks. Hence, I will give it a total of two points.

The Fast & Furious Franchise's Action Is Absurd, & That's What Makes It Enjoyable

The breathtaking tank sequence in Fast & Furious 8 is just one example of the franchise's penchant for unrealistic action. The car magnet scene in F9 caused quite a stir due to its questionable scientific accuracy, receiving scrutiny from astrophysicist Aaron White, who disproved it for contradicting the fundamental principles of magnetism. More recently, Fast X drew criticism online for its absurd scene featuring Dom's son, Little Brian, effortlessly leaping between two cars in motion, a display that was widely deemed excessive, improbable, and in violation of the laws of physics.

The Fast & Furious franchise has faced relentless criticism for its exaggerated and unrealistic action scenes. However, it has managed to build a passionate fan base who appreciates the franchise for these very reasons. What initially began as a street-racing series has now transformed into high-energy heists and international espionage, pushing the limits of believability. A significant factor contributing to the franchise's success is its self-awareness, specifically when filmmakers like Justin Lin or F. Gary Gray in The Fate of the Furious wholeheartedly embrace and commit to the absurdity.