Battle Bracket quarterfinals: 8 facts about last 8 foes

Of the many lessons Battle Bracket has taught Military Times readers over the past two weeks, one is clear: Don't bring a blanket to a knife fight.

The Marine "knife hand" rallied to smoke the Army poncho liner to advance to quarterfinal round of our tournament to decide the best piece of military hardware, making up a 30 percentage-point deficit with a late surge.

The much-celebrated gesture joins seven other competitors in Round 4 matchups. Check below for some key facts about the remaining field, then head here to vote now.


1. CIWS comeback. The knife hand wasn't the only entrant with a mid-round resurrection, as the Close-In Weapons System bounced back from an early deficit to defeat the Tomahawk missile and earn a spot in the Sea Region final. There, it will take on the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, which dispatched the Ohio-class submarine with ease to continue a dominating run.

2. Sea synergy. Not in the Navy? Unsure how to cast the Sea Region ballot? Remember, the CIWS has a presence on land.

3. Air assault. The rest of the Air Region really never stood a chance — both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the AH-64 Apache continued their roll through the bracket, posting two of the three widest margins of victory in the round to take out the B-52 Stratofortress and the F-22 Raptor, respectively.
4. Making headlines. Both air frames have been known for more than their firepower in recent years, with the Warthog's retirement plans the subject of much debate and the deployment of Apaches among active-duty and National Guard units triggering high-level Army discussions.

5. Tank on a roll. The Abrams tank has yet to rake in less than 72 percent of the vote in any of its matchups. The M777 howitzer, last of three howitzers in the 64-item field, was no match in the round of 16. Next up: The Stryker, which downed the Cougar MRAP in Round 3.

6. Generation gap. The first Abrams was built in 1978, two years before it entered Army service. The Army's initial Stryker contract wasn't signed until 2000, with initial operational capability in 2003.

7. M4's farewell. Another comeback came thanks to the Mk 19 grenade machine gun, which outlasted the M4 carbine and turned a close matchup into a rout. The carbine took down the M16 rifle and the M1911 pistol before bowing out. The Mk 19 now must take on the knife hand for a chance to make the semifinals.

8. Requiem for a "Woobie." The beloved poncho liner put up a good fight against the knife hand, racking up the second-most votes of any Round 3 loser. Both the Woobie and the Tomahawk missile would've beat the Stryker in a head-to-head contest.