Kliment Voroshilov[KV](USSR)World war

KV

Weight: 45 tons

Length: 6.75 m

Width: 3.32 m

Height: 2.71 m

Crew: 5

Operational Range: 335 km

Armament: 76.2 mm model F-34[1]

Speed: 35 km/h

The Kliment Voroshilov (KV) tanks were a series of Soviet Red Army heavy tanks, named after the Soviet defense commissar and politician Kliment Voroshilov. The KV series were known for their extremely heavy armour protection during the early part of World War II, especially during the first year of the invasion of the Soviet Union.

They were almost completely immune to the 3.7 cm KwK 36 and howitzer-like, short barreled 7.5 cm KwK 37 guns mounted respectively on the early Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks fielded by the invading Nazi forces. Until better guns were developed by the Germans it was often the case that the only way to defeat a KV was with a point-blank shot to the rear.

Prior to the invasion, about 500 of the over 22,000 tanks then in Soviet service were of the KV-1 type. When the KV-1 appeared, it outclassed the French Char B1, the only other heavy tank in operational service in the world at that time. Yet in the end it turned out that there was little sense in producing the expensive KV tanks, as the T-34 medium tank performed better (or at least equally well) in all practical respects. Later in the war, the KV series became a base of development for the Joseph Stalin (Iosif Stalin, or IS) series of tanks.

SU-85 (USSR) World war

SU-85

Weight: 29.6 tons

Length: 6.10-8.15 m

Width: 3 m

Height: 2.45 m

Crew: 4

Operational Range: 400 km
Armament: 85mm D-T5 [1]

Speed: 55 km/h

The SU-85 was a Soviet self-propelled gun used during World War II, based on the chassis of the T-34 medium tank. Earlier Soviet self-propelled guns were meant to serve as either assault guns, such as the SU-122, or as mobile anti-tank weapons; the SU-85 fell into the latter category. The designation SU-85 is derived as follows: 'SU' stands for the Russian: Samokhodnaya Ustanovka - self-propelled carriage, while "85" signifies the bore of the vehicle's armament, the 85 mm D-5T gun.

SU-76 (USSR) World war

SU-76

Weight: 10.6 tons

Length: 4.88 m

Width: 2.73 m

Height: 2.17 m

Crew: 4

Armament: 76mm ZIS-3Sh[1]

Operational Range: 320km

Speed: 45 km/h

he SU-76 (Samokhodnaya Ustanovka 76) was a Soviet self-propelled gun used during and after World War II. The SU-76 was based on a lengthened and widened version of the T-70 tank chassis. Its simple construction made it the second most produced Soviet armoured vehicle of World War II, after the T-34 tank Crews loved this vehicle for its simplicity, reliability, and ease of use, affectionately calling it suka ("bitch"), Suchka ("little bitch") or Golozhopiy Ferdinand ("bare-arsed Ferdinand") for its layout which recalled the massive Porsche-designed German tank hunter.

K1A1 (South Korea)

  K1A1 (South Korea)

Weight: 54.5 tons; Length: 9.71m
Width: 3.60m; Height: 2.25 m
Crew: 4
Primary Armament: 120mm smooth bore gun
Operational Range: 500 km; Speed: 65 km/h (road), 40 km/h (cross country)






The K1A1 main battle tank (MBT) is an upgraded version of the K1 MBT. Designed and developed by Hyundai Rotem, it came into service with the South Korean Army in 2001, despite the fact that production of the first vehicle had already been completed in 1996. A total of 484 units were produced between 1999 and 2010. To a large extent, it is similar to the US M1A1 Abrams in firepower and protection mechanism. One remarkable fact is that a number of the K1A1's major components, like its engine, transmission and fire control systems, were imported. One K1A1 unit costs about US$4 million.

M1A2SEP (United States)

M1A2SEP (United States)

Weight: 63 tons; Length: 9.83m
Width: 3.66m; Height: 2.44m
Crew: 4
Primary Armament: 120 mm L44 M256 smoothbore cannon
Operational Range: 500 km; Speed: 68 km/h









The M1A2SEP (System Enhancement Package) is the most recent and advanced version of the M1 Abrams MBTs manufactured by the United States. The M1 Abrams, named after General Creighton Abrams, is a third-generation MBT Designed used in modern armored ground warfare. It's highly mobile, well-armed and heavily-armored. Three main variants of the M1 Abrams, namely, the M1, M1A1 and M1A2, have been deployed so far. The M1A2SEP, based on the M1A2, features a greatly enhanced armament, and advanced protection, electronics and reliability systems. A M1A2SEP costs about US$8 million

K2 Black Panther (South Korea)

K2 Black Panther (South Korea)

Weight: 55 tons; Length: 10.8m

Width: 3.6m; Height: 2.4m

Crew: 3

Primary Armament: 120-mm/L55 smoothbore

Operational Range: 450 km; Speed: 70 km/h on paved road, 50 km/h cross country

The K2 Black Panther is an advanced main battle tank (MBT) featuring state-of-the-art technology. It was developed by South Korea with the aim to replace the various models of the aging M48 Patton tanks and complement the K1 series of MBTs currently fielded ones. The South Korean Army plans to deploy about 680 Black Panthers, yet the full-scale mass-production of the tank has currently been suspended due to concerns over its transmission and main engine systems. These issues may lead to a delay of service entry until March 2014. The K2 Black Panther, estimated to cost about US$8.5 million per unit, is certified as the world's most expensive MBT by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Leopard 2A6 (Germany)

Leopard 2A6 (Germany)

Weight: 62.3 tons; Length: 9.97m

Width: 3.75m; Height: 3.0m

Crew: 4
Primary Armament: Rheinme L55 120mm smooth bore gun
Operational Range: 500 km; Speed: 68 km/h






The Leopard 2A6, a further development of the 2A5, is an updated version of the Leopard 2 which replaced the former Leopard 1 as most important MBT used in the German Army. Supposedly the best MBT in the world, the Leopard 2A6 eclipses the other MBTs in firepower as well as protection and mobility systems. The Leopard 2A6 is shielded by composite armor of a new generation and features additional external modular armor. Since 1979, various versions of the Leopard 2 have been fielded to the German armed forces, plus those of about ten other European countries as well as those of several non-European countries. One unit of the Leopard 2A6 cost about US$5.74 million in 2007.

Challenger 2 (United Kingdom)

Challenger 2 (United Kingdom)

Weight: 62.5 tons; Length: 8.30m, 11.50m with gun forward

Width: 3.50m; Height: 2.50m

Crew: 4

Primary Armament: L30A1 120mm rifled gun

Operational Range: 450 km; Speed: 56 km/h

The Challenger 2, derived from the Challenger 1, is a main battle tank (MBT) currently in service with the armies of the United Kingdom and Oman. It was designed and built by British Vickers Defense Systems (now known as BAE Systems Land and Armaments). Considered to be the world's most reliable tank, the Challenger 2 provides high-level protection against direct fire weapons. It was used in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and is said to be capable of enduring 14 hits from rocket-propelled grenades and one MILAN anti-tank missile. One Challenger 2 MBT costs about US$8 million.

Merkava Mark IV (Israel)

Merkava Mark IV (Israel)

Weight: 65 tons; Length: 9.04m

Width: 3.72m; Height: 2.66m

Crew: 4

Primary Armament: 120mm smooth bore gun

Operational Range: 500 km; Speed: 64 km/h on road, 55 km/h off road

Four main types of the Merkava series have been deployed since 1978. The Merkava Mark IV, the series' latest edition, is the more advanced version of the Merkava Mark III. It came into service with the Israel Defense Forces in 2004. Until now, a total of 360 Merkava Mark IV vehicles have been built, with an additional 300 in production. Slightly larger than the Mark III, the new vehicle is one of the best shielded tanks in the world. One Merkava MBT costs about US$5 million.

T-90A/S (Russia)

T-90A/S (Russia)

Weight: 46.5 tons; Length: 9.53m

Width: 3.78m; Height: 2.22m

Crew: 3

Primary Armament: 125mm smooth bore gun with autoloader

Operational Range: 550–700 km; Speed: 65 km/h

The T-90 is a Russian main battle tank (MBT) derived from the T-72 design, featuring improvements in its firepower, mobility and protection. The T-90, which came into use in 1992, is manufactured by the Uralvagonzavod Plant in Nizhniy Tagil, Russia. It is currently the most advanced tank used by the Russian Ground Forces and Naval Infantry. At present, Russia operates about 500 of these MBTs. Sources claim that more than 1,600 T-90 MBTs of all variants have been built. The T-90A, sometimes called the T-90 Vladimir, is the Russian army's version, featuring a welded turret, V-92S2 engine and ESSA thermal viewer. The T-90S is the export version of the T-90A. A T-90 tank was worth US$2.77- 4.25 million in 2011.

Type 99 (China)

Type 99 (China)

Weight: 54 tons; Length: 11.0m

Width: 3.4m; Height: 2.2m

Crew: 3

Primary Armament: 125mm smooth bore gun with autoloader

Operational Range: 600km; Speed: 80 km/h on road and 60 km/h cross country

The Type 99, also known as ZTZ-99 and WZ-123, is a 3rd generation main battle tank (MBT) operated by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA). The Type 99, a more advanced spin-off of the Type 98G, features both Russian and Western influences in its design and technology. The Type 99, currently the most advanced MBT fielded by China, is manufactured in a limited number due to its high cost compared to the more economical Type 96. The Type 99, made to rival other modern tanks, was unveiled in 2000 and came into service in 2001. The Type 99 is the primary variant of the Type 99 series, and the latest in trial is the Type 99KM. One Type 99 is worth about 17 million yuan (US$2.5 million).

Leclerc (France)

Leclerc (France)

Weight: 54.5 tons; Length: 9.87m

Width: 3.71m; Height: 2.53m

Crew: 3

Primary Armament: 120mm smooth bore gun with autoloader

Operational Range: 550km, 650km with external fuel; Speed: 72 km/h

The AMX-56 Leclerc, commonly known as the Leclerc, is a main battle tank (MBT) developed by GIAT Industries, France. It is claimed to be one of the fastest tanks in the world. It is named after General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, commander of the French armored division during World War II. Having been into production ever since 1991, the Leclerc came into use in 1992 in order to replace the AMX 30 as the country's main armored platform. The French Army has a total of 406 Leclerc MBTs and the United Arab Emirates Army counts 388 of them. One Leclerc is worth about US$7.4 million.

Type 96 (China)

Type 96 (China)

Weight: 42.8 tons; Length: 10.28m

Width: 3.45m; Height: 2.30m

Crew: 3

Primary Armament: 125mm smooth bore main gun

Operational Range: 450 km, 600 km with external fuel; Speed: 70 km/h

The Type 96 main battle tank (MBT) was derived from the previous Type 85-III series tank design, albeit with some modifications. It was displayed in 1999 during the military parade to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Compared to the Types 85 and 88, the Type 96 features newly integrated thermal imaging/day sight, a Chinese infra-red/laser jamming system, a more powerful engine, improved electronics and a western-style turret.

Panzer VI King Tiger (Germany) World warKing Tiger

King Tiger

Number built—492

Weight 68-76 tons

Length 10.3 m

Height 3.3 m

Wide 3.8-4.3 m

Crew 5

Armor 40-185

Weapon Cannon 88 mm L71 [1] Machine 7.92 mm [3]MG-34[2] MG-42[1]

Speed 38-42 km/h

Even larger and heavier than the Tiger I the Königstiger was the largest and most powerful tank released by German forces during the war. It had the firepower to knock out virtually any Allied tank and enough armor to shrug off most Allied firepower at the time (excluding hollow charge weapons), but it suffered from multiple mechanical problems due to its rushed development and excessive weight.

Panzer VI Tiger I (Germany) World war

Tiger I

Number built—1,347

Weight 57-62 tons

Length 8.45 m

Height 3 m

Wide 3.8 m

Crew 5

Armor 25-120 mm

Weapon Cannon 88 mm L56[1] Machine guns 7.92 mm[2-3] smoke 90 mm[6]

Speed 38-45 km/h

In response to the T-34 after the invasion of the Soviet Union, the German forces ordered the construction of a new heavy tank. Originally to be named the Panzer VI, Hitler ordered the name changed. The tank had formidable firepower and thick armor. It had some mechanical problems due to its weight.

Panzer V Panther (Germany) World war

Panther

Number built—6,000

Weight 45 tons

Length 6.87 m(+gun 8.66 m)

Height 2.99 m

Wide 3.42 m

Crew 5

Armor 15-120 mm

Weapon Canono 75 mm L70[1] Machine guns 7.92 mm(MG-34)[1]

Speed 46-55 km/h

The Panther was a medium tank (45 tonnes) with a crew of five, which was designed to counter the excellent Soviet T-34 tank. In weight it was comparable to Soviet heavy tanks. It had sloped armour (for better protection) and carried a long-barreled 75 mm gun. Series production began in 1943 and a total of 4,800 were produced. Initial mechanical problems were mostly fixed, and the Panther is considered the best German tank of the war.

Panzer IV (Germany) World war

Panzer IV

Number built—8,800

Weight 24-28 tons

Length 5.89 m

Height 2.66 m
Wide 2.88 m

Crew 5

Armor 10-80 mm

Weapon Cannon 75 mm[1] Machine guns 7.92 mm(MG-34)[2]

Speed 40 km/h

The Panzer IV was the workhorse of the German tank force during World War II. It saw combat in all theaters, and was the only German tank to remain in production for the entire war.

The Panzer IV was originally intended to be a support tank. It was thus armed with a 75 mm howitzer intended primarily to fire high-explosive shells in support of other tanks or infantry. By Mid 1942, it was rearmed with a longer 75 mm dual-purpose gun which could defeat most Soviet tanks. In the second half of the war, about half of all German tanks were Panzer IVs.

Panzer III (Germany) World war

Panzer III

number built—5,774

Weight 22 tons

Length 5.52 m

Height 2.5 m

Crew 5

Armor 5-70 mm

Weapon Anti-tank guns 37 mm[1] Or 50 mm,75 mm,Manchine guns 7.92 mm(MG-34)[2]

Speed 40 km/h

The Panzer III was intended to be the main medium core of the German armor force when it was designed during the inter-war period. While it was originally designed to fight other tanks, its 37 mm and later 50 mm guns could not keep pace with Soviet T-34 and KV tanks. In 1941, the Panzer III was the most numerous German tank, but by late 1943 it was largely replaced by later versions of the Panzer IV and Panther. Its self-propelled gun chassis variant, the Sturmgeschütz III was, with just over 9,400 units built, the most produced German armored fighting vehicle of World War II.

Panzer II (Germany) World war

Panzer II

Number built—1,856
Weight 7.2 tons

Length 4.8 m

Height 2.2 m

Crew 3

Armor 5-14.5 mm

Weapon Anti-tank guns 20mm[1] Machine gun 9.2 mm(MG-34)[1]
Speed 43 km/h




The Panzer II was ordered into production because the construction of medium tanks, later to be known as the Panzer III and IV, was falling behind schedule. The Panzer II was intended to “fill the gap” until the III and IV could come into full production. Along with the Panzer I, the II made up the bulk of German tank forces during the invasion of Poland and France.

Panzer I (Germany) World war

Panzer I

Number built—1,493
Weight 5.4 tons  

Length 4.02 m

Height 2 m

Crew 2

Armor 7-13 mm

Weapon , Machine gun 7.92 mm[2] & AA gun 20 mm[1] 
Speed 50 km/h

The first of these German-built tanks was the Panzer I. It was not designed for combat, but rather as a training vehicle to familiarize tank crews with Germany's modern battle concepts, and to prepare the nation’s industry for the upcoming war effort. Nevertheless, the tank design did see actual combat, first during the Spanish Civil War of 1936, then again during World War II, and elsewhere.

Since the tank was never intended to be used in actual combat, it was plagued by weapon and armour shortcomings through its entire life. Attempts were made to improve the design, but with little success. The Panzer I’s participation in the Spanish Civil war did, however, provide vital information to the German military about modern tank warfare.

M41 Walker Bulldog (US)

M41 Walker Bulldog

Weight  23.5 tons

Length 5.81 m

Height 2.71 m

Wide 3.2 m

Crew 4

Armor 38 mm

Weapon Cannon 76 mm M32[1] Manhine gun .50 cal MG[1] .30 cal MG[1]

Speed 72 km/h

The M41 Walker Bulldog was a U.S. light tank developed to replace the M24 Chaffee. It was named for General Walton Walker who died in a jeep accident in Korea. On 7 November 1950, the US Ordnance Committee Minutes (OCM) issued item #33476, redesignating the heavy, medium, and light tank, according to the armament; the 120mm (heavy) Gun Tanks, 90mm (medium) Gun Tanks, and the 76mm (light) Gun tanks In 1969 the US Army began replacing the M41 with the advanced, but troublesome, aluminum hulled M551 Sheridan Armored Airborne Reconnaissance Assault Vehicle (not officially listed as a light tank due to Army policy at the time). The Sheridan's main gun could fire conventional 152mm tank shells and gun-launched missiles; the weapon could knock out main battle tanks. In addition, the M551 could swim and be air dropped The chassis of the M41 was used for the M42 Duster, which mounted two 40 mm anti-aircraft guns. It was also built up into the M75 Armored Personnel Carrier, one of the first enclosed box-shaped personnel carriers; that vehicle in turn was the pattern for the M113 APC, which later became the most widely produced US armored combat vehicle in history.
Also many of the drive train components, the engine the transmission and the auxiliary engine were used in the M44/M52 155mm howitzer.

T-34 (USSR) World war

T-34

Weight 26.1-29.2 tons

Length 6.68 m

Height 2.45 m

Wide 3 m

Crew 4

Armor 16-60 mm

Weapon 76.2 mm F-34 tank gun [1](T-34/85 85 mm) Machine gun 7.62 mm[2]

Speed 53 km/h

The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II First produced at the KhPZ factory in Kharkov (Kharkiv, Ukraine), it was the mainstay of Soviet armoured forces throughout World War II, and widely exported afterwards. It was the most-produced tank of the war, and the second most-produced tank of all time, after its successor, the T-54/55 series. In 1996, T-34 variants were still in service in at least 27 countries.

The T-34 was developed from the BT series of fast tanks and was intended to replace both the BT-5 and BT-7 tanks and the T-26 infantry tank in service. At its introduction, it was the tank with the best balanced attributes of firepower, mobility, protection and ruggedness, although its battlefield effectiveness suffered from the unsatisfactory ergonomic layout of its crew compartment, scarcity of radios, and poor tactical employment. The two-man turret-crew arrangement required the commander to aim and fire the gun, an arrangement common to most Soviet tanks of the day; this proved to be inferior to three-man (commander, gunner, and loader) turret crews of German Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks. However according to analysis at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds of a T-34 sent over by the Soviets in 1942, the T-34 had the best optics of any tank so far analyzed there, of either existing tanks or any under development.

The design and construction of the tank were continuously refined during the war to enhance effectiveness and decrease costs, allowing steadily greater numbers of T-34s to be fielded. In early 1944, the improved T-34-85 was introduced, with a more powerful 85 mm gun and a three-man turret design. By the war's end in 1945, the versatile and cost-effective T-34 had replaced many light and heavy tanks in service, and accounted for the majority of Soviet tank production. Its evolutionary development led directly to the T-54/55 series of tanks, built until 1981 and still operational as of 2010 and which itself led to the T-62, T-72 and T-90 tanks which, along with several Chinese tanks based on the T-55, form the backbone of many of the world's armies even today.

The T-34 was the most important weapon fielded by the Red Army in World War II. When first produced in 1940, commentators considered it one of the finest tank designs in the world. Sloping armour increased protection, the V-2 diesel engine used a less flammable fuel, the Christie suspension was fast on rough terrain and wide tracks gave low ground pressure for good mobility in mud and snow, in theory at least, although reliability and manufacturing issues dogged the wartime production models. The T-34 continued to give the Soviet Army a critical advantage in the war even after its technological advantages had been equalled and surpassed.

Hetzer (Germany) World war

Hetzer 

Weight 15.75 tons

Length 6.38 m

Height 2.17 m

Wide 2.63 m

Crew 4

Armor 8-60 mm

Weapon 75 mm PaK 39 L/48[1] Machine gun 7.92 mm(MG-34)[1]

Speed 42 km/h







The Jagdpanzer 38(t) (Sd.Kfz. 138/2), later known as Hetzer ("baiter"), was a German light tank destroyer of the Second World War based on a modified Czechoslovakian Panzer 38(t) chassis. The project was inspired by the Romanian "Mareşal" tank destroyer The name Hetzer was at the time not commonly used for this vehicle. It was the designation for a related prototype, the E-10. The Škoda factory for a very short period confused the two names in its documentation and the very first unit equipped with the vehicle thus for a few weeks applied the incorrect name until matters were cleared. However, there exists a memorandum from Heinz Guderian to Hitler claiming that an unofficial name, Hetzer, had spontaneously been coined by the troops. Post-war historians basing themselves on this statement made the name popular in their works, the vehicle was never named as such in official documents

M1 Abrams (US)

M1 Abrams

Weight 67.6 tons

Length 6.77 m (+Cannon)

Height 2.44 m

Wide 3.66 m

Crew 4

Armor
-M1: Hull & turret - 350 mm vs APFSDS, 700 mm vs HEAT

-M1A1: Hull & turret - 600 mm vs APFSDS, 700 mm vs HEAT

-M1A1HA: Hull - 600 mm vs APFSDS, 700 mm vs HEAT, Turret - 800 mm vs APFSDS, 1,300  mm vs HEAT

-M1A2: Hull (turret) - 600 (780 mm) mm vs APFSDS, 800 mm (1,060 mm) vs HEAT

Weapon Cannon 105 mm L52 M68 rifled[1](120 mm M1A1,M1A2) Machine gun .50[1]

Speed 40-56 km/h

The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. Highly mobile, designed for modern armored ground warfare the M1 is well armed and heavily armored. Notable features include the use of a powerful gas turbine engine (multifuel capable, usually fueled with JP8 jet fuel), the adoption of sophisticated composite armor, and separate ammunition storage in a blow-out compartment for crew safety. Weighing nearly 68 short tons (almost 62 metric tons), it is one of the heaviest main battle tanks in service.

The M1 Abrams entered U.S. service in 1980, replacing the M60 tank. It served for over a decade alongside the improved M60A3, which had entered service in 1978. The M1 remains the principal main battle tank of the United States Army and Marine Corps, and the armies of Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Iraq.

Three main versions of the M1 Abrams have been deployed, the M1, M1A1, and M1A2, incorporating improved armament, protection and electronics. These improvements, as well as periodic upgrades to older tanks, have allowed this long-serving vehicle to remain in front-line service. The M1A3 is currently under development.

The M1 Abrams was developed during the Cold War as a successor to the canceled MBT-70. The M1 Abrams contract went to Chrysler Defense and was the first vehicle to adopt Chobham armor. Adaptations before the Gulf War (Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm) gave the vehicle better firepower and NBC protection. Being vastly superior to Iraqi tanks, very few M1 tanks were hit by enemy fire. Upgrades after the war improved the tank's weapons sights and fire control unit. The invasion of Iraq in 2003 destroyed Iraq's military. The subsequent insurgency exposed the tanks' vulnerability to rocket-propelled grenades and mines. These problems were partially rectified with the TUSK kit. The Marine Corps sent a company of M1 Abrams to Afghanistan in late 2010.

Mark I (UK) World war

Mark I

Weight 28.4 tons

Length 7.75-9.94 m

Height 2.49 m

Wide 4.33 m

Crew 8

Armor 6-12 mm

Weapon .303 Vickers machine guns,.303 in Hotchkiss 

Speed 5.92 km/h







The British Mark I was a tracked vehicle developed by the British Army during the First World War, and the world's first combat tank. The Mark I entered service in August 1916, and was first used in action on the morning of 15 September 1916 during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, of the Somme Offensive. Born of the need to break the domination of trenches and machine guns over the battlefields of the Western Front, it was the first vehicle to be named "tank", as an expedient to maintain secrecy and to disguise its true purpose. It was developed to be able to cross trenches, resist small-arms fire, travel over difficult terrain, carry supplies, and to capture fortified enemy positions. It is regarded as successful in many respects, but suffered from many problems owing to its primitive nature

Centurion (UK)

Centurion

Weight 51 tons

Length 7.6 m

Height 3.01 m

Wide 3.38 m

Crew 4

Armor 150 mm

Weapon Cannon 105 mm L7 rifled gun[1] Manhine guns .30 Browning

Speed 35 km/h

The Centurion, introduced in 1945, was the primary British main battle tank of the post-World War II period. It was a successful tank design, with upgrades, for many decades. The chassis was also adapted for several other roles.

Development of the tank began in 1943 and manufacture of the Centurion began in January 1945, six prototypes arriving in Belgium less than a month after the war in Europe ended in May 1945 It first entered combat with British Army in the Korean War in 1950, in support of the UN forces. The Centurion later served in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, where it fought against US-supplied M47 Patton and M48 Patton tanks. It served with the Royal Australian Armoured Corps in Vietnam. Israel used Centurions in the 1967 Six Day War, 1973 Yom Kippur War, and during the 1975 and 1982 invasions of Lebanon. Centurions modified as APCs were used in Gaza, the West Bank and the Lebanese border. South Africa used its Centurions in Angola. The Royal Jordanian Land Force used Centurion tanks, first in 1970 to fend off a Syrian incursion within its borders during the Black September events and later in the Golan Heights in 1973.

It became one of the most widely used tank designs, equipping armies around the world, with some still in service until the 1990s. As recently as the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict the Israel Defense Forces employed heavily modified Centurions as armoured personnel carriers and combat engineering vehicles. The SANDF still employs over 200 Centurions. The South African vehicles were modernized in the 1980s, and the resulting model is known as the Olifant.

T-54/55 (USSR)

T-54/55

Weight 36 tons

Length 6.45 m

Height 2.40 m

Wide 3.37 m

Crew 4

Armor 99-203 mm

Weapon Cannon 100 mm D-10T rifled gun[1] heavy machine gun 12.7 mm DShK [1]

Speed 55 km/h

"T-54" redirects here. For an American tank prototype from the same era see T54 (American tank), and for other uses, see T54.

"T55" redirects here. For the American utility carrier prototype, see M50 Ontos.

The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just as the Second World War ended. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, and others. T-54s and T-55s were involved in many of the world's armed conflicts during the late 20th and early 21st century.

The T-54/55 series eventually became the most-produced tank in history. Estimated production numbers for the series range from 86,000 to 100,000. They were replaced by the T-62, T-64, T-72, T-80, and T-90 in the Soviet and Russian Armies, but remain in use by up to 50 other armies worldwide, some having received sophisticated retrofitting.

Soviet tanks never directly faced their NATO Cold War adversaries in Europe. However, the T-54/55's first appearance in the west in 1960 spurred the United States to develop the M60 Patton.

M4 Sherman (US) World war

M4 Sherman

Weight 29.8-33.4 tons

Length 5.84 m

Height 2.74 m

Wide 2.62 m

Crew 5

Armor 76 mm

Weapon Cannon 75 mm M3 L/40 Or 76 mm M1 [1] Machine gun .50 browning M2HB[1] browning M1919A4[2]

Speed 40-48 km/h

The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and the Soviet Union, via lend-lease. In the United Kingdom, the M4 was named after Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, following the British practice of naming their American-built tanks after famous American Civil War generals. Subsequently, the British name found its way into common use in the U.S.

The Sherman evolved from the Grant and Lee medium tanks, which had an unusual side-sponson mounted 75 mm gun. It retained much of the previous mechanical design, but added the first American main 75 mm gun mounted on a fully traversing turret, with a gyrostabilizer enabling the crew to fire with reasonable accuracy while the tank was on the move. The designers stressed mechanical reliability, ease of production and maintenance, durability, standardization of parts and ammunition in a limited number of variants, and moderate size and weight. These factors made the Sherman superior in some regards to the earlier German light and medium tanks of 1939-41. The Sherman ended up being produced in large numbers and formed the backbone of most Allied offensives, starting in late 1942.

The original Shermans were able to defeat the relatively small German tanks such as the Panzer III and IV they faced when first deployed in North Africa. Later, they found themselves more evenly matched against the newer up-gunned and up-armored Pz.Kpfw. IV medium tanks. Shermans were often outmatched by the 45 ton Panther tank and wholly inadequate against the 56 ton Tiger I and later 72 ton Tiger II heavy tanks, suffering high casualties against their heavier armor and more powerful 88 mm L/56 and L/71 cannons. Mobility, mechanical reliability and sheer numbers, supported by growing superiority in supporting fighter-bombers and artillery, helped offset these disadvantages strategically. The relative ease of production allowed huge numbers of the Sherman to be produced. This allowed many divisions, even many infantry divisions, their own organic Sherman assets. Some infantry divisions had more tanks than German panzer divisions did. This was a huge advantage for the Americans.

Production of the Sherman was favored by the commander of the Armored Ground Forces, albeit controversially, over the heavier M26 Pershing, which resulted in the latter being deployed too late to play any significant role in the war. In the Pacific Theater, the Sherman was used chiefly against Japanese infantry and fortifications; in its rare encounters with much lighter Japanese tanks with weaker armor and guns, the Sherman's superiority was overwhelming.

Production of the M4 exceeded 50,000 units, and its chassis also served as the basis for numerous other armored vehicles such as tank destroyers, tank retrievers, and self-propelled artillery. Only the Soviet T-34 tank was produced in larger numbers during World War II.

The Sherman would finally give way to post-war tanks developed from the M26. Various original and updated versions of the Sherman would continue to see combat effectively in many later conflicts, including the Korean War, Arab-Israeli Wars, and Indo-Pakistani War (where it was used by both sides) into the late 20th century.