As a young man, apart from worshiping exotic super cars, battle tanks were my other stellar indulgence. The 1971 Indo-Pakistan introduced me to actual tank warfare, when I got to hear about the battle of Longewala which was fought between assaulting Pakistani forces and Indian defenders at the border post of Longewala, in the Thar Desert of the Rajasthan, India. It exposed me to the fact that possessing the best tanks in the world was not good enough to win battles. The Battle was fought between India and Pakistan, in which just 120 Indian Soldiers with 1 jeep mounted M40 recoilless rifle held the fort against 2,000 invading Pakistani forces backed by 45 tanks and 1 mobile infantry brigade. Despite being so heavily out-numbered, the Indian soldiers held their ground throughout the night and with the help of the Air Force, were able to completely rout the aggressors.The Battle of Longewala is considered by many military historians as one of the greatest field battles ever fought (including all wars until 1971) principally because the mighty odds the Indian Army confronted. This legendary valor of our armed forces held me in awe for decades right up to the recent Kargil war with Pakistan which was contrary to the battle of Longewala was fought using mainly field guns. And so I thought it was high time I wrote a piece dedicated to these awesome heavyweights, before we dwell into what the current crop has to offer let us look into a brief history of these behemoths.
BRIEF HISTORY
British Mark V Tank
It is frequently claimed that Richard Lovell Edgeworth created a caterpillar track in 1770 which he patented as a "machine, that should carry and lay down its own road". His own account in his autobiography is of a horse-drawn wooden carriage on eight retractable legs, capable of lifting itself over high walls. The Mark V was originally invented in World War I as a means of infantry support, tanks quickly evolved over the ensuing decades to become a distinct and fearsome weapon of war.
French Renault FT-17
German A7V
Germany fielded very few tanks during World War I, and started development only after encountering British tanks. The A7V, the only type made, was introduced in March 1918 and only 20 were produced. However, captured British Mk IVs formed the bulk of Germany's tank forces during WW I; about 35 were in service at any one time. Plans to expand the tank program were under way when the War ended.
THE TOP LIST
France: AMX Leclerc
Named in honor of General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, the General had been the commander of an Armored Division during the Second World War.
Designed during 1983, the Leclerc is in the same league as other NATO tanks and is certainly one of the top three best modern MBT’s but it is also renowned for being the most expensive tank in history. The Leclerc is all about speed. Its the lightest modern NATO tank weighting 56tons, as it has a much smaller hull and turret, giving it an added bonus of excellent Strategic mobility. It carries a SACM V8X-1500 4-stroke liquid cooled V8 diesel engine, which generates 1500hp mainly due to its Hyperbar process. It is also equipped with a computerized automatic gearbox. With its light weight, the Leclerc is one very fast machine. Unlike other MBTs of its generation, the Leclerc comes with an autoloading system which reduces the crew to three and its work burden, and has an ammo capacity of 40 rounds. Its capable of carrying 1,300 litres of diesel fuel giving it a 550km fighting range. The Leclerc has a top road speed is 72 km/h and can go up 55 km/h off road thanks to its hydrogas suspension.
India: Arjun MBT
The Arjun MBT is named after the main protagonist and world’s greatest archer from the Indian epic, "The Mahabharata". Despite the countless flak it has received during its formative phases, the Arjun today remains as one of the most potent and technologically advanced MBTs in the world, this is acknowledged by several defense analysts and technology experts across the spectrum. Design of the tank began officially began in 2004 as a way of providing the Indian Army with an indigenously-designed and built tank main battle tank.
The Arjun sports a 120 mm main rifled gun with indigenously developed Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding-Sabot (APFSDS) ammunition, one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7 mm machine gun. The tanks is protected by the modular composite Kanchan armor that is composed of layers of composite alongside rolled homogenous steel, and a new honeycomb design of non-explosive and non-energetic reactive armor (NERA) is reportedly being tested as well. Kanchan is made by sandwiching composite panels between Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA). This helps in defeating APFDS and High Explosive Anti Tank Warhead (HEAT) rounds. Trials conducted in 2000, showcased the ability of Kanchan armour to protect the tank, even when hit at point blank range by a T-72. It also demonstrated the capability to defeat HESH and APFSDS rounds, which included the Israeli APFSDS rounds. An advanced laser warning countermeasure system and a mobile camouflage system have been developed. The new advanced camouflage system will provide multi-spectral signature management, in order to protect the vehicle against all enemy sensors and smart munitions.
Like most MBTs of its generation, the Arjun has a four-man crew, including the commander, gunner, loader and a driver. It is powered by a single MTU multi-fuel diesel engine rated at 1,400 hp, and can achieve a maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) and a cross-country speed of 40 km/h (25 mph).
An extensive comparative trial was conducted by the Indian Army in March 2010, in which the Arjun was pitted against the T-90. Arjun emerged a conclusive winner from its showdown with the Russian tank and it demonstrated excellent performance under various circumstances, such as driving cross-country over rugged sand dunes, detecting, observing and quickly engaging targets, accurately hitting targets – both stationary and moving, with pin pointed accuracy. It displayed accurate and quick target acquisition capability during day and night in all types of weather and shortest possible reaction time during combat engagements. An army officer remarked that the Arjun could have performed even better, had it been operated by experienced crewmen. Nevertheless, the result was heartening vindication of DRDO technological capabilities, the Arjun MBT out-gunned and outran the T-90 on every crucial parameter.
The Arjun Mark II is an advanced third generation main battle tank and an upgraded version of the Arjun main battle tank with a total of 93 upgrades, including 13 major improvements. The Mark-II version completed most user trials in 2012 and 2013 and displayed impressive performance. The new features of the modified tank received favorable responses from defense sources.
The Arjun entered service with the Indian Army in 2004. The tanks were first inducted into the 43 Armoured Regiment, Indian Army Armoured Corps while the latest induction has been into the 75 Armoured Regiment on 12 March 2011.
Italy: C1 Ariete
Italy: C1 Ariete
The C1 Ariete is the main battle tank of the Italian Army, developed by a consortium formed by Iveco-Fiat and Oto Melara (aka CIO, Consorzio Iveco Oto Melara). The chassis and engine were produced by Iveco, while the turret and fire-control system were supplied by Oto Melara. The vehicle carries the latest optical and digital-imaging and fire-control systems, enabling it to fight day and night and to fire on the move.
It is equipped with a Oto Melara 120mm smooth-bore cannon, with thermal sleeve, a fume extractor and a muzzle reference system. It fires standard Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) & High Explosive Anti Tank Warhead (HEAT) rounds and can store 42 rounds, 15 rounds in the turret and 27 in the hull.
Mounted on the front of the tank is the BAE Systems Italia manufactured RALM laser warning receiver. The system gives the tank a 360° detection of laser guided ATM and warning. It carries the standard smoke grenade dischargers (x4 either side) on the turret. It also has a standard Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense system manufactured by Sekur SpA and supported by a 7.62mm co-axially mounted machine gun, the commander has a 7.62mm machine gun mounted on his cupola, which doubles up as an anti-aircraft gun and can store 2500 rounds. The C1 uses a superior composite armor system.
UK: Challenger II
The vehicle is equipped with an L30 120mm rifled tank gun, firing both long rod penetrator and High Explosive Squash Head (HESH) ammunition natures. Secondary armaments are provided with a 7.62mm co-axial chain gun and a 7.62mm pintle mounted General Purpose Machine Gun.
Optical and thermal imager sights are provided for both the Commander and Gunner, including an independent 360 degree panoramic sight for the Commander. The sighting systems, turret and gun are fully stabilised enabling rapid target engagement when static and on the move. Mobility is provided through a 12-cylinder, 1,200hp Perkins CV12 diesel engine with a David Brown TN54 gearbox, providing six forward and two reverse gears. A double pin track with Hydrogas suspension and a Hydraulic Track Tensioner provide platform stability covering flat road surfaces through to rough cross country terrain.
South Korea: K2 Black Panther
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 most expensive MBT in world by the Guinness Book of World Records.
The Black Panther is armed with a Rheinmetall 120-mm/ L55 smoothbore gun. This gun is license-produced in South Korea. This is complemented by an autoloader, similar to that designed for Leclerc, it can fire up to 15 rounds a minute. The ammunition for the main gun is loaded in a 16-shell magazine, with a total ammunition capacity of 40. The K2 is equipped with an advanced fire-control system (FCS) linked to a millimeter band radar system deployed on the frontal arc of the turret, along with a traditional laser range-finder and crosswind sensor. The system is capable of a "lock-on" mode, which can acquire and track specific targets up to a range of 9.8 km using thermal optics. This allows the crew to fire accurately while moving as well as effectively engage low-flying aircraft. The FCS is also linked to an advanced gun stabilizer and trigger-delay mechanism to optimise accuracy while moving in uneven terrain.
Germany: Leopard 2
Developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army, the Leopard 2 entered service in 1979 to replace the older Leopard 1 models. In addition to being the MBT of a united Germany after 1989, the Leopard 2 is also one of the most widely-used tanks in the world, serving in a total of 16 armies that range from Germany and Austria, to Canada, Turkey, Singapore and Indonesia. Due to improved technology, the tank has also gone through many variations.
The primary gun on the Leopard 2 is the Rheinmetall L/44 120 mm smoothbore gun, which is capable of firing Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) warheads as well as the German DM12 multipurpose anti-tank projectile (MPAT) and the LAHAT anti-tank guided missile. It also has two 7.62mm machine guns, a coaxially-mounted one in the turret, and the other on an external anti-aircraft mount. The tank also has a stabilization system, a laser rangefinder, thermal imaging and a fire control computer.
For protection, the Leopard 2 uses spaced, multi-layered composite armor that incorporates Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA), interior spall liners and the option of slat armor on the sides to protect from Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs). The Leopard 2 is also equipped with a fire protection system that automatically dispenses halomethane foam in the event that the interior temperature rises above a certain point. It is powered by a 1,479 hp V-12 liquid-cooled twin-turbo diesel engine with a fuel capacity of 1200 liters. It has a top speed of 72 km/h (45 mph) and an operational range of 550 km (340 mi).
US: A1 Abrams
It is capable of firing the Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) and High Explosive Anti Tank warhead (HEAT) rounds, as well as the M1028 anti-personnel canister cartridge. It also comes with two 7.62mm machine guns – one coaxial and one turret-mounted – and a 12.7mm machine gun mounted by the commander’s hatch.
The tank also has a full-stabilization system for the main gun an comes equipped with a laser rangefinder, crosswind sensor, a pendulum static cant sensor, thermal imaging and a firing computer. The tank’s crew is protected by a halon firefighting system similar to the Leopard 2’s, and a rear ammo compartment with blowout panels that protect the crew from its own ammo exploding.
The tank is protected by composite armor that is composed of alloys of steel, ceramics, plastic composites, and Kevlar, similar to British Chobam & Indian Kanchan armor. It may also be fitted with reactive armor over the track skirts if needed and slat armor over the rear of the tank and rear fuel cells to protect against RPGs. Beginning in 1987, M1A1 tanks also received armor packages that incorporated depleted uranium components at the front of the turret and hull.
The M1 is powered by a 1,500 hp turbine engine which is capable of running on gas or diesel with a fuel capacity of 1,900 liters and an operational range of 426 km (265 miles). It has a top speed of 72 km/h.
