Development of the Modern Tanks

Development of the Modern Tanks

The tank is an all terrain AFV designed primarily to engage enemy forces by the

use of direct fire in the frontal assault role. Though several configurations have been tried,

particularly in the early experimental days of tank development, a standard, mature design

configuration has since emerged to a generally accepted pattern. This features a main

artillery gun, mounted in a fully rotating turret atop a tracked automotive hull, with

various additional machine guns throughout.

Philosophically, the tank is, by its very nature, a purely offensive weapon. Being a

protective encasement with at least one gun position, it is essentially a pillbox or small

fortress (though these are static fortificationsof a purely defensive nature) that can move

toward the enemy - hence its offensive utility.

Historically, tanks are divided into 3 categories: Light Tanks (small, thinly

armoured, weakly gunned, but highly mobile tanks intended for the armoured

reconnaissance role), Medium Tanks (mid-sized, adequately armoured, respectably

gunned, fairly mobile tanks intended to provide an optimum balance of characteristics for

manoeuvre combat, primarily against other tanks), and Heavy Tanks (large, thickly

armoured, powerfully gunned, but barely mobile tanks intended for the breakthrough role

against fortified lines, particularly in support of infantry formations). Other designations

(such as Cavalry Tank, Cruiser Tank, and Infantry Tank) have been used by various

countries to denote similar roles.

A modern main battle tank incorporates advances in automotive, artillery, and

armour technology to combine the best characteristics of all three historic types into a

single, all around type. It is distinguished by its high level of firepower, mobility and

armour protection relative to other vehicles of its era. It can cross comparatively rough

terrain at high speeds, but is fuel, maintenance, and ammunition-hungry which makes it

logistically demanding. It has the heaviest armour of any vehicle on the battlefield, and

carries a powerful weapon that may be able to engage a wide variety of ground targets. It

is among the most versatile and fearsome weapons on the battlefield, valued for its shock

action against other troops and high survivability.