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llodernllcfn
Bcfftle Taril<s
Although many other weapon systems have been developed
for land combat since World War II, the main hattle tank is
still the dominant factor in that enuironment, It possesses the
arrrrout protection, mobiJity/agility and firepower which is
essential to its suwival on today's battlefield, and of all atnry
weaponsit isthe only one capable of offensive anddefensive
operationl
Durrng World War II most of the major powers developed and deployed
three classes of tank (light, medium and hear,ry) and in the immediate
post-war period this tendency continued with the USA and the USSR
each developing new generations oftanks that included all three types,
In the case of the United States it was the M4I Walker Bulldog hght tank,
the M47 and M48 Patton medium tanks and the MI03 heavy tank, The
USSR developed the PT-76 hght amphrbious tank, T'54 medium tank and
T-10 heavy tank,
By the 1950s the idea of having three types of tank had lost ground,
however, and almost without exception the industrialized countries built
just one type of tank which became known as the Main Battle Tank
(MBT). France built the AMX-30 (36 tonnes), West Germany the
Leopard I (40 tonnes), Japan the Type 74 (38 tonnes), the UK the
Chieftain (55 tonnes), Sweden the unconventional Stridsvagn I03 or
S-tank (39 tonnes), Switzerland the Pz 6l (38 tonnes), the USSR the T-62
(40 tonnes), and the United States the M60 (46 tonnes). As can be seen
from these weights, there were significant differences in weight: the
British Chieftain is the heaviest of them and would by earlier standards
be classed as a heavy tank, The lighter tanks have farrly thin armour and
rely on their mobility for protection.
Whereas most first-generatron MBTs weighed about 40 tonnes and, in
the case of the Leopard 1, had apower-to-weight ratio of 2l hp (15 7 kW)
per tonne, second-qeneration MBTs are much heavier but also have
much more powerful engines. The Ireopard 2 weighs just over 55 tonnes,
but thanks to its l,500-hp (l I lg-kw) MTU diesel has a power-to-weight
ratio of just over 27 hp (20 kW) per tonne, and therefore much improved
cross-country mobrlity and hence greater survivability, as it is able to
-,*i.
\h.*-...,.
Tanks have domrhafed tfterhcessant
post-war contlicts in theArab lands.
Despite all the revolutionary
advances made in other weapon
sfsfems, if is *re tankformations that
carry out the battles, relegating other
weaponry tomore or less support
roles,
move from one fire position to another more quickly and is in drrecl irr.e
of fire with enemy weapons for a shorter perrod.
For many years most MBTs have been fitted wrth a NBC (nuclear
btologrcal and chemical) system to enable them to continue to operate tn
a NBC-contaminated area; but the flrst generatron of infra-red nigh:
vision equipment is now giving way to thermal and passive systems
which are a dramatic improvement, Ail tanks now have a weapon-
stabrlization system which enables the main armament to be laid and
fired whilst the vehicle is moving across country. Fire-control systems
now always include a laser rangefinder and a ballistic computer which
virtually guarantee a first-round hit on both stationary and moving targets
at all battiefield ranges, The widespread introduction of electronic
devices rnto AFVs has, however, rncreased the cost of the vehicie and
increased the demand$ on the already overworked maintenance per-
sonnel.
Apart from the unconventional S-tank destgned in Sweden, tank de-
sign has not changed dramatically in the last 50 years or so. It may wetl
be that we are now seeing the last MBT as we know it, Already the
United States, West Germany and Sweden are experimenting with
externally-mounted gmns fed by automatic loaders, This enables the
crew to be reduced to three men (commander, qunner and driver)
seated in the hull under the maximum posslble armour protection.
The General Dynamics Abrams MBT is the first tank in the world to enter
pr oduction fi t te d wi th a g a s tu r bi ne. Al though tlrrs rs m ucft sm al ler than a
diesef il doeslr ave much higher fuel consumption and has to carry additional
fuel. By early 1983 more than 300 Ml s were inEurope.
 ARGENTINA

TAM Medium Tank

For many years the World War II Sher-
man tank was the backbone of Ar-
gentinian armoured units, By the early
1970s these were becoming in-
creasingly difficult to maintain and a
decision was taken to obtain a new
tank. Most of the tanks available at that
time weighed 40 tonnes or more and
were therefore too heavy to pass safely
over many of the bridges in the coun-
try, A decision was then taken to have
a new tank desiqrned speciflcally to
meet the requirements of the Argenti-
nian army, and the development con-
tract for this was subsequently
awarded to the West German com-
pany of Thyssen Henschel, which was
at that time building the Marder MICV
(mechanized infantry combat vehicle)
for the West German army, The first
prototype of the new tank, called TAM
(Tanque Argentino Mediano) was
completed in 1976, a further two vehi
cles beingr completed the following
year. This tank was accepted for ser-
vice with the Argentinian army and a
factory for production of the vehicle
was established near Buenos Aires,
Almost 200 TAMs have now been built,
though none was deployed to the Falk-
lands dunng the conflrct that took
place in 1982. To work with the TAM
the VCTP infantry fiqrhting vehicle was
developed by Thyssen Henschel and
some 200 of these are now belng built
in Argrentina.
The hull ofthe TAM is based on that
of the Marder MICV, of which well
over 2,000 are now in service with the
West German army, The driver is
seated at the front ofthe vehicle on the
left with the powerpack (engine and
transmission) to his right. The glacis
plate is well sloped to give the best
possible protection within the weight
limits of the vehicle, The armour does
not compare very well with that fitted
to MBTs such as the Leopard 1 and
AMX-30, however, The three-man all-
welded twret is at the rear of the vehi-
cle, with the commander and gn:nner
on the right and the loader on the left.
The main armament comprises a 105-
mm Qnrn fitted with an extractor to re- sen Henschel has as a private venture TheTAM tankhas beendesigned by
move fumes when the gun is fired; thts developed a complete family of theWest German company of
has an elevation of *lB' and a de- flghting vehicles, although as yet none Thyssen Henschel for the
pression of -7', A 7.62-mm (0.3-in) of these has been placed in produc- Argentinian army andis based on
machine-gun is mounted co-axially tion. tfte clrassr's of tfi e Marder MICY. Well
with the main armament, and a similar over 100 of these have now been built
weapon can be mounted on the turret Specification inArgentina.
roof for anti-aircraft defence, Four Crew: 4
Wegrmann dischargers can be fltted Weight: 30,5 tonnes (loaded)
on each side of the turret, and these Engine: MTU 6-cylinder diesel de- Performance: maximum road speed
flre smoke or fraqmentation grenades. velopins 720 hp (537 kW) 75km/h (46.6mph); maximum range
Totals of 50 rounds of 10S-mm Dimensions: Iength (with anrn forward) 550kn (342mi]es); fording 1.4m (4ft
and 6,000 rounds of 7.62-mm (0.3-tn) 8.23m (27 ft Oin); Ienerth (hull) 6.77m 7 in); Qrradient 65%; vertical obstacle
ammunitron are carried ln the TAM. (22f: zyz in): width 3.25 m (10 ft B in); 1m (3ft 37sin); trench 2,5m (8ft
Using the chassis of the TAM, ThYs- height (turret top)2.42 m (7ft 1l%in) 2Vzin)

I tuo" 59 Main Battle Tank

Following the ending of the Chinese
civil war in 1949, the Communlst
Chinese army was based on a more
permanent basis, but much of its
equipment was obsolete or in urgent
need of repair includingT a number of
American and Japanese tanks of
World War II vintage, The USSR soon
supplied large numbers of armoured
vehicles including T-34185 tanks, SU-
l0O 100-mm tank destroyers, and BTR-
40 and BTR-152 armoured personnel
carriers, In the early ]950s these were
followed by a quantity of T-54 MBTs,
and production of the type was subse-
quently undertaken rn China under the
designation Type 59 MBT. The flrst
production models were very austere
and were not fltted with a stabilization
system for the 100-mm Type 59 gmn or
wrth any night-vision equipment. l,ater
vehicles were fitted with a full range of
infra-red night-vision equipment for
the commander, gmnner and driver, as
well as a stabilization sytem. The 7.62-
mm (0.3-in) bow-mounted and 7.62-
mm (0.3-in) co-axal machine-gllns are
designated Type 59T, while the Rus-
sian-designed 12,7-mm (0.5-in)
DShKM machine-gmn mounted on the
loader's cupola is designated TYpe 54
by China. The British company MEL
has provided small quantities of pas-
sive niqht-vision equipment for the
Type 59 MBT, includtng the drtver's
periscope and the commander's and
gnrnne/s sights. More recently a num-
ber of Type 59s have been observed
with a laser rangteflnder mounted ex-
temally above the gn-rn mantlet This ts
in a very exposed positton however.
and is therefore vulnerable to small
arms fire and shell splinters.
The Type 59 has been exported tn
some numbers and is known to be Ln
sewice with Albama, the Congo Kam-
puchea, North Korea, Pakrstan. Sudan,
Tanzania and Vietnam. lt has seen
combat with Pakistan, Vtetnam and. of
course, China when she Lnvaded Viet- Early in 1983 it was reported that The Chinese-built TYpe 59 is
nam in 1979, China was supplying, via Saudi Arabia essentially a Soviet T- 54. Later
It is believed that the Type 59 MBT large quantities of Type 69 MBTs to production Type 59s have intra-red
has been replaced ln productlon bY Iraq to make up for some of its losses tn night vision equipment and an
the Type 69, whrch was seen in Public the heavy fighting with lran. American e x te r n ally mounte d laser
for the first time during a parade held intelligence reports have stated that rangefinder.
outside Beijing (Peking) rn September between 1977 and l98l Chinese tank
1982, This tank is very similar in production amounted to about 3,500 Dimensions: lengrth (wtth Qun forward)
appearance to the Type 59 but has a vehicles, the vast majority being the 9.Om (29ft 6in); lenqth (hull) 6. 17m
new gnrn (with a fume extractor near its Tlpe 69 MBT with the rematnder the (20ft 3in); width 3.27m (10ft 9in)
muzzle) believed to have a calibre of Type 62 light tank. height 2,59 rn (B ft 6 in)
105-mm or l06-mm and probablY a de- Performance: maximum road speed
velopment of the I l5-mm smooth-bore Specification 50km/h (31mph); maximum range
gmn installed in the Sovtet T-62, at least Crew:4 400km (249 mrles); fording l,4m (4 ft
one example of which has been caP- Weight: 36 tonnes 7in); gnadient 60%; vertical obstacle
tued by Chinese forces during a bat- Engine: V-12 diesel developing 520 hp O 79 m (2 ft 7 in); trench 2.68 m (B ft
tle with Soviet border untts. (3BB kW) 9Vzrn)

Dl firo" 74 Main Battle Tank

The Type 74 MBT has been designed
to meet the requirements of the
Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force
(IGSDF) by Mitsubishi Heavy Indus-
tries. The fust prototype, called the
STB, was compieted in 1969, and the
first productlon vehicles followed tn
early 1983 about 3OO Type 74
1975. By
MBTs had been completed, and pro-
duction was expected to continue unttl
at least the mid-l980s.
'lhe main armament consists of the
proven British Royal Ordnance Factor-
ies 105-mm L7A1 gun, for which a total
of 55 rounds of ammunition are carried;
there are also a 7,62-mm (0,3-in) co-
axial machine-qun and a 12.7-mm (0,5-
in) machine-gun on the roof for antr-
aircraft defence. Three smoke dis-
chargers are mounted on each side of
the turret, firing forwards. The fire-
control system includes a ballistic
computer and a laser rangefinder to
enable the exact range to the target to
be determined, so increasing the pos-
sibihty of a f,rst-round hit. Some mod-
els have an infra-red/white-light
searchligrht mounted to the left of the
main almament, and the driver is also
provided with infra-red nrght-vision
equipment.
The most unusual feature ofthe Type
74 rs rts hydro-pneumatic suspension,
which enables the driver quickly to
adjust the height of the vehicle to sutt
the type of ground being crossed or to
meet different tactical situations. The
ground clearance can be varied from
0.2 to 0,65m (7.9 to 25.6in), and the
driver can even tilt the nose or back of
the tank, or have one side of the tank
higher than the other. The 105-mm gn:n
has an elevation of +9,5" and a de-
pression of -6.5', but with the suspen-
sion raised at the front and lowered at
the rear this can be increased to + 15",
the reverse producinq a depression of
-12.5"; this is a very useful feature
when the tank is firing from behind a
crest or from a reverse sloPe.

2
 As a result of japan's prohlbltion of
the export of weapons the Type 74
MBT has not been exported The only
varLant of the Type 74 Ls the Type
armoured recovery vehicle whrch has
a hycirauhc dozer/stabrhzrng blade at
the front of the hull, a wtnch, and
hydrauirc crane on the rrght srde of the
hull for changing engtnes and other
components in the fieicl. The chassrs oi
the vehLcle wrll also be used for the
pro;ected twrn 35-mm AW-X sell
propelled antr-arrcraft gun whrch s ex-
pected to enter servrce ln the second
hall of rhe 1980s
For the future the Type 88 MBT Ls
berng developed under the drrectron
of the Japanese Self Delense Aqency s
Technrcal Research Headquarters.
'I'hrs wrll have advanced armour, be
frtted wrth a smooth bore 120 mm gun
and weLgh about 43 tonnes At least 600
oi these are expected to be burlt to
replace the olcl Type 6l MBTs, whrch
are raprdly becomrng obsolete
Specification
Crew: 4
Weight: 38 tonnes (loacled)
SWLDLN
ti Stridsvagn
I
L 103
ln the perrod immedrately after World
War li hght tanks formed the bulk of
the Swedrsh army's tank strength To
mtro lhacoul tJ\ stmnedtatotequtte
ments for tanks some 300 Centurrons
were purchased from the UK De-
velopment of a heavy tank (the KRV)
armed wrth a l5O mm smooth bore
qun was started wlth Landsverk re-
sponsrble lor the chassrs Volvo Ior the
powerpack and Bofors for the arma-
ment. At the same nme Sven Berge of
'ho Swcdrsh dlmy wds d-sronrno a
new concept rn AFVs tn that the gun
was hxed to the chassrs and not
mounted rn a turret Traverse was to be
obta.nod by rUtn.nq I' o - lnk on tlS Vo'
tlcal axrs and elevatron/depressron by
loworrno or I.rtsl'to lna sLspenston dt
front or back Test nqs proved the
basrc concept and rn 1958 Bofors was
alvarded a contract lor two prototypes
ol the turretless tank At the same ttme
development of th-. KRV was stoppecl.
The first two prototypes were com-
pieted tn 196l but so certaln was the
Swedrsh army that the concept was
sound that tt had. rn 1960 placed a
pre productLon order for a further l0
vehrcles T'otal development costs ol
the Stridsvagn 103 tank whrch rs com
monly known as the S-tank, was under
19 mrlhon The first productron vehr-
cles whLch drlfered only rn mrnor de-
tarls from the prototypes, were com,
ulol-d rn -960 or o produ ron ^or
trnued untrl 1971, by whLch trme 300
had been birrlt
The marn armament of the S tank rs a
mochfied versron olthe Brrtrsh 105-mm
L7 and thrs ts fed from a 50 rounci
magazrne located rn the hull rear. The
ammunltron mrx depends on the tactrc-
al srtuatron but could comprrse 25
APDS 20 HE and five Smoke A max
rmum of 15 rounds a mLnute can be
ftred. A 7 62 mm (O 3 rn) machtne-gun
rs mounted on the commander s cupola
and a lurther two 7.62 mm (0 3-rn)
machrne guns are futed on the lelt srde
of the hull. flrrnq forwards A total oi
2 750 rounds of 7 62 mm (0.3-rn)
ammunrtlon rs carned Mounted on the
roof of lhe vehrcle are two Lyran laun
.-*B-
78
a w
*. rlt '' Y.fiBj *d
,rF+n -
:i.
{
Engine: Mrtsubrsht 10-cyltnder dtesel Performance: maxrmum road sneed The Type 74 MBT entered service in
developLng 750 hp (560 kW) 53 krrri h (33 mph) -u"rniu- ,inge 1976. An unusual feature of the
Dimensions: length (wrth gun fonvard; 300 km (186 mrles) fordrng I m (3 fr vehicle is its hydro-pneumatic
9 41 m (30 lt l0Z rn); lenqth (hu11) 6 7 rr (31,' rn) qradrent 60%t vertical obsta- suspension. allowing the driver to
(21 ft 117r rn) wrdth 3 18 m (iC ft cle I m (3 ft 3,/r rn)t trench 27 m (8lI adjust the heighl o1 ffte suspenslon to
5,/r rn) hercrht (overall) 2 67 m (B ft 9 rr) lOlr rn) suit the type of terrain being crossed.
(S-tank) Main Battle Tank
Bofors S-lank s how ing e x te r n al
stowage boxes at hull rear and dozer
blade in retracted position under
nose. Flotation screen is in |owered
posrdon.
BE Effi
'),,
chers for rllumLnatrng targets ai i- i..:
The engLne and transmrssLcr. :il j r'
the lront of the vehrcle. and ilre c - ,'. =r
pack consrsts ol a Bntrsh Rolls !: .' -.
KoQ n ul r. r^l r, rrr6 o-v-l ! : : :rain.back to Swecien however as her Dimensions: length (wLth gun) B 9: I
bhp/179 kW (to be replaced b.y a L=- irned lorces wtll probably be en, (29 ft 6 Ln); lenqth (hull) 7 04 m (2: ,'
trolt DLesel) and a Boerng 553 gas t;: .:aL.red tn defensrve ralher than offen- I tn), wrdth 3 26 m (10 ft By': rn), he;:r:.
btne developrnq 490 shp (366 ki'r' l: :r-. i- perattons (overall) 2 5 m (B fI 2V: trt)
noJ mdi usF lhe -anl, ts po.v-ro i ; . :. M,runted under the nose ol the tank Performance: maximum road spe=:;
dLesel the turbrne bernq en'l.,.;=: -s . dczer blade whrch ts used to pre 50 km/h (31 mph) rrlaxtmum rarr,r:
when the vehrcle rs rn combat ar.i:.r'.' l.rre defensrve posittons. Carrted ;aaIm'242mrlesr: tord ng I 5m :'
lJro.r '1, -s courl'y d-n..nd.r, , ,:- . .:,':,nd the top of the hull Ls a flotatton 1l rn) gradrent 60%, verttcal obsta:.-
er power to-werght ratra) si--teen vrhtch can be erected tn 20 0.9m (2it ll,/,rtn), trench 23m -.'
'f he drrver Ls seatecl on the lei: - : -:-= mrnut-.s and the tank ts then propelled 6 /: rn)
hull and has a conrbrned per-..:,r = rrr Ihe water by rts tracks at a speed of
rr I binoc-rl ,r srohl wi l r rr , : ' r krr h (3 7 mph) Bofors Strv I 038 (or S - tank), which
'ronor I .o IOo' LB n : ' has a 105-mm gun fixed to the hull
-vapl-.a h ,r ng , gl,ill.ulF srq:. . :. Specification with the weapon being aimed in
radro operator rs to the rear of the tt t'.' Crew: 3 elevation and depression by
^' rnd locns'hq rrl. lhe on-m.:.- : Weight: 39 tonnes adj usting the hydro- pneum a tic
rs on the nqht and hts obser'.'a:.,:. Engines: dtesel developrnq 240 hp suspension. The gun is fed by an
equrpment rncludes a combrned t:=t. i ,9 kW) and a Boerng 553 gas turbrne automatic loader, enabling l5
scope and optrcal srght that r,c al[],-j: 'l;,,i-l.,ptns 490 shp (366 kW) rounds per minute to be fired.
id r. re rl . lrdl ol tne dr-ver ,11o ..
ables hlm aiso to arm anci fire the .ul
I h' con n a .d r . OPS L ront .. :....
stablllzed and can be traverseC
throuqh 208'. In a typlcal engaqeneni
the commander first observes the
target then uses th-o hanclle bars on the
trller columns to lay the armament ontc
the tarqet the tvpe of amnrunrtron rs
then selected and loaded and the oun
rs fired. The ernpty cartndge case ts
elected through the hull rear
The suspensron rs of the hydro
pneunralLc typ-. and allows the arma
menvhull to have an elevatron of + l2'
and a depressron of l0' The marn
dratvback of th,. S tank rs that lt cannot
fire on the move Ths rs ol no qreat
rl ::-'.:
AMX-30 Main Battle Tank
ii'[ain armament of the AMX-30 is a
) 05-nm rifled gun, which can fire
s t andard NATO ammunition as well
as Frenclr-desr'gn ed rounds.
French Army AM X - 30 showing I 0 5'
mm type CH - I 05-F I gun whose main
anti-tankround is the OCC (HEAT),
which has a muzzle velocity of 1000 m
(3,280 ft)per second and will
penetrate 400 mm ( I53/s in) of armour
at an incidence of} degrees. More
recently anAPFSDS (OBUS Fldche)
has been introduced intoFrench
army service, but not exported.
the remaininEr 28 in the h::ll Totals of
1 050 rounds of 2O-mm and 2 050
rounds of 7 62-mm amminLiton are also
carried Types ol ammunrtio:l fired by
the 105-mm gun Lnciude HEAT, HE,
Smoke anC IllumrnatLng '.n;htle a new
APFSDS round has been Introduced
recently. The latter Ls cailed the Obus
Fl6che, and wrth a muzzle velocity of
1525 m (5,005 ft) per seccnd will pene-
trate 150 mm(5.9 in) of armour at an
angle of 60' at a range of 5 000 m (5 470
yards). The current productton modei
of the AMX-30 for the French army IS
the AJ!D(-30 82, whrch has a number of
rmprovements rncludinq an tntegrated
fire-control system that tncludes a las
er rangefinderand a LLL I V system tls
automotlve Lmprovements tnclude a
new transmlsslon.
The basic AMX 30 chassts has gtven
birth to a very larqe farriily of related
vehrcles, The AM(-30D armoured re-
covery vehicle is desiqned to recover
and repair damaged vehtcles tn the
freld, and has a dozer/stabihzer blade
rrrounted at the front of the hull, two
winches, and an hydraulic crane on
the rlght srde of the hull for changing
engrnes and other components ln the
field. The AMX-30 bridgelayer has a
scrssors bridqe which can be used to
span gaps of up to 20 m (65 fI I)/ztn).
The chassrs is also used to carry and
Iaunch the Pluton surface-to-surface
tactical nuclear misstle, which is used
only by the French army. The combat
engineer tractor, the AM(-30 EBG, is
still under development and wtll be
used by tl-re French corps of en-
qineers. The chassrs is also used for
the French version of the Euromrssrle
Roland SAM system and the SA-10
Shahine SAM system which has been
developed by Thomson-CSF to meet
the requirements of the Saudi Arabian
army. A twin 30-mm self-propelled
anti-aircraft gun system, the AMX-30-S
401 A. has also been developed lor
Saudi Arabia thrs provrdinq close rn
protectron for the sA- 10 battenes, The
GCT is essentially a modifled AMX-30
chassis wrth a new turret fitted wrth a
155-mm howitzer that is provrded wtth
an automatrc loader and enables the
weapon -o fire erght rounds a mrnute
untrl its ammunLtion suppiy rs ex-
hausted The CCI Ls now rn service
wrth the French army and Saudr Ara-
bia and has more recently been
ordered by Iraq
AMX-32 Main Battle Tank
cutaway drawing key
I Dl W 13 TV canrera
2 E evat on scnsor
3 M58l gunncr's telcscopc
4 Gunner's oane
5 Gunncr's TV monttor
6 Gun gyro acco ciometer
box
T Iank commandcr's TV
monltor
B Tank commander's psrtel
9 Turret Syro-accccromeier
box
10 Cupo a 1
AMX-30 of the French army showing
its cross-country mobility. This is one
of the few Western MBTs that is not
now fitted with a stabilization system
for the main armament, and cannot
therefore fire on the move.
Specification
Crew:4
Weight: 36 tonnes
Engine: Hispano-Suiza 12-cylinder
diesel developing 720 hp (537 kW)
Dimensions: length (with qnrn forward)
9,48 mft I in); lensth (hull) 6,59 n
(31
(21ft 7in); width 3.lm (10ft 2tn)
height (overall) 2.86 m (9 ft 4 in)
Performance: maximum road speei
65 km/h (40 mph); maximum ranqe 50C
to 600km (311 to 373 miles); gnadien:
60%; vertical obstacle 0.93 m (3 f:
07:: in); trench 2,9 m (9 ft 6 in)
11 M527 tank commander's
tclescopc
12 Radro sets
13 NBC compartmcnt
14 Flux valvc
I 5 Casc
6 Radrator (engrne cool ng\
II aivix-sz Main Battle Tank
The AM(-32 MBT has been desrgned
by the Ateher de Construction d'lssy-
les-Moulineaux specrfically as an ex-
port MBT for those countries who re-
qurre more flrepower and better
armour protection than available on
the current AMX-30 MBT, which is
produced at the Atelier de Construc
tion Roanne (ARE), the only MBT plant
in France. The first prototype, armed
with the same 105-mm gun as the cur-
rent AMX-30, was shown at tire ]979
Satory mihtary equrpment exhrbrtron,
but the second prototype, shown rn
l9B I new 120-mm gun as well
has a as
rmproved armour protection. At the
trme of writrng the AMX-32 was not yet
rn production
The layout of the AMX-32 rs srmrlar
to the AMX-30 with the dnver at the
front, three-man crew in the turret, and
the engine and transmissron at the
rear. Main armament compnses a 120-
mm smooth-bore qun developed by
the Etabhssement d'Etudes et de Fab-
rrcatrons d'Armement de Bourqes
(EFAB) wrth a vertical slidrng breech
block. The barrel n fitted wrth a ther-
mal sleeve wrth holes underneath to
extract the fumes when the gmn rs flred.
Two types of ammunrtron have been
developed, APFSDS wrth a muzzle
velocrry of 1630 m (5,350 ft) per
second, and a multr-purpose round
with a muzzle velocity of I050 (3,445 ft)
per second. The 120-mm gun will also
frre the range of ammunitron de-
veloped for the Leopard MBT now in
2 Sutza HS I l0 12-cyhnder water-l:ir:ci
servrce wrth the West German and
Dutch armies. A total of 38 rounds of
120-mm ammunrtron rs carrred, of
which 17 rounds are stowed rn the tur-
ret and the remaining 21 in the hull.
Mounted co-axrally to the lelt of the
marn armament rs a 2O-mm M693 can-
non which can be elevated rndepen-
dently to +40'; a total oi 4BO rounds of
ammunition is carried [or tbrs weap:n
A 7.62 mm (0.3 in) machrne-gun rs
mounted on the commander's cupoia.
and mounted on each side of the for
ward part of the turret rs a bank of
three smoke dischargers.
One of the most significant differ-
ences between the AMX 32 and the
AMX-30 rs the lormer s integrateci
COTAC fire-control system vrhrch ha-.
been developed from an earlier sys-
tem frtted to the smaller AMX-IORC
6 x 6 amphibrous reconnarssance vehr-
cle, whrch has been rn servrce wLth the
French army for several years Thrs
enables the AMX 32 to enqfage statron
ary and movrng targets under day and
night condrtrons wrth a 90 per cent
probabrlrty of a first-round hrt
Mounted externally to the lelt of th-.
20 mm cannon is the low-hqht-level
TV canrera whrch lransmrts d plCl,rlt
on a TV screen to both the ccmman-
der's and gnlnner's posltlons The con.i-
mander has a iully stabrlized. roci
mounted sight wLth a maqnrficatron ,,r
x2 or xB in the day mode arrci x i rn
the nrght mode. Thrs can be used fcr
both target acqursltlon and targe: sul
verllance The gunners srght has
magnification of x l0 and also rrcrrgr:-
rates a laser rarrgeflnder
The AMX 32 has the sam-. HLspanc
englne as the AMX-30 thLs deveLcc,r
72Ohp $37 kW). bur -he AJrlX-:," : forward) 985m t32 lt
also be fitted wrth a supercha:q=:
model that develops 800 hp l5gl <'.',-
The rncreased werght of the ANllr--:.
has meant however that lts power to-
werqht ratro at 17.5hp (13kW) per
tonne rs somewhat iower than that of
'he AMX 30 MB1' whrch was rntro.
duced well over 15 years ago. The sus-
penslon is a modtfied verslon of that
fitted to the AMX 30, but srde skirts
have been added to gtve a measure of
protectlon agalnst attack from HEAT
prolectrles.
The AMX-32 is fitted wrth an NBC
system and a schnorkel whrch enables
rt to ford to a depth ol4 m ( 13 ft I /:: rn).
Optronal equtpment rncludes a dLf-
a Crew: 4
l:
AMX-32 has aredesigned turret and
hull fr ont with improved armou r
protection. The fire controi s/stem
rncludes a /ase r rangefinder and a
roo[- mounte d stabilized s ight.
ferent transmissron, fire extlnqutshLnj
system, arr conditronrng system. dt:'
ferent tracks and a system that Lnlec:-.
diesei fuel into the exhaust, so creantl
d smoke cloud Thrs rs d system s.n,.l.'
to that which has been utstalled ::
Russran tanks ior 30 yea rs or mc I p o: . :
lnore recently been adopted bl,, :
number of other armres around i:::
world.
Specification
Weight: 40 tonnes
Engnne: Hrspano-Surza I 10 12-cylu:c:r
multr-fuel enqrne deveioping 720 r.:
(s37 kw)
Dimensions: length (wrth 120-nrm ;::.
3 rln) lFnr-.-.
(hull) 6 59 m (21 ll7tlztn), width 3 2i :.
(10ft 77ztn); herght (overall) 296:.
(9ft B/z in)
Performance: maxlmum road spee:
65 km/h (40.4 mph), maxrmum ranr=
5s0 km i329 mrles; gradrent 600o r' :-
trcal obstacle 0.9 m (2 ft I I 7: rn); trer::.
2 9 m (9 ft 6'lr tn)

23 CVro box
24 Gunncr's scat
25 Systcm clcctron cs tl
26 Dfvcr's scat
27 Rcvcrscr contro
17 O I cooler (gcarbox coo rng) 28 Siccr nq whcc
18 Hvdraulic mcchanrsm box 29 Gcar shrflrrg sldt o'l
1 I Arr supply dust rcmovcr 30 20 nrni cannon w ih s
20 Arr frlter clcvatrcn dcvrcc
2T Loader's seat 31 105-nrnl !tun
22 Tank conrmander's scarl 32 llonncctorfrticd traia
>K Uii$iin Mk s Main Battle rank
The Chieftain MBT was designed by
the Fighting Vehicles Research and
Development Estabhshment (now the
MLlrtary Vehrcles and Engrneenng
Establshment) in the late 1950s as a
successor to the Centurron tank, The
flrst prototype was completed rn late Until the introduction of theWest
1959 with a further stx prototypes fol- German Leopard 2 with its I 20-mm
lowing in 1961-62. The Chreftain was gun, the British Chieftain with its I 20-
accepted for service wrth the Bntlsh mm rifled gunwas the mostwell-
army in May 1963 and two productron armoured and powerful tank in
Iines were laid down, one at the Royal NATO. More recently a I 20-mm
Ordnance Factory Leeds and the APFSDS-T roundhasbeen
other at Vickers at Elswick (Newcas- introduced to enhance its combat
tle-upon-Tyne). Until the rntroductron effectiveness.
of the Leopard 2 into the West German
army in 1980, the Chreftain was the and Defence systems Improved Ftre left of the turret. Thrs has a ranqe of Weiqht: 55 tonnes
best armed and armoured MBT rn the Control System (IFCS) which when 1000m (1,100 yards) in the rnfra-red Engine: Leyland 6-cyhnder multt-fu:.
world. About 900 Chieftains were built used rn con;unction wrth the laser role and 1500m (1,640 yards) in the developins 750 bhp (560 kW)
for the British army, Kuwart also order- rangefinder manufactured by Barr and white-light role. Thermal rmaglng Dimensions: lenqth (with gun forwari
rngr 165, and Oman taking dehvery ofa Stroud, enables targets to be hit at nrght-vrsron equLpment will be rntro- 10.795m (35ft 5in) Iength (hull
small quantrty in 1981. But the largest ranges of well over 2010 m (2,200 duced in the mrd-l9B0s. 7.518m (24 ft 8 rn) width 3.657 m (li ::
export order was placed by Iran, yards). Variants of the Chreftarn rnclude an B/zin); height (overall) 2.895m (9i:
whLch ordered over 700 MBTs, plus Mounted co-axrally with the 120-mm atmoured recovery vehrcle and a 6 rn)
ARVs and brrdqrelayers as well as lBZ gnrn rs a 7.62'mm (0.3-tn) machtne-gnrn bridgeiayer. The latter can lay a Num- Performance: maximum road speec
Improved Chieftarns. In i974 lran and located on each slde of the turet ls ber B tank bndqe which ls of the scls- 48 km/h (30 mph) maxlmum roac
ordered 125 Shir I and I,225 Shir 2 a bank of slx electncally-operated sor type and can span a qap of up to range 400 to 500 km (250 to 310 miles)
MBTs (the latter a new design) but this smoke dischargers. A total of 64 22.86 m (75 ft 0 in) or a Number 9 tank fordrng 1.066 m (3 ft 6 in); qradrent
order was cancelled by the new reg- rounds of 120-mm ammunitron (prolec- brtdge which can span a gap of up to 60%; vertical obstacle 0.914 m (3 ft
rme The Shrr I became the Khahd and tiles and charges) and 6,000 rounds of 12 192 m (40 ft 0 rn). The Chreftain can 0 rn); trench 3 149 m (10 ft 4 rn)
further development of the Shrr 2 re 7.62 mm (0.3 int machtne-gun also be fitted with a hydraulically-
sulted rn the Challenger which en- ammunrtion ate catrted The NBC operated dozer blade at the front ofthe
tered servrce with the British Army rn pack is mounted on the turret bustle, hull for the clearance of battlefield
I983, and a fire deteclron and extrngrutshtng obstacles and the preparatron of flre British Chieftain MBT with I 20-mm
The layout of Chieftarn ls conven- system 1s mounted in the enojne com- positrons. L 1 l ASrifled tank grun, which has a
ttonal, with the dnver at the front, turret partment. Nrght-vision equrpment lS of thermal sleeve to reduce distortion,
rn the centre (with the commander and the infra-red type wrth an Lnfra-red/ Specification andrs also used by lran, Kuwait,
gmnner on the dght and the loader on whrte-hght searchlight mounted on the Crew:4 Oman and probably lrcq.
the left), and the englne and transmis-
sron at the rear. To reduce overall
height, the driver slts rn a rechned
positlon, lyrng almost horizontal when
driving with the hatch closed. The tur-
ret 15 of all-cast steel constructlon with
the front well sloped to provide the
maximum possible protection. The
commander has a cupola that can be
traversed through 360", and mounted
externally on this rs a 7.62-mm (0.3-Ln)
machrne-gun which can be aimed and
fired from within the turret.
The main armament of the Chieftain
ts a l20-mm LI1AS senes rifled gnrn
designed by the Royal Armament Re-
search and Development Establish-
ment at Fort Halstead. Thrs flres sepa-
rate-loading ammunition (divided pro-
jectrle and chargre). The main advan-
tages of thLS type of ammunition over
the conventlonal frxed round rs that the
ammunltion rs easier to handle in the
cramped confines of the tank turret,
and that as the bagged charges are
stowed in special water-filled contatn-
ers below the turret rrng, there rs less
risk ofan explosron. Types ofprojectile
that can be fired rnclude APDS-T
(traimng round is DS-T), HESH (train-
tns round is SFVPractice) and Smoke.
Soon to be introduced into servrce is
the APFSDS-T projectrle which will
have a long rod-penetrator and will be
capable of penetrating the armour of
all known MBTs in servrce today
Brrtish army Chieftains are now
berng fitted with the Marconi Space

>K Ulidnser Main Battte rank
tn 1974 Iran ordered 125 Shir I and
I 225 Shir 2 MBTs from Royal Ordn-
lnce Factory Leeds. The Shir 1 was
:ssentially a late-production Chieftain,
already entering service with lran in
.arge numbers, with a new powerpack
r::rsistrns of a 1,200-bhp (895-kW)
Rolls-Royce dresel, coupled to a David
Brown Tll37 automatic transmisslon
and fltted with an Atrscrew Holden
coohnq system. Armament was the
120-mm L1lAS rrfled gnrn connected to
a Marconi Space and Defence Systems
Improved Fire Control System (IFCS)
and a Barr and Stroui laser rallrei:-
der The Shrr 2 was a brand ne;,' cie-
srgn and had the same po.;;erpack
armament and hre-control svsten-r as
the Shrr l, but had a hull and turret of
Chobham armour whrch would pro-
vrde a high degree of protectron
agarnst all battlefield weapons espe-
cially missiles wrth therr HEAT w'ar-
heads. It also had hydroqas suspensron
whrch gave an excellent ride across
rougth country as well as betng easy to
maintain and repair in the event of bat-
tlefield damage.
The Brrtish army was to have re-
placed its Chieftatns wrth a Britrshr./
West German desrgn, but this fell bY
the wayside rn March 1977 and the UI(
went ahead on its own with a new Pro-
lect deslgnated MBT-80. With the fall

Challenger Main Battle Tank (continued)
of the Shah of lran the massive lranian
order was cancelled before deliveries
could start, although by that tlme the
Shir I was already in production at the
Royal Ordnance Factory Leeds, Jor-
dan eventually placed an order for 278
Khalid MBTs essentially simtlar to the
Shir l; deliveries of these began in
1981, and are still under waY.
In 1980 the British Ministry of De-
fence announced that the MBT-80 pro-
ject had been cancelled as not only
was 1t getting too expenstve but its in-
servrce date was slipprnq. Instead an
rnitlal order was placed wrth Leeds for
237 examples of the Challenger MBT,
thrs being basically the Shrr 2 with
modifications to suit it for a European
rather than Middle Eastern climate.
The frrst production Challengers were
handed over to the Britrsh armY in
March 1983, and four regiments are
expected to be equipped with the tank
wrthin the British Army of the Rhine. It
IS anticipated that a further order will
be placed to enable at least half of the
Chreftains of the Royal Armoured
Corps to be replaced.
The first production vehrcles wrll be
fLtted with the standard Royal Ordn-
Modern Main Battle Tark
ance Factory Nottingham 120'mm
L11A5 rifled gun but at a later date thls
wrll be replaced by the new high-
technologry Qun now under advanced
development by the Royal Armament
Research and Development Estabiish-
ment (RARDE) at Fod Halstead. Thrs
weapon wrll be of electro-slag refined
steel (ESR) with a new split breech
desLgn, and will be able to hre proiec-
trles wrth a much hiqher muzzle veloc-
rty, provrdrnq increased penetratlon
compared wrth current projectlles. It
wrll also be able to flre, as will the
current Ll1A5, the new RoYal Ordn-
ance Factory BirtleyAPI'SDS-T projec-
tile which wrll defeat all known
armours.
Specification
Crew: 4
Weiqht: 60 tonnes
Engine: Rolls-Royce 12-cYlrnder
dresel developinq 895 kW (1 200 hP) Performance: maximum road speed
Dimensions: length (with gmn forward) 56 km/g (35 mph) maxrmum range
11,55 m (37 ft 1O% in); length (with gun (estrmated) 500 km (310 miles); lordinqr
to rear) 0.87 m (32 ft 4% in); width 1.07 m (3 ft 6 in); gradrent 6070; verttcal
3.51 m (11 ft 6% rn); herght 2.89 m (9 ft obstacle 0 91 m (3 ft 0 in); trench 3 m
53/t tn) (9 ft 10 rn)

Tank Battles of fhe Gulf War :::,!!:!#':: e'ir31't';'!'):!:L'L"

In 1979 the Shah of Iran was overthrown, bring-

ing to an end a regime that had been in powe:
foi some 3? years and had in recent years built
up one of the most powerful and well-trained
aimed forces in the Mlddle East. The strength
of the lranian army included three armoured
and three infantry divisions, plus four indepen-
dent brigades which were equipped with
some 900 Chieftain tanks, 400 M47 and M48
tanks, 460 M60Al tanks, over 250 Scorpion re-
connaissance vehicies, many APCs (armoured
personnel cauiers) plus self-propelled gmns
and self-propeiled howitzers, and (most impor-
tantly) moblle air-defence systems,
Althis time the Iraqi army had a strength of
some four armoured, four lnfantry and two
mechanized brigades plus two special-forces
brigades, one independent brigade and the
Reflublcan Guard Brigade A11 major equip-
ment was Russian, including over 2,000 T-54,
T-55 and T-62 MBTs. Is;l!:,tj-.
Border flare-ups
When the Shah was in power there was little
trouble belween the two countries as in 1975 a varied considerably. Most of the successes
treaty was negotlated to redefine the mutual were in the southern thrust, with Khorramshahr
borders, But from May 1979 there were a num- falling after a bitter struggle, Iran did mount
ber of clashes along the lranlan/lraqi border, minor counterattacks in the northern and cen-
and between April and July some 30,000 Iraqis tral sections, usually with little armour or artli-
of Iranran orlgin were expelled from Iraq; in lery support, and did regain some of its lost
September 1980 President Hussein cancelled terrrtory.
ihe 1975 treaty between the two countries. On In January i98l the Iranians mounted a much
20 September Iraqi aircraft bombed a number larger counterattack south of Susangerd in the
of airfields in Iran, and two days later the Iraqi southern sector, This was a complete failure as
army advanced into Iran, According to lraq, all the tanks were apparently unsupported by tn-
she wished was to return to Iraqi sovereignty fantry, and the terrain, whrch at that time of year
parts of the Shatt-al-Arab waterway and terrl- is soft, was unsuitable for tanks. It is be[eved
tory ceded to lran in 1975 that Iraq lost about 50 T-62s with Iran losing
Itaqr forces advanced on three main axes, well over 100 Chreftains and M60Als,
towards Qasr-e-shirin in the north' Mehran in Armourturn-round
the centre, and (the most important of the
three) Susangerd and Khorramshahr in the In the flrst year Iraq lost about 250 or 300
south, Iraq hoped that such a move would tanks, and Iran probably about the same num-
quickly lead to the downfall of the regime of ber, Then early in 1982 it was reported that lraq
Ayatollah Khomeini, Iraq succeeded ln cros- had captured some 50 operational ChreJtains
srng the border, but the depth of penetration abandoned by their lranian crews; M60Als
 OF-40 Main Battle Tank
The standard tank of the Italian army
during the 1950s was the American-
supplied M47. The country did take
part in the formulation of the require-
ment which eventually led to the pro-
duction of the French AMX-30 and
West German Leopard I MBTs, ItalY
decided to make the American M60Al
under licence instead, and 200 ofthese
were made by OTO Melarai another
100 were supplied direct from the
USA. In 1970 Italy placed an order with
West Germany for 200 Leopard ls, and
at the same time OTO Melara obtained
a licence to undertake production of
the vehicle in Italy. By i9B2 some 720
had been completed for the italian
army and a further 160 ofthree special-
rzed versions (ARV, AVLB and AEV)
were due to be completed bY the mid-
1980s.
Under the terms of the LeoPard I
hcence OTO Melara could not export
the tank, so the company designed a
new tank specifically for the export
market under the designation OF-40,
the O in the desrgnation standrng for
the prime contractor (OTO Melara)
and the F for Fiat which supplies the
complete powerpack (engine, trans-
mrssion and cooling system); 40 stands
the empty weight of the vehicle, 40
tonnes.
The first prototype was completed
rn 1980, and lhe flrst production con-
tract was placed by the small country
of Dubai in the Persian Gulf, which re-
ceived its flrst production vehicles in
I98 I.
The hull and turret of the OF-40 are rounds of ammunitron is carried, 42 to stabilized sight, which is used for both OF -40 MBT of the D ubai army (Part o!
of all welded steel construction and the left of the driver and the remainder surveillance and target acquisition. the United Arab Emirates), which has
are drvided into three compartments, in the hrrret for ready use, Standard equrpment on the OF-40 ordered 18 vehicles with an option
wrth the driver's at the front, fighting in A 7,62-mm (0,3-in) machine-gnrn is MBT includes nightvrsion equipment on a further 28. This MBT uses
the centre, and engine and transmis- mounted co-axrally with the main and an NBC pack which is mounted to automotive components of the West
sion at the rear. armament, and a stmtlar weaPon is the left of the driver. GermanLeopard I andis armed
The marn armament comprises an mounted on the turet roof for anti- The chasss oithe OF-40 is also used with a 1 05-mm grun and two 7.62-mm
OTO Melara-designed 105-mm rifled aircraft defence, Four smoke/frag- as the basrs for a 76-mm self-propelled (0.3-in) MGs. The fire-control system
gnrn which is fltted with a falling-wedge mentation grenade launchers are anti-aircraft tank currently being de- ,ncludes a Jaser rangefinder and a
breech-block, concentric bulfer and mounted on each srde of the turret. veloped by OTO Melara. ballistic computer.
spring recuperator. When the Qun re- firing forwards. The OF-40 has a
corls the breech-block automatically Officine Galileo OG]4I,R flre-control Specification
opens and ejects the empty cartridqte system which includes a computer and Crew: 4 height (turret top) 2.45 m (8 ft 0'ls in)
cases into a bag under the breech of a Selenia laser rangeflnder. As an op- Weight:43 tonnes Performance: maximum road speei
the weapon, Towards the rear of the tion, a fuily stabilized fire-control sys- Engine: 10-cylinder diesel developing 60 km/h (37.3 mph); maximum range
turret on the left is a circular hatch tem can be fltted, enabling the OF-40 830 hp (619 kW) (road) 600 km (373 miles); fording
which can be used to dtspose of the to engage enemy tanks when moving Dimensions: IenErth (with gun forward) 1.2m (3ft li7qin); gradient 6070; ver-
empty shell cases or to resupply the at speed across country. The comman- 9.22 m (30 ft 3 in); Ienqth (hull) 6 89 m tical obstacle 1, 15 m (3 ft 97+ in); trench
vehrcle with ammunition. A total of 61 der has a roof-mounted French SFIM (22 frTW in); width 3.51 m ( I I fr 6rlq in); 3m(9ft 10in)

t.i.il*a t Main Battle Tank with the marn armament a srmllar armour protection against missiles anci

-
When the West German army was re-
formed it was initially equipped with
American M47 and M4B tanks, bolh of
'.vhrch were armed with a 90-mm gnrn.
A decision was soon taken that the for-
mer wouid be replaced by a more
modern tank armed with a l05-mm
gun, and two desrgn teams (called A
and B) were selected to build pro-
'rtypes of vehrcles for comparattve
tnals. At the same trme France built
prototypes of the AMX-30 to replace its
American-supplied M47s, It had been
3xpected that either the West German
lvfBTs or the French AMX-30 would
become the comrnon MBT of both
armres but in the end each countrY
'.'.'ent its own
way. In the case of West
3ermany, further development of the
::am A desrgn resulted in the standar-
:uzation of the vehicle as the Leopard
I The first production tanks were com-
:ieted by Krauss-Maffet of Munich in
j-prember I965 and production con-
:.:-:ed untrl 1979 A total of 2,437 MBTs
was built for the West German army n
four basic models desiqnated Leopard
IAI (with addrtronal armour this be-
came the Leopard IAIAI), the
teopard IA2, the Leopard lA3 (with a
new welded turret) and the LeoPard
IA4 (with a new welded turret and
new fire-control system). The Leopard
I was also adopted by Australia (90
vehicles), Belgium (334), Canada (1 14),
Denmark (120), Italy (920, of which 720
were built in Italy by OTO Melara), the
Netherlands (468) and Norway (78)
Production was resumed bY Krauss
Maffei and Krupp MaK in 1982 to meet
further orders from Greece (106) and
T\rrkey (77),
The Leopard I is armed with the
proven British Royal Ordnance Factor-
ies Nottingham 1,7 series rifled tank
gmn, and can fire a variety of ammuni-
tron including APDS, APFSDS, HEAT,
HESH and Smoke, a total of60 rounds
being carried, A 7.62-mm (0.3-tn)
machine-qun is mounted co-axially
weapon is mounted on the turret roof
for use in the antr-alrcraft role. and four
three-barrelleo smoke drschargers
are mounted on each srde of the turret
flrrng forwards. A gun stabLhzatlon sys-
tem is fitted, enabhng the marn arma-
ment to be lard and hred whLlst the
tank is movrng across country.
Leopard Is have an NBC system and a
full set of nrght-vrsron equrpment for
the commander gunner and loader.
When orrgrnally rntroduced the latter
was of the flrst-generatlon tnfra-red
type but thls rs now berng replaced by
the second-generarlon passlve tvpe
A wrde range of ophonal equlpment
has also been developed for the
Leopard I rncluding a schnorkel whrch
enables the tank to ford deep rt'rers
and streams to a maximum depth of
4m (l3ft l7zrn), An hydraulic blade
can be mounted at the front of the hull
and this is operated by the drtver to
clear or prepare battlefield obstacles,
Most West German and Dutch
Leopards are havrng appiiqu6 armour
fitted to their turrets to grve increased
HEAT protectiles.
The basic Leopard I chassis has
been the basis for a complete family of
vehicles which have been destgned to
support the MBT on the battlefield. AIl
of the specialized versions, with the
exception of the Gepard, have been
designed and built by MaK of Kiel who
have also built a few of the Leopard I
MBTs.
Specification
Crew:4
Weight: 40 tonnes
Engrine: MTU l0-cylinder diesel de-
veloprng 830 hp (619 kW)
Dimensions: lengrth (with gmn forward)
9.543 m (31 ft 4 in); Iength (hull) 7.09 m
(23ft 3in); wrdth 3.25m (10ft Bin)
heisht (overall) 2.613 m (B ft 7 in)
Performance: maxtmum road sPeed
65 km/h (40.4 mph); maximum tanqre
600 km (373 miles); fording 60%; ver-
trcal obstacle L 15 m (3 ft 9 7< in); trench
3m(9ft10tn)
Tank Fire-Control Sgstems

1. Commander selects
targetwhich isthen
acquired bygunner
through tank lasersighl
2, Gunner lays muzzle
bore sight (MBS) on target
and selects main
armament.
_--q.
<D-
3. Tracking conti nues. 4. Computer applies 5. Guone. -c,r
Laser measures range ot corrections to compensate targetlna:- -a-
target and computer for wind. temperatu re.
calculatesthe required movement etc and 'shifts'
bal listic trajectory. ballistic aiming mark.

{::'b:'' 4 +.
lri*;t**',r1, l'b,.

For many years tank guns were aimed with the aid of a telescope linked to the
main armament, the gunner using manual controls to line up the sight (and
hence the gun) with the target. This required constant practice and meant that
several rounds had to be fired in order to hrt the target, even at the relatively
short distances involved, usually under 1000 m (1,095 yards). The optical sight
did not take into account such vital factors as speed of the wind, the velocity of
the ammunition and the ambient temperature, allof which have some effect on
the accuracy of the weapon. lnitially, optical rangef inders of the stadiametric or
coincidence type were used to find the exact range of the target and this
information was transferred to a mechanical computer for calculation of the
weapon elevation required to hit the target. These rangef inders were diff icult to
operate and required a considerable amount of training, and armies in the Middle
and Far East found these especially difficult to operate.
ln the 1950s the UK developed the ranging machine-gun (RMG) concept, in
whlch a 0.5-in ('1 2,7-mm) machine-gun was mounted co-axiallywith the '105-mm
L7 gun in the Centurion.
A similar weapon was fitted to the Chieftain MBT with its 120-mm gun, but as
the RMG was only effective out of some 1830 m (2,000 yards) the full potential Battle tanks can be extremely obvious, and therefore vulnerable. ta:g;e:: - :
of the gun, which is eff ective out to well over 2060 m (2,250 yards), could not be counter this disadvantage commanders rely on reducing engager:: e: : ::': ::
exploited. The RMG was later replaced by a Barr and Stroud Tank Laser Sight to a m inimum an d incre as ing accu racy of fire to a m a x im u m. T h e E ::':s :
(TLS) which incorporates a laser rangef inder which is accurate to 5 m (1 6 ft) at all Marconi Improved Fire ControJSysfem r.s one of a number of corr.p::e:-
battlefield ranges. assisleds/slemswhichofferarapidandaaccurateaimingfacti;-' '\'::.-:.. -
There are many types of fire-control system available for MBTs today, but je:
seconds ofsr'grlr ting a target (above right) the gunner or comrrar =:': ; =
space permits brief descriptions of only two of these, the British Marconi Space left) can lay his gun to the correctazimuth and elevation (offselLl:,? -':::r--::
and Defence Systems lmproved Fire Control System (IFCS) and the Belgian temper ature, movem ent e tc), s elec t a c hoic e o{ r ou n d s. an d fi r e. .:- C :: e : : :--
SABCA fire-control system. crew has been seen to obtain three hits on each of three sma|! ia:ge- ::
All British army Chieftains are now rapidly being retrofitted with the IFCS ranges of 1,750 to 3,175yards (l,600 to 2900 m), within awide arc. i.:::t;:
which, coupled with the already installed TLS, enables the tank to engage and hit types of ammunitionwithin 53 seconds.
stationary targets at a range of 3000 m (3,280 yards) and moving targets at a
range of 2000 m (2,185 yards) with a high probability of a firstround hit.
The IFCS has a Marconi 12-12P digital computer which automatically gathers finder, seven sensors, an analogue computer and an c:: : -: l-. -: ::-:
and updates information from a number of sensors for factors such as wind measure ambient and ammunition temperature, a' :';ss-'= J----:."- '- :
direction, angle of sight, charge temperature, barrel wear, target displacement cross wind, trunnion cant or tilt, and rate of 1".'e: :':.:':: - --
and ammunition type. lt then calculates the ballistic solution and correct laying determinestheanglesbetweenthe lineof s deand t.: :, : :' :-= :-- .-
offsets for each target engagement and controls the automatic laying of the gun outputistransforried intoadisplacementof crcss -:-: - --: I-:-= - -.
in azimuth (line) and eleVaiion (including the tracking of moving targets) in When the cross hairs are brought back onto tne re-g:: --'= ),'
readiness to fire. ln the Chieftain both the commander and gunner can lay and correct target elevation and azimuth.
fire the 120-mm gun, the commander having override control. The IFCS has The widespread introduction of these ire-co.:': : .:::^. : ':.=- ' -
f
been fitted to a number of other vehicles for trials purposes and has also been with the installation of a gun-stabilizatron syste- -:s :- :: : : ^- - :'' : "
installed in the Khalid MBT being built for Jordan and the new Challenger MBT thetargetwiththefirstshotundermostoperaia^i a:-:' --. I -' - . ..-
for the British army. During one trial of a Chieftain fitted with the IFCS the crew be achieved rf the tank crew caries oJt cc'::i-: =': ="=.' .:- : -
obtained nine first round hits within 53 seconds at ranges of between 1600 and backed up by good workshopfacilitles ln or:e' 1^.-..'.':- -: -'-: :

2900 m ( 1 ,750 and 3,1 70 yards) ln a 1 1 0" arc. be quickly traced and rectified. For tns'eas:- -:-. --- -:-:: :
The Belgian SABCA f ire-control system has already been fitted to the Leopard offeringtankgunnerytrainingsysten stoe^a:a::-. :':..:'- : :, - -

1s of the Australian, Belgian and Canadian armies. lt consists of a laser range- tank engagements without us ng ve a---- : :-
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Four-view jllustration of the Leopard J A4. the final

r:roducticn model for the West German army with
a new all-welded turret with improved armour
protection and a stabilized stght for the
comnLander. The rear view show's the tank fitted
with a schnorkel for deep fording operations. with
which ihe Leoparcl I can t'orcl ta a depth of 2.25 m
(7 ft 1t':. in).

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Leopard in Action
As the first marn battle tank to go into produc-
tron in West Germany since 1945, when that
cormtry was a world leader in AFV design, the
Leopard I could hardly fail to be a well-
planned and serviceabie tank, It could hardly
be more conventional, but tanks are not all the
same and Leopard 1 is a good compromise.
Clearly better than US and French counter-
parts in being more squat, it has a modest
weight of some 40 to 42.5 tonnes (depending on
variant), which reflects the belief in the early
1960s that there was little point rn using really
thick armour. The Leopard was designed in-
stead to survive by being agile, and it is gener-
ally accepted that this tank has the best cross-
country performance of any MBT of its era.
Climbing aboard is simple, and even in the
early versions with a small turret there is plenty
of room in the lnterior. The driver sits in the
front of the welded hull on the right side. This
leaves room beside him on the left lor 41 of the
total of 60 rounds for the LZA3 gmn, where they
are readily accessible in front of the loader on
the left of the gnrn, The gnrnner sits on the other
side of the gnrn, with the commander behind
him. The loader and commander both have
circular hatches in the cast oval turret roof, one
of the hatches (usually the loader's) havrng the
MG3 machine-gmn for local firing and AA use,
The MTU diesel, a i0-cylinder Vee rated at
830 hp (6 i9 klAf , is well isolated at the rear and
water-cooled, which helps to make the
Leopard one of the quietest tanks to drive.
Changing gear is very effortless because ofthe
hydraulic torque-converter, and as soon as the
tank is properly on the move across rough ter-
rain it is obvious that the ride is hke a Rolis-
Royce compared with that of some other AFVs.
The road wheels have large vertical travel
14
and are sprung by torsion bars combined with
five hydraulic shock-absorbers in a system
cunningly designed to keep the hull sensibly
level even in traversing the roughest terrain.
Even the drrver with his head outside hears
little but a muted and distant engine note, and
when travelling in the sealed condition the
crew members are amazingly comfortable and
rnsulated from the few noises.
Fighting comforts
The entlre fightiner compartment is air-
conditioned to avoid extremes of temperature
in a way that was never attempted in World
War il. In cold weather the interror can be
brought up to comfortable temperature in ab-
out two minutes by a heater burning main-
engine fuei oil, Exhaust heat from this installa-
tion pre-heats the engine coolant while the hot
crew-compartment air can be specially blown
over the eight electric-system batteries to
warm them before engine start. There are
several features designed to avoid toxic prop-
ellant fumes from entering the crew compart-
ment, and even the bag for the spent cartridge
cases is continuously scavenged by an air ex-
tractor system. As in most modern tanks there
is room for food and drink, and an electric oven
and hot cup are provided for the quick prepa-
ration of snacks in the field,
Probably the most vital of a tank's functioning
sytems is the maln fire-control unit. That of the
Leopard I naturaily stemmed in basic princi-
ples from that of the old American M47 tank
which the Leopard replaced in the German
army. There are no fewer than 14 periscopes
(eight for the commander, three for the driver,
two for the loader and one for the gnrnner), but
the main sight is a large periscope for the com-
'.2
mander incorporating a telescope whose mag-
nification can be varied from x6 to x20, Its
head rotates relative to the turret, and the com-
mander uses it to maintain a detailed lookout
over all drstant terrain, to find targets and to
determine stadia ranging (finding the range of
targets of known size simply from their appa-
rent size in the optics).
Rangefinding
As soon as the commander finds a target he
holds the optics of the sight head on it while he
traverses the twret to bring the gnrn onto the
same bearing. A flexible dnve{ink between
the turret azimuth and the sight head keeps the
latter on target no matter how the turret is
traversed, The tangent elevation of the gun is
also electrically fed to the commander's sight
so that rn emergency he can lay and fire the
I05-mm gnrn. Normally the gn:n is laid by the
gmnner usrng hrs x 16 binocular rangefinder,
which has a base length of 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) For
rapid or unskilled ranging an optical coinci-
dence system ls used, simiiar to that in many
cameras, but for maximum accuracy in poor
visibility a stereoscopic method is preferred.
The main gnrn has a very flat trajectory, but
tangent elevation appropriate to the ammuni-
tion selected - APDS (armour-prercing dis-
carding sabot), HEAT (high-explosive anti-
tank) and HESH (hiqh-expiosive sguash head)
- is automatically fed in as the exact range is
determined.
A third ranging/sighting system is a monocu-
lar telescope co-axial with the gnrn, used by the
gnrnner only, At iright the panoramic sight of the
commander can be replaced by an IR (infra-
red) device which is extremely sensitive to IR
wavelengths. Unaided it can spot the exhaust of
a tank or a hot gun barrel at a distance of2000 to
3000 m (2, I85 to 3,280 yards), these and compa-
rable objects showing whlte against the black
night. At intervals the commander can switch
on his special searchlight to emrt a stream of IR
'black ligrht' to give a clear picture on his IR
sighting device, though this has an obvious dis-
advantage rn that it looks like a lighthouse to
any opposing tank commander with his eye on
an IR receiver sight. When needed the same
searchlight can emit white (visibie) ligrht. The
Leopard is itself painted with greyish camouf-
lage which rs specially formulated to minimize
the tank's reflectivity to IR, while its engine
exhaust is mixed with cold air before being
drscharged overboard.
As soon as the main armament is on target,
loaded and at the correct elevation the gn:nner
Leopard I MBTs on the firing ranges. Tfiis lankias
been modernized to serve into the J 990s, when i!
will be replaced by a new MBT cttrrently at the
conceptstage.
or commander can fire it, Automatlcally, shut-
ters blank oilall sight systems for 0.25 second to
avoid flash blindness at night. The breech auto-
matically opens after the shot, the spent case is
dumped in the fume-extracted bag, and in ac-
tion a preselected type of fresh round is loaded
at once, the breech closing automatically.
Though far from new in design, the British gun
is unfallingly accurate, typicai figures with
APDS ammunition at a range of 1000 m (1,095
yards) being 99 dlrect hits out of I00 rounds
fired against a target slightly smaller than a
typical tank turret. At the same distance the
score against a tank is 100, or 98 at 2000 m (2, 185
yards) and 89 at 3000 m (3,280 yards). When the
Leopard I fired on the move, the scores were
lower, but early in productron the Leopard IAI
replaced the first model and one of its new
features was an improved autostabilization sys-
tem which gives a 50 per cent flrst-strike prob-
abilrty even when firrng on the move across
country. The autostabilization greatly speeds
the task of laying the gun when the vehicle is
stationary, and enables the target and the shot
fall to be accurately observed after the vehicle
has started moving agaln. Another add-on was
a thermal sleeve around the barrel to minimize
distortion caused by the barrei ever being hot
on one srde and cooler on the other.
Night vision and fire control
Wrth the Leopard IA2 variant a major
change was replacement of the IR system by
hght-amplification periscopes. Electronic im-
age intensifier systems emit no radiation to
give away the tank's own position, and in effect
merely improve the crew's vision so much that
they can see in the dark. In the Leopard lA3
the turret is a new all-welded pattern wrth
spaced armour (such armour retrofitted to
Leopard lAI tanks turns them into Leopard
lAlAls), which greatly improves resistance to
hollow-charge projectiles, though nobody
would pretend even this turret could withstand
a direct hit by a modern antiarmour missile.
The Leopard 1A3 turret is much roomier, mak-
ing for rncreased comfort in action (though by
Russian standards even the original turret was
amazingly capacious!). Last of the Leopard J.s to
be built were 250 vehrcles designated Leopard
IA4 with a completely new computerized fire-
control called COBELDA, as well as a daylight
IR panoramic telescope for the commander.
The leopcrd
Familg

Leopard Biber bridgelayer in

travelling order showing its
stabilizer/dozer blade under nose of
tank. The bridge can be positioned in
les s than five mr'nules and used lo
spangapsof upto22m(72 ft2 in).
The bridge can be retrieved from
either end. The Biber k also used by
Australia, C anada, JVetherJands and
I taly as well as West G ermany.

Leopard Biber bridgelayer laying its Leopard 1 MBT chassis with turret
bridge in position actoss awater removed and replaced by the same
obstacle. tufiet as on the French I 55-mm GCT
sel{-propelled gan now in service
with France,
S audi Arabia and I r aq.
The weapon can fire eight rounds
perminute due toits automatic
loading.

Above: Gepard twin 35-mm self-

propelled anti-aircratt grun system with
tracking (turret tront) and surveillance
(turret rear) radars in operating
positions.
Above: One of the prototypes of the
GPM armoured engineer vehicles,
whichwas developed specifically to
prepare and clear river crossing
pointsfor lollowing tanks and other
AFVs.
;'i
Below: Leopard armoured engineer
vehiclewith crane traversed to front
and titted with an auger which
enables it to drill holes 70 ctn
in diameter, to a maximum
(27V2 in)
depthof 2 m(6s/tin).Thehullof the
AW is almost identical to that of the
Leopard ARV but a heat exchanger
has been installed.

Above : Leopard I ARV with dozerl

stabilizing blade lowered at front of hull
and crane litting a complete Leopard l
powerpack. All ARVs, AEVs and
bridgelayer members of the Leopard I
tank family have been built by Krupp
MaK ot Kiel, who are now also building
theLeopard2MBT.
E r,J"ffia 2 Main Battte Tank
-: rhe late 1960s West Germany and
::.e USA were']ointly developing a new
VBT designated MBT-70. In 1970 this
'.vas cancelled as a result of rrsing
:csts, and West Germany went ahead
:o develop a new MBT eventually
known as the Leopard 2. Thts is fact
-ncorporated the engine. transmlsslon
and certain other components of the
MBT-70. A total of 16 hulls and 17 tur-
rets was built to test various suspen-
slon armaments (105-mm or 120-mm
smooth-bore guns) and fire-control
combrnations. A special version was
also built at a iater date to meet the
requirements of the US Army; this was
called the Leopard 2(AV) and was
armed wrth the standard 105-mm L7
rrfled gun,
After troop trials had been carried
out in both West Germany and abroad,
the Leopard 2 was accepted for ser-
vrce by the West German army, and in
1977 an order was placed for a total of
I 800 Leopard 2 MBTs, ofwhich Krupp
MaK is to build 810 and Krauss-Maffei
ol Munich the remaining 990. The first
production tanks were handed over to
the West German army in 1979, and it
rs expected that final deliveries will be
made in 1986. in 1979 the Netherlands
selected the Leopard 2 to replace its
ageing Centwion MBTs and AMX-13
Iigrht tanks armed with a 105-mm qnrn; a
total of445 Leopard 2 is to be dehvered
by 1986, the first of these having being
handed over in 1982. Under the terms
of this contract, which is worth some
Fl2,4O0 million, many of the compo-
nents will be supplied by Dutch indus-
try. At the time of writing the Leopard 2
and the American Ml Abrams were
il- USA
M60Al Main Battle Tank
In 1956 a decision was taken to de-
velop an improved version of the M4B
tank to incorporate a new engine and a
larger-calibre main armament. The
former was the Teledyne Continental
AVDS-1790-P while the latter was the
British 105-mm LZAI barrel fitted with
an Amerrcan-desigrned breech. The
LTA1 was subsequently made under
hcence in the United States under the
Cesignation MOB and fltted to all pro-
duction examples of thrs M60 series
(lvith the exception of the M6042) and
LS also fitted to the new Ml MBTwhich
Ls also produced by General Dyna-
The M60 entered service with the
US Army in 1960 but was soon suc-
ceeded in production by the M60Al
'whrch had a number of modrfications
rncluding a redesigrned turret which
oflered greater balhstic protection.
The M60A2 was fitted wlth a new turret
armed with a i52-mm weapon system
whrch could fire the Shillelagh missile
or a range of conventional ammumtion
with a combustible cartndqe case, A
rotal of 526 M60A2s was built, but the
type has now been phased out ofser-
v1ce, the chassis beingr stored for con-
version to specialized vehicles.
The current production model is the
M60A3, which is produced at the De-
troit Tank Plant now operated by the
Land Systems Divrsion of General
Dynamics who took over Chrysler De-
iense Inc, during 1982. The M60A3 has
many improvements over the earlier
M60A1, including a Hughes Aircraft
Laser Tank Fire Control System, Tank
Thermal Sights, main armament stabtl-
,1
Lapard 2 MBT of the West German
army, which will take delivery of
1,800 vehicles by I 986. The 7.62-mm
(0.3-in) MG 3 machine-grun can be
mounted at the commander's or
loader's station and provides short
range anti-aircraft protection. On
either side of the turret is a bank of
eight electrically-operated smoke
dischargers.
under intensive evaluation by the
Swiss army, whrch needs to replace tts
old Centurions and Pz 6ls from the late
1980s with a more modern vehtcle.
The Leopard 2 is armed with a machine-gun is mounted co-axtally
Rhernmetall-developed I20-mm
smooth-bore gun which fires two matn
types of ammunition, namely HEAT-
MP-T (High Explosrve Anti-Tank
Multi-Purpose Tracer) and APFSDS-T
(Armour-Piercing Frn-Stabihzed Dis-
cardinq-Sabot Tracer); in each case
there is also a practice round The for-
mer is used against all battlefield
targets, includrnq field forttflcattons
and lighter vehicles, whrle the Iatter is
the marn tank-kilhng round and is said
to be able to penetrate the frontal
armour of all current tanks includinqt
the Soviet T-64 and T-72. The ammunt-
tion, also developed by Rheinmetall, is
unusual in that it has a combustible
cartridge case, so that after the gnrn ts
fired all that remains of the cartridge ts
the base stub which is e;ected tnto a
bag under the breech of the gmn. A
total of 42 rounds of 120-mm ammuni-
tion is carned, compared with 60
rounds for the first-generation
Leopard I with its 105-mm gmn. This is
The M60A3 k the most widely used
AnericanMBT andis the latest
development ol the M60, which
entered sewice in 1960. It is armed
with a 1 0 i-mm M 68 grun and has an
advanced fire control system that
rhcJudes a stab ilization sys tem,
passive night vision equipment,
laser rangefinder and a ballistic
computer,
ized in both elevatlon and traverse,
AVDS-1790-2A RISE (Reliability Im-
proved Selected Equipment) enQttne,
new tracks with replaceable pads,
new searchlight over the maln arma-
ment, thermal sleeve for main arma-
ment, new co-axial 7.62-mm (0.3-tn)
machine-gnrn and British sx-barrelled
smoke dischargers mounted on each
side of the turet, to name but a few.
Many of these tmprovements have
now been retrof,tted into the M6041,
which is then redesignated the M6043.
The M60A3 carries a total of 63
rounds of ammunition for the 105-mm
gmn, of whrch 26 are carried tn the
forward part of the hull, 13 in the turret
for ready use, 21 tn the turret bustle
and three under the gmn. A 7.62-mm
(0.3-in) machine-enrn is mounted co-
axially with the main armament, and a
0.5-rn (12.7-mm) machtne-gun ts
mounted in the commander's cupola.
Producrion of the M6043 IS now ex-
not a qreat drawback as the 120-mm
round has greater penetratlon and the
fire-control system qives a much grea-
ter hit probabrlrty A 7.62-mm (0.3-in)
with the main armament, and a similar
weapon is mounted on the tufiet roof
for anti-arrcraft defence On each side
of the turet are eight smoke drschar-
gers, firrng forwards
The commander of the Leopard 2,
who srts on the rLghr of rhe lurret, LS
provrded wrth a stabrlrzed roof-
mounted sight which has a variable
magnrflcatron of x2 and x B. this can be
traversed through 360" for observation
and can also be used to lay and flre the
main armament. The gunner, who is
seated forward and below the com-
mander, also has a stabLhzed sigrht but
his incorporates a laser ranqfefinder
and a thermal image unit both of whrch
are hnked to the flre-control system
The marn armament rs fullv stabrhzed
and standard equlpment Lncludes pas-
sive night-vision equLpmenl. an NBC
system, a fire extrnqturshrng system
and a schnorkel for deep wadrng.
The hull and twret of the Leopard 2
rncorporate advanced armour,n'hrch
L
'J
pected to be completed tn 1984 by
which trme well over 13.00C vehrcles
should have been buiit for the home
and export markets. In addrtron to
being used by the US Army and US
Marines, the M60 series rs also used
Austria Egypt, Iran, Israel, Italy (tn-
cluding 200 burlt under licence by
OTO-Melara), Jordan, Morocco, Saudt
fuabia, Sudan Tunrsra and the Yemen
Arab Repubhc (North Yemen).
There are only two main versrons of
the M60, namely the M60 AVLB and
the M728 CEV. The M60 AVLB has a
scissors bridge on top of the hull, and
this is launched over the front of the
vehicle to span gaps of up to 60 ft 0 in
(18.2BB m). The M72B Combat En-
gineer Vehicle has a hull and turret
similar to those of the M60A1, but is
armed with a 165-mm demolition gmn
which flres a HESH (High Explostve
Squash Head) round to demolish
battlefield fortifications and pillboxes.
gives it a high degree of battlefteld
survivabrhty, especially agalnst anti-
tank weapons wrth HEAT warheads.
The Leopard 2 is powered by a multt-
fuel engrne developrng 1,500 hp
(i 119 kW) which gives the Leopard 2
a power-to-weight ratio ol 27 hp
(20 kW) per tonne compared wtth just
under 20 hp (15 kW) per tonne for the
final productron models of the Leopard
1. Thrs gnves the tank greater accelera-
tron and rmproved cross-country
mobility, which promote suwrvability
on the battlefield.
Specification
Crew:4
Weight:55. i5 tonnes
Engine: MTU 12-cyhnder multi-fuel
developrng 1,500 hp (l i 19 kW)
Dimensions: length (with gnrn forward)
9.668m (31ft B% in); length (hull)
7.772m (25ft 6rn); wrdth 3.7m (12ft
1% in); height (overall) 2.79 m (9 ft I3/a
in)
Performance: maxlmum road speed
72km/h (45mph); maximum range
550 km (342 miles) gradient 60%; ver-
trcal obstacle I I m (3 ft 77q in); trench
3m(9ft10rn)
.s.
Mounted at the front of the vehrcle is an
hydraulic dozer blade to clear battle-
field obstacles and prepare fire posi-
tions for other AFVs, and prvoted at the
front of the hull rs an A-frame which les
by back over the rear when not required,
Specification
Crew: 4
Weight: 48 98 tonnes
Engine: Continental AVDS- I 790-2A I 2-
cyhnder dresel developinq 750 bhp
(560 kw)
Dimensions: length (with gun forward)
9.436m (30ft ll7zin); lensth (hull)
6.946 m (22f1 9Yz in); width 3,631 m
(l 1 ft 11 rn); height 3.27 m (lO ft B7q in)
Performance: maximum road speed
4B.2Bkm/h (30mph); maxtmum road
range 500km (310 miies); fordtng
1.219 m (4 ft 0 in); qradient 60%; verttc-
al obstacle 0,914m (3ft 01n); trench
2.59 m (B ft 6 m)
E ffit nframs Main Battle Tank
_<+{h;

h the 1960s West Germany and the

-SA started the loint development of a
:.ew MBT known as the MBT-70, but
:rrs was cancelled in July 1970 for a
,-arrety of reasons, The United States
::ren went on to develop a more au-
s:ere version called the XM803, but
.:IS too was soon cancelled as it was
::lt that it would be too expensive and
ro sophrstrcated. T\aro years later the
letroit Diesel Allison Divisron of the
leneral Motors Corporation and the
lefense Division of the Chrysler Cor-
: lranon were each awarded contracts
: desrgn a new MBT which would
:,:'re much improved armour protec-
:.:: and greater mobrlity than the M60
:en rn production. After extensive
::-als the desrgn from Chrysler was
.r.epted and in 1976 the company
,'.'as awarded a full-scale development
rrrtract including the construction of
- - prlot vehicles which were com-
:-:ted in 1978. The XMI was eventual-
.; standardrzed as the MI Abrams
:.:BT. the first production tank being
::mpleted at the Lima Army Tank
:.ant, Ohro, in 1980. Productionstarted
.: :he Detroit Tank Plant in 1982 and by
=.:ly i9B3 over 700 Ml MBTs had been
: and each plant was turnrng out 30
--11
'.:ks a month. The US Army has a re-
: jirement for 7,058 Mls by fiscal year
. :38
The hull and turet of the Ml are of
..i'.,anced Chobham type armour and
:::vrde the greatest deeree ofprotec-
'.:r ever rncorporated rnto an Amer-
. .,r MBT. Marn armament comprises
-.-.e proven lO5-mm M6B gun as
::-:unted in the current M60 series, but
. nuch improved fire-control system
.s been installed, this system includ-
:.q a laser rangTefinder and thermal
The M 1 Abrams, with its I 0 5 -mm
M68 rifledwn, advanced armour
and gas turbine, is now operational
with the US 7th Army in West
Germany. Its fire control system,
incorporating thermal sights, laser
r angetinder an d s tabiliz ation
s/slem, enab/es it to engage and
destroy enemy tanks in avariety of
environm ent al conditions.
imaginq system that allows the tank to
engage tarQrets by both day and night,
The gun rs fully stabihzed in both
elevation and traverse, and so can be
armed and flred whrle the vehicle mov-
ing across country. A total of 55 rounds
of 105-mm ammunition is carried, of
which 52 are compartmentalized. Of
the latter 44 are in the turet bustle (22
on each side) and separated from the
crew by slidingr doors, A 7,62-mm (0.3-
rn) machine-gmn is mounted co-axrally
wrth the main grun, and a similar
weapon is mounted at the loader's
hatch. The commander has a 0.5-in
(12.7-mm) machrne-gun that can be
traversed through 360" and elevated
to +65'. Mounted on each side of the tng trials in an M4B tank. The gas tur-
turet is a bank of sx smoke drschar- bine takes up much less room than a
gers. It is expected that from l9BS pro- dtesel, and ts easrer to servrce or re-
ductron vehrcles wrll be fitted with the place in the fleld if rt breaks down, but
I2O-mm Rheinmetall smooth-bore gmn it uses more fuel than a diesel engrne a
as already fltted into the Leopard 2 factor whrch tends to negate the space
MBT in servrce with the West German saved in the first place. The West Ger-
army, These later productron vehicles mans installed the same gas turbine in
will be designated MIAI and will also the Leopard 2 for trials purposes, but
have a number of other improvements stuck to the MTU diesel for all produc-
such as addrtronal armour protectlon tion vehicles.
The Ml Abrams MBT is the first such
vehicle to be powered by a gas tur- Specification
brne engdne, and was installed follow- Crew: 4

ISRAEL

4.,1
-
Merkava Main Battle Tank
-: the 1960s the backbone of the Israeli
-:.rmoured Corps was the British-
::ophed Centurion MBT (which was
.:bsequently rebuilt and fitted with a
,,3-mm gmn to become known as the
- cgnaded Centurion), Sherman (most
: which have now been rebuilt for
:cecralized roles such as command
'.':hrcles, ambulances, recovery vehi-
:les, mortar carriers and self-
:lcpelled howitzers) and the Amer-
.:an M4B. After the 1967 Middle East
'.'.'ar
Israel became concerned that in
':e future she would not be able to
,btain AFVs from her tradrtional sup-
:hers (the UK, France and the USA).
lioreover, many of the tanks from
.rese sources did not meet lsrael's
-:rque requirements.
Under the drrection of General Tal,
Israel started to develop rts own MBT,
ramed Merkava (or Chariot). Thrs was
rnnounced in 1977, and the flrst pro-
iuction vehicles were completed in
1979, It was estimated that by 1982 at
least 250 vehicles had been built. The
Merkava was used in action for the first
trme aqainst Syrian armoured units
operating in southern Lebanon in the
summer of 1982.
The layout of Merkava ts unlque rn
that the whole front of the vehicle rs
occupied by the engrne, transmissron,
cooling system and fuel tanks. The
driver is seated just in front ofthe turret
on the left. The turret, whrch is of cast
and welded construction, rs srtuated
well to the rear of the hull with the
commander and gnrnner on the rrght
Israeli armyMerkava MBT armed
with a 105-mm M68 grun, as fitted to
theM4SAS andM60 series of MBT.
The Merkava was.ltrst used in
combat in the I 982 invasion of the
Lebanon, when it engaged and
defeatedSyrianT-72s. It can carry
infantrymen, additional ammunition
or a number of stretcher patients in
the hull rear-
and the loader on the left. The turet is
well sloped to grve the gEeatest possr-
ble degree of armour protection and
rts small cross sectron makes it a very
difflcult target. At the rear of the hull is
a compartment which can be used to
carry additional ammunition or (sup-
posedly) four stretcher patients or I0
fully equipped rnfantrymen. A hatch is
provided in the hull rear to allow for
the rapid exit ofthe tank crew or infan-
trymen. Standard equipment includes
a full range of night-vision equipment,
an NBC system and a special flre de-
tection and extinguishinqr system
which is automatically activated when
a projectile penetrates the vehicle.
The main armament is the proven
lO5-mm nfled tank gmn, which can fire
a wide range of ammunition includingr
the new APFSDS-T round (the Ml11)
developed by lsrael Mihtary Indus-
tries. Dwing the recent fighting in the
Ja-
*
Lebanon this round proved capable of the Merkava the Is:a:-- :...'-
penetratlng the Soviet T-62 and T-72 great emphass ::. r::','. : --'
MBTs over their frontal arc. The 105- Wuh a natronal q:p --='.-.. -: ..
mm gmn has an elevation of +20'and a mrlhon, every -ra.,-.:: :::.' - -'
depression of -8.5', Turret traverse very valuaLle c::.:-:. .'... :.. -
and gun elevation/depression are grven the rr.il{:r.-.;. i.!j r : -'
electro-hydraulic, with manual con- tron
trols for emergency use. A stabilizatlon
system is fltted, enabling the gun to be
almed accurately and fired while the Specification
vehicle is movrng across country, The Crew: 4
Elbit fire control system includes a Weight: 5i :::-:-:-
computer and laser rangefinder. Engane:
',-..-:.-..+.:: :.':.:. :
Compared with other MBTs de- (67r kw)
veloped in recent years, the Merkava Drmenstons: .=:.1:. .':.:. -- -'
has a very low speed and poor power- 8.36r,-- 2-:':. ,.:.
.-...:'
to-weigrht ratio, but it has been de- /a/ t+: -,-:.- a -- --
-
signed for a different tactrcal situation
to that found in Central Europe It
should also be remembered that Israel
has had more experience ofsuccessful
armoured warfare since World War II
than any other country. In desrorLn:
Tcnk Wcrrfare in the Lebctnon
For a number of years PLO (Palestine Ltbera-
tion Organization) guerrillas had been crossing
from southern Lebanon into northern Israel to
conduct hit and run raids against Israeli settle-
ments, often causing heavy clvilian casualties.
On 6lune 1982 the Israel Defence Forces (lDF)
launched an attack into southern Lebanon
under the codename Operation 'Peace for
Galilee', The advance was led by three regular
armoured divisions with some 800 MBTs, sup-
ported a number of separate/independent
armoured brigades and mechanized and
motorized infantry brigades. One division was
allocated to the east thrust, one to the centre
and one to the west. TWo reserye armoured
divisions with some 500 MBTs followed the
original advance of the req-rlar divisions on 7
and I0 June, with one division covertng the
eastern sector and the other the central, A
further two armoured divisions were mobilized
and deployed on the Golan to replace one of
ihe regrular divisrons which was committed to Upgraded Centurion MBT of the lsraeli army in Beirut. This tank has two
the Lebanon operatlon, Additionally, small roof-mounted7.62-mm (0.3-in) MGs and one 12.7-mm (0.l-in) MG over the
amphrbious landings were conducted along 105-mm grun to provide the maximum amountof suppressive fire.
the coastline, and helicopters were used to
deploy troops weli to the front of the line of
advance in blocking positions to stop the gnrer-
rillas' line of escape: dunng Operation 'Litani',
conducted in 1978, many gmerrillas escaped
wrth their equipment before the Israeli army
could make contact, and the lesson had been
fully apprecrated.
In the 1973 Middle East war the Israeli
Armoured Corps lost many tanks as a result of
poor co-operation between armour, infantry,
artillery and engineer units. The heaviest los-
ses were incurred among tank units, especially
on the Sinai front where a number of units were
almost wiped out,
Saggerambushes
In the f,rst few days of Operation 'Peace for
Galilee' most Israeli tank casualties were
:aused by PLO gnrerrillas ambinhing the vehi-
:les wlth manpack AT-3 'Sagger' mrssiles and
P.PG-7 rocket-propelled grenades. Such
a::acks were generally directed at the most
'.ulnerabie parts of the tank, namely its upper
oarts, sides and rear,
The Syrian army was deployed in the Leba- of
T - 5 5 fi tte d with a fu ll r ange of infra- red night vision The Merkava first saw action in the 1982 invasion
:-:n in some strenqth, a number of armoured equipmentfor the commander, gunner and driver. theLebanon. Production has however beenvery
-rd mechanized brrgades being located in the low and only around 200 have beenbuilt.
lekaa Valley. The Syrians tried to reinforce
::'ese with another T-62 armoured brrgade heavy NATO single-target homogeneous ro1- even though they were often attacking up very
::m Homs, but on the evening of 9 June this led steel armour at an angle of 60o at a range of hrlly country.
','.'as destroyed by the Israeli atr forces while some 2000 m (2, 185 yards). For the Lebanon operation of 1982 many
s::-l rn transit. The T-72 was used in combat for the first trme Israeli M60AIs and Centurions were fitted with
The major armour battle between the Israeli rn this campaign, and from all accounts it can addrtional armour protection to their turrets
be knocked out over its frontal arc by I05-mm and sides, It is not known if these were ceramic
-.1 Syrian armies took place on I0 and i I June
'.',':en Syrian MBTs (T-54s, T-55s, T-62s and gmnsfirrng the Mlll round, There has been tiles, or hollow boxes to give protection against
- -- 2s) were engaged by Israeli tanks and heli- much speculation in the West that the frontal HEAT projectiles, or active armour. The last
::p:ers armed with Hughes TOW missiies. No armolu of the T-72 is of the advanced type consists of a thrn layer of explosive whtch ts
::= Cetails of losses are available, although it is incorporating laminate armour impenetrable detonated by the incoming warhead (HEAT,
:=--e-''ed that Syria lost almost 400 tanks inciud- by any NATO gun projectiles, or even by mis- for example) and so disrupts the latter. Some of
:.; 211T-62s 130 T-54s and T-55s, and as many siles such as MILAN, HOT and TOW. It could the tanks were also fitted with what are be-
r. - - ci their new T-72s. Israeli losses were be, however, that the tanks burlt for export are lieved to be launchers for decoy flares to dis-
150 tanks, of which some 40 or 50 were to a different standard to those issued to mem- tract Syrian missrle systems, including the re-
-.:=r
::::!.ele losses. Israel deployed the Centu- bers of the Warsaw Pact, The Israelis tried to cently-delivered AT-4 'Spigot' which in the re-
:-::.- i160 serres and the Merkava, the last capture a T-72 MBT for detail examination, but placement for the 'Sagger'.
:=.:-; :sed tn action for the first time. All of as far as it is known they were not successful. 'Peace for Galilee' Israeli
--:-=:: :re armed with the combat-proven 105- ^During Operation
Cr (command, communications and control)
:-:- \15E tank gun which fires the new Israeli supremacy was first class and the Israel air lbrce soon
'.:r=----
\1--r:ary Industries Ml I I APFSDS-T pro- In tank-versus{ank engagements, the Israeli gained complete air superiority over the bat-
'=::--= ','.':::h has also been adopted by a num- gunners again proved that they are the best in tlefield, shooting down some 90 Syrian aircraft
::: :: :: -:::nes in Europe including West Ger- the world, and few of the Israeli tank losses for the loss of only two of their own. Extensive
:.--.'.' =:-: S',.,'ttzerland, Thts projectile has a were caused by penetrations from projectiles use was also made of the IAI Scout and Tadiran
,-', t-= .,-=-::L:;r of over 1450m (4755ft) per flred by Syrran tanks. The Israelis also made Mastlff remotely-piloted vehicles (RPVs) to
: r : ;. : =:. i :an penetrate l50 mm (5 9 in) ol better use of the terrain than their opponents gather intelligence on the battlefield.
 Modern Main Battle Tanks

M60Ai of the lsraeli army with additional armour

to its tufiet and hullfront. The exact composition ol
this armour is stillnotknown, although some
sources ftave said that it is of the active type that
reacts when hit by a HEAT weapon (e.9. Sagger
k *':i# lF
ATGW or RPG-? grenades) which were
encountered in large numbers in the Lebanon'

**
I
t- %

+:

"!
. # #Fk
'+i
{-'t;
+
or!
*.,,+f *
sa*,

'4!rd'1:
''{*-.

i3;,nI
.Tri'rf::*,'
'1i:f:r:. r. !
I ['joz Main Battte Tank
-e T-62 is a further development of
:re T-54/T-55 tank with a slightly lon-
;el hull to accommodate the turret
',','::h rts I15-mm smooth-bore gmn. The
l-62 was flrst seen rn public durtng a
:r:ade held rn Red Square (Moscow)
r:rLng 1965, although tt ts now known
:r rave entered productlon ln about
- lt 1 The T-62 remained in production
r:.irl the early l97Os and a number
'.'.':re also produced under ltcence in
l::choslovakta, matnly for the export
::,:ket. The T-62 was more expensive
': oroduce than the earlier T-54/T-55
=:.: for thrs reason the T-55 remained
-:- :roductlon for many years after the
:-:le modern T-62 had been phased
::: of production.
ihe llS-mm U-STS smooth-bore
,-r1 LS fitted wlth a bore evacuator and
-: :-iLly siabrltzed in both elevation and
:::',-erse. An unusual feature of the T-62
:i ':.rr rr has an lntegral shell case ejec-
:.:: system whrch ts actlvated by the
r=:orl of the gmn. Thrs elects the empty
r-se out throuqth a trapdoor in the tur-
:=: rear, but this has reduced the rate
-: :re to about four rounds a mtnute as
::-. ;mn has to elevate to +3'30' for thts
:: be carried out
Tlree main types of ammunition are
::=C by the 11S-mm gnrn, namely HE-
a:.AG-FS, or Hrgh Explostve Frag-
:,::t3tton Fin-stabilized, with a muzzle
,'=i-rcrty of 750 m (2,460 ft) per second,
:LAT-FS, or High Explosive Antt-
I ['jo+ Main Battle Tank
-:. ::e 1960s the Russians built pro-
'::'.'ces of a new MBT whrch became
: :.:'.';n as the M-1970 in the West m the
r.: s:rce of any known Soviet designa-
'--: Thrs vehicle hada new suspen-
:.,:- conslstrng of sx small dual road
.'.:,:els wrth the dnve sprocket at the
:::r rdler at the front and four track
:= ..:n rollers supportrnq the inside of
',-,: :rack only All previous MBTs de-
-..;:,:C rn the USSR since World War II
= T-54 T'55 and T-62) had been
r:-..r1c1enzed by larqer road wheels
'.'.::. :3 return rollers. The turret of the
I.l'-:-0 v,'as similar to that of the T-62
:,:.i ',';as armed with the same 11S-mm
-.:.:::.1'bore gun. Further develop-
,=.-.: -i the M-1970 resulted in the T-64
l.l: - ',',':Lch was placed rn productLon
.- -.--: ialk plant rn the USSR. Produc-
. :. .+:..cles were armed wrth a 125-
:',::. --'r:r l';hrch was later fltted to the
, -a: l.:3T So far the T-64 has not been
-:=:-.-:el as beLng rn service wrth any
'--,:: ::.rnlry whereas the later T-72
::-: ::::. exported on a wtde scale,
: - ':. ','.'-::-n the Warsaw Pact and over-
:::. ','.'-:i] Production now betngt
-..r-::1K:i both rn Czechoslovakra
. -: i - -:: j Some reports have stated
'...' ::.= l-5-i ',r'as such a poor design
.-: :: :.:;-ed,"vith mechanical trou-
:.-: ':-.r: -: '.'.'as only in production for a
.:.' '.':::: :i:hough several thousands
' -:= :
--,: - :e other theory rs that the
: - :... :i'.'anced armour (especially
'.-.= ,-.=:-s claie) and for this reason
' r-:
-:.':: :::ccrted even to trusted
: -::.a-:-: ,: ::: Warsaw Pact
-:= -'.'- -- :: rhe T-64 ts stmilar to
' :- - --:-: -'-: -,','r:h the drLver's com-
'- r-:-: .
'i: :-r ::,-:::.:::::.1
turret in the cen-
;.:,= .-:-i transmrssion at the
r - : . : .r ..+lted rn the centre
' -- : ..":-- .:...:=: glacrs plate (prob-
:- ., ,r.: r.r. = -:ncu:) to his front. A
:--''.',: -.:-...-:-i::ard on the glacrs
Tank Frn-Stabrlized, wtth a muzzle
velocrty of 900 m (2,955 ft) per second
and capable of penetrating over
430mm (16.9in) of armour at any
ranqe, and the deadly APFSDS, or
Armour-Piercing Frn-Stabilized Dts-
carding-Sabot, with a muzzle velocity
of 1680m (5,510ft) per second and a
very flat trajectory, and capable of
penetratinq 330mrn (13 rn) of armour
at a ranqe of 1000m (1,095 yards). A
total of 40 rounds of LIS-mm ammuni
tion is carried, ol which four are ready
rounds in the tulret, and of the rest 16
are to the nqht of the driver and 20 in
the rear of the flghtrnqlcompartment. A
7.62-mm (0.3-rn) PKT machine-gnrn is
mounted co axially with the main
armament; for thrs weapon 2,500
rounds of ammunttion are carried.
Standard equipment on all T-62s in-
cludes rnira red nrghl viston equip-
ment for the commander, qunner and
dnver, an undrtchtng beam which is
carned at the rear of the hull, a turet
ventilation system to remove fumes
when the grun is fired, a nuclear collec-
trve protectron system, and the capa-
bility of rnjectlng diesel fuel into the
exhaust to provide smoke screen. The
vehicle carries 675 litres (148.5 Imp
gal) of fuel internally with a further 285
litres (63 Imp qal) externally on the
runnrng boards, and this total gives
the T-62 a road range of 450 km (2BO
miles). A further two drum type fuel
plate stops water rushlng up when the
vehicle is fording a deep stream.
When drivrng in the head-out posttton,
the driver can quickly erect a cover
over his position to protect himself
against rain and snow.
The turret design is similar to that of
the T-72 but ls not thought to have adv-
anced armour. The qnrnner is seated
on the left and the tank commander on
the rrght; no loader is required as an
automatic loadLng mechantsm is pro-
vided for the 125-mm qnrn, which is
assumed to be the same as that of the
T-72.
Armament is identrcal to that of the
T-72 and consists of a fully stabihzed
125-mm smooth-bore qun, a 7,62-mm
(0.3-in) machine gmn co-axtal wrth the
tanks can be fltted on the hull rear;
these each hold some 200 litres (44 Imp
gal) of fuel, increasing road range to
some 650 km (404 miles), All T-62s can
ford rrvers to a depth of 5,5m (l8ft
072 in) with the aid of a schnorkel
erected over the loader's hatch. A cen-
trahzed frre-extinguisher sysrem ts
provrded for the engrne and fiqhting
compartments, and this can be oper-
ated automatrcally or manually by the
commander or driver.
Specification
Crew:4
Weight: 40 tonnes
main armament, and a 12.7-mm (0.S-in)
machine-giun on the commander's
cupola. The T-64 has an NBC system
and a full range of nrght-vision equrp-
ment and, irke most other Russran
MBTs, it can be f,tted with a front-
mounted dozer blade and varrous
types of mrne-clearinqtsystems such as
roller or plouqrh.
The only known variant is the T-64K
command vehrcle whrch carries a (29 fI ljt/q rn); length (hull) 6.40 m (2 I ft
10.0m (32ft 9%in) hish telescopic
mast. When erected over the turret,
this s held rn posrtion by stays that are
pegged to the ground, preventrnq the
tank from movlng off qurckly.
Specification
Crew: 3 11
SovietT-62 tanks advance through
an artillery barrage during training
exercrses. Iftis tankwasllist used
operationally in the Middle East.
Engine: V-12 water-cooled diesel :=
veloprng 580 hp (433 kW)
Dimensions: lengrth (with wrr forwar:
9,335 m (30fl 7)/z in); length (hull
6.63 m (21 ft 9 in); width 3,3 m (lO::
10 in); height 2.395 m (7 ft ljt/q rn)
Performance: maximum road speec
50 km (31 mph); maximum road range
650 km (404 miles); gradrent 60%r ver-
tical obstacle 0.8 m (2 ft 7'lz tn); trench
2.85 m (9 fi t/atn)
The T-64 has only been seen in
servicewith the USSR, and by all
accounls las been unsuccessfu/ and
was replaced by the much imProved
T-72.
Weight: 38 tonnes
Engrine: S-cyhnder diesel developingt
700 to 750 hp (522 to 560 kw)
Dimensions: lenqth (overall) 9. 10m
0 in); width (without skrrts) 3.38 m ( I I ft
I in); height 2,30 m (7 ft 67, in)
Performance: maximum road speed
70 km/h (43 mph); maximum range
450 km (280 mrles); fording 1.4 m (4 ft
572 in); gradient 60%; vertical obstacle
0.915m (3ft 0in); trench 2.72m (Bft
in)
The Europecn Tcnk Balcnce
At the heart of East /West insecurity lies the fear that, once being foMard depioyed to West Germanv
Each armoured brigade includes two tar(
F
I
l:::-:::
I Hungary
-'.- :
-:.
:: :
again, Eutope could witness a repeat of the World Wat lI battaions each wth 53 MBTs. whre the S:r e' --. -:-: .
Blitzkrieg with tank diuisions swarming into neigltbouring mechanlzed brigade has one tank batta on
Totai Dutch MBT strenqth consists of ,168 -e'.ll--.,-, a :.:
countries, The Soviet anion and her WarPac allies maintain a Leopard 1 s (plus variants), 368 Centur ons,
vast tank supertority over the NATO countries. She holds that and the f rst of some 445 Leopard 2s which
are to be dellvered by 1986.
they are for defence, but the West is not conuinced. Seeing @ Eastcermanr
these ovemrrhelming forces pitched against them, NATO con- eo!ip3e: a-a-a-- aa::
NIZ' couf:-es ':^:r -:: -
siders it can only hold the line for a short time. From then on Z/lsSunited Kingdom. rre o rrs^ tvr'c:3...r rr I " l.l:
any battle in Europe would soon escalate to nuelear dimen- Army of the Rhine nc udes nine tank regrm be e,,gJ :: rr ::- :-
ents (or balta rons) each of which is equLp MBTs ; s^ : ,- ...' :'
stons. ped w'th a total of 74 Chiefta n MBTs, wlth ing nurce' -'-- -: : :
another two reg ments expected to be 85s usec ':"'a - -: :
Iff Betsium has a tota or 334 Italy 1a\ 2d o o.u.- . r'c
five armoured, seven mechanrzed. lin'c nde
formed rn the md 1980s The first oi 237
Cha lenger MBTs were handed over rn
Leopard T MBTs 1p us specia rzed veh cies)
.rnd about 60 lV47 lar<s The lalter form a pendent mechanrzed and four rdeoende't March 1983, and four of the BAOR's cur
reserve batta ion One mechanlzed brigade motorrzed T.ea'ro-.oo -. sor rent Ch eftain regrmenls will be converted E potand
rs fomard'depoyed n West GermanY. have two armoured ard mech:n zed b'- io the Challenger Tota British Chieftain motor zed ''= : . :
gades, the former wlth loo la^.: 5e::a trs strength I nc uding reseivesl is estimated Sovet ..es -a'. .
and the latter wlth one Each iari c?:la cn 'tc be around 900 T-54T-55s 2-- -'-:
has 49 MBTs. Total tar( st'e.r:" -c !des T-34 85 ra-.s -:::r ':
E WE""."da has one brisade group 300 M60A1 s, 920 Leoparc I s 'o -s . ?r a-lsl
based n West Germany, tncluding one tank
battallon lor armoured regrmenl) equipped
and a few M47s. ffi
:-United States. T'^ - S ,lh Arrv
wllh a roral of 53 leopard 143 MBTS ln West Germany ncludes two armoured
and lwo mechanized d v s ons and one
Frn"rrrr-,,
126 moio'z3r -'- .: ,
I armoured, one cava ry and one mechanized each hav ^g ::: .':-, :
ffi
Denmark. Tc :i :;n( strcnglh i'----:- West Germany .- , o r o' brigades. Each armoured d v s on norma ly MBTs Toto ::-. : : ::

-::"c:iboJt 90 \./31. 2 *37 -eopard has six tank batta lons ard each mecha- least 50 CCO .:- : ::
cons sts of '2;) -:::,--'': 1 232 M4B series 1 :

-
C,onlur ons ,,r :ir :a ' ' - :i'
iMBTs (plus v3' :i-:: :'al :30!1 700 nized vision four tank battal ons. each tank T55, T62 r-i* - - :
: iL|S - Sion f c;-: --^-r: l
-elp.:rd 2 MBTs rcu: :' 30Cordcred) The battalion hav ng an authonzed tank strength
'.r.lul.rr army cors sl: t'3t3 br gades nclud- of 54 M60A1/M6043 MBTs lnclud ng vehl- obso esce-: '::. . :,; :
-ar I7irmourec :"r -5:rmoured nfantry. c es held in reserve or eaTmarked for use by are he0 ^'=::ai
I,r.orredo\
ru France. rvlBrs
-or 'ofA
.-r -::.. : ::rh oi tre fc''-at .a udes three tank
::::: a-s. ard ll-,e aller each have one tank
unlts currently statloned rn the USA, there
are about 3,000 Arnencan MBTs in West
TheS:,::J.:,-:::
lows : r' !..: l.'- : '
d-d the rc.1 t t/oa .'' : i:'::e cr. eacn ballai on having 41 MBTs Germany Severai hundred of the new M1 motoTrTeo''; -::::
*nrcl tnetc orc n o, al ,l - .:
--e teff lor a army rcludcs 1 2 tank batta' MBTs are now deployed in West Germany gary twc t3-. -:-r :..:
r.Ld." lwO td-. ^9 tr t's Czechos c!e. : :.. r :
AMr:0VBtsr.'d n - lzed r:e .:-::,--::i
t, regref -r,..' L . and 40 notcr::: '' :
^ f- czechostovakia has { ve moto- one 13fK 3Tc ' ,: :-:
paniesoi 20AMX-30s), cac''.'- : --r
)onthJS'd dlol"l or ld5-. : rized rifle and five tank divisions, al1 orga- southern t SSi ll -:'.
total ing'l 184overal Three.:-- :-' The Netherlands has two nized along Soviet lines. Total tank strength and a ong the C- ^::: : .

-,or'\ 4rn tornd.d.d^pto,e\: .. .rnroured and four mechanzed brigades. is thought to inc ude about 3,000 T 54/T 55 andSrXtar\a,:::
many. :re armoured br gade and supporting un ts and 4A0I-62n-12 MBTs. poved r Afc::-:::-

ussR
:::i*r-
i'ir*i-rrr--r- -i-r
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hmark -a ---rlr =
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i\ - i
Unitcd Kingdom
mriodty dsployrd to Gdrooy
US Amy-. II

,:i:i:=r
r=ai--
*:-i:r
Hungary
i
.--r- '
Swhzerland
Yugoahvi.

reinforcement by reserves and the movement into the atea of fore ffi
elsewhere ( in the U SA in the c ase of NATO, an d in the F arEast for *e [/SSR
The arrows show the generally assumedpatis oI any attackingSode' 5r-r
Eachtanksymbolrepresentsl0?tanks. i --
L ['jzz Main Battte Tank
The T-72 MBT was seen ln pubhc for
the first time during a parade held in
Red Square (Moscow) during Novem-
ber 1977, although it is now known to
have entered production in 1971. In
April l97B American reports stated
that pr:oduction of the T-64 and T-72
was running at the rate of some 2,400
unlts a year and that by i9B7 it was
expected that a total of 30,000 vehicles
.would have been built. Since then it is
beheved that production of the T-64
has in fact stopped and that production
rs now concentrated on the T-72, with
production ofthe T-80 expected to be-
qrn rn the near future, Production of the
T-72 is also undertaken in Czechoslo-
vakra and Poland and is expected to
also be undertaken in lndia. By l9B3
the T-72 was known to be rn service
with the following countries; Algerra,
Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, East
Germany, Hungary, India, Libya, Po-
]and, Romania, Syriaand, ofcourse, the
USSR. The T-72 was first used in com-
bat by Syria against Israeli armoured
units in southern Lebanon durrng the
summer of 1982,
The layout of the T-72 rs conventron-
al, wrth the driver's compartment at the
front, the turret in the centre, and the
engine and transmission at the rear.
The hull may incorporate some type of
advanced armour (especially on the
glacrs plate), although the turret is be-
lLeved to be ofconventronal cast steel
armour construction, The commander
IS seated on the right and the gunner
on the left, the former being provided
wlth a cupola that can be traversed
through 360", and on this rs mounted a
),27-mm (0.S-in) machine-gnrn for anti-
P rovis ional drawi ng of T - 7 2 M BT
with the commander's cupola fitted
with 1 2.7-mm AA MG traversed rear.
At hull rear are the long range fue)
tanks that can be quicklyjettisoned.
Side skrits provide defence against
ATGWs wilh their HEAT warheads.
arrcraft defence.
The crew has been reduced to three
as an automatic loader, mounted in the
lower part of the hull, has enabled the
fourth man to be omitted. Full details of
the loader are not yet available
although it is thought to be stmilar to a
carousel with the projectiles in the
lower part and the cartridge, which is
believed to have a combustible case,
in the upper part. Some reports have
lndicated that the automatrc loader has
not proved reliable in service and in
some instances has trted to place the
gmnner in the breech instead of the
ammunitionl A total of 40 rounds of 125-
mm ammunitron rs carried, a typrcal
load consisting of 12 APFSDS, 22 HE
and six HEAT, The APFSDS has a muz-
zle velocity of 1615m (5,300ft) Per
second and will penetrate 300 mm
(l LB rn) of armour at a range of 1000
(1,095 yards), while the HEAT-FS has a
muzzle velocity of 900 m (2,955 ft) per
second and will penetrate 475 mm
(18.7 in) armour at a similar range. A
7.62-mm (0.3 in) PKT machine-gmn ts
mounted co-axially with the matn
armament.
The flre-control system includes an
optical rangefinder mounted in the for-
ward part of the turret rool in front of
the commander's cupola; more recent
production vehicles have a laser
rangefrnder.
The suspensron rs of the torsron-bar
type, with six large road wheels, the
idler at the front, drrve sprocket at the
rear and three track-return rollers, the
last supporting the Lnsrde of the track
only. When the tank is in action, four
spring-loaded skirts are fltted over the
forward part of the track on each srde
and spring forward to glve some pro-
tectron against HEAT attack, notably
from mrssiles.
As on all Russran tanks, Iong-range
fuel tanks can be mounted at the hull
rear; in the case of the T-72 these ln-
crease lts road operatrng range from
m 480 km (298 miles) to 700 km (435
miles), Standard equlpment includes
an NBC system, infra-red night-vision
equipment and a schnorkel for deep
fording, Mounted under the nose ofthe
T-72 ts a dozer blade for clearrng
obstacles or prepanng fire posrtLons.
Although the T-72 is a srgnrficant tm-
provement over prevrous Russian tank
desiqns 1n terms of flrepower and
probably armour protection, it rs not
thought to be superior to the British
Challenger or West German Leopard
2 designs on the basrs of a one-to-one
action; where it does score, however,
is that rt is already in service in huge
numbers whereas the Challenger is
only just entering servrce and only a
few hundred Leopard 2s are in ser-
VICC.
Specification
Crew: 3
Weight: 41 tonnes
Engine: V- 12 dresel developing 780 hp
(582-kw)
Dimensions: length (with gun forward)
9.24 m (30 ft 33/q in); lensth (hull) 6.95 m
(22fi 9'% in); width (without skirts)
3.6 m (11 ft 93/a in); herght (without AA
MG) 2 37 m (7 ft 97s in)
Performance: maximum roaci speed
60 kr/h (37.25 mph); maximum range
480 km (298 miles); fording 1.4 m (4 ft
7rn); gradrent 60%; vertical obstacle
0.915m (3ft 0in); trench 2.9m (9ft
Zt/q rn)

t i'jeo Main Battle Tank

SLnce the second half of the 1970s
l,Vestern intelligence sources have
stated that the USSR is about to field a
:ew MBT which has been gdven the
',Vestern designation T-80.
According to American reports in
.cth 1979 and 1980 some 200 pre-
production T-80 tanks were built for
:xtensr.ve troop trials, with full-scale
.::roduction expected to take place by
,:65 There has been some specula-
:.::r that the T-80 in fact the T-64 wrth
rs
: :.ew turret incorporating Chobham
armour.
"':ere layout of the T-80 is convention-
-
-. ',','1th the drrver's compartment at the
-:::.: turret rn the centre, and engrne
r.=.i iransmission at the rear. The drLv-
:: :-as to hrs front a well-shaped glacis
:.::: on whrch rs a vee-shaped splash-
: a:d to stop water rushing up the gla-
, aircraft defence. The value of the latter
^ : piate ',ffhen the tank is fordrng riv-
=:. a:i has a single wrde-angle peri-
.:::: ror driving in the closed-down
: , s-:-::
-:-: c:mmander and gunner are
:==:=i -: the turret one oneachsideof
':-.= ::,:.:. armament whlch has an auto-
r:ader so enabltng the T-80's
-.-.:
::=',',':: i:: kept to three men, as rn the
,-:=: --:i a:d T-72 MBTs
.' -: ::-=^r:-ed that lhe main arma-
:.:.: -: : ::::rer development of the
.-,':::. ;::rncunted in the T-64 and
- , - -: --. ::.::glt unlikely that the Rus-
,..:-. ,'.' -.: .:.'::du:e yet anothel gun
:1,::- --=.:- ::.erI tank fleet as, exclud-
--..':.= :---: amphLbtous light (122- tank
. : :-.-:- ;::. ::-d T-10 heavy tank
:. ;,:- -:..::=s
.:,='; aLready have three
:-.-: ..' :f qurvammunttion,
100-mm in the T-54 and T-55, 1iS-mm
in the T-62 and 125-mm in the T-64 and
T-72, It is most probable that the T-80
fires a much improved range of
ammunitron, and some reports have in-
dicated that this will rnclude
an
HVAPFSDS (High-Velocity Armour-
Piercing Fin-Stabilized Drscarding-
Sabot) projectile with a depleted-
uranrum penetrator for rmproved
armour-piercing capability. The qun is
fully stabilized and the fire-control
sytem probably includes a laser
rangefinder which has already been
introduced on late productron T-72
MBTs, A 7.62-mm (0.3-in) machine-enrn
is mounted co-axially wrth the main
armament, and a 12.7-mm or 14.5-mm
(0.5-in or 0.57-jn) machine gun ts
mounted on the turet roof for anti-
must be questioned as the chances of
hitting a jet aircraft are very small.
Mounted on each side ofthe turret and
firing forwards is a bank of four dts-
chargers. As all Soviet tanks have the
capabrlrty to lay their own smoke
screen by injectingr diesel fuel into the The upper part of the track and the I n March 1 983 the US Department of
exhaust, there is some speculation that retum rollers are covered by skirting; D efense al loc ate d the T - 80
these (similar dischargers have also it rs not known if these provrde armour designation to the late production
been observed on recent production protection or simply help to keep the modelof theT-72 MBT, although
T-72 MBTs) may in fact launch chaff or dust down,
decoys to confuse NATO missiles suclt the designationT-74.
as the MILAN, HOT and TOW. Specification
The suspension of the T-80 is be Crew: 3 Performance: maximum road sPeed
heved to be of the hydro-pneumalrc Weight: 48.5 tonnes 70 km/h (43.5 mph); ranse 450 km (280
type, and enables the driver to adjust Engine: dresel developing 750 hp miles); gradient 60%; vertical obstacle
the grround clearance to sult the type of (560 kw)
Dimensions: Iength (hull) 7.0m (22f1
0.92m (2ft 117zin); trench 2.Bm (9ft
ground being crossed. It consists ofsLx ZVz rn)
small road wheels wrth the idler at the 11% rn); wrdth 3.5 m (11 ft 53/a tn), (Note the above spectfications are pro-
front and drive sprocket at the rear. height 2 3 m (7 ft 6Llz in) visional)
Armed Forces of the World
Omcn
:: - ruch
'
of its existence Oman relied on the United
^gdom for its external defence, but from 1963
--..e was a rebellion in Dhofar province. The with-
:':walof British forcesfromthe Middle Eastin 1967
:: to the establishment of the Popular Democratic
republic of Yemen (PDRY) in Aden, who backed the
lJerrilla {actions in the Dhofar area. The Popular
:'ont for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO)was formed
.! th the backing of the PDRY and with considerable
:ss stance in the form of arms and supplies from
ln na and lraq. ln July'l 970 the Sultan Oabus over-
:rrew his old father in a coup and this led to a rapid
expansion of the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF),
.vhich until then was essent allv a mercenary force
ed by British contract off cers. From 1973 a com-
clete lranian brigade started to operate ln the Dhofar
3rea togetherwith their log st c support and helicop-
rers. Northrop F-5 fighters and radars were also
supplied and manned by iran, pend ng tne arrival
rrom the United Kingdorn of 12 SEPECAT Jaguar
f ighter/bombers. The arr va of tne lran an iorces and
expansion of the armed :orces, nclud ng the n-
creaslng number of oca s,ed to the gradual
pushing-back of the PFLO ntc Scrtn Yen'en. By the
mid-1970s the war was esse,rt a v cver, and since
then there has been very 1tl1e 'r- :ar\'act vity. The
lranian presence started to r..rn Cc.'.'". and by the
time of the lranian Revolution n 1973 ess tlran 1000
troops remained; these have s 1:. been r-eplaced
by a much smaller number of Eor:l ar l'cops.
Oman has a population of just ..r:i3' :'e n' ll on,
with the armed forces cons sl -! a' ess than
20,000, excluding expatrate :;'s--'= -1ere are
still many British and Pak stan ." ::'s a"d men on
contract, although Ornanis d!e ?'=)-= . :a< 19 over
in many units. Defence accc.l-:s ':'a -alor part of
Government expenditure, \^,.ose ':3re :s almost
entirely dependent on o I, tnc,-:' S:-d Arabia con-
tinues to provide sign f ica^t '--:^g 'cr tne Omani
defence effort.
TheArmyhasa strengtn c' :c:-: 1 5,OOO men and
consists of two brigade !Os ,-: :^e Royal Guard
Brigade, which together cc^:': s:^-e three artillery
reglments, one srgna s a^3 :^3 :'-oured regim-
ents, eight infantry batia :-s c-g neer and para-
chute squadrons ano s:a: , :=: 'orces.
Of the artillery reg n ei:s :.'. 1 a'e I ght reg ments
with 25-pounderfield g--s :-: r.r'alOrdnance Fac-
tory Nottinghan" l05--- j': Jns, while the
medium regiment nas S:'. ::
-30-rm M-46 towed
guns and Arnencan 155---'""0-o self-propelled
howitzers. Artillery fire c:rt': si'stems are mainly
British. and a number o' iY Cvrbeline mortar-
locating radars arb n use
Members of theOmaniDelence Forces loading
Rapier ultra-low-level defence misslJes on fo tfie
Iauncher.
- "irnr
*nirt
The armoured regiment operates three
armoured-car and two tank squadrons. The former
are equrpped with Alvis Saladin (6x6) armoured cars
with a number of Alvis Scorpron CVR(T)s recently
---'=
introduced, while the latter are equipped with six Exocet surface{o-surface fi- ss =:
Amerrcan M604T and 12 ex-British army Chieftain :,.": : -:
or ginally three ships in th s c :ss .
MBTs. The latter are on loan, while 15 new vehicles overboard in the Bay o' B sc:. ^ !- : . . -
are being built at Roya Ordnance Factory Leeds; shipped backto Oman a+ter a -:.:- -=' --
these have a nurnber of modif ications requested by also four Brooke Mar ne Fasl :'.'.'.:. l'.'-
Oman, and are known as the Oayis Al Ardh. which were all comm ss onel ' ' :-- .-
lnfantry equ pment s of Western origin and in- armed with a single 76-n^n' OiC ','= .-' I -
cludes 9-mm Brown ng pistols, 9-mm Sterling gun forward and a sing e 2O-'rr i=' . -' -
SMGs; 7 62-mm FAL, 5 56-mm M1641 and 5.56- aft.The Landing Ship Log st c',as ::^-- :: -
mm SIG rifles; 7 62-n'n' FN MAG GPMG, French '1
979 and has a crew ol 4l a'd ca' :.-'. -: '
Thomson-Brandt 6O-mm, British B1-mm L-16 and troops as well as armoured ven c es .- I :
Amerlcan M3O 4.2-in (107-mm) mortars; and Armament consists of a 76-mrn OTO :-'
Hughes TOW ATGWs. Armoured personnel carriers pact gun forward, and two 20-mrn ca^-:- "':
include the French VAB and the British AT 105; four copter deck is f itted aft, and two Roto:< : - : -
Soviet ZSU-23-4 SPAAGs are also in service. are carried. In addition the navy has so-e s : '
The Omanl a r force has a strength of about 2,000, craft, three British Skima-'1 2 hovercr:':,-:
plus a high number of expatriate personnel, and has support craft
one squadron w th 1 2 Hawker Hunter Mk 73 f ighter/ ln addition to the regular forces there s i:: :-:
ground-attack aircraft, plus Hunter T.Mk 66 and tribal Home Guard (the Firqats) with a s:-:-:.- :'
T.Mk 67 trainers (some o{ the former have a photo- over3000 men, aswellasa police Mar nc r'; -l :- l
reconnaissance capability); one squadron with the an Air Wing.
remains of 12 SEPECAT Jaguar fighter-bombers;
and one trainer/COIN squadron with 12 BAC One-
Eleven, one Dassault-Breguet Falcon 10, seven Brit-
ten-Norman Defender, 15 Shorts Skyvan 3MF and
three Lockheed C-1 30H Hercules transport aircraft. Order of Battle
Two de Havilland Canada DHC-5D transport aircraft
Army
have been ordered. The one helicopter squadron is One Royal Guard Brigade
equipped with some 'l 5 Agusta-Bell AB 205s, two Eight infantry battalions
AB 206s and five Bell Model 214s. There is also a One medium and two light artillery regimenls \'- -:'::
Royal Flight with one Grumman Gulfstream, one mm SP howitzers and 105-mm light gunsr
Onearmoured regiment {Saladin and Scorpor re::--: ::
BAC VC '1 0, one Douglas DC-8, two FWA AS 202s ance vehicles, M60A1 and Chieftain MBTs
and four Agusta-Bell AB 212 helicopters. Air de- One signal regiment
fence weapons conslst of 28 British Aerospace One parachute squadron
Specialized troops
Rapier missile launchers and a similar number of
Marconi Space and Defence Systems Blindfire Air Force
radars to give an all-weather capability. One fighterbomber squadron (SEPECAT Jagua'
The navy has a strength of 1 500 and has recently One fighter-bomber/reconnaissance squadron -: .. . :
Hunter)
completed a major re-equipment programme; the One COIN/training squadron (BAC Strikemaster
main operatlng base is Muscat, with advanced Three transport squadrons (BAC One-Elever -a :. -:: :
bases at Mina Raysut and Jazirat. Craft include a C 130, Britten-Norman Defender, Shorts S<v':- I -':
sault-Breguet Falcon)
Royal Yacht which has been fitted with a helicopter One helicopter squadron (Agusta Bell AB 205 3no :: : , a
pad and also carries a Fairey Marine Spear patrol Bell Model 214)
craft. The three new Vosper Thornycroft 56-metre One Royal Flight {BAC VC-10, Douglas DC-8, G----:-
Gulfstream, FWA AS.202, Aqusta-Bell AB 212
Province fast-attack craft are armed with a single Two air defence squadrons (Rapier with Blindf re
76-mm OTO Melara Compact gun forward, twin
Breda anti-aircraft guns aft, the latest fire control Navy
systems and six Exocet surface-to-surface missiles. One Royal Yacht/Corvette
One logrstic iand ng ship
The two Brooke Marine fast-attack craft missiles Five fast attack craft (missile)
were completed in 1973 and are armed with twin Four fast attack craft (gun)
4O-mm Breda guns forward and two launchers for Support vessels