Image via Complex Original
Most of us have never actually been through combat or in a war-zone. Everything we have experienced of war is from movies, books, the news, that time in history class when we were half asleep while old black and white footage was playing on the projector screen, and of course video games. Old sayings like "all war is deception, kill or be killed" have shaped our understanding of the brutality and terror of warfare.
This was especially true after the second World War, when the development of new technologies spurred an era of warfare that was more horrifying, more ghastly, more savage than anything anyone had ever seen before. In particular, the engineering and design of the tank drastically improved during World War II. Since then, tank models are constantly being updated and embellished and improved.
As sad of a reality as this is, the fact of the matter is that many kids and young adults would have no recognition of these impressive displays of technological advancement if it were not for first-person shooters. The biggest title in this arena is no doubt Call of Duty. While other games like Battlefield and ARMA have tried to compete, COD has completely taken over since its initial release in 2003, first focusing on World War II and since moving into modern and future ages.
But there is one thing that Battlefield and Arma have consitently had in their games that COD doesn't: Driveable vehicles. There are some that are happy this is not an element of the game, but as car people, we're not included in that pool. So, in preparation for tomorrow's release of Call of Duty: Ghosts, we'd like to take a look back at some of the most impressive tanks in military history, all of which we wish we could be using as we dominate you all in online multiplayer.
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K1A1
Country: South Korea
Top Speed: 40 mph
Range: 248 miles
Engine Characteristics: MTU MB 871 Ka-501 diesel engine (1,200 hp)
First Produced: 2001
Main Weapon: 120 mm smoothbore gun
This tank was created by Hyundai, however the engine, fire and transmission control system, as well as some other tank components were imported and not actually manufactured in South Korea.
Type 96
Country: China
Top Speed: 40 mph
Range: 248-373 miles
Engine Characteristics: Diesel engine (1,000 hp)
First Produced: 1997
Main Weapon: 125 mm smoothbore gun
It is believed that more than 1,500 of these tanks were built. The Type-96 tank also has a computerized firing system that is similar to the Type-99 firing system. Both tanks utilize powerful laser tecnhologies.
Type 99
Country: China
Top Speed: 50 mph
Range: 248 miles
Engine Characteristics: Diesel engine (1,500 hp)
First Produced: 2001
Main Weapon: 125 mm smoothbore gun
Although this is a Chinese tank, the engineering and technology behind it has Soviet and other Western influences. The Type-99 is expensive to manufacture so there are few in existence. Something rather interesting and unique about Type-99: The tank's high power laser system is extremely effective in disarming attacking missiles and even helicopters.
Leopard 2A7
Country: Germany
Top Speed: 45 mph
Range: 280 miles
Engine Characteristics: MTU MB-837 Ka501 diesel engine (1,500 hp)
First Produced: 2012
Main Weapon: 120 mm smoothbore gun
This new version of the Leopard 2 tank is specifically designed for urban warfare. So far, Germany will be selling 200 of these monsters to Saudi Arabia and 62 to Qatar. The electronics and the armor/protection of the tank has been improved upon. The firing system of the tank has also been updated, providing the tank with more accuracy and power than many other powerful tanks.
Oplot-M
Country: Ukraine
Top Speed: 43.5 mph
Range: 280 miles
Engine Characteristics: 6TD-2E diesel engine (1,200 hp)
First Produced: Expected in 2013
Main Weapon: 125 mm smoothbore gun
The Oplot-M is originally derived from the T-64. Then came the T-80, the T-80U, and the T-80UD, which lead to the development of the Oplot-M. This combat vehicle is heavily armored with an innovative system that reacts against warheads. The current engine of the Oplot-M is also far more eco-friendly than previous engine versions.
T-64
Country: Soviet Union
Top Speed: 37 mph
Range: 373 miles
Engine Characteristics: 5TDF diesel engine (700 hp)
First Produced: 1976
Main Weapon: 125 mm smoothbore gun
Currently, these tanks are in Ukraine (1500) and Uzbekistan (100). Russia had a couple of thousand T-64's, but it is rumored that they have been destroyed. The pros of this tank: great armor and protection systems.
T-90
Country: Russia
Top Speed: 37 mph
Range: 342 miles
Engine Characteristics: V-84MS diesel engine (840 hp)
First Produced: 1993
Main Weapon: 125 mm smoothbore gun
The T-90 has been exported to quite a few countries: Algeria (305), Azerbaijan (114), Turkmenistan (40), Venezuela (50-100), and India (620). The pros to this machine: It is cost-effective and easily manufactured. The cons: The ammunition for the tank is stored in the main compartment of the tank itself, which means that this is a highly explodable piece of machinary.
Leclerc
Country: France
Top Speed: 44 mph
Range: 342 miles
Engine Characteristics: VD V8X-1500 diesel engine (1,500 hp)
First Produced: 1992
Main Weapon: 120 mm smoothbore gun
The development phase of the Leclerc tank began in 1978, with prototypes being built in 1989. The tank is named after general Phillipe Jacques Leclerc, who was the commander of the French armored division during WWII. These tanks are currently used in France and the United Arab Emirates.
TK-X
Country: Japan
Top Speed: 43.5 mph
Range: 310 miles
Engine Characteristics: Diesel engine (1,200 hp)
First Produced: 2012
Main Weapon: 120 mm smoothbore gun
The TK-X is lighter than most modern tanks. It is extremely advanced, ranking as one of the most high-tech of tanks at the moment. It has great maneuverability and an advanced weaponry system, with a 120 mm smoothbore gun, autoloader, armor-piercing ammo. However, not-so-great armor and protection hurt the overall package The primary contractor was Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Merkava Mk. 4
Country: Israel
Top Speed: 37 mph
Range: 310 miles
Engine Characteristics: General Dynamics GD883 V12 diesel engine (1,500 hp)
First Produced: 2004
Main Weapon: 120 mm smoothbore gun
The Merkava Mk. 4 is among one of the most powerful tanks around at the moment. The engine is mounted to the front of the tank, which gives crew members a better chance of survival. This tank is also not exported. The MK. 4 has the capability of accurately tracking down and firing at helicopters that are flying at low altitudes.
Challenger 2
Country: UK
Top Speed: 35 mph
Range: 310 miles
Engine Characteristics: Perkins CV12 TCA diesel engine (1,200 hp)
First Produced: 1994
Main Weapon: 120 mm rifled gun
The Challenger 2 is heavily protected with Chobham armor, some of the most state-of-the-art safety plating on the planet. An additional safety precaution comes from using a solid-state electric drive for the turret, eliminating malfunction risk. The weaponry on the Challenger 2 is very accurate and very powerful, as well, using a 55 caliber L30A1 tank gun. Currently, there are 38 of these tanks in Oman.
M1A2 Abrams
Country: USA
Top Speed: 42 mph
Range: 264 miles
Engine Characteristics: Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine engine (1,500 hp)
First Produced: 1992
Main Weapon: 120 mm smoothbore gun
The M1A2 Abrams is currently being used in the US, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The M1A2 Abrams is currently being developed and further enhancements are being designed and engineered. The pros of the M1A2 Abrams: It is a high-tech, well protected tank. The cons of the M1A2 Abrams: The Gunpower is weak, the accuracy of said weaponry is average, and the engine isn't reliable.
K2 Black Panther
Country: South Korea
Top Speed: 43 mph
Range: 267 miles
Engine Characteristics: MTU MB-883 Ka500 diesel engine (1,500 hp)
First Produced: Development stage started in 1995. First prototype came out in 2007.
Main Weapon: 120 mm smoothbore gun
This tank came from South Korea's XK2 program. The K2 Black Panther beats all Chinese and North Korean tanks in terms of its design, engineering, and technology. Some called it the most advanced tank ever. Why? Composite armor, explosive reactive armor modules, countermeasures systems, lightweight build, and an advanced/automatic fire control system just to name a few features.
Leopard 2
Country: Germany
Top Speed: 45 mph
Range: 342 miles
Engine Characteristics: MTU MB-837 Ka501 diesel engine (1,500 hp)
First Produced: 1979
Main Weapon: 120 mm smoothbore gun
Known for its advanced design, the Leopard 2 tank was also exported to other European countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, and Spain. The Leopard 2A7 is the most current version of the Leopard 2 series, however, this new monster is not yet in the production phase.
M4 Sherman
Country: US
Top Speed: 24 mph
Range: 100 miles
Engine Characteristics: Ford V8 engine
First Produced: 1942
Main Weapon: 75 mm high velocity gun
More than 48,000 of these were made in just three years. Talk about power by numbers. The M4 Sherman's had a rear-mounted radial engine with drive sprockets in front, making it an extremely maneuverable vehicle. It's purpose was to be a quick, dependable and light tank that could help infantry, so when it faced heavier German tanks, it couldn't quite stack up.
Merkava
Country: Israel
Top Speed: 34 mph
Range: 310 miles
Engine Characteristics: Teledyne turbo-charged diesel engine with a 14.28 hp/ton power-to-weight ratio
First Produced: 1977
Main Weapon: 120 mm gun
This tank is highly rated because of its armor, which provides the best possible protection that there is to offer. The armor thickness is actually classified. According to the Military Channel, it's the only tank to ever have been designed with the help of active tank crews. The firepower the Merkava is also quite powerful and all real-world battle situations with this tank have been positive. However, the Merkava cannot be mass-produced because of the complexity of its engineering and design. It is also quite a heavy tank and subsequently does not have a high power-to-weight ratio, making for tough maneuverability.
T-54/55
Country: USSR
Top Speed: 30 mph
Range: 250 miles
Engine Characteristics: V12 water-cooled diesel engine with a 14.44 hp/ton power-to-weight ratio
First Produced: 1948
Main Weapon: 100 mm D10T gun
The Soviets amassed an incredible 95,000 of these mechanical terrors. The tank was being developed in the late '40s and it was being considered to be a replacement for the Soviet Union's T-34 tanks. It was built for the next 30 years, a production record for tanks. The idea was that it could put out enough vehicles, overwhelming and overrunning its opposition. However, this tactic didn't exactly prove supreme, as it was often overtaken by Israeli tanks and in the Gulf War.
Challenger
Country: UK
Top Speed: 37 mph
Range: 340 miles
Engine Characteristics: Condor V12 engine with a 19.2 hp/ton power-to-weight ratio
First Produced: 1982
Main Weapon: 120 mm rifled gun
The Challenger is the only tank in the Gulf that succumb to enemy fire the entire time. That's largely in part to it's incredibly impressive armor (the thickness is classified). The Challenger also has better gun machinary than most of the other tanks produced at around that time, and could fire at three different targets in 15 seconds. The main problem is that only 386 of them have been built.
Mk IV Panzer
Country: Germany
Top Speed: 24.8 mph
Range: 130 miles
Engine Characteristics: Maybach V12 gasoline engine with a 10.6 hp/ton power-to-weight ratio.
First Produced: 1937
Main Weapon: 75 mm gun
This was the tank Hitler built. It's known for its complexity and the intelligent engineering behind its design. The Panzer was probably the reason for Germany's success at the beginning of the second World War. It could beat all. The tank is supposed to have rather average movability skills, but was quite unsurpassable in terms of its weaponry and its armor. There were approximately 2,000 Panzer's built, and 1,450 of these monster tanks were used against France in 1940. The fact that they also were able to use two-way radios in these made them much more effective, as well. They were fast, they were powerful, and they completely changed the tank landscape.
Centurion
Country: UK
Top Speed: 22 mph
Range: 120 miles
Engine Characteristics: Meteor V12 gasoline engine with a 12.54 hp/ton power-to-weight ratio.
First Produced: 1945
Main Weapon: 105 mm gun
The Centurion was easily reproducible because of it's simple design. At that time, it also had one of the most fearful, powerful weaponry sytems. This would be considered the tank to use for any sort of long-distance battles, as well as for hilly war zones and areas, as its mechanics were easier to maintain. The most impressive part of the tank was its incredibly distant and accurate gun sights. That meant first-shot advantage. A couple negatives were its tank large size and vulnerabilities in the ammunition rack and the positioning and protection of the tank driver.
WWI Tank
Country: UK
Top Speed: 4 mph
Range: 22 miles
Engine Characteristics: Dailmer six-cylinder engine with a 3.3 hp/ton power-to-weight ratio
First Produced: 1917
Main Weapon: two 6-lb guns
The creation of this tank was a great technological advance for its time, which is why it is one of the most important tanks on our list. This tank was the first heavily armored vehicle that was ever created and though it has a relatively thick armor for modern standards, it was an incredible force back in the day. Just the pure terror it would inflict upon its enemies with its imposing presence did huge pychological damage. That's what happens when you see a tank for the first time.
Unfortunately, there was little vision, no suspension, slow speed, 4-12mm thin armor, and the exhaust from the engine funneled into the cabin.
Tiger
Country: Germany
Top Speed: 23 mph
Range: 121 miles
Engine Characteristics: Maybach Engine with a 12.3 hp/ton power-to-weight ratio.
First Produced: 1942
Main Weapon: 88 mm gun
The Tiger's weaponry, which included Leitz Turmzielfernrohr TZF 9b sights, surpassed other tanks of that time, making it one of the deadliest. The armor and protection systems were up to 20 mm thicker than previous Panzers, and features like welded joints helped protetct against Sherman tanks. Though the Tiger is considered a heavier tank, it was still quite maneuverable Interesting fact: The Tiger's first prototype deadline was on Hitler's birthday.
M-1 Abrams
Country: US
Top Speed: 42 mph
Range: 289 miles
Engine Characteristics: Textron AGT 1500 gas turbine engine with a 26.64 hp/ton power-to-weight ratio.
First Service: 1979
Main Weapon: 120 mm M256 gun
This is high on our list for a reason: The M-1 Abrams was dangerous and extremely powerful for its time. The M-1 carries the name of General Creighton Abrams, who was the former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of U.S. military forces in the Vietnam War. It was known for its highly developed armor and protection systems. This monster could be prepared for biological, chemical, and nuclear warfare. Additionally, the commander's ability to manage the tank was made easier by improvements and modifications to the tank's inner systems.
T-34
Country: USSR
Top Speed: 34 mph
Range: 268 miles
Engine Characteristics: Four-stroke, twelve-cylinder diesel engine with a 15.87 hp/ton power-to-weight ratio.
First Produced: 1940
Main Weapon: 66.2 mm gun
This WWII tank's simple design made it possible for high production. It is one of the most important rollers in history, as it ended up being the most mass-produced tank from the World War II era-- no other tanks were so popular or so frightening. The T-34 basically spurred all future tank development and engineering.
It was an important tank to consider because of the toughness of its armor (the first to have sloped armor, which was meant to deflect incoming shots), its maneuverability, and the technology of the weaponry embedded into the tank system. It was also powered by a rather small, water-cooled engine, largely reducing the risk of high-temp engine fires. Snow, mud, ice, nothing couild stop this thing. In fact, it was so brutal that it literally would not even shoot at times and just rely on bashing the enemy tanks.