The British maintained cruiser tanks that traded armour for speed and hence manoeuvrability in the attack, and infantry tanks that traded speed for more armour.Įvolution of the general-purpose medium tank Each nation tended to create its own list of tank classes with different intended roles, such as "cavalry tanks", "breakthrough tanks", "fast tanks", and "assault tanks". Many late-war and inter-war tank designs diverged from these according to new, and mostly untried, concepts for future tank roles and tactics. Tanks that focused on other combat roles were smaller, like the French Renault FT these were light tanks or tankettes. A design might have good speed, armour, or firepower, but not all three together.įacing the deadlock of trench warfare, the first tank designs focused on crossing wide trenches, requiring very long and large vehicles, such as the British Mark I tank and successors these became known as heavy tanks. This limited the specific battlefield capabilities any one tank design could be expected to fulfill. ( September 2017) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Įarly model Mark I tank at the Battle of Somme, 1916ĭuring World War I, combining tracks, armor, and guns into a functional vehicle pushed the limits of mechanical technology. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. History Initial limited-role tank classes The average weight of Western MBTs is usually greater than that of Russian or Chinese MBTs. The average weight of MBTs varies from country to country. They are also often supported by surveillance or ground-attack aircraft. Modern MBTs seldom operate alone, as they are organized into armoured units that include the support of infantry, who may accompany the tanks in infantry fighting vehicles. Main battle tanks are a key component of modern armies. Through the 1960s and 1970s, the MBT replaced almost all other types of tanks, leaving only some specialist roles to be filled by lighter designs or other types of armored fighting vehicles. The first designated MBT was the British Chieftain tank, which during its development in the 1950s was re-designed as an MBT: "Chieftain, which until then had been called Medium Gun Tank No 2, was renamed the Main Battle Tank". Cold War-era development of more powerful engines, better suspension systems and lighter composite armor allowed for the design of a tank that had the firepower of a super-heavy tank, the armor protection of a heavy tank, and the mobility of a light tank, in a package with the weight of a medium tank. A main battle tank ( MBT), also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the role of armor-protected direct fire and maneuver in many modern armies.
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