grimknight666 wrote:

The T1 Cunningham was a U.S. light tank design that never left the prototype stages.
Officially carrying the designations of T1E2 and T1E4, it continued through the development
stages from 1922 through 1928. This tank was never mass-produced, nor was it ever used in combat.

It is a great tank except for the design and shape. It looks like a tractor for modern standards, haha, #NiNFTW #NiNWOT #NiNWOTers

The T-18 light tank (also called the MS-1) was the first Soviet-designed tank. Produced from 1928 to 1931, it was based
on the Renault FT, with the addition of a vertically sprung suspension.
The T-18 and its derivatives were essentially unsuccessful designs, but they gave Soviet industry its first experiences in
designing armored vehicles, and in the meantime a number of foreign tank designs were available for production.

The Leichttraktor (VK-31) was a German experimental tank.
After the First World War, Germany was restricted in military development by the Treaty of Versailles but a secret program
under the name cover "Traktor" was developing armored military vehicles and artillery. Its engine was in the front, and the turret was rear-mounted. Both Rheinmetall and Krupp produced prototypes, and in 1928, Rheinmetall was awarded the order of 289 tanks; however, the order was cancelled. Krupp models had coil spring suspensions, while Rheinmetall had leaf spring suspensions.
The Germans tested the tank in the Soviet Union under the Treaty of Rapallo – agreed between the USSR and Germany in 1922 under high secrecy and security. The testing facility used from 1926 to 1933 was Panzertruppenschule, located near Kazan in the Soviet Union.
The location was a joint testing ground and tank training ground for the Red Army and Reichswehr. It was codenamed "Kama" from the words Kazan and Malbrandt because the testing grounds were near Kazan and Oberstleutenant Malbrandt was assigned to select the location for testing.
Leichter Traktor ("Light tractor") was a cover name for all three light tank designs produced there. In the early years of World War II, it was used as a training tank.

The Renault FT, frequently referred to in post-World War I literature as the "FT-17" or "FT17", was a French light tank
that was among the most revolutionary and influential tank designs in history. The FT was the first production tank
to have its armament within a fully rotating turret. The Renault FT's configuration – crew compartment at the
front, engine compartment at the back, and main armament in a revolving turret – became and remains the standard
tank layout. Over 3,000 Renault FT tanks were manufactured by French industry, most of them during the year 1918.
Another 950 of an almost identical licensed copy of the FT (the M1917) were made in the United States, but not in time
 to enter combat. Armoured warfare historian Steven Zaloga has called the Renault FT "the world's first modern tank."

The NC-2 project ( commercial name NC-31) was a modifacation of the Renault Ft-17 tank featuring a soft ride suspension and a
Kegresse-Hinstin fanged rubber track. These features, along with an upgraded engine, gave an increased top speed of 16 km/h.
A total of 15 vehicles of this type were exported to China.

Developed from 1925 through 1928 in France as an upgraded modification of the Renault FT. The modernization project was finished and the vehicle
saw mass production. In 1929, a total of 10 vehicles were purchased by Japan and were designated the Otsu-Gata Sensha ( Tank B Model).
The vehicles were widely used both in action and for training, combining the aspects of its French roots and Japanese deployment.

The first British tank to carry the gun in a rotating turret. Development was started in 1922 by Vickers, and several dozen were mass-produced from 1923 through 1925. The tank was in service from 1924 through 1938. The Medium Mark I was the first tank to see "mass" production since the last of the ten Char 2C's had been finished in 1921. Indeed, as of the next tank, the Renault NC27, only about thirty were built, the British Mediums represented most of the world tank production during the Twenties. They never fired a shot in anger and their performance in a real battle can only be speculated upon but as the only modern tanks in existence in the decade after the First World War they provided the British with a unique opportunity to test the many new ideas about mechanized warfare using real operational units. The knowledge thus gained would prove invaluable in the Second World War

Great tanks but with changes in new technology back then; tactics and strategies had to always change as well to keep up with the demand. Great work @grimknight666, I'm a follower of your updates now, keep it up and #NiNFTW #NiNWOT #NiNWOTers

-Crew:Commander,Gunner,Driver,Radio Operator,Loader
-Description:Developed in 1942 on the basis of the M3A3, never entered mass-production nor saw service
-Pros:
*gun range:550m
*Highest engine power and top speed for its tier
*Very good all-round armor (for arty)
*Good view range
*High ammo capacity
-Cons:
*Lower gun elevation then the other tier 2 arty
*Large dispersion when moving/traversing
*Horrible traverse speed
*Top radio needs more xp to research than the M7 Priest

-Crew:Commander,Gunner (Loader),Driver,Radio Operator
-Description:A total of 696 M2s were manufactured from 1935-1942, and saw combat with the U.S. Marines on Guadalcanal
-Pros:
*Good acceleration and top speed
*Good view range
*High ammo capacity
*Decent gun choice
*Decent armor for tier II (when angled correctly)
-Cons:
*Poor accuracy on all guns
*Poor turning properties
*Fairly tall for a light tank
*Bad gun depression

-Crew:Commander (Radio Operator),Gunner,Driver,Loader
-Description:Developed on the basis of the M3 light tank, one prototype passed the trials in 1942, however the vehicle never entered mass production nor saw service.
-Pros:
*Good armor gives good ramming dmg to low weight tanks
*Good engine power and top speed
*Good gun arc
*Highly accurate and good pen with the MK.IX gun
*Extreme dmg of the 75mm howitzer can 1-shot most tier 2 and some tier 3 tanks
-Cons:
*Poor view range
*Poor signal range
*Terrible hull traverse
*Horrible accuracy with the 75mm howitzer
*Upper glacis plate is very thin, most tier 1 guns can pen

-Crew:Commander (Gunner,Loader),Driver,Radio Operator.
-Description:M2 prototype with Vickers suspension. After trials in 1934, the tank was sent for redesign, the suspension was not sufficient so the project was canceled. Vehicle never saw mass production.
-Pros
*Great acceleration and top speed
*Good gun for tier 2
*Good gun elevation
*Small size and good camo helps with scouting
*Extremely high ammo capacity (1200)
-Cons
*Poor armor
*Poor view range
*Poor signal range
*Worse mm than any other tier 2, absolutely useless in tier 4
*Dies easily if rammed

(Given to players who registered before patch 8.9, also given to those who logged in during the 30 day log-in bonus event)
-Crew:Commander (Gunner),Driver,Radio Operator,Loader.
-Description:Developed for the U.S. cavalry. Trials started in 1937-1939 for the first prototype, however the project was discontinued and the vehicle never saw combat.
-Pros
*Very high burst dmg
*Great aim time,gun elevation,and gun depression
*Good top speed and accelration
*Preferential mm; only sees tier 2 battles
-Cons
*Paper-thin armor; most guns will pen the armor
*Poor penetration
*Long clip reload
*Below-average view range
*Sluggish turret traverse

grimknight666 wrote:

-Crew:Commander,Gunner (Loader),Driver,Radio Operator
-Description:A total of 696 M2s were manufactured from 1935-1942, and saw combat with the U.S. Marines on Guadalcanal
-Pros:
*Good acceleration and top speed
*Good view range
*High ammo capacity
*Decent gun choice
*Decent armor for tier II (when angled correctly)
-Cons:
*Poor accuracy on all guns
*Poor turning properties
*Fairly tall for a light tank
*Bad gun depression

Amazing stats for a tank to originate back then as such. Great informative blog post @grimknight666, keep it up and  #NiNFTW   #NiNGamers   #NiNWOT   #NiNWOTers  #NiNWOTSeals

-Crew:Commander (Radio Operator),Gunner (Loader),Driver
-Description:Developed from 1930 to 1932. However, never saw mass production
-Pros:
*Semi-automatic guns
*Good view range
*Best signal range for its tier, with the SCR 506
*Decent armor all around
*Its 37mm Browning can destroy low tier tanks quichly in cqc (close quarters combat)
-Cons:
*Large silhouette for tier 2
*Less maneuverable than a light tank, but without improved armor
*No 100% camo on the move
*Poor accuracy

-Crew:Commander (Gunner,Radio Operator),Driver,Loader
-Description:Experimental vehicles T1E4 through T1E6 light tanks based on the British Vickers E.
The T1E6 was given as a New Year's gift at the beginning of 2013 and appears in the WOT shop from time to time
-Pros:
*Good acceleration,top speed,and maneuverability
*Free AP ammo
*Five-shot magazine with large burst dmg and short reload
*Great gun depression
-Cons:
*Poor penetration
*Poor accuracy
*Paper thin armor
*Poor view range

-Crew:Commander (Radio Operator),Driver,Gunner,Loader
-Description:German SPG based on captured British Mk. VI tanks, all vehicles were destroyed in the defense of France
-Pros:
*Highest caliber and hardest hitting gun among tier 2 SPG's
*Excellent range for its tier (850 meters)
-Cons
*Poor gun traverse
*Worst accuracy amongst tier 2 arty
*Very slow aiming time
*Very slow reload time
*Weak radio

-Crew:Commander (Radio Operator, Loader),Driver,Gunner
-Description:A total of 202 PzKpfw 1 were converted to the Pzj 1, vehicle remained in
service until the end of 1941
( no pros or cons good tank all round)

-Crew:Commander (Gunner, Loader),Driver,Radio Operator
-Description:A total of 202 vehicles were manufactured in 1938 and were used for 3 years
-Pros:
*Great engine power and traverse speed
*Good front armor- mainly on the turret
*Very nearly can turn in place
*Good view range
*Good health pool which can take a pounding
-Pros
*Low top speed
*Low turret traverse speed
*Big commander cupola is a critical weak spot
*Nothing carries over from L tractor

-Crew:Commander (Gunner),Driver,Loader (Radio Operator)
-Description:The A,B,C and F models were produced from 1937 through 1940 and from 1941
 through 1942, with a total of 1,637 vehicles built
-Pros
*Highest penetrating auto-cannon available at this tier
*Excellent view range and radio range
*Acceptable armor, angling right can earn many bounces
*Good speed with excellent maneuverability
-Cons:
*Low penetration at long range and unable to hit targets beyond 395m
*Tier 3 and T18s can give you a hard time with your auto cannon
*Weak turret armor causes problems when hull down

-Crew:Commander (Gunner,Loader,Radio Operator),Driver
-Description:The first mass-produced German tank (Pz. I Ausf. A), in 1935 the vehicle was upgraded
to the Pz. I Ausf. B , with a total of 675 tanks built.
-Pros:
*Short aim time
*Good turret traverse speed
*Decent mobility
*Only sees tier 2 battles
*Small silhouette gives this tank great camo
-Cons:
*Low top speed
*Low penetration, especially at long range
*Unable to hit targets at 350m+ away
*Weak armor, HE and auto cannons make your work short
*Slow, support role with company is advised

 (This tank was given as the 2015 New Year's reward)
-Crew:Commander (Gunner),Driver,Loader (Radio Operator)
-Description:200-250 vehicle were manufactured of the D and E models, used by the German light cavalry.
-Pros:
*Good frontal hull armor
*Large hitpoint pool
*Good top speed and traverse speed (55 km/h forward,20 km/h backward,47 traverse, deg/s)
*Good gun depression
-Cons:
*Poor turret,hull sides,and hull rear armor
*Very poor penetration
*Sluggish due to low hp/t (horsepower per ton) ratio
*No preferential mm

very good job man keep up the good work

Crew:Commander (Loader,Radio Operator),Driver,Gunner
Description:Self-propelled gun based on the the T-26,several vehicles and armored hulls
were built but never entered mass production
Pros:
*Very small silhouette and good camo values
*Good hull traverse speed
*Superb firepower
*Good alpha dmg with the 75mm
*Good sustained dmg with the 57mm
Cons:
*Very weak armor
*Terrible view range (one of the shortest in the game)
*Long aim time and poor accuracy on the 76mm

The AMX Leclerc, is a main battle tank (MBT) built by GIAT, now Nexter of France. It was named in honour of General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque who led the French element of the drive towards Paris while in command of the Free French 2nd Armoured Division (2ème DB) in World War II.
The Leclerc is in service with the French Army and the army of the United Arab Emirates. In production since 1991,^[1] the Leclerc entered French service in 1992,replacing the AMX 30 as the country's main armoured platform. With production now complete, the French Army has a total of 406 Leclercs and the United Arab Emirates Army has 388. The price in 2011 was €9.3 million, which made it the most expensive tank in history at the time. Following the devaluation of the Euro its price fell dramatically, and in 2014 the K2 Black Panther surpassed the Leclerc's price record

The Merkava ("chariot") is a main battle tank used by the Israel Defense Forces. The tank began development in 1973 and entered official service in 1979. Four main versions of the tank have been deployed. It was first used extensively in the 1982 Lebanon War. The name "Merkava" was derived from the IDF's initial development program name.
It is designed for rapid repair of battle damage, survivability, cost-effectiveness and off-road performance. Following the model of contemporary self-propelled howitzers, the turret assembly is located closer to the rear than in most main battle tanks. With the engine in front, this layout is intended to grant additional protection against a frontal attack, especially for the personnel in the main hull, such as the driver. It also creates more space in the rear of the tank that allows increased storage capacity and a rear entrance to the main crew compartment allowing easy access under enemy fire. This allows the tank to be used as a platform for medical disembarkation, a forward command and control station, and an Infantry fighting vehicle. The rear entrance's clamshell-style doors provide overhead protection when off- and on-loading cargo and personnel.
It was reportedly decided shortly before the beginning of the 2006 Lebanon War that the Merkava line would be discontinued within four years. However, on November 7, 2006, Haaretz reported that an Israeli General staff assessment had ruled of the Merkava Mark IV that "if properly deployed, the tank can provide its crew with better protection than in the past," and deferred the decision on discontinuing the line. On August 16, 2013, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon announced the decision to resume production of the Merkava main battle tank for the IDF Armored Corps.

The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and 12 other European countries, as well as several non-European nations. More than 3,480 Leopard 2s have been manufactured.^{[citation needed]} The Leopard 2 was used in Kosovo with the German Army and has also seen action in Afghanistan with the Danish and Canadian contributions to the International Security Assistance Force.
There are two main development batches of the tank, the original models up to Leopard 2A4, which have vertically faced turret armour, and the "improved" batch, namely the Leopard 2A5 and newer versions, which have angled arrow-shaped turret appliqué armour together with other improvements. All models feature digital fire control systems with laser rangefinders, a fully stabilized main gun and coaxial machine gun, and advanced night vision and sighting equipment (first vehicles used a low-light level TV system or LLLTV; thermal imaging was introduced later on). The tank has the ability to engage moving targets while moving over rough terrain.

The M1 Abrams is an American third-generation main battle tank produced by the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of U.S. military forces in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1972. Highly mobile, designed for modern armored ground warfare, the M1 is well armed and heavily armored. Notable features include the use of a powerful multifuel turbine engine, the adoption of sophisticated composite armor, and separate ammunition storage in a blow-out compartment for crew safety. Weighing nearly 68 short tons (almost 62 metric tons), it is one of the heaviest main battle tanks in service.
The M1 Abrams entered U.S. service in 1980, replacing the M60 tank. It served for over a decade alongside the improved M60A3, which had entered service in 1978. The M1 remains the principal main battle tank of the United States Army and Marine Corps, and the armies of Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Iraq.
Three main versions of the M1 Abrams have been deployed, the M1, M1A1, and M1A2, incorporating improved armament, protection and electronics. These improvements and other upgrades to in-service tanks, have allowed this long-serving vehicle to remain in front-line service. In addition, development for the improved M1A3 version has been known since 2009

The Panzerhaubitze 2000 ("armoured howitzer 2000"), abbreviated PzH 2000, is a German 155 mm self-propelled howitzer developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall for the German Army. The PzH 2000 is one of the most powerful conventional artillery systems deployed in the 2010s. It is particularly notable for a very high rate of fire; in burst mode it can fire three rounds in 9 seconds, ten rounds in 56 seconds, and can—depending on barrel heating—fire between 10 and 13 rounds per minute continuously.The PzH 2000 has automatic support for up to 5 rounds of Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI). The replenishment of shells is automated. Two operators can load 60 shells and propelling charges in less than 12 minutes. PzH 2000 has also been selected by the armies of Italy, Netherlands, Greece and Croatia, and more orders are probable as many NATO forces replace their M109 howitzers.
^{(Big upgrade from the spgs in WOT lol)}

The ZSU-57-2 (Ob'yekt 500) is a Soviet self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG), armed with two 57 mm autocannons. 'ZSU' stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka (Russian: Зенитная Самоходная Установка), meaning "anti-aircraft self-propelled mount", '57' stands for the bore of the armament in millimetres and '2' stands for the number of gun barrels. It was the first Soviet mass-produced tracked SPAAG. In the USSR it had the unofficial nickname "Sparka", meaning "pair", referring to the twin autocannon with which the vehicle is armed.

The FV4034 Challenger 2 is a British main battle tank (MBT) in service with the armies of the United Kingdom and Oman. It was designed and built by the British company Vickers Defence Systems (now known as BAE Systems Land & Armaments).
The Challenger 2 replaced the Challenger 1 in service with the British Army and is also used by the Royal Army of Oman. Vickers Defence Systems began to develop a successor to Challenger 1 as a private venture in 1986. A £90 million deal for a demonstrator vehicle was finalised in January 1989. In June 1991, the MoD placed a £520 million order for 140 vehicles, with a further 268 ordered in 1994. Production began in 1993 and the unit's tanks were delivered in July 1994. The tank entered service with the British Army in 1998, with the last delivered in 2002. It is expected to remain in service until 2035. Oman ordered 18 Challenger 2s in 1993 and a further 20 tanks in November 1997.
The Challenger 2 is an extensive redesign of the Challenger 1. Although the hull and automotive components seem similar, they are of a newer design and build than those of the Challenger 1 and fewer than 5% of components are interchangeable. The tank's drive system provides a 550 km range, with a maximum road speed of 59 km/h. It has a four-man crew.
The Challenger 2 is equipped with a 120-millimetre (4.7 in) 55-calibre long L30A1 tank gun, the successor to the L11 gun used on the Chieftain and Challenger 1. Uniquely among NATO main battle tank armament, the L30A1 is rifled, because the British Army continues to place a premium on the use of high explosive squash head (HESH) rounds in addition to armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot armour-piercing rounds. The Challenger 2 is also armed with a L94A1 EX-34 7.62 mm chain gun and a 7.62 mm L37A2 (GPMG) machine gun. Forty nine main armament rounds and 4,200 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition are carried.
In 2006, the Challenger 2 was considered to be one of the best protected tanks in the world. The turret and hull are protected with second generation Chobham armour (also known as Dorchester). However, in Iraq that year, the front underside hull armour of a Challenger 2 was defeated by an RPG-29 despite being augmented with an ERA package.
It has seen operational service in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq

grimknight666 wrote:

The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and 12 other European countries, as well as several non-European nations. More than 3,480 Leopard 2s have been manufactured.^{[citation needed]} The Leopard 2 was used in Kosovo with the German Army and has also seen action in Afghanistan with the Danish and Canadian contributions to the International Security Assistance Force.
There are two main development batches of the tank, the original models up to Leopard 2A4, which have vertically faced turret armour, and the "improved" batch, namely the Leopard 2A5 and newer versions, which have angled arrow-shaped turret appliqué armour together with other improvements. All models feature digital fire control systems with laser rangefinders, a fully stabilized main gun and coaxial machine gun, and advanced night vision and sighting equipment (first vehicles used a low-light level TV system or LLLTV; thermal imaging was introduced later on). The tank has the ability to engage moving targets while moving over rough terrain.

Great info and this tank looks great, wish they had this tank in WOT, haha, #NiNFTW   #NiNGamers   #NiNWOT   #NiNWOTers  #NiNWOTSeals

The tank was developed at the Kirov Plant in Leningrad by a group headed by the engineer L. Troyanov. The work on the tank started in 1957, which was based on a heavy tank operational requirements developed in 1956, and a pre-production tank was completed at the end of 1959.
This unique tank boasted increased cross-country capability. It featured four-track running gear mounted on two longitudinal, rectangular hollow beams, which were also used as fuel tanks. The tank suspension was hydro-pneumatic with complex hydrotransformer and three-speed planetary gearbox. The track adjuster was worm-type. The specific ground pressure of this heavy vehicle did not exceed 0.6 kg/cm². The track chain, running practically along the whole track length provided for increased cross-country capabilities on swampy terrain, soft soils and area full of cut trees, Czech hedgehogs, antitank obstacles and the like.
The tank was equipped with the powerful 1000 hp 2DG-8M diesel engine, enabling the 60 metric ton tank to attain 55 km/h speed, with active range of 300 km on one refuel. It also had auto fire-fighting systems, smoke laying equipment and a combat compartment heating/cooling system.

The Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) is an American fighting vehicle platform manufactured by BAE Systems Land and Armaments, formerly United Defense. It was named after U.S. General Omar Bradley.
The Bradley is designed to transport infantry or scouts with armor protection, while providing covering fire to suppress enemy troops and armored vehicles. There are several Bradley variants, including the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the M3 Bradley cavalry fighting vehicle. The M2 holds a crew of three (a commander, a gunner and a driver) as well as six fully equipped soldiers. The M3 mainly conducts scout missions and carries two scouts in addition to the regular crew of three, with space for additional TOW missiles. The Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, Texas is the CITE Center of Industrial Technical Excellence for the maintenance and repair of the Bradley system.

The AMX-30 is a main battle tank designed by GIAT and first delivered to the French Army in 1966. The first five tanks were issued to the 501st Régiment de Chars de Combat (Tank Regiment) in August of that year. The production version of the AMX-30 weighed 36 metric tons (40 short tons), and sacrificed protection for increased mobility. The French believed that it would have required too much armour to protect against the latest anti-tank threats, thereby reducing the tank's maneuverability. Protection, instead, was provided by the speed and the compact dimensions of the vehicle, including a height of 2.28 metres. It had a 105-millimetre (4.1 in) cannon, firing an advanced high explosive anti-tank warhead known as the Obus G. The Obus G used an outer shell, separated from the main charge by ball bearings, to allow the round to be spin stabilized by the gun without affecting the warhead inside. Mobility was provided by the 720 horsepower (540 kW) HS-110 diesel engine, although the troublesome transmission adversely affected the tank's performance.
In 1979, due to issues caused by the transmission, the French Army began to modernize its fleet of tanks to AMX-30B2 standards, which included a new transmission, an improved engine and the introduction of a new fin-stabilized kinetic energy penetrator. Production of the AMX-30 also extended to a number of variants, including the AMX-30D armored recovery vehicle, the AMX-30R anti-aircraft gun system, a bridge-layer, the Pluton tactical nuclear missile launcher and a surface-to-air missile launcher.
It was preceded by two post-war French medium tank designs. The first, the ARL 44, was an interim tank. Its replacement, the AMX 50, was cancelled in the mid-1950s in favor of adopting the M47 Patton tank. In 1956, the French government entered a cooperative development program with Germany and Italy in an effort to design a standardized tank. Although the three nations agreed to a series of specific characteristics that the new tank should have, and both France and Germany began work on distinctive prototypes with the intention of testing them and combining the best of both, the program failed as Germany decided not to adopt the new French 105-millimetre (4.1 in) tank gun and France declared that it would postpone production until 1965. As a result, both nations decided to adopt tanks based on their own prototypes. The German tank became known as the Leopard 1, while the French prototype became the AMX-30.
As early as 1969, the AMX-30 and variants were ordered by Greece, soon followed by Spain. In the coming years, the AMX-30 would be exported to Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus and Chile. By the end of production, 3,571 units of AMX-30s and its variants had been manufactured. Both Spain and Venezuela later began extensive modernization programs to extend the life of their vehicles and to bring their tanks up to more modern standards. In the 1991 Gulf War, AMX-30s were deployed by both the French and Qatari armies - Qatari AMX-30s saw action against Iraqi forces at the Battle of Khafji. However, France and most other nations replaced their AMX-30s with more up-to-date equipment by the end of the 20th century.

The Chieftain was an evolutionary development of the successful cruiser line of tanks that had emerged at the end of the Second World War. British engineers had learned during the war that their tanks often lacked sufficient protection and firepower compared to those fielded by the enemy, and that this had led to high casualty levels when faced with the superior German tanks in World War II. The Centurion addressed this to a great degree, combining higher levels of armour and an improved gun, which made it at least equal to any of the contemporary medium tanks. However, the introduction of the Soviet IS-3 heavy tank forced the introduction of their own Conqueror heavy tank, armed with a 120 mm (4.7 in) gun. A single design combining the firepower of the Conqueror's 120 mm gun with the mobility and general usefulness of the Centurion would be ideal.
Leyland, who had been involved in Centurion, had built their own prototypes of a new tank design in 1956, and these led to a War Office specification for a new tank. The General Staff specification drew on experience of Centurion in the Korean War and Conqueror. The tank was expected to be able to engage the enemy at long range and from defensive positions, be proof against medium artillery. To this end, the gun was to have a greater angle of depression than the 8 degrees of Conqueror and better frontal armour. The tank was expected to achieve 10 rounds per minute in the first minute and six per minute for the following four.
The first few prototypes were provided for troop trials from 1959, this identified a number of changes. Changes to address engine vibration and cooling resulted in redesign of the rear hull. This increased the design weight to nearly 50 tons and as such the suspension (which had been designed for 45 tons) was strengthened. Track pads had to be fitted to protect roads from damage and the ground clearance increased. The design was accepted in the early 1960s.
Britain and Israel had collaborated on the development in its latter stages with a view to Israel purchasing and domestically producing the vehicle. Two prototypes were delivered as part of a four year trial. However, it was eventually decided not to sell the marque to the Israelis, which prompted them to follow their own development programme.
In 1957, NATO had specified that its forces should use multi-fuel engines. The early BL Engine delivered around 450 bhp (340 kW) to the sprocket, which meant a top road speed of around 25 mph (40 km/h) and cross country performance was limited. This was further hampered by the Horstmann coil spring suspension, which made it a challenge to drive cross country and provide the crew with a comfortable ride. Due to the cylinder linings being pressure fitted, coolant leaks within the cylinder block were common, resulting in white smoke billowing from the exhaust.
In the late 1970s, engine design changed with the introduction of Belzona which was used to improve the lining seals. Engine output also increased, with later engines delivering some 850 bhp (630 kW) to the sprocket. This meant better performance and an increased speed. However, cross-country performance remained limited.
Several aspects of Chieftain design were trialled by the production of the FV4202 "40-ton Centurion" with a reclined driver position and mantleless gun mounting.

The Kanonenjagdpanzer (also known as Jagdpanzer Kanone 90mm, or tank destroyer, gun) was a German Cold War tank destroyer equipped with a 90mm anti-tank gun from obsolete M47 Patton tanks. Its design was very similar to that of the World War II Jagdpanzer IV.
The first prototypes of the Kanonenjagdpanzer were built in 1960 by Hanomag and Henschel for West Germany and by MOWAG for Switzerland. Hanomag and Henschel continued to produce prototypes, until between 1966 and 1967, 770 were built for the Bundeswehr, 385 by Hanomag and 385 by Henschel. Eighty of them were delivered to Belgium from April 1975 onward.
When the Soviets began deploying their T-64 and T-72 main battle tanks, the 90 mm gun wasn't capable of ensuring long-range combat and the Kanonenjagdpanzer became obsolete. Although the producers claimed it could be rearmed with a 105 mm gun, between 1983 and 1985, 163 of these tank destroyers were converted into Raketenjagdpanzer Jaguar 2 anti-tank guided missile carriers by removing the gun, adding a roof-mounted TOW missile launcher and fastening further spaced and perforated armour on the hull. Some others were refitted into artillery observation vehicles by removing the main gun, so called Beobachtungspanzer, which served most particularly in the mortar units.
Some Kanonenjagdpanzer remained into service with the Heimatschutztruppe until 1990

The T-90 is a Russian third-generation main battle tank that is essentially a modernisation of the T-72B, incorporating many features of the T-80U (it was originally to be called the T-72BU, later renamed to T-90). It is currently the most modern tank in service with the Russian Ground Forces and Naval Infantry. Although a development of the T-72, the T-90 uses a 125mm 2A46 smoothbore tank gun, 1G46 gunner sights, a new engine, and thermal sights. Standard protective measures include a blend of steel, composite armour, smoke mortars, Kontakt-5 explosive-reactive armour, laser warning receivers, Nakidka camouflage and the Shtora infrared ATGM jamming system. The EMT-7 electromagnetic pulse (EMP) creator has been used in testing but not fitted to T-90s in active service. It is designed and built by Uralvagonzavod, in Nizhny Tagil, Russia. Since 2011, the Russian armed forces have ceased ordering the T-90, and are instead waiting for the development of the Armata Universal Combat Platform that is expected to enter service in 2016.

Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. The Tiger I gave the Wehrmacht its first tank which mounted the 88 mm gun in its first armoured fighting vehicle-dedicated version: the KwK 36. During the course of the war, the Tiger I saw combat on all German battlefronts. It was usually deployed in independent heavy tank battalions, which proved highly effective.
While the Tiger I has been called an outstanding design, it was over-engineered, using expensive materials and labour-intensive production methods. Only 1,347 were built between August 1942 and August 1944. The Tiger was prone to certain types of track failures and breakdowns, and limited in range by its high fuel consumption. It was expensive to maintain, but generally mechanically reliable. It was also difficult to transport, and vulnerable to immobilization when mud, ice and snow froze between its overlapping and interleaved Schachtellaufwerk-pattern road wheels in both rasputitsa and succeeding winter weather conditions, often jamming them solid. In 1944, production was phased out in favour of the Tiger II.
The tank was given its nickname "Tiger" by Ferdinand Porsche, and the Roman numeral was added after the later Tiger II entered production. The initial official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H (‘‘Panzer VI version H’’, abbreviated PzKpfw VI Ausf. H), with the H being for the designer/manufacturer, Henschel. It was classed with ordnance inventory designation SdKfz 182. The tank was later redesignated as PzKpfw VI Ausf. E in March 1943, with ordnance inventory designation SdKfz 181.
Today, only a handful of Tigers survive in museums and exhibitions worldwide. The Bovington Tank Museum's Tiger 131 is currently the only one restored to running order.

The Elefant (German for "elephant") was a Schwerer Panzerjäger (German: "heavy tank-hunter")—a tank destroyer—of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. It was built in small numbers in 1943 under the name Ferdinand after its designer Ferdinand Porsche, using tank hulls that had been produced for a cancelled German heavy tank design.
In 1944, after modification of the existing vehicles, they were renamed Elefant. The official German designation was Panzerjäger Tiger (P) and the ordnance inventory designation was Sd. Kfz. 184.
Porsche GmbH had manufactured about one hundred chassis for their unsuccessful proposal for the Tiger tank, the "Porsche Tiger", in the Nibelungenwerk factory in Sankt Valentin, Austria. Both the successful Henschel proposal and the Porsche design used the same Krupp-designed turret—the Henschel design had its turret more-or-less centrally located on its hull, while the Porsche design placed the turret much closer to the front of the superstructure. Since the competing Henschel Tiger design was chosen for production, the Porsche chassis were no longer required for the Tiger tank project. It was therefore decided that the Porsche chassis were to be used as the basis of a new heavy tank destroyer, Ferdinand, mounting Krupp's newly developed 88 mm (3.5 in) Pak 43/2 anti-tank gun. This precise long-range weapon was intended to destroy enemy tanks before they came within their own range of effective fire.
Ferdinand was intended to supplant previous light tank destroyers such as Marder II and Marder III in the offensive role. A similar gun was used in the lightly armored Hornisse (later known as Nashorn) tank destroyer, built at the same time.

The M46 was an American tank designed to replace the M26 Pershing and M4 Sherman. It was one of the U.S Army's principal medium tanks of the early Cold War, with models in service from 1949 to the mid-1950s. It was not widely used by U.S. Cold War allies, being exported only to Belgium, and only in small numbers to train crews on the upcoming M47 Patton.
The M46 was the first tank to be named after General George S. Patton Jr., commander of the U.S. Third Army during World War II and one of the earliest American advocates for the use of tanks in battle.
After World War II, most U.S. Army armored units were equipped with a mix of M4 Sherman and M26 Pershing tanks. Designed initially as a heavy tank, the M26 Pershing tank was reclassified as a medium tank postwar. The M26 was a significant improvement over the M4 Sherman in firepower and protection. Its mobility, however, was deemed unsatisfactory for a medium tank, as it used the same engine as the much lighter M4A3 and was plagued with an unreliable transmission.
Work began in January 1948 on replacing the original power plant with the Continental AV1790-3 engine and Allison CD-850-1 cross-drive transmission. This design was initially called the M26E2, but modifications continued to accumulate; eventually, the Bureau of Ordnance decided that the tank needed its own unique designation. When the rebuild began in November 1949, the upgraded M26 received not only a new power plant and a main gun with a bore evacuator, but a new designation M46. In total, 1,160 M26s were rebuilt: 800 to the M46 standard, 360 to the M46A1.

Tiger II is the common name of a German heavy tank of the Second World War. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B, often shortened to Tiger B.The ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 182. It is also known under the informal name Königstiger (the German name for the Bengal tiger), often translated literally as Royal Tiger, or somewhat incorrectly as King Tiger by Allied soldiers.
The Tiger II was the successor to the Tiger I, combining the latter's thick armor with the armor sloping used on the Panther medium tank. The tank weighed almost 70 metric tons, and was protected by 100 to 180 mm (3.9 to 7.1 in) of armor to the front. It was armed with the long barreled 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 gun. The chassis was also the basis for the Jagdtiger turretless tank destroyer.
The Tiger II was issued to heavy tank battalions of the Army (Schwere Heerespanzerabteilung – abbreviated s.H.Pz.Abt) and the Waffen-SS (s.SS.Pz.Abt). It was first used in combat with s.H.Pz.Abt. 503 during the Normandy campaign on 11 July 1944; on the Eastern Front, the first unit to be outfitted with Tiger IIs was the s.H.Pz.Abt. 501 which by 1 September 1944 listed 25 Tiger IIs operational

The AMX-13 is a French light tank produced from 1953 to 1985. It served with the French Army, as the Char 13t-75 Modèle 51, and was exported to more than 25 other nations. Named after its initial weight of 13 tonnes, and featuring a tough and reliable chassis, it was fitted with an oscillating turret built by GIAT Industries (now Nexter) with revolver type magazines, which were also used on the Austrian SK-105 Kürassier. Including prototypes and export versions, there are over a hundred variants including self-propelled guns, anti-aircraft systems, APCs, and ATGM versions. Total production of the AMX-13 family is approximately 7,700 units, around 3,400 of which were exported.

e Type 74 (74 式戦車 nana-yon-shiki-sensha) is a main battle tank (MBT) of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). It was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a replacement for the earlier Type 61. It was based on the best features of a number of contemporary designs, placing it in the same class as the US M60 or German Leopard 1. Like these designs, it mounts the Royal Ordnance L7 105 mm gun. The design did not enter widespread use until 1980, by which point other western forces were starting the introduction of much more capable designs.

The Type 59 (Chinese: 59式; pinyin: Wǔjiǔ shì; industrial designation: WZ-120) main battle tank is a Chinese-produced version of the Soviet T-54A tank, the earliest model of the ubiquitous T-54/55 series. The first vehicles were produced in 1958 and it was accepted into service in 1959, with serial production beginning in 1963. Over 10,000 of the tanks were produced by the time production ended in 1980 with approximately 5,500 serving with the Chinese armed forces. The tank formed the backbone of the Chinese People's Liberation Army until the early 2000s (decade) with an estimated 5,000 of the later Type 59-I and Type 59-II variants in service in 2002.
The Type 59 was modified several times during its service with the replacement of the 100 mm Type 59 rifled gun with a 105 mm rifled gun. It was also the basis of several later Chinese tank designs including the Type 69 and Type 79 tanks.

The T-72 is a Soviet second-generation main battle tank that entered production in 1971.About 20,000 T-72 tanks were built, making it one of the most widely produced post–World War II tanks, second only to the T-54/55 family. The T-72 was widely exported and saw service in 40 countries and in numerous conflicts. Improved variants are still being built for export customers.

The M48 Patton is a main battle tank that was designed in the United States. It was the third tank to be officially named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. Third Army during World War II and one of the earliest American advocates for the use of tanks in battle. It was a further development of the M47 Patton tank. The M48 Patton was in U.S. service until replaced by the M60. The M48 served as the U.S. Army and Marine Corps's primary battle tank in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was widely used by U.S. Cold War allies, especially other NATO countries.
The M48 Patton tank was designed to replace the previous M47 Pattons and M4 Shermans. Although largely resembling the M47, the M48 Patton was a completely new tank design. Some M48A5 models served well into the 1980s with American forces, and many M48 Patton models remain in service in other countries. The M48 was the last U.S. tank to mount the 90 mm tank gun, with the last model, the M48A5, being upgraded to carry the new standard weapon of the M60, the 105mm gun.
The Turkish Army has the largest number of modernized M48 MBTs, with more than 1,400 in its inventory. Of these, around 1,000 have been phased out or are in storage, or have been modified to ARVs.

This is a really cool little series you've got going here Grim.  Well done!

Yeah, he is very detailed and active. Thank you for this @grimknight666, #NiNFTW   #NiNGamers   #NiNWOWS   #NiNWOWSers  #NiNWOWSSeals