Top 10 Best Tanks in the World

Ironic it seems, while most people are advocating world peace, the government of the so-called “super powers” never stop inventing powerful and destructive weapons like fighter aircrafts, nuclear weapons, tanks and many others.

Tanks are armored combat vehicle that moves using a wheel-shaped chain. The main characteristic of a tank is a patron who normally is a layer of heavy steel, the weapon which is a big cannon, and high mobility to move smoothly

 in all fields. Although the tank is an expensive vehicle and require a lot of logistical supplies, tanks are the most powerful land weapons and all-round on the modern battlefield, because of its ability to destroy any ground target, and the mental effect against infantry.

here the 10 best tanks in the world :

10. Type-96 (People's Republic of China)

Type 99, a 3rd generation main battle tank operated by the Peoples Liberation Army of China, is the fastest tank in the world. The ZTZ99 MBT is considered one of the 12 best tanks in the world. A unit of Type 99 is worth ¥ 17,417,659 Renminbi, approximately US$2.5 million. It is also known as ZTZ-99 and WZ-123. The newest and much improve variant is the Type 99KM

It is currently the most advanced MBT in the People's Liberation Army. It entered the PLA service in 2001.

spec : 

Weight 46 tonnes
Length 10:28 m
3:45 m Width
Height 2.30 m
Crew 3

Primary Armament: 125 mm smoothbore gun
Secondary Armament: 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun 12.7 mm air-defense machine gun
Engine: diesel 1000 hp (750 kW)
Power / weight: 21 hp / tonne
Operational range: 450 km, 600 km with external fuel
Speed: 65 km / h

 9. K1 88 (South Korean)

 The K1 is a South Korean third-generation main battle tank in use with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, developed by Hyundai Precision (later Hyundai Rotem).^[1] The vehicle's early design work was based on General Dynamics' M1 Abrams, with some noticeable differences including a combined system of hydropneumatic suspension and torsion bars, and a river-crossing fording kit, to meet the required operational capability that was specific to combat operations in the mountainous and swampy terrain of the

Korean Peninsula.^[1]

  The K1A1 entered service in 1999, upgraded with a 120mm smoothbore gun, and outfitted with more modern electronics, ballistic computers, and fire control systems developed by Samsung Electronics.^[1] Hyundai Rotem produced 1,511 K1 and K1A1 tanks between 1985 and 2010.

 spec :

Weight 51.1 tonnes (54.5 tons for K1A1)
Length 9.67 m (9.71m for K1A1)
Width 3.60 m
Height 2.25 m
Crew 4

K1A1 Primary Armament: 120mm KM256
Secondary Armament: 12.7 mm antiaircraft machine gun 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun
Engine: 10-cyl. water-cooled diesel MTU 871 Ka-501 1200 hp (890 kW)
Power / weight: 23.4 hp / ton (22.0 hp / ton for K1A1)
range: 500 km
Speed: 65 km / h

8. Leclerc (France) 

The Leclerc is the main battle tank of France created by Nexter. It was named for Gen. Philippe Leclerc of WW II. It entered service in 1992 and is also operated by UAE – United Arab Emirates. The French Army has a total of 406 Leclercs and the UAE has 388. A unit of Leclerc is worth ₣ 29,000,000 in 1993.

 spec :

Weight 54.5 tonnes
Length 9.87 m (6.88 without gun)
Width 3.71 m
2:53 m Height
Crew 3 (Commander, gunner, driver)

Primary Armament: 120mm tank gun 40 Rounds
Secondary Armament: 12.7 mm coaxial machine gun M2HB 1.100 3.000 Rounds Rounds 7.62mm machine gun
Engine: 8-cylinder diesel Wärtsilä 1.500 hp (1.100 kW)
Power / weight: 27.52 hp / tonne
Operational range: 550 km
Speed: 71 km / h

 7. Leopard 2A6 (Germany)

The Leopard 2 is the main battle tank of Germany. It entered service in 1979. It first saw combat in Kosovo with the German Army and has also seen action in Afghanistan with the Danish and Canadian ISAF forces. The Leopard 2 is one of the most expensive tanks in the world where a single unit is worth US$4.5 million (Leopard 2A6).

spec :

Weight 62.3 tonnes
Length 7.7 m
Width 3.7 m
Height 3.0 m
Crew 4

Primary Armament: 1 x 120 mm Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore gun.42 Rounds
Secondary Armament: 1 x 7.62 mm MG3 4.750 Rounds
Engine: MTU MB 873 Ka-501 12-cylinder diesel 1.500 HP (1.103 kW) at 2600 RPM.
Power / weight: 24.2 hp / tonne
range: 550 km (internal fuel)
Speed: 72 km / h

6. Challenger 2 (United Kingdom)

The pride of the UK – the FV4034 Challenger 2, it is the main battle tank (MBT) of British Army and Oman. It is advertises as the world’s most reliable main battle tank. During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq the Challenger 2 tanks operating in the Gulf suffered no total losses to enemy fire.

spec :

Weight 62.5 tonnes
Length 8.3 m (11:50 m with gun forward)
Width 3.5 m (4.2 m with applique armor)
Height 2.5 m
Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader / operator, driver)

Primary Armament: L30A1 120 mm rifled with 52 Rounds
Secondary Armament: coaxial 7.62 mm L94A1 EX-34 (chain gun), 7.62 mm L37A2 Commander's cupola machine gun
Engine: Perkins 1.200 Diesel CV-12 hp (895 kW)
Power / weight: 19.2 hp / tonne
range: 450 km (279 miles)
Speed: 59 km / h (37 mph)

 







5. T-90 (Russia)

The T-90 is a Russian main battle tank and presently the most advance tank in service with the Russian Ground Forces and Indian Army. A T-90 tank is worth $2.23 million as of in January, 2007. It entered service in 1992.

spec :

Weight 46.5 tonnes
Length 9:53 m (31.27 ft)
Width 3.78 m (12.09 ft)
Height 2.22 m (7:28 ft)
Crew 3

Primary Armament: 125 mm smoothbore gun with ATGM capability; mainly 9M119 Svir
Secondary Armament: 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun
Engine: V-96 Model 12-cyl. Diesel 1.100 hp (820 kW) for V-96 12-cyl. diesel engine
Power / weight: 23.7 hp / tonne (17.6 kW / tonne) for V-96 12-cyl. diesel engine.

4. T-80 (Russia)

The T-80 is a main battle tank (MBT) designed and manufactured in the former Soviet Union. A development of the T-64, it entered service in 1976 and was the first production tank to be equipped with a gas turbine engine for main propulsion.^{[nb 1]} The T-80U was last produced in a factory in Omsk, Russia, while the T-80UD and further-developed T-84 continue to be produced in Ukraine. The T-80 and its variants are in service in Belarus, Cyprus, Kazakhstan,^[10] Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, and Ukraine. The chief designer of the T-80 was the Russian engineer Nikolay Popov.

T-80 is produced at the Kirov Plant, Leningrad. First entered operational service in 1976. T-80 is designed to replace T-64. T-80 was the first Russian tanks that use gasturbine machine, this machine is capable of making the T-80 reached speeds 70km/jam with a maximum distance of 335km. As the characteristics of gas turbine engines generally, GTD-1000 engine is consuming a lot of fuel, so that the hull tanks made design changes to accommodate more fuel. In the next variant of the T-80U, gasturbine engine replaced with a GTD-1250.

spec :

Weight 50.7 tonnes
Length 7:01 m (9.72 m with gun in the forward position)
Width 3.60 m
Height 2.20 m
Crew 3 (driver, gunner, commander)
Primary Armament: 125 mm 2A46M-1 (D-81TM "Rapira-3") smoothbore gun 39 Rounds

Secondary Armament: 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun (1.250 Rounds) [2]
KT 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun-7.62 (1.250 Rounds) (T-80UD) [1]
NSVT 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun (500 Rounds) [2]
KT-12.07 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun (450 Rounds) (T-80UD) [1]
9M112 Kobra (AT-8 Songster) ATGM (6 missiles) (T-80, T-80B) [2]
Svir 9M119 (AT-11 Sniper) and 9M119M Reflex (AT-11B Sniper) ATGM [2] (6 missiles) (T-80U) [2]
Engine: GTD-1250 multi-fuel 1.250 hp (932 kW)
Power / weight: 24.7 hp / tonne (18.4 kW / tonne)
Operational range: 500 km, 900 km with extra tanks (on road)

3. Type-90 (Japan)

 The Type 90 tank (90式戦車 Kyū-maru-shiki-sensha^?) was the main battle tank (MBT) of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) as of 2011. It was designed and built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a replacement for all deployed Type 61 and Type 74 tanks, and entered service in 1990. It is to be superseded by the Type 10 tank.

spec :

Weight 50.2 tonnes
Length 9755 m
3:33 m Width
2:33 m Height
Crew 3

Primary Armament: 120mm smoothbore gun 35 Rounds
Secondary Armament: M2HB 12.7mm machine gun machine gun 7.62mm Rounds 1.500 74 2.000 Type Rounds
Mitsubishi Engine 10ZG 10 cylinder, Two stroke cycle Diesel 21500cc 1500ps/2400rpm (1.120 kW)
Power / weight: 30 hp / tonne
range: 350 km (Fuel 1100L)
Speed: 70 km / h (Acceleration: 0-200m/20s)

2. Challenger 1 (United Kingdom)

 The British FV4030/4 Challenger 1, was the main battle tank (MBT) of the British Army from 1983 to the mid 1990s, when it was superseded by the Challenger 2. It is also currently used by the Jordanian Armed Forces as their main battle tank after heavy modifications. The variants for the Jordanian military are upgraded to Challenger 2 standards and are undergoing upgrades using an unmanned turret called the Falcon Turret.

spec :

Weight 62 tonnes
Length 5.11 m (gun forward)
3:51 m Width
Height 2.95 m
Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Primary Armament: L11A5 120 mm rifled 64 Rounds
Secondary Armament: 7.62 mm L8A2, L37A2 7.62 mm machine guns Rounds 4.000
Engine: Rolls-Royce CV12 26 liter diesel engines 1.200 hp (895 kW)
range: 450 km (on road)
Speed: 56 km / h (37 mph)

1. M1A2 Abrams (U.S.A)

Are you looking for the most powerful tank in the world? It’s right in front of you. The M1 Abrams is believed to be the most powerful tank in the world. This tank is an American third-generation main battle tank. The tank is named after Gen. Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. MBT M1 Abrams is General Dynamics Land Systems made in U.S.. The name is taken from General Creighton Abrams Abrams. Beginning of the M1 variant first entered operational service in 1978, M1A1 in 1985, and last M1A2 in 1986. M1A1 variants involved in the Gulf war and Operation Iraqi Freedom to deal with T-55, T-62 and T-72 Iraq.

Originally Abrams is the result of the cancellation of the MBT-70, a variant developed by German tanks and the U.S.. The project was later canceled and the cooperation of each party to continue the manufacture of tanks from the data obtained from the MBT-70 project, the U.S. and then make the M1 Abrams while Germany made Leopard 2. Early variant of M1 Abrams still use 105mm caliber cannon, in subsequent variants (M1A1 and M1A2) is replaced with artificial Rheinmetall 120mm caliber cannon Germany. Beginning of the M1 and M1A1 variants rely on diesel engines, but the M1A2 variant using a more powerful engine gasturbine, although the new engine uses more fuel.

After the experience in previous wars, Abrams has the additional choice of armor, that Tusk (Tank Urban Survival Kit).

 spec :

Weight 67.6 short tons (61.4 tonnes)
Length Gun Forward: 32.04 ft (9.77 m)
Hull length: 26.02 ft (7.93 m)
Width 12 ft (3.66 m)
Height 8 ft (2:44 m)
Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Primary Armament: 120 mm M256 smoothbore cannon
Secondary Armament: 1 x .50-caliber (12.7 mm) heavy machine gun M2HB
2 x M240 7.62 mm machine guns (1 pintle-mounted, 1 coaxial)
Engine: AGT-1500C multi-fuel turbine engine 1500 hp (1119 kW)
Power / weight: 24.5 hp / tonne
Operational range: 465.29 km (289 mi)
With NBC system: 449.19 km (279 mi)
Road Speed: 67.72 km / h (42 mph)
Off-road: 48.3 km / h (30 mph)