What is the best tank?

[Atahualpa]

I would say it depends. A tank with 55 litres volumina is surely inferior to one with 80 litres. Though what if the 55 litres has handles and wheeles. Then of course I would think the 55 litre tank is much better since you can move it around more easily. Lifting a 80 litre tank full of water is something you can forget to do. The material is also of importance as wood might be cool, but maybe not so stable whereas titan surely is stable but not practicable. However it greatly depends on what you need. When the tank is a sitting duck where you just pour water in and out and does not have to be moved the best one is the largest one with best hull. But when you have to move a lot, you have to sacrifice on volumina and need features like wheels, handles and maybe for very large tanks even an engine would be handsome (with remote control of course). Now imagine such a beauty. Your own 100 litre water tank, nuclear powered and made of stainless steel, waiting for you to pour in your emergancy ration of beer, vodka or anything and when finally the russians have conquered the world, there is one last huge gigantic ..... I am so excited I .. I....

There is clearly no simple descision.

[muxec]

Merkava is good tank, but i saw Israeli tankist's uniform and i do not want to vote it.

[Kropotkin]

Originally posted by Kontiki
The Swedish version of the Leopard II is often considered the best tank out there right now

Tell me about it, I was in a AT infantry platoon as a swedish conscript. You could be face down in a ditch waiting for the damn day to be over and that damn upgraded tank on the other side of a small forest 500 meters away and still able to take me out. Or maybe they where just cheating (they like to do that).

[raghar]

To Atahualpa

That was fun.

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Kontiki
The Swedish version of the Leopard II is often considered the best tank out there right now,

[flag waving] well I think the most modern version Leopard 2A6 is in German service too[/flag waving]

[My Wife Hates CIV]

The best tank? That would be the one with US air power above it.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Daz
The russians have most experience with tanks.

I vote Black Eagle.

Ahhh, but you have to take into account the quality of craftsmanship. The US tanks go through many more quality control tests; especially when it comes to safety.

Also guys, the Abrahms has proven itself in a large scale conflict. Other than maybe the Israeli tanks, no other tank even comes close to having the proven combat effectiveness of the Abrahms.

[Andrew1999]

You've got to go with the people's choice: the T-62!

Recommended by four out of five dictators.

[Sava]

Originally posted by My Wife Hates CIV
The best tank? That would be the one with US air power above it.

EXACTLY!

[Kropotkin]

The fifth dictator has T-64's and kicks the butts of the other four!

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by My Wife Hates CIV
The best tank? That would be the one with US air power above it.

Well, I guess that doesn´t do for Iraqi tanks

[PLATO]

I remember seeing something a couple of years ago that the leo had out performed the M1A1 in some competition they have every year or two. The challenger was a very close third. I think that it was some type of NATO thing. Anybody know if they still do this?

The M1A2 sure did look impressive when they detailed some of its capabilities on TV the other day.

[Kropotkin]

FOX news I presume?

[ThePlagueRat]

Leopard tank platoon: (Norway)

These upgraded tanks is capable of firing while moving fast, including nighttime warfare without the use of light source. There are three categories in the Norwegian army, Leopard 1A1 (Old), Leopard 1A5 (New), and Leopard 2.

These are almost similar outside, but not inside. Both Leopard 1A1 and 1A5 weights about 40.000 kg, and got 830 hp. Both have a 105mm cannon in which can shoot on distances up to 2500 meter. Main difference between Leopard 1A1 og Leopard 1A5 is among others the target aquiring and aiming system.

Leopard 1A5 has an automatic target aquiring system. It will adjust the weapon based on distance measurement using laser. Leopard 1A1 has an older system which is somewhat less advanced than the system on the Leopard 1A5. There is one commander and three crew members on each.

Leopard 2, as being the option in this poll, has a combat weight of 55.000 kg, empty weight being 52,000 kg, and its hull has spaced multi-layer armor. The prototypes looked at first glance very much like the Leopard 1A4, but with a wedge-shaped bow and an exhaust grille moved to the rear plate. The roadwheels came from the MBT/KPz-70, and the return rollers from the Leopard 1. The engine also came from the MBT/KPz-70, a 12 cylinder MTU MB-873 Ka-500 water-cooled multi-fuel four-stroke engine, together with its 20 kW generator, gearbox, air filters, and the cooling and braking systems, forming a compact group that could be easily replaced in 15 minutes.

The running gear consists of seven dual rubber-tyred road wheels and four return rollers per side, with the idler wheel at the front and drive sprocket at the rear. Torsion bar suspension is employed, with advanced friction dampers provided. The Diehl 570F tracks, with rubber-bashed end connectors, have removable rubber pads and use 82 links on each track. For use in icy ground, up to 18 rubber pads can be replaced by the same number of grousers, which are stored in the vehicle's bow when not in use. The first four sessions of the side skirts are heavily armored, and must be raised for rail transport. The remaining sessions are made of standard rubber and metal fabric and are hinged to swing upward if neccessary.

The driver's station is located at the front, offset to the right of the vehicle's center line. A large, pintle-mounted lift-and-swing type hatch is provided for the driver and opens to the right. There are two observation periscopes in the driver's hatch, plus one to the left of his section, for use when driving closed down. The central periscope (in the hatch) can be exchanged for a passive IR-sight for night operations. An escape hatch is provided under the driver's seat.

The turret, incorporating multi layer armor, is mounted in the center of the hull and is manned by the commander and gunner in the right half, with the loader in the left half. The commander and the loader each have a circular hatch, opening to the rear, and six periscopes provide all-round vision for the commander. Both hatches have ring mounts for the 7.62 mm MG-3 air defense machine gun, though it is normally installed on the loader's hatch.

The 120 mm Rheinmetall main gun is fully stabilized in both azimuth and elevation, and the WNA-H22 electro-hidraulic gun control system is fitted. The gun fires two types of ammunition, both developed by Rheinmetall APFSDS-T, known as DM-33 KE (Kinetische Energy), and HEAT-MP-T, known as DM-12 MZ (Mehrzweck = multipurpose), both types having combustible cases. 27 rounds of 120 mm ammunition are stored in a special magazine in the forward section of the hull, to the left of the driver's station - additional 15 (making a total of 42) are stored in the left side of the turret bustle, and separated from the fighting compartment by an electrically operated door. Should the ammunition in the bustle be hit, blow-off panels in the turret roof would direct any explosion upwards. A co-axial 7.620mm MG 3is mounted to the left of the main gun and 4,750 rounds of machine gun ammunition are carried. Ok, it must be the best!

[Az]

Next thing you gonna tell me that muskets are better than machine guns

how many rounds per minute does the best autoloader shoot?