Having nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles for their delivery anywhere in the world, the leading powers of the world at the same time do not refuse from traditional types of weapons, which include the tank.
An armored combat vehicle on a caterpillar track with its firepower, maneuverability and tactical and technical characteristics has proved its worth both in large wars and in small local conflicts. And their story began during the First World War, where in battle the British troops first used tanks against enemy infantry.
First, a small digression into history, because the largest tanks were created between the two world wars or during the war according to the medieval principle “More means more!”
Firstborn Tank Mark I
The first heavy British tank Mark I became the ancestor of the family of British diamond-shaped tanks. This tank went down in history as the first one used in a battle on the Somme River on September 15, 1916.
Mark I was produced in two configurations - “male” and “female”. On the male version, in addition to machine-gun weapons, two 57-mm guns were installed.
During the war, British engineers modified the car, and the tanks Mr IV and Mr V were in service with various armies of the world until the early 1930s.
The answer of the Germans. Sturmpanzerwagen a7v
Impressed by the use of armored vehicles on the Somme, German engineers accelerated work on creating their own tanks. In October 1917, the first production German A7V tank saw the light on the basis of the Holt tractor.
A total of 20 cars were produced, and they limitedly participated in the battles of the last period of the First World War. It was similar in size to the British counterpart, but was twice as fast and could cover a distance of 15 km more than the British Mark.
The German 30-ton crew consisted of 18 people. Almost all combat vehicles had proper names and were lost in battle or scrapped after the collapse of the German Empire.
Giant Char 2C
By metric parameters, “Char 2C” became the largest tank in the history of world tank building.
Unsatisfied with the projects for the creation of armored vehicles, the French command ordered the creation of an extra-heavy tank capable of breaking through the enemy’s layered defensive line.
The Char 2C, which was in the arsenal of the French army until the beginning of 1940, became such a super-great. All ten combat vehicles that bore the names of the provinces of France did not “smell the gunpowder” in battles.
Symbol of the military power of the Red Army T-35
The first Soviet heavy tank was produced at the Kharkov Locomotive Plant. The five-turret machine with powerful weapons was intended to support infantry and break through powerful enemy fortified areas.
The design of five towers with guns and machine guns could create a sea of fire around the combat vehicle. But the commander could not coordinate all the weapons, and in the battle the T-35 was ineffective.
The pride of Soviet tank building was never able to participate in the battles of World War II. Of the 59 released models, only one has survived today, the short one exhibited in Kubinka.
And about the biggest battles of World War II on thebiggest.ru there is very interesting material.
Preparing for the war of motors. FCM F-1
Between the two world wars, leading countries began to actively create armored fighting vehicles. Mostly light tanks were produced, but the dream of super-heavy tanks did not leave.
Such a project was the French FCM F-1, developed just before the start of World War II. The 145-ton colossus was equipped with two large-caliber cannons and six machine guns.
The caterpillar giant was controlled by a crew of 8 people. Due to the rapid surrender of France, the FCM F-1 did not take an active part in the hostilities.
Member of two wars KV-1
The heavy Soviet tank, created in 1939, received the name of one of the first marshals of the Country of Soviets Kliment Voroshilov. KV-1 successfully participated in the battles of the Soviet-Finnish and World War II.
Equipped with thick armor, KV at that time was invulnerable to enemy artillery, but weak weapons were not enough to successfully combat the pillboxes. In order to combat the enemy fortified areas and armored vehicles, the KV-2 was created, on which a 152 mm howitzer was installed.
After going through almost the entire war, the heavy HF were decommissioned in 1944.
Unrealized project Landkreuzer P. 1500 Monster
In the drawings, it looked truly impressive. An ultra-heavy tank with a length of approximately 52 meters and a width of up to 18 meters during the implementation of the project would fire 7-ton shells at a distance of up to 37 kilometers.
Hitler was initially interested in the project of creating the Landkreuzer P. 1500 Monster, but the technical capabilities of its implementation were rather illusive.
Engineers puzzled how to provide movement to a 1500-ton monster. In early 1943, the fantastic project of the Third Reich was closed.
Armored Giant VIII Mouse
The Germans still managed to create the largest tank that ever came off the assembly lines of military factories.
Designed at the very end of World War II, the VIII Mouse was created as a breakthrough tank, equipped with strong armor and powerful weapons.
But the German 188-ton heavyweight was never able to take part in the battles. As the Soviet army approached Berlin, 2 prototypes were blown up.
After the surrender of Germany and its allies, Soviet engineers restored one of the VIII Mouse, and now it is exhibited in an armored museum near Moscow.
With the name of Stalin on the armor of the IS-1 and IS-2
On the basis of the KV-1 in 1942, a conceptually new model of a heavy Soviet tank was created, called the "Joseph Stalin". Index 1 denoted the serial number of the family of these military vehicles.
Along with the name IS-1, the name IS-85 was used, where the numbers denoted the caliber of the gun mounted on the tower.
Becoming a response to the emergence of heavy "Tigers", the ISs have proven themselves in battle against German armored vehicles. IS from a distance of 1.5 km easily penetrated the armor of the German Tiger.
In various versions, the heavy IS was operated in the USSR until 1953.
Expensive German Tigers
Created in 1942, the heavy tank "Tiger" took part in battles on all fronts of World War II. The German car has proven itself both in the European expanses and in the sands of Africa.
The design of the "Tiger" had a number of advantages, but experts noted disadvantages. First of all, the production of this armored vehicle cost the Reich 800 thousand Reichsmarks, which was twice the cost of the existing models at that time. Another disadvantage was the poorly repairable undercarriage.
After the war, 7 copies of the Tigers, which are exhibited in museums in Russia, Germany, France and the United States, have survived to our days.
Not participating in the battles M6
The American M6 heavy tank began to be developed on the eve of World War II.
In total, from 1939-1944, 43 cars were produced, which never happened to participate in combat battles. Unlike many models of the war period, the M6 managed to reach test sites with drawings.
After a detailed study of the Tiger by American engineers, the M6 was deprecated and discontinued. The armored car was used in training tankers of the American army.
The goal is the invasion of Japan. M26 "Pershing"
The combat vehicle was developed in 1944 and underwent lengthy tests before taking part in the battles.
In battles with German tank formations in the Ardennes, the Americans suffered heavy losses, which accelerated the adoption of the M26 into service.
Along with the T-28, the M26 was created and tested as a tank, which would be used for a possible invasion of Japan. But, as we know from history, the Americans accelerated the surrender of the Land of the Rising Sun in a completely different way.
Half-mythical OI
Japan, like many participants in the redivision of the world in the middle of the 20th century, tried to create its own unique super tank. Developed in the late 30s and early 40s, the O-I series was designed to invade the USSR, China and protect against American landing.
There is no reliable data that the project was completed and Japanese tanks were tested. According to the surviving drawings, it was established that the armored vehicle had 3 towers, the main one with a 157 mm gun and two auxiliary ones with machine guns and 37 mm guns.
The Old Gang TOG II
Britain's largest tank was tested in 1941 and was adopted by the Royal Army.
The British engineers in the prototype TOG II abandoned the diamond-shaped caterpillars, and created a classic look that covers the entire body.
The project was frozen, and the only machine released from the assembly line did not participate in the battles.
Tortoise A39 heavy attack aircraft
The A39 attack aircraft, nicknamed the “Turtle”, was created during the war to overcome the enemy’s fortified lines.
The turret was equipped with a gun with a caliber of 94 mm. When designing, more attention was paid to maneuverability than to protection. Many experts in military history tend to attribute the A39 to self-propelled artillery mounts.
Like many armored giants, it was never put into mass production.
Did you know what major battles of the Second World War took place after May 9, 1945? If not, then this article is for you!
Recent story
Now it's time to consider modern models of tanks in service in the armies of the leading states of the world.
Leopard 2A7. Germany
German designers continued the tradition of calling their tanks representatives of the cat world. Leopard 2A7 is in service with many European countries.
As part of the NATO coalition, several combat vehicles took part in the war in Afghanistan from 201 to 2014. Turkey widely uses these tanks in the Civil War in Syria.
M1A2. USA
The tank was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1980. This armored vehicle has a powerful engine, which allows the tank to reach speeds of up to 67 km per hour.
Today, a rather massive tank used in different hot spots in the world.
The main drawback is that experts note the manual loading of ammunition into the receiver of the gun.
Challenger 2. United Kingdom
The tank proved to be excellent during the NATO bloc war in Iraq. For all the time of hostilities only one car was hit.
The diesel engine has a capacity of 1200 horsepower. In addition, modern optics are installed on the armored vehicle, which allows the crew to easily navigate the terrain, including at night.
British factories produce Challenger 2 for export, adapting the machine to high-temperature conditions.
Merkava Mark IV. Israel
The main combat unit of the Israeli army Merkava Mark IV was adopted in 2004.
The designers placed the engine in front, thereby creating additional protection for the crew.
At the back of the hull there are hatches through which you can replenish ammunition during the battle or evacuate the crew in case of loss of combat vehicle travel.
Leclerc. France
Currently, Leclerc production is suspended, but this does not prevent the combat vehicle from remaining in the army of France.
Pretty fast car, capable of speeds up to 72 km per hour. In the case of a shell from the front, the engine stops the tank abruptly, so the crew is fastened with seat belts.
In addition to France, the tank is used by the United Arab Emirates.
BM "Oplot". Ukraine
The tank, which has a classic layout, Oplot was designed and built on the basis of the Soviet T-84U.
In addition to the main armament, Oplot is equipped with anti-aircraft systems and a twin submachine gun.
Due to funding cuts, Kharkov Plant named after Malysheva significantly reduced the serial production of tanks. Many military vehicles were lost during the fighting in the Donbass.
K2 Black Panther. The Republic of Korea
"Black Panther", not having time to start up in series, has already hit the Guinness Book of Records, as an expensive tank in the world.
K2 entered service in the army of South Korea in 2014, although a model was developed in 1995.
The armament of the tank is equipped with thermal imagers, which allows you to destroy the target at a distance of 9.7 km. One of the guns on the tower can shoot down low-flying enemy aircraft.
T-14 Armata. Russia
The newest T-14 tank was presented to the general public at the Victory Parade in 2015.
In 2017, mass production of the Russian combat vehicle began. T-14 conceptually differs from modern counterparts. He has an uninhabited tower, active dynamic defense on the basis of "Afganit", the most advanced guidance systems.
The model of secrecy has not been removed on the model, so its production is carried out only for the needs of the Ministry of Defense of Russia.
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Conclusion
At the end of World War II, countries abandoned projects to create heavy tanks, giving preference to maneuverability, improved weapons and speed of movement.
Today's tracked armored vehicles are created using advanced technologies, have dynamic protection, unique modern weapons and are equipped with artificial intelligence.
No matter how perfect modern tanks are, let them stand better in hangars and only shoot at firing ranges and during military competitions in tank biathlon.
We are waiting for your comments. What are the largest tanks you know? Perhaps you have interesting stories related to them.
Article author: Valery Skiba