List of main battle tanks by generation

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Main battle tanks are often classified as belonging to a particular generation, although the actual definition and membership in these generations is not clearly defined. Soviet and Russian military planners organize tanks into a generation of tanks up to 1945, and four generations of main battle tanks,[1] while Canadian strategists organize main battle tanks into three generations.[2] The military of the People's Republic of China also recognizes three generations of its own tanks.

In 1983 Rolf Hilmes saw three tank generations and three "intermediate generations", which consisted mainly of upgraded vehicles.[3] The first generation of main battle tanks were based on or influenced by designs of the Second World War, most notably the T-34 and the Panther tank.[4] The second generation was equipped with NBC protection (only sometimes), IR night vision devices, a stabilized main gun and at least a mechanical fire control system.[4] The third generation is determined by the usage of thermal imagers, digital fire control systems and special (composite) armour.[4]

Contents

[edit] First Generation

The first generation consists of the medium tanks designed and produced directly after World War II that were later repurposed as main battle tanks.

Name Entered service in Origin Notes
Centurion[3][5] 1945  United Kingdom Culmination of the WWII cruiser tanks
AMX-50[3] -  France Project cancelled at prototype stage
M46 Patton[5] 1950  United States Improved M26 Pershing
M47 Patton[3][5] 1952  United States Further development of the M46
M48 Patton[3][5] 1953  United States
T-44[3] 1944  Soviet Union Derived from the T-34
T-54[3][5] 1950  Soviet Union
T-55[3][5] 1958  Soviet Union Improved T-54
Type 59[3] 1959  People's Republic of China Licenced copy of the T-54A
Type 61[3] 1961  Japan
Type 69/79 1983  People's Republic of China Based on the Type 59

[edit] Second Generation

The second generation had enhanced night-fighting capabilities and in most cases NBC protection. Most western tanks of this generation were armed with the 105 mm Royal Ordnance L7 tank gun.

Name Entered service in Origin Notes
AMX 30[3][5] 1966  France
Ch'onma-ho 1980s  Soviet Union and
 Democratic People's Republic of Korea		 Licenced copy of the T-62. Later versions include upgrades.
FV 4201 Chieftain[3][5] 1966  United Kingdom Armed with the British 120 mm Royal Ordnance L11A5 gun
Leopard 1[3][5] 1965  West Germany
M60 Patton[3][5] 1961  United States
M-84 1984  Yugoslavia Ugraded Yugoslavian version of the T-72
Merkava Mark I/II[citation needed] 1978  Israel
Panzer 61[3] 1965  Switzerland
Stridsvagn 103[3][5] 1968  Sweden Turretless design developed and employed solely by Sweden
T-62[3][5] 1961  Soviet Union Based on the T-55
T-64[citation needed] 1966  Soviet Union Sometimes seen as 2.5th generation tank. Hilmes puts the T-64 in the first intermediate generation.[3]
T-72[citation needed] 1973  Soviet Union Sometimes seen as 2.5th generation tank. Hilmes puts the T-72 in the first intermediate generation.[3]
Tanque Argentino Mediano[citation needed] 1983  Argentina
Type 74[citation needed] 1975  Japan
Type 80 1980s  People's Republic of China
Type 85 1980s  People's Republic of China
Type 88 1980s  People's Republic of China
Vickers MBT[3] 1967  United Kingdom British private venture design, license built as the Vijayanta for India

[edit] Third Generation

The third post-war generation of main battle tanks has improved digital computerized fire control systems and more advanced composite armour.

Exported Main Battle Tanks:
  Challenger 2
  Leclerc
  Leopard 2
  M1 Abrams
  PT-91 Twardy
  T-90
  Type 96 - MBT-2000
Name In service from Origin Notes
Al-Khalid tank 2001  Pakistan/ People's Republic of China Joint development between China and Pakistan
AMX-56 Leclerc[6] 1992  France
Arjun MBT 2004  India
C1 Ariete[6] 1995  Italy
FV4030/4 Challenger 1[3][6] 1983  United Kingdom
FV4034 Challenger 2[6] 1998  United Kingdom
K1 1987  Republic of Korea Modified South-Korean version of the M1 Abrams
K2 Black Panther 2010  Republic of Korea
Leopard 2[3][6] 1979  West Germany
M1 Abrams[3][6] 1980  United States
Merkava III[6] 1989  Israel
Merkava IV[6] 2004  Israel
PT-91 Twardy[citation needed] 1995  Poland
T-80[3][6] 1976  Soviet Union
T-84 1999  Ukraine Upgraded Ukrainian version of the T-80
T-90[6] 1996  Russia
Type 90 Kyū-maru[6] 1990  Japan
Type 10[citation needed] 2011  Japan
Type 96 1997  People's Republic of China
Type 98/99 2001  People's Republic of China

[edit] Under development

Tanks that are currently under development and not yet in service.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ “The Soviets saw tank generations in this manner: 1920-1945, first generation; 1946-1960, second generation; 1961-1980, third generation; and 1981-present, fourth generation. Since the last really new tank design, the T-80, came out in 1976, they feel that they have not produced a true Fourth Generation Tank Design. In comparison, they count the M1, Challenger, and Leopard 2 as Fourth Generation and the LeClerc as Fifth Generation.” —Sewell 1988, note 1.
  2. ^ “The Canadian Directorate of Land Strategic Concept defines three generations of Main Battle Tanks. The first generation of post World War II Main Battle Tanks includes the U.S. M48/M60, the German Leopard 1 and the British Centurion and Chieftain. The second generation includes most of the 120 mm Main Battle Tanks such as the American M1A1, the German Leopard 2 and the British Challenger. As for the third generation Main Battle Tank, they include the latest ‘digital’ tank such as the French Leclerc and perhaps the American M1A2 and the German Leopard 2A5.” —Lamontagne 2003, pp 7–8.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Hilmes, p. 7
  4. ^ a b c Hilmes, p. 8
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Pancerni.net 1[unreliable source?]
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Pancerni.net 2[unreliable source?]
  7. ^ http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4046009
  8. ^ http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/government-gives-nod-to-next-generation-arjun-tanks_100363361.html
  9. ^ http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Armour-and-Artillery/Chinese-CSU-152-MBT-China.html
  • Note to the Pancerni website source - Translation of most important parts of 1st, 2nd, 2.5 and 3rd generation MBTs characteristics: "The first generation MBTs are tanks made immediately after WWII. The second generation MBTs have better sights in comparison to the first generation MBTs. Also second generation MBTs were the first ones to use laser sights and APFSDS rounds. The third generation consists of tanks armed with high caliber and velocity guns like M1A1 Abrams. Third generation tanks also use composite armour as well as armour made out of highly resistant sintered ceramic materials. Third generation tanks also have full stabilization system for the main gun. There tanks between second and third generations, like Soviet T-72 which has powerful gun which would classify it as a third generation MBT but at the same time the stabilization system is much too primitive for it to a third generation MBT. It also lacks engine power to be a third generation MBT and has ammunition with less quality."

[edit] References

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