Yolune I Issue I

Published byOrbis Publishino Ltd@ Aerospace P'ubtisning Ltd 1983

Editorial OfficesWar MachineAerospace Publishing Ltd10 Barley Mow PassageLondon W4 4PH

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Chris BishopChris Chant

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1 839

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coNTEnms

Modern Main Battle TanksTtrItMedrumTarkTiie a9 l{arnBattle Tad<

Type T4lvlamBattleTuk

SadsaE I 03 ($tark) Main Battle Tank

Al'fi-30ManBattleTad<AlvflJz Maur Battle Tu&*:eftalr Mk 5 l{arn Battle Tank

Crdenger Marn Battle Ta*lu} Battles of tle Gulf WuOi-ii ManBanleTuki.€opard I ]t{am Banle TukTa.rl< Fu+ft nroi Systems

leopard IA4 Man Battle Tank

-€opard tn Ac[onleopard 2 ManBattle Tank

YilAl trlarnBattle Ta*MlAbnmsMunBattleTalk]lellava Man Battle Tad<

lu,k Wufue rn the Lebanon

142 trtarnBattleTank

l+4 tr{amBattle Tank

ll,e Eruopean Tank Balucel-i2 lr'lanBattle Taltk

l-ff lvlanBattle Tank

Armed Forces of the Worldl:::.

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llodernllcfnBcfftle Taril<sAlthough many other weapon systems have been developedfor land combat since World War II, the main hattle tank isstill the dominant factor in that enuironment, It possesses thearrrrout protection, mobiJity/agility and firepower which isessential to its suwival on today's battlefield, and of all atnryweaponsit isthe only one capable of offensive anddefensiveoperationl

Durrng World War II most of the major powers developed and deployedthree classes of tank (light, medium and hear,ry) and in the immediatepost-war period this tendency continued with the USA and the USSReach developing new generations oftanks that included all three types,In the case of the United States it was the M4I Walker Bulldog hght tank,the M47 and M48 Patton medium tanks and the MI03 heavy tank, TheUSSR developed the PT-76 hght amphrbious tank, T'54 medium tank andT-10 heavy tank,

By the 1950s the idea of having three types of tank had lost ground,however, and almost without exception the industrialized countries builtjust one type of tank which became known as the Main Battle Tank(MBT). France built the AMX-30 (36 tonnes), West Germany theLeopard I (40 tonnes), Japan the Type 74 (38 tonnes), the UK theChieftain (55 tonnes), Sweden the unconventional Stridsvagn I03 orS-tank (39 tonnes), Switzerland the Pz 6l (38 tonnes), the USSR the T-62(40 tonnes), and the United States the M60 (46 tonnes). As can be seenfrom these weights, there were significant differences in weight: theBritish Chieftain is the heaviest of them and would by earlier standardsbe classed as a heavy tank, The lighter tanks have farrly thin armour andrely on their mobility for protection.

Whereas most first-generatron MBTs weighed about 40 tonnes and, inthe case of the Leopard 1, had apower-to-weight ratio of 2l hp (15 7 kW)per tonne, second-qeneration MBTs are much heavier but also havemuch more powerful engines. The Ireopard 2 weighs just over 55 tonnes,but thanks to its l,500-hp (l I lg-kw) MTU diesel has a power-to-weightratio of just over 27 hp (20 kW) per tonne, and therefore much improvedcross-country mobrlity and hence greater survivability, as it is able to

Tanks have domrhafed tfterhcessantpost-war contlicts in theArab lands.Despite all the revolutionaryadvances made in other weaponsfsfems, if is *re tankformations thatcarry out the battles, relegating otherweaponry tomore or less supportroles,

move from one fire position to another more quickly and is in drrecl irr.eof fire with enemy weapons for a shorter perrod.

For many years most MBTs have been fitted wrth a NBC (nuclearbtologrcal and chemical) system to enable them to continue to operate tna NBC-contaminated area; but the flrst generatron of infra-red nigh:vision equipment is now giving way to thermal and passive systemswhich are a dramatic improvement, Ail tanks now have a weapon-stabrlization system which enables the main armament to be laid andfired whilst the vehicle is moving across country. Fire-control systemsnow always include a laser rangefinder and a ballistic computer whichvirtually guarantee a first-round hit on both stationary and moving targetsat all battiefield ranges, The widespread introduction of electronicdevices rnto AFVs has, however, rncreased the cost of the vehicie andincreased the demand$ on the already overworked maintenance per-sonnel.

Apart from the unconventional S-tank destgned in Sweden, tank de-sign has not changed dramatically in the last 50 years or so. It may wetlbe that we are now seeing the last MBT as we know it, Already theUnited States, West Germany and Sweden are experimenting withexternally-mounted gmns fed by automatic loaders, This enables thecrew to be reduced to three men (commander, qunner and driver)seated in the hull under the maximum posslble armour protection.

The General Dynamics Abrams MBT is the first tank in the world to enterpr oduction fi t te d wi th a g a s tu r bi ne. Al though tlrrs rs m ucft sm al ler than adiesef il doeslr ave much higher fuel consumption and has to carry additionalfuel. By early 1983 more than 300 Ml s were inEurope.

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ARGENTINA

TAM Medium TankFor many years the World War II Sher-man tank was the backbone of Ar-gentinian armoured units, By the early1970s these were becoming in-creasingly difficult to maintain and adecision was taken to obtain a newtank. Most of the tanks available at thattime weighed 40 tonnes or more andwere therefore too heavy to pass safelyover many of the bridges in the coun-try, A decision was then taken to havea new tank desiqrned speciflcally tomeet the requirements of the Argenti-nian army, and the development con-tract for this was subsequentlyawarded to the West German com-pany of Thyssen Henschel, which wasat that time building the Marder MICV(mechanized infantry combat vehicle)for the West German army, The firstprototype of the new tank, called TAM(Tanque Argentino Mediano) wascompleted in 1976, a further two vehicles beingr completed the followingyear. This tank was accepted for ser-vice with the Argentinian army and afactory for production of the vehiclewas established near Buenos Aires,Almost 200 TAMs have now been built,though none was deployed to the Falk-lands dunng the conflrct that tookplace in 1982. To work with the TAMthe VCTP infantry fiqrhting vehicle wasdeveloped by Thyssen Henschel and

some 200 of these are now belng builtin Argrentina.

The hull ofthe TAM is based on thatof the Marder MICV, of which wellover 2,000 are now in service with theWest German army, The driver isseated at the front ofthe vehicle on theleft with the powerpack (engine andtransmission) to his right. The glacisplate is well sloped to give the bestpossible protection within the weightlimits of the vehicle, The armour doesnot compare very well with that fittedto MBTs such as the Leopard 1 andAMX-30, however, The three-man all-welded twret is at the rear of the vehi-cle, with the commander and gn:nneron the right and the loader on the left.The main armament comprises a 105-

mm Qnrn fitted with an extractor to re-move fumes when the gun is fired; thtshas an elevation of *lB' and a de-pression of -7', A 7.62-mm (0.3-in)machine-gun is mounted co-axiallywith the main armament, and a similarweapon can be mounted on the turretroof for anti-aircraft defence, FourWegrmann dischargers can be flttedon each side of the turret, and theseflre smoke or fraqmentation grenades.Totals of 50 rounds of 10S-mmand 6,000 rounds of 7.62-mm (0.3-tn)ammunitron are carried ln the TAM.

Using the chassis of the TAM, ThYs-

sen Henschel has as a private venturedeveloped a complete family offlghting vehicles, although as yet noneof these has been placed in produc-tion.

SpecificationCrew: 4Weight: 30,5 tonnes (loaded)Engine: MTU 6-cylinder diesel de-velopins 720 hp (537 kW)Dimensions: Iength (with anrn forward)8.23m (27 ft Oin); Ienerth (hull) 6.77m(22f: zyz in): width 3.25 m (10 ft B in);height (turret top)2.42 m (7ft 1l%in)

TheTAM tankhas beendesigned bytheWest German company ofThyssen Henschel for theArgentinian army andis based ontfte clrassr's of tfi e Marder MICY. Wellover 100 of these have now been builtinArgentina.

Performance: maximum road speed75km/h (46.6mph); maximum range550kn (342mi]es); fording 1.4m (4ft7 in); Qrradient 65%; vertical obstacle1m (3ft 37sin); trench 2,5m (8ft2Vzin)

I tuo" 59 Main Battle TankFollowing the ending of the Chinesecivil war in 1949, the CommunlstChinese army was based on a morepermanent basis, but much of itsequipment was obsolete or in urgentneed of repair includingT a number ofAmerican and Japanese tanks ofWorld War II vintage, The USSR soonsupplied large numbers of armouredvehicles including T-34185 tanks, SU-l0O 100-mm tank destroyers, and BTR-40 and BTR-152 armoured personnelcarriers, In the early ]950s these werefollowed by a quantity of T-54 MBTs,and production of the type was subse-quently undertaken rn China under thedesignation Type 59 MBT. The flrstproduction models were very austereand were not fltted with a stabilizationsystem for the 100-mm Type 59 gmn orwrth any night-vision equipment. l,atervehicles were fitted with a full range ofinfra-red night-vision equipment forthe commander, gmnner and driver, aswell as a stabilization sytem. The 7.62-mm (0.3-in) bow-mounted and 7.62-mm (0.3-in) co-axal machine-gllns aredesignated Type 59T, while the Rus-sian-designed 12,7-mm (0.5-in)DShKM machine-gmn mounted on theloader's cupola is designated TYpe 54by China. The British company MELhas provided small quantities of pas-

sive niqht-vision equipment for theType 59 MBT, includtng the drtver'speriscope and the commander's andgnrnne/s sights. More recently a num-ber of Type 59s have been observedwith a laser rangteflnder mounted ex-temally above the gn-rn mantlet This tsin a very exposed positton however.and is therefore vulnerable to smallarms fire and shell splinters.

The Type 59 has been exported tnsome numbers and is known to be Ln

sewice with Albama, the Congo Kam-puchea, North Korea, Pakrstan. Sudan,Tanzania and Vietnam. lt has seencombat with Pakistan, Vtetnam and. ofcourse, China when she Lnvaded Viet-nam in 1979,

It is believed that the Type 59 MBThas been replaced ln productlon bYthe Type 69, whrch was seen in Publicfor the first time during a parade heldoutside Beijing (Peking) rn September1982, This tank is very similar inappearance to the Type 59 but has anew gnrn (with a fume extractor near itsmuzzle) believed to have a calibre of105-mm or l06-mm and probablY a de-velopment of the I l5-mm smooth-boregmn installed in the Sovtet T-62, at leastone example of which has been caP-tued by Chinese forces during a bat-tle with Soviet border untts.

Early in 1983 it was reported thatChina was supplying, via Saudi Arabialarge quantities of Type 69 MBTs toIraq to make up for some of its losses tnthe heavy fighting with lran. Americanintelligence reports have stated thatbetween 1977 and l98l Chinese tankproduction amounted to about 3,500vehicles, the vast majority being theTlpe 69 MBT with the rematnder theType 62 light tank.

SpecificationCrew:4Weight: 36 tonnesEngine: V-12 diesel developing 520 hp(3BB kW)

The Chinese-built TYpe 59 isessentially a Soviet T- 54. Laterproduction Type 59s have intra-rednight vision equipment and ane x te r n ally mounte d laserrangefinder.

Dimensions: lengrth (wtth Qun forward)9.Om (29ft 6in); lenqth (hull) 6. 17m(20ft 3in); width 3.27m (10ft 9in)height 2,59 rn (B ft 6 in)Performance: maximum road speed50km/h (31mph); maximum range400km (249 mrles); fording l,4m (4 ft7in); gnadient 60%; vertical obstacleO 79 m (2 ft 7 in); trench 2.68 m (B ft9Vzrn)

Dl firo" 74 Main Battle TankThe Type 74 MBT has been designedto meet the requirements of theJapanese Ground Self-Defense Force(IGSDF) by Mitsubishi Heavy Indus-tries. The fust prototype, called theSTB, was compieted in 1969, and thefirst productlon vehicles followed tn1975. By early 1983 about 3OO Type 74MBTs had been completed, and pro-duction was expected to continue unttlat least the mid-l980s.

2

'lhe main armament consists of theproven British Royal Ordnance Factor-ies 105-mm L7A1 gun, for which a totalof 55 rounds of ammunition are carried;there are also a 7,62-mm (0,3-in) co-axial machine-qun and a 12.7-mm (0,5-in) machine-gun on the roof for antr-aircraft defence. Three smoke dis-chargers are mounted on each side ofthe turret, firing forwards. The fire-control system includes a ballistic

computer and a laser rangefinder toenable the exact range to the target tobe determined, so increasing the pos-sibihty of a f,rst-round hit. Some mod-els have an infra-red/white-lightsearchligrht mounted to the left of themain almament, and the driver is alsoprovided with infra-red nrght-visionequipment.

The most unusual feature ofthe Type74 rs rts hydro-pneumatic suspension,which enables the driver quickly toadjust the height of the vehicle to suttthe type of ground being crossed or to

meet different tactical situations. Theground clearance can be varied from0.2 to 0,65m (7.9 to 25.6in), and thedriver can even tilt the nose or back ofthe tank, or have one side of the tankhigher than the other. The 105-mm gn:nhas an elevation of +9,5" and a de-pression of -6.5', but with the suspen-sion raised at the front and lowered atthe rear this can be increased to + 15",

the reverse producinq a depression of

-12.5"; this is a very useful featurewhen the tank is firing from behind acrest or from a reverse sloPe.

As a result of japan's prohlbltion ofthe export of weapons the Type 74MBT has not been exported The onlyvarLant of the Type 74 Ls the Type 78armoured recovery vehicle whrch hasa hycirauhc dozer/stabrhzrng blade atthe front of the hull, a wtnch, and ahydrauirc crane on the rrght srde of thehull for changing engtnes and othercomponents in the fieicl. The chassrs oithe vehLcle wrll also be used for thepro;ected twrn 35-mm AW-X sellpropelled antr-arrcraft gun whrch s ex-pected to enter servrce ln the secondhall of rhe 1980s

For the future the Type 88 MBT Ls

berng developed under the drrectronof the Japanese Self Delense Aqency sTechnrcal Research Headquarters.'I'hrs wrll have advanced armour, befrtted wrth a smooth bore 120 mm gunand weLgh about 43 tonnes At least 600oi these are expected to be burlt toreplace the olcl Type 6l MBTs, whrchare raprdly becomrng obsolete

SpecificationCrew: 4Weight: 38 tonnes (loacled)

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Engine: Mrtsubrsht 10-cyltnder dteseldevelopLng 750 hp (560 kW)Dimensions: length (wrth gun fonvard;9 41 m (30 lt l0Z rn); lenqth (hu11) 6 7 rr(21 ft 117r rn) wrdth 3 18 m (iC ft5,/r rn) hercrht (overall) 2 67 m (B ft 9 rr)

Performance: maxrmum road sneed53 krrri h (33 mph) -u"rniu- ,inge300 km (186 mrles) fordrng I m (3 fr(31,' rn) qradrent 60%t vertical obsta-cle I m (3 ft 3,/r rn)t trench 27 m (8lIlOlr rn)

The Type 74 MBT entered service in1976. An unusual feature of thevehicle is its hydro-pneumaticsuspension. allowing the driver toadjust the heighl o1 ffte suspenslon tosuit the type of terrain being crossed.

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SWLDLN

Stridsvagn 103 (S-tank) Main Battle TankBofors S-lank s how ing e x te r n alstowage boxes at hull rear and dozerblade in retracted position undernose. Flotation screen is in |oweredposrdon.

ln the perrod immedrately after WorldWar li hght tanks formed the bulk ofthe Swedrsh army's tank strength Tomtro lhacoul tJ\ stmnedtatotequttements for tanks some 300 Centurronswere purchased from the UK De-velopment of a heavy tank (the KRV)armed wrth a l5O mm smooth borequn was started wlth Landsverk re-sponsrble lor the chassrs Volvo Ior thepowerpack and Bofors for the arma-ment. At the same nme Sven Berge of'ho Swcdrsh dlmy wds d-sronrno anew concept rn AFVs tn that the gunwas hxed to the chassrs and notmounted rn a turret Traverse was to beobta.nod by rUtn.nq I' o - lnk on tlS Vo'tlcal axrs and elevatron/depressron byloworrno or I.rtsl'to lna sLspenston dtfront or back Test nqs proved thebasrc concept and rn 1958 Bofors wasalvarded a contract lor two prototypesol the turretless tank At the same ttmedevelopment of th-. KRV was stoppecl.The first two prototypes were com-pieted tn 196l but so certaln was theSwedrsh army that the concept wassound that tt had. rn 1960 placed apre productLon order for a further l0vehrcles T'otal development costs olthe Stridsvagn 103 tank whrch rs commonly known as the S-tank, was under19 mrlhon The first productron vehr-cles whLch drlfered only rn mrnor de-tarls from the prototypes, were com,ulol-d rn -960 or o produ ron ^ortrnued untrl 1971, by whLch trme 300had been birrlt

The marn armament of the S tank rs amochfied versron olthe Brrtrsh 105-mmL7 and thrs ts fed from a 50 rouncimagazrne located rn the hull rear. Theammunltron mrx depends on the tactrc-al srtuatron but could comprrse 25APDS 20 HE and five Smoke A maxrmum of 15 rounds a mLnute can beftred. A 7 62 mm (O 3 rn) machtne-gunrs mounted on the commander s cupolaand a lurther two 7.62 mm (0 3-rn)machrne guns are futed on the lelt srdeof the hull. flrrnq forwards A total oi2 750 rounds of 7 62 mm (0.3-rn)ammunrtlon rs carned Mounted on theroof of lhe vehrcle are two Lyran laun

'),,

chers for rllumLnatrng targets ai i- i..:The engLne and transmrssLcr. :il j r'

the lront of the vehrcle. and ilre c - ,'. =rpack consrsts ol a Bntrsh Rolls !: .' -.

KoQ n ul r. r^l r, rrr6 o-v-l ! : :

bhp/179 kW (to be replaced b.y a L=-trolt DLesel) and a Boerng 553 gas t;:btne developrnq 490 shp (366 ki'r' l:noJ mdi usF lhe -anl, ts po.v-ro i ; . :.dLesel the turbrne bernq en'l.,.;=:when the vehrcle rs rn combat ar.i:.r'.'lJro.r '1, -s courl'y d-n..nd.r, , ,:- .

er power to-werght ratra)'f he drrver Ls seatecl on the lei: - :

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hull and has a conrbrned per-..:,r =rr I binoc-rl ,r srohl wi l r rr , : ''ronor I .o IOo' LB n : '

-vapl-.a h ,r ng , gl,ill.ulF srq:. . :.radro operator rs to the rear of the tt t'.'

^' rnd locns'hq rrl. lhe on-m.:.- :

rs on the nqht and hts obser'.'a:.,:.equrpment rncludes a combrned t:=t.scope and optrcal srght that r,c al[],-j:id r. re rl . lrdl ol tne dr-ver ,11o ..ables hlm aiso to arm anci fire the .ulI h' con n a .d r . OPS L ront .. :....stablllzed and can be traverseCthrouqh 208'. In a typlcal engaqenenithe commander first observes thetarget then uses th-o hanclle bars on thetrller columns to lay the armament ontcthe tarqet the tvpe of amnrunrtron rsthen selected and loaded and the ounrs fired. The ernpty cartndge case tselected through the hull rear

The suspensron rs of the hydropneunralLc typ-. and allows the armamenvhull to have an elevatron of + l2'and a depressron of l0' The marndratvback of th,. S tank rs that lt cannotfire on the move Ths rs ol no qreat

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:rain.back to Swecien however as herirned lorces wtll probably be en,.:aL.red tn defensrve ralher than offen-:r-. i- perattons

M,runted under the nose ol the tank-s . dczer blade whrch ts used to prel.rre defensrve posittons. Carrted.:,':,nd the top of the hull Ls a flotattonsi--teen vrhtch can be erected tn 20mrnut-.s and the tank ts then propelledrrr Ihe water by rts tracks at a speed ofr krr h (3 7 mph)

SpecificationCrew: 3Weight: 39 tonnesEngines: dtesel developrnq 240 hpi ,9 kW) and a Boerng 553 gas turbrne

'l;,,i-l.,ptns 490 shp (366 kW)

Effi

Dimensions: length (wLth gun) B 9: I(29 ft 6 Ln); lenqth (hull) 7 04 m (2: ,'I tn), wrdth 3 26 m (10 ft By': rn), he;:r:.(overall) 2 5 m (B fI 2V: trt)Performance: maximum road spe=:;50 km/h (31 mph) rrlaxtmum rarr,r:;aaIm'242mrlesr: tord ng I 5m :'1l rn) gradrent 60%, verttcal obsta:.-0.9m (2it ll,/,rtn), trench 23m -.'6 /: rn)

Bofors Strv I 038 (or S - tank), whichhas a 105-mm gun fixed to the hullwith the weapon being aimed inelevation and depression byadj us ting the hydro- pneum a ticsuspension. The gun is fed by anautomatic loader, enabling l5rounds per minute to be fired.

rl ::-'.:AMX-30 Main Battle Tank

ii'[ain armament of the AMX-30 is a) 05-nm rifled gun, which can fires t andard NATO ammunition as wellas Frenclr-desr'gn ed rounds.

F rench Army AM X - 30 showing I 0 5'mm type CH - I 05-F I gun whose mainanti-tankround is the OCC (HEAT),which has a muzzle velocity of 1000 m(3,280 ft) per second and willpenetrate 400 mm ( I53/s in) of armourat an incidence of} degrees. Morerecently anAPFSDS (OBUS Fldche)has been introduced intoFrencharmy service, but not exported.

the remaininEr 28 in the h::ll Totals of1 050 rounds of 2O-mm and 2 050rounds of 7 62-mm amminLiton are alsocarried Types ol ammunrtio:l fired bythe 105-mm gun Lnciude HEAT, HE,Smoke anC IllumrnatLng '.n;htle a newAPFSDS round has been Introducedrecently. The latter Ls cailed the ObusFl6che, and wrth a muzzle velocity of1525 m (5,005 ft) per seccnd will pene-trate 150 mm (5.9 in) of armour at anangle of 60' at a range of 5 000 m (5 470yards). The current productton modeiof the AMX-30 for the French army IS

the AJ!D(-30 82, whrch has a number ofrmprovements rncludinq an tntegratedfire-control system that tncludes a laser rangefinderand a LLL I V system tlsautomotlve Lmprovements tnclude anew transmlsslon.

The basic AMX 30 chassts has gtvenbirth to a very larqe farriily of relatedvehrcles, The AM(-30D armoured re-covery vehicle is desiqned to recoverand repair damaged vehtcles tn thefreld, and has a dozer/stabihzer bladerrrounted at the front of the hull, twowinches, and an hydraulic crane onthe rlght srde of the hull for changingengrnes and other components ln thefield. The AMX-30 bridgelayer has ascrssors bridqe which can be used tospan gaps of up to 20 m (65 fI I)/ztn).The chassrs is also used to carry andIaunch the Pluton surface-to-surfacetactical nuclear misstle, which is usedonly by the French army. The combatengineer tractor, the AM(-30 EBG, isstill under development and wtll beused by tl-re French corps of en-

qineers. The chassrs is also used forthe French version of the EuromrssrleRoland SAM system and the SA-10Shahine SAM system which has beendeveloped by Thomson-CSF to meetthe requirements of the Saudi Arabianarmy. A twin 30-mm self-propelledanti-aircraft gun system, the AMX-30-S401 A. has also been developed lorSaudi Arabia thrs provrdinq close rnprotectron for the sA- 10 battenes, TheGCT is essentially a modifled AMX-30chassis wrth a new turret fitted wrth a155-mm howitzer that is provrded wtthan automatrc loader and enables theweapon -o fire erght rounds a mrnuteuntrl its ammunLtion suppiy rs ex-hausted The CCI Ls now rn servicewrth the French army and Saudr Ara-bia and has more recently beenordered by Iraq

AMX-30 of the French army showingits cross-country mobility. This is oneof the few Western MBTs that is notnow fitted with a stabilization systemfor the main armament, and cannottherefore fire on the move.

SpecificationCrew:4Weight: 36 tonnesEngine: Hispano-Suiza 12-cylinderdiesel developing 720 hp (537 kW)Dimensions: length (with qnrn forward)9,48 m (31 ft I in); lensth (hull) 6,59 n(21ft 7in); width 3.lm (10ft 2tn)height (overall) 2.86 m (9 ft 4 in)Performance: maximum road speei65 km/h (40 mph); maximum ranqe 50C

to 600km (311 to 373 miles); gnadien:60%; vertical obstacle 0.93 m (3 f:07:: in); trench 2,9 m (9 ft 6 in)

AMX-32 Main Battle Tankcutaway drawing key

I Dl W 13 TV canrera2 E evat on scnsor3 M58l gunncr's telcscopc4 Gunner's oane

5 Gunncr's TV monttor6 Gun gyro acco ciometer

boxT Iank commandcr's TV

monltorB Tank commander's psrtel9 Turret Syro-accccromeier

box10 Cupo a

11 M527 tank commander'stclescopc

12 Radro sets13 NBC compartmcnt14 Flux valvcI 5 Casc1 6 Radrator (engrne cool ng\

I I aivix-sz MainThe AM(-32 MBT has been desrgnedby the Ateher de Construction d'lssy-les-Moulineaux specrfically as an ex-port MBT for those countries who re-qurre more flrepower and betterarmour protection than available onthe current AMX-30 MBT, which isproduced at the Atelier de Construction Roanne (ARE), the only MBT plantin France. The first prototype, armedwith the same 105-mm gun as the cur-rent AMX-30, was shown at tire ]979Satory mihtary equrpment exhrbrtron,but the second prototype, shown rnl9B I has a new 120-mm gun as well asrmproved armour protection. At thetrme of writrng the AMX-32 was not yetrn production

The layout of the AMX-32 rs srmrlarto the AMX-30 with the dnver at thefront, three-man crew in the turret, andthe engine and transmissron at therear. Main armament compnses a 120-mm smooth-bore qun developed bythe Etabhssement d'Etudes et de Fab-rrcatrons d'Armement de Bourqes(EFAB) wrth a vertical slidrng breechblock. The barrel n fitted wrth a ther-mal sleeve wrth holes underneath toextract the fumes when the gmn rs flred.Two types of ammunrtron have beendeveloped, APFSDS wrth a muzzlevelocrry of 1630 m (5,350 ft) persecond, and a multr-purpose roundwith a muzzle velocity of I050 (3,445 ft)per second. The 120-mm gun will alsofrre the range of ammunitron de-veloped for the Leopard 2 MBT now inservrce wrth the West German andDutch armies. A total of 38 rounds of120-mm ammunrtron rs carrred, ofwhich 17 rounds are stowed rn the tur-ret and the remaining 21 in the hull.

Battle TankMounted co-axrally to the lelt of themarn armament rs a 2O-mm M693 can-non which can be elevated rndepen-dently to +40'; a total oi 4BO rounds ofammunition is carried [or tbrs weap:nA 7.62 mm (0.3 in) machrne-gun rsmounted on the commander's cupoia.and mounted on each side of the forward part of the turret rs a bank ofthree smoke dischargers.

One of the most significant differ-ences between the AMX 32 and theAMX-30 rs the lormer s integrateciCOTAC fire-control system vrhrch ha-.been developed from an earlier sys-tem frtted to the smaller AMX-IORC6 x 6 amphibrous reconnarssance vehr-cle, whrch has been rn servrce wLth theFrench army for several years Thrsenables the AMX 32 to enqfage statronary and movrng targets under day andnight condrtrons wrth a 90 per centprobabrlrty of a first-round hrtMounted externally to the lelt of th-.20 mm cannon is the low-hqht-levelTV canrera whrch lransmrts d plCl,rlton a TV screen to both the ccmman-der's and gnlnner's posltlons The con.i-mander has a iully stabrlized. rocimounted sight wLth a maqnrficatron ,,rx2 or xB in the day mode arrci x i rnthe nrght mode. Thrs can be used fcrboth target acqursltlon and targe: sulverllance The gunners srght has amagnification of x l0 and also rrcrrgr:-rates a laser rarrgeflnder

The AMX 32 has the sam-. HLspancSutza HS I l0 12-cyhnder water-l:ir:cienglne as the AMX-30 thLs deveLcc,r l72Ohp $37 kW). bur -he AJrlX-:," : :also be fitted wrth a supercha:q=:model that develops 800 hp l5gl <'.',-The rncreased werght of the ANllr--:.

has meant however that lts power to-werqht ratro at 17.5hp (13kW) pertonne rs somewhat iower than that of'he AMX 30 MB1' whrch was rntro.duced well over 15 years ago. The sus-penslon is a modtfied verslon of thatfitted to the AMX 30, but srde skirtshave been added to gtve a measure ofprotectlon agalnst attack from HEATprolectrles.

The AMX-32 is fitted wrth an NBCsystem and a schnorkel whrch enablesrt to ford to a depth ol4 m ( 13 ft I /:: rn).Optronal equtpment rncludes a dLf-

17 O I cooler (gcarbox coo rng)18 Hvdraulic mcchanrsm box1 I Arr supply dust rcmovcr20 Arr frlter2T Loader's seat22 Tank conrmander's scarl

AMX-32 has aredesigned turret andhull fr ont with improved armou rprotection. The fire controi s/stemrncludes a /ase r rangefinder and aroo[- mounte d stabilized s ight.

ferent transmissron, fire extlnqutshLnjsystem, arr conditronrng system. dt:'ferent tracks and a system that Lnlec:-.diesei fuel into the exhaust, so creantld smoke cloud Thrs rs d system s.n,.l.'to that which has been utstalled ::Russran tanks ior 30 yea rs or mc I p o: . :lnore recently been adopted bl,, :number of other armres around i:::world.

SpecificationCrew: 4Weight: 40 tonnesEngnne: Hrspano-Surza I 10 12-cylu:c:rmultr-fuel enqrne deveioping 720 r.:(s37 kw)Dimensions: length (wrth 120-nrm ;::.forward) 985m t32 lt 3 rln) lFnr-.-.(hull) 6 59 m (21 ll7tlztn), width 3 2i :.(10ft 77ztn); herght (overall) 296:.(9 ft B/z in)Performance: maxlmum road spee:65 km/h (40.4 mph), maxrmum ranr=5s0 km i329 mrles; gradrent 600o r' :-trcal obstacle 0.9 m (2 ft I I 7: rn); trer::.2 9 m (9 ft 6'lr tn)

23 CVro box24 Gunncr's scat25 Systcm clcctron cs tl26 Dfvcr's scat27 Rcvcrscr contro28 Siccr nq whcc29 Gcar shrflrrg sldt o'l30 20 nrni cannon w ih s

clcvatrcn dcvrcc31 105-nrnl !tun32 llonncctorfrticd traia

>K Uii$iin Mk s Main Battle rankThe Chieftain MBT was designed bythe Fighting Vehicles Research andDevelopment Estabhshment (now theMLlrtary Vehrcles and EngrneenngEstablshment) in the late 1950s as asuccessor to the Centurron tank, Theflrst prototype was completed rn late1959 with a further stx prototypes fol-lowing in 1961-62. The Chreftain wasaccepted for service wrth the Bntlsharmy in May 1963 and two productronIines were laid down, one at the RoyalOrdnance Factory Leeds and theother at Vickers at Elswick (Newcas-tle-upon-Tyne). Until the rntroductronof the Leopard 2 into the West Germanarmy in 1980, the Chreftain was thebest armed and armoured MBT rn theworld. About 900 Chieftains were builtfor the British army, Kuwart also order-rngr 165, and Oman taking dehvery ofasmall quantrty in 1981. But the largestexport order was placed by Iran,whLch ordered over 700 MBTs, plusARVs and brrdqrelayers as well as lBZImproved Chieftarns. In i974 lranordered 125 Shir I and I,225 Shir 2MBTs (the latter a new design) but thisorder was cancelled by the new reg-rme The Shrr I became the Khahd andfurther development of the Shrr 2 resulted rn the Challenger which en-tered servrce with the British Army rnI983,

The layout of Chieftarn ls conven-ttonal, with the dnver at the front, turretrn the centre (with the commander andgmnner on the dght and the loader onthe left), and the englne and transmis-sron at the rear. To reduce overallheight, the driver slts rn a rechnedpositlon, lyrng almost horizontal whendriving with the hatch closed. The tur-ret 15 of all-cast steel constructlon withthe front well sloped to provide themaximum possible protection. Thecommander has a cupola that can betraversed through 360", and mountedexternally on this rs a 7.62-mm (0.3-Ln)machrne-gun which can be aimed andfired from within the turret.

The main armament of the Chieftaints a l20-mm LI1AS senes rifled gnrndesigned by the Royal Armament Re-search and Development Establish-ment at Fort Halstead. Thrs flres sepa-rate-loading ammunition (divided pro-jectrle and chargre). The main advan-tages of thLS type of ammunition overthe conventlonal frxed round rs that theammunltion rs easier to handle in thecramped confines of the tank turret,and that as the bagged charges arestowed in special water-filled contatn-ers below the turret rrng, there rs lessrisk ofan explosron. Types ofprojectilethat can be fired rnclude APDS-T(traimng round is DS-T), HESH (train-tns round is SFVPractice) and Smoke.Soon to be introduced into servrce isthe APFSDS-T projectrle which willhave a long rod-penetrator and will becapable of penetrating the armour ofall known MBTs in servrce today

Brrtish army Chieftains are nowberng fitted with the Marconi Space

Until the introduction of theWestGerman Leopard 2 with its I 20-mmgun, the British Chieftain with its I 20-mm rifled gunwas the mostwell-armoured and powerful tank inNATO. More recently a I 20-mmAPFSDS-T roundhasbeenintroduced to enhance its combateffectiveness.

and Defence systems Improved FtreControl System (IFCS) which whenused rn con;unction wrth the laserrangefinder manufactured by Barr andStroud, enables targets to be hit atranges of well over 2010 m (2,200yards).

Mounted co-axrally with the 120-mmgnrn rs a 7.62'mm (0.3-tn) machtne-gnrnand located on each slde of the turet lsa bank of slx electncally-operatedsmoke dischargers. A total of 64rounds of 120-mm ammunitron (prolec-tiles and charges) and 6,000 rounds of7.62 mm (0.3 int machtne-gunammunrtion ate catrted The NBCpack is mounted on the turret bustle,and a fire deteclron and extrngrutshtngsystem 1s mounted in the enojne com-partment. Nrght-vision equrpment lS ofthe infra-red type wrth an Lnfra-red/whrte-hght searchlight mounted on the

left of the turret. Thrs has a ranqe of1000m (1,100 yards) in the rnfra-redrole and 1500m (1,640 yards) in thewhite-light role. Thermal rmaglngnrght-vrsron equLpment will be rntro-duced in the mrd-l9B0s.

Variants of the Chreftarn rnclude anatmoured recovery vehrcle and abridgeiayer. The latter can lay a Num-ber B tank bndqe which ls of the scls-sor type and can span a qap of up to22.86 m (75 ft 0 in) or a Number 9 tankbrtdge which can span a gap of up to12 192 m (40 ft 0 rn). The Chreftain canalso be fitted with a hydraulically-operated dozer blade at the front ofthehull for the clearance of battlefieldobstacles and the preparatron of flrepositrons.

SpecificationCrew:4

Weiqht: 55 tonnesEngine: Leyland 6-cyhnder multt-fu:.developins 750 bhp (560 kW)Dimensions: lenqth (with gun forwari10.795m (35ft 5in) Iength (hull7.518 m (24 ft 8 rn) width 3.657 m (li ::B/zin); height (overall) 2.895m (9i:6 rn)Performance: maximum road speec48 km/h (30 mph) maxlmum roacrange 400 to 500 km (250 to 310 miles)fordrng 1.066 m (3 ft 6 in); qradrent60%; vertical obstacle 0.914 m (3 ft0 rn); trench 3 149 m (10 ft 4 rn)

British Chieftain MBT with I 20-mmL 1 l AS rifled tank grun, which has athermal sleeve to reduce distortion,andrs also used by lran, Kuwait,Oman and probably lrcq.

>K Ulidnser Main Battte ranktn 1974 Iran ordered 125 Shir I andI 225 Shir 2 MBTs from Royal Ordn-lnce Factory Leeds. The Shir 1 was:ssentially a late-production Chieftain,already entering service with lran in.arge numbers, with a new powerpackr::rsistrns of a 1,200-bhp (895-kW)

Rolls-Royce dresel, coupled to a DavidBrown Tll37 automatic transmisslonand fltted with an Atrscrew Holdencoohnq system. Armament was the120-mm L1lAS rrfled gnrn connected toa Marconi Space and Defence SystemsImproved Fire Control System (IFCS)

and a Barr and Stroui laser rallrei:-der The Shrr 2 was a brand ne;,' cie-srgn and had the same po.;;erpackarmament and hre-control svsten-r asthe Shrr l, but had a hull and turret ofChobham armour whrch would pro-vrde a high degree of protectronagarnst all battlefield weapons espe-cially missiles wrth therr HEAT w'ar-heads. It also had hydroqas suspensron

whrch gave an excellent ride acrossrougth country as well as betng easy tomaintain and repair in the event of bat-tlefield damage.

The Brrtish army was to have re-placed its Chieftatns wrth a Britrshr./West German desrgn, but this fell bYthe wayside rn March 1977 and the UI(went ahead on its own with a new Pro-lect deslgnated MBT-80. With the fall

Modern Main Battle TarkChallenger Main Battle Tank (continued)

of the Shah of lran the massive lranianorder was cancelled before deliveriescould start, although by that tlme theShir I was already in production at theRoyal Ordnance Factory Leeds, Jor-dan eventually placed an order for 278

Khalid MBTs essentially simtlar to theShir l; deliveries of these began in1981, and are still under waY.

In 1980 the British Ministry of De-fence announced that the MBT-80 pro-ject had been cancelled as not onlywas 1t getting too expenstve but its in-servrce date was slipprnq. Instead anrnitlal order was placed wrth Leeds for237 examples of the Challenger MBT,thrs being basically the Shrr 2 withmodifications to suit it for a Europeanrather than Middle Eastern climate.The frrst production Challengers werehanded over to the Britrsh armY inMarch 1983, and four regiments areexpected to be equipped with the tankwrthin the British Army of the Rhine. ItIS anticipated that a further order willbe placed to enable at least half of theChreftains of the Royal ArmouredCorps to be replaced.

The first production vehrcles wrll befLtted with the standard Royal Ordn-

ance Factory Nottingham 120'mmL11A5 rifled gun but at a later date thlswrll be replaced by the new high-technologry Qun now under advanceddevelopment by the Royal ArmamentResearch and Development Estabiish-ment (RARDE) at Fod Halstead. Thrsweapon wrll be of electro-slag refinedsteel (ESR) with a new split breechdesLgn, and will be able to hre proiec-trles wrth a much hiqher muzzle veloc-rty, provrdrnq increased penetratloncompared wrth current projectlles. Itwrll also be able to flre, as will thecurrent Ll1A5, the new RoYal Ordn-ance Factory BirtleyAPI'SDS-T projec-tile which wrll defeat all knownarmours.

SpecificationCrew: 4Weiqht: 60 tonnesEngine: Rolls-Royce 12-cYlrnderdresel developinq 895 kW (1 200 hP)Dimensions: length (with gmn forward)11,55 m (37 ft 1O% in); length (with gunto rear) 0.87 m (32 ft 4% in); width3.51 m (11 ft 6% rn); herght 2.89 m (9 ft53/t tn)

Performance: maximum road speed56 km/g (35 mph) maxrmum range(estrmated) 500 km (310 miles); lordinqr1.07 m (3 ft 6 in); gradrent 6070; verttcalobstacle 0 91 m (3 ft 0 in); trench 3 m(9 ft 10 rn)

Tank Battles of fhe Gulf War :::,!!:!#':: e'ir31't';'!'):!:L'L"

In 1979 the Shah of Iran was overthrown, bring-ing to an end a regime that had been in powe:foi some 3? years and had in recent years builtup one of the most powerful and well-trainedaimed forces in the Mlddle East. The strengthof the lranian army included three armouredand three infantry divisions, plus four indepen-dent brigades which were equipped withsome 900 Chieftain tanks, 400 M47 and M48tanks, 460 M60Al tanks, over 250 Scorpion re-connaissance vehicies, many APCs (armouredpersonnel cauiers) plus self-propelled gmns

and self-propeiled howitzers, and (most impor-tantly) moblle air-defence systems,

Althis time the Iraqi army had a strength ofsome four armoured, four lnfantry and twomechanized brigades plus two special-forcesbrigades, one independent brigade and theReflublcan Guard Brigade A11 major equip-ment was Russian, including over 2,000 T-54,T-55 and T-62 MBTs.

Border flare-upsWhen the Shah was in power there was little

trouble belween the two countries as in 1975 atreaty was negotlated to redefine the mutualborders, But from May 1979 there were a num-ber of clashes along the lranlan/lraqi border,and between April and July some 30,000 Iraqisof Iranran orlgin were expelled from Iraq; inSeptember 1980 President Hussein cancelledihe 1975 treaty between the two countries. On20 September Iraqi aircraft bombed a numberof airfields in Iran, and two days later the Iraqiarmy advanced into Iran, According to lraq, allshe wished was to return to Iraqi sovereigntyparts of the Shatt-al-Arab waterway and terrl-tory ceded to lran in 1975

Itaqr forces advanced on three main axes,towards Qasr-e-shirin in the north' Mehran inthe centre, and (the most important of thethree) Susangerd and Khorramshahr in thesouth, Iraq hoped that such a move wouldquickly lead to the downfall of the regime ofAyatollah Khomeini, Iraq succeeded ln cros-srng the border, but the depth of penetration

Is;l!:,tj-.

varied considerably. Most of the successeswere in the southern thrust, with Khorramshahrfalling after a bitter struggle, Iran did mountminor counterattacks in the northern and cen-tral sections, usually with little armour or artli-lery support, and did regain some of its lostterrrtory.

In January i98l the Iranians mounted a muchlarger counterattack south of Susangerd in thesouthern sector, This was a complete failure asthe tanks were apparently unsupported by tn-fantry, and the terrain, whrch at that time of yearis soft, was unsuitable for tanks. It is be[evedthat Iraq lost about 50 T-62s with Iran losingwell over 100 Chreftains and M60Als,

Armourturn-roundIn the flrst year Iraq lost about 250 or 300

tanks, and Iran probably about the same num-ber, Then early in 1982 it was reported that lraqhad captured some 50 operational ChreJtainsabandoned by their lranian crews; M60Als

OF-40 Main Battle TankThe standard tank of the Italian armyduring the 1950s was the American-supplied M47. The country did takepart in the formulation of the require-ment which eventually led to the pro-duction of the French AMX-30 andWest German Leopard I MBTs, ItalYdecided to make the American M60Alunder licence instead, and 200 ofthesewere made by OTO Melarai another100 were supplied direct from theUSA. In 1970 Italy placed an order withWest Germany for 200 Leopard ls, andat the same time OTO Melara obtaineda licence to undertake production ofthe vehicle in Italy. By i9B2 some 720had been completed for the italianarmy and a further 160 ofthree special-rzed versions (ARV, AVLB and AEV)were due to be completed bY the mid-1980s.

Under the terms of the LeoPard Ihcence OTO Melara could not exportthe tank, so the company designed anew tank specifically for the exportmarket under the designation OF-40,the O in the desrgnation standrng forthe prime contractor (OTO Melara)and the F for Fiat which supplies thecomplete powerpack (engine, trans-mrssion and cooling system); 40 standsthe empty weight of the vehicle, 40tonnes.

The first prototype was completedrn 1980, and lhe flrst production con-tract was placed by the small countryof Dubai in the Persian Gulf, which re-ceived its flrst production vehicles inI98 I.

The hull and turret of the OF-40 areof all welded steel construction andare drvided into three compartments,wrth the driver's at the front, fighting inthe centre, and engine and transmis-sion at the rear.

The marn armament comprises anOTO Melara-designed 105-mm rifledgnrn which is fltted with a falling-wedgebreech-block, concentric bulfer andspring recuperator. When the Qun re-corls the breech-block automaticallyopens and ejects the empty cartridqtecases into a bag under the breech ofthe weapon, Towards the rear of theturret on the left is a circular hatchwhich can be used to dtspose of theempty shell cases or to resupply thevehrcle with ammunition. A total of 61

rounds of ammunitron is carried, 42 tothe left of the driver and the remainderin the hrrret for ready use,

A 7,62-mm (0,3-in) machine-gnrn ismounted co-axrally with the mainarmament, and a stmtlar weaPon ismounted on the turet roof for anti-aircraft defence, Four smoke/frag-mentation grenade launchers aremounted on each srde of the turret.firing forwards. The OF-40 has a

Officine Galileo OG]4I,R flre-controlsystem which includes a computer anda Selenia laser rangeflnder. As an op-tion, a fuily stabilized fire-control sys-tem can be fltted, enabling the OF-40to engage enemy tanks when movingat speed across country. The comman-der has a roof-mounted French SFIM

stabilized sight, which is used for bothsurveillance and target acquisition.Standard equrpment on the OF-40MBT includes nightvrsion equipmentand an NBC pack which is mounted tothe left of the driver.

The chasss oithe OF-40 is also usedas the basrs for a 76-mm self-propelledanti-aircraft tank currently being de-veloped by OTO Melara.

SpecificationCrew: 4Weight:43 tonnesEngine: 10-cylinder diesel developing830 hp (619 kW)Dimensions: IenErth (with gun forward)9.22 m (30 ft 3 in); Ienqth (hull) 6 89 m(22 frTW in); width 3.51 m ( I I fr 6rlq in);

OF -40 MBT of the D ubai army (Part o!the United Arab Emirates), which hasordered 18 vehicles with an optionon a further 28. This MBT usesautomotive components of the WestGermanLeopard I andis armedwith a 1 05-mm grun and two 7.62-mm(0.3-in) MGs. The fire-control system,ncludes a Jaser rangefinder and aballistic computer.

height (turret top) 2.45 m (8 ft 0'ls in)Performance: maximum road speei60 km/h (37.3 mph); maximum range(road) 600 km (373 miles); fording1.2m (3ft li7qin); gradient 6070; ver-tical obstacle 1, 15 m (3 ft 97+ in); trench3m(9ft 10in)

- t.i.il*a t Main Battle TankWhen the West German army was re-formed it was initially equipped withAmerican M47 and M4B tanks, bolh of'.vhrch were armed with a 90-mm gnrn.

A decision was soon taken that the for-mer wouid be replaced by a moremodern tank armed with a l05-mmgun, and two desrgn teams (called Aand B) were selected to build pro-'rtypes of vehrcles for comparattvetnals. At the same trme France builtprototypes of the AMX-30 to replace itsAmerican-supplied M47s, It had been3xpected that either the West GermanlvfBTs or the French AMX-30 wouldbecome the comrnon MBT of botharmres but in the end each countrY'.'.'ent its own way. In the case of West3ermany, further development of the::am A desrgn resulted in the standar-:uzation of the vehicle as the LeopardI The first production tanks were com-:ieted by Krauss-Maffet of Munich inj-prember I965 and production con-:.:-:ed untrl 1979 A total of 2,437 MBTs

was built for the West German army nfour basic models desiqnated LeopardIAI (with addrtronal armour this be-came the Leopard IAIAI), theteopard IA2, the Leopard lA3 (with anew welded turret) and the LeoPardIA4 (with a new welded turret andnew fire-control system). The LeopardI was also adopted by Australia (90

vehicles), Belgium (334), Canada (1 14),

Denmark (120), Italy (920, of which 720were built in Italy by OTO Melara), theNetherlands (468) and Norway (78)

Production was resumed bY KraussMaffei and Krupp MaK in 1982 to meetfurther orders from Greece (106) andT\rrkey (77),

The Leopard I is armed with theproven British Royal Ordnance Factor-ies Nottingham 1,7 series rifled tankgmn, and can fire a variety of ammuni-tron including APDS, APFSDS, HEAT,HESH and Smoke, a total of60 roundsbeing carried, A 7.62-mm (0.3-tn)machine-qun is mounted co-axially

with the marn armament a srmllarweapon is mounted on the turret rooffor use in the antr-alrcraft role. and fourthree-barrelleo smoke drschargersare mounted on each srde of the turretflrrng forwards. A gun stabLhzatlon sys-tem is fitted, enabhng the marn arma-ment to be lard and hred whLlst thetank is movrng across country.Leopard Is have an NBC system and afull set of nrght-vrsron equrpment forthe commander gunner and loader.When orrgrnally rntroduced the latterwas of the flrst-generatlon tnfra-redtype but thls rs now berng replaced bythe second-generarlon passlve tvpe

A wrde range of ophonal equlpmenthas also been developed for theLeopard I rncluding a schnorkel whrchenables the tank to ford deep rt'rersand streams to a maximum depth of4m (l3ft l7zrn), An hydraulic bladecan be mounted at the front of the hulland this is operated by the drtver toclear or prepare battlefield obstacles,Most West German and DutchLeopards are havrng appiiqu6 armourfitted to their turrets to grve increased

armour protection against missiles anciHEAT protectiles.

The basic Leopard I chassis hasbeen the basis for a complete family ofvehicles which have been destgned tosupport the MBT on the battlefield. AIlof the specialized versions, with theexception of the Gepard, have beendesigned and built by MaK of Kiel whohave also built a few of the Leopard IMBTs.

SpecificationCrew:4Weight: 40 tonnesEngrine: MTU l0-cylinder diesel de-veloprng 830 hp (619 kW)Dimensions: lengrth (with gmn forward)9.543 m (31 ft 4 in); Iength (hull) 7.09 m(23ft 3in); wrdth 3.25m (10ft Bin)heisht (overall) 2.613 m (B ft 7 in)Performance: maxtmum road sPeed65 km/h (40.4 mph); maximum tanqre600 km (373 miles); fording 60%; ver-trcal obstacle L 15 m (3 ft 9 7< in); trench3m(9ft10tn)

Tank Fire-Control Sgstems

_--q.<D-1. Commander selectstargetwhich isthenacquired bygunner

through tank lasersighl

2, Gunner lays muzzlebore sight (MBS) on target

and selects mainarmament.

3. Tracking conti nues.Laser measures range ot

target and computercalculatesthe required

bal listic trajectory.

4. Computer appliescorrections to compensate

for wind. temperatu re.movement etc and 'shifts'

ballistic aiming mark.

5. Guone. -c,rtargetlna:- -a-

{::'b:'' 4 +.lri*;t**',r1, l'b,.

Battle tanks can be extremely obvious, and therefore vulnerable. ta:g;e:: - :counter this disadvantage commanders rely on reducing engager:: e: : ::': ::to a m inimum an d incre as ing accu racy of fire to a m a x im u m. T h e E ::':s :Marconi Improved Fire ControJSysfem r.s one of a number of corr.p::e:-assisleds/slemswhichofferarapidandaaccurateaimingfacti;-' '\'::.-:.. -seconds ofsr'grlr ting a target (above right) the gunner or comrrar je: =:': ; =left) can lay his gun to the correctazimuth and elevation (offselLl:,? -':::r--::temper ature, movem ent e tc), s elec t a c hoic e o{ r ou n d s. an d fi r e. .:- C :: e : : :--crew has been seen to obtain three hits on each of three sma|! ia:ge- ::ranges of 1,750 to 3,175yards (l,600 to 2900 m), within awide arc. i.:::t;:types of ammunitionwithin 53 seconds.

finder, seven sensors, an analogue computer and an c:: -: : l-. -: ::-:measure ambient and ammunition temperature, a' :';ss-'= J-- :."- :cross wind, trunnion cant or tilt, and rate of 1".'e: :':.:':: -- - '- - -determinestheanglesbetweenthe lineof s deand t.: :, : :' :-= :-- .-outputistransforried intoadisplacementof crcss -:-: - --: I-:-= - -.When the cross hairs are brought back onto tne re-g:: --'= ),'correct target elevation and azimuth.

The widespread introduction of these f ire-co.:': : .:::^. : ':.=- ' -

with the installation of a gun-stabilizatron syste- -:s :- :: : : ^- - :'' : "thetargetwiththefirstshotundermostoperaia^i a:-:' --. I -' - . ..-be achieved rf the tank crew caries oJt cc'::i-: =': ="=.' .:- : -backed up by good workshopfacilitles ln or:e' 1^.-..'.':- -: -'-: :

be quickly traced and rectified. For tns'eas:- -:-. --- -:-:: :offeringtankgunnerytrainingsysten stoe^a:a::-. :':..:'- : :, - -

tank engagements without us ng ve a---- : :-

For many years tank guns were aimed with the aid of a telescope linked to themain armament, the gunner using manual controls to line up the sight (andhence the gun) with the target. This required constant practice and meant thatseveral rounds had to be fired in order to hrt the target, even at the relativelyshort distances involved, usually under 1000 m (1,095 yards). The optical sightdid not take into account such vital factors as speed of the wind, the velocity ofthe ammunition and the ambient temperature, allof which have some effect onthe accuracy of the weapon. lnitially, optical rangef inders of the stadiametric orcoincidence type were used to find the exact range of the target and thisinformation was transferred to a mechanical computer for calculation of theweapon elevation required to hit the target. These rangef inders were diff icult tooperate and required a considerable amount of training, and armies in the Middleand Far East found these especially difficult to operate.

ln the 1950s the UK developed the ranging machine-gun (RMG) concept, inwhlch a 0.5-in ('1 2,7-mm) machine-gun was mounted co-axiallywith the '105-mm

L7 gun in the Centurion.A similar weapon was fitted to the Chieftain MBT with its 120-mm gun, but as

the RMG was only effective out of some 1830 m (2,000 yards) the full potentialof the gun, which is eff ective out to well over 2060 m (2,250 yards), could not beexploited. The RMG was later replaced by a Barr and Stroud Tank Laser Sight(TLS) which incorporates a laser rangef inder which is accurate to 5 m (1 6 ft) at allbattlefield ranges.

There are many types of fire-control system available for MBTs today, butspace permits brief descriptions of only two of these, the British Marconi Spaceand Defence Systems lmproved Fire Control System (IFCS) and the BelgianSABCA fire-control system.

All British army Chieftains are now rapidly being retrofitted with the IFCSwhich, coupled with the already installed TLS, enables the tank to engage and hitstationary targets at a range of 3000 m (3,280 yards) and moving targets at arange of 2000 m (2,185 yards) with a high probability of a firstround hit.

The IFCS has a Marconi 12-12P digital computer which automatically gathersand updates information from a number of sensors for factors such as winddirection, angle of sight, charge temperature, barrel wear, target displacementand ammunition type. lt then calculates the ballistic solution and correct layingoffsets for each target engagement and controls the automatic laying of the gunin azimuth (line) and eleVaiion (including the tracking of moving targets) inreadiness to fire. ln the Chieftain both the commander and gunner can lay andfire the 120-mm gun, the commander having override control. The IFCS hasbeen fitted to a number of other vehicles for trials purposes and has also beeninstalled in the Khalid MBT being built for Jordan and the new Challenger MBTfor the British army. During one trial of a Chieftain fitted with the IFCS the crewobtained nine first round hits within 53 seconds at ranges of between 1600 and2900 m ( 1 ,750 and 3,1 70 yards) ln a 1 1 0" arc.

The Belgian SABCA f ire-control system has already been fitted to the Leopard1s of the Australian, Belgian and Canadian armies. lt consists of a laser range-

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Leopard in ActionAs the first marn battle tank to go into produc-tron in West Germany since 1945, when thatcormtry was a world leader in AFV design, theLeopard I could hardly fail to be a well-planned and serviceabie tank, It could hardlybe more conventional, but tanks are not all thesame and Leopard 1 is a good compromise.Clearly better than US and French counter-parts in being more squat, it has a modestweight of some 40 to 42.5 tonnes (depending onvariant), which reflects the belief in the early1960s that there was little point rn using reallythick armour. The Leopard was designed in-stead to survive by being agile, and it is gener-ally accepted that this tank has the best cross-country performance of any MBT of its era.

Climbing aboard is simple, and even in theearly versions with a small turret there is plentyof room in the lnterior. The driver sits in thefront of the welded hull on the right side. Thisleaves room beside him on the left lor 41 of thetotal of 60 rounds for the LZA3 gmn, where theyare readily accessible in front of the loader onthe left of the gnrn, The gnrnner sits on the otherside of the gnrn, with the commander behindhim. The loader and commander both havecircular hatches in the cast oval turret roof, oneof the hatches (usually the loader's) havrng theMG3 machine-gmn for local firing and AA use,

The MTU diesel, a i0-cylinder Vee rated at830 hp (6 i9 klAf , is well isolated at the rear andwater-cooled, which helps to make theLeopard one of the quietest tanks to drive.Changing gear is very effortless because ofthehydraulic torque-converter, and as soon as thetank is properly on the move across rough ter-rain it is obvious that the ride is hke a Rolis-Royce compared with that of some other AFVs.The 14 road wheels have large vertical traveland are sprung by torsion bars combined withfive hydraulic shock-absorbers in a systemcunningly designed to keep the hull sensiblylevel even in traversing the roughest terrain.Even the drrver with his head outside hearslittle but a muted and distant engine note, andwhen travelling in the sealed condition thecrew members are amazingly comfortable andrnsulated from the few noises.

Fighting comfortsThe entlre fightiner compartment is air-

conditioned to avoid extremes of temperaturein a way that was never attempted in WorldWar il. In cold weather the interror can bebrought up to comfortable temperature in ab-out two minutes by a heater burning main-engine fuei oil, Exhaust heat from this installa-tion pre-heats the engine coolant while the hotcrew-compartment air can be specially blownover the eight electric-system batteries towarm them before engine start. There areseveral features designed to avoid toxic prop-ellant fumes from entering the crew compart-ment, and even the bag for the spent cartridgecases is continuously scavenged by an air ex-tractor system. As in most modern tanks thereis room for food and drink, and an electric ovenand hot cup are provided for the quick prepa-ration of snacks in the field,

Probably the most vital of a tank's functioningsytems is the maln fire-control unit. That of theLeopard I naturaily stemmed in basic princi-ples from that of the old American M47 tankwhich the Leopard replaced in the Germanarmy. There are no fewer than 14 periscopes(eight for the commander, three for the driver,two for the loader and one for the gnrnner), butthe main sight is a large periscope for the com-

'.2

mander incorporating a telescope whose mag-nification can be varied from x6 to x20, Itshead rotates relative to the turret, and the com-mander uses it to maintain a detailed lookoutover all drstant terrain, to find targets and todetermine stadia ranging (finding the range oftargets of known size simply from their appa-rent size in the optics).

RangefindingAs soon as the commander finds a target he

holds the optics of the sight head on it while hetraverses the twret to bring the gnrn onto thesame bearing. A flexible dnve{ink betweenthe turret azimuth and the sight head keeps thelatter on target no matter how the turret istraversed, The tangent elevation of the gun isalso electrically fed to the commander's sightso that rn emergency he can lay and fire theI05-mm gnrn. Normally the gn:n is laid by thegmnner usrng hrs x 16 binocular rangefinder,which has a base length of 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) Forrapid or unskilled ranging an optical coinci-dence system ls used, simiiar to that in manycameras, but for maximum accuracy in poorvisibility a stereoscopic method is preferred.The main gnrn has a very flat trajectory, buttangent elevation appropriate to the ammuni-tion selected - APDS (armour-prercing dis-carding sabot), HEAT (high-explosive anti-tank) and HESH (hiqh-expiosive sguash head)- is automatically fed in as the exact range isdetermined.

A third ranging/sighting system is a monocu-lar telescope co-axial with the gnrn, used by thegnrnner only, At iright the panoramic sight of thecommander can be replaced by an IR (infra-red) device which is extremely sensitive to IRwavelengths. Unaided it can spot the exhaust ofa tank or a hot gun barrel at a distance of2000 to3000 m (2, I85 to 3,280 yards), these and compa-rable objects showing whlte against the blacknight. At intervals the commander can switchon his special searchlight to emrt a stream of IR'black ligrht' to give a clear picture on his IRsighting device, though this has an obvious dis-advantage rn that it looks like a lighthouse toany opposing tank commander with his eye onan IR receiver sight. When needed the samesearchlight can emit white (visibie) ligrht. TheLeopard is itself painted with greyish camouf-lage which rs specially formulated to minimizethe tank's reflectivity to IR, while its engineexhaust is mixed with cold air before beingdrscharged overboard.

As soon as the main armament is on target,loaded and at the correct elevation the gn:nner

Leopard I MBTs on the firing ranges. Tfiis lankiasbeen modernized to serve into the J 990s, when i!will be replaced by a new MBT cttrrently at theconceptstage.

or commander can fire it, Automatlcally, shut-ters blank oilall sight systems for 0.25 second toavoid flash blindness at night. The breech auto-matically opens after the shot, the spent case isdumped in the fume-extracted bag, and in ac-tion a preselected type of fresh round is loadedat once, the breech closing automatically.Though far from new in design, the British gunis unfallingly accurate, typicai figures withAPDS ammunition at a range of 1000 m (1,095yards) being 99 dlrect hits out of I00 roundsfired against a target slightly smaller than atypical tank turret. At the same distance thescore against a tank is 100, or 98 at 2000 m (2, 185yards) and 89 at 3000 m (3,280 yards). When theLeopard I fired on the move, the scores werelower, but early in productron the Leopard IAIreplaced the first model and one of its newfeatures was an improved autostabilization sys-tem which gives a 50 per cent flrst-strike prob-abilrty even when firrng on the move acrosscountry. The autostabilization greatly speedsthe task of laying the gun when the vehicle isstationary, and enables the target and the shotfall to be accurately observed after the vehiclehas started moving agaln. Another add-on wasa thermal sleeve around the barrel to minimizedistortion caused by the barrei ever being hoton one srde and cooler on the other.

Night vision and fire controlWrth the Leopard IA2 variant a major

change was replacement of the IR system byhght-amplification periscopes. Electronic im-age intensifier systems emit no radiation togive away the tank's own position, and in effectmerely improve the crew's vision so much thatthey can see in the dark. In the Leopard lA3the turret is a new all-welded pattern wrthspaced armour (such armour retrofitted toLeopard lAI tanks turns them into LeopardlAlAls), which greatly improves resistance tohollow-charge projectiles, though nobodywould pretend even this turret could withstanda direct hit by a modern antiarmour missile.The Leopard 1A3 turret is much roomier, mak-ing for rncreased comfort in action (though byRussian standards even the original turret wasamazingly capacious!). Last of the Leopard J.s tobe built were 250 vehrcles designated LeopardIA4 with a completely new computerized fire-control called COBELDA, as well as a daylightIR panoramic telescope for the commander.

The leopcrdFamilg

Leopard Biber bridgelayer intravelling order showing itsstabilizer/dozer blade under nose oftank. The bridge can be positioned inles s than five mr'nules and used lospangapsof upto22m(72 ft2 in).The bridge can be retrieved fromeither end. The Biber k also used byAustralia, C anada, JVetherJands andI taly as well as West G ermany.

Leopard Biber bridgelayer laying itsbridge in position actoss awaterobstacle.

Leopard 1 MBT chassis with turretremoved and replaced by the sametufiet as on the French I 55-mm GCTsel{-propelled gan now in service

with France, S audi Arabia and I r aq.The weapon can fire eight roundsperminute due toits automaticloading.

Above: Gepard twin 35-mm self-propelled anti-aircratt grun system withtracking (turret tront) and surveillance(turret rear) radars in operatingpositions.

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Above: One of the prototypes of theGPM armoured engineer vehicles,whichwas developed specifically toprepare and clear river crossingpointsfor lollowing tanks and otherAFVs.

Below: Leopard armoured engineervehiclewith crane traversed to frontand titted with an auger whichenables it to drill holes 70 ctn(27V2 in) in diameter, to a maximumdepthof 2 m(6s/tin).Thehullof theAW is almost identical to that of theLeopard ARV but a heat exchangerhas been installed.

Above : Leopard I ARV with dozerlstabilizing blade lowered at front of hulland crane litting a complete Leopard lpowerpack. All ARVs, AEVs andbridgelayer members of the Leopard Itank family have been built by KruppMaK ot Kiel, who are now also buildingtheLeopard2MBT.

E r,J"ffia 2 Main Battte Tank-: rhe late 1960s West Germany and::.e USA were']ointly developing a newVBT designated MBT-70. In 1970 this'.vas cancelled as a result of rrsing:csts, and West Germany went ahead:o develop a new MBT eventuallyknown as the Leopard 2. Thts is fact-ncorporated the engine. transmlsslonand certain other components of theMBT-70. A total of 16 hulls and 17 tur-rets was built to test various suspen-slon armaments (105-mm or 120-mmsmooth-bore guns) and fire-controlcombrnations. A special version wasalso built at a iater date to meet therequirements of the US Army; this wascalled the Leopard 2(AV) and wasarmed wrth the standard 105-mm L7rrfled gun,

After troop trials had been carriedout in both West Germany and abroad,the Leopard 2 was accepted for ser-vrce by the West German army, and in1977 an order was placed for a total ofI 800 Leopard 2 MBTs, ofwhich KruppMaK is to build 810 and Krauss-Maffeiol Munich the remaining 990. The firstproduction tanks were handed over tothe West German army in 1979, and itrs expected that final deliveries will bemade in 1986. in 1979 the Netherlandsselected the Leopard 2 to replace itsageing Centwion MBTs and AMX-13Iigrht tanks armed with a 105-mm qnrn; atotal of445 Leopard 2 is to be dehveredby 1986, the first of these having beinghanded over in 1982. Under the termsof this contract, which is worth someFl2,4O0 million, many of the compo-nents will be supplied by Dutch indus-try. At the time of writing the Leopard 2and the American Ml Abrams were

Lapard 2 MBT of the West Germanarmy, which will take delivery of1,800 vehicles by I 986. The 7.62-mm(0.3-in) MG 3 machine-grun can bemounted at the commander's orloader's station and provides shortrange anti-aircraft protection. Oneither side of the turret is a bank ofeight electrically-operated smokedischargers.

under intensive evaluation by theSwiss army, whrch needs to replace ttsold Centurions and Pz 6ls from the late1980s with a more modern vehtcle.

The Leopard 2 is armed with aRhernmetall-developed I20-mmsmooth-bore gun which fires two matntypes of ammunition, namely HEAT-MP-T (High Explosrve Anti-TankMulti-Purpose Tracer) and APFSDS-T(Armour-Piercing Frn-Stabihzed Dis-cardinq-Sabot Tracer); in each casethere is also a practice round The for-mer is used against all battlefieldtargets, includrnq field forttflcattonsand lighter vehicles, whrle the Iatter isthe marn tank-kilhng round and is saidto be able to penetrate the frontalarmour of all current tanks includinqtthe Soviet T-64 and T-72. The ammunt-tion, also developed by Rheinmetall, isunusual in that it has a combustiblecartridge case, so that after the gnrn tsfired all that remains of the cartridge tsthe base stub which is e;ected tnto abag under the breech of the gmn. Atotal of 42 rounds of 120-mm ammuni-tion is carned, compared with 60rounds for the first-generationLeopard I with its 105-mm gmn. This is

not a qreat drawback as the 120-mmround has greater penetratlon and thefire-control system qives a much grea-ter hit probabrlrty A 7.62-mm (0.3-in)machine-gun is mounted co-axtallywith the main armament, and a similarweapon is mounted on the tufiet rooffor anti-arrcraft defence On each sideof the turet are eight smoke drschar-gers, firrng forwards

The commander of the Leopard 2,

who srts on the rLghr of rhe lurret, LS

provrded wrth a stabrlrzed roof-mounted sight which has a variablemagnrflcatron of x 2 and x B. this can betraversed through 360" for observationand can also be used to lay and flre themain armament. The gunner, who isseated forward and below the com-mander, also has a stabLhzed sigrht buthis incorporates a laser ranqfefinderand a thermal image unit both of whrchare hnked to the flre-control systemThe marn armament rs fullv stabrhzedand standard equlpment Lncludes pas-sive night-vision equLpmenl. an NBCsystem, a fire extrnqturshrng systemand a schnorkel for deep wadrng.

The hull and twret of the Leopard 2rncorporate advanced armour,n'hrch

gives it a high degree of battlefteldsurvivabrhty, especially agalnst anti-tank weapons wrth HEAT warheads.The Leopard 2 is powered by a multt-fuel engrne developrng 1,500 hp(i 119 kW) which gives the Leopard 2a power-to-weight ratio ol 27 hp(20 kW) per tonne compared wtth justunder 20 hp (15 kW) per tonne for thefinal productron models of the Leopard1. Thrs gnves the tank greater accelera-tron and rmproved cross-countrymobility, which promote suwrvabilityon the battlefield.

SpecificationCrew:4Weight: 55. i5 tonnesEngine: MTU 12-cyhnder multi-fueldeveloprng 1,500 hp (l i 19 kW)Dimensions: length (with gnrn forward)9.668m (31ft B% in); length (hull)7.772m (25ft 6rn); wrdth 3.7m (12ft1% in); height (overall) 2.79 m (9 ft I3/a

in)Performance: maxlmum road speed72km/h (45mph); maximum range550 km (342 miles) gradient 60%; ver-trcal obstacle I I m (3 ft 77q in); trench3m(9ft10rn)

USAil-In 1956 a decision was taken to de-velop an improved version of the M4Btank to incorporate a new engine and alarger-calibre main armament. Theformer was the Teledyne ContinentalAVDS-1790-P while the latter was theBritish 105-mm LZAI barrel fitted withan Amerrcan-desigrned breech. TheLTA1 was subsequently made underhcence in the United States under theCesignation MOB and fltted to all pro-duction examples of thrs M60 series(lvith the exception of the M6042) andLS also fitted to the new Ml MBTwhichLs also produced by General Dyna-

The M60 entered service with theUS Army in 1960 but was soon suc-ceeded in production by the M60Al'whrch had a number of modrficationsrncluding a redesigrned turret whichoflered greater balhstic protection.The M60A2 was fitted wlth a new turretarmed with a i52-mm weapon systemwhrch could fire the Shillelagh missileor a range of conventional ammumtionwith a combustible cartndqe case, Arotal of 526 M60A2s was built, but thetype has now been phased out ofser-v1ce, the chassis beingr stored for con-version to specialized vehicles.

The current production model is theM60A3, which is produced at the De-troit Tank Plant now operated by theLand Systems Divrsion of GeneralDynamics who took over Chrysler De-iense Inc, during 1982. The M60A3 hasmany improvements over the earlierM60A1, including a Hughes AircraftLaser Tank Fire Control System, TankThermal Sights, main armament stabtl-

,1

The M60A3 k the most widely usedAnericanMBT andis the latestdevelopment ol the M60, whichentered sewice in 1960. It is armedwith a 1 0 i-mm M 68 grun and has anadvanced fire control system thatrhcJudes a stab ilization sys tem,passive night vision equipment,laser rangefinder and a ballisticcomputer,

ized in both elevatlon and traverse,AVDS-1790-2A RISE (Reliability Im-proved Selected Equipment) enQttne,new tracks with replaceable pads,new searchlight over the maln arma-ment, thermal sleeve for main arma-ment, new co-axial 7.62-mm (0.3-tn)machine-gnrn and British sx-barrelledsmoke dischargers mounted on eachside of the turet, to name but a few.Many of these tmprovements havenow been retrof,tted into the M6041,which is then redesignated the M6043.

The M60A3 carries a total of 63rounds of ammunition for the 105-mmgmn, of whrch 26 are carried tn theforward part of the hull, 13 in the turretfor ready use, 21 tn the turret bustleand three under the gmn. A 7.62-mm(0.3-in) machine-enrn is mounted co-axially with the main armament, and a0.5-rn (12.7-mm) machtne-gun tsmounted in the commander's cupola.

Producrion of the M6043 IS now ex-

'J

pected to be completed tn 1984 bywhich trme well over 13.00C vehrclesshould have been buiit for the homeand export markets. In addrtron tobeing used by the US Army and USMarines, the M60 series rs also used byAustria Egypt, Iran, Israel, Italy (tn-cluding 200 burlt under licence byOTO-Melara), Jordan, Morocco, Saudtfuabia, Sudan Tunrsra and the YemenArab Repubhc (North Yemen).

There are only two main versrons ofthe M60, namely the M60 AVLB andthe M728 CEV. The M60 AVLB has ascissors bridge on top of the hull, andthis is launched over the front of thevehicle to span gaps of up to 60 ft 0 in(18.2BB m). The M72B Combat En-gineer Vehicle has a hull and turretsimilar to those of the M60A1, but isarmed with a 165-mm demolition gmnwhich flres a HESH (High ExplostveSquash Head) round to demolishbattlefield fortifications and pillboxes.

Mounted at the front of the vehrcle is anhydraulic dozer blade to clear battle-field obstacles and prepare fire posi-tions for other AFVs, and prvoted at thefront of the hull rs an A-frame which lesback over the rear when not required,

SpecificationCrew: 4Weight: 48 98 tonnesEngine: Continental AVDS- I 790-2A I 2-cyhnder dresel developinq 750 bhp(560 kw)Dimensions: length (with gun forward)9.436m (30ft ll7zin); lensth (hull)6.946 m (22f1 9Yz in); width 3,631 m(l 1 ft 11 rn); height 3.27 m (lO ft B7q in)Performance: maximum road speed4B.2Bkm/h (30mph); maxtmum roadrange 500km (310 miies); fordtng1.219 m (4 ft 0 in); qradient 60%; verttc-al obstacle 0,914m (3ft 01n); trench2.59 m (B ft 6 m)

M60Al Main Battle Tank L .s.

E ffit nframs Main Battle Tankh the 1960s West Germany and the-SA started the loint development of a:.ew MBT known as the MBT-70, but:rrs was cancelled in July 1970 for a,-arrety of reasons, The United States::ren went on to develop a more au-s:ere version called the XM803, but.:IS too was soon cancelled as it was::lt that it would be too expensive andro sophrstrcated. T\aro years later theletroit Diesel Allison Divisron of theleneral Motors Corporation and thelefense Division of the Chrysler Cor-: lranon were each awarded contracts: desrgn a new MBT which would:,:'re much improved armour protec-:.:: and greater mobrlity than the M60:en rn production. After extensive::-als the desrgn from Chrysler was.r.epted and in 1976 the company,'.'as awarded a full-scale developmentrrrtract including the construction of- - prlot vehicles which were com-:-:ted in 1978. The XMI was eventual-.; standardrzed as the MI Abrams:.:BT. the first production tank being::mpleted at the Lima Army Tank:.ant, Ohro, in 1980. Productionstarted.: :he Detroit Tank Plant in 1982 and by=.:ly i9B3 over 700 Ml MBTs had been: --11 and each plant was turnrng out 30'.:ks a month. The US Army has a re-: jirement for 7,058 Mls by fiscal year. :38

The hull and turet of the Ml are of..i'.,anced Chobham type armour and:::vrde the greatest deeree ofprotec-'.:r ever rncorporated rnto an Amer-. .,r MBT. Marn armament comprises-.-.e proven lO5-mm M6B gun as::-:unted in the current M60 series, but. nuch improved fire-control system.s been installed, this system includ-

:.q a laser rangTefinder and thermal

The M 1 Abrams, with its I 0 5 -mmM68 rifledwn, advanced armourand gas turbine, is now operationalwith the US 7th Army in WestGermany. Its fire control system,incorporating thermal sights, laserr angetinder an d s tabi liz ations/slem, enab/es it to engage anddestroy enemy tanks in avariety ofenvironm ent al conditions.

imaginq system that allows the tank toengage tarQrets by both day and night,The gun rs fully stabihzed in bothelevation and traverse, and so can bearmed and flred whrle the vehicle mov-ing across country. A total of 55 roundsof 105-mm ammunition is carried, ofwhich 52 are compartmentalized. Ofthe latter 44 are in the turet bustle (22on each side) and separated from thecrew by slidingr doors, A 7,62-mm (0.3-rn) machine-gmn is mounted co-axrallywrth the main grun, and a similarweapon is mounted at the loader'shatch. The commander has a 0.5-in(12.7-mm) machrne-gun that can betraversed through 360" and elevatedto +65'. Mounted on each side of theturet is a bank of sx smoke drschar-gers. It is expected that from l9BS pro-ductron vehrcles wrll be fitted with theI2O-mm Rheinmetall smooth-bore gmnas already fltted into the Leopard 2MBT in servrce with the West Germanarmy, These later productron vehicleswill be designated MIAI and will alsohave a number of other improvementssuch as addrtronal armour protectlon

The Ml Abrams MBT is the first suchvehicle to be powered by a gas tur-brne engdne, and was installed follow-

_<+{h;

tng trials in an M4B tank. The gas tur-bine takes up much less room than adtesel, and ts easrer to servrce or re-place in the fleld if rt breaks down, butit uses more fuel than a diesel engrne afactor whrch tends to negate the spacesaved in the first place. The West Ger-mans installed the same gas turbine inthe Leopard 2 for trials purposes, butstuck to the MTU diesel for all produc-tion vehicles.

SpecificationCrew: 4

-

ISRAEL

4.,1 Merkava Main Battle Tank-: the 1960s the backbone of the Israeli-:.rmoured Corps was the British-::ophed Centurion MBT (which was.:bsequently rebuilt and fitted with a,,3-mm gmn to become known as the- cgnaded Centurion), Sherman (most: which have now been rebuilt for

:cecralized roles such as command'.':hrcles, ambulances, recovery vehi-:les, mortar carriers and self-:lcpelled howitzers) and the Amer-.:an M4B. After the 1967 Middle East'.'.'ar Israel became concerned that in':e future she would not be able to,btain AFVs from her tradrtional sup-:hers (the UK, France and the USA).lioreover, many of the tanks from.rese sources did not meet lsrael's-:rque requirements.

Under the drrection of General Tal,Israel started to develop rts own MBT,ramed Merkava (or Chariot). Thrs wasrnnounced in 1977, and the flrst pro-iuction vehicles were completed in1979, It was estimated that by 1982 atleast 250 vehicles had been built. TheMerkava was used in action for the firsttrme aqainst Syrian armoured unitsoperating in southern Lebanon in thesummer of 1982.

The layout of Merkava ts unlque rnthat the whole front of the vehicle rsoccupied by the engrne, transmissron,cooling system and fuel tanks. Thedriver is seated just in front ofthe turreton the left. The turret, whrch is of castand welded construction, rs srtuatedwell to the rear of the hull with thecommander and gnrnner on the rrght

Israeli armyMerkava MBT armedwith a 105-mm M68 grun, as fitted totheM4SAS andM60 series of MBT.The Merkava was.ltrst used incombat in the I 982 invasion of theLebanon, when it engaged anddefeatedSyrianT-72s. It can carryinfantrymen, additional ammunitionor a number of stretcher patients inthe hull rear-

and the loader on the left. The turet iswell sloped to grve the gEeatest possr-ble degree of armour protection andrts small cross sectron makes it a verydifflcult target. At the rear of the hull isa compartment which can be used tocarry additional ammunition or (sup-posedly) four stretcher patients or I0fully equipped rnfantrymen. A hatch isprovided in the hull rear to allow forthe rapid exit ofthe tank crew or infan-trymen. Standard equipment includesa full range of night-vision equipment,an NBC system and a special flre de-tection and extinguishinqr systemwhich is automatically activated whena projectile penetrates the vehicle.

The main armament is the provenlO5-mm nfled tank gmn, which can firea wide range of ammunition includingrthe new APFSDS-T round (the Ml11)developed by lsrael Mihtary Indus-tries. Dwing the recent fighting in the

Ja-

Lebanon this round proved capable ofpenetratlng the Soviet T-62 and T-72MBTs over their frontal arc. The 105-mm gmn has an elevation of +20'and adepression of -8.5', Turret traverseand gun elevation/depression areelectro-hydraulic, with manual con-trols for emergency use. A stabilizatlonsystem is fltted, enabling the gun to bealmed accurately and fired while thevehicle is movrng across country, TheElbit fire control system includes acomputer and laser rangefinder.

Compared with other MBTs de-veloped in recent years, the Merkavahas a very low speed and poor power-to-weigrht ratio, but it has been de-signed for a different tactrcal situationto that found in Central Europe Itshould also be remembered that Israelhas had more experience ofsuccessfularmoured warfare since World War IIthan any other country. In desrorLn:

the Merkava the Is:a:-- :...'-great emphass ::. r::','. : --'Wuh a natronal q:p --='.-.. -: ..mrlhon, every -ra.,-.:: :::.' - -'very valuaLle c::.:-:. .'... :.. -grven the rr.il{:r.-.;. i.!j r : -'tron

SpecificationCrew: 4Weight: 5i :::-:-:-Engane: ',-..-:.-..+.:: :.':.:. :

(67r kw)Drmenstons: .=:.1:. .':.:. -- -'8.36r,-- 2-:':. ,.:. .-...:'/a/ t+: - -,-:.- a -- --

*

Tcnk Wcrrfare in the LebctnonFor a number of years PLO (Palestine Ltbera-tion Organization) guerrillas had been crossingfrom southern Lebanon into northern Israel toconduct hit and run raids against Israeli settle-ments, often causing heavy clvilian casualties.On 6lune 1982 the Israel Defence Forces (lDF)launched an attack into southern Lebanonunder the codename Operation 'Peace forGalilee', The advance was led by three regulararmoured divisions with some 800 MBTs, sup-ported a number of separate/independentarmoured brigades and mechanized andmotorized infantry brigades. One division wasallocated to the east thrust, one to the centreand one to the west. TWo reserye armoureddivisions with some 500 MBTs followed theoriginal advance of the req-rlar divisions on 7and I0 June, with one division covertng theeastern sector and the other the central, Afurther two armoured divisions were mobilizedand deployed on the Golan to replace one ofihe regrular divisrons which was committed tothe Lebanon operatlon, Additionally, smallamphrbious landings were conducted alongthe coastline, and helicopters were used todeploy troops weli to the front of the line ofadvance in blocking positions to stop the gnrer-rillas' line of escape: dunng Operation 'Litani',conducted in 1978, many gmerrillas escapedwrth their equipment before the Israeli armycould make contact, and the lesson had beenfully apprecrated.

In the 1973 Middle East war the IsraeliArmoured Corps lost many tanks as a result ofpoor co-operation between armour, infantry,artillery and engineer units. The heaviest los-ses were incurred among tank units, especiallyon the Sinai front where a number of units werealmost wiped out,

SaggerambushesIn the f,rst few days of Operation 'Peace for

Galilee' most Israeli tank casualties were:aused by PLO gnrerrillas ambinhing the vehi-:les wlth manpack AT-3 'Sagger' mrssiles andP.PG-7 rocket-propelled grenades. Sucha::acks were generally directed at the most'.ulnerabie parts of the tank, namely its upperoarts, sides and rear,

The Syrian army was deployed in the Leba-:-:n in some strenqth, a number of armoured-rd mechanized brrgades being located in thelekaa Valley. The Syrians tried to reinforce::'ese with another T-62 armoured brrgade::m Homs, but on the evening of 9 June this','.'as destroyed by the Israeli atr forces whiles::-l rn transit.

The major armour battle between the Israeli

-.1 Syrian armies took place on I0 and i I June'.',':en Syrian MBTs (T-54s, T-55s, T-62s and- -- 2s) were engaged by Israeli tanks and heli-::p:ers armed with Hughes TOW missiies. No::= Cetails of losses are available, although it is:=--e-''ed that Syria lost almost 400 tanks inciud-:.; 211T-62s 130 T-54s and T-55s, and as manyr. - - ci their new T-72s. Israeli losses were

-.:=r 150 tanks, of which some 40 or 50 were::::!.ele losses. Israel deployed the Centu-:-::.- i160 serres and the Merkava, the last:=.:-; :sed tn action for the first time. All of--:-=:: :re armed with the combat-proven 105-:-:- -- \15E tank gun which fires the new'.:r=-- \1--r:ary Industries Ml I I APFSDS-T pro-'=::--= ','.':::h has also been adopted by a num-::: :: :: -:::nes in Europe including West Ger-:.--.'.' =:-: S',.,'ttzerland, Thts projectile has a,-', t-= .,-=-::L:;r of over 1450m (4755ft) per: r : ;. : =:. i :an penetrate l50 mm (5 9 in) ol

Upgraded Centurion MBT of the lsraeli army in Beirut. This tank has tworoof-mounted7.62-mm (0.3-in) MGs and one 12.7-mm (0.l-in) MG over the105-mm grun to provide the maximum amountof suppressive fire.

T - 5 5 fi tte d with a fu ll r ange of infra- red night visionequipmentfor the commander, gunner and driver.

heavy NATO single-target homogeneous ro1-led steel armour at an angle of 60o at a range ofsome 2000 m (2, 185 yards).

The T-72 was used in combat for the first trmern this campaign, and from all accounts it canbe knocked out over its frontal arc by I05-mmgmns firrng the Mlll round, There has beenmuch speculation in the West that the frontalarmolu of the T-72 is of the advanced typeincorporating laminate armour impenetrableby any NATO gun projectiles, or even by mis-siles such as MILAN, HOT and TOW. It couldbe, however, that the tanks burlt for export areto a different standard to those issued to mem-bers of the Warsaw Pact, The Israelis tried tocapture a T-72 MBT for detail examination, butas far as it is known they were not successful.

Israeli supremacyIn tank-versus{ank engagements, the Israeli

gunners again proved that they are the best inthe world, and few of the Israeli tank losseswere caused by penetrations from projectilesflred by Syrran tanks. The Israelis also madebetter use of the terrain than their opponents

The Merkava first saw action in the 1982 invasion oftheLebanon. Production has however beenverylow and only around 200 have beenbuilt.

even though they were often attacking up veryhrlly country.

For the Lebanon operation of 1982 manyIsraeli M60AIs and Centurions were fitted withaddrtional armour protection to their turretsand sides, It is not known if these were ceramictiles, or hollow boxes to give protection againstHEAT projectiles, or active armour. The lastconsists of a thrn layer of explosive whtch tsdetonated by the incoming warhead (HEAT,for example) and so disrupts the latter. Some ofthe tanks were also fitted with what are be-lieved to be launchers for decoy flares to dis-tract Syrian missrle systems, including the re-cently-delivered AT-4 'Spigot' which in the re-placement for the 'Sagger'.

^During Operation 'Peace for Galilee' IsraeliCr (command, communications and control)was first class and the Israel air lbrce soongained complete air superiority over the bat-tlefield, shooting down some 90 Syrian aircraftfor the loss of only two of their own. Extensiveuse was also made of the IAI Scout and TadiranMastlff remotely-piloted vehicles (RPVs) togather intelligence on the battlefield.

k *':i# lF

Modern Main Battle Tanks

M60Ai of the lsraeli army with additional armourto its tufiet and hullfront. The exact composition olthis armour is stillnotknown, although somesources ftave said that it is of the active type thatreacts when hit by a HEAT weapon (e.9. SaggerATGW or RPG-? grenades) which wereencountered in large numbers in the Lebanon'

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I ['joz Main Battte Tank-e T-62 is a further development of:re T-54/T-55 tank with a slightly lon-;el hull to accommodate the turret',','::h rts I15-mm smooth-bore gmn. Thel-62 was flrst seen rn public durtng a:r:ade held rn Red Square (Moscow)r:rLng 1965, although tt ts now known:r rave entered productlon ln about- lt 1 The T-62 remained in productionr:.irl the early l97Os and a number'.'.':re also produced under ltcence inl::choslovakta, matnly for the export::,:ket. The T-62 was more expensive': oroduce than the earlier T-54/T-55

=:.: for thrs reason the T-55 remained-:- :roductlon for many years after the:-:le modern T-62 had been phased::: of production.

ihe llS-mm U-STS smooth-bore,-r1 LS fitted wlth a bore evacuator and-: :-iLly siabrltzed in both elevation and:::',-erse. An unusual feature of the T-62:i ':.rr rr has an lntegral shell case ejec-:.:: system whrch ts actlvated by ther=:orl of the gmn. Thrs elects the emptyr-se out throuqth a trapdoor in the tur-:=: rear, but this has reduced the rate-: :re to about four rounds a mtnute as::-. ;mn has to elevate to +3'30' for thts:: be carried out

Tlree main types of ammunition are::=C by the 11S-mm gnrn, namely HE-a:.AG-FS, or Hrgh Explostve Frag-:,::t3tton Fin-stabilized, with a muzzle,'=i-rcrty of 750 m (2,460 ft) per second,:LAT-FS, or High Explosive Antt-

Tank Frn-Stabrlized, wtth a muzzlevelocrty of 900 m (2,955 ft) per secondand capable of penetrating over430mm (16.9in) of armour at anyranqe, and the deadly APFSDS, orArmour-Piercing Frn-Stabilized Dts-carding-Sabot, with a muzzle velocityof 1680m (5,510ft) per second and avery flat trajectory, and capable ofpenetratinq 330mrn (13 rn) of armourat a ranqe of 1000m (1,095 yards). Atotal of 40 rounds of LIS-mm ammunition is carried, ol which four are readyrounds in the tulret, and of the rest 16

are to the nqht of the driver and 20 inthe rear of the flghtrnqlcompartment. A7.62-mm (0.3-rn) PKT machine-gnrn ismounted co axially with the mainarmament; for thrs weapon 2,500rounds of ammunttion are carried.

Standard equipment on all T-62s in-cludes rnira red nrghl viston equip-ment for the commander, qunner anddnver, an undrtchtng beam which iscarned at the rear of the hull, a turetventilation system to remove fumeswhen the grun is fired, a nuclear collec-trve protectron system, and the capa-bility of rnjectlng diesel fuel into theexhaust to provide smoke screen. Thevehicle carries 675 litres (148.5 Impgal) of fuel internally with a further 285litres (63 Imp qal) externally on therunnrng boards, and this total givesthe T-62 a road range of 450 km (2BO

miles). A further two drum type fuel

tanks can be fltted on the hull rear;these each hold some 200 litres (44 Impgal) of fuel, increasing road range tosome 650 km (404 miles), All T-62s canford rrvers to a depth of 5,5m (l8ft072 in) with the aid of a schnorkelerected over the loader's hatch. A cen-trahzed frre-extinguisher sysrem tsprovrded for the engrne and fiqhtingcompartments, and this can be oper-ated automatrcally or manually by thecommander or driver.

SpecificationCrew:4Weight: 40 tonnes

SovietT-62 tanks advance throughan artillery barrage during trainingexercrses. Iftis tankwasllist usedoperationally in the Middle East.

Engine: V-12 water-cooled diesel :=veloprng 580 hp (433 kW)Dimensions: lengrth (with wrr forwar:9,335 m (30fl 7)/z in); length (hull6.63 m (21 ft 9 in); width 3,3 m (lO::10 in); height 2.395 m (7 ft ljt/q rn)Performance: maximum road speec50 km (31 mph); maximum road range650 km (404 miles); gradrent 60%r ver-tical obstacle 0.8 m (2 ft 7'lz tn); trench2.85 m (9 fi t/atn)

I ['jo+ Main Battle Tank-:. ::e 1960s the Russians built pro-'::'.'ces of a new MBT whrch became: :.:'.';n as the M-1970 in the West m ther.: s:rce of any known Soviet designa-'--: Thrs vehicle hada new suspen-:.,:- conslstrng of sx small dual road.'.:,:els wrth the dnve sprocket at the:::r rdler at the front and four track:= ..:n rollers supportrnq the inside of',-,: :rack only All previous MBTs de--..;:,:C rn the USSR since World War II

= T-54 T'55 and T-62) had beenr:-..r1c1enzed by larqer road wheels'.'.::. :3 return rollers. The turret of theI.l'-:-0 v,'as similar to that of the T-62:,:.i ',';as armed with the same 11S-mm

-.:.:::.1'bore gun. Further develop-,=.-.: -i the M-1970 resulted in the T-64

l.l: - ',',':Lch was placed rn productLon.- -.--: ialk plant rn the USSR. Produc-. :. .+:..cles were armed wrth a 125-

:',::. --'r:r l';hrch was later fltted to the, -a: l.:3T So far the T-64 has not been-:=:-.-:el as beLng rn service wrth any'--,:: ::.rnlry whereas the later T-72

::-: ::::. exported on a wtde scale,: - ':. ','.'-::-n the Warsaw Pact and over-:::. ','.'-:i] Production now betngt-..r-::1K:i both rn Czechoslovakra. -: i - -:: j Some reports have stated'...' ::.= l-5-i ',r'as such a poor design.-: :: :.:;-ed,"vith mechanical trou-:.-: ':-.r: -: '.'.'as only in production for a.:.' '.':::: :i:hough several thousands' -:= : --,: - :e other theory rs that the

: - :... :i'.'anced armour (especially'.-.= ,-.=:-s claie) and for this reason

' r-: -:.':: :::ccrted even to trusted: -::.a-:-: ,: ::: Warsaw Pact

-:= -'.'- -- :: rhe T-64 ts stmilar to' :- - --:-: -'-: -,','r:h the drLver's com-'- r-:-: . -:::.:::::.1 turret in the cen-'i: :-r ::, ;.:,= .-:-i transmrssion at ther - : . : .r ..+lted rn the centre' -- : ..":-- .:...:=: glacrs plate (prob-:- ., ,r.: r.r. = -:ncu:) to his front. A:--''.',: -.:-...-:-i::ard on the glacrs

plate stops water rushlng up when thevehicle is fording a deep stream.When drivrng in the head-out posttton,the driver can quickly erect a coverover his position to protect himselfagainst rain and snow.

The turret design is similar to that ofthe T-72 but ls not thought to have adv-anced armour. The qnrnner is seatedon the left and the tank commander onthe rrght; no loader is required as anautomatic loadLng mechantsm is pro-vided for the 125-mm qnrn, which isassumed to be the same as that of theT-72.

Armament is identrcal to that of theT-72 and consists of a fully stabihzed125-mm smooth-bore qun, a 7,62-mm(0.3-in) machine gmn co-axtal wrth the

main armament, and a 12.7-mm (0.S-in)machine-giun on the commander'scupola. The T-64 has an NBC systemand a full range of nrght-vision equrp-ment and, irke most other RussranMBTs, it can be f,tted with a front-mounted dozer blade and varroustypes of mrne-clearinqtsystems such asroller or plouqrh.

The only known variant is the T-64Kcommand vehrcle whrch carries a10.0m (32ft 9%in) hish telescopicmast. When erected over the turret,this s held rn posrtion by stays that arepegged to the ground, preventrnq thetank from movlng off qurckly.

SpecificationCrew: 3

The T-64 has only been seen inservicewith the USSR, and by allaccounls las been unsuccessfu/ andwas replaced by the much imProvedT-72.

Weight: 38 tonnesEngrine: S-cyhnder diesel developingt700 to 750 hp (522 to 560 kw)Dimensions: lenqth (overall) 9. 10m(29 fI ljt/q rn); length (hull) 6.40 m (2 I ft0 in); width (without skrrts) 3.38 m ( I I ftI in); height 2,30 m (7 ft 67, in)Performance: maximum road speed70 km/h (43 mph); maximum range450 km (280 mrles); fording 1.4 m (4 ft572 in); gradient 60%; vertical obstacle0.915m (3ft 0in); trench 2.72m (Bft11 in)

The Europecn Tcnk Balcnce FAt the heart of East /West insecurity lies the fear that, onceagain, Eutope could witness a repeat of the World Wat lIBlitzkrieg with tank diuisions swarming into neigltbouringcountries, The Soviet anion and her WarPac allies maintain avast tank supertority over the NATO countries. She holds thatthey are for defence, but the West is not conuinced. Seeingthese ovemrrhelming forces pitched against them, NATO con-siders it can only hold the line for a short time. From then on

any battle in Europe would soon escalate to nuelear dimen-stons.

Iff Betsium has a tota or 334Leopard T MBTs 1p us specia rzed veh cies)

.rnd about 60 lV47 lar<s The lalter form a

reserve batta ion One mechanlzed brigaders fomard'depoyed n West GermanY.

E WE""."da has one brisade groupbased n West Germany, tncluding one tankbattallon lor armoured regrmenl) equippedwllh a roral of 53 leopard 143 MBTS

I ru France. rvlBrs .-r -::.. :

,r.orredo\ -or 'ofAd-d the rc.1 t t/oa .'' :

*nrcl tnetc orc n o, al ,l - .:

r.Ld." lwO td-. ^9 tr

AMr:0VBtsr.'d n -t, regref -r,..'

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paniesoi 20AMX-30s), cac''.'- : --r)onthJS'd dlol"l or ld5-. :

total ing'l 184overal Three.:-- :-'-,or'\ 4rn tornd.d.d^pto,e\: ..many.

five armoured, seven mechanrzed. lin'c ndependent mechanrzed and four rdeoende'tmotorrzed T.ea'ro-.oo -. sorhave two armoured ard mech:n zed b'-gades, the former wlth loo la^.: 5e::a trsand the latter wlth one Each iari c?:la cnhas 49 MBTs. Total tar( st'e.r:" -c !des300 M60A1 s, 920 Leoparc I s 'o -s . ?r a-lsland a few M47s.

Iffii'----:- West Germany .- , o r o'1 232 M4B series \./31. 2 *37 -eopard 1

iMBTs (plus v3' :i-:: :'al :30!1 700-elp.:rd 2 MBTs rcu: :' - 30Cordcred) The'.r.lul.rr army cors sl: t'3t3 br gades nclud--ar I7 irmourec :"r -5:rmoured nfantry.::rh oi tre fc''-at .a udes three tank::::: a-s. ard ll-,e aller each have one tanki:'::e cr. eacn ballai on having 41 MBTs--e teff lor a army rcludcs 1 2 tank batta't's

The Netherlands has two.rnroured and four mechanzed brigades.:re armoured br gade and supporting un ts

being foMard depioyed to West GermanvEach armoured brigade includes two tar(battaions each wth 53 MBTs. whre themechanlzed brigade has one tank batta onTotai Dutch MBT strenqth consists of ,168

Leopard 1 s (plus variants), 368 Centur ons,and the f rst of some 445 Leopard 2s whichare to be dellvered by 1986.

NIZ'Z/lsSunited Kingdom. rre o rrs^Army of the Rhine nc udes nine tank regrments (or balta rons) each of which is equLpped w'th a total of 74 Chiefta n MBTs, wlthanother two reg ments expected to beformed rn the md 1980s The first oi 237Cha lenger MBTs were handed over rn

March 1983, and four of the BAOR's current Ch eftain regrmenls will be convertedio the Challenger Tota British Chieftainstrength I nc uding reseivesl is estimated'tc be around 900

ffi:-United States. T'^ - S ,lh Arrvln West Germany ncludes two armouredand lwo mechanized d v s ons and onearmoured, one cava ry and one mechanizedbrigades. Each armoured d v s on norma lyhas six tank batta lons ard each mecha-nized vision four tank battal ons. each tankbattalion hav ng an authonzed tank strengthof 54 M60A1/M6043 MBTs lnclud ng vehl-c es held in reserve or eaTmarked for use byunlts currently statloned rn the USA, thereare about 3,000 Arnencan MBTs in WestGermany Severai hundred of the new M1MBTs are now deployed in West Germany

f- czechostovakia has { ve moto-rized rifle and five tank divisions, al1 orga-nized along Soviet lines. Total tank strengthis thought to inc ude about 3,000 T 54/T 55and 4A0I-62n-12 MBTs.

I I Hungary -:.l:::-::: -'.- : :: :

S:r e' --. -:-: .

-e'.ll--.,-, a :.:

@ Eastcermanreo!ip3e: a-a-a-- aa::couf:-es ':^:r -::

" -tvr'c:3...r rr I l.l:be e,,gJ :: rr ::- :-MBTs ; s^ : ,- ...' :'ing nurce' -'-- -: : :85s usec ':"'a - -: :

E potandmotor zed ''= : . :

Sovet ..es -a'. .T-54T-55s 2-- -'-:T-34 85 ra-.s -:::r ':

Frn"rrrr-,,126 moio'z3r -'- .: ,

each hav ^g ::: .':-, :MBTs Toto ::-. : : ::

least 50 CCO .:- : :: :

T55, T62 r-i* - - :Sion f c;-: --^-r: lobso esce-: '::. . :,; :are he0 ^'=::ai

TheS:,::J.:,-:::lows : r' !..: l.'- : 'motoTrTeo''; -::::gary twc t3-. -:-r :..:Czechos c!e. : :.. r :lzed r:e .:-::,--::iand 40 notcr::: '' :one 13fK 3Tc ' ,: :-:southern t SSi ll -:'.and a ong the C- ^::: : .

andSrXtar\a,:::poved r Afc::-:::-

Italy 1a\ 2d o o.u.- . r'c

cons sts of '2;) -:::,--'':C,onlur ons ,,r :ir - :a ' '

Denmark. Tc :i :;n( strcnglh-::"c:iboJt 90

- :i' : iL|S

ussR:::i*r- -i-ri'ir*i-rrr--r-:::-irrir-r-a ---rlr t =-r*iEirr----:-:- rrr - --ra- ai:-r-rrrr r-':r---:--i-r:i----- ---.=-a:.-:-:rrr--;:*--rrrr--rr:----ir-rrr-aal=-rc =1- i=-=:-:-- i'=-i:rrlrr:.irrrrrrl=r:i*:Errrr irr rr.=rr-a r-:- r-r-:-t

a-=-: r-ri-=r rr.irr===== --trt.*tit- -i:--* _lt- -rr -----:- !r-r---=t - i

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Unitcd Kingdommriodty dsployrd to Gdrooy

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Hungary

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reinforcement by reserves and the movement into the atea of fore ffielsewhere ( in the U S A in the c ase of N ATO, an d in the F arEast for *e [/SSRThe arrows show the generally assumedpatis oI any attackingSode' 5r-rEachtanksymbolrepresentsl0?tanks. i --

US Amy-.

L ['jzz Main Battte TankThe T-72 MBT was seen ln pubhc forthe first time during a parade held inRed Square (Moscow) during Novem-ber 1977, although it is now known tohave entered production in 1971. InApril l97B American reports statedthat pr:oduction of the T-64 and T-72was running at the rate of some 2,400unlts a year and that by i9B7 it wasexpected that a total of 30,000 vehicles.would have been built. Since then it isbeheved that production of the T-64has in fact stopped and that productionrs now concentrated on the T-72, withproduction ofthe T-80 expected to be-qrn rn the near future, Production of theT-72 is also undertaken in Czechoslo-vakra and Poland and is expected toalso be undertaken in lndia. By l9B3the T-72 was known to be rn servicewith the following countries; Algerra,Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, EastGermany, Hungary, India, Libya, Po-]and, Romania, Syriaand, ofcourse, theUSSR. The T-72 was first used in com-bat by Syria against Israeli armouredunits in southern Lebanon durrng thesummer of 1982,

The layout of the T-72 rs conventron-al, wrth the driver's compartment at thefront, the turret in the centre, and theengine and transmission at the rear.The hull may incorporate some type ofadvanced armour (especially on theglacrs plate), although the turret is be-lLeved to be ofconventronal cast steelarmour construction, The commanderIS seated on the right and the gunneron the left, the former being providedwlth a cupola that can be traversedthrough 360", and on this rs mounted a),27-mm (0.S-in) machine-gnrn for anti-

P rovis ional drawi ng of T - 7 2 M BTwith the commander's cupola fittedwith 1 2.7-mm AA MG traversed rear.At hull rear are the long range fue)tanks that can be quicklyjettisoned.Side skrits provide defence againstATGWs wilh their HEAT warheads.

arrcraft defence.The crew has been reduced to three

as an automatic loader, mounted in thelower part of the hull, has enabled thefourth man to be omitted. Full details ofthe loader are not yet availablealthough it is thought to be stmilar to acarousel with the projectiles in thelower part and the cartridge, which isbelieved to have a combustible case,in the upper part. Some reports havelndicated that the automatrc loader hasnot proved reliable in service and insome instances has trted to place thegmnner in the breech instead of theammunitionl A total of 40 rounds of 125-mm ammunitron rs carried, a typrcalload consisting of 12 APFSDS, 22 HEand six HEAT, The APFSDS has a muz-zle velocity of 1615m (5,300ft) Persecond and will penetrate 300 mm(l LB rn) of armour at a range of 1000 m(1,095 yards), while the HEAT-FS has amuzzle velocity of 900 m (2,955 ft) persecond and will penetrate 475 mm(18.7 in) armour at a similar range. A7.62-mm (0.3 in) PKT machine-gmn tsmounted co-axially with the matnarmament.

The flre-control system includes anoptical rangefinder mounted in the for-ward part of the turret rool in front ofthe commander's cupola; more recentproduction vehicles have a laserrangefrnder.

The suspensron rs of the torsron-bartype, with six large road wheels, theidler at the front, drrve sprocket at therear and three track-return rollers, thelast supporting the Lnsrde of the trackonly. When the tank is in action, fourspring-loaded skirts are fltted over theforward part of the track on each srdeand spring forward to glve some pro-tectron against HEAT attack, notablyfrom mrssiles.

As on all Russran tanks, Iong-rangefuel tanks can be mounted at the hullrear; in the case of the T-72 these ln-crease lts road operatrng range from480 km (298 miles) to 700 km (435miles), Standard equlpment includesan NBC system, infra-red night-visionequipment and a schnorkel for deepfording, Mounted under the nose oftheT-72 ts a dozer blade for clearrngobstacles or prepanng fire posrtLons.

Although the T-72 is a srgnrficant tm-

provement over prevrous Russian tankdesiqns 1n terms of flrepower andprobably armour protection, it rs notthought to be superior to the BritishChallenger or West German Leopard2 designs on the basrs of a one-to-oneaction; where it does score, however,is that rt is already in service in hugenumbers whereas the Challenger isonly just entering servrce and only afew hundred Leopard 2s are in ser-VICC.

SpecificationCrew: 3Weight: 41 tonnesEngine: V- 12 dresel developing 780 hp(582-kw)Dimensions: length (with gun forward)9.24 m (30 ft 33/q in); lensth (hull) 6.95 m(22fi 9'% in); width (without skirts)3.6 m (11 ft 93/a in); herght (without AAMG) 2 37 m (7 ft 97s in)Performance: maximum roaci speed60 kr/h (37.25 mph); maximum range480 km (298 miles); fording 1.4 m (4 ft7rn); gradrent 60%; vertical obstacle0.915m (3ft 0in); trench 2.9m (9ftZt/q rn)

t i'jeo Main Battle TankSLnce the second half of the 1970sl,Vestern intelligence sources havestated that the USSR is about to field a:ew MBT which has been gdven the',Vestern designation T-80.

According to American reports in.cth 1979 and 1980 some 200 pre-production T-80 tanks were built for:xtensr.ve troop trials, with full-scale.::roduction expected to take place by,:65 There has been some specula-:.::r that the T-80 rs in fact the T-64 wrth: :.ew turret incorporating Chobham

"':e armour.- re layout of the T-80 is convention-

-. ',','1th the drrver's compartment at the-:::.: turret rn the centre, and engrner.=.i iransmission at the rear. The drLv-:: :-as to hrs front a well-shaped glacis:.::: on whrch rs a vee-shaped splash-: , a:d to stop water rushing up the gla-^ : piate ',ffhen the tank is fordrng riv-=:. a:i has a single wrde-angle peri-.:::: ror driving in the closed-down: , s-:-::

-:-: c:mmander and gunner are:==:=i -: the turret one oneachsideof':-.= ::,:.:. armament whlch has an auto-

-.-.: r:ader so enabltng the T-80's::=',',':: i:: kept to three men, as rn the,-:=: --:i a:d T-72 MBTs

.' -: ::-=^r:-ed that lhe main arma-:.:.: -: : ::::rer development of the.-,':::. ;:: rncunted in the T-64 and- , - -: --. ::.::glt unlikely that the Rus-,..:-. ,'.' -.: .:.'::du:e yet anothel gun:1,::- --=.:- ::.erI tank fleet as, exclud---..':.= :---: amphLbtous light tank

. : :-.-:- ;::. ::-d T-10 heavy tank (122-:. ;,:- .:,='; aLready have three:-.-: ..' -:..::=s :f qurvammunttion,

100-mm in the T-54 and T-55, 1iS-mmin the T-62 and 125-mm in the T-64 andT-72, It is most probable that the T-80fires a much improved range ofammunitron, and some reports have in-dicated that this will rnclude anHVAPFSDS (High-Velocity Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Drscarding-Sabot) projectile with a depleted-uranrum penetrator for rmprovedarmour-piercing capability. The qun isfully stabilized and the fire-controlsytem probably includes a laserrangefinder which has already beenintroduced on late productron T-72MBTs, A 7.62-mm (0.3-in) machine-enrnis mounted co-axially wrth the mainarmament, and a 12.7-mm or 14.5-mm(0.5-in or 0.57-jn) machine gun tsmounted on the turet roof for anti-aircraft defence. The value of the lattermust be questioned as the chances ofhitting a jet aircraft are very small.Mounted on each side ofthe turret andfiring forwards is a bank of four dts-chargers. As all Soviet tanks have thecapabrlrty to lay their own smokescreen by injectingr diesel fuel into theexhaust, there is some speculation thatthese (similar dischargers have alsobeen observed on recent productionT-72 MBTs) may in fact launch chaff ordecoys to confuse NATO missiles sucltas the MILAN, HOT and TOW.

The suspension of the T-80 is beheved to be of the hydro-pneumalrctype, and enables the driver to adjustthe grround clearance to sult the type ofground being crossed. It consists ofsLxsmall road wheels wrth the idler at thefront and drive sprocket at the rear.

The upper part of the track and theretum rollers are covered by skirting;it rs not known if these provrde armourprotection or simply help to keep thedust down,

SpecificationCrew: 3Weight: 48.5 tonnesEngine: dresel developing 750 hp(560 kw)Dimensions: Iength (hull) 7.0m (22f111% rn); wrdth 3.5 m (11 ft 53/a tn),height 2 3 m (7 ft 6Llz in)

I n March 1 983 the US Department ofD efense al loc ate d the T - 80designation to the late productionmodelof theT-72 MBT, although

the designationT-74.

Performance: maximum road sPeed70 km/h (43.5 mph); ranse 450 km (280

miles); gradient 60%; vertical obstacle0.92m (2ft 117zin); trench 2.Bm (9ftZVz rn)(Note the above spectfications are pro-visional)

Armed Forces of the World

Omcn:: - ruch of its existence Oman relied on the United' ^gdom for its external defence, but from 1963--..e was a rebellion in Dhofar province. The with-:':walof British forcesfromthe Middle Eastin 1967:: to the establishment of the Popular Democraticrepublic of Yemen (PDRY) in Aden, who backed thelJerrilla {actions in the Dhofar area. The Popular:'ont for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO)was formed.! th the backing of the PDRY and with considerable:ss stance in the form of arms and supplies fromln na and lraq. ln July'l 970 the Sultan Oabus over-:rrew his old father in a coup and this led to a rapidexpansion of the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF),

.vhich until then was essent allv a mercenary forceed by British contract off cers. From 1973 a com-clete lranian brigade started to operate ln the Dhofar3rea togetherwith their log st c support and helicop-rers. Northrop F-5 fighters and radars were alsosupplied and manned by iran, pend ng tne arrivalrrom the United Kingdorn of 12 SEPECAT Jaguarf ighter/bombers. The arr va of tne lran an iorces andexpansion of the armed :orces, nclud ng the n-

creaslng number of oca s, ed to the gradualpushing-back of the PFLO ntc Scrtn Yen'en. By themid-1970s the war was esse,rt a v cver, and sincethen there has been very 1tl1e 'r- :ar\'act vity. Thelranian presence started to r..rn Cc.'.'". and by thetime of the lranian Revolution n 1973 ess tlran 1000troops remained; these have s 1:. been r-eplaced

by a much smaller number of Eor:l ar l'cops.Oman has a population of just ..r:i3' :'e n' ll on,

with the armed forces cons sl -! a' ess than20,000, excluding expatrate :;'s--'= -1ere arestill many British and Pak stan ." ::'s a"d men oncontract, although Ornanis d!e ?'=)-= . :a< 19 overin many units. Defence accc.l-:s ':'a -alor part ofGovernment expenditure, \^,.ose ':3re :s almostentirely dependent on o I, tnc,-:' S:-d Arabia con-tinues to provide sign f ica^t '--: ^g 'cr tne Omanidefence effort.

TheArmyhasa strengtn c' :c:-: 1 5,OOO men andconsists of two brigade !Os ,-: :^e Royal GuardBrigade, which together cc^:': s:^-e three artilleryreglments, one srgna s a^3 :^3 :'-oured regim-ents, eight infantry batia :-s c-g neer and para-chute squadrons ano s:a: , :=: 'orces.

Of the artillery reg n ei:s :.'. 1 a'e I ght reg mentswith 25-pounderfield g--s :-: r.r'alOrdnance Fac-tory Nottinghan" l05--- j': Jns, while themedium regiment nas S:'. :: -30-rm M-46 towedguns and Arnencan 155---'""0-o self-propelledhowitzers. Artillery fire c:rt': si'stems are mainlyBritish. and a number o' iY Cvrbeline mortar-locating radars arb n use

Members of theOmaniDelence Forces loadingRapier ultra-low-level defence misslJes on fo tfieIauncher.

- "irnr*nirt

The armoured regiment operates threearmoured-car and two tank squadrons. The formerare equrpped with Alvis Saladin (6x6) armoured carswith a number of Alvis Scorpron CVR(T)s recentlyintroduced, while the latter are equipped with sixAmerrcan M604T and 12 ex-British army ChieftainMBTs. The latter are on loan, while 15 new vehiclesare being built at Roya Ordnance Factory Leeds;these have a nurnber of modif ications requested byOman, and are known as the Oayis Al Ardh.

lnfantry equ pment s of Western origin and in-cludes 9-mm Brown ng pistols, 9-mm SterlingSMGs; 7 62-mm FAL, 5 56-mm M1641 and 5.56-mm SIG rifles; 7 62-n'n' FN MAG GPMG, FrenchThomson-Brandt 6O-mm, British B1-mm L-16 andAmerlcan M3O 4.2-in (107-mm) mortars; andHughes TOW ATGWs. Armoured personnel carriersinclude the French VAB and the British AT 105; fourSoviet ZSU-23-4 SPAAGs are also in service.

The Omanl a r force has a strength of about 2,000,plus a high number of expatriate personnel, and hasone squadron w th 1 2 Hawker Hunter Mk 73 f ighter/ground-attack aircraft, plus Hunter T.Mk 66 andT.Mk 67 trainers (some o{ the former have a photo-reconnaissance capability); one squadron with theremains of 12 SEPECAT Jaguar fighter-bombers;and one trainer/COIN squadron with 12 BAC One-Eleven, one Dassault-Breguet Falcon 10, seven Brit-ten-Norman Defender, 15 Shorts Skyvan 3MF andthree Lockheed C-1 30H Hercules transport aircraft.Two de Havilland Canada DHC-5D transport aircrafthave been ordered. The one helicopter squadron is

equipped with some 'l 5 Agusta-Bell AB 205s, twoAB 206s and five Bell Model 214s. There is also a

Royal Flight with one Grumman Gulfstream, oneBAC VC '1 0, one Douglas DC-8, two FWA AS 202sand four Agusta-Bell AB 212 helicopters. Air de-fence weapons conslst of 28 British AerospaceRapier missile launchers and a similar number ofMarconi Space and Defence Systems Blindfireradars to give an all-weather capability.

The navy has a strength of 1 500 and has recentlycompleted a major re-equipment programme; themain operatlng base is Muscat, with advancedbases at Mina Raysut and Jazirat. Craft include a

Royal Yacht which has been fitted with a helicopterpad and also carries a Fairey Marine Spear patrolcraft. The three new Vosper Thornycroft 56-metreProvince fast-attack craft are armed with a single76-mm OTO Melara Compact gun forward, twinBreda anti-aircraft guns aft, the latest fire controlsystems and six Exocet surface-to-surface missiles.The two Brooke Marine fast-attack craft missileswere completed in 1973 and are armed with twin4O-mm Breda guns forward and two launchers for

Exocet surface{o-surface fi- ss =: ": ---'=

or ginally three ships in th s c :ss :,. : -: .

overboard in the Bay o' B sc:. ^ !- : . . -

shipped backto Oman a+ter a -:.:- -=' --also four Brooke Mar ne Fasl :'.'.'.:. l'.'-which were all comm ss onel ' ' :-- .-armed with a single 76-n^n' OiC ','= .-' I -gun forward and a sing e 2O-'rr i=' . -' -

aft.The Landing Ship Log st c',as ::^-- :: -'1 979 and has a crew ol 4l a'd ca' :.-'. -: '

troops as well as armoured ven c es .- I :

Armament consists of a 76-mrn OTO "':

:-'pact gun forward, and two 20-mrn ca^-:-copter deck is f itted aft, and two Roto:< : - : -are carried. In addition the navy has so-e s ' :craft, three British Skima-'1 2 hovercr:':,-:support craft

ln addition to the regular forces there s i:: :-:tribal Home Guard (the Firqats) with a s:-:-:.- :'over3000 men, aswellasa police Mar nc r'; -l :- lan Air Wing.

Order of BattleArmyOne Royal Guard BrigadeEight infantry battalionsOne medium and two light artillery regimenls \'- -:'::

mm SP howitzers and 105-mm light gunsrOnearmoured regiment {Saladin and Scorpor re::--: ::

ance vehicles, M60A1 and Chieftain MBTsOne signal regimentOne parachute squadronSpecialized troops

Air ForceOne fighterbomber squadron (SEPECAT Jagua'One fighter-bomber/reconnaissance squadron -: . . . :

Hunter)One COIN/training squadron (BAC StrikemasterThree transport squadrons (BAC One-Elever -a :. -:: :

C 130, Britten-Norman Defender, Shorts S<v':- I -':sault-Breguet Falcon)

One helicopter squadron (Agusta Bell AB 205 3no :: : , a

Bell Model 214)One Royal Flight {BAC VC-10, Douglas DC-8, G----:-

Gulfstream, FWA AS.202, Aqusta-Bell AB 212Two air defence squadrons (Rapier with Blindf re

NavyOne Royal Yacht/CorvetteOne logrstic iand ng shipFive fast attack craft (missile)Four fast attack craft (gun)Support vessels