Due to the complexity of modern conflict, many historical gainers are caught short in conversations about modem conflict. Most of their knowledge stops at WWII, so this series is basically for the novice, so he can be brought up to speed about Modem Warfare (MW). Since my widest field of knowledge lies in MW ground combat, that is were we will start. 1. Main Battle Tanks This is a short list of the major nations' Main Battle Tank or MTB. This is just a short incomplete list, but it does cover the main powers. The MTB basic mission is to be able to win the armor battle in war. They are designed to survive and for lethality on battle field. A. M1-A2 HA: This fine tank is the new version of the M-1 MBT. It has tons of advanced electronics and an all new armored suite with gun stabilization. This allows the main gun to fire at high speeds. In a modern tank battle if you stop in an area to fire. you usually are dead in a short time. Speed is armor. The M-1 has been in the U.S. inventory since the '80s, but this tank is also being used by the forces of Egypt and Saudi Arabia. DATA M-1 A2 HA (HEAVY ARMOR) Main Gun: 120 mm smoothbore cannon firing APFSDS, APFSDS-DU, HEAT. HE. (We'll talk more about a tank's rounds ACRONYMS later in the series.) Secondary Guns: I cupola mounted 12.7 mm Heavy Machine Gun (.50 caliber) and 2 7.62mm (.30 caliber) pivot Machine Guns. Armor: Equivalent to 32 inches on the front slope. Depleted uranium plates are placed around the turret and front facing. These are to stop depleted uranium (DU) rounds. Road Speed: Approximately 72 MPH. Weight: Approximately 65 tons fully loaded. B. Challenger II: The Challenger series has been the mainstay of British forces since its introduction in the seventies. This MBT holds the \worlds record for the longest direct fire kill of another MBT in combat. In Kuwait. a Challenger knocked out an Iraqi T-55 from a distance of 4.5 klicks (3 miles)! However this lank has a poor record of reliability for maintenance and is slow in ground speed when compared to other modern MBTs, which makes this tank a less than perfect weapon. DATA: Challenger II Main Gun: 120 nmn rifled cannon firing APFSDS, HESH. Secondary Guns: I coaxial 20mm chain gun. I cupola 7.62mm MG. Armor: Equivalent to 17 inches on the front slope. Tank armor uses Cobham with Explosive Reactive Plates (ER). Road Speed: Approximately 60 MPH. Weight: Approximately 65 tons fully loaded. C. EPC LECLERC: This French MIBT is on the cutting edge of today's technology. LECLERC uses computers to manage its complete ammo and fuel needs always. Its detailed logistics can be worked out on the battlefeld, giving the French knowledge they can use immediately while their opponents must take time to query the operator of enemy tank. This time efficiency can allow the French to win close battles. With all its good qualities. the manufacturer of the LECLERC has found a large export market for this new piece of technology. DATA: EPC LECLERC Main Gun: 120 mm smoothbore cannon firing APFSDS, HEAT. Secondary Guns: I coaxial 12.7mm MG, 1 cupola 7.62mm MG. Armor: Equivalent to 14 inches on the front slope. New armor packages come with ER armor. Road Speed: Approximately 72 MPH. Weight: Approximately 53 tons fully loaded. D. T-90e: This Russian cheaper alternative to the T-80 MBT is already in production with several export orders waiting to be filled. This MBT uses the chassis of the T-72, and the turret of T-80 to make a new vehicle. The model E has taken the best of both designs and adds a few innovations of its own. With its new Infrared Missile Suppression System (IRMSS) and a new LASER ranging. detection system, the T-90e is one of the best low cost MBT alternatives today. DATA: T-90e Main Gun: 125 mm smoothbore cannon firing APFSDS-DU. HEAT. HE. AT-11 ATGW (cannon fired AT missile). Secondary Guns: 1 coaxial 7.62mm MG.. 1 pivot 12.5mm MG. Armor: Equivalent to 18 inches on the front slope and turret. Armor is composite, multilayered in this order: 1 inch treated rubber wrap over enhanced 2nd generation ER plates. Road Speed: Approximately 60 MPH. Weight: Approximately 46.5 tons fully loaded. E. Leopard 2-I (Improved) This is the finest made MBT in the world. (What do you expect from the country that gave us the Porche, BMW, Mercedes Benz, PZKW V {Panther), PZKW VI (Tiger I], and PZKW VI-II {Tiger I]}). The Leopard follows in the paw tracks of its illustrious big cat ancestors. The workmanship. quality and fighting ability of this MBT is an example of excellence to the rest of the free world. The word "good" does not do justice to this vehicle. Main Gun: 120 mm smoothbore cannon firing APFSDS. HEAT. Secondary Guns: I coaxial 7.62mm MG. I pivot 7.62mm MG. Armor: Equivalent to 18 inches of composite an-nor with the option of Explosive Reactive Plates. Road Speed: Approximately 72 KPH. Weight: Approximately 62.5 tons fully loaded. In future articles I will go into greater detail on the MBT and many other subjects. Next issue, I'll discuss modern rounds used in today's armies around the world. Back to Table of Contents The Messenger December 1995 Back to The Messenger List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1995 by HMGS/PSW. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com