Iran and Iraq had some pretty big ones during their little clash during the 80's as well.

That is correct. I meant to write "western countrys"

Why is a tank the best ? Hard question each country has different ideas of what's best.

Germany and USA have both gone for a good gun and an a fast tank at a good price. But both have had to increase their armour as they both went for the first kill and move out against masses of USSR tanks. Adding armour to the outside of a tank is never as good as having it there at the first place.

Israel and Uk have both gone for good gun and best armour. With modern fire control systems moving at 40 mph against 30 mph is very little difference so both nation have gone for tanks that can survive a hit. In the present gulf war USA tanks have been destroyed by one rpg hit, against one case of a UK tank throwing a track the taking 47 rpg hits before friendly tanks came to help. The UK studying WW2 action found that the main differences between their shermans and Germany Tanks was the fire control and how many full hits (through the armour) would be needed to kill the tank. The sherman would cook off usual on the first round where a german panther would take about 4 hits.

Another point is reliability of the tank as germany found having a monster tank that didn't work was just one big piece of metal.

In judging tanks I would look at this points.

1. The fire Control , percentage first hit and how fast to 2nd target.
2. The Gun and Round.
3. Armour.
4. Mobility.
5. Reliability.
6. Intergration of tank in to the on going battle.
7. Cost ( how many can you have.)
8. Time to repair. ( is the engine easy to change.)

As far as equipment goes, the M1A2 Abrams is not the top tank in use. The reason this tank is so hard to beat is due to several factors. Training is probably the top reason for its superiority in combat. Followed quickly by support from well trained Bradley, howitzer, and rocket artillery support.Most militaries don't go looking for the best 1v1 tank, they look for the tank that best fits the grand sceme of how they operate. All modern tracks are fairly easy to maintain once you get comfortable with the size of everything. Trust me it took me a while to get used to changing a nearly 130 lb. alternator but now in retrospect the fact that its so big does simplify many things, such as never needing anything smaller than a 9/16in or 14mm wrench.

I'm the son of a M1A1 Abrams tank commander, I've vollenteered at the Zussman Urban Cobat Training Center, I've riden in a M1A1 Abrams-D, and I've been to the Perry Tank range here at Knox, I've done these things numorous times.


Its not the M1A2 it the M1A2 SEP:

The Abrams tank closes with and destroys enemy forces on the integrated battlefield using mobility, firepower, and shock effect. There are three variants in service: M1, M1A1 and M1A2. The 120mm main gun on the M1A1 and M1A2, combined with the powerful 1,500 hp turbine engine and special armor, make the Abrams tank particularly suitable for attacking or defending against large concentrations of heavy armor forces on a highly lethal battlefield.

Features of the M1A1 modernization program include increased armor protection; suspension improvements; and a nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection system that increases survivability in a contaminated environment. The M1A1D modification consists of an M1A1 with integrated appliqué computer and a far-target-designation capability.

The M1A2 modernization program includes a commander's independent thermal viewer, an improved commander's weapon station, position navigation equipment, a distributed data and power architecture, an embedded diagnostic system and improved fire control systems.

The M1A2 System Enhancement Program (SEP) adds second-generation thermal sensors and a thermal management system. The SEP includes upgrades to processors/memory that enable the M1A2 to use The Army's common command and control software, enabling the rapid transfer of digital situational data and overlays.

Protection The point about being knocked out by an RPG may be a bit silly truthfully. A lucky hit with an RPG could take out any of the top tanks in the world. "The best armored tank in the world" has to factor in new technologies or the lack of them. Depleted uranium is pretty huge. In overall design, the Merkava is the best IMHO. Better sloping of surfaces and BY FAR the most battlefield tested tank in the world. The Leopard and Challenger are also both very well protected. The Abrams is one of the few that has depleted unranium implemented in its armor.

Not only that the Abrams is the only tank to use Uranium-depleted shells the Sabot, HEAT, MPAT, and STAFF.

Originally Posted by Amn. Adam Seaman

Not only that the Abrams is the only tank to use Uranium-depleted shells the Sabot, HEAT, MPAT, and STAFF.

Actually the British, French, Israelis, Chinese, Pakistani and Russian military all use DU. The US just has the best DU penetrator, the M289A3 with 960mm of penetration.