Battle tanks serve as an integral part of any infantry operation. Modern tactics rely on armor to push through static positions and stage breakthroughs. With that in mind, we’re looking at the most popular battle tanks ever made.
Do Tanks Still Have a Place on the Battlefield?
No two wars are alike, so the operational needs of any military are going to differ from conflict to conflict. That said, there is still a place for tanks on the modern battlefield. While there has been an overwhelming shift to lighter vehicles, we’re still seeing the efficacy of a battle tank in Ukraine where the terrain suits their use.
Do Tanks Hunt By Themselves?
Typically, no, they operate alongside infantry. Infantry is capable of fending off other infantry elements while taking up key positions along a tank’s route. A solo tank isn’t going to stay alive for very long.
How Do Infantry Deal with Tanks?
Most infantry elements will have anti-tank weapons at their disposal. Barring something like a rocket-propelled grenade, they’ve got the means to call in air support if fire superiority is present. Infantry is the most dangerous thing a tank can deal with, thanks in part to the element of stealth.
34. ROTEM K1 (Type 88)
- Year introduced: 1986
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 120mm KM256 main gun, 7.62 M60E2-1 coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm K6 anti-aircraft machine gun, M60D general purpose machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: South Korea
- Total units manufactured: 1,500
- Manufacturer(s): Hyundai ROTEM
- Top speed: 40 mph
33. BMD-2 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta)
- Year introduced: 1985
- Type: Amphibious light tank
- Armament: 30mm 2A42 cannon, ATGM missile launcher, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm PKT bow-mounted machine gun
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Total units manufactured: 2,150
- Manufacturer(s): Volgograd Tractor Plant
- Top speed: 50 mph
32. M-84 (MBT)
- Year introduced: 1985
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 125mm 2A46 smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62 coaxial anti-infantry machine gun, smoke grenade discharger
- Country of origin: Yugoslavia
- Total units manufactured: 652
- Manufacturer(s): State Factories
- Top speed: 42 mph
31. Type 85 (YW531H)
- Year introduced: 1985
- Type: Amphibious light tank
- Armament: 85mm main gun, 14.5mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm general purpose machine gun
- Country of origin: North Korea
- Total units manufactured: 500
- Manufacturer(s): State Factories
- Top speed: 37 mph
30. NORINCO Type 85-II
- Year introduced: 1985
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 125mm main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: China
- Total units manufactured: 2,000
- Manufacturer(s): China North Industries Corporation
- Top speed: 36 mph
29. NORINCO ZTZ-88 (Type 80/85/88)
- Year introduced: 1985
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 105mm rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, smoke dischargers
- Country of origin: China
- Total units manufactured: 3,000
- Manufacturer(s): China North Industries Corporation
- Top speed: 40 mph
28. TAMSE TAM (Tanque Argentino Mediano)
- Year introduced: 1983
- Type: Medium tank
- Armament: 105mm rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Argentina
- Total units manufactured: 200
- Manufacturer(s): Thyssen-Henschel / TAMSE
- Top speed: 47 mph
27. BMP-2 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty)
- Year introduced: 1982
- Type: Infantry fighting vehicle
- Armament: 30mm 2A42 main gun, 7.62 PKTM coaxial machine gun, 9M113 Konkurs missile launcher, smoke dischargers
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Total units manufactured: 35,000
- Manufacturer(s): Kurgan Machine Construction Plant
- Top speed: 40 mph
26. Khalid (Sword)
- Year introduced: 1981
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 120mm L11A5 rifled main gun, 7.62mm L8A2 coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm L37A2 anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Total units manufactured: 274
- Manufacturer(s): Royal Ordinance Factories / Vickers Defense Systems
- Top speed: 30 mph
25. Chonma-ho (Pegasus)
- Year introduced: 1981
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 125mm 2A46 main gun, 14.5mm KPV anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial general purpose machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: North Korea
- Total units manufactured: 1,255
- Manufacturer(s): Second Machine Industry Bureau
- Top speed: 31 mph
24. OTO-Melara OF-40
- Year introduced: 1981
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 105mm L7 main gun, 7.62 coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Italy
- Total units manufactured: 39
- Manufacturer(s): OTO-Melara
- Top speed: 37 mph
23. M1 Abrams
- Year introduced: 1980
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 120mm Rheinmetall M256A1 smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm Browning M1HB anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm M240 coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: United States
- Total units manufactured: 10,000
- Manufacturer(s): General Dynamics
- Top speed: 42 mph
22. Leopard 2
- Year introduced: 1979
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 120mm Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore main gun, 7.62mm MG3A1 coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm MG3A1 anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Germany
- Total units manufactured: 3,500
- Manufacturer(s): Krauss-Maffei Wegmann
- Top speed: 45 mph
21. Merkava (Chariot)
- Year introduced: 1979
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 120mm main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, 60mm mortar launcher, smoke grenade launchers
- Country of origin: Israel
- Total units manufactured: 2,100
- Manufacturer(s): Israeli Ordnance Corps Facility
- Top speed: 29 mph
20. Denel Olifant (Elephant)
- Year introduced: 1978
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 105mm L7 rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 7.62 anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade launchers
- Country of origin: South Africa
- Total units manufactured: 172
- Manufacturer(s): OMC Engineering / Vickers Reumach / LIW Denel
- Top speed: 36 mph
19. TR-580 (Tanc Romanesc Model 580)
- Year introduced: 1977
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 100mm A308 rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun
- Country of origin: Romania
- Total units manufactured: 632
- Manufacturer(s): State Factories
- Top speed: 31 mph
18. T-80 (MBT)
- Year introduced: 1976
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 125mm main gun, 12.7mm air defense machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Total units manufactured: 5,500
- Manufacturer(s): Omsk Transmash / Malyshev / LKZ
- Top speed: 43 mph
17. Type 74 (Nana-yon)
- Year introduced: 1975
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 105mm rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun
- Country of origin: Japan
- Total units manufactured: 893
- Manufacturer(s): Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- Top speed: 37 mph
16. T-72 (Ural)
- Year introduced: 1972
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 125mm smoothbore main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Total units manufactured: 25,000
- Manufacturer(s): State Factories
- Top speed: 42 mph
15. Jagdpanzer SK 105 Kurassier
- Year introduced: 1971
- Type: Light tank
- Armament: 105mm main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Austria
- Total units manufactured: 716
- Manufacturer(s): Saurer-Werk / Steyr-Daimler-Puch
- Top speed: 43 mph
14. Alvis FV107 Scimitar
- Year introduced: 1971
- Type: Armed reconnaissance vehicle
- Armament: 30mm L21 RARDEN cannon, 7.62mm L37A1 coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Total units manufactured: 641
- Manufacturer(s): Alvis
- Top speed: 50 mph
13. BMD-1 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta)
- Year introduced: 1966
- Type: Infantry fighting vehicle
- Armament: 73mm 2A28 smoothbore cannon, 9M14M anti-tank guided missiles
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Total units manufactured: 2,000
- Manufacturer(s): Volgograd Tractor Plant
- Top speed: 50 mph
12. BMP-1 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty)
- Year introduced: 1966
- Type: Infantry fighting vehicle
- Armament: 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm PKT bow-mounted machine gun
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Total units manufactured: 26,000
- Manufacturer(s): State Factories
- Top speed: 40 mph
11. T-64
- Year introduced: 1966
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 125mm D-81 smoothbore main gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Total units manufactured: 13,000
- Manufacturer(s): Malyshev Factory
- Top speed: 43 mph
10. Leopard 1
- Year introduced: 1965
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 105mm Royal Ordnance L7A3 L/52 rifled main gun, 7.62mm MG 3 coaxial machine gun, 7.62 machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Germany
- Total units manufactured: 5,816
- Manufacturer(s): Krauss-Maffei Wegmann
- Top speed: 40 mph
9. Chieftain MBT
- Year introduced: 1965
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 120mm L11 main gun, 12.7mm machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Total units manufactured: 2,083
- Manufacturer(s): Leyland Motors / Vickers / BAe Systems
- Top speed: 30 mph
8. Vickers MBT (VMBT)
- Year introduced: 1965
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 105mm main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Total units manufactured: 2,331
- Manufacturer(s): BAe Systems / Avadi Company
- Top speed: 31 mph
7. NORINCO Type 62 (WZ131)
- Year introduced: 1963
- Type: Light tank
- Armament: 85mm type 62-85TC rifled main gun, 7.62mm type 59T coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm type 59T bow-mounted machine gun, 12.7mm Type 54 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun
- Country of origin: China
- Total units manufactured: 2,454
- Manufacturer(s): China North Industries Corporation
- Top speed: 37 mph
6. NORINCO Type 63 (WZ211)
- Year introduced: 1963
- Type: Amphibious light tank
- Armament: smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: China
- Total units manufactured: 2,000
- Manufacturer(s): China North Industries Corporation
- Top speed: 40 mph
5. T-62
- Year introduced: 1961
- Type: Medium tank
- Armament: 115mm smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm DShKM anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Total units manufactured: 22,750
- Manufacturer(s): State Factories
- Top speed: 28 mph
4. M60 (Patton)
- Year introduced: 1960
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 105mm M68 main gun, 7.62mm M73 coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm M85 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: United States
- Total units manufactured: 15,000
- Manufacturer(s): General Dynamics
- Top speed: 30 mph
3. T-55
- Year introduced: 1958
- Type: Medium tank
- Armament: 100mm D-10 rifled main gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Total units manufactured: 50,000
- Manufacturer(s): State Factories
- Top speed: 31 mph
2. M41 Walker Bulldog
- Year introduced: 1951
- Type: Light tank
- Armament: 76mm M32 main gun, 12.7mm M2 Browning anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.62mm Browning M1914A4 coaxial machine gun
- Country of origin: United States
- Total units manufactured: 3,728
- Manufacturer(s): Cadillac Gage
- Top speed: 45 mph
1. T-54
- Year introduced: 1949
- Type: Medium tank
- Armament: 100mm D-10TG main gun, 7.62mm SG MT coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm bow-mounted machine gun
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Total units manufactured: 50,000
- Manufacturer(s): State Factories
- Top speed: 30 mph
The image featured at the top of this post is ©"BMP and T-54 Tanks, 205 Al-Badr Corps" by MOD Afghanistan is licensed under BY 2.5..
