7 most powerful tank in the world

Tank is armored combat vehicle that moves using a wheel-shaped chain. The main characteristic of a tank is a patron who normally is a layer of heavy steel, the weapon which is a big cannon, and high mobility to move smoothly in all fields. Although the tank is an expensive vehicle and require a lot of logistical supplies, tanks are the most powerful land weapons and all-round on the modern battlefield, because of its ability to destroy any ground target, and the mental effect against infantry.

1. M1A2 Abrams (U.S.A)

Weight 67.6 short tons (61.4 tonnes)
Length Gun forward: 32.04 ft (9.77 m)
Hull length: 26.02 ft (7.93 m)
Width 12 ft (3.66 m)
Height 8 ft (2.44 m)
Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Primary armament : 120 mm M256 smoothbore cannon
Secondary armament : 1 x .50-caliber (12.7 mm) M2HB heavy machine gun
2 x M240 7.62 mm machine guns (1 pintle-mounted, 1 coaxial)
Engine : AGT-1500C multi-fuel turbine engine 1500 hp (1119 kW)
Power/weight : 24.5 hp/tonne
Operational range : 465.29 km (289 mi)
With NBC system: 449.19 km (279 mi)
Speed Road: 67.72 km/h (42 mph)
Off-road: 48.3 km/h (30 mph)

MBT M1 Abrams is General Dynamics Land Systems made in U.S.. The name is taken from General Creighton Abrams Abrams. Beginning of the M1 variant first entered operational service in 1978, M1A1 in 1985, and last M1A2 in 1986. M1A1 variants involved in the Gulf war and Operation Iraqi Freedom to deal with T-55, T-62 and T-72 Iraq.

Originally Abrams is the result of the cancellation of the MBT-70, a variant developed by German tanks and the U.S.. The project was later canceled and the cooperation of each party to continue the manufacture of tanks from the data obtained from the MBT-70 project, the U.S. and then make the M1 Abrams while Germany made Leopard 2. Early variant of M1 Abrams still use 105mm caliber cannon, in subsequent variants (M1A1 and M1A2) is replaced with artificial Rheinmetall 120mm caliber cannon Germany. Beginning of the M1 and M1A1 variants rely on diesel engines, but the M1A2 variant using a more powerful engine gasturbine, although the new engine uses more fuel.

After have some experiance in previous wars, Abrams has the additional choice of armor, that Tusk (Tank Urban Survival Kit)

2. T-80U (Russia)

Weight 50.7 tonnes
Length 7.01 m (9.72 m with gun in forward position)
Width 3.60 m
Height 2.20 m
Crew 3 (driver, gunner, commander)
Primary armament :125 mm 2A46M-1 (D-81TM “Rapira-3″) smoothbore gun 39 rounds

Secondary armament : 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun (1,250 rounds)[2]
7.62 mm PKT KT-7.62 coaxial machine gun (1,250 rounds) (T-80UD)[1]
12.7 mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun (500 rounds)[2]
12.7 mm KT-12.7 anti-aircraft machine gun (450 rounds) (T-80UD)[1]
9M112 Kobra (AT-8 Songster) ATGM (6 missiles) (T-80, T-80B)[2]
9M119 Svir (AT-11 Sniper) and 9M119M Refleks (AT-11B Sniper) ATGM[2] (6 missiles) (T-80U)[2]
Engine :GTD-1250 multi-fuel 1,250 hp (932 kW)
Power/weight :24.7 hp/tonne (18.4 kW/tonne)
Operational range :500 km, 900 km with extra tanks (on road)

T-80 is produced at the Kirov Plant, Leningrad. First entered operational service in 1976. T-80 is designed to replace T-64. T-80 was the first Russian tanks that use gasturbine machine, this machine is capable of making the T-80 reached speeds 70km/jam with a maximum distance of 335km. As the characteristics of gas turbine engines generally, GTD-1000 engine is consuming a lot of fuel, so that the hull tanks made design changes to accommodate more fuel. In the next variant of the T-80U, gasturbine engine replaced with a GTD-1250.

T-80 uses caliber 125mm cannon. This cannon can fire a bullet other than a tank can be used also to launch ATGW. In addition, T-80 using the Autoloader, thereby reducing the number of crew members to 3. As with previous variants, this tank has been equipped by the dozer at the bottom of the hull.

Currently carrying T-80 4500 are still operating in Russia.

3. T-90 (Russia)

Weight 46.5 tonnes
Length 9.53 m (31.27 ft)
Width 3.78 m (9.12 ft)
Height 2.22 m (7.28 ft)
Crew 3

Primary armament :125 mm smoothbore gun with ATGM capability; mainly 9M119 Svir
Secondary armament : 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun
Engine : Model V-96 12-cyl. diesel 1,100 hp (820 kW) for V-96 12-cyl. diesel engine
Power/weight: 23.7 hp/tonne (17.6 kW/tonne) for V-96 12-cyl. diesel engine.

4. Leclerc (France)

Weight 54.5 tonnes
Length 9.87 m (6.88 without gun)
Width 3.71 m
Height 2.53 m
Crew 3 (Commander, gunner, driver)

Primary armament :120mm tank gun 40 rounds
Secondary armament :12.7 mm coaxial M2HB machine gun 1,100 rounds 7.62mm machine gun 3,000 rounds
Engine : 8-cylinder diesel Wärtsilä 1,500 hp (1,100 kW)
Power/weight : 27.52 hp/tonne
Operational range : 550 km
Speed : 71 km/h

5. Leopard 2A6 (Germany)

Weight 62.3 tonnes
Length 7.7 m
Width 3.7 m
Height 3.0 m
Crew 4

Primary armament : 1 x 120 mm Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore gun.42 rounds
Secondary armament : 1 x 7.62 mm MG3 4,750 rounds
Engine : MTU MB 873 Ka-501 12-cylinder diesel 1,500 HP (1,103 kW) at 2600 RPM.
Power/weight : 24.2 hp/tonne
range : 550 km (internal fuel)
Speed :72 km/h

6. Challenger 1 (United Kingdom)

Weight 62 tonnes
Length 11.5 m (Gun forward)
Width 3.51 m
Height 2.95 m
Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

Primary armament : L11A5 120 mm rifled 64 rounds
Secondary armament : 7.62 mm L8A2, 7.62 mm L37A2 machine guns 4,000 rounds
Engine : Rolls-Royce CV12 26 litre diesel 1,200 hp (895 kW)
range : 450 km (on road)
Speed : 56 km/h (37 mph)

7. Challenger 2 (United Kingdom)

Weight 62.5 tonnes
Length 8.3 m (11.50 m with gun forward)
Width 3.5 m (4.2 m with appliqué armour)
Height 2.5 m
Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader/operator, driver)

Primary armament : L30A1 120 mm rifled with 52 rounds
Secondary armament : coaxial 7.62 mm L94A1 EX-34 (chain gun), 7.62 mm L37A2 Commander’s cupola machine gun
Engine : Perkins CV-12 Diesel 1,200 hp (895 kW)
Power/weight : 19.2 hp/tonne
range : 450 km (279 miles)
Speed : 59 km/h (37 mph)