What is the world's most powerfull Main Battle Tank?

Question

I think its the Leopard 2 and 2nd is the M1 abrams

but i also heard that china posses the most powerful
M.B.T.(Main Battle Tank).
they say it has at least 152mm cannon and a very effective armor.

I need your opinion what for you is the most powerful M.B.T.?

Answer 1

Since the NATO-standard tanks all use the same armament, more or less, other characteristics are more relevant. I'd probably be inclined to pick the Leopard 2. It's more or less the standard MBT of European armies, excluding those that develop indigenous designs. It's more efficient than the Abrams, its long-barreled 120 mm is a fantastic weapon, and it's a generally well-balanced design.

The Challenger 2, though, is a good contender. The British Army are re-arming theirs with the smoothbore cannon. It's heavy, and slower than the Leopard, but its armour has a good reputation.

I'd probably still pick the Leopard, though.

Answer 2

There are some varieties but there are some offenses and defenses that pretty much make them equal. The T-90 can shoot anti-aircraft missles out of it's main cannon. Many "western" tanks can shoot anti-tank missles that can hit a target from 12 K away and the tank doesn't even have to see the target (although there has to be a spoter).

All modern tanks can shoot accurately on the move.

Slats (the fence like structure you can spot on stryker vehicals) can cause an explosive missle to blow up before it hits the main armor. The Israelis are making what they call the Trophy system which shoots inbound projectiles and destroy them before it gets even close to the vehical. Reactive armor, which is fairly old technology, blows up the missle as soon as it hits to prevent the shape charged missle from penetrating the main armor.

Most tanks also have smoke and chaff to prevent laser and radar missles from locking onto the tank.

The U.S. did have the M551 Sheridan with a 152 mm cannon and the Russian T-95 might have the 152 mm cannon especially since it might not be made at all. The T-95 will weigh 50 tons which is about 20 tons less than the American M1A2. Even if it has a 135 MM cannon, it has the possibility of being the most powerful MBT.

China already has the Type 83 152-mm Self-Propelled Gun-Howitzer, but it's not a MBT.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/type-83.htm

I think the Chinese and Russians are going to have the same troubles with the 152 mm on a MBT as the U.S. did. To keep it useful, the U.S. had stripped off most of the armor so even a RPG could turn the vehical into a fire show. The Russians plan on greatly reducing the size of the turrent and all the people will be in the hull of the tank. Also the Russians are giving up some hull armor and replacing it with counter mechanisms.

Answer 3

Merkava MK IV. Hands down.

You've got several contenders (M1A2 Abrams, T-90, Leopard 2, Type 90 and such) but when it comes down to it, survivability and superior design gives the Israelis the edge.

The T-series has a terribly cramped internal layout and an iffy autoloader. Ammo and fuel placement leave much to be desired (then again, this is common for all Warsaw Pact designs, the tendency to cook off on the first hit). The M1 series is an awesome design, but that gas turbine engine sucks up a lot of fuel and isn't infantry-friendly (try standing anywhere close to the rear, as I have during street fighting, and tell yourself it isn't hotter than Dante's 'Inferno'). Bigger guns don't necessarily mean much. There isn't a tank out there that can't be lit up by APFSDS fired from a 120mm smoothbore at the right range. Most threats can be handily engaged by 105mm (or if you're talking BMPs and such, even 25mm or .50). Bigger calibers just means longer reloading times and less ammunition onboard, for negligible gains in kill capability. Besides, 152mm has traditionally been a howitzer round; I can't imagine there being a great family of AT ammunition available for it compared to 105mm or 120mm. I've manhandled all sorts of ammunition, and really, 120mm is big enough.

As for armor, there isn't anything outside of the West that comes close. The PLA hasn't mastered composites yet. Any design that uses reactive armor might as well just be cut up for scrap. Reactive armor is just as bad as being hit by a HEP round; stuns the crew, knocks out electronics, kills any and all dismounts in range, and it won't fully stop a plasma jet from a HEAT round anyhow. Reactive armor is pointless, which is why the most sensible platforms don't use it.

The Merkava series (which you can read about here) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkava has the versatility to serve as an ersatz IFV and ambulance, and has the secondary armanent to engage masses of infantry in the field or in the streets. No one currently has as much accumulated combat experience fielding armor as the Israelis, and it shows in the design.

And really, if the "best" tank was all about big guns and thick armor, that 200-ton monstrosity the Nazis cooked up during WW2 would have been copied by everyone after 1945. Armor doesn't operate alone (not if it wants to survive) so good overall design (modularity, durability) as well as the ability to integrate well with supporting arms is the hallmark of a successful platform.

Answer 4

The Leopard 2 is the big dog on the block, but is relavtively untested in battle.

The Abrams has proven its battlefield dominance. I think Canada has some Leopard 2's. We could send a platoon of Abrams up there to stage a little invasion and see who comes out the winner...eh?

Answer 5

Nobody really knows...the top contenders are

1. M1 Abrams Main Battle tanks (A1 series or later)
2. Leopard 2 -Germany
3. Black Eagle tank-Russia

**intersting note on the Black Eagle tank. Research and development for this tank began in Soviet Russia. making it the last and latest technological advance of the Soviet Union. It's armor is said to rival that of the United States' Abrams tanks, supposedly working in much the same way.

Answer 6

Being a tanker I am obligated to defend our countries greatest tank. The M1A1 SEP is so advanced I dont even want to know anything better than it! The Leopard 2 is pretty advanced but I dont know all the specs on it but I know it has a diesel engine when our tanks use jet engines and also the Leo2 was made in like the 70's, when our first Abrams were made in the 80's

Answer 7

Nobody will ever no for sure which main battle tank is #1 because there will probably never be a war in which those battle tanks are used against each other which is the only way to find out which is the best.

Answer 8

Bore size of the main gun is not a very good guage. The US, UK and Germany all have very good MBT's, too close to call definitively. The number of M1's with its tube stabilization, target aquisation equipment and well-designed projectiles is a good standard against which to compare, though.

Answer 9

With the new electronics the M1 abrams is the best. It can seek out and shoot the enemy before it can be spotted. It also works well wit ha xompany of vehicles. Look at Iraq. They were in Bagdhad in about 36 hours. The M1 also has special armor that the material is not disclosed.

Answer 10

i guess but ya ur pretty cute!