Originally, the battle tanks were divided into three groups – heavy, medium, and light. However, in the post-war period, with the medium tanks having almost reached the capabilities of heavy tanks while remaining in the same weight class, the medium and heavy tanks were united into one group – main battle tanks (MBT).

The best MBTs of the world nowadays include (left to right on the geographic map according to the location of the manufacturer) M1A2 Abrams SEP (USA), Challenger-2E (UK), Leclerc (France), Ariete (Italy), Leopard-2A6 (Germany), T-84 (Ukraine), Merkava Mk4 (Israel), T-90S (Russia), Type 98 (China), Type 90 (Japan).

Information about how many MBTs of different types are in service with various countries can be seen on-line at this site or at the World Defence Almanac published by the Monch Publishing Group (Germany).

Recommended reading: Tanks of the World by Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Bonn, Germany.

Sergyi Way
21.07.2006

www.army-guide.com

As large tank - as large target;) One shut four dead...

You didn't mentioned here Pakistani Al-Khalid tank and Polish T-91 tank.

Al-Khalid is not a genuine Pakistani tank. It is a modified chinese T-90II tank with ukrainian engine (some peopel say british engine).

Other tanks also used imported products. Even American Abrams uses German 120mm gun.

Pakistan is self-sufficiet in tank production. It has a large tank plant with modern equipment, including CNC.

The Indians have been developing their Arjun MBT for twenty years without success, but Pakistan, although it took much effort, succeeded in developing its Al-Khalid MBT and putting it in volume production.

That makes Pakistan a great tank nation.

Only those nations can be considered to be great tank nations which have been engaged in large-scale tank fighting in their history. These are Germany, France, USA and Russia. These four countries set pace in the world's tank development, and other countries just follow suit.

As far as I know Pakistan has Ukrainian T-80UD as its main battle tank. Also Al-Khalid? Two main battle tanks at the same time is really an aspiration to be a great tank nation.

Al-Khalid is more advanced than T-80UD. The T-80UD does not measure up to Al-Khalid.

This can only be checked in battlefield.

If these muddle-headed Pakistani ever attack India, they will suffer an ignominious defeat, including in tank-versus-tank engagements. They will meet their Waterloo there.

If the Al-Khalid was designed, from the ground up, and produced primarily in Pakistan, then yes, I guess you can add Pakistan to that list. As far as I know, however, this is not the case. >The comparison with the US M-1 using a Rheinmetall gun is not valid, as the L-44 & L-55 guns are used by the UK's Challenger, Korea's K1/K2, Israel's Merkava 3/4 and Japan's Type 90. >This is not to say Pakistan does not have an effective tank force, but merely that it is not one of the great tank-producing nations.

I know its been along time since anyone posted on this but I had to correct some bits.

1. Challenger 2E is the export version the UK uses Challenger 2.

2. Alfred you missed out the UK, as in the first user of the Tank

, the 1st country to put a large number into battle, ended WW2 with the best Tank(Centurion), leading in Tank armour the Challenger is the best armoured Tank in the world.

3. Ben Challanger2 has not been upgrade to a smoothbore and still uses the L30 Charm Rifle, the Abrams uses a german canon, British armour and Canadian fire control.