The French company GIAT (now Nexter) designed the Leclerc main battle tank to be a replacement for the AMX-30 main battle tank. Development of the Leclerc main battle tank began in 1983. The first prototype was finished in 1989, and the first production model was completed in 1991. The Leclerc MBT entered service with the …
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M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank
The M1 Abrams main battle tank is the primary main battle tank of the United States Army and the United States Marine Corp. It is the only battle tank currently produced in the United States. The M1 Abrams main battle Tank is known for its exceptional service in the 1990/1991 and 2003 Persian Gulf Wars. …
FV4034 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank
Great Britain’s Challenger 2 main battle tank is known for the instrumental role that it played during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, particularly during the capture of Basra. The Challenger 2 was also used in Bosnia and Kosovo. The Challenger 2 main battle tank was the first British tank to be developed entirely by a …
FV4030/4 Challenger 1 Main Battle Tank
During the 1970s, Royal Ordnance Leeds, a British company that was later taken over by Vickers, developed an upgraded version of the FV4201 Chieftain main battle tank for export to Iran and Jordan. This tank became known as the Shir 1. The Shir 1 had the hull of a late-model Chieftain and a new engine …
Vijayanta Main Battle Tank
The Vijayanta main battle tank was an early Indian tank based on a design by Britain’s Vickers company. In 1961s, Vickers Ltd. agreed to design a new main battle tank, which was known as the Vickers Mark I main battle tank, for the Indian Army. Vickers was to build prototypes, as well as 90 production …
Type 74 Main Battle Tank
Japan’s Type 74 main battle tank was designed to be an improvement over the Type 61 MBT. Mitsubishi began designing the Type 74 main battle tank in 1964. The first two prototypes of the tank, which was then designated the STB-1, were completed in 1969. More prototypes, known as the STB-3 and STB-6 were then …
Type 61 Main Battle Tank
The Type 61 main battle tank was the first tank produced by Japan after Word War II. After the Second World War ended, Japan was only allowed to use its armed forces for self defense, so the Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) was established. At first, the JSDF used American military equipment, including M24 Chaffee …
Yugoslavia – M65 105mm Recoilless Gun
The M65 105mm recoilless gun was developed in Yugoslavia during the Cold War. It is still in use in Serbia. It weighs 617 pounds (280kg) when in firing position, is 14.93 feet (4.55 meters) long, and is either towed or mounted on a light vehicle. The M65 105mm recoilless gun can fire both HEAT and …
Yugoslavia – M60 Recoilless Gun
The M60 recoilless gun entered service in Yugoslavia in the 1960s. This 3.23 inch (82mm) caliber anti-tank weapon is 7.22 feet (2.2m) long and weighs 269 pounds (122kg). The M60 is mounted on and fired from a two wheeled carriage. It is usually towed behind a light vehicle. The M60 recoilless gun is operated by …
Yugoslavia – M57 Anti-Tank Launcher
The M57 anti-tank launcher is a 1.73 inch (44mm) caliber reusable shoulder-fired rocket launcher that was developed in Yugoslavia in the 1950s. It was based on the Panzerfaust, which was used by Germany during World War II. The M57 anti-tank launcher is small enough to be deployable from helicopters and armored personnel carriers. The launcher …
United States – M40A2 Recoilless Rifle
The M40A2 recoilless rifle is a variant of the 106mm M40 recoilless rifle. It is a light weapon, weighing 485lbs (220kg) and having an overall length of 133.86inches (3.4m). The M40A2 recoilless rifle was used by US Marines during the Vietnam War, as its small size meant that it could be carried over rough terrain when …
United States – M20 3.5 Inch Rocket Launcher
The M20 3.5 inch rocket launcher, also known as the Super Bazooka, was used by the United States Army during the Korean War and at the beginning of the Vietnam War. It was phased out of service during the Vietnam War when it became obvious that this anti-tank weapon could not cope with newer AFVs. The …
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