ABSTRACT
The three main battle tanks in service with the NATO countries are the M47/48, the Leopard 1 and the Chieftain. The primary target for the battle tank is the opposing enemy tanks and their supporting AFVs. With the incidence of the anti-tank missile, tank armour has been strengthened, thus the tank gun must be capable of firing a shell which will be effective against such armour. Faced with the Warsaw Pact’s superiority in tanks, it is all important in NATO, not only to have the best possible tanks. It is also essential to avoid any form of open tank battle where superiority of numbers would inevitably tell. With the advent of anti-tank missiles the future of the main battle tank is the subject of considerable argument. Meanwhile Britain and Germany had also been discussing a joint approach for a new battle tank, but again financial considerations have brought any form of new developments to a halt.
