On top of that, only one-quarter of those are considered modern tanks-T-72B3/B3M, T-80-BVM, and T-90A/M-that is, fitted with up-to-date fire control systems and sighting. A 2021 Russian source estimated that their operational main battle fleet was closer to 2,600 tanks, made up of T-72s, T-80s, and T-90s, with another 400 T-72 variants used as range tanks. Of Russia’s nearly 13,000 active combat tanks, only a fraction are main battle tanks. (5,500).īut the headline number misses nuances in the composition of the Russian tank fleet. This is more than the combined total of the number two and three spots, North Korea (6,645) and the U.S. That was the leading theory of the time and, as a result, the Army went with the M4 Sherman – producing over 50,000 of those tanks.Numbering 12,556 tanks, the Russian Federation has the largest fleet in their arsenal by far, from the workhorse T-72 series to the ultra-advanced T-14 Armata. Meanwhile, the mission of the tank was to support infantry. These vehicles were fast and had potent guns, but sacrificed a lot of armor to achieve such a speed. Instead, that job was relegated to the aptly named tank destroyer class of vehicle. Prior to World War II, the United States Army didn't think that tanks should fight other tanks. The few tanks that did get to the front lines performed well, though - leaving many to wonder what might have happened had an Army general by the name of Leslie McNair been more open-minded. While over 2,000 of these tanks were produced, they largely missed World War II because of bureaucratic infighting. Well, the M26 Pershing fits into neither of these categories. In other cases, a piece of technology might mark an important milestone, but end up virtually obsolete by the time the next war rolls around, as was the case with USS Ranger (CV 4). In some cases, there simply aren't any conflicts going on through which the gear can demonstrate its worth (the B-36 Peacemaker comes to mind). Sometimes, a good weapon system never gets a chance to shine.
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