Heavy tank

Heavily armed and armored tank

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Heavy tank

A Soviet IS-3 heavy tank

Type| Tank
Service history
In service| 1910s – 1990s

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History of the tank

Era|

* World War I
* Interwar
* World War II
* Cold War
* Post–Cold War

Country|

* Australia
* United Kingdom
* Cuba
* China
* Canada
* New Zealand
* Czechoslovakia
* France
* Germany
* Iran
* Iraq
* Italy
* Israel
* Japan
* Poland
* North Korea
* South Korea
* Soviet Union
* Spain
* Sweden
* United States
* Ukraine

Type|

* Light tank
* Medium tank
* Heavy tank
* Super-heavy tank
* Cruiser tank
* Flame tank
* Infantry tank
* Main battle tank
* Tank destroyer
* Tankette
* Assault gun
* Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon
* Self-propelled artillery
* Self-propelled mortar
* Multiple rocket launcher

A heavy tank is a tank variant produced from World War I to the end of the Cold War. These tanks generally sacrificed mobility and maneuverability for better armour protection and equal or greater firepower than tanks of lighter classes.

## Role[edit]

Heavy tanks achieved their greatest, albeit limited, success when fighting lighter tanks and destroying fortifications. Heavy tanks often saw limited combat in their intended roles,[1] instead becoming mobile pillboxes or defensive positions, such as the German Tiger I and Tiger II designs, or the Russian KV designs.[2]

## Design[edit]

Heavy tanks feature very heavy armor and weapons relative to lighter tanks. Many heavy tanks shared components with lighter tanks. For example, the US M103 heavy tank shared many components with the lighter Patton tank, including transmission and engine. As a result, they tend to be either underpowered and comparatively slow, or have engine and drive train reliability issues. In case of an entirely new design development, which was the case with the German Tiger I, designs often became needlessly complex and costly, resulting in low production numbers. Although it is often assumed that heavy tanks suffered inferior mobility to medium tanks, this was not always the case, as many of the more sophisticated heavy tank designs featured advanced suspension and transmissions to counteract this drawback. As mentioned previously, heavy tanks are often extremely expensive and resource-intensive to produce and operate. The German Tiger I, for example, had similar speed and better terrain-handling characteristics when compared to its main competitor, the significantly lighter Panzer IV medium tank. However, low reliability and limited resources meant that just 1,347 were produced, compared to roughly 8,800 Pz.Kpfw. IV.

## History[edit]

German heavy tank A7V of WWI

The origins of the class date to World War I and the first tank designs, which were intended to operate in close concert with infantry.

Virtually all early tanks possessed thick armor to allow them to survive in no man's land. As lighter and more maneuverable designs were introduced during the Interwar period, these larger vehicles with stronger defensive and offensive capabilities became known as "heavy" tanks.

Heavy tanks had gradually progressed from their trench warfare and bunker destroying role to dedicated anti-tank purposes by the onset of World War II. Heavy tanks saw limited deployment by France at the beginning of the war, and were only ever used in conflict by Nazi Germany and the USSR from about 1943 to the war's end.

This tank type remained a decisive factor in the early years of the Cold War. The purpose of heavies would not change until their replacement by the main battle tank. Often referred to as MBTs, these designs effectively filled all roles required by armies, thus rendering more specialized designs obsolete.

### World Wars[edit]

The first British tank, the Mark I of World War I, was introduced to break through German defensive lines of trenches and barbed wire. When lighter, faster tanks were introduced, the larger tanks were classified as heavy.

The French Char 2C was one of the largest tanks ever produced. At the start of World War II, France and the Soviet Union were the only countries to have inventories of heavy tanks, such as the Char B1, T-35, and KV-1. The Matilda II was designed under the British infantry tank concept, which is similar to the heavy tank, having thick armour and tending to weigh more than their other tanks. However, it is usually considered separate because infantry tanks generally had less firepower, with their cruiser tanks (comparable to mediums) at the time having the same main armament but more machine guns. Later war examples were the German Tiger I and II, as well as the Soviet IS series. Note that "heavy" versus "medium" is more a question of tactical roles than weight; the Panther, for example, was a "medium" tank that outweighed most Allied "heavy" tanks.

American forces rarely fielded heavy tanks, as they still held on to the infantry-support doctrine like the British; in addition, the Americans recognized the logistical and mobility issues that came with possessing a heavy tank force and did not want to compromise its 4,800 km (3,000 miles) supply line to Europe. The M6 heavy tank was designed in 1940 but held few advantages over medium tanks and planned production of several thousand was stopped.[3] The Anglo-American T14 Heavy Tank project started in 1941 did not deliver a pilot model until 1944. The US preferred to use tank destroyers (mobile but relatively lightly armoured vehicles) for anti-tank defence, and prior to 1944 there were few indications that the US M4 Sherman was outclassed in terms of armor and weapons by German heavy tanks which were few in number. Near the end of World War II, a few early model M26 Pershings were sent to Europe to gain combat experience. Aside from these the closest the Americans came to putting a heavy tank into service were up-armored M4 Sherman "Jumbos" which were used as assault guns.

Both the US and UK developed very well-armoured and armed tanks intended for assaulting heavily defended areas - the T28 GMC and 'Tortoise' had casement designs and weighed around 80 tonnes but did not enter service.

* The German Tiger I heavy tank

* IS-2 heavy tank

### Cold War[edit]

Cold War-era Soviet heavy tank T-10

The immediate post-war period saw the final fielding of heavy tanks, including the US M103 heavy tank, the British FV214 Conqueror, and the French ARL 44 (in very limited numbers for the ARL 44), all in response to the Soviet heavy tanks of the period. The largest tank guns were approaching maximum calibre whose shell could still be handled by the crew, even using awkward two-part ammunition (separate projectile and propellant case, similar to battleship guns), which greatly slowed their rate of fire. Thanks to improved shell designs and fire control technology improving accuracy, postwar medium tanks were catching up to heavy tanks in firepower. The tactical value of heavy tanks thus declined to the point that no new designs were fielded; the heavily armed mediums came to be known as the main battle tank (MBT). Doctrine held that less expensive self-propelled artillery could serve in the infantry support role. The weight of MBTs quickly increased during the Cold War, and most third generation MBTs including the M1 Abrams, Challenger 2, Leopard 2, Merkava, Arjun MBT, and Type 99 have weights similar to those of 1950s heavy tanks.

Older heavy tanks with steel armour were rendered obsolete by anti-tank guided missiles and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) ammunition. The much more flexible missiles are effective at ranges beyond a tank gun's range, and sheer armour mass was no longer a guarantee of survivability against the largest HEAT warheads of tank guns or missiles.

## See also[edit]

* Light tank
* Medium tank
* Super-heavy tank
* Main battle tank

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Forty, George. Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 978-1-61673-262-2.
2. ^ Carell, Paul (1964). Hitler moves east, 1941-1943. Boston: Little, Brown. OCLC 786159838.
3. ^ Chamberlain & Ellis 1981, p. 115.

## References[edit]

Chamberlain, Peter; Ellis, Chris (1981) [1969], British and American Tanks of World War II, Arco Publishing

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Tanks of the First World War

Light|

* M1918 Ford 3-ton tank
* M1917 light tank
* Renault FT

Medium|

* Medium Mark A Whippet
* Medium Mark B
* Medium Mark C

Heavy|

* A7V
* Mark I
* Mark II
* Mark III
* Mark IV
* Mark V
* Mark V*
* Mark V**
* Mark VIII
* Saint-Chamond
* Schneider CA1

Prototypes,
experimentals|

* CLB 75 Tank
* FCM 1A
* Fiat 2000
* Holt gas electric tank
* Little Willie
* LK I
* LK II
* Mark VII
* Skeleton tank
* Steam tank
* Steam Wheel Tank
* Sturmpanzerwagen Oberschlesien
* Tsar Tank
* Vezdekhod

* World War I tanks
* List of combat vehicles of World War I

Background: History of the tank, Tank classification, Tanks in World War I

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* e

Tanks of the interwar period

Tankettes|

* AH-IV
* Carden Loyd
* L3/33
* L3/35
* R-1
* T-27
* T-32 (Š-I-D)
* Tančík vz. 33
* TKS
* Type 92
* Type 94
* Type 97 Te-Ke

Light|

* 7TP
* 38M Toldi I
* Char D1
* Disston Tractor Tank
* Fiat 3000
* H35
* L-60
* Light tanks Mk I–V
* Light Tank Mk VI
* Light Tank Mk VII
* LT vz. 34
* LT vz. 35
* LT vz. 38
* M1 combat car
* M2 Light Tank
* Panzer I
* Panzer II
* R35
* T-18
* T-26
* T-37
* T-38
* Type 95 Ha-Go
* Vickers 6-Ton
* Vickers-Carden-Loyd light amphibious tank
* Vickers T-15

Medium|

* Char D2
* T-24
* T-28
* Type 89 I-Go
* Type 97 Chi-Ha
* Vickers Medium Mk I
* Vickers Medium Mk II

Cavalry, cruiser, fast|

* AMC 34
* AMC 35
* AMR 33
* AMR 35
* BT tank
* Cruiser Mk I
* Cruiser Mk II
* Cruiser Mk III
* SOMUA S35

Infantry|

* FCM 36
* Hotchkiss H35
* Matilda I
* T-26

Heavy, super-heavy|

* Char 2C
* Char B1
* T-35

Prototypes,
experimentals|

* 10TP
* FCM F1
* Grosstraktor
* Kolohousenka
* Landsverk L-120
* Leichttraktor
* Medium Mark III
* Medium Mark D
* Medium Tank A7
* Morris-Martel
* Neubaufahrzeug
* PZInż 130
* Škoda MU-4
* SMK
* Straussler V-4
* Stridsvagn m/31
* ST vz. 39
* T1 Light Tank
* T2 Medium
* T7 Combat Car
* T-19
* T-42
* T-100
* Type 87 Chi-I
* Type 91 heavy
* Type 95 heavy
* Type 97 Chi-Ni
* Type 98 Chi-Ho
* Verdeja
* Vickers A1E1 Independent

* Interwar period tanks
* List of interwar armoured fighting vehicles

Background: History of the tank, Tank classification, interwar period

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Tanks of the Second World War

Light|

* Toldi tanks
* KhTZ-16
* L6/40
* Light Tank Mk VIII
* M3/M5 Stuart
* M22 Locust
* M24 Chaffee
* Marmon-Herrington CTLS
* Renault R40
* NI tank
* T-26
* T-40
* T-60
* T-70
* Tetrarch
* Panzer I
* Panzer II
* Panzer 35(t)
* Type 98 Ke-Ni
* Type 2 Ke-To
* Type 2 Ka-Mi
* Type 4 Ke-Nu

Medium|

* Turán I and II
* 43M Turán III
* M11/39
* M13/40
* M14/41
* M15/42
* M2 Medium
* M3 Lee/Grant
* M4 Sherman
* Sherman Firefly
* M26 Pershing
* P26/40
* Panzer III
* Panzer IV
* Panzer V Panther
* Stridsvagn m/41
* Stridsvagn m/42
* T-34
* T-44
* Type 97 ShinHōtō Chi-Ha
* Type 1 Chi-He
* Type 3 Ka-Chi
* Type 3 Chi-Nu

Cruiser|

* AC1 Sentinel
* Cruiser Mk IV
* Covenanter
* Crusader
* Cavalier
* Cromwell (and Centaur)
* Mk VIII Challenger
* Comet
* Grizzly
* Ram

Infantry|

* Churchill
* Matilda II
* Valentine
* T-50
* Type 2 Ho-I

Heavy|

* IS tank
* IS-1
* IS-2
* IS-3
* KV tank
* Tiger I
* Tiger II

Prototypes,
experimentals|

* 44M Tas
* AC3 Thunderbolt
* AC4
* AELT
* AMX 40
* Black Prince
* Bob Semple tank
* Excelsior
* Heavy Tank M6
* Medium Tank M7
* Nahuel DL 43
* O-I
* Panzer VIII Maus
* Panzerkampfwagen E-100
* PPG
* Sahariano
* Schofield
* Special number 3 Ku-Ro
* T14 Heavy
* T20 Medium
* T28
* T29 Heavy
* T30 Heavy
* T32 Heavy
* T34 Heavy
* T-43
* TOG1
* TOG2
* Type 98 Chi-Ho
* Type 4 Chi-To
* Type 5 Chi-Ri
* Type 5 Ke-Ho
* Type 5 To-Ku
* Valiant
* Verdeja

* World War II tanks
* List of armoured fighting vehicles of World War II

Background: History of the tank, Tank classification

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Tanks of the Cold War

Main battle|

* AMX-30
* AMX-30E
* Centurion
* Sho't
* Challenger 1
* Chieftain
* Chonma-ho
* CM-11 Brave Tiger
* K1 88
* Leopard 1
* Leopard 2
* M1 Abrams
* M48 Patton
* CM-12
* M60 tank
* Magach
* Merkava
* OF-40
* Panzer 68
* Stridsvagn 103
* T-55
* T-62
* T-64
* T-72
* M-84
* Lion of Babylon
* T-80
* TR-85
* Type 59
* Type 61
* Type 69/79
* Type 74
* Type 80/85/88
* Type 90
* Vickers MBT Mk 1
* Vijayanta
* Vickers MBT Mk 3

Light|

* AMX-13
* M41 Walker Bulldog
* M551 Sheridan
* PT-76
* PT-85
* SK-105 Kürassier
* Stingray
* Type 62
* Type 63
* Type 64
* X1A

Medium|

* Charioteer
* M46 Patton
* M47 Patton
* Panzer 58
* Panzer 61
* Stridsvagn 74
* Super Sherman
* TAM
* T-54

Heavy|

* ARL 44
* Conqueror
* IS-4
* M103
* T-10

Prototypes,
experimentals|

* AMX-32
* AMX-40
* AMX-50
* Char 25T
* EE-T1 Osório
* Emil
* Expeditionary Tank
* HSTV(L)
* IS-7
* Lorraine 40t
* M8 Armored Gun System
* MB-3 Tamoyo
* MBT-70
* MBT-80
* Object 187
* Object 279
* Object 292
* Object 490A
* Object 770
* Object 785
* Spähpanzer Ru 251
* Spähpanzer SP I.C.
* T92 light tank
* T95 medium tank
* TR-125
* Vickers MBT Mk 4 Valiant
* Vickers MBT Mk 7
* WZ-111 heavy tank
* WZ-132 light tank
* WZ-122

* Cold War tanks
* List of modern armoured fighting vehicles

Background: History of the tank, Tank classification, Tanks in the Cold War

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Tanks of the post–Cold War era

Main battle|

* Al-Khalid / VT-1
* Al-Zarrar
* Ariete
* Arjun
* Challenger 2
* Durjoy
* K2 Black Panther
* Karrar
* Leclerc
* Leopard 2
* Leopard 2E
* Leopard 2PL
* M1 Abrams
* Merkava IV
* Pokpung-ho
* PT-91 Twardy
* Ramses II
* Sabra
* Stridsvagn 122
* T-72M4CZ
* T-84
* T-90
* Type 10
* Type 72Z
* Type 96
* Type 99
* VT-4
* Zulfiqar

Light / medium|

* M3 Bradley
* Sabrah
* Sabre CVRT
* 2S25 Sprut-SD
* Tosan
* Type 15 / VT-5
* Type 63A
* ZTD-05 / ZLT-05

Prototypes,
experimentals|

* AbramsX
* Altay
* Black EagleX
* Challenger 3
* CV90105 / CV90120
* Kaplan MT / Harimau
* K21-105
* M8 Armored Gun SystemX
* M10 Booker
* M2020
* M60-2000X
* M-84AS
* M-84AS1
* M-84D
* M-95 DegmanX
* Main Ground Combat SystemX
* Marder Medium Tank
* Panther KF51
* PatagónX
* PL-01X
* Tiam
* T-14 Armata
* T-55AGM
* T-95X
* Tank EXX
* Zorawar LT

X = Cancelled or derelict project

* Post–Cold War tanks
* List of modern armoured fighting vehicles

Background: History of the tank, Tank classification
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