Tank
On the modern battlefield an intercom mounted in the crew helmet provides internal communications and a link to the radio network, and on some tanks an external intercom on the rear of the tank provides communication with co-operating infantry. Radio networks employ radio voice procedure to minimise confusion and "chatter".
A recent development in AFV equipment and doctrine is Network-centric warfare (US) or Network Enabled Capability (UK). This consists of the increased integration of information from the fire control system, laser range-finder, Global Positioning System and terrain information via hardened milspec electronics and a battlefield network to display all known information on enemy targets and friendly units on a monitor in the tank. The sensor data can be sourced from nearby tanks, planes, UAVs or (in the future) infantry. This improves the tank commander's situational awareness and ability to navigate the battlefield and select and engage targets. In addition to easing the reporting burden by automatically logging all orders and actions, orders are sent via the network with text and graphical overlays.
- See also: Military communications, Command, control, and communications, and C4ISTAR
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Research and development
In terms of firepower, the focus of current R&D is on increased detection capability such as thermal imagers, automated fire control systems and increased muzzle energy from the gun to improve range, accuracy and armour penetration.[29] The most mature future gun technology is the electrothermal-chemical gun.[30] The XM291 electrothermal-chemical tank-gun has gone through successful multiple firing sequences on a modified M8 armored gun system chassis.[31]
To improve tank protection, one field of research involves making the tank invisible to radar by adapting stealth technologies originally designed for aircraft. A variety of camera and display technologies attempt to improve tank camouflage or even render it invisible. Research is also ongoing in electromagnetic armour systems to disperse or deflect incoming shaped charge jets.[32][33]
Mobility may be enhanced in future tanks by the use of diesel-electric or turbine-electric series hybrid drives improving fuel efficiency while reducing the size and weight of the power plant.[34] Furthermore, advances in gas turbine technology, including the use of advanced recuperators,[35] have allowed for reduction in engine volume and mass to less than 1 m2 and 1 metric ton, respectively, while maintaining fuel efficiency similar to that of a diesel engine.[36]
In line with the new doctrine of Network-centric warfare, the modern battle tank shows increasing sophistication in its electronics and communication systems.
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Etymology
The word tank was first applied to the British "landships" in 1915, before they entered service, to keep their nature secret. There are at least three possible explanations of the precise origin of the term:
- One is it first arose in British factories making the hulls of the first battle tanks: workmen and possible spies were to be given the impression they were constructing mobile water containers or tanks for the British Army, hence keeping the production of a fighting vehicle secret.[8]
- Another is the term was first used in a secret report on the new motorized weapon presented to Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, by British Army Lt.-Col. Ernest Swinton. From this report, three possible terms emerged: cistern, motor-war car, and tank. Apparently tank was chosen due to its linguistic simplicity.[37]
- Perhaps the most compelling story comes from Churchill's authoritative biography. To disguise the device, drawings were marked "water carriers for Russia." When it was pointed out this might be shortened to "WCs for Russia," the drawings were changed to "water tanks for Russia." Eventually the weapon was just called a tank.[38]
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See also
- Armoured warfare
- Hull-down
- Tank desant
- Armored car (military)
- Armoured engineering vehicle
- Hobart's Funnies
- Infantry fighting vehicle
- Tankette
- Tank classification
- Canadian Army Trophy
- List of armoured fighting vehicles
- List of main battle tanks by country
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Notes
- ^ von Senger und Etterlin (1960), The World's Armoured Fighting Vehicles, p.9.
- ^ Deighton (1979), Blitzkrieg, From the rise of Hitler to the fall of Dunkirk, p.132
- ^ Cooper and Lucas (1979), Panzer: The Armoured Force of the Third Reich, p.7
- ^ Eschel (2007), Assessing the performance of Merkava Tanks
- ^ a b House (1984), Toward Combined Arms Warfare:A Survey of 20th-Century Tactics, Doctrine, and Organization
- ^ Tomes (2004) in Relearning Counterinsurgency Warfare
Pitting a traditional combined armed force trained and equipped to defeat similar military organizations against insurgents "reminds one of a pile driver attempting to crush a fly, indefatigably persisting in repeating its efforts."
- ^ DiNardo (1986), The First Modern Tank: Gunther Burstyn and His Motorgeschutz
- ^ a b c Willmott (2003), First World War
- ^ Regan (1993), The Guinness Book of More Military Blunders, p.12
- ^ Willmott (2003), First World War, p.222
- ^ a b c d Deighton (1979), Blitzkrieg, From the rise of Hitler to the fall of Dunkirk.
- ^ Time (1937), Chewed up
- ^ Cooper and Lucas (1979), Panzer: The Armoured Force of the Third Reich, pp. 9
- ^ Forty (2004) p. 251.
- ^ Zaloga et al. (1997)
- ^ Deighton (1979), Blitzkrieg, From the rise of Hitler to the fall of Dunkirk, pp. 307
- ^ Zaloga (1984), p. 175.
- ^ Cawthorne (2003), Steel Fist: Tank Warfare 1939 - 45, pp. 211
- ^ Steven Zaloga and Hugh Johnson (2004), T-54 and T-55 Main Battle Tanks 1944–2004, Osprey, 39-41, ISBN 1-84176-792-1, p 43
- ^ von Senger und Etterlin (1960), The World's Armoured Fighting Vehicles, p. 61, 118 & 183
- ^ USA Today (2005), Tanks take a beating in Iraq
- ^ a b USA Today (2005), Tanks adapted for urban fights they once avoided
- ^ BBC News (2006) Tough lessons for Israeli armour
- ^ Deighton (1979), Blitzkrieg, From the rise of Hitler to the fall of Dunkirk, pp. 154
- ^ Thompson and Sorvig (2000), Sustainable Landscape Construction: A Guide to Green Building Outdoors, p.51
- ^ Deighton (1979), Blitzkrieg, From the rise of Hitler to the fall of Dunkirk, p.180
- ^ Deighton (1979), Blitzkrieg, From the rise of Hitler to the fall of Dunkirk, pp.234-252
- ^ Wright 2002, Tank: The Progress of a Monstrous War Machine, p. 48,
To the extent that they communicated at all, the tank crews did so by squeezing carrier pigeons out through a hole in a gun sponson, by brandishing a shovel through the manhole, or by frantically waving coloured discs in the air.
- ^ Pengelley, Rupert, A new era in tank main armament, pp. 1521 - 1531
- ^ Hilmes, Rolf (January 30, 1999), "Aspects of future MBT conception". Military Technology 23 (6): 7. Moench Verlagsgesellschaft Mbh.
- ^ Goodell, Brad (January 1, 2007), "Electrothermal Chemical (ETC) Armament Integration into a Combat Vehicle". IEEE Transaction on Magnetics, Volume 23, Number 1, pp. 456-459.
- ^ Wickert, Matthias, Electric Armor Against Shaped Charges, pp. 426 - 429
- ^ Xiaopeng, Li, et. al., Multiprojectile Active Electromagnetic Armor, pp. 460 - 462
- ^ Electric/Hybrid Electric Drive Vehicles for Military Applications, pp. 132 - 144
- ^ McDonald, Colin F., Gas Turbine Recuperator Renaissance, pp. 1 - 30
- ^ Koschier, Angelo V. and Mauch, Hagen R., Advantages of the LV100 as a Power Producer in a Hybrid Propulsion System for Future Fighting Vehicles, p. 697
- ^ Barris (2007), Victory at Vimy: Canada Comes of Age April 9-12 1917, p.116
- ^ Gilbert (1991), Churchill: A Life, p.298.
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References
- "Electric/Hybrid Electric Drive Vehicles for Military Applications" (September 2007). Military Technology (9/2007): 132 - 144. Moench Verlagsgesellschaft mbH.
- Barris, Ted (2007), Victory at Vimy: Canada Comes of Age April 9-12 1917, Thomas Allen Publishers, pp. 116, ISBN 0887622534; ISBN 9780887622533
- Cawthorne, Nigel (2003), Steel Fist: Tank Warfare 1939-45, London: Arcturus Publishing Ltd., ISBN 0-572-02872-5
- Cooper, Matthew and Lucas, James (1979), Panzer: The Armoured Force of the Third Reich, Book Club Associates
- Deighton, Len (1979), Blitzkrieg: From the rise of Hitler to the fall of Dunkirk, Fakenham: Fakenham Press Limited, ISBN 0-224-01648-2
- DiNardo, Richard L. (January, 1986), The First Modern Tank: Gunther Burstyn and His Motorgeschutz, vol. 50, No.1, JSTOR: Society for Military History, pp. 12-15, <http://www.jstor.org/pss/1988528>
- Col. Eshel, David (2007), Assessing the performance of Merkava Tanks, Defense Update, <http://www.defense-update.com/analysis/lebanon_war_3.htm>. Retrieved on 16 May 2008
- Forty, George (2004), Tank Warfare in World War II, London: Constable & Robinson Ltd, ISBN 1-84119-864-1
- Forty, George (2006), The World Encyclopedia of Tanks & Armoured Fighting Vehicles, Lorenz Books, ISBN 0754817415
- Goodell, Brad (January, 2007). "Electrothermal Chemical (ETC) Armament System Integration Into a Combat Vehicle". IEEE Transaction on Magnetics 43 (1): 4. IEEE.
- Hilmes, Rolf (December, 2004). "Arming Future MBTs - Some Considerations". Military Technology (12/2004): 4. Moench Verlagsgesellschaft Mbh.
- House, Jonathan M. (1984), Toward Combined Arms Warfare: A Survey of 20th-Century Tactics, Doctrine, and Organization, United States Government Printing, ISBN 9999532357; ISBN 978-9999532358, <http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/House/Houe.asp>. Retrieved on 18 May 2008
- Komarow, Steven (2005), Tanks take a beating in Iraq, USA Today, <http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-03-29-abrams-tank-a_x.htm>. Retrieved on 16 May 2008
- Koschier, Angelo V.; Hagen R. Mauch (2000). "Advantages of the LV100 as a Power Producer in a Hybrid Propulsion System for Future Fighting Vehicles". Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 122 (October 2000): 693 - 698.
- Gilbert, Sir Martin (1991), Churchill: A Life, Thomas Allen Publishers, pp. 298, ISBN 0762420812
- Komarow, Steven (2005), Tanks adapted for urban fights they once avoided, USA Today, <http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-03-29-tank-inside_x.htm>. Retrieved on 16 May 2008
- Macksey, Kenneth (1976), Tank Warfare, A History of Tanks in Battle, London: Panther, ISBN 0-586-04302-0
- Macksey, Kenneth and Batchelor, John H. (1970), Tank: A History of the Armoured Fighting Vehicle, New York: Scribner, ISBN 0345021665; ISBN 0356034615; ISBN 0684136511
- Marcus, Jonathan (2006), Tough lessons for Israeli armour, BBC News, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4794829.stm>. Retrieved on 26 May 2008
- McDonald, Colin F. (1990). "Gas Turbine Recuperator Renaissance". Heat Recovery Systems & CHP 10 (1): 1 - 30. Pergamon Press.
- Pengelley, Rupert (1989). "A new era in tank man armament: The options multiply". Janes International Defense Review (November 1989): 1521 - 1531.
- Ogorkiewicz, Richard M. (1968), Design and Development of Fighting Vehicles, London: MacDonald, ISBN 0-356-01461-4
- Ogorkiewicz, Richard M. (1970), Armoured Forces: A History of Armoured Forces and Their Vehicles, Arms & Armour Press, ISBN 0-85368-049-3
- Ogorkiewicz, Richard M. (1991), Technology of Tanks, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Information Group, ISBN 0-7106-0595-1
- Regan, Geoffrey (1993), The Guinness Book of More Military Blunders, London: Guinness Publishing, ISBN 0851129617
- Sharoni, Asher H. and Bacon, Lawrence D., The Future Combat System (FCS): Technology Evolution Review and Feasibility Assessment, GlobalSecurity.org, <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/1997/5fcs97.pdf>. Retrieved on 26 May 2008
- Thompson, William J. and Sorvig, Kim (2000), Sustainable Landscape Construction: A Guide to Green Building Outdoors, Island Press, pp. 51, ISBN 1-55963-646-7
- Time Life Books editors (1990), The Armored Fist, Alexandria, Virginia: Time-Life Books, ISBN 0-8094-8609-1; ISBN 0-8094-8608-3; ISBN 0-8094-8704-7
- Chewed Up, Alexandria, Virginia: Time magazine, 5 April 1937, <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,757549,00.html>. Retrieved on 16 May 2008
- Tomes, Robert R. (2004), Relearning Counterinsurgency Warfare, Parameters, <http://www.army.mil/prof_writing/volumes/volume2/march_2004/3_04_1.html>. Retrieved on 26 May 2008
- von Senger und Etterlin, Dr. F. M. (1960), The World's Armoured Fighting Vehicles, London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd.
- Weeks, John (1975), Men Against Tanks: A History of Anti-Tank Warfare, New York: Mason Charter, ISBN 0-88405-130-7; ISBN 0-7153-6909-1
- Wickert, Matthias (January 2007). "Electric Armor Against Shaped Charges: Analysis of Jet Distortion With Respect to Jet Dynamics and Current Flow". IEEE Transaction on Magnetics 43 (1): 426 - 429. IEEE.
- Willmott, H.P. (2003), First World War, Dorling Kindersley, ISBN 1405300299; ISBN-13 9781405300292
- Wright, Patrick (2002), Tank: The Progress of a Monstrous War Machine, ISBN 978-0670030705
- Xiaopeng, Li; Meng Tao, Zhao Chun and Li Liyi (January 2007). "Multiprojectile Active Electromagnetic Armor". IEEE Transaction on Magnetics 43 (1): 460 - 462.
- Zaloga, Steven J. and Grandsen, James (1984), Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two, London: Arms and Armour Press, ISBN 0-85368-606-8
- Zaloga, Steven J., Kinnear, Jim, Aksenov, Andrey & Koshchavtsev Aleksandr (1997), Soviet Tanks in Combat 1941–45: The T-28, T-34, T-34-85, and T-44 Medium Tanks, Hong Kong: Concord Publication, ISBN 962-361-615-5
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External links
- The Burstyn tank Landships has additional information and a model of Günther Burstyn's Motorengeschütz.
- OnWar's Tanks of WWII Comprehensive specifications and diagrams of WWII tanks.
- Achtung Panzer History of tanks and people of the Panzertruppe.
- Limits of a tanks movement contains private photos showing US tanks with humorous mobility problems in Iraq.
- Danish armour displays all modern weapons in the Danish army.
- Gizmag's The Armored Tank turns 90 Images of tanks in action.
- Future Firepower - Weapon technology Future Firepower contains text, image and video coverage of current generation MBTs and the TROPHY active defense system. Be aware that the videos on this site, while excellent, are advertorial in nature.
- GlobalSecurity Mounted Combat System (MCS) and Multi-Role Armament and Ammunition System (MRAAS) provides information on the next-generation US MBT and it's armament respectively.
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