What will they think of next?!?

    Technology is really changing the way things are made and operated. As we have seen, Tanks have really used technology to their advantage. The makers and inventors of all the different types of tanks have ,without a doubt, upgraded these machines over the past years. And with new technology deveoping everyday, there is no telling what tanks will be like in the future.

       Is the army really testing an invisible tank? The British are. It has been said that new technology which , when applied to tanks effectively renders them invisible. Who knows, this invisible tank could be only a few years away form actually being used. This new technology used cameras and projectors to beam inages of the surrounding landscape onto the tank making it appear invisible. The British army has tested this experiment already. A soldier, who was at the trial said, "This technology is incredible. If I hadn't been present I wouldn't have believed it. I looked across the fields and just saw grass and trees - but in reality I was staring down the barrel of a tank gun." 

        Anther thing that is being tested is fuel cell technology. This fuel cell is designed to convert JP8 diesel fuel into hydrogen and then generate electricity though a fuel cell which involves a chemical reaction wherein electrical currents are generated by the breaking down of a hydrogen atom. The idea gives tanks- and hopefully other combat vehicles, the ability to accommodate more on-board electricity such as more computing, battle command technologies sensors and other electronics. "Currently it is only being tested in a lab but it is being designed for the Abrams. Right now this is a prototype which will increase in its power density as it gets developed. Once it proves itself out in the lab - the intent is to install and test it in an actual vehicle," said Erick, who is an engineer working on this project. "Our goal is to generate more on board power to help support radios and other equipment."

           Even today, a step toward the future is already being used in Iraq. The Talon, is a mini robo-tank that has become a soldiers best friend in Iraq, where troops use thousand of these units to clear mines. The Fres is a British design that has "directed energy" armor. Green blocks on top detect missiles and destroy them. And then there is the Terrier. This digger tank can be controlled from up to 2km away using a PlayStation controller.

Today's Tanks!

       Tanks today are very different than what they were back in WWII. They are stronger, faster, lighter, and better equipped with today's modern technology. Most of the tanks were designed in earlier years have really transformed using computers, radars and satellites. Tanks are classified into three main groups: light tanks, main battle tanks, specialist tanks. Lets take a look at each different classifications. 

The CV90120-T

        The light battle tank, even though not used as much today, still play an important role in warfare. Many light tanks are today are being replaced by IFV's and armored cars. The light tank is important mainly to nations with airborne divisions or those that do not have the money to for very many large main battle tanks. The size of the light tanks allows them to move though thick rainforest and though muddy terrain. These light tanks are very useful in Southern Asia and in the Equatorial nations. 
       The CV90120-T is a light battle tanks of todays era. The main goal of this tanks was to meet the firepower of modern main battle tanks, but with greater tactical and strategic flexibility and easier to movie. After a few years of perfecting this tank, it was finally completed in 2001. This tank is very popular but there was no production of it in 2010. The CV90120-T is armed with a fully-stabilized Swiss Ordnance 120-mm high-pressure low-recoil smoothbore gun. It carries 45 rounds of ammunition and fires about 14 rounds a minute. The CV90129-T is equipped with a computerized fire control system and day/night vision. Surviving in this tank is increased with the tank's Defensive AidsSuite, including laser, radar and missile approach warning system, multi-spectral aerosol active countermeasures system. This vehicle is powered by a V-8 diesel engine which has 670 hp. 

Stingray Light Tank

       Anther light tank used today is the Stingray Light Tank. The first model of this tank was completed in 1985. The stingray is very lightly armed. The front armor can only withstand 14.5-mm ammunition. It is armed with a 105-mm Low Recoil Force gun and is loaded manually. The Stingray light tank has four men in its crew; a commander, gunner, loader and driver. This vehicle is fitted with a Detroit Diesel 8V-92TA diesel engine with 535 hp. It reaches a top speed of 67 km/h. The stingray has be furthered developed but has not entered any battles yet in any country. The Stingray II has been updated in many areas including, armor, mobility and fire control. (http://www.military-today.com/tanks/stingray_light_tank.htm)
            Main Battle Tanks are not much different than light tanks but they defiantly do have a difference. The defining feature of the main battle tank type is neither its weight, mobility, nor firepower, yet they do make a difference, but instead that only one type of heavily armoured vehicle is required to carry out the roles of breakthrough, exploitation and infantry support.
            The Challenger 2 is really a main battle tank. Built around a lethal L30 rifled main gun, combined with an integrated fire control system, stabilization and specialized sights, the Challenger 2 offers up excellent first-hit capabilities. What is a fire control system? A fire control system is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a director and radar, which is designed to assist a weapon system in hitting its target. It preforms the same tanks as a human gunner firing a weapon, but attempts to do it faster and more accurately.  
           The inside of a tank isn't just like the inside of a car with a windshield. Yes the tanks do have steering wheels, an ignition switch and a reverse/drive stick. But not a normal windshield. They have a small slit where the driver can see if there is anything in his path but besides that the driver relies on radars and censors. 

History of the Tank!

      The tank; one of the greatest inventions that changed the way war is fought today. The tank, first used in battle in 1916, was used as a moble protection with firearms. Tanks were first know as Armored Fighting Vehicles (AVS). The British were the ones that started calling them tanks. Each tank had two 57 mm/2.2 inch guns plus machine guns. It was armored with .39 inch armored plates and it reached a maximum speed of 6.4 kph/ 4 mph. Throughout the years tanks have been revolutionized to become today’s  “mean” weapon machine.  

      After the first World War, the heavy fighting machine were replaced with lighter models. These models were armed with guns up to 50 mm.  caliber mounted in revolving turrets.  A new engine was used and the tank could now reach up to 28 mph.  Most of these tanks were similar to the ones used in WWII. By the time WWII broke out, the tank was starting to take the shape of the tanks we see today but there are many tanks that stood out about all the rest.

M-4 Shermans in ETO, World War II.

      The M-4 Sherman, produced in 1942 in the U.S, was a tank that was easy to produces which is the main reason it stands out. Used during WWII and even the Korean War, about 50,000 of these tanks were produced between 1942 and 1946 (http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_m4_sherman.php3). These tanks were loaded with a 75mm gun. The Sherman weighed in at 31 tons and was 19 feet long and 9 feet in both width and height. With its Ford eight-cylinder engine, the Sherman could reach a top speed of 26 mph.  This tanks is classified as a medium tank. The US believed at the time that the medium tank's job was to assist infantry in the assault and provide a base of fire to fight from. Countries all over the world were still trying to figure out the best way for the tanks to be used and their special duties. 


M1 Abrams Tanks (Photo courtesy of the U.S Department of Defense)
During Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia.

       Another tank that stands out above all the rest is a very unique tank build in the US in 1983.This tanks reaches a top speed of 42 mph. and randges 289 miles. The M1 Abram; Over 3,273 M1 tanks were produced. The M1 Abrams holds a 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun. The commander has a 12.7mm Browning M2 machine gun and the loader has a 7.62mm M240 machine gun. Armour bullheads deparate the crew compartments from the fuel tank which is a very good thing. This tank is built with a Chobham Armor. Anther version of this tank is the M1A1. 4,796 of the M1A1's were produced. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X4j_2Kgi9o