Whether we like it or not, the history of our world has rarely been all sugar, spice, and everything nice. Numerous wars have been fought between nations, and tanks have their undeniable place in the arsenal of pretty much all armies of the planet as true killing machines.
For this article, we’ll try to remind ourselves about some of the most destructive tanks ever built by mankind. People seem to be very good at creating killing machines, unfortunately.
Feel free to keep reading and watch the videos:
Tiger II (King Tiger):
The Tiger II (aka King Tiger) was used by the German army during the First World War. This was a heavily armored and destructive tank, and the 88mm gun and thick frontal armor represented its highlights. In other words, you sure don’t want to find this mechanical beast in your backyard.
Despite the formidable design of the Tiger II tank, this invention faced challenges such as high production costs and mechanical issues.
Challenger 2:
Challenger 2 is the main battle tank of the British Army and for some good reasons. This tank is capable of impressive protection and mobility, and it also stands out for having a 120mm rifled gun. Challenger 2 is also an impressive invention due to its Chobham armor, which is highly effective.
The Challenger 2 tank has been used in many conflicts, such as the Iraq War and Gulf War.
Leopard 2:
Leopard 2 is a main battle tank known for its high mobility, advanced technology, and piercing firepower. This hell machine has been widely exported and used by numerous NATO countries.
The Leopard 2 tank is also equipped with a 120mm smoothbore gun and advanced fire control system. The tank has even participated in peacekeeping missions and proving high operational effectiveness.
IS-2 (Iosif Stalin):
The IS-2 tank was used by the Soviet Union during World War II, and there’s no wonder why. This beast is included in the heavy tanks category and has a powerful 122mm gun mounted on it. The design was well-balanced, as the tank combined armor and firepower.
As for the historical impact of the IS-2 tank, it played a pivotal role on the Eastern Front by contributing to the success of the Soviet Union as the army was pushing back the German forces.
Panzer VIII Maus:
Panzer VIII Maus was a German super-heavy tank prototype that had exceptionally thick armor, as well as a 129mm gun. While there’s no doubt that we’re talking about an engineering marvel, this tank was also pretty impractical because of its huge size and weight.
Maus was never seen in combat, but even so, it remains an iconic symbol of Nazi Germany and the country’s ambitious tank development during the Second World War.
M1 Abrams:
The M1 Abrams is a tank introduced by the US back in the early 1980s, and it’s a machine used for its advanced fire control system, composite armor, as well as powerful 120mm smoothbore gun. This is easily one of the most powerful tanks ever created.
The M1 Abrams tank played a very important role in wars such as the Gulf War, as it showcased its technological superiority and effectiveness easily.
Armored warfare has clearly been through some important changes throughout history, and we can surely expect that even more powerful tanks will emerge in the future.
