Noun

Singular tank

Plural tanks

tank (plural tanks)

1. A container for liquids or gases, typically with a volume of several cubic metres.
2. An armoured fighting vehicle, armed with a gun in a turret, and moving on caterpillar tracks.
3. (Australian and Indian English), a reservoir or dam.
4. (American SouthWest English, esp Texas), a large metal container, usually placed near a wind-driven water pump, in an animal pen or field. By extension a small pond for the same purpose.
5. (slang) A very muscular and physically imposing person. Somebody who is built like a tank.
6. In USA scuba divers' usage, a compressed air or gas cylinder.
7. (gaming, video games, online gaming) In online and offline role-playing games, a character designed primarily around damage absorption with offensive power as a close secondary consideration.

Synonyms

• (military fighting vehicle): battle tank, combat tank, armour (mass noun), tango (military, slang, Canada)

Hypernyms

• (military fighting vehicle): armoured fighting vehicle, armored fighting vehicle, AFV, armoured combat vehicle, armored combat vehicle

Hyponyms

• (military fighting vehicle): infantry tank (historical), cavalry tank (historical), fast tank (historical), cruiser tank (historical), tankette (historical), light tank, medium tank, heavy tank, main battle tank, MBT, flame tank, flamethrower tank

Coordinate terms

• (military fighting vehicle): armoured car, armoured train, armoured personnel carrier, armored personnel carrier, APC, infantry fighting vehicle, IFV, self-propelled gun, tank destroyer, assault gun

A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility and tactical offensive and defensive capabilities. Firepower is normally provided by a large-calibre main gun in a rotating turret and secondary machine guns, while heavy armour and all-terrain mobility provide protection for the tank and its crew, allowing it to perform all primary tasks of the armoured troops on the battlefield.

Tanks were first introduced by the British during World War I as a means to break the deadlock of trench warfare. They were first deployed at the Battle of Somme in limited numbers. During construction, to conceal their true identity as weapons, they were designated as water carriers for the Mesopotamian campaign and referred to as "tanks" (as in "water tank").

Interwar developments in both design and tactics evolved during World War II, producing important concepts of armoured warfare which persist to this day and were prominently displayed during World War II. The Soviet Union introduced the T-34, one of the best tanks in service throughout the war and one of the forerunners to the main battle tank. Germany introduced blitzkrieg, a strategy which makes use of massed concentrations of tanks supported by artillery and air power to break through the enemy front to surround enemy forces and accomplish objectives.

Today, tanks seldom operate alone, as they are organized into armoured units which involve the support of infantry, who may accompany the tanks in armoured personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles. They are also usually accompanied by reconnaissance or ground-attack aircraft.

Due to its formidable capabilities and versatility the battle tank is generally considered a key component of modern armies. However, the prevalence of unconventional and asymmetric warfare have put into question the utility of the armoured force. Ongoing research and development attempts to equip the tank to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

A tank is a fully-tracked, armoured combat vehicle (armoured fighting vehicle), designed primarily to destroy enemy ground forces by direct fire.

Contents

• 1 T-34 tank
• 2 German tanks
  • 2.1 Tiger I
• 3 Tank warfare
• 4 External links

T-34 tank

• "The finest tank in the world" - Field-Marshal Ewald von Kleist

German tanks

• All you saw in your imagination was the muzzle of an 88 behind each leaf.
  • British Tank Commander Andrew Wilson
• You need five of your tanks to destroy a single German one, but you always have six.
  • A captured German tanker said to Allied soldiers

Tiger I

• The Tiger was the best tank and was particularly successful in heavy fighting.
  • German Tank Commander Oberst Franz Bäke

Tank warfare

• "If the tanks succeed, then victory follows."
  • Heinz Guderian.