In the past, people used to divide tanks into three categories according to their weight: heavy, medium and light. The heaviest tank was a rat tank made in Germany during World War II. It is three or four times heavier than modern tanks, reaching 188 tons, 9 meters long, 3.66 meters high and 3.67 meters wide, and the front armor is 200 mm thick. It can climb a slope of 30 degrees, cross a trench of 4.5 meters, climb a vertical obstacle of 072 meters, and wade in water of 2 meters deep, with 8 crew members. Tank equipment 150 mm gun and two machine guns. Light tanks are only 10-20 tons, mostly amphibious tanks, equipped with 85 mm caliber guns, mainly used for airborne or marine corps. After the 1960s, due to the gradual retirement of tanks during World War II, the modernization of newly-built tanks was greatly improved, so it was customary to put them into the battlefield.
The tanks that perform major combat tasks in the world are collectively called main battle tanks. At present, the most advanced main battle tanks in the world are Russian T-80, American MIAI, German Leopard 1 1, British Challenger, Israeli Merkava and Japanese mini tanks. The total combat weight of these tanks is generally 40-60 tons, the off-road speed is 35-55 kilometers per hour, and the maximum speed is 72 kilometers per hour, carrying 3-4 crew members. The main weapon of the tank is 105- 125mm caliber gun, with a direct firing distance of about 2,000m, a firing rate of 6-9 rounds per minute and a ammunition base of 39-60 rounds.
Firepower, engine power and protection are the three elements of modern tank combat effectiveness. The strength of firepower mainly depends on the aiming system of tanks, the power of artillery and the power of ammunition. Modern tanks generally use advanced computers, infrared, low light, night vision, thermal imaging and other equipment to observe, aim and shoot targets. Tank guns can fire various types of artillery shells such as armor-piercing projectiles, armor-piercing projectiles and grenades, and can also fire gun-launched missiles. Different types of armor-piercing projectiles have different degrees of damage to the target. Generally, armor with a thickness of 400 mm can be penetrated at a distance of 2000 meters, armor with a thickness of 660 mm can be penetrated at a distance of 1000 meters, and the armor-piercing thickness can reach 700 mm. In addition to great destructive power, the hit accuracy of tank guns is also high, with 80% shooting at fixed targets at 2000 meters and more than 60% shooting at moving targets at 1500 meters. If it is used with laser semi-vivid guided projectile, the hit accuracy will be greatly improved. It is not difficult to see that the hit accuracy of tank guns is not much different from that of missiles, and the power of armor-piercing projectiles, armor-piercing projectiles and armor-piercing projectiles is much better than that of missiles, so artillery is still the main attack weapon of main battle tanks in various countries.
form
The tank consists of special equipment and devices such as tank weapon system, tank propulsion system, tank protection system, tank communication equipment and tank electrical equipment.
Overall structure
Modern tanks are mostly a combination of a traditional car body and a single rotating turret. According to the installation position of the main components, it is usually divided into four parts: control, combat, force transmission and action.
The control part (cab) is usually located in the front of the tank, including control mechanism, test instrument, driving chair and so on. The warhead (battle room) is located in the middle of the tank, generally including the turret, the turret seat ring and the internal space below it, including tank weapons, fire control system, communication equipment, three prevention devices, fire extinguishing and explosion suppression devices and passenger seats. The turret is equipped with anti-aircraft machine guns and a smoke screen device. The power transmission part (power room) is usually located at the back of the tank, including the engine and its auxiliary system, transmission device and its operating mechanism, air intake and exhaust shutters, etc. The moving part is located under the two wings of the car body and has a crawler propulsion device and a suspension device.
In general arrangement, the cab of most tanks is in the front, the war room is in the middle, the power transmission room is behind the car body, and the engine is arranged vertically. The engines of some tanks are placed horizontally, and the power transmission devices of some tanks are installed in the front of the car body.
There are four tank crew members, who are responsible for command, shooting, loading and driving respectively. Some tanks use automatic loaders, so there is no need to load hands, usually three crew members.
1.20 mm or 1.25 mm high-pressure muskets are mostly used as the main battle weapons of weapon systems. The base number of shells is generally 40 ~ 50 rounds. The main types of artillery shells are long-rod armor-piercing projectile with stable tail and multi-purpose projectile. The armor-piercing projectile adopts high-density tungsten alloy or depleted uranium alloy core, and its initial velocity reaches 1.650 ~ 1.800 m/s, and it can penetrate homogeneous steel armor with a thickness of more than 500 mm within the usual shooting distance. The multi-purpose bomb can penetrate the steel armor to a depth of about 600 mm and has the function of killing blasting bombs. Steel-backed semi-combustible shells are mostly used in various shells. Some tank guns have automatic loaders, and some tank guns can launch anti-tank missiles (also known as gun-launched missiles).
Most of the auxiliary weapons are 7.62mm parallel machine guns,12.7mm or 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine guns, and some of them are equipped with grenade launchers.
Modern tanks are generally equipped with fire control systems centered on electronic computers, including digital fire control computers and various sensors, director sights, laser rangefinders, low-light-level night vision devices or thermal cameras, gun bidirectional stabilizers and line-of-sight stabilizers, commanders and commander control devices, etc. The fire control computer uses the microprocessor as the central processing device; The rangefinder adopts Nd-doped yttrium aluminum garnet or Nd-glass laser and carbon dioxide laser. The sensor can automatically input all kinds of information to calculate the aiming angle and azimuth advance angle of the gun; The gunner's main sight is mostly a combination device that can range and aim day and night, and is equipped with a line of sight stabilizer. The gunner's main sight is usually a periscope.
Modern new main battle tank, the artillery pitch range is-6 ~+20, the artillery and turret are driven by electro-hydraulic or all-electric, the turret maximum rotation speed is 0.393 ~ 0.995 radians/second, the shooting response time is 6 ~ 12 second, and the first hit rate is 65% ~ 90%.
propulsion system
Exhaust gas turbocharging, intercooling and multi-fuel engines are mostly used, and some of them adopt electronic control technology. M 1 and T-80 tanks are equipped with gas turbines. Engine power is mostly 883 ~ 1 103kW, speed is 2300 ~ 2600rpm, unit volume power is 543 ~ 794kW/m, and fuel consumption rate is 23 1 ~ 27 1g/kwh.
The transmission device mostly adopts the dual-power fluid planetary type with electro-hydraulic control and hydrostatic steering, which integrates hydraulic torque converter, planetary gear box, hydrostatic or hydrostatic steering mechanism, deceleration brake and other components. Some tank drives with power densities as high as 865,438+065,438+0 kW/m ... T-72 and T-80 adopt two mechanical planetary gearboxes combined with side drive.
Tank action devices mostly use torsion bar suspension device with hydraulic shock absorber, small diameter bearing wheel with supporting pulley and rubber metal crawler propulsion device with pin ear glue. Type 90, Challenger and other tanks use liquid-gas suspension or liquid-gas torsion bar mixed suspension device.
The unit power of the tank is about 20 kW/ton, the maximum speed is 55 ~ 72 km/h, the off-road speed is 30 ~ 55 km/h, and the maximum stroke is 300 ~ 650 km.
Tank capacity: maximum gradient is about 30, trench width is 2.7 ~ 3. 15m, vertical wall height is 0.9 ~ 1.2m, wading depth is1~1.4m. Most tanks are equipped with navigation devices and detachable diving devices.
protection system
The front of the car body and turret are mostly metal and nonmetal composite armor, and shielding armor is hung on both sides of the car body. Some tanks are hung with reactive armor on the surface of steel armor, which effectively improves the bullet resistance, especially the penetration resistance of armor-piercing projectiles. The front of the tank can usually defend against anti-tank shell attacks with vertical armor-piercing ability of 500 ~ 600 mm.
In order to put out the fire in the car and prevent the explosion of the oil-gas mixture in the car caused by armor-piercing bullets, automatic fire extinguishing and explosion suppression devices are often installed in the car. In order to reduce the damage of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, three prevention devices are installed in the car, and some of them have protective lining on the inner surface of the passenger compartment armor to reduce the penetration of neutron current. In addition, it is equipped with smoke screen device, other camouflage equipment and photoelectric countermeasure equipment, and measures such as further reducing the height of the car, rationally arranging oil and ammunition, and setting up carriages have been taken to significantly improve the comprehensive protection capability of the tank.
Communication equipment
Generally, a short-wave or ultrashort-wave FM radio station and a set of walkie-talkies are equipped in the tank car, and there is a call box outside the car for step-by-step calls. Command tanks are usually equipped with two radio stations. Modern tank radio stations mostly use integrated circuits, equipped with security machines, anti-jamming devices and microprocessor controllers, and the maximum communication distance can reach 25 ~ 35 kilometers.
Electrical equipment
The power supply adopts low-voltage DC power supply system, equipped with a silicon rectifier alternator with power of 10 ~ 20 kW and a 4 ~ 10 battery with capacity of 300 ~ 600 ampere-hours. T-72 tank adopts DC starting generator dual-purpose motor. A large number of electrical and electronic components have been introduced into the control system of tanks, and some electrical equipment has adopted automatic program control. A unified control system of information transmission, power control, data processing and fault self-inspection has begun to take shape.
classify
Before the 1960s, tanks were mostly classified into light, medium and heavy types according to the total combat weight and gun caliber. Usually, light tanks weigh 10 ~ 20 tons, and the caliber of artillery does not exceed 85 mm, which is mainly used for reconnaissance and vigilance, and can also be used for operations under specific conditions. Medium-sized tanks weigh 20 ~ 40 tons, and the maximum caliber of artillery is 105 mm, which is used to perform the main combat tasks of armored forces. Heavy tanks weigh 40 ~ 60 tons, and the maximum caliber of artillery is 122 mm, which is mainly used to support medium-sized tank battles. Britain once divided tanks into infantry tanks and ocean patrol tanks. Infantry tanks have thick armor and poor maneuverability, and are used to fight infantry. Ocean patrol tanks have thin armor and strong maneuverability, and are used for mobile operations.
Since 1960s, most countries have divided tanks into main battle tanks and special tanks according to their purposes. Now, the main battle tank has replaced the traditional medium and heavy tanks and is the main combat weapon of modern armored forces, which is used to complete a variety of combat tasks. Special tanks are tanks with special equipment and special tasks, such as reconnaissance tanks, airborne tanks, amphibious tanks and fire-breathing tanks. , mostly light tanks.
brief history
The history of car fights can be traced back to ancient times. As early as the Xia Dynasty, China had a horse-drawn chariot evolved from a field vehicle, which was used for hunting. However, the birth of tanks is the requirement of modern war and the result of scientific and technological development.
During the First World War, in order to break through the defensive positions composed of trenches, barbed wire and machine gun bunkers and break the deadlock in positional warfare, it is urgent to develop a new weapon that organically combines firepower, mobility and protection. 19 15, the British government adopted the suggestion of E.D. swinton and tried out a prototype tank by using automobile, tractor, gun manufacturing and metallurgical technology. Type I tank (Figure 2) is produced in 19 16, with diamond shape and rigid suspension. There are protruding gun seats on the track frames on both sides of the car body. Two tracks bypass the car body from above and a pair of steering wheels protrude from the back of the car. The tank has eight crew members, including "male" and "female". "Gong" is equipped with two 57mm guns and four machine guns, while "Mu" is only equipped with five machine guns. 1965438+September 2006 15, 49 type I tanks were first put into the battle of the somme river. At that time, for the sake of secrecy, Britain described this new weapon as a "tank" that sent water to the front. Therefore, the name has been used to this day, and "tank" is the transliteration of the word.
During World War I, Britain, France and Germany * * * made nearly 10,000 tanks, mainly including: British IV and A, French "Saint Sha Meng", "Renault" FT- 17 (Figure 3), German A7V tanks and so on. Among them, France's "Renault" FT- 17 tanks have the largest number (more than 3,000), with good performance, equipped with single turret and elastic suspension device, which was copied by other countries after the war.
These early tanks have various structural forms, including fixed overhead turret or side gun mount, rotary turret or turret-free structure, equipped with 37 ~ 75 mm short barrel, low muzzle velocity artillery and several machine guns, or only equipped with machine guns. Tank steering, some rely on clutches and braking systems, some rely on auxiliary gearboxes or motors linked with two tracks respectively, and some rely on two sets of engine gearboxes to drive two tracks respectively, and steer by changing the speed ratio of the two tracks. The total combat weight of the tank is 7 ~ 28 tons, the unit power is 2.6 ~ 4.8 kW/ton, the maximum traveling distance is 35 ~ 64 kilometers, and the armor thickness is 5 ~ 30 mm. ..
Due to the limitation of technical level and crude production equipment at that time, the performance of tanks was low, and firepower was mainly used to annihilate effective forces. Armor can only defend bullets and shell fragments, without radio communication equipment and optical observation sight, which leads to bumpy driving, slow speed, frequent mechanical failures and poor working conditions for passengers. Early tanks can only be used to guide infantry to complete tactical breakthroughs, and cannot expand the results in depth. However, the advent of tanks opened a new era of army mechanization and had a far-reaching impact on military operations.
develop
Between the two world wars, it was the exploration and experiment period of the development thought of tank tactics and technology, and various countries developed and equipped various tanks. Light and ultra-light tanks have been popular for some time, and in structure, there have also appeared tires that can be driven interchangeably with tracks and wheels-tracked light tanks, amphibious ultra-light tanks and medium and heavy tanks with multiple turrets. The tanks in this period mainly include: British Matilda infantry tanks and Crusader patrol tanks, French Renault R-35 light and SOMA S-35 medium tanks, Su т-26 light and т-28 medium tanks, German PzKpfw light and IV medium tanks, etc.
Compared with the early tanks, the tactical and technical performance of these tanks has been significantly improved. The total combat weight is 9 ~ 28 tons, the unit power is 5. 1 ~ 13.2 kW/ ton, the maximum speed is 20 ~ 43 km/h, and the maximum armor thickness is 25 ~ 90 mm The caliber of artillery is mostly 37 ~ 47 mm, and the muzzle velocity of artillery shells is 610 ~ 850. In order to enhance the support firepower, some tanks were equipped with 75 or 76 mm short-tube howitzers until they developed into multi-weapon and multi-turret tanks with small caliber cannons, medium caliber howitzers and several machine guns in one car. Telescopes and periscope optical observation and aiming instruments, turret electric or hydraulic drive devices and tank radio stations began to be used, and gun height stabilizers appeared; The propulsion system mostly adopts civil or aviation gasoline engine, fixed-axis mechanical gearbox, steering clutch or simple differential steering mechanism and balanced suspension device. After the appearance of anti-tank guns, some countries designed inclined armor to enhance the armor protection of tanks, and distributed the armor thickness according to the probability of each part being hit.
mature
During World War II, the warring sides produced about 300,000 tanks and self-propelled guns. At the beginning of the war, fascist Germany first concentrated on using a large number of tanks to carry out blitzkrieg. In the middle and late period of the war, there were many general battles in which thousands of tanks participated in the Soviet-German battlefield. In North Africa, Normandy and the Far East, a large number of tanks also participated in the war. Fighting against tanks has become the primary task of tanks.
The fierce confrontation between tanks and anti-tank weapons has promoted the rapid development of medium and heavy tank technology, the structural form of tanks has become increasingly mature, and the three major performances of firepower, maneuverability and protection have been comprehensively improved. The tanks in this period mainly include: Soviet T-34 medium tank (Figure 4), IS-2 heavy tank, German PZKPFW V Panther, PZKPFW VI Tiger heavy tank, American M4 medium tank, British Churchill infantry tank, Cromwell patrol tank and Japanese 97 medium tank. These tanks usually use a rotating turret with guns.
The artillery caliber of medium and heavy tanks is 57 ~ 85 mm and 88 ~ 122 mm, respectively, and the initial velocity of shells is 781~ 935 m/s. The main types of bombs are pointed or blunt armor-piercing projectiles and grenades, as well as sub-caliber armor-piercing projectiles and hollow charge armor-piercing projectiles. The maximum armor-piercing thickness is about/kloc-0 when the shooting distance is 500 m. Most engines are gasoline engines with 257 ~ 5 15 kW, and Soviet tanks use high-speed diesel engines. Adopt double power flow transmission device and torsion bar independent suspension device; In order to improve the bulletproof ability of the car body and turret, the shape is improved and the armor inclination angle (the angle between the armor plate and the vertical plane) is increased. The turret and the car body are integrally cast with armored steel and welded with rolled armored steel plates. The thickness of the front armor is mostly 45 ~ 100 mm, some of which reach 152 mm, and the thickest part of the turret reaches185 mm; There is a portable fire extinguisher in the car, and a projectile smoke screen device or smoke screen pipe is installed outside the car. The total combat weight of the tank is 27 ~ 55 tons (German PzKpfwⅵⅵ VI Tiger II heavy tank reaches 69.4 tons), the unit power is 6.4 ~ 15 kW/ ton, the maximum speed is 25 ~ 64 km/h, and the maximum stroke is 100 ~ 300 km.
Light tanks were developed only in the early stage of the war, mainly as emergency equipment and used under special operational conditions.
In the second half of the war, both the Soviet Union and Germany produced a large number of self-propelled guns (tanks without rotating turrets in essence) using tank chassis. Compared with tanks with the same chassis, artillery is powerful, low in shape and simple in structure, and suitable for mass production. However, due to its small directional range and limited firepower maneuver, it is only used to accompany tanks and support tanks with fire. In World War II, tanks have withstood the battle test under various complex conditions and become the main assault weapons in ground operations.
Postwar development
From the post-war to the 1950s, the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain, France and other countries designed and manufactured a new generation of tanks, mainly including Su т-54 medium tank, т-55 medium tank, т- 10 heavy tank and PT -76 amphibious tank, American M48 medium tank and M4 1 medium tank. British "Hundred Commanders" medium tanks and "Conqueror" heavy tanks, French AMX- 13 light tanks, etc.
During this period, the total combat weight of heavy tanks was 36 ~ 65 tons, the caliber of artillery was 90 ~ 105 and 120 ~ 122 mm respectively, the armor thickness of the front was 76 ~ 127 mm, the inclination angle was 55 ~ 60 degrees, and the casting turrets were mostly hemispherical. The engine power is 382 ~ 596 kW, the unit power is 9 ~ 13 kW/ ton, the maximum speed is 34 ~ 50 km/h, and the maximum stroke 100 ~ 500 km. Some tanks are equipped with overspeed armor-piercing projectiles, armor-piercing projectiles and armor-piercing projectiles with stable rotation, and adopt gun bidirectional stabilizers, infrared night vision devices, integrated or stereoscopic optical rangefinders, mechanical ballistic simulation computers, three-prevention devices, automatic fire extinguishing devices and submarine crossing devices.
The light tank weighs 14 ~ 23.5 tons, has 3 ~ 4 crew members, the caliber of artillery is 75 or 76 mm, the maximum thickness of turret armor is 20 ~ 40 mm, the engine power is 176 ~ 368 kw, and the unit power is 12.6 ~ 16 kw/. The PT-76 tank adopts water jet propulsion device, and its maximum sailing speed is10.2 km/h.amx-13. The tank adopts a novel "tilting" turret, and the tank gun automatic loader is installed for the first time. The turret is equipped with an anti-tank missile launcher, which can launch four anti-tank missiles.
Modern tank
In the 1960s, a number of main battle tanks appeared, whose firepower and comprehensive protection ability reached or exceeded the previous level of heavy tanks, and at the same time overcame the weakness of poor mobility of heavy tanks, thus stopping the development of heavy tanks in the traditional sense and forming a main battle tank with modern characteristics, namely, main battle tanks. Mainly include: American M60A 1, Soviet T-62, British Chief, French AMX-30, German Leopard I, Swedish STRV13B (referred to as "S") tanks (Figure 5), etc.
The total combat weight of these main battle tanks is 36-54 tons, the gun caliber is 105- 120 mm, the engine power is 427-6 10 kw, the unit power is 9- 15.4 kw/ton, and the maximum speed is 48-65 km/h. The main technical features are as follows: armor-piercing projectiles, hollow charge armor-piercing projectiles and armor-piercing projectiles, gun bidirectional stabilizers, optical rangefinders, infrared night vision night vision devices, high-power diesel engines or multi-fuel engines, dual power flow transmission devices, torsion bar independent suspension devices, three-proof devices and submarine crossing devices are widely used; The vehicle height is reduced, and the bulletproof appearance is improved; Some are equipped with laser rangefinder and electromechanical ballistic simulation computer. T-62 tanks began to use the smoothbore gun to launch the tail stabilizer; In order to control the height of Sheikh tank, the driver operates the vehicle in a semi-recumbent state; The "S" tank removes the traditional rotating turret, the gun and the car body are rigidly fixed, and adopts an automatic loader and an automatic shell thrower, as well as a power device combining a diesel engine and a gas turbine and a hydraulic suspension device that can adjust the height and posture of the car body.
The main battle tanks developed by various countries mainly focus on enhancing firepower, but the relationship between maneuverability and protective performance reflects the differences in design ideas. For example, the AMX-30 tank focuses on improving maneuverability; British "Sheikh" tank pays attention to improving protection performance; The tanks of the Soviet Union, the United States and other countries have also improved their maneuverability and protective performance accordingly.
The newly emerging light tanks in this period are mainly M55 1 made in the United States, equipped with a dual-purpose gun with a short gun body and a caliber of152mm. They can launch ordinary artillery shells and "Oak Stick" anti-tank missiles, adopt aluminum alloy armored vehicles, and have a total combat weight of 16 tons, which can be airdropped, airlifted and folded to float.
condition
Since 1970s, modern optics, computer, automatic control, new materials and new technology have been widely used in the design and manufacture of tanks, which has significantly improved the overall performance of tanks and made them more suitable for the requirements of modern wars. The main new main battle tanks are: Soviet T-72, T-80, German Leopard II, American M 1A2, British Challenger 2, French AMX leclerc, Japanese 74, 90, Israeli Merkava 3, Korean 88, Brazilian Osorio and Italian. These tanks still focus on enhancing firepower, while improving maneuverability and protective performance in a more balanced way.
Although the firepower, maneuverability and protective performance of the main battle tank have been significantly improved since the 1970s, its weight and width are close to the allowable limit of railway transportation and bridge bearing, and it is greatly limited by terrain conditions, which makes it more dependent on engineering, technology and logistics support. Due to more and more new components, the structure of tanks is becoming more and more complicated, and the cost and support cost are also greatly increased. In order to give full play to the combat effectiveness of tanks and reduce the cost, more and more attention is paid to the design with system engineering methods, and efforts are made to control the weight of tanks and improve the reliability, effectiveness, maintainability and durability of the whole vehicle. After World War II, tanks were widely used in some local wars. Military exercises in many countries showed that tanks will still play an important role in modern high-tech wars.
China began to produce Type 59 medium-sized tanks in the late 1950s, finalized and put into production Type 62 light tanks and Type 63 amphibious tanks in the early 1960s, and began to develop and produce Type 69, Type 80 and Type 88 main battle tanks in the 1970s. The total combat weight of Type 88 tank is 38 tons, and it is equipped with a new fire control system consisting of a 105 mm caliber rifled gun, a gun bidirectional stabilizer, a fire control computer, a laser ranging and day-and-night observation aiming device, a fire extinguishing and explosion suppression device, a three-proof and submarine crossing device and a new radio station. Adopt composite armor and exhaust gas turbocharged diesel engine with power of 537 kW, unit power 14438+0kw/ year.
prospect
Tanks are still important assault weapons for future ground operations. Many countries are actively using the latest achievements of modern science and technology to develop new main battle tanks used in the early 20th century. The overall structure of the tank may have a breakthrough change, such as external artillery, unmanned turret and other layout forms. The caliber of artillery tends to further increase, and the fire control system will be more advanced and perfect. The power density of the power transmission device will be further improved; Various active and passive protection technologies, photoelectric countermeasures technology and automatic battlefield information management technology will be gradually popularized and applied in tanks. In research and development, all countries attach great importance to reducing the weight and size of tanks and controlling the increase of costs. It can be expected that the destructive power, survivability and adaptability of the new main battle tank will be greatly improved.
Crawler tread
Tracks are used to reduce the destructive power of heavy armor-piercing projectiles and disperse the destructive power of armor-piercing projectiles. They can run freely, but it is difficult to install if the tracks fall off. Six-wheeled trackless tanks have been developed abroad.