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| A Question of weight http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=22601 |
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| Author: | jprp [ Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | A Question of weight |
Im not sure where i should post this but- in the real world what are the definitions for differing weight classes of tank ? where is the line drawn between medium tank, main battle tank, heavy tank and super heavy ? |
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| Author: | captPiett [ Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Question of weight |
I think those classifications are somewhat archaic nowadays. AFV's are classified by their battlefield role more than strictly their weight. For example main battle tank, infantry fighting vehicle, armored personnel carrier, etc. In order to go toe-to-toe with other armor, tanks need to be heavy and I'm not sure there's any modern ones that fall into the "medium" category. However, if you compare the ultra-modern ones to mid-cold war ones (M1 to T-55, for example), they can certainly be labelled "heavy" and "medium". WWII tanks are much easier to classify according to weight: M4, T-34, Pz IV, Cromwell are all "medium"; decent armor and mobility, reasonably good gun. Heavies were for breaking through (KV-1, JS-2, Tiger I/II, Churchill) lines, where thick armor was needed more than speed. Light tanks were scouts and breakthrough exploitation vehicles(Stuart, Pz II, etc.). I think the only thing that fell into the "super heavy" category were the silly German monstrosities like the Maus and E-300(?) and Jagdtiger, the last being the only one to see real use IIRC. That's how I understand it - I'm sure some real tread-head can shoot all sorts of holes in those distinctions of course. |
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| Author: | Spectrar Ghost [ Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Question of weight |
Weight classifications have always been relative. For instance Super-Heavy tanks are often defined as tanks that are significantly heavier than contemporary Heavies. Today there are pretty much Light and Main Battle Tanks, with MBTs being similar to the mediums and heavies of WWI and WWII, but really defined by main cannon bore (105mm+ being an MBT, IIRC) Light tanks are generally reconnaisance tanks, and in some cases have been replaced with IFV variants like the M3A2 Bradley. |
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| Author: | jprp [ Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: A Question of weight |
Ok both answers help. thanks. |
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