Tanks is there one that stands out?

[muttly]

Of all the modern tanks, is there one that can be said to be the best or they all different shades
of the same color.

 

[Foo Fighter]

Not sure there is a 'best' as they all address the usual triad with different variations. The big difference is going to be in the training of crews as they will make the difference and are technically still part of the 'tank'.

 

[uk 75]

What does seem to be clear is that the Russian/Chinese model of greater numbers of smaller tanks relying on autoloaders does not deliver very effective tanks on a modern battlefield.
However, the M1 Abrams, Challenger 2, Leopard 2 and Leclerc have not been used against one another by armies with comparable levels of training and combat experience.

 

[shin_getter]

However, the M1 Abrams, Challenger 2, Leopard 2 and Leclerc have not been used against one another by armies with comparable levels of training and combat experience.

What we have seen is those tanks used against forces with supposedly worst state of training and almost no heavy equipment, and it not resulting in a walkover.

The reflexive response is "Arabs at war"

but perhaps that is as fair as watching the Colonials fight amongst themselves and conclude that their armies are terrible because they do not use cold steel more.

 

[jeffb]

What does seem to be clear is that the Russian/Chinese model of greater numbers of smaller tanks relying on autoloaders does not deliver very effective tanks on a modern battlefield.

Don't know that we can really say this. I don't think we've seen the Western tanks in a conflict facing advanced ATGMs or the precision guided artillery which have played such a large roll in this one.

 

[uk 75]

I took muftly's question to be based on tank Vs tank assessment.
IEDs and other irregular means of killing tanks do pretty much the same damage to all of them with a big bang.
It is pretty clear that T72 and co come off worse in combat with Abrams and Merkava but that might be due to poor tactics by the users.
So apart from simulations we do not have the kind of info we had about Centurions and Pattons.

 

[helmutkohl]

for me.. the Merkava and the T-14 stand out as being quite different than the others
the Merkava with its really wide body and heavy weight, and especially its front engine
T-14 with its substantially different internal configuration.

The others.. such as most of the Russian/Ukrainian T series and Chinese tanks share a lot of similarities with each other.
as do US, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, tanks with each other

not saying being similar or different means its good or bad.