From the end of WWII, the Warsaw Pact—led by the Soviet Union—viewed the tank as the ultimate instrument of offensive breakthrough. Their doctrine was built around speed and overwhelming force.
The tank competition between NATO and the Warsaw Pact was a chess match of escalating technology. While the Warsaw Pact relied on a "quantity has a quality of its own" strategy, NATO bet on high-tech, expensive machines capable of winning against the odds. Though the Berlin Wall fell before these two doctrines could meet in a full-scale European war, the designs perfected during this era continue to influence modern armored warfare around the world. NATO and Warsaw Pact Tanks of the Cold War
Are you more interested in the of these tanks, or From the end of WWII, the Warsaw Pact—led
In response, the Warsaw Pact rolled out the , the first Soviet tank with a gas turbine engine, and the T-72B , which was covered in Reactive Armor (ERA)—explosive bricks designed to detonate incoming shells before they hit the main hull. Conclusion While the Warsaw Pact relied on a "quantity
The late 1970s and 80s saw a massive technological leap that resulted in the "Third Generation" of Main Battle Tanks (MBTs). This era produced the icons we still see today.
NATO introduced the (USA) and the Leopard 2 (West Germany). These tanks were revolutionary, featuring advanced composite armor (like Chobham) that could shrug off Soviet anti-tank missiles, and powerful turbine or diesel engines that made these heavy beasts incredibly fast.