Darkish
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 25, 2014
- 326
- 364
In a bid to complete our African Top Ten Series list we've decided to come up with a detailed analysis on the TOP TEN MOST POWERFUL MAIN BATTLE TANKS IN AFRICA. However, this list only features tanks used by African countries and the criteria used in ranking includes:
1) Armor 2) Armament 3) Technology - Force-multiplier systems like APS, RWS, ERA, LASER, RADAR, COMMS etc.
A Main Battle Tank (MBT) is basically a huge moving block of hard metal armed with a really big gun primarily used to protected lesser armored allied vehicle or infrastructure. It is usually used to engage other enemy armor on the battlefield. Modern MBTs has evolved radically from their fore-bears which were slow, cumbersome and lightly protected and mostly used for crossing trenches and covering troops.
Most African country see the use of tanks as a must-have weapon systems since most conflict occurring in the continent are usually low-intensity in nature whereby rebels are armed with soft-skinned vehicles. Tanks rarely engage each other with the most recent tank battle occurring in 2014 in Nigeria where a Nigerian Army T-72s from the 3rd Armored Division attacked and destroy a Boko Haram terrorist Vickers tank in the Northeast of the country.
This list was compiled after careful analysis on all contenders based on their merits and advantages over each other. It does not contain tanks outside Africa or tanks categorized as light, tank-destroyer, armored cars, Infantry vehicle or other vehicles with the same role as a tank.
Please note that the tanks featured here might not necessarily win in a real shooting war encounter as victory in a real life scenario depends solely on various factors such as Terrain, Crew training, combat support systems/infrastructure, Presence of infantry or other fighting vehicles and most importantly Combat Air Support.
Note: All tanks featured here are all 'AFRICAN' versions.
A Sudanese Type 96 destroyed a South Sudanese T-72 in a border clash in 2012, this might not be due to the superiority of the Type 96 over the T-72 but the crew might be better trained or more experienced.
1) T-90 MBT
The T-90 (A.K.A Vladimir) tank is a technological marvel, combining the best attributes of the effective T-72 and the technologically superior T-80 tank. The T-90 is currently making its way as the most capable tank out there. Having been equipped with the latest Russian gears and bursting with the best ammunition package available in this Twenty-first century. This MBT is a beast on the battlefield.
Users
Algeria: 572 T-90SA
Uganda: 44 units
2) M1 Abrams MBT
The M1 Abrams tank is undoubtedly one of the greatest tanks ever developed, its sheer armored covering is mind-blowing. Bristling with the latest American tank technology. Its spots heavy armored plating to withstand the most withering tank and missile fire coupled with advance tank protection gadgets. Also, this tank does not lack any modern navigation, optical or electronic devices.
Users:
Egypt: 1,005 M1A1 (200 ordered)
Morocco: 222 M1A1 SA (Situational Awareness)
3) T-80 MBT
A futuristic tank design having its roots from the successful T-64 MBT. A new unique tank round which uses a semi-combustible cartridge that burns up completely during firing. This type of round minimizes space albeit with a slight disadvantage i.e it is easily combustible so the whole ammunition storage is at risk. Although, various upgrades has diminish the risk. Uniquely among Russian tanks is the presence of a powerful gas-turbine engine coupled with a high Power-to-Weight ratio which gives the T-80 a blistering speed (of 70 km/h) but with a severe range limitation.
User:
Egypt: 24 T-80K, T-80U
4) Type 96 (ZTZ-96) MBT
An advanced Chinese design able to go toe-to-toe with even the most deadly western tanks and still come out unscathed. The Chinese after realizing that all their current fleet of MBTs were outmatched and out-gun by the west as shown during the Gulf war went ahead with an ambitious plan to fill up that gap. The Type 96 comes loaded with unique Chinese technology after years of painful study of other designs.
User:
Sudan
5) Al-Khalid MBT
Al Khalid (The Immortal Tank) This fiercely named tank was named for its formidable strength and firepower. This is the most unique of all tanks featured here because it was built by combining all the best qualities of different tanks worldwide in to a single unit. Furthermore, all the Pakistani hard learnt lessons during the Indo-Pak war of the 70's was crammed into this majestic vehicle.
User:
Morocco: 150 VT-1A
6) T-72 MBT
The 'AK-47' of tanks, this MBT has seen combat more than any other modern tank in history. It has served in virtually all continents and is still being used as of today. More upgrades are being churned out in different factories all over the world as we speak. The T-72 has gained the reputation of being the benchmark for all modern tanks. It features a more reliable autoloader, improved armor etc. It was intended to be a cheaper tank due to economic considerations, playing second fiddle to the T-80 but due to constant refinement and upgrade, it has become almost as powerful as the T-80.
Users
Algeria: 500 T-72M, T-72M1, T-72AG
Angola: 22 T-72M1
D.R.C: 100 T-72AV
Djibout:
Ethiopia Army: 50 T-72s, 171 T-72UA1 on order
Kenya: 77 T-72AV
Libya: 150 in 2003 (current state unknown)
Morocco: 148 T-72B
Sudan: 400 T-72AV (170 on order)
Uganda: 50 T-72B
Nigeria: 16 T-72AV (some unofficial source say's 55 units)
South Sudan: 101
7) Oliphant MBT
Afrikaans for "Elephant" this is an ambitious SADF upgrade of the old British Centurion Main Battle Tank. It was developed too late to partake in the South African Border war however, Recent improvements includes improved armor, night vision equipment and laser range-finder. Designed by Oliphant Manufacturing Company (OMC) but it has undergone several upgrade programs by BAE Land Systems. Uniquely among modern tanks, it has not yet seen combat although it performs excellently well in exercises and various mock combats simulating real conflict. it spots a high-powered 120 mm smoothbore main gun.
User:
South Africa
8) T-64 MBT
The very formidable Soviet T-80 MBT was designed from the T-64. Having an autoloader meant the absence of one crew member made this tank to have a lower squat-looking profile which is advantageous in a tank battle, the T-64 pioneered many innovating technologies present in today’s tanks such as the ability to fire an Anti-Tank Guided Missile(ATGM) right from its main gun barrel.
User:
DRC
9) T-62 MBT
This is technically the Soviets first 'real' modern main battle tank due to its vast improvements over the T-54/55 series tanks which were very popular. It was the first Soviet tank to fire an APFSDS round at high velocity. Although, it was plagued with slow turret traversing and limited protection for the secondary gunner. Recent upgrades have been developed by various companies which makes the T-62 a deadly foe to encounter in any battlefield.
Users:
Angola, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Morocco, Libya
10) Vickers MBT
Although an outdated design but the Vickers has shown that it is readily adaptable to various upgrades to keep it relevant in the battlefield. The Vickers still fights on till this day even though it was developed in the 1960's. This is largely due to the flexible designs and the ingenuity of the users. With further upgrades, this tank can still pose a grave threat to unsuspecting enemy tank crew.
Users:
Nigeria and Kenya
Note: Type 59 is nowhere to be seen perhaps the answer lies with this beasts below:
Type 96B 52TONS MBT
NEW VT5 30TONS MBT
1) Armor 2) Armament 3) Technology - Force-multiplier systems like APS, RWS, ERA, LASER, RADAR, COMMS etc.
A Main Battle Tank (MBT) is basically a huge moving block of hard metal armed with a really big gun primarily used to protected lesser armored allied vehicle or infrastructure. It is usually used to engage other enemy armor on the battlefield. Modern MBTs has evolved radically from their fore-bears which were slow, cumbersome and lightly protected and mostly used for crossing trenches and covering troops.
Most African country see the use of tanks as a must-have weapon systems since most conflict occurring in the continent are usually low-intensity in nature whereby rebels are armed with soft-skinned vehicles. Tanks rarely engage each other with the most recent tank battle occurring in 2014 in Nigeria where a Nigerian Army T-72s from the 3rd Armored Division attacked and destroy a Boko Haram terrorist Vickers tank in the Northeast of the country.
This list was compiled after careful analysis on all contenders based on their merits and advantages over each other. It does not contain tanks outside Africa or tanks categorized as light, tank-destroyer, armored cars, Infantry vehicle or other vehicles with the same role as a tank.
Please note that the tanks featured here might not necessarily win in a real shooting war encounter as victory in a real life scenario depends solely on various factors such as Terrain, Crew training, combat support systems/infrastructure, Presence of infantry or other fighting vehicles and most importantly Combat Air Support.
Note: All tanks featured here are all 'AFRICAN' versions.
A Sudanese Type 96 destroyed a South Sudanese T-72 in a border clash in 2012, this might not be due to the superiority of the Type 96 over the T-72 but the crew might be better trained or more experienced.
1) T-90 MBT
The T-90 (A.K.A Vladimir) tank is a technological marvel, combining the best attributes of the effective T-72 and the technologically superior T-80 tank. The T-90 is currently making its way as the most capable tank out there. Having been equipped with the latest Russian gears and bursting with the best ammunition package available in this Twenty-first century. This MBT is a beast on the battlefield.
Users
Algeria: 572 T-90SA
Uganda: 44 units
2) M1 Abrams MBT
The M1 Abrams tank is undoubtedly one of the greatest tanks ever developed, its sheer armored covering is mind-blowing. Bristling with the latest American tank technology. Its spots heavy armored plating to withstand the most withering tank and missile fire coupled with advance tank protection gadgets. Also, this tank does not lack any modern navigation, optical or electronic devices.
Users:
Egypt: 1,005 M1A1 (200 ordered)
Morocco: 222 M1A1 SA (Situational Awareness)
3) T-80 MBT
A futuristic tank design having its roots from the successful T-64 MBT. A new unique tank round which uses a semi-combustible cartridge that burns up completely during firing. This type of round minimizes space albeit with a slight disadvantage i.e it is easily combustible so the whole ammunition storage is at risk. Although, various upgrades has diminish the risk. Uniquely among Russian tanks is the presence of a powerful gas-turbine engine coupled with a high Power-to-Weight ratio which gives the T-80 a blistering speed (of 70 km/h) but with a severe range limitation.
User:
Egypt: 24 T-80K, T-80U
4) Type 96 (ZTZ-96) MBT
An advanced Chinese design able to go toe-to-toe with even the most deadly western tanks and still come out unscathed. The Chinese after realizing that all their current fleet of MBTs were outmatched and out-gun by the west as shown during the Gulf war went ahead with an ambitious plan to fill up that gap. The Type 96 comes loaded with unique Chinese technology after years of painful study of other designs.
User:
Sudan
5) Al-Khalid MBT
Al Khalid (The Immortal Tank) This fiercely named tank was named for its formidable strength and firepower. This is the most unique of all tanks featured here because it was built by combining all the best qualities of different tanks worldwide in to a single unit. Furthermore, all the Pakistani hard learnt lessons during the Indo-Pak war of the 70's was crammed into this majestic vehicle.
User:
Morocco: 150 VT-1A
6) T-72 MBT
The 'AK-47' of tanks, this MBT has seen combat more than any other modern tank in history. It has served in virtually all continents and is still being used as of today. More upgrades are being churned out in different factories all over the world as we speak. The T-72 has gained the reputation of being the benchmark for all modern tanks. It features a more reliable autoloader, improved armor etc. It was intended to be a cheaper tank due to economic considerations, playing second fiddle to the T-80 but due to constant refinement and upgrade, it has become almost as powerful as the T-80.
Users
Algeria: 500 T-72M, T-72M1, T-72AG
Angola: 22 T-72M1
D.R.C: 100 T-72AV
Djibout:
Ethiopia Army: 50 T-72s, 171 T-72UA1 on order
Kenya: 77 T-72AV
Libya: 150 in 2003 (current state unknown)
Morocco: 148 T-72B
Sudan: 400 T-72AV (170 on order)
Uganda: 50 T-72B
Nigeria: 16 T-72AV (some unofficial source say's 55 units)
South Sudan: 101
7) Oliphant MBT
Afrikaans for "Elephant" this is an ambitious SADF upgrade of the old British Centurion Main Battle Tank. It was developed too late to partake in the South African Border war however, Recent improvements includes improved armor, night vision equipment and laser range-finder. Designed by Oliphant Manufacturing Company (OMC) but it has undergone several upgrade programs by BAE Land Systems. Uniquely among modern tanks, it has not yet seen combat although it performs excellently well in exercises and various mock combats simulating real conflict. it spots a high-powered 120 mm smoothbore main gun.
User:
South Africa
8) T-64 MBT
The very formidable Soviet T-80 MBT was designed from the T-64. Having an autoloader meant the absence of one crew member made this tank to have a lower squat-looking profile which is advantageous in a tank battle, the T-64 pioneered many innovating technologies present in today’s tanks such as the ability to fire an Anti-Tank Guided Missile(ATGM) right from its main gun barrel.
User:
DRC
9) T-62 MBT
This is technically the Soviets first 'real' modern main battle tank due to its vast improvements over the T-54/55 series tanks which were very popular. It was the first Soviet tank to fire an APFSDS round at high velocity. Although, it was plagued with slow turret traversing and limited protection for the secondary gunner. Recent upgrades have been developed by various companies which makes the T-62 a deadly foe to encounter in any battlefield.
Users:
Angola, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Morocco, Libya
10) Vickers MBT
Although an outdated design but the Vickers has shown that it is readily adaptable to various upgrades to keep it relevant in the battlefield. The Vickers still fights on till this day even though it was developed in the 1960's. This is largely due to the flexible designs and the ingenuity of the users. With further upgrades, this tank can still pose a grave threat to unsuspecting enemy tank crew.
Users:
Nigeria and Kenya
Note: Type 59 is nowhere to be seen perhaps the answer lies with this beasts below:
Type 96B 52TONS MBT
NEW VT5 30TONS MBT
