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As I've said before, the Centurion is the best tank ever built. To quote an old post...

It was the first of the vehicles that we would describe as a modern battle tank, unlike the more specised and irregularly shaped vehicles of WW2 and had less of the drawbacks. It was well armoured and relatively fast. It moved with the ages, upgrading form a 17 pounder to a 20 pounder to a 105mm main gun and has been adapted to many specialist uses. It's fought in more wars than any other western tank including the Korean War, Suez, Yom Kippur war, Vietnam war and Gulf war. It has been in armed forces all around the world and has been in service longer than almost anything else. Introduced in 1945 it was still being used in the first Gulf War in 1991, and that's just the UK. The IDF used them in Lebanon in 2006.


As for the modern tanks today, well the victor would largely be determined by the specific scenario and environment of their meeting. I think the Leopard is probably the best overall though I would like to say Challenger 2.

Howard A Treesong wrote:As I've said before, the Centurion is the best tank ever built. To quote an old post...

It was the first of the vehicles that we would describe as a modern battle tank, unlike the more specised and irregularly shaped vehicles of WW2 and had less of the drawbacks. It was well armoured and relatively fast. It moved with the ages, upgrading form a 17 pounder to a 20 pounder to a 105mm main gun and has been adapted to many specialist uses. It's fought in more wars than any other western tank including the Korean War, Suez, Yom Kippur war, Vietnam war and Gulf war. It has been in armed forces all around the world and has been in service longer than almost anything else. Introduced in 1945 it was still being used in the first Gulf War in 1991, and that's just the UK. The IDF used them in Lebanon in 2006.


As for the modern tanks today, well the victor would largely be determined by the specific scenario and environment of their meeting. I think the Leopard is probably the best overall though I would like to say Challenger 2.

Im assuming you have never spoken to someone who has worked in/on, then a challie I&II

sebster wrote:Are you honest to God claiming that the Merkava isn't widely recognised as having greater top armour than other tanks?

I just... I mean... does every fething thing on the internet no matter how widely acknowledged it is have to get debated?

No, just the things you can't find sources for, if it was widely recognised you'd have pulled up some evidence by now. Your word alone is not good enough.

sebster wrote:Oh, I see. Yes, very clever. You said unique. Well then yes, superior top armour isn't only valuable in urban combat.

But that's why the Israelis installed it. This is, again, a thing that sensible people really shouldn't be arguing about.

Please be sensible.

You misread my post, you master of irony you.

ChrisWWII wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gander_(dog)

I see your Gander, and raise you Unsinkable Sam. Never before has a cat wreaked so much havoc.

As for the best tank of WW2 debate, one should also note that the very design of the later named German tanks is very reflective of Germany's war footing at the time. The Tiger, Konigtiger, and maybe even the Panther were not blitzkrieg tanks. They were defensive tanks, that weren't mean to be exploiting gaps in the enemys line. They were mean to hold the Germans own line, and if necessary, attack to plug up holes in their own lines.

Of course, let us not forget that the good ol' Panzer IV was the true backbone of the Heer's armored groups throughout the mid to late war.

Gander is actually saving lives in combat. Sam appears to be blowing up warships...on both sides no less!

dirkthe1 wrote:

Howard A Treesong wrote:As I've said before, the Centurion is the best tank ever built. To quote an old post...

It was the first of the vehicles that we would describe as a modern battle tank, unlike the more specised and irregularly shaped vehicles of WW2 and had less of the drawbacks. It was well armoured and relatively fast. It moved with the ages, upgrading form a 17 pounder to a 20 pounder to a 105mm main gun and has been adapted to many specialist uses. It's fought in more wars than any other western tank including the Korean War, Suez, Yom Kippur war, Vietnam war and Gulf war. It has been in armed forces all around the world and has been in service longer than almost anything else. Introduced in 1945 it was still being used in the first Gulf War in 1991, and that's just the UK. The IDF used them in Lebanon in 2006.


As for the modern tanks today, well the victor would largely be determined by the specific scenario and environment of their meeting. I think the Leopard is probably the best overall though I would like to say Challenger 2.

Im assuming you have never spoken to someone who has worked in/on, then a challie I&II

Can you clarify what you mean please?

ShumaGorath wrote:

Melissia wrote:

Yak9UT wrote:

Melissia wrote:Yeaaaah, let's forget that the Lee exists for a moment.

You mean the tank with the main gun in the chasis?

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FM3_Lee&rct=j&q=lee%20tank&ei=CQRnTZKyMtCecby89Y0M&usg=AFQjCNFH1KweN2LDbEpJRo-uUeEppdtjXg&sig2=ORx403lNRxnhqnOJe8rJqw&cad=rja

Hssssss. *sharpens knife* No. no such thing exists. Carry on.

Oh hey look its a bad GW rip off tank design! Oh wait, no, it's the real thing GW ripped off.

Yeah that thing would definately be at home on an Imperial Guard battleline.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:

Gander is actually saving lives in combat. Sam appears to be blowing up warships...on both sides no less!

Exactly! Gander may be awesome, but is he so awesome the Royal Navy was forced to send him to Gibraltar and appease him with mice just to keep him from sinking every ship we was assigned to?

notprop wrote:

dirkthe1 wrote:

Howard A Treesong wrote:As I've said before, the Centurion is the best tank ever built. To quote an old post...

It was the first of the vehicles that we would describe as a modern battle tank, unlike the more specised and irregularly shaped vehicles of WW2 and had less of the drawbacks. It was well armoured and relatively fast. It moved with the ages, upgrading form a 17 pounder to a 20 pounder to a 105mm main gun and has been adapted to many specialist uses. It's fought in more wars than any other western tank including the Korean War, Suez, Yom Kippur war, Vietnam war and Gulf war. It has been in armed forces all around the world and has been in service longer than almost anything else. Introduced in 1945 it was still being used in the first Gulf War in 1991, and that's just the UK. The IDF used them in Lebanon in 2006.


As for the modern tanks today, well the victor would largely be determined by the specific scenario and environment of their meeting. I think the Leopard is probably the best overall though I would like to say Challenger 2.

Im assuming you have never spoken to someone who has worked in/on, then a challie I&II

Can you clarify what you mean please?

I work with/for several people who are ex/current RAC (and/or REME) etc, and this discussion came up the other day. They (almost to a man) said that whilst centurion was good, it cant really be compared to challie 1 or 2. It wasnt built for same era or requirements, etc (it would be like comparing a Mk1 432 with a bulldog).

It did have a fantastic amount of varients, some of which are sadly lacking today.

Also the IDF used them as AFVs not tanks-and they are so modified its untrue.

Having only ever been in challies, I cant verify it, but its a fairly informed opinion,

ChrisWWII wrote:

KamikazeCanuck wrote:

Gander is actually saving lives in combat. Sam appears to be blowing up warships...on both sides no less!

Exactly! Gander may be awesome, but is he so awesome the Royal Navy was forced to send him to Gibraltar and appease him with mice just to keep him from sinking every ship we was assigned to?

Exactly indeed! Dogs serve humans but humans serve cats!

"I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals."
-Winston Churchill