The basis of Russia's tank forces is made up of vehicles that have proven themselves in all significant conflicts of the last four decades. Since the Second World War, tanks have been and remain one of the main active forces in conflicts with direct contact between opponents - so to speak, the main heavy weapon on the battlefield. Naturally, therefore, the number of tank troops also remains one of the most important indicators of the combat capabilities of the army of a particular state.

Among the world powers, three have the largest tank forces: the Russian Federation, the USA and China, and in this trio our country leads by a colossal margin. Today, according to various sources, there are about 21,000–22,000 tanks in active service and in storage in the arsenals of the Russian Army.

American tank forces are armed with half the number of vehicles - 9,125 units, of which the vast majority (about 8,700) are the M1 Abrams, which were adopted almost a quarter of a century ago. A comparable number of tanks, according to various sources - from 8,500 to 9,000, is owned by the People's Liberation Army of China, where the Type 96 tank prevails, which was put into service in 1997 and, in its combat capabilities, is closest to the domestic T-72 of the latest modifications .

To what exactly Russian army has the largest number of tanks in the world, it is not surprising. After all, our country has the longest land border in the world, and in addition, Russia was forced to fight all the wars of the last two centuries, including two world wars, mainly on its own territory. Under such conditions, the concept of the use of armed forces must inevitably rely heavily on tank forces - just as the American concept of war in foreign territory overseas relies on aircraft carriers and mobile forces such as the Marines.

In service and in reserve

Formally, as the official website of the Russian Ministry of Defense says, The domestic tank forces are armed with three models of tanks: T-72, T-80 and T-90. Their number does not include the newest T-14 Armata tank, which has not yet been officially adopted for service, and was recently demonstrated to the general public at the Victory Parade in Moscow. The Ministry of Defense does not provide official data on the number of tanks of each model, but according to independent sources, the total number of cars of all three models reaches 13,000–14,000 units.

In addition, the official military website does not mention the tanks stored in reserve - the T-55, T-62 and T-64, which are outdated but have not lost their combat capabilities. And there are not so few of them - almost 8000. Most of the T-55 tanks are reserved: after all, this is the most popular Soviet post-war tank of the first generation. Adopted into service in 1958, this armored vehicle was produced in quantities of over 20,000 units only in the USSR and only in its main modifications! Most of them, of course, have already been disposed of, but approximately 2,800 T-55s are stored in arsenals for conservation.

Slightly fewer - about 2,300 units - are mothballed T-64 tanks. This vehicle turned out to be very successful, despite its low modernization potential, and in the West its appearance was generally compared to the entry onto the battlefield of the famous T-34. But the predecessor and contemporary of the T-64 - the T-62 tank - remained in arsenals in much smaller quantities: approximately 1,600 pieces. More recently, there were almost 2,500 of them, but 900 vehicles were scrapped, despite the fact that the T-62 was finally removed from service only in 2011.

Main tank T-72 "Ural"

Number of tanks in service: about 2000 units.
The total number of tanks of all modifications produced: about 30,000 units (approximately 7,500 units are in storage).
Weight: 41 t;

Crew: 3 people;
Speed ​​on rough terrain: 35–45 km/h.

Tank T-72

The T-72 can be considered the most massive Soviet post-war tank of all generations, which is natural: it was put into service on August 7, 1973, in the same year an initial batch of 30 vehicles was produced, and production of the model was discontinued only in 2005, that is, 32 years later! The chief designer of the tank, Leonid Kartsev, noted that foreign experts consider this vehicle “the best and most widespread tank of the second half of the twentieth century.”

Over three decades, the tank has been modernized several times: the total number of modifications, including export versions, reaches two dozen. But the main modifications were the T-72A and T-72B, as well as the more modern T-72BA and. The first modification - T-72A - was carried out in 1979: new guidance and observation devices were installed on the vehicle, the gun was replaced with a newer one and the mounted protection was strengthened, and the engine was also changed to a more powerful one.

Six years later, a modification of the T-72B appeared - with a new Svir guided weapon system, a new Kontakt dynamic protection system and a new engine, as well as a cannon launcher instead of a conventional cannon.

The third modification is a deep modernization of the T-72B with increased protection, including built-in dynamic, and more modern elements fire control systems and the tank itself. And the latest modification - T-72B3 - has been entering service with the troops for the last three years and is different the latest system fire control, which significantly increased the capabilities of on-board weapons, the most powerful engine in the entire line and an improved chassis.

Main tank T-80

Number of tanks in service: about 4000.
The total number of tanks of all modifications produced: more than 10,000 units (of which over 6,500 are the T-80U modification).
Weight: 42–46 t;
Armament: 125 mm cannon, 12.7 mm machine gun, 7.62 mm machine gun;
Crew: 3 people;
Speed ​​on rough terrain: 50–60 km/h.

Tank T-80

The T-80 was put into service only three years later than the T-72, but experts attribute it not to the second or first transitional, as “seventy-second,” but to the third generation. And quite rightly: the T-80 is the first tank in the USSR and in the world with a single gas turbine power plant. Despite the fact that in many elements this vehicle was unified with the T-72 and even with the T-64, which was the “forerunner” of both new tanks, structurally and in its basic idea it was completely new.

What distinguishes the “ninetieth” from the “progenitor”? First of all, a new fire control system, designed to replace the one that has proven itself, but is already outdated, installed on the T-72 and T-80. But the most serious changes to the tank’s equipment were made in 2006, and this modification is in service under the designation T-90A. It has a new night sight, which serves as a thermal imager, reinforced armor for the hull and turret, and a new thousand-horsepower diesel engine and a new gun stabilizer.

In 1999, after the death of the chief designer of the T-90, Vladimir Potkin, his most famous creation was given the name of its creator: “Vladimir”. Four years ago, T-90 tanks stopped entering service with our army: they should be replaced by the newest - the world's first fourth-generation tank. But for now, the military plans to purchase only 2,300 such tanks by 2020.

So, although not the newest, but still formidable and capable of many things, the T-72, T-80 and T-90 will clearly serve their country for many more years, or even more than a dozen years. The same way their predecessors served - the legendary T-55, T-62 and T-64, the heirs of the world-famous T-34.

Periodically, on the Internet or in print, the issue of the number of tanks in the ranks of the Ground Forces of the RF Armed Forces is discussed, and now the Airborne Forces also have tanks, and the Navy Marine Corps also has them (in the Coastal Troops of the Navy there were, in fact, these are ordinary motorized rifle brigades , but listed as part of the Navy due to the geography of their permanent deployment). No, everyone knows that along with long-term storage Russia's tank reserves are such that they are enough for us, our friends-allies, and our potential adversaries. But regarding tanks in linear units, there are many different options for assessment, and very often they refer to various calculations from the early 2010s, when formations and personnel units were liquidated and divisions were transformed into brigades. But since then, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge both in the rivers and from the stands. The RF Armed Forces gradually completed the formation of brigades, then began to form divisions.

Let's try to estimate how many vehicles we should have in units, based on the approximate states and their total number. The exact organizational and staffing structures for each unit or formation in our country are secret; we have not been a de facto member of the CFE Treaty for a long time, so there is no accurate information on this matter. But typical OSHSs are more or less known, so we can roughly estimate what we will do.

To begin with, we will open the Military Balance 2018 directory, published by SIPRI Stockholm. Honestly, this reference book, even in its description of NATO armies, is prone to errors and oddities, but when it comes to Russia, there is a feeling that, although the Vikings have become history, like the berserkers, the art of consuming fly agarics has not been forgotten in Sweden. Although the Swedes’ endless searches for submarines of the Russian Navy, then underwater means of movement of saboteurs, or even some kind of bottom-based tracked vehicles (there was such a thing in the Swedish media at one time) also leads to these thoughts - it is clearly not possible to do without fly agarics either.

According to this reference book, the RF Armed Forces have 2,780 tanks in service, but the fact that the information written there is unreliable can be seen by which tanks and how many. For example, the T-90 and T-90A - 350 vehicles, but in fact in the troops there are, let’s say, much less of them, and the T-90, apart from a few vehicles in combat training groups of formations and training, are mainly located in the central reserve bases (SIPRI noted this, but the total figure of 550 vehicles does not correspond to the truth). T-72B3 and T-72B3 UBKh - a total of 880 vehicles, in their opinion, although this modernization has been coming out of UVZ in large quantities since 2011, in some years it reached up to 300 vehicles, and 200 were handed over per year, but all There’s no way they’ll even get to 1000 in the directory, although in fact there’s already been more than 1000 there for a long time. However, just a year or two ago, everything in their directory was even worse, there were T-55 and T-62 in reserve, for example. Which have long been removed from service (although, of course, they are still present at reserve bases, from where the same T-62 and T-62M end up in Syria).

Some time ago, the American Insitute for the Study of War (ISW), the “Institute for the Study of War,” released a report Russia's Military Posture - Ground Forces Order of Battle. From there we will take information about the number (for approximately the second half of last year) and deployment We are not particularly interested in the formations of the RF Armed Forces, but the formations themselves are. At the same time, you need to understand that this reference book is also inaccurate, for example, in a number of divisions the fourth combat (combined arms - tank and motorized rifle) regiments were already formed, and there they are. are not indicated, something is not there at all, but this, in general, is not so important. When calculating, we will take as a basis that in separate motorized rifle brigades we have a tank battalion of 41 tanks - 4 companies of 3 platoons of 3 tanks each plus. a company tank in each and plus a battalion commander's tank. And in tank battalions of tank regiments of divisions and separate tank brigades - 31 tanks, in tank battalions of motorized rifle regiments of divisions we will take 41 tank staff as a basis (although options are possible) Although there is information that switched to 42-tank and 32-tank states - one more tank in the battalion's control. In a tank brigade there are 3 tank battalions, 1 motorized rifle battalion, in a motorized rifle brigade it’s the other way around, in a tank regiment there are also 3 tank battalions and a motorized rifle battalion, and in a motorized rifle brigade it’s the other way around. A motorized rifle division has 3 motorized rifle regiments and a tank regiment (we are talking only about combined arms regiments, artillery and anti-aircraft missile regiments and everything else is not of interest to us now), a tank division is the opposite. We are, of course, talking about ordinary states; there are also so-called difficult ones. Accordingly, there are 41 (42?) tanks in a motorized rifle brigade or regiment, 94 (97?) in a tank regiment, as well as in a tank regiment, 217 (223?) tanks in a motorized rifle division, and 323 (333) tanks in a tank division. It is clear that the division command also has tanks, but we will not count them. Of course, this is in a fully formed division, but in reality somewhere there are 3 regiments, somewhere 3 regiments and a tank battalion, but in the process of formation there is already a regiment, and somewhere, maybe even 2 more regiments. But this, of course, is a temporary moment, and we do not take it into account.

So, according to the above-mentioned report, the RF Armed Forces and the Coastal Forces of the Navy now have 12 armies (1 of them tank) and 4 army corps. In the Western Military District (WMD), of this number there are 3 armies (1 GvTA, 20 Guards OA, 6 OA) and 1 corps (11 Guards AK in the Kaliningrad defensive region), part of the joint operational-strategic command "North" (Northern fleet) includes 14 AK on the Kola Peninsula, in the Southern Military District (SMD) - 3 armies (8 Guards OA, 58 OA, 49 OA) and 1 corps (22 AK in Crimea), in the Central Military District (CMD) - 2 armies (2 Guards OA, 41 OA), in the Eastern Military District (EMD) - 4 armies (29 OA, 35 OA, 36 OA, 5 OA) and 1 corps (68 AK in Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands). The 1st Guards Tank Army includes the 4th Guards Tank and 2nd Guards Motorized Rifle Divisions, the 6th Separate Tank Brigade, the 27th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade (various formations and units of army and corps sets are not counted), a total of 675 ( 695) tanks, subject to the formation of the fourth regiments in the 4th Guards Tank Division and the 2nd Guards Motorized Rifle Division, but so far they are just being formed. In the 20th Guards Combined Arms Army - 144 Guards. Motorized Rifle Division and 3rd Motorized Rifle Division, in the end there are 434 (446) tanks, provided that the divisions are fully formed, but it is known that so far the fourth pair of regiments is only being formed there in both divisions. However, it is possible that 144 Guards. The mechanized infantry division will have not one tank regiment, but two - a tank regiment is being formed on the basis of a separate tank battalion, and meanwhile, the division already has the 228th tank regiment. That is, the division will be something like the 150th motorized rifle division.

IN northern and northwestern parts of the Western Military District With tanks it’s much worse, in 6 OA there are only 2 motorized rifle brigades (138 and 25 motorized rifle brigades), so there are only 82 (84) tanks per army, and the army, in general, is small. On the other hand, the only potential adversaries there are the Baltic superpowers with three NATO combined battalions inside and Finland. True, apparently, in the RF Armed Forces, when forming divisions, they are approaching the issue anew in such a way that obviously, in the end, each army will have at least one mechanized infantry division, so it is possible that in the coming years some kind of similar decision in this case. The Kaliningrad 11th Guards AK has only two motorized rifle brigades (omsbr), the 7th Guards and the 79th Guards, for a total of 82 (84) tanks. No tanks have yet appeared in the nearby 336th Guards Marine Brigade of the Baltic Fleet, but most likely in the next couple of years, first a company and then a battalion will appear - a similar process is already underway in the Pacific Fleet. So far, no one is forming any divisions there, but such a decision seems to arise in the future. However, soon only a fairy tale is told from the rostrum, and the work is usually done much more slowly. In total, the Western Military District has 1275 (1305) tanks in line formations, although in reality there are still slightly fewer of them. If we add the 14th AK from the USC "Sever" there, then for now there is definitely a tank battalion of 200 motorized infantry brigades, perhaps there is or will be one in the 80th Arctic motorized infantry brigade, there are no tanks in the 61st marine brigade yet, but they will definitely appear soon. For now we are counting 82 (84 tanks).

IN Central Military District, according to the same report, as part of the 2nd Guards. OA now has 3 motorized rifle brigades, numbered 21, 15 and 30. But they are all different. The 21st Motorized Rifle Brigade from Totsky seems to be the only one in the RF Armed Forces (perhaps not), formed according to the so-called. "heavy staff" with 2 tank and 2 motorized rifle battalions, it has 82 (84) tanks, but the 15th motorized rifle brigade is a peacekeeping force, there seems to be no tank battalion in it, which is up to 30 motorized rifle battalions, newly formed to replace those withdrawn after the start of the war Ukraine from this army of units and formations (which became the basis for the formation of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division) - there is no information on its composition, except that in it the reconnaissance battalion, following Syrian tracks, seems to have been placed on various light vehicles, starting with Tiger-M and ending with the Patriots. There is probably still a tank battalion there. In general, we will conditionally write down 123 (124) tanks for the army. According to the same document, the newly formed 90th Guards Tank Division is part of the 41st OA (previously there was information that it remained under district subordination, it is unknown who is right here), together with the 74th Guards. Omsbr, 35th Guards. Omsbr and the 55th mountain brigade from Kyzyl in Tuva. The Tuvan “highlanders” don’t have tanks, they don’t need them, but everyone else has them. It also includes 201 military base in Tajikistan, which currently has three motorized rifle regiments, there seem to be tanks everywhere. The total is a fairly strong fist of 534 (543) tanks, if everything is correct, of course. In total, 657 (667) vehicles are obtained for the Central Military District.

IN VVO, despite 4 armies and a corps, divisions, namely they are the most “rich” in heavy armored vehicles, have not yet been formed, but only for now. Not all of the armies themselves can be considered deployed; in a number of them there are combined arms brigades, God forbid, 1-2, and with deployed brigades and regiments of the army complement. In general, this situation is clear - China is not our enemy at the moment, but a friend and ally, and we have more and more potential enemies in Europe, in NATO. In total, in all these 4 armies and 1 corps there are 10 motorized rifle brigades, 1 tank brigade and the 18th machine-gun and artillery division in the Kuril Islands (fortified, but there are tank units in it too), that is, approximately 600 tanks. In addition, in the Pacific Fleet, in the 155th Marine Brigade there are no tanks yet, but soon there will be; in the 40th Marine Brigade a company is now deployed, but it will be reorganized into a battalion, we will also count that.

IN Southern Military District Now the 58 OA includes 42 guards. Motorized Rifle Division, 19th and 136th Motorized Rifle Brigade, 4th Guards Military Base in South Ossetia. 42 The Yevpatoriya division is now fully deployed, but according to researchers from the United States, it does not have a tank regiment or it is being deployed. The total is 340 (350) cars. The 49 OA has as many as 2 combined arms brigades, 205 and 34 mountain brigades, which do not have tanks. Much more interesting is the newly formed 8th Guards. The OA, formed with the obvious aim of possibly coercing various generous Cossacks from the territory neighboring the Donbass republics into peace, who love to talk about how they “contain Russian fascism,” not forgetting, of course, to shout Nazi slogans and “salute the Sun” with a characteristic gesture. It has 150 Idritsa-Berlin Motorized Rifle Division, which includes 2 tank and 2 motorized rifle regiments, formed according to, as they say, difficult conditions. That is, there are much more tanks and artillery in it, not only in conventional infantry fighting units, but even in the general division. If we assume (and this is most likely the case) that the staff of this division repeats the OShS of the so-called “Ogarkovsky” heavy infantry fighting divisions, which were successfully dispersed under Gorbachev, then in the end, upon completion of formation, there may be about 400 tanks there. In those divisions, the battalions had 4 companies (in the MSB there were 3 MSR and 1 troop, in the TB it was the other way around), and all tank companies had 13 tanks, and battalions even in tank regiments had 40 tanks. Moreover, at the battalion level there were 122mm 2S1 self-propelled guns and many other useful things, and in the regiments the artillery was 152mm 2S3, which in ordinary divisions was in the artillery regiment. The same army also includes the 20th Guards. omsbr from Volgograd (if the Americans are not mistaken). In the Crimean 22 AK, there is still only one combined arms brigade with tanks - number 126 from Perevalnoye, called the coastal defense brigade, but in essence it is a motorized rifle brigade, just naval, like everyone else in Crimea, subordinate. This is another 41 (42 tanks). In total, there are 860-876 tanks in the Southern Military District, if all units are fully formed, and estimates for 150 divisions more or less coincide with reality.

In total, across all districts there are 3475-3530 vehicles in service. In reality, there are fewer of them, for the above reasons - not all formations have been completed, on the other hand, we also don’t count training centers and military schools, where there are still hundreds of tanks, like many other things. And, of course, tanks at bases for storing and repairing military equipment (S&RVT), that is, bases for the formation of regiments and brigades of the first stage of mobilization, are not taken into account (everything else is formed on the basis of equipment from the central reserve bases). These military and military personnel are now being reorganized into the so-called TsOMRs (centers for supporting military deployment), in fact, this is the same base, but with training and other bases to support the activities of permanent reserve reservists, which was recently officially legalized, and this is a very good and long overdue decision. We also do not take into account the bases of the dual-based system, where sets of equipment are stored for formations transported lightly from the depths of the country, and the central reserve bases themselves - after all, we counted combat vehicles. So the total would be about 15 thousand cars, perhaps less than 12-13 thousand.

At the same time, it must be said that the formation of divisions will continue in the near future. Thus, according to media reports, in the Southern Military District the formation of three motorized infantry divisions will begin at once (perhaps fewer, nevertheless) on the basis of the 19th, 20th and 136th motorized rifle brigade. There were reports about the creation of a “coastal defense” division in the North, perhaps even two - on the Kola Peninsula and Chukotka. The formation of divisions also begins beyond the Urals, so in the 5th Red Banner OA in Primorye the 127th Red Banner Motorized Rifle Division is formed. Each motorized rifle division means an increase of about 176 or more tanks (this is if it is formed on the basis of one motorized rifle brigade, but if there are two, then the increase will be less significant). It is clear that with such a deployment of units, the Russian Ministry of Defense was ready to abandon the previously declared thesis of getting rid of a variety of tanks and vigorously return T-80BV tanks to service with repairs and minimal modernization, while simultaneously launching a program to modernize their fleet into T-80BVM. We need a lot of tanks, and we still need a lot of personnel, especially officers. But there are problems with the graduation of young officers - a truly normal graduation rate is only expected; before that, officers are graduated who entered the schools when enrollment was small. Of course, this is not the situation before the Great Patriotic War, when 30 mechanized corps were formed, and the shortage of staff before the war reached tens of thousands of positions. But we are not in the same situation as before the war. Although it is clear that the RF Armed Forces are gradually deploying, this is not of a mobilization nature. The situation in the world has simply changed - priorities, goals, objectives, and requirements for the structure and number, including the tank fleet, have changed.

In addition, we forgot about the Airborne Forces, but even there 6 tank companies have been formed (in each of 2 air assault divisions and 4 air assault brigades), companies in divisions are deployed into battalions, in brigades, it seems, for now they will remain companies or then they will also become battalions. This is more than a hundred tanks.

Is this a lot or a little - more than three thousand tanks in the ranks of linear units? This is a lot, considering that even the US army has only 10 tank brigades with 87 tanks each, 3 of the same brigades in the National Guard and several hundred (maximum) tanks in the Marine Corps. And there is nothing to say about the various European “great powers”: with the exception of the Poles, as well as the Greeks and Turks (whose almost completely outdated tank fleets are mainly directed at each other), the European powers are lucky to have two hundred vehicles in service. France has 200 vehicles, Germany has 225 (there is a plan to deploy up to 328), Britain has less than 200, and so on. But there are also fleets of 32-40 vehicles, the absolute majority of NATO members. This is without touching on the actual combat readiness of these units, formations and armies in these countries. As well as comparisons technical level all vehicles in service with the Russian Armed Forces or NATO countries. But this is no longer the topic of this material.

The ground forces of any country are armed with special large-sized multi-purpose combat vehicles with a terrifying appearance - tanks. These hulking monsters combine armor, high level protection and firepower to resist the enemy, support infantry with fire when capturing and holding territory. That's why they are important element weapons of any country and number thousands of units.

If an armed monster weighing 70 tons is moving towards someone at a speed of 65 km/h, then he will think several times whether to get in the way of a strong and modern combat vehicle. It is very difficult to name the exact number of tanks, since some states that are proud of their weapons openly declare the number of these combat vehicles, while others deliberately suppress information. The same figures that are already known are very contradictory. Therefore, when compiling the review, data declared by national governments was taken into account.

10. Türkiye: 3,763 main battle tanks

Türkiye occupies a worthy place in the world in terms of the number of armed forces. The country is armed with many American and German-made tanks, for example, the M48 Patton and Leopard 2A4. Leopard main battle tanks from Germany are considered the best of their kind in the world, and the 2A4 modification is adapted for urban combat. Türkiye is interested in having large tank forces as a counterweight to the forces of its militarized neighbors, Iran and Syria.

9. Ukraine: 3,784 main battle tanks

Taking into account the turbulent situation in Ukraine associated with the military conflict, it is not surprising that the state wants to have a large number of tank troops. Ironically, a situation has arisen where the majority of tanks are T-64s left over after the collapse of the USSR.

8. Pakistan: 4,000 main battle tanks

Pakistan is one of the countries where the numbers regarding the number of tanks fluctuate greatly. But the fact that the state is armed with tanks is undeniable. Pakistan purchased most of the tanks, and, surprisingly, from China. The Pakistani Al-Zarrar tank is based on the Chinese Type 59 tank, and the country also has a Type 85 tank in service.

7. Egypt: 4,145 main battle tanks

Most Egyptian tanks are of American origin, such as the M60-2000 and M1 Abrams tanks. It is sad that they actively showed themselves on the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian cities in recent confrontations. The country also uses tanks from the former Soviet Union, including the Ramses II main tank, which is based on the Soviet T-54.

6. Syria: 4,750 main battle tanks

It is not surprising that Syria has a large number of tank troops in its arsenal. The country is in a zone of constant conflict, and the current situation determines the use of heavy equipment against the Syrians themselves. Syria received most of its tanks from Russia, including the T-55. The T54/55 tank is considered the most numerous Soviet Union produced 100,000 copies of this model until 1981, when it was discontinued (until 1983 it was still produced in Czechoslovakia).

5. North Korea: 5,500 main battle tanks

Any figures regarding North Korea must be questioned, since the state strives to secure superiority over its eternal enemy, South Korea, through false, inflated statistics. China and the former USSR supplied tanks to North Korea, while the country itself increased production of the T-62-based Chonma-ho and P'okpoong-ho tanks, built in North Korean factories (North Korean Second Machine Industry Bureau).

4. India: 5,978 main battle tanks

Every military historian and fan of The Princess Bride knows to never get involved in a war in Asia. But if a country is forced to enter into a military conflict on this vast territory, it is obliged to have large tank forces. The four largest tank armies in the world belong to Asian countries. Most of the tanks in Indian service are T-72 with 125mm cannon and powerful destructive capabilities.

3. China: 9,000 main battle tanks

According to statistics, China is in second or third place in the number of tank troops in the world. It is armed with Type 59 and Type 96 tanks, and a large number of Type 99s with a 125 mm gun. The tank's armor is equipped with laser defense systems, and the tank itself can reach a speed of 80 km/h.

2. USA: 9,125 main battle tanks

The United States' neighbors are Canada and Mexico, and it would seem to make no sense for the state to build up its weapons for fear of invasion by land. Indeed, there is no need for the United States to increase the number of main battle tanks, since the state mainly relies on development navy And air force. The United States is armed with thousands of units of the M1 Abrams tank and its modifications. The future of US tank forces lies with the M1A3 Abrams tank, which competes with the highly modernized South Korean tank, the K2 Black Panther.

1.Russia: 22,710 main battle tanks

Not surprisingly, Russia is at the top of our list. The amount of weapons is determined by the long border of the state, 19,312 km, which must be controlled and protected. Most of the tanks are in a mothballed state - the T-54, T-64 tanks, and the modern T-90 tank is ready to fight at any moment. In the future, Russia hopes to create a fully remote-controlled tank based on the Armata platform. Everything is heading towards the fact that tanks on the battlefield will fight without crews and be controlled from a distance. And it is possible that over time all military equipment will be converted

Organization of tank forces
Third Reich

The highest operational formation of the Wehrmacht tank forces at the beginning of World War II was tank group, consisting of seven to eight tank and motorized divisions and a large number of attached parts.

On the eve of the invasion of the Soviet Union, four tank groups were deployed on its borders. was the main tactical formation. The division had a regular staff. The division was also the smallest formation that combined all branches of the military. The tank division had a tank, two motorized infantry (from 1942 - panzergrenadier) and artillery regiments. The motorized infantry division consisted of 2 motorized infantry and artillery regiments. The infantry division consisted of three infantry regiments. The divisions also included support units. The light infantry divisions that existed before the war were reorganized into tank divisions after the war with Poland.

Tank division in September 1939 it consisted of tank and motorized brigades, an artillery regiment, motorcycle rifle, reconnaissance and engineer battalions, an anti-tank battalion, a communications battalion and logistics services. It had 11.7 thousand people, 328 tanks, 130 guns and mortars. Each tank division included 1-2 two-battalion rifle regiments as motorized infantry (in 1942 they were renamed panzergrenadier regiments). For example, 1st Panzer Division during the attack on Poland in September 1939, in addition to the tank brigade, it had the 1st rifle brigade, which included the 1st rifle regiment and the 2nd motorcycle battalion. The rifle regiment consisted of 2 motorized rifle battalions, each of which included a motorcycle company, two rifle companies, a heavy engineer company, a battery of support guns and an anti-tank platoon. The motorcycle battalion consisted of three motorcycle companies, one machine gun company and a heavy support company. To ensure mobility, the motorized infantry used trucks and a large number of motorcycles.

In the spring of 1941, in preparation for the invasion of the USSR, the tank forces were reorganized. It was decided to double the number of tank divisions. There was only one tank regiment left in the tank divisions, consisting of two battalions. The light tank company had 17 Pz Kpfw III tanks and a platoon of light tanks. There were 10 Pz Kpfw IV tanks in a medium tank company. The total number of tanks in the tank division was 160 vehicles. The 1941 model division also had four motorized infantry battalions and a motorcycle battalion.

In 1942, the number of tanks in a tank division across the state increased to 200. However, constant combat losses and tank breakdowns led to the fact that only some divisions approached the regular number. Most divisions did not have even half their regular strength. In 1942, a battalion of Pz Kpfw IV tanks consisted of four tank companies of 22 medium Pz Kpfw IV tanks each, plus eight tanks in the regiment's headquarters company. The ratio of tank units and motorized infantry units has changed significantly. The infantry component of tank divisions was increasingly increasing. In June 1942, the rifle (Schutzen) regiments of the tank divisions were renamed Panzergrenadier regiments.

The 1943 model tank division included two panzergrenadier regiments. Panzergrenadier battalions consisted instead of five of four companies: three rifle and one heavy engineer company.

By the summer of 1943, tank divisions were required to have one two-battalion tank regiment. In reality, the tank regiments of the tank divisions included one or two Pz Kpfw IV battalions. Sometimes one battalion was armed with tanks Pz Kpfw V "Panther" .

Typical staffing of a tank regiment in 1943:

Regimental headquarters company - 8 Pz Kpfw IV tanks.

1st Tank Battalion:

Headquarters - 8 Pz Kpfw IV tanks
1st Tank Company - 17 Pz Kpfw IV tanks (3 platoons of 5 tanks each)
2nd Tank Company - 17 Pz Kpfw IV tanks (3 platoons of 5 tanks each)
3rd Tank Company - 22 Pz Kpfw III tanks (4 platoons of 5 tanks each)

2nd Tank Battalion:

Headquarters - 8 tanks Pz Kpfw IV and Pz Kpfw III
4th Tank Company - 17 Pz Kpfw IV tanks (3 platoons of 5 tanks each)
5th Tank Company - 22 Pz Kpfw III tanks (4 platoons of 5 tanks each)
6th Tank Company - 22 Pz Kpfw III tanks (4 platoons of 5 tanks each)

Most often, the actual number of tanks in units differed from the standard one.

In May 1943. The new Pz Kpfw V Panther "Panther" tanks were received by the 51st and 52nd separate tank battalions, then they were armed with the 23rd and 26th separate tank regiments and the tank regiments of the SS divisions "Das Reich" and " Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler ».

By state 1944. The German tank division had a two-battalion tank regiment. The first battalion was armed with Pz Kpfw V "Panther" tanks, the second - with Pz Kpfw IV tanks. The battalion consisted of four companies of 17 tanks each. There were 8 tanks at the headquarters. In total, the Panther tank battalion was supposed to have 76 tanks. The battalion also included a sapper platoon, an air defense platoon, armed since the summer of 1944 with 37-mm Möbelwagen anti-aircraft self-propelled guns or 20-mm four-barreled Virbelwind self-propelled guns, and a technical company equipped with ARVs and vehicles.

In fact, the Wehrmacht tank battalions had an average of 51-54 Panthers, and the SS troops had up to 64 Panthers. In fact, the Pz Kpfw V "Panther" tanks did not enter service with all Wehrmacht tank divisions. In 1944, in some tank regiments, both battalions were armed only with Pz Kpfw IV tanks.

At the beginning of 1944, the regular strength of tank companies was 17 tanks, in the summer - already 14, and in November 1944 - 10 tanks in each company.

Throughout the war, there was a trend towards a reduction in the number of tanks in a tank division. In 1939, the statewide tank division had 328 tanks, in 1941 - 160-221, in 1944 - 170, and in the spring of 1945 - only from 40 to 54 (including the Jagdpanzer). Reduction in the number of tanks in 1939-1941. was associated with an increase in the number of divisions, since industry could not fully provide them with military equipment. Further reductions were due to changes in the nature of the armed struggle on the Eastern Front. In an effort to restore the combat capabilities of the divisions, the German command included more than 40 self-propelled guns in each of them, and one of the two battalions of the tank regiment was rearmed with Pz Kpfw V "Panther" tanks. In connection with the transition of the Nazi army to strategic defense, from the autumn of 1943 until the end of the war there was a decrease in the number of personnel, military equipment and weapons in the tank divisions.

The decrease in the number of tanks in tank divisions was partially compensated by increasing the firepower of motorized infantry (panzergrenadier) regiments, despite the fact that their size decreased. For example, in 1939, four rifle and one motorcycle battalions that were part of a tank division were armed with 110 light and 56 heavy machine guns, 36 50-mm and 24 80-mm mortars, eight light infantry guns and twelve 37-mm PaK36 anti-tank guns . In 1944, a tank division in service with four panzergrenadier battalions should have had 364 light and 49 heavy machine guns; there were no light mortars, but instead there were twenty-eight 80-mm and sixteen 120-mm heavy mortars, twelve heavy infantry guns, twelve 75 mm infantry guns and 40 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. Anti-tank guns were assigned to the divisions' anti-tank battalions, each of which had forty-three 75 mm PaK40 guns.

The advantage of the Wehrmacht and SS tank divisions was their ability to break into battle groups(Kampfgruppe), capable of acting independently. At the end of 1941 and beginning of 1942. one tank battalion of 40-60 tanks, one motorized infantry battalion with Sd.Kfz 251 armored personnel carriers and one artillery battalion were united into groups within divisions. Beginning in 1943, the best units of the division were united into battle groups to carry out attacks and counterattacks with the participation of the best technology. These groups included the best tanks, armored personnel carriers of the division and Vespe self-propelled guns. When the war began to turn against the Germans, such groups proved especially useful, serving as "fire brigades" that carried out quick and powerful counterattacks, holding back the enemy advance. Therefore, even when acting on the defensive, these battle groups of tank forces continued to remain faithful to the pre-war

In March 1945, a typical tank division had a mixed tank regiment, which consisted of a tank battalion and a battalion of panzergrenadiers in armored personnel carriers. The tank division also included two panzergrenadier regiments on trucks (two battalions each), a mixed anti-tank battalion (75-mm RAK anti-tank guns and Jagdpanzer tank destroyers) and an artillery regiment (a division of Wespe and Hummel self-propelled guns ", two motorized divisions). Thus, there was a significant increase in the proportion of panzergrenadiers in the tank division. Now the division included five panzergrenadier (motorized infantry) battalions and one tank. Tank division model 1945 the state had only 54 tanks, including the Jagdpanzer tank destroyers, which were part of the anti-tank battalions. Most divisions had much fewer tanks.

Personnel motorized (motorized infantry) divisions usually transported by trucks and motorcycles. Having greater mobility and therefore being able to keep up with the armored divisions leading the advance, motorized infantry divisions were organized like regular infantry divisions. The motorized infantry division consisted in 1939 of three motorized and one artillery regiment, reconnaissance and engineer battalions, a communications battalion and an anti-tank fighter division. Composition and armament of the motorized infantry division in 1939: total number of personnel - 16,445 people. (of which 492 are officers), 2,616 trucks (of which 989 are for transporting personnel), 1,944 motorcycles (621 with sidecars), 30 armored personnel carriers (all in the reconnaissance battalion), 156 guns (24 light infantry, 72 PaK anti-tank guns 36, twelve 20 mm anti-tank guns, 36 light and 12 heavy field howitzers) and 138 mortars (84 light and 54 medium). In order to increase the mobility of the motorized division, in 1940 one motorized regiment was excluded from its composition, which led to a decrease in the number of personnel and military equipment. There were no tanks in the motorized division.

By the beginning of the Polish campaign, Germany had 4 motorized infantry divisions: 2nd, 13th, 20th and 29th. In the winter of 1939-40. The motorized infantry regiment "Greater Germany" was formed. Motorized infantry divisions performed well in Poland and France, so their further expansion followed in the fall of 1940. The 3rd, 10th, 14th, 18th, 25th, 36th and 60th infantry divisions became motorized. From the units of the 16th Infantry Division that were not suitable for the formation of the 16th Panzer Division, the 16th Motorized Infantry Division was formed. The 2nd Motorized Infantry Division was reorganized as the 12th Panzer Division by 10 January 1941. Regiment " Greater Germany"was deployed to a division (two more regiments were added) by March 12, 1942. Fighting on the Soviet-German front showed that the striking power of motorized divisions was not high, and large losses in equipment, weapons, and especially vehicles seriously reduced their mobility.

In the summer of 1942, tank battalions were added to the motorized divisions. This significantly increased the combat power of the divisions. The tank battalions of some motorized infantry divisions were armed with Pz Kpfw III and Pz Kpfw IV tanks.

However, most tank battalions of motorized (panzergrenadier) divisions were armed with assault guns, especially at the end of the war. In the fall of 1943, a division of self-propelled guns was included in the motorized divisions.

In October 1942, the motorized infantry regiments, known as "rifle" (Schutzen), were renamed grenadier regiments, and in March 1943, they became known as Panzergrenadier regiments. After the major defeat of the Germans at Stalingrad at the end of 1942 - beginning of 1943, they were reorganized into Panzergrenadier

3rd, 29th and 60th motorized infantry divisions. In March 1943, in France, the 3rd Panzergrenadier Division was formed from the remnants of the 3rd Motorized Infantry Division. On March 1 in France, the 29th Infantry Division was formed from parts of the 345th Infantry Division. On June 23 of the same year it was reorganized into the 29th Panzergrenadier Division. On June 23, 1943, all Wehrmacht motorized infantry divisions began to be called panzergrenadier divisions, with the exception of the 14th and 36th divisions, from which the equipment was withdrawn and they became ordinary infantry divisions. In July 1943, the 60th Division was re-established as the Panzergrenadier Division "Feldherrnhalle". In total, during the war years, the Wehrmacht formed 15 army panzergrenadier divisions. Statewide as of September 24, 1943 included two panzergrenadier regiments of three battalions (an increase compared to motorized divisions), one battalion of tanks (usually armed with assault guns), an anti-tank battalion (rarely self-propelled), a reconnaissance battalion, an artillery regiment, an anti-aircraft battalion, an engineer battalion, a battalion communications and various auxiliary parts. Composition and armament of the Panzergrenadier division in 1943: the strength of the division was 15,418 people, including 415 officers. The division's firepower consisted of 46 medium and 24 heavy mortars, 14 light and 44 heavy infantry guns, 21 75 mm anti-tank guns, 24 flamethrowers used by sappers, 42 20 mm and 4 88 mm anti-aircraft guns, 18 armored vehicles (usually equipped 20-mm guns) of a reconnaissance battalion, 43 self-propelled Jagdpanzers and 45 tanks or assault guns. Given the losses that German armored divisions had suffered by mid-1943, fully equipped panzergrenadier divisions often had the same number of tanks as battle-worn armored divisions.

Elite panzergrenadier divisions Greater Germany" (Grossdeutschland) and " Feldherrnhalle"(Feldherrnhalle) had a different organization and had a much larger number of personnel, weapons and equipment. On the eve of the Battle of Kursk in June 1943, two tank battalions and an assault gun division of the Grossdeutschland division had 13 heavy Tiger tanks, 46 Panthers, 45 medium Pz Kpfw IV tanks and 35 StuGIII assault guns, a total of 139 vehicles . The two tank battalions of the Panzergrenadier Division "Feldherrnhalle" consisted of four tank companies (each with 22 tanks) instead of the usual three companies. After the division lost a large number of regular tank personnel, the number of tank companies was reduced to three. The Panzergrenadier battalions of the Feldherrnhalle division also consisted of four rather than three companies. After the defeat of the division in July 1944 in Belarus, in the fall, during its restoration, battalions were formed from three panzergrenadier companies.

In 1944, during another reorganization, the number of soldiers in the Panzergrenadier division was reduced by 680 people. In accordance with the German theory of “fewer soldiers, more weapons,” the firepower of all branches of the military was strengthened. Thus, the number of guns and mortars was increased from 201 to 274 units. The number of tank units remained the same, but the tanks were replaced by assault guns.

In March 1945, all panzergrenadier divisions became tank divisions, although by that time they had a very small number of tanks.

During the war, temporary formations were sometimes formed tank brigades. For example, to participate in Operation Citadel on the southern front of the Kursk Bulge, the 10th Tank Brigade was formed. This brigade consisted of one tank and one motorized regiment, which had more tanks than any tank division.

In May 1942, the formation began heavy tank battalions (schwere Panzerabteilung, sPzAbt), which were supposed to be armed with the latest heavy tanks Pz Kpfw VI "Tiger". The heavy tank battalion was a separate unit and could operate either independently or as part of any formation. The battalion consisted of four companies, including two tank companies. Heavy tank companies from September 1942 to May 1943, in addition to the Tigers, had 10 medium tanks Pz Kpfw III Ausf N (2 platoons). Since the spring of 1943, in preparation for Operation Citadel, heavy tank battalions already consisted of five companies, including three tank ones. Together with the Pz Kpfw VI "Tiger" heavy tanks, they were armed with the Pz Kpfw III Ausf L, M and N medium tanks, which provided close support for the "Tigers".

In the spring of 1944, the heavy tank battalion consisted of three tank companies, each company had three tank platoons of 4 Pz Kpfw VI Tiger tanks. The company had 14 Tiger tanks (two command tanks). In total, the battalion had 45 heavy Tiger tanks (three were the battalion headquarters). The support company's tank platoon was armed with Pz Kpfw IV Ausf H medium tanks with anti-cumulative shields. The 502nd Battalion had a platoon of Hetzer tank destroyers - Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer.

Since April 1944, heavy tank battalions began to be armed with new heavy tanks Pz Kpfw VI B ("Royal Tiger"). These tanks equipped the 1st company (12 units), the other two heavy tank companies were armed with Pz Kpfw VI Tiger I tanks.

After the defeat of the German troops near Moscow, they began to create tank reserve forces of the Wehrmacht High Command: the formation of a significant number of assault gun divisions began, and later separate battalions of heavy tanks (32-45 Pz Kpfw VI "Tiger" heavy tanks each), anti-tank fighter divisions (45 anti-tank self-propelled guns each), assault gun brigades (31-45 assault guns each) guns). With these measures, the Wehrmacht command tried to compensate for shortcomings in the organizational structure of tank and motorized divisions and the constant reduction in their combat strength.

The organization of the tank forces of the Third Reich allowed the Hitlerite command to massively use tank troops, carry out deep offensive operations, and, with the transition to defense, launch strong counterattacks. Throughout the war, the number of tank and motorized divisions of the Third Reich constantly increased. On June 22, 1941, there were 20 tank and 16 motorized divisions. In the period from December 1941 to May 1945, 26 tank, 17 motorized divisions, 16 tank and 12 motorized brigades were again formed.

In World War II the main organizational forms The German tank forces included tank and motorized divisions, tank corps, tank armies, as well as units and formations of the reserve of the main command. Their organizational structure During the war it was repeatedly changed. Despite the inclusion of self-propelled artillery, heavy tanks, an increase in the number of armored personnel carriers and other means of combat, formations and unification of Wehrmacht tank forces were repeatedly defeated by Soviet tank forces, and at the end of the war, by Allied tank forces.

Literature:

Fighting Soviet army in Great Patriotic War 1941-1945, vol. 1. M., 1958.

"Military Historical Journal", 1974, No. 2.