How It Works Magazine » military

Top Five Facts: Tanks

Jonny O'Callaghan — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:06:32 +0000

2050

Due to the prolificacy of the M1 Abrams – with the tank in service in Australia, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the US – it is predicted to remain in service until 2050.

Horses

Tanks require engines capable of epic levels of horsepower. The M1 Abrams’ engine churns out over 1,500hp, exceeding the Bugatti Veyron, the world’s fastest car.

Monster

The largest tank never to be built was approved by Hitler in 1942 but later cancelled. The Monster was designed to use an 800mm Krupp cannon that could fire up to 23 miles away.

Water

The word ‘tank’ reportedly stems from its development, with all but the highest-profile members of government told they were designing a mobile water tank, not a weapon.

Periscope

Early commanders identified targets through a periscope and by opening the top hatch using binoculars. Modern tanks use light intensification and thermal imaging equipment.

Abrams M1 tank shell – In slow motion!

Robert Jones — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:23:24 +0000

Whatever that hits is toast!

The Abrams M1 battletank can fire these 120mm rounds up to 4,000m, traveling at one mile per second.

Amazing bi-ped robot

Dave Harfield — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:22:35 +0000

Boston Dynamics, creators of the amazing BigDog robot have topped that with the development of PETMAN (Protection Ensemble Test Mannequin), a biped robot that will aid in the testing of protective clothing for soldiers. We like the way it recovers when kicked, and how they’ve bought it trainers.

Amazing robot dog from the U.S. Army

Dave Harfield — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:26:01 +0000

BigDog, the Boston Dynamics robot gets put through its paces in this demonstration of its balance and physical prowess