During the
Cold WarThe Cold War was the continuing state of political conflict, military tension, and economic competition existing after World War II , primarily between the USSR and its satellite states, and the powers of the Western world, including the United States...
, NATO and the Warsaw Pact both had large tank formations present in Europe.
The following gives the number of Armoured formations and tank strength as of 1981/1982.
German ArmyThe German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Traditionally the German military forces have been composed of Army, the Navy, and an Air Force after World War I. It was reinstalled in 1955 as the West German Army and as a part of the newly formed...
Formations
- 6 Tank Divisions (Panzerdivisionen)
- 4 Armored Infantry Divisions (Panzergrenadierdivisionen)
- 1 Mountain Division (Gebirgsdivision)
- 6 Home Defense Tank Brigades (Heimatschutz – Panzerbrigaden)
- 6 Home Defense Armored Infantry Brigades (Heimatschutz – Panzergrenadierbrigaden (not complete)
Total: 3,787 tanks
Formations
- 4 Tank Divisions
- 6 Mechanised Divisions
- 4 Infantry Divisions
- 1 Airborne Division (incl.
Discussion
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During the
Cold WarThe Cold War was the continuing state of political conflict, military tension, and economic competition existing after World War II , primarily between the USSR and its satellite states, and the powers of the Western world, including the United States...
, NATO and the Warsaw Pact both had large tank formations present in Europe.
The following gives the number of Armoured formations and tank strength as of 1981/1982.
West Germany
German ArmyThe German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Traditionally the German military forces have been composed of Army, the Navy, and an Air Force after World War I. It was reinstalled in 1955 as the West German Army and as a part of the newly formed...
Formations
- 6 Tank Divisions (Panzerdivisionen)
- 4 Armored Infantry Divisions (Panzergrenadierdivisionen)
- 1 Mountain Division (Gebirgsdivision)
- 6 Home Defense Tank Brigades (Heimatschutz – Panzerbrigaden)
- 6 Home Defense Armored Infantry Brigades (Heimatschutz – Panzergrenadierbrigaden (not complete)
Number of tanks
| MBTs |
In reserve |
On order |
Other |
1,200 M48 A2C/A2GA2The M48 Patton II was the third and final US medium gun tank of the Patton series, named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. Third Army during World War II and one of the earliest American advocates for the use of tanks in battle. It was a further development of the M47 Patton tank...
2,437 Leopard 1 A2/A3/A4
150 Leopard 2The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979. The Leopard 2 replaced the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve other European...
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- |
- |
- |
Total: 3,787 tanks
USA
Formations
- 4 Tank Divisions
- 6 Mechanised Divisions
- 4 Infantry Divisions
- 1 Airborne Division (incl. 1 Tank Battalion)
- 1 independent Tank Brigade
- 4 independent Infantry Brigades
- 3 Cavalry Regiments (Reconnaissance)
- 3 Tank Battailons Marines
- ? Tank Battalions National Guard (Reserve)
Number of tanks:
- 1,825 M48A5 MBT
- 1,555 M60
M60 or M-60 may refer to:Firearms and military equipment* M60 machine gun, an American general purpose 7.62 mm machine gun* Halcon M60, an Argentine 9mm/.45 ACP submachine gun* M60 Patton, an American main battle tank family...
MBT
- 5,775 M60A1 MBT
- 540 M60A2 MBT
- 1,500 M60A3 MBT
- 150 M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a main battle tank produced in the United States. The M1 is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. It is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for modern armored...
MBT
- 400 M551 Sheridan
The M551 Sheridan was an Armored Airborne Reconnaissance Assault Vehicle developed by the United States, named after Civil War General Philip Sheridan. It was designed to have both an air drop and swimming capability. It was armed with the MGM-51 Shillelagh gun-launched missile system. Production...
AR/AAV (330 for training purposes)
- 575 M60A1 MBT with the Marines
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Total: 12,320 tanks (min. 330 for training only)
France
Formations
- 8 Tank Divisions
- 4 Mechanised Infantry Divisions
Number of tanks
| MBTs |
In reserve |
On order |
Other |
1,259 AMX 30The AMX-30 is a main battle tank designed by GIAT, first delivered to the French Army in 1966. The first five tanks were issued to the 501st Régiment de Chars de Combat in August of that year. The production version of the AMX-30 weighed , and sacrificed protection for increased mobility...
|
- |
145 AMX 30 |
340 AMX 13 light tanks |
Total: 1,868 tanks
United Kingdom
Formations
- 3 Armoured divisions (1st, 3rd and 4th) as part of the BAOR
Number of tanks
| Tanks |
In reserve |
On order |
Other |
900 FV4201 Chieftain MBTThe FV 4201 Chieftain was the main battle tank of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s. It was one of the most advanced tanks of its era, and at the time of its introduction in 1966 had the most powerful main gun and heaviest armour of any tank in the world...
(60 in Reserve) |
300 Centurion MBTThe Centurion was the primary British main battle tank of the post World War II period, and was a successful tank design, with upgrades, for many decades. The chassis was also adapted for several other roles....
stored |
240 FV4030/4 Challenger MBTThe British FV4030/4 Challenger 1, was the main battle tank of the British Army from 1983 until superseded by the Challenger 2 in the mid 1990s. It is also currently used by the Jordanian Armed Forces as their main battle tank after heavy modifications...
|
271 tracked armoured reconnaissance vehicles
(FV101 Scorpion and Scimitar) |
Total: 1,901 tanks and armored cars
Before 1980s.
Earlier units included the
Conqueror tankThe FV 214 Conqueror, also known as "Tank, Heavy Gun No 1 120 mm Conqueror" was a British Main Battle Tank of the post-war era, sometimes classified as a heavy tank. It was developed as a response to the Soviet Josef Stalin IS-3 heavy tanks and carried a larger 120 mm gun compared to the...
(1955-1966) and
FV401 CharioteerThe Charioteer tank officially known as FV4101 Cromwell Heavy AT Gun was a British tank destroyer, designed in the 1950s from the Cromwell tank and used to add firepower to units serving in West Germany.-Development:...
(TA 1950s)
Initially containing 3 armoured divisions, the BAOR was reformed by 1960 into 3 mixed divisions and additional brigade groups. Then in 1970s, as 4 smaller Armoured divisions before reorganization as 3 Armoured divisions in 1981-83.
Turkey
As of 1981/83:
- 1 Tank Division
- 2 Mechanised Infantry Divisions
- 14 Infantry Divisions
Number of tanks
| MBT |
In reserve |
On order |
Other |
3,000 M47 PattonThe M47 Patton I was the second tank of the Patton series, and one of the U.S Army's principal medium gun tanks of the Cold war with models in service from the early 1950s to the late 1980s. The tank belongs to the Patton family of tanks, named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S...
500 M48 PattonThe M48 Patton II was the third and final US medium gun tank of the Patton series, named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. Third Army during World War II and one of the earliest American advocates for the use of tanks in battle. It was a further development of the M47 Patton tank...
|
- |
70 Leopard 1A3 MBT |
- |
Total: 3,570 Tanks
Italy
As of 1981/82:
- 1 Tank Division
- 3 mechanised Divisions
- 6 independent mechanised Brigades
Number of tanks:
- 900 MBT Leopard 1
- 300 MBT M60A1
- 550 MBT M47 Patton
The M47 Patton I was the second tank of the Patton series, and one of the U.S Army's principal medium gun tanks of the Cold war with models in service from the early 1950s to the late 1980s. The tank belongs to the Patton family of tanks, named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S...
(remaining of original 1,500)
- Total: 1620 tanks
Netherlands
As of 1981/82:
- 3 mechanised Divisions (1 of which reserve)
Number of Tanks:
- 468 MBT Leopard 1
- 445 MBT Leopard 2
USSR
As of 1981/82 the
Soviet Ground ForcesThe Red Army The Red Army The Red Army was the Soviet government’s revolutionary militia beginning in the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the USSR. Since 1946, after the Second World War, it was called the Soviet Army.The 'Red...
had:
- 46 Tank Divisions, including six Tank Armies with four tank divisions each.
- 119 Mechanised Infantry Divisions
Tank strength
- 45,000 MBT JS-2 and JS-3
The Iosif Stalin tank , was a heavy tank developed by the Soviet Union during World War II...
(Reserve) T-10The T-10 was a Soviet heavy tank of the Cold War, the final development of the KV and IS tank series. It was accepted into production in 1952 as the IS-10 , but due to the political climate in the wake of Stalin's death in 1953, it was renamed T-10.The biggest differences from its direct...
/ T-10M / T-54 / T-55The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank of the Soviet Army's armored units, as well as of...
/ T-62The T-62 is a Soviet main battle tank, a further development of the T-55. Its 115 mm gun was the first smoothbore tank gun in use.The T-62 was produced between 1961 and 1975. It became a standard tank in the Soviet arsenal, partly replacing the T-55, although that tank continued to be...
- 10,000 MBT T-64
The T-64 is a Soviet main battle tank, introduced in the early 1960s. It was used solely by the Soviet Army in its front-line divisions and was a more advanced counterpart to the T-62...
/ T-72The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1971. It is a further development of the T-62 with some features of the T-64A and has been further developed as the T-90...
- 870 amphibious Reconnaissance Tanks PT-76
The PT-76 is a Soviet light amphibious tank which was introduced in the early 1950s and soon became the standard reconnaissance tank of the Soviet and the other Warsaw Pact armies. It was widely exported to other friendly states, like India, Iraq, North Korea and North Vietnam...
(Plavayushchiy Tank)
- 1800 MBT T-34
The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
(At the Chinese border - most used for driver training; withdrawn in 1979)
Total: 57,670 tanks
East Germany
As of 1981/82:
Formations
- 2 Tank Division
- 4 Mechanised Infantry Divisions
Number of tanks:
- 1,500 MBT T-54 / T-55
The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank of the Soviet Army's armored units, as well as of...
/ T-72 (further 1600 tanks stored)
- 120 Reconnaissance tanks PT-76
- Total: 1620+ tanks
Poland
As of 1981/82:
Formations
- 5 Tank Divisions
- 8 Mechanised Infantry Divisions
- 1 Amphibious Assault Division
Number of Tanks:
- 3,400 T-54 / T-55 MBT
- 30 T-72 MBT
- 130 PT-76
The PT-76 is a Soviet light amphibious tank which was introduced in the early 1950s and soon became the standard reconnaissance tank of the Soviet and the other Warsaw Pact armies. It was widely exported to other friendly states, like India, Iraq, North Korea and North Vietnam...
Armored Reconnaissance tanks
- Total: 4,010 tanks
Czechoslovakia
As of 1981/82
- 5 Tank Divisions (2 on a low level)
- 5 Mechanized Infantry Divisions
Number of Tanks: