Tanks have evolved since their creation in WWI, with armor technology advancing to protect against new weaponry. Active protection systems have been developed to protect tanks from incoming missiles. Armor can be grouped into categories such as appliqué, spaced, and reactive armor.
Tanks are armored vehicles that use heavy-duty tracks for mobility. There are many types of tank armor that have been in use since the first tanks were made during World War I. Since tanks are often pointed in the direction of enemy fire, the heaviest armor is in the front. Ideally, tank armor will be able to protect the tank and its crew from a wide variety of potential threats.
The first tank prototype was tested by the British Army on September 8, 1915. The French and German armies also developed tanks later, and these developments helped change the way warfare was fought and make trench warfare more is essentially obsolete. Steel plating was the first type of tank armor to be commonly used. The development of more deadly forms of weaponry in World War II required new developments in armor technology.
Composite armor was a major development of the British, who made this innovation by mixing ceramic and plastics in resin, and placing it between two steel plates. This type of tank armor provides good protection against many types of more advanced weaponry, including High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) shells. Later, other materials such as depleted uranium were added to composite armor.
However, physical armor can only do so much, and as weapons have advanced further, emphasis has been placed on what are known as active protection systems. These systems protect a tank from weapons before they reach the tank’s armor. These systems can focus on confusing the guidance system of an incoming missile, or simply taking it out of the air and destroying it from a safe distance.
Developments in tank armor can be described by grouping them into several categories. One of the simplest is called appliqué armor, which often consists of metal plates welded to existing armor. They are designed to protect against weapons that would penetrate the tank’s original armor.
Spaced armor is very commonly used, and has been since World War I. Spaced tank armor consists of two or more plates that are separated by a certain distance. In some cases, this protects against ammunition that progressively disintegrates after penetrating each plate. It’s most effective against HEAT projectiles, because these are very effective where they hit, but not much beyond that.
Reactive armor is one of the more interesting developments. This consists of armor that actually explodes in an attempt to deflect the warheads. Unfortunately, friendly troops near this type of armor can be in danger when it detonates. However, there is also non-explosive reactive armor, which employs materials that change their geometry on impact to provide additional protection under stress.
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