[Skybird]

It's an old discussion that often is fought with religious mindsets: "Which tanks is the best in the world". I think, such a tank does not exist. Question is which tanks fits best into doctrine and force composition of an army that uses it. For their purposes, the Merkava with it's troop carrying capability and frontal engine design was well enough for the Israeli in the past - but now that they face modern anti-tank missiles by Hezbollah, their praised tanks take heavy losses. In SB1, the Leo2A4 had weaker armour than the M1A1, and died more easily. However, I preferred that tank because it gave the commander better situational awareness, and that was what counted for my way of doing the sim. There are even heavier armoured types of the Leo2 around than the now simulated A5, but these are experimental versions that so far have not caused any customer's demand. while the M1A2 includes IVIS and a separately controllable heat-image monitor for the TC (both missing in the A1, the monitor is attached to the same sensor as operated by the gunner), it still suffers from far higher fuel consumption, lesser maximum speed (but higher acceleration rate), no periscope for the TC, longer reloading times for the ready rack. With that tank, an army would operate tank units differently and field them slightly differently than if they use a Leo2A5, which is easier to maintain, is not as demanding on fuel supply, has better ergonomics both for gunner and the SA of the TC. Which tank is better? I wouldn't give an answer to that question. They are different.

And this comparison even leaves out the LeClerc and the Challenger II and the T-90. There probably is no such thing as the best tank. There is only the tank that is more fitting for a given task or situation than another, maybe. As commander of a large chorps on the offensive (f.e. VII chorps advancing in Kuwait 1991), I would prefer the Leo to the Abrams, due to the lower fuel concerns. In a static defense in flat, open terrain or a dynmaic defense where units need to quickly hop back and forth between positions close by, I probably would prefrr the Abrams due to it's slightly higher acceleration and the DU rounds reaching farther out. It depends. But probably Abrams, Leo2 and Challenger II all play in the same league.