Tanks

Tanks, used mostly to support infantry in WWI, became an important force in battle during WWII. Tank warfare’s effectiveness was especially demonstrated by the German concept of Blitzkrieg, involving large concentrations of tanks. Since then, tanks have been a major component of modern warfare.

Through WWII and the Cold War, tanks became even more formidable with the addition of heavier armor. Today’s sophisticated armored fighting vehicles boast machine guns and howitzers. Such tanks proved very effective during Desert Storm in driving Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. The coalition’s tanks, such as the Marines’ M1A1 Abrams, were superior in quality, and were aided by GPS and air reconnaissance.

Naturally, a number of anti-tank weapons have been developed to destroy tanks on the battlefield, including mines, grenades, anti-tank helicopters, and missiles. The latest threat to tanks has been the introduction of IEDs (improvised explosive devices), used by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the following DVD Books—featuring video with expert commentary, as well as a full-length book complete with photos, maps, and timelines—learn about the evolution of the tank. Also see some of the most advanced anti-tank weapons, such as the Apache attack helicopter and the TOW missile.