What makes tanks so powerful?

[videoholic]

You hear on the news about how powerful a group of tanks are when they roll into battle and I was just wondering why?  Are the artillery shells pakced with xplosives or are they dummy shells?  What makes the tank so important in battle?

The shells explode, that\'s why they can accidentally explode in the turret like they did with that one artillery emplacement when 1 shell went off in the gun and 20 detonated as a result taking out the entire vehicle.  Tanks have mounted machine guns which are generally raised from all infantry positions giving them an already distinct advantage.  Tanks have thick armor and although there are anti tank mines, anti tank rockets, and other anti tank weapons -- small arms fire is generally what they\'re up against for the most part since anything that can seriously damage tanks, including other tanks, are eliminated with airstrikes.  

This war has not been a very good example of tank power given the show of restraint and their need to nail their targets EXACTLY with so little collateral damage.  However, if they were authorized to say, level a city, we\'d have just that in a matter of minutes.

tanks are teh shit, the artillery shells vary from tank to tank like for example the American Abrams(M1A1) fires 120 mm shells, like anti tank shells, and in no way r these shells dummies, when they hit you dont wanna be anywhere near the point of impact.

if u wanna know more check out this site http://www.globalsecurity.org

[videoholic]

I read that our tanks are so overpowering compared to theirs that it\'s just sad.  It\'s like a fight where one guy has a bat and the other guy has spaghetti.

For some reason, I couldn\'t stop laughing with that analogy.  It\'s like something Powell would say.

Don\'t take it too lightly. That peice of pasta could give you food poisoning!

Originally posted by videoholic
I read that our tanks are so overpowering compared to theirs that it\'s just sad.  It\'s like a fight where one guy has a bat and the other guy has spaghetti.

this statement is true, compared to the iraqi tanks the american/british tanks are faster, more powerful (weapons wise), better armoured.....
but thats not to say that the  american/british are inpenatrable.

[videoholic]

SO without air power how do you defeat a tank?  Get lucky with a rocket propelled grenade?  I think that\'s the only way they have hit our tanks isn\'t it?

^yes, if u look at most pics of destroyed american tanks, u\'ll see that they have only been disabled and not incinerated (like the iraqi ones)
more over the iraqis do have anti tank rounds in their tanks so its not lucky rpg shots.

[CHIZZY]

the US tanks may also be firing depleted uranium rounds. They are so dense and travelling at such a ridiculous speed that they can cut through a foot of hardened steel like butter. Then the white-hot liquid metal sprays all over the inside, killing everyone and igniting the ammo.

Kaboom.

The Abrams can also withstand an NBC attack...

[Titan]

In the first Gulf War, we lost about 3 or some Abrahms Tanks but because of the design, all crews got out alive. The Abrahms are strong but have some weak points, but not enough to completely destroy it. Also, if the ammo does ignite and blow, all that happens is it shoots out the side and destroys a panel. Then they can drive it home for repair. A tough tank.