staff@slashgear.com (Michael Stroud)
2024-04-26 06:15:48
www.slashgear.com
The first combat tank in the world, the British-built Mark I, went into battle at the Somme with armor that was 12 mm thick. This armor was sufficient to stop most small-arms fire at the time, but it offered little to no protection in stopping heavier guns or explosives, such as hand grenades and artillery. By World War II, tank armor had evolved and increased in thickness. The German Tiger I tank had massive 100mm thick armor, providing immense protection for its crew.
Tank armor would move beyond just thicker plates of steel after World War II. It would see the introduction and use of composite materials to create armor that is more lightweight than steel, yet strong in protection. Composite armor works on the principle that tanks are protected by sheets of metal like titanium and steel, so by adding lightweight yet strong materials in between these layers, the tank’s protection against ballistics is increased.