All Things Tanks Trivia Quiz

Answer: M-4 Sherman

The U.S. M-4 Sherman medium tank, with almost 50,000 units produced from 1942-1945, was the most important American armored vehicle of World War II. While the Sherman was inferior to most later-war German tanks, it was reliable and easy to build. The tank was produced in many variants and was also supplied to other Allied forces. Upgraded Shermans were used into the 1960s in various Asian conflicts, and the last units were retired by Paraguay in 2018.

Answer: T-54/T-55

With a total production run of over 96,000 units from the Soviet Union, China (as the Type 59 and variants), Poland, and Czechoslovakia, the T-54/55 tank was the main armored vehicle for the Soviet Union and her Warsaw Pact allies from the 1950s into the 1980s. The type, with modifications, remains in service with over 50 countries.

Answer: Panzer IV

First produced in 1937, the Panzer IV was originally designed as an infantry support tank. As the war progressed and the Germans encountered advanced Allied tanks such as the Soviet T-34, the Panzer IV was upgraded with thicker armor and more powerful guns. Upgraded units saw combat in the Middle East into the 1960s. Almost 9,000 units were built by 1945.

Answer: Centurion

Design work on the Centurion main battle tank began in 1943 as the Allies sought to counter the latest German designs, namely the Panther and Tiger tanks. The Centurion was too late to be used in World War II, but it became the main British tank until the Chieftain was introduced in the 1960s. Centurions were used by other nations into the 1980s, and a variant, the Olifant, remains in service with the South African Defense Force.

Answer: 1916

Developed during the First World War to break the stalemate of trench warfare, the British Mark I tank first saw action on September 15, 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Made in two variants, the "male" with two 6-pounder guns and two machine guns and the "female" with four machine guns, these weapons could cross trench lines and support the infantry with direct fire.

While not the miracle weapon that was hoped for, the tank made a large contribution to the eventual Allied victory.

Answer: Renault FT

First deployed at the Third Battle of the Aisne in May, 1918, the French Renault FT was the first tank designed with a turret. Armed with either a 37mm gun or an 8mm machine gun, the turret was operated by one man while another crew member drove the vehicle. Over 3000 units were produced in France and the USA from 1917-1919. Though obsolete, the FT remained in service in France and other countries into World War II, with some units being used until 1944.

Answer: M1 Abrams

Regarded as one of the best tanks in the world, the American M1 Abrams main battle tank entered service with the U.S. Army in 1980. The tank has been upgraded several times and has seen combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. The Abrams has also been exported to other American allied nations.

Answer: Type 88

In 1978, China began the development of what would become the Type 88 Main Battle Tank. The original project was called the Type 80, but none of the prototypes of this vehicle were put into production. The Type 88B version was finally accepted by the Army in 1988, and an export version called the Type 85 was sold to Pakistan, Sudan, and Uganda.

The Type 88C variant was later renamed the Type 96 after upgrades.

Answer: T-34

The T-34 Soviet tank proved to be one of the most important weapons used in World War II and surprised the Germans when they first encountered it in 1941. Among the advantages that the T-34 had over other tanks was sloped armor, an advanced suspension system, and a powerful main weapon. Over 85,000 units, in several variants, were produced between 1940-1958, and five countries still have T-34s in active service.

Answer: Leclerc

An effort began to replace the AMX-30 tank in 1964, which led to a short-lived agreement with West Germany to jointly develop and build a new tank. By 1982, France went on her own and the Leclerc design was complete by 1989. The first units were deployed in 1992. The Leclerc is compatible with other Western tanks, such as the Abrams, Challenger, and Leopard.

Answer: Tiger

The German Panzer VI tank, known as the Tiger I, entered service in 1942. The Tiger was heavier than comparable Allied tanks and was armed with the 88mm gun, which could knock out any Allied tank of the time. The drawbacks of the design were that it was expensive and time consuming to build, and was difficult to transport due to its size. Almost 1,400 Tiger I units were produced by 1944 when the Tiger II was introduced.

Answer: Turretless

Designed in the late 1950s and produced from 1967-1971, the Strv-103 was the only turretless armored fighting vehicle to be designated as a Main Battle Tank. The Strv-103 was designed with a low profile for maximum survivability, as it was meant to be used in a defensive role. The gun was aimed by manipulating the tracks and suspension. The Strv-103 remained in service until 1997.

Answer: Arjun

In the mid 1970s, the Indian government decided to design and build a main battle tank for the Indian Army. Design work began in 1983 with assistance from West Germany. The prototype was ready in 1997, and production began in 2004. The Arjun is comparable to most main battle tanks fielded by other countries.

Answer: Patton

The American M-46 tank was introduced in 1949 and saw combat in Korea. The M-47 entered service in 1951 and was widely exported to U.S. allies, seeing combat in the Middle East and Africa. The M-48 began as an upgrade of the M-47, but by the time that the tank entered production in 1952 it was virtually a new design.

This tank was also widely distributed to American allies. Though the basic design is outdated, there are still modified versions of the M-47 and M-48 in service.

Answer: T-35

A concept developed between the two World Wars, the idea of a multi-turreted heavy tank designed to break through enemy defenses was demonstrated in the Soviet T-35, which entered service in 1935. The five turrets carried one 76mm gun, two 45mm guns, and two machine guns.

A crew of ten was needed to operate the tank. The type was not successful, and all 60 of the tanks built were destroyed in World War II.

Answer: Merkava

Development of the Merkava began in 1970 and the first units went into service in 1979. The Merkava is a unique design as compared to contemporary tanks, as the engine is in the front of the vehicle and the turret is farther to the rear. These are design features meant to enhance crew survivability.

The Merkava has seen combat in Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank and it compares favorably with contemporary U.S.,British, and German tanks.

Answer: Battle of Kursk

Fought between German and Soviet forces from July 5 to August 23, 1943, the Battle of Kursk began as a German attempt to reduce a salient in their front lines and push the Soviets back, thereby regaining momentum after the defeat at Stalingrad. The Soviets were ready for the German attack, and had prepared formidable defenses. Well over 3,000 German tanks and assault guns faced some 8,000 Soviet armored vehicles.

The result was an overwhelming Soviet victory.

Answer: A12 Matilda II

The A12 Infantry Tank Mark II, known as the "Matilda", was in service with the British Army from 1939-1942. The tank was heavily armored compared to other British and foreign tanks, but the 2 pounder gun was inadequate when the Matilda had to fight German tanks such as the Panzer III and IV.

The tank was phased out of British service in 1942 as more capable units became available, but continued in Australian use until 1955.

Answer: Leopard I

The design of the Leopard I began in the mid 1950s as a cooperative project between West Germany, France, and Italy. The tank was accepted by the West German Army in 1965, but the French and Italians pulled out of the project shortly afterwards. The Leopard I was not as heavily armored as other contemporary main battle tanks, but was highly mobile and carried the very effective British 105mm gun. Upgraded Leopard I units are still in service with a dozen countries.

Answer: Soviet Union

The success of the "blitzkrieg" tactics in the first two years of World War II by the German Army was a useful propaganda tool in that it made them seem like a completely mechanized force that could overwhelm any other army. In reality, the German Army began the war with some 3,000 tanks, most of which were light units such as the Panzer I and II. Germany produced some 47,000 tanks during the war.

By contrast, the Soviet Union had about 11,000 tanks in service in 1939, and, like the Germans, most of these were light units. The Soviets built around 102,000 tanks during the war.

The British fielded over 28,000 tanks during the war, while the Americans built nearly 90,000.