Střední tanky - Dějiny vývoje a nasazení středních tanků a MBT od první světové války do současnosti – Pejčoch Ivo (2018)

This volume in a series devoted to the history of armoured vehicles from their beginnings to the present day focuses on one of the most important categories: medium tanks and their successors, now known as MBTs (Main Battle Tanks). During the century since the first vehicles of this type entered service, medium tanks have undergone dramatic development. By the Second World War, they were among the most important weapons, deciding the outcome of most land campaigns, and in the following decades they formed the backbone of armies across almost the entire world. After 1945, they fought countless land battles, from major conflicts such as the Korean War, the Arab–Israeli wars and the wars between India and Pakistan to local wars and civil conflicts. Although some analysts have repeatedly predicted the decline of armoured vehicles, experience shows that the striking power of armoured monsters is difficult to replace. Medium tanks evolved from the first ungainly boxes through the vehicles that fought the Second World War in enormous numbers to today’s MBTs, protected by technologically advanced armour, powerful large-calibre guns and the latest electronic systems. The subject is so extensive that it has been divided into two volumes. This first volume covers countries with comprehensive medium-tank development, as well as countries whose manufacturers transformed foreign designs into essentially new types.