Tanks at the Iron Curtain 1946–60: Early Cold War armor in Central Europe Spiral-Bound | November 23, 2021

For 45 years, the most disputed point in the world was the dividing line between East and West in Europe and the use and development of tanks was key to upholding this balance of power. In this fully illustrated study, the author describes how Soviet and NATO tanks faced off in the early years of the Cold War, and how the generation of tanks such as the Soviet T-44/T-54 and IS-3, British Centurion, U.S. Army M26/M46 Pershing, developed during World War II, saw extensive service after the war had ended. Initial postwar generation tanks including the Soviet T-54A, T-10 heavy tank, British late-model Centurions, Conqueror, U.S. Army M41, M47, M48, and the French AMX-13, are analyzed with the most important technical trends during the era: the development of shaped-charge anti-tank projectiles, the influence of anti-tank missiles, and the introduction of chemical/nuclear protection and night fighting equipment. With a prime focus on technology, the volume also looks at the influence of postwar doctrine and tactics on tank technology and the influence of regional conflicts such as the 1950 Korean War, the war in Indo-China, and the 1956 Mid East War on tank warfare.