The Abrams tanks is the best in the world. Besides the layered Chobham armor, the frontal armor with the Chobham has a thick belt of depleted uranium making it virtually impenetrable. The side skirts are active armor to defeat anti-armor missiles. The Merkava tank has some very interesting features for survivability, and it also can carry a squad of men in the back acting as its own troop carrier. The Merkavav can do this because the engine is up front which also acts as extra protection for the crew.
Thanks, Red Steel. Interesting info. What is “active armor”?
I don’t remember any Abrams being lost in Iraq.
General Patton used a lot of air support in conjunction with his armor, but he’d be amazed today.
I believe the Merkava tank is one of the best and comparable, but very limited by range compared to the Abrams.