[Tin-Legions]

Don't mean to insult you, but just so you know, modern tanks use armours that are composites, but are equal to so many inches of solid rolled steel like the tanks in WWII. For example, the M1A1 Rhinemettal 120mm gun can plow shot through the front turret (the most highly armoured spot) of almost any Russian built tank, with the round passing out the back of the turret. In DS 1 that same damage was done even after the shot passed through several feet of sand berms.

For everyone else out there-the claims that 2 M1A1 tanks were destroyed are generally false-they were just knocked out of action. How do I know? No crew members were killed, a catastrophic hit on a tank would kill most of the 4 person crew. I suspect these tanks will be recovered and may even reenter the conflict depending on the closeness of the DS/GS level repair shops. take care---

[L,TOWM]

Oh, I understand the difference between Chobham/composite armor and simple steel plate. That does'nt really apply on comparing the penetration rates between shells relying on kinetic penetration (120 mm DS1 firing FSSDPU rounds) vs chemical penetration (missile/main gun HEAT warheads).

For the later, a claim of 43 inch steel plate WITH reactive armor reinforcement(!) penetration rate seems to be outside the realm of credibility for a missile HEAT warhead. (Not that it would'nt WARM on the inside of the 43 inches ;-) )

Can't talk any more...Bomb Threat in our Building (Downtown LA). Gotta Run!!!

[finnman69]

http://www.howstuffworks.com/m1-tank4.htm

The M1 is mainly composed of sturdy rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) steel plates, sandwiched around thicker protective material.
The core armor is a variation on the British Chobham armor -- an arrangement of metal plates, ceramic blocks and open space. HEAT and Sabot rounds may make it through the outer layer of the armor, but they won't make it all the way into the crew compartment. The ceramic material can absorb a lot of heat, as well as heavy physical blows. The rest of the hot gases or metal pieces spread out in the empty air pockets.

Updated M1 tanks have extra layers of steel and depleted uranium that supplement the Chobham-style armor. This combination will hold up to any tank round and most missiles (the powerful Hellfire missile is a notable exception).