Literal translations of tank descriptions from Russian have sometimes given rise to curious images, such as firing a cannon from the tower.

Tanks currently in service include various variants of T-72 and T-80. Battalions do not operate more than one tank type or variant.

This is despite frequent media reports of new variants of tank, some of which have been “about to enter service” for a considerable number of years.

At the Nizhniy Tagil arms fair in September 2005, the T-90S was highlighted as the “flying tank” while the T-95 featured in media reports as the “tank-nevidimka”, being demonstrated only in private sessions for the General Staff.

 

Tank Guns

When is a pushka a gun and when is it a cannon?

In British usage, cannon are medium calibre weapons, i.e. of over 12.7 mm but under 50 mm calibre. Therefore, as a very very rough rule of thumb, tanks and SPGs are likely to have guns, but anti-aircraft artillery, BMPs, and aircraft are likely to have cannon.