Unlike previous Panzer designs, its frontal armor was sloped for increased effectiveness.

The German Panther tank, designed to counter the Soviet T-34, had both armament and armour increased over previous medium tanks.

New Panther tanks being loaded for transport to the Eastern Front Late war tank development placed increased emphasis on armour, armament, and anti-tank capabilities for medium tanks: Notable examples include the Soviet T-34 (the most-produced tank to that time) and the US M4 Sherman. Generally, these designs massed about 25вЂ“30 tonnes, were armed with cannons around 75В mm, and powered by engines in the 400 to 500В hp range. The second half of World War II saw an increased reliance on general-purpose medium tanks, which became the bulk of the tank combat forces. The German Panzer IV tank, designed before the war as a 'heavy' tank for assaulting fixed positions, was redesigned during the war with armour and gun upgrades to allow it to take on anti-tank roles as well, and was reclassified as a medium tank. This led to new definitions of heavy and light tank classes, with medium tanks covering the balance of those between. Tank classes became mostly based on weight (and the corresponding transport and logistical needs). During the war, limited-role tank designs tended to be replaced by more general-purpose designs, enabled by improving tank technology. In the chaos of blitzkrieg, tanks designed for a single role often found themselves forced into battlefield situations they were ill-suited for. The British maintained cruiser tanks that traded armour for speed and hence manoeuvrability in the attack, and infantry tanks that traded speed for more armour.Д®volution of the general-purpose medium tank ДЄbandoned French Hotchkiss H-39 light cavalry tank, Battle of France, 1940ДЄfter years of isolated and divergent development, the various interwar tank concepts were finally tested with the start of World War II. Each nation tended to create its own list of tank classes with different intended roles, such as 'cavalry tanks', 'breakthrough tanks', 'fast tanks', and 'assault tanks'.

Many late-war and inter-war tank designs diverged from these according to new, though mostly untried, concepts for future tank roles and tactics. Tanks that focused on other combat roles were smaller, like the French Renault FT these were light tanks or tankettes. A design might have good speed, armour, or firepower, but not all three at the same time.ДЇacing the deadlock of trench warfare, the first tank designs focused on crossing wide trenches, requiring very long and large vehicles, such as the British Mark I tank and successors these became known as heavy tanks. This limited the specific battlefield capabilities any one tank design could be expected to fulfill. The average weight of Western MBTs is usually higher than that of Russian or Chinese MBTs.Д®arly model Mark I tank at the Battle of Somme, 1916Дuring World War I, combining tracks, armor, and guns into a functional vehicle pushed the limits of mechanical technology. The average weight of MBTs varies from country to country. They are also often supported by surveillance or ground-attack aircraft.

Modern MBTs seldom operate alone, as they are organized into armoured units which involve the support of infantry, who may accompany the MBTs in infantry fighting vehicles. Today, main battle tanks are considered a key component of modern armies. Through the 1960s, the MBT replaced almost all other types of tanks, leaving only some specialist roles to be filled by lighter designs or other types of armored fighting vehicles. Cold War-era development of more powerful engines, better suspension systems and lighter-weight composite armor allowed the design of a tank that had the firepower of a super-heavy tank, the armor protection of a heavy tank, and the mobility of a light tank, in a package with the weight of a medium tank. A main battle tank ( MBT), also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fulfills the role of armor-protected direct fire and maneuver of many modern armies.

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