Tank formations during the Cold War

Tank formations and number of tanks of the most important countries in Europe during the Cold War.

List of units:

West Germany

German Army as of 1981/82:
* 6 Tank Divisions (Panzerdivisionen)
* 4 Armored Infantry Divisions (Panzergrenadierdivisionen)
* 1 Mountain Division (Gebirgsdivision)
* 6 Home Defense Tank Brigades (Heimatschutz – Panzerbrigaden)
* 6 Home Defense Armored Infantry Brigades (Heimatschutz – Panzergrenadierbrigaden (not complete)Number of tanks:
* 1200 MBT M48 A2 / A2GA2
* 2437 MBT Leopard 1 A2 / A3 / A4
* 150 MBT Leopard 2
* 770 Tank Destroyer, Gun 90 mm - Kanonenjagdpanzer 4-5
* 200 Tank Destroyer, Missile - Raketenjagdpanzer HOT (Haut-subsonique Optiquement Téléguide d' un tube)Total: 4757 tanks

USA

As of 1981/82:
* 4 Tank Divisions
* 6 Mechanised Divisions
* 4 Infantry Divisions
* 1 Airborne Division (incl. 1 Tank Battalion)
* 1 independent Tank Brigade
* 4 independent Infantry Brigades
* 3 Cavalry Regiments (Reconnaissance)
* 3 Tank Battailons Marines
* ? Tank Battalions National Guard (Reserve)Number of battle tanks:
* 1825 MBT M48A5
* 1555 MBT M60
* 5775 MBT M60A1
* 540 MBT M60A2
* 1500 MBT M60A3
* 150 MBT M1 Abrams
* 400 AR/AAV M551 Sheridan (330 for training purposes)
* 575 MBT M60A1 with the Marines
* Total: 11780 tanks (min. 330 for training only)

France

As of 1981/82:
* 8 Tank Divisions
* 4 Mechanised Infantry DivisionsNumber of tanks:
* 1259 MBT AMX 30 (add. 145 ordered)
* 340 LBT AMX 13
* 39 6x6 Reconnaissance ARC AMX 10RC
* 230 8x8 Reconnaissance ARC Panhard EBR-75 (Hussars)
* Total: 1868 tanks

United Kingdom

As of 1981/82:
* 11 Tank Regiments
* 8 Tank Reconnaissance Regiments
* 1 Tank Destroyer RegimentNumber of Tanks:
* 900 MBT FV4201 Chieftain (incl. 60 in Reserve)
* 240 MBT FV4030/4 Challenger (ordered)
* 200 Light tanks FV721 Fox 4x4
* 271 Light tanks FV101 Scorpion
* 290 Reconnaissance tanks FV107 Scimitar
* Total: 1901 tanks and armored cars

USSR

As of 1981/82:
* 46 Tank Divisions
* 119 Mechanised Infantry Divisions
* ? Independent Tank Regiments
* ? Independent Tank Destroyer BrigadesNumber of tanks:
* 45000 MBT JS-2 / JS-3 / T-10 / T-10M / T-54 / T-55 / T-62
* 10000 MBT T-64 / T-72
* 2100 Tank Destroyer ASU-57 und ASU-85 (Aviadesantnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka)
* 870 Reconnaissance Tanks PT-76 (Plavayushchiy Tank) amphibious
* 1800 MBT T-34 (At the Chinese border and in central Russia - an unknown number for training purposes only?)
* Total: 59770 tanks

Of 59770 tanks, only 12970 were modern for this time period. The JS-2, JS-3, T-10, ASU-57 and T-34 were completely out-of-date.

East Germany

As of 1981/82:
* 2 Tank Division
* 4 Mechanised Infantry DivisionsNumber of tanks:
* 1500 MBT T-54 / T-55 / T-72 (further 1600 tanks stored)
* ? Reconnaissance tanks PT-76
* ? Tank Destroyer ASU-85
* Total: 1500+ tanks

Poland

As of 1981/82:
* 5 Tank Divisions
* 8 Mechanised Infantry Divisions
* 1 Amph. Assault Division
* 3 independent Tank Destroyer RegimentsNumber of Tanks:
* 3400 MBT T-54 / T-55
* 30 MBT T-72
* 130 Armored Reconnaissance tanks PT-76
* 450 Tank Destroyer ASU-85
* Total: 4010 tanks

Italy

As of 1981/82:
* 1 Tank Division
* 3 mechanised Divisions
* 6 independet mechanised BrigadesNumber of tanks:
* 900 MBT Leopard 1
* 300 MBT M60A1
* 550 MBT M47 (remained of originally 1.500)
* Total: 1620 tanks

Sources

*"Armed Forces 1981/82" In: "The Military Balance" of the International Institut for Strategic Studies / London (Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Munich 1982.)
*Ferdinand von Senger und Etterlin: "Tanks of the World". Arms and Armor Press, London 1983.