A tank is a tracked (Continuous track), armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility and tactical (Military tactics) offensive (Offensive (military)) and defensive (defense (military)) capabilities. Firepower is normally provided by a large-calibre main gun (Tank gun) in a rotating turret (gun turret) and secondary machine guns, while heavy armour (vehicle armour) and all-terrain mobility (Tank#Mobility) provide protection for the tank and its crew, allowing it to perform all primary tasks of the armoured troops on the battlefield.

Tanks were developed and first used (Tanks in World War I) in combat by the British (United Kingdom) during World War I as a means to break the deadlock of trench warfare. They were first deployed at the Battle of Somme in limited numbers. During construction, to conceal their true identity as weapons, they were designated as water carriers for the Mesopotamian campaign and referred to as "tanks" (as in "water tank"). However, there are two other proposed etymologies – these are discussed in the Etymology section below.

Interwar developments in both design and tactics evolved during World War II (Tanks in World War II), producing important concepts of armoured warfare which persist to this day and were prominently displayed during World War II. The Soviet Union introduced the T-34, one of the best tanks in service throughout the war and one of the forerunners to the main battle tank. Germany introduced blitzkrieg, a strategy which makes use of massed concentrations of tanks supported by artillery and air power to break through the enemy front (front (military)) and cause a complete collapse in enemy resistance.

Today, tanks seldom operate alone, as they are organized into armoured units which involve the support of infantry, who may accompany the tanks in armoured personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles. They are also usually accompanied by reconnaissance (Surveillance aircraft) or ground-attack aircraft.

Due to its formidable capabilities and versatility the battle tank is generally considered a key component of modern armies. However, the prevalence of unconventional (unconventional warfare) and asymmetric warfare have led to some questioning the utility of the traditional armoured force.

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