A tank's passability is not determined by speed or even engine power. The main parameter is specific ground pressure. The lower it is, the less the vehicle sinks into mud, snow, and soft soils.
And here simple physics applies – no suspension will "save" a heavy machine if it exerts more pressure on the ground than its competitors. "Pervy Tekhnichesky" compiled a tank rating based on this indicator.
5. M1A2 Abrams (USA)
Specific pressure: ~1.05–1.1 kg/cm². The mass of modern versions exceeds 70 tons.
Wide tracks partially compensate for the weight, but physics cannot be fooled – on soft ground, it loses to lighter vehicles and is the first to lose mobility.
4. Leopard 2A7 (Germany)
Specific pressure: ~1.0–1.05 kg/cm². Modern versions are seriously weighted down with armor, with a total weight of about 67 tons.
As a result, the "Leopard" has approached the "Abrams" in terms of ground pressure and no longer has the advantage of older modifications.
3. Leclerc (France)
Specific pressure: ~0.95–1.0 kg/cm². The French tank is lighter than its Western competitors (about 55–57 tons), so it exerts less pressure on the ground.
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This gives it better passability among heavy Western machines, but it doesn't quite reach the level of the Soviet school.
2. T-90M "Proryv" (Russia)
Specific pressure: ~0.98 kg/cm². Lower mass (about 50 tons) and wide tracks provide a significant advantage on soft ground.
The tank confidently passes where heavier machines begin to "sink".
1. T-80U (Russia)
Specific pressure: ~0.83–0.9 kg/cm². Weight of only 46 tons – one of the best indicators in its class.
The T-80's running gear, unlike the T-72/T-90, has rubberized track paths and road wheels that better distribute weight. This is truly the "king of off-road".
To some, a spread of 0.1–0.2 kg/cm² may seem insignificant, but in practice, it is critical. When moving through mud or swamp, this parameter determines whether the tank will continue to move or start to dig in.
That is why machines weighing 45–50 tons with a pressure below 0.9 kg/cm² physically outperform heavy Western platforms, even if they are inferior in protection.