Reply #59: Comment on FAS and Iran [View All]

The Military Equipment cited at the FAS Site is for what is produced in that Country NOT WHAT THAT COUNTRY HAS.

Iran had adopted the British Chieftain Tank during the 1970s with Ceramic Armor (The same type of Armor that is used on the M1 Tank). The British had invented this type of Armor but thought it to expensive for their version of the Chieftain Tank. Thus the British Chieftains did NOT have Ceramic armor while the Iranian Chieftain's did (Both version of the Chieftains used a RIFLED 120mm Gun compared to the 120mm Smooth bore Gun used in the M1 and German Leopard II Tanks).

With the Revolution imports of Western Tank ceased (Mostly British Chieftain Tanks) and since that time Iran has used what tanks they had (Including American M-60 and M48 Tanks along with the Chieftains) and T-55 tanks either captured from Iraq or imported from Russia (And upgraded to use American/British 105 mm Ammunition). I have also read reports of Soviet T-72 Tanks being used and produced by Iran but that may be the result of confusion caused by the Iranians calling their conversion of Captured T-55s, "T-72Z Safir-74".

I will try to get more details, but it looks like the Iranians have Converted one of their leg Infantry Division to an Armored Division between 1987 and 1997. Iran appears to have increased its Airborne Brigade to a Full Division AND made a Second Special Forces Division (Commando is just the British Name for Special Forces).