▁control ▁systems ▁and ▁special ▁( compos ite ) ▁arm our . ▁ ▁However , ▁Hil mes ▁acknowled ged ▁that ▁t anks ▁cannot ▁be ▁definit ively ▁grouped ▁by ▁gener ations , ▁as ▁each ▁tank - produ cing ▁country ▁develop s ▁and ▁introdu ces ▁its ▁t anks ▁in ▁t une ▁with ▁its ▁own ▁ideas ▁and ▁needs . ▁He ▁also ▁states ▁that ▁break down ▁of ▁post war ▁t anks ▁by ▁gener ations ▁is ▁based ▁on ▁time frame ▁and ▁technical ▁factors , ▁as ▁a ▁basis ▁for ▁further ▁discussion . '' ▁ ▁First ▁generation ▁The ▁first ▁generation ▁consists ▁of ▁the ▁medium ▁t anks ▁designed ▁and ▁produced ▁directly ▁after ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁that ▁were ▁later ▁re defined ▁as ▁main ▁battle ▁t anks . ▁ ▁Second ▁generation ▁The ▁second ▁generation ▁had ▁en hanced ▁night - f ight ing ▁capabilities ▁and ▁in ▁most ▁cases ▁N BC ▁protection . ▁Most ▁western ▁t anks ▁of ▁this ▁generation ▁were ▁armed ▁with ▁the ▁ 1 0 5   mm ▁Royal ▁Or dn ance ▁L 7 ▁tank ▁gun ▁or ▁derivatives ▁of ▁it . ▁ ▁Third ▁generation ▁The ▁third ▁generation ▁of ▁main ▁battle ▁t anks ▁is ▁character ized ▁by ▁composite ▁arm our ▁and ▁computer ized ▁stabil ized ▁fire ▁control ▁systems , ▁which ▁allow ▁firing ▁on ▁the ▁move ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁very ▁high ▁first ▁hit ▁probability ▁on ▁targets ▁up ▁to ▁ 2 , 0 0 0 ▁meters ▁away . ▁ ▁Third ▁generation ▁advanced ▁Third ▁Generation ▁Advanced ▁has ▁been ▁stated , ▁rather ▁than ▁" Next / F our th ▁Generation " ▁in ▁many ▁premier es ▁for ▁advanced ▁new ▁t