160 Funny Tank Names: The Evolution Of Tank Naming Conventions

 The naming of tanks has a long and interesting history, dating back to the early 20th century when tanks were first introduced as a military weapon. Over the years, various naming conventions have emerged, ranging from straightforward alphanumeric codes to more creative and sometimes humorous names. In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards funny tank names, with military units and enthusiasts alike coming up with clever and sometimes irreverent monikers for their armored vehicles. This article will explore the world of funny tank names, looking at examples of popular and quirky names, the psychology of humor in tank naming, and the controversy surrounding this practice.

History Of Tank Names

The history of tank names can be traced back to the early 20th century when tanks were first introduced as a military weapon during World War I. At that time, tanks were typically given simple alphanumeric codes based on their models and manufacturers, such as the British Mark I, Mark IV, and Whippet tanks.

However, as tanks became more prevalent on the battlefield, military units began to assign more creative and memorable names to their vehicles. During World War II, for example, tanks were often given names based on their appearance or performance, such as the German Panther, Tiger, and Elephant tanks, or the American Sherman and Pershing tanks.

In addition to functional names, tanks also began to be named after historical figures, cities, and even animals. For example, the British Churchill tank was named after Prime Minister Winston Churchill, while the Soviet T-34 tank was named after its year of design, 1934.

As the Cold War era dawned, tanks continued to be named after animals, with the British Chieftain and Challenger tanks, and the Soviet T-72 and T-80 tanks. During this time, tanks also began to be named after fictional characters and pop culture references, such as the American M1 Abrams tank, named after General Creighton Abrams, and the Soviet Terminator tank, named after the popular sci-fi movie franchise.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards funny and irreverent tank names, with military units and enthusiasts coming up with creative and humorous monikers for their vehicles. These names often play on puns or pop culture references, such as the British Challenger 2 tank nicknamed “Megatron” after the Transformers villain, or the German Leopard 2 tank nicknamed “Luchs” or “Lynx.”

Funny Tank Names 

• Big Bad Wolf

• Crouching Tiger

• Death by Chocolate

• Dragon Wagon

• Grumpy Old Men

• Hell on Wheels

• Iron Maiden

• Juggernaut

• Killer Bee

• Lady Luck

• Mad Max

• Nightcrawler

• Optimus Prime

• Predator

• Quicksilver

• Road Warrior

• Silver Bullet

• Thunderbird

• Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children

• Vicious Circle

• War Machine

• Xena: Warrior Princess

• Yankee Thunder

• Zephyr

• Apocalypse

• Bad Company

• Crazy Horse

• Desert Rat

• Evil Knievel

• Fury Road

• Godzilla

• Hellcat

• Ironclad

• Jaws of Death

• Knight Rider

• Lethal Injection

• Motorhead

• Night Stalker

• Outlaw

• Punisher

• Rolling Thunder

• Swamp Thing

• Tankenstein

• Urban Warrior

• Viking

• Warlock

• Xcalibur

• Yellow Submarine

• Zombie Hunter

• Alpha Wolf

Famous Tank Names 

• Tiger I

• Panther

• Churchill

• Sherman

• T-34

• KV-1

• Centurion

• Challenger

• Leopard 2

• Abrams

• Chieftain

• M3 Stuart

• Valentine

• Matilda

• Crusader

• M60 Patton

• M1A1

• M1A2

• M551 Sheridan

• M18 Hellcat

• M36 Jackson

• M41 Walker Bulldog

• M46 Patton

• M48 Patton

• M60A1

• M60A2

• M60A3

• Merkava

• Type 90

• Type 99

• Stridsvagn 103

• Stridsvagn 122

• Panzer IV

• Panzer V “Panther”

• Panzer VI “Tiger”

• Sturmgeschütz III

• Sturmgeschütz IV

• Jadgpanther

• Jadgtiger

• Elefant

Pop Culture References In Tank Names

1. Megatron – Challenger 2 tank named after the Transformers villain
2. Terminator – Soviet tank named after the popular sci-fi movie franchise
3. Thunderbird – British tank named after the classic TV show
4. Knight Rider – Israeli tank named after the popular TV show
5. Rambo – Brazilian tank named after the action movie character
6. R2D2 – British tank named after the Star Wars droid
7. Vader – Polish tank named after the Star Wars character Darth Vader
8. Sabretooth – British tank named after the Marvel Comics character
9. Robocop – Egyptian tank named after the sci-fi movie character
10. Wolverine – British tank named after the Marvel Comics character
11. Wolverine – Australian tank named after the Marvel Comics character
12. Storm – Dutch tank named after the X-Men character
13. Iron Man – Israeli tank named after the Marvel Comics character
14. Batman – Australian tank named after the DC Comics character
15. Superman – Egyptian tank named after the DC Comics character
16. Wonder Woman – Egyptian tank named after the DC Comics character
17. Flash – Indonesian tank named after the DC Comics character
18. Punisher – Spanish tank named after the Marvel Comics character
19. Deadpool – Swedish tank named after the Marvel Comics character
20. Captain America – South Korean tank named after the Marvel Comics character

Creative Tank Names

Best Tank Names

1. Thunderbolt	11. Sherman	21. Tiger I
2. Panther	12. Matilda	22. M60A3
3. Chieftain	13. Crusader	23. M551 Sheridan
4. Ironclad	14. Merkava	24. SU-122
5. Abrams	15. Type 99	25. Type 90
6. Leopard 2	16. Ariete	26. M18 Hellcat
7. M1A2	17. Sturmgeschütz III	27. T-72
8. Challenger 2	18. Jadgpanther	28. Stridsvagn 122
9. Centurion	19. Elefant	29. M41 Walker Bulldog
10. T-34	20. IS-2	30. Churchill

Conclusion

Tank naming conventions have evolved over the years, from simple alphanumeric codes to more creative and often humorous monikers. While some names are functional and straightforward, others are more imaginative and playful, drawing inspiration from pop culture, historical figures, or animals. Funny tank names have become increasingly popular in recent years, but their use is not without controversy, as some argue that they trivialize war or may be perceived as offensive or insensitive. It is important to consider cultural context and sensitivities when choosing a tank name, especially in a military setting. Overall, tank names reflect the evolution of military technology and culture, from the early days of tank warfare to the modern era.