---
title: "‘Diplomacy failed,’ ‘bye Felicia,’ and 27 other incredible tank names"
description: "There are few things we love more than tank names, especially when it's particularly saucy one lovingly stenciled on an M1 Abrams main gun"
date: "2021-05-13"
modified: "2022-02-08"
authors:
  - name: "Jared Keller"
    job_title: "Former Managing Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jaredkeller/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/culture/tank-names/"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "Mandatory Fun"
  - "Tanks"
  - "Tech & Tactics"
  - "Vehicles"
---

# ‘Diplomacy failed,’ ‘bye Felicia,’ and 27 other incredible tank names

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/13/14-bye-felicia.jpeg>)

*Editor's note: This article first appeared in May 2020.*

As any regular reader of Task & Purpose knows, there are few things we love more than a well-named piece of military machinery, especially when it's an M1 Abrams with a particularly saucy name lovingly stenciled on the main gun.

Indeed, naming tanks is a longstanding tradition in the ranks of the U.S. military [with its own rules and regulations](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/military-culture/tank-named-after-the-rock>). The Sierra Army Depot in California, where M1 Abrams tanks go after they die, even keeps a list of names drawn from its stockpile of retired gun tubes:

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/08/Screen-Shot-2022-02-08-at-2.19.14-PM.png>)

To wit, we asked our readers to send in photos of their very best tank names from their time in the Army or Marine Corps, and they did not disappoint. Some of the submissions are outright brilliant, and others may toe the line between good and bad taste, but all of them showcase the innate creativity of tankers — and make us laugh, too.

Below is a selection of submissions from Task & Purpose readers. You can continue to submit photos by [emailing jared@taskandpurpose.com](<mailto:jared@taskandpurpose.com>) or sharing them on [Twitter](<https://twitter.com/jaredbkeller/status/1255227441427165186>).

![Aggravated Assault](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/1-aggravated-assault-1024x768.jpg>)
*?*

![Abandon All Hope](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/2-abandon-all-hope-1024x683.jpg>)
*Dante would be proud*

![American Bad Ass](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/3-american-badass-1024x641.jpg>)
*'Nuff said*

![Daddy's Belt](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/4-daddys-belt-1024x782.jpg>)

![Diplomacy Failed](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/5-diplomacy-failed-1024x824.jpg>)
*Yes, it sure did*

![Ground Zero](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/6-ground-zero-1024x768.jpg>)

![Kasey Anthony](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/7-kasey-anthoney-1024x683.jpg>)
*Technically it's 'Casey Anthony' but we'll overlook that for the moment*

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/08/Hold-My-Beer.jpg>)

![Armageddon](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/9-armageddon-1024x683.jpg>)
*Classic*

![Atomic Blonde](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/10-atomic-blonde-1024x683.jpg>)
*Not bad at all*

![Baby Yoda](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/11-baby-yoda-1024x575.jpg>)
*This one is a T&P staff favorite*

![Beats Walking](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/12-beats-walking-1024x573.jpg>)
*Sure does*

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/barbie-dreamhouse.jpg>)

![Bye Felicia](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/14-bye-felicia-1024x1024.jpg>)
*It's ... it's beautiful*

![Cali's Finest](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/15-calis-finest-1024x765.jpg>)
*A tribute to the West Coast*

![Candy Man](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/16-candy-man-1024x683.jpg>)
*Delicious*

![Capital Punishment](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/17-capital-punishment-1024x683.jpg>)
*Technically not wrong*

![Cruel Intentions](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/18-cruel-intention-1024x585.jpg>)
*Bonus points for creativity*

![Cthulu](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/19-cthulu-1024x680.jpg>)
*The horror, THE HORROR!*

![Democracy Deliverer](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/20-democracy-deliverer--1024x659.jpg>)
*Technically accurate.*

![Dirty Deedz](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/21-dirty-deedz-1024x683.jpg>)
*No comment*

![Drink Water](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/22-drink-water-1024x683.jpg>)
*Good advice*

![Katfished](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/23-katfished-1024x814.jpg>)
*Named as such because "my recruiter catfished me into joining armor"*

![Mulligan](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/24-mulligan-1024x683.jpg>)
*For your second tank, obviously*

![Star Lord](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/25-star-lord-1024x683.jpg>)
*Legendary interstellar outlaw, obviously*

![Ted Bundy](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/26-ted-bundy-1024x576.jpg>)
*No comment*

![Tonya Harding](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/27-tonya-harding-1024x614.jpg>)
*No comment!*

![Dropped As A Baby](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/28-dxmlth2uyaezxri-1024x732.jpg>)
*Too good*

![Crippling Depression](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03/29-ewtm6dixkaaitu6-768x1024.jpg>)
*Too real. Too. Real.*

Thanks for your submissions — and tanks for the laughs!

## Author
Jared Keller is the former managing editor of Task & Purpose. His writing has appeared in Aeon, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the New Republic, Pacific Standard, Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, among other publications.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/jaredbkeller>)  
[Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/jaredbkeller>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredbkeller/>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/jaredbkelller/>)