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Why did most armies stop dividing tanks into infantry and cavalry types after World War II?

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Kuwait: U.S. 1st Armored Division M1A1 Abrams tanks — tank M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks of the U.S. 1st Armored Division moving across the desert in northern Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War, February 1991.

After World War II, most armies abandoned the practice of dividing tanks into specialized infantry and cavalry types because it was generally recognized that all tanks required sufficient armament to effectively engage and defeat enemy tanks.1

During the interwar period, military doctrine had led to a split: mobile tanks were intended to perform the traditional roles of horse cavalry, while slower, more heavily armored tanks were designed for infantry support. However, the experience of the war demonstrated that specialized, under-gunned vehicles were inadequate for the realities of modern armored warfare.21

Postwar development shifted focus toward the main battle tank, a versatile platform designed to prioritize firepower, mobility, and protection. This evolution was driven by the recognition that tanks were the most effective counter to other armored forces, which became the primary ground threat during the Cold War. Consequently, the development of larger-caliber guns and sophisticated fire-control systems became the standard, ensuring that every tank possessed the capability to fight enemy armor directly.13