Ground forces serve as one component of a three-pronged approach when waging war (Land-Sea-Air). Used in conjunction with other services, the ground force is critical to subduing enemy elements on the ground and capturing strategic and tactical points. The major powers of the world currently hold in inventory thousands of combat vehicles and artillery systems of various types with the largest ground forces belonging to the United States, Russia and China. Nations are presented below in alphabetical order (A-Z).