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Anarmoured fighting vehicle (British English) orarmored fighting vehicle (American English) (AFV) is an armedcombat vehicle protected byarmour, generally combiningoperational mobility withoffensive anddefensive capabilities. AFVs can be wheeled ortracked. Examples of AFVs aretanks,armoured cars,assault guns,self-propelled artilleries,infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), andarmoured personnel carriers (APC).
Armoured fighting vehicles are classified according to their characteristics and intended role on the battlefield. The classifications are not absolute; two countries may classify the same vehicle differently, and the criteria change over time. For example, relatively lightly armed armoured personnel carriers were largely superseded by infantry fighting vehicles with much heavier armament in a similar role.
Successful designs are often adapted to a wide variety of applications. For example, theMOWAG Piranha, originally designed as an APC, has been adapted to fill numerous roles such as amortar carrier, infantry fighting vehicle, and assault gun.
Armoured fighting vehicles began to appear in use in World War I with the armoured car, the tank, the self-propelled gun, and the personnel carrier seeing use. By World War II, armies had large numbers of AFVs, together with other vehicles to carry troops this permitted highly mobilemanoeuvre warfare.
The concept of a highly mobile and protected fighting unit has been around for centuries; fromHannibal'swar elephants toLeonardo'scontraptions, military strategists endeavoured to maximize the mobility and survivability of their soldiers.
Armoured fighting vehicles were not possible untilinternal combustion engines of sufficient power became available at the start of the 20th century.
Modern armoured fighting vehicles represent the realization of an ancient concept – that of providing troops with mobile protection and firepower. Armies have deployed war machines and cavalries with rudimentary armour in battle for millennia. Use of these animals and engineering designs sought to achieve a balance between the conflicting needs of mobility, firepower and protection.
Siege engines, such asbattering rams andsiege towers, would often be armoured in order to protect their crews from enemy action.Polyidus of Thessaly developed a very large movable siege tower, thehelepolis, as early as 340 BC, and Greek forces used such structures in theSiege of Rhodes (305 BC).
The idea of a protected fighting vehicle has been known since antiquity. Frequently cited isLeonardo da Vinci's 15th-century sketch of amobile, protected gun-platform; the drawings show a conical, wooden shelter with apertures for cannons around the circumference. The machine was to be mounted on four wheels which would be turned by the crew through a system ofhand cranks andcage (or "lantern") gears. Leonardo claimed: "I will build armoured wagons which will be safe and invulnerable to enemy attacks. There will be no obstacle which it cannot overcome."[1] Modern replicas have demonstrated that the human crew would have been able to move it over only short distances.
Hussite forces inBohemia developedwar wagons –medieval horse-drawnwagons that doubled aswagon forts – around 1420 during theHussite Wars. These heavy wagons were given protective sides with firing slits; their heavy firepower came from either a cannon or from a force ofhand-gunners andcrossbowmen, supported bylight cavalry andinfantry usingpikes andflails. Heavyarquebuses mounted on wagons were calledarquebus à croc. These carried a ball of about 3.5 ounces (100 g).[2]
By the end ofWorld War II, most modern armies had vehicles to carry infantry, artillery andanti-aircraft weaponry. Most modern AFVs are superficially similar in design to their World War II counterparts, but with significantly better armour, weapons, engines, electronics, and suspension. The increase in the capacity oftransport aircraft makes possible and practicable the transport of AFVs by air. Many armies are replacing some or all of their traditional heavy vehicles with lighter airmobile versions, often with wheels instead of tracks.
The first modern AFVs were armed cars, dating back virtually to the invention of themotor car. The British inventorF. R. Simms designed and built theMotor Scout in 1898. It was the first armed, petrol-engine powered vehicle ever built. It consisted of aDe Dion-Boutonquadracycle with aMaxim machine gun mounted on the front bar. An iron shield offered some protection for the driver from the front, but it lacked all-around protective armour.[3]
Thearmoured car was the first modern fully armoured fighting vehicle. The first of these was theSimms's Motor War Car, also designed by Simms and built byVickers, Sons & Maxim in 1899.[4] The vehicle had Vickers armour 6 mm thick and was powered by a four-cylinder 3.3-litre[4] 16hp Cannstatt Daimler engine giving it a maximum speed of around 9 miles per hour (14 kilometres per hour). The armament, consisting of two Maxim guns, was carried in two turrets with 360° traverse.[5][6]
Another early armoured car of the period was the FrenchCharron, Girardot et Voigt 1902, presented at theSalon de l'Automobile et du cycle inBrussels, on 8 March 1902.[7] The vehicle was equipped with aHotchkiss machine gun, and with 7 mm armour for the gunner.[8][9] Armoured cars were first used in large numbers on both sides duringWorld War I as scouting vehicles.
In 1903,H. G. Wells published the short story "The Land Ironclads," positing indomitable war machines that would bring a new age of land warfare, the way steam-poweredironclad warships had ended theage of sail.
Wells's literary vision was realized in 1916, when, amidst the pyrrhic standstill of theGreat War, the BritishLandship Committee deployed revolutionary armoured vehicles to break the stalemate. The tank was envisioned as an armoured machine that could cross ground under fire frommachine guns and reply with its own mounted machine guns andnaval artillery. These firstBritish tanks of World War I moved oncaterpillar tracks that had substantially lower ground pressure than wheeled vehicles, enabling them to pass the muddy, pocked terrain and slit trenches of theBattle of the Somme.
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The tank eventually proved highly successful and, as technology improved, it became a weapon that could cross large distances at much higher speeds than supportinginfantry andartillery. The need to provide the units that would fight alongside the tank led to the development of a wide range of specialised AFVs, especially during theSecond World War (1939–1945).
The armoured personnel carrier, designed to transport infantry troops to the frontline, emerged towards the end of World War I. During the first actions withtanks, it had become clear that close contact with infantry was essential in order to secure ground won by the tanks. Troops on foot were vulnerable to enemy fire, but they could not be transported in the tank because of the intense heat and noxious atmosphere.[citation needed] In 1917, Lieutenant G. J. Rackham was ordered to design an armoured vehicle that could fight and carry troops or supplies. TheMark IX tank was built byArmstrong, Whitworth & Co., although just three vehicles had been finished at the time of theArmistice in November 1918, and only 34 were built in total.
Different tank classifications emerged in the interwar period. Thetankette was conceived as a mobile, two-man model, mainly intended for reconnaissance. In 1925,Sir John Carden andVivian Loyd produced the first such design to be adopted – theCarden Loyd tankette. Tankettes saw use in theRoyal Italian Army during theItalian invasion of Ethiopia (1935–1936), theSpanish Civil War (1936–1939), and duringWorld War II. TheImperial Japanese Army used tankettes inChina for infantry support, reconnaissance and later forjungle warfare.[10][11][12]
The BritishGun Carrier Mark I, the firstSelf-propelled artillery, was fielded in 1917. It was based on the first tank, the BritishMark I, and carried a heavy field-gun. The next major advance was theBirch gun (1925), developed for the British motorised warfare experimental brigade (theExperimental Mechanized Force). This mounted a field gun, capable of the usual artillery trajectories and even anti-aircraft use, on a tank chassis.
During World War II, most major military powers developed self-propelled artillery vehicles. These had guns mounted on a tracked chassis (often that of an obsolete or superseded tank) and provided an armoured superstructure to protect the gun and its crew. The first British design,"Bishop", carried the25 pdr gun-howitzer in an extemporised mounting on a tank chassis that severely limited the gun's performance. It was replaced by the more effectiveSexton. The Germans built many lightly armouredself-propelled anti-tank guns using captured French equipment (for exampleMarder I), their own obsolete light tank chassis (Marder II), or ex-Czech chassis (Marder III). These led to better-protected tank destroyers, built on a medium-tank chassis such as theJagdpanzer IV or theJagdpanther.
TheSelf-propelled anti-aircraft weapon debuted in WWI. TheGerman 88 mm[13] anti-aircraft gun was truck-mounted and used to great effect against British tanks, and the BritishQF 3-inch 20 cwt was mounted on trucks for use on theWestern Front. Although theBirch gun was a general purpose artillery piece on an armoured tracked chassis, it was capable of elevation for anti-aircraft use.Vickers Armstrong developed one of the first SPAAGs based on the chassis of the Mk.E 6-ton light tank/Dragon Medium Mark IV tractor, mounting a Vickers QF-1 "Pom-Pom" gun of 40 mm. The Germans fielded the Sd.Kfz. 10/4 and 6/2, cargo halftracks mounting single 20 mm or 37 mm AA guns (respectively) by the start of the war.
Rocket launchers such as the SovietKatyusha originated in the late 1930s. TheWehrmacht fielded self-propelled rocket artillery in World War II – thePanzerwerfer andWurfrahmen 40 equipped half-track armoured fighting vehicles. Many modernmultiple rocket launchers are self propelled by either truck or tank chassis.
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The level of armour protection between AFVs varies greatly – amain battle tank will normally be designed to take hits from othertank guns andanti-tank missiles, whilst lightreconnaissance vehicles are often only armoured "just in case". Whilst heavier armour provides better protection, it makes vehicles less mobile (for a given engine power), limits its air-transportability, increases cost, uses more fuel and may limit the places it can go – for example, many bridges may be unable to support the weight of a main battle tank. A trend towardcomposite armour is taking the place of steel – composites are stronger for a given weight, allowing the tank to be lighter for the same protection as steel armour, or better protected for the same weight. Armour is being supplemented withactive protection systems on a number of vehicles, allowing the AFV to protect itself from incoming projectiles.
The level of protection also usually varies considerably throughout the individual vehicle too, depending on the role of the vehicle and the likely direction of attack. For example, a main battle tank will usually have the heaviest armour on the hull front and the turret, lighter armour on the sides of the hull and the thinnest armour on the top and bottom of the tank. Other vehicles – such as theMRAP family – may be primarily armoured against the threat fromIEDs and so will have heavy,sloped armour on the bottom of the hull.
Weaponry varies by a very wide degree between AFVs – lighter vehicles for infantry carrying, reconnaissance or specialist roles may have only aautocannon ormachine gun (or no armament at all), whereas heavy self-propelled artillery will carryhowitzers,mortars orrocket launchers. These weapons may be mounted on apintle, affixed directly to the vehicle or placed in aturret or cupola.
The greater the recoil of the weapon on an AFV, the larger the turret ring needs to be. A larger turret ring necessitates a larger vehicle. To avoid listing to the side, turrets on amphibious vehicles are usually located at the centre of the vehicle.[14]
Grenade launchers provide a versatile launch platform for a plethora of munitions including,smoke, phosphorus,tear gas, illumination, anti-personnel, infrared and radar-jamming rounds.[14]
Turret stabilization is an important capability because it enables firing on the move and prevents crew fatigue.
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Modern AFVs have primarily used either petrol (gasoline) or diesel piston engines. More recently, gas turbines have been used. Most early AFVs usedpetrol engines, as they offer a goodpower-to-weight ratio. However, they fell out of favour during World War II due to the flammability of the fuel.
Most current AFVs are powered by adiesel engine; modern technology, including the use ofturbo-charging, helps to overcome the lower power-to-weight ratio of diesel engines compared to petrol.
Gas turbine (turboshaft) engines offer a very high power-to-weight ratio and were starting to find favour in the late 20th century – however, they offer very poor fuel consumption and as such some armies are switching from gas turbines back to diesel engines (i.e. the RussianT-80 used a gas turbine engine, whereas the laterT-90 does not). The USM1 Abrams is a notable example of a gas turbine powered tank.[15]
Notable armoured fighting vehicles extending from post-World War I to today.
Thetank is an all terrain AFV incorporating artillery which is designed to fill almost all battlefield roles and to engage enemy forces by the use ofdirect fire in the frontal assault role. Though several configurations have been tried, particularly in the early experimental "golden days" of tank development, a standard, mature design configuration has since emerged to a generally accepted pattern. This features a maintank gun orartillery gun, mounted in a fully rotatingturret atop a tracked automotive hull, with various additional secondary weapon systems throughout.
Philosophically, the tank is, by its very nature, an offensive weapon. Being a protective encasement with at least one gun position, it is essentially apillbox or smallfortress (though these are static fortifications of a purely defensive nature) that can move toward the enemy – hence its offensive utility. Psychologically, the tank is aforce multiplier that has a positive morale effect on the infantry it accompanies.[16] It also instills fear in the opposing force who can often hear and even feel their arrival.[17]
Tanks were classified either by size or by role.
Classification by relative size was common, as this also tended to influence the tanks' role.
Over time, tanks tended to be designed with heavier armour and weapons, increasing the weight of all tanks, so these classifications are relative to the average for the nation's tanks for any given period. An older tank design might be reclassified over time, such as a tank being first deployed as a medium tank, but in later years relegated to light tank roles.
Tanks were also classified by roles that were independent of size, such ascavalry tank,cruiser tank,fast tank,infantry tank, "assault" tank, or "breakthrough" tank. Military theorists initially tended to assign tanks to traditional military infantry, cavalry, and artillery roles, but later developed more specialized roles unique to tanks.
In modern use, the heavy tank has fallen out of favour, being supplanted by more heavily armed and armoured descendant of the medium tanks – the universalmain battle tank. The light tank has, in many armies, lost favour to cheaper, faster, lighterarmoured cars; however, light tanks (or similar vehicles with other names) are still in service with a number of forces asreconnaissance vehicles, most notably theRussian Marines with thePT-76, theBritish Army with theScimitar, and theChinese Army with theType 63.
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Modernmain battle tanks or "universal tanks" incorporate recent advances in automotive, artillery, armour, and electronic technology to combine the best characteristics of the historic medium and heavy tanks into a single, all-around type. They are also the most expensive to mass-produce. A main battle tank is distinguished by its high level of firepower, mobility and armour protection relative to other vehicles of its era. It can cross comparatively rough terrain at high speeds, but its heavy dependency on fuel, maintenance, and ammunition makes itlogistically demanding. It has the heaviestarmour of any AFVs on the battlefield, and carries a powerfulprecision-guided munition weapon systems that may be able to engage a wide variety of both ground targets and air targets. Despite significant advances inanti-tank warfare, it still remains the most versatile and fearsome land-based weapon-systems of the 21st-century, valued for itsshock action and highsurvivability.
A tankette is a tracked armed and armoured vehicle[18] resembling a small "ultra-light tank" or "super-light tank" roughly the size of a car, mainly intended for light infantry support orscouting.[19] Tankettes were introduced in the mid-1920s as a reconnaissance vehicle and a mobile machine gun position They were one or two-man vehicles armed with a machine gun. Colloquially it may also simply mean a "small tank".[20]
Tankettes were designed and built by several nations between the 1920s and 1940s following the BritishCarden Loyd tankette which was a successful implementation of "one man tank" ideas fromGiffard Le Quesne Martel, a British Army engineer. They were very popular with smaller countries. Some saw some combat (with limited success) in World War II. However, the vulnerability of their light armour eventually caused the concept to be abandoned. However, theGerman Army uses a modern design of air-transportable armoured weapons carriers, theWiesel AWC, which resembles the concept of a tankette.
The term "super-heavy tank" has been used to describe armoured fighting vehicles of extreme size, generally over 75 tonnes. Programs have been initiated on several occasions with the aim of creating an invinciblesiegeworks/breakthrough vehicle for penetrating enemy formations and fortifications without fear of being destroyed in combat. Examples were designed in World War I and World War II (such as thePanzer VIII Maus), along with a few in theCold War. However, few working prototypes were built and there is no clear evidence any of these vehicles saw combat, as their immense size would have made most designs impractical.
Amissile tank is a tank fulfilling the role of a main battle tank, but using onlyanti-tanksurface-to-surface missiles for main armament.[citation needed] Several nations have experimented with prototypes, notably the Soviet Union during the tenure of Nikita Khrushchev (projectsObject 150 (IT-1) Object 167, Object 137Ml, Object 155Ml,Object 287,Object 775),
Aflame tank is an otherwise-standardtank equipped with aflamethrower, most commonly used to supplementcombined arms attacks againstfortifications, confined spaces, or other obstacles. The type only reached significant use in theSecond World War, during which the United States,Soviet Union,Germany,Italy,Japan and the United Kingdom (including members of theBritish Commonwealth) all produced flamethrower-equipped tanks. Usually, the flame projector replaced one of the tank's machineguns, however, some flame projectors replaced the tank's main gun. Fuel for the flame weapon was generally carried inside the tank, although a few designs mounted the fuel externally, such as the armoured trailer used on theChurchill Crocodile.
Flame tanks have been superseded bythermobaric weapons such as the RussianTOS-1.
The idea for this tank was developed during World War I by British and French. Theinfantry tank was designed to work in concert with infantry in the assault, moving mostly at a walking pace, and carrying heavy armour to survive defensive fire. Its main purpose was to suppress enemy fire, crush obstacles such as barbed-wire entanglements, and protect the infantry on their advance into and through enemy lines by giving mobileoverwatch andcover. The FrenchRenault FT was the first iteration of this concept.
The British and French retained the concept between the wars and into the Second World War era. Because infantry tanks did not need to be fast, they could carry heavy armour. One of the best-known infantry tanks was theMatilda II of World War II. Other examples include the FrenchR-35, the BritishValentine, and the BritishChurchill.
A cruiser tank, or cavalry tank, was designed to move fast and exploit penetrations of the enemy front. The idea originated in "Plan 1919", a British plan to break the trench deadlock ofWorld War I in part via the use of high-speed tanks. The first cruiser tank was the BritishWhippet.
Between the wars, this concept was implemented in the "fast tanks" pioneered byJ. Walter Christie. These led to the SovietBT tank series and the Britishcruiser tank series.
DuringWorld War II, British cruiser tanks were designed to complementinfantry tanks, exploiting gains made by the latter to attack and disrupt the enemy rear areas. In order to give them the required speed, cruiser designs sacrificed armour and armament compared to the infantry tanks. Pure British cruisers were generally replaced by more capable medium tanks such as theUS Sherman and, to a lesser extent, theCromwell by 1943.
The Soviet fast tank (bistrokhodniy tank, orBT tank) classification also came out of the infantry/cavalry concept of armoured warfare and formed the basis for the British cruisers after 1936. The T-34 was a development of this line of tanks as well, though their armament, armour, and all-round capability places them firmly in the medium tank category.
Thearmoured car is a wheeled, often lightly armoured, vehicle adapted as a fighting machine. Its earliest form consisted of a motorised ironside chassis fitted with firing ports. ByWorld War I, this had evolved into a mobile fortress[21] equipped with command equipment, searchlights, and machine guns for self-defence. It was soon proposed that the requirements for the armament and layout of armoured cars be somewhat similar to those on naval craft, resulting in turreted vehicles. The first example carried a single revolving cupola with aVickers gun; modern armoured cars may boast heavier armament – ranging from twin machine guns to large calibre cannon.
Some multi-axled wheeled fighting vehicles can be quite heavy, and superior to older or smaller tanks in terms of armour and armament. Others are often used in military marches and processions, or for the escorting of important figures. Under peacetime conditions, they form an essential part of most standing armies. Armoured car units can move without the assistance of transporters and cover great distances with fewer logistical problems than tracked vehicles.
DuringWorld War II, armoured cars were used for reconnaissance alongside scout cars. Their guns were suitable for some defence if they encountered enemy armoured fighting vehicles, but they were not intended to engage enemytanks.Armoured cars have since been used in the offensive role against tanks with varying degrees of success, most notably during theSouth African Border War,Toyota War, theInvasion of Kuwait, and otherlower-intensity conflicts.
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Anaerosledge is a type of propeller-drivensnowmobile, running on skis, used for communications, mail deliveries, medical aid, emergency recovery and border patrolling in northern Russia, as well as for recreation. Aerosledges were used by the SovietRed Army during theWinter War andWorld War II.
Some early aerosledges were built by youngIgor Sikorsky in 1909–10, before he built multi-engine airplanes and helicopters. They were very lightplywood vehicles on skis, propelled by old airplane engines and propellers.[22]
Ascout car is a military armouredreconnaissance vehicle, capable of off-road mobility and often carrying mounted weapons such asmachine guns for offensive capabilities and crew protection. They often only carry an operational crew aboard, which differentiates them from wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs) andinfantry mobility vehicles (IMVs), but early scout cars, such as the open-topped USM3 scout car could carry a crew of seven. The term is often used synonymously with the more general term armoured car, which also includes armoured civilian vehicles. They are also differentiated by being designed and built for purpose, as opposed to improvised "technicals" which might serve in the same role.
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Areconnaissance vehicle, also known as ascout vehicle, is amilitary vehicle used for forwardreconnaissance. Both tracked and wheeled reconnaissance vehicles are in service. In some countries, light tanks such as theM551 Sheridan andAMX-13 are also used by scout platoons. Reconnaissance vehicles are usually designed with a low profile or small size and are lightly armoured, relying on speed and cover to escape detection. Their armament ranges from amedium machine gun to anautocannon. Modern examples are often fitted withATGMs and a wide range of sensors.
Armoured reconnaissance is the combination ofterrestrial reconnaissance witharmoured warfare by using tanks and wheeled or tracked armoured reconnaissance vehicles. While the mission of reconnaissance is to gather intelligence about the enemy with the use of reconnaissance vehicles, armoured reconnaissance adds the ability to fight for information, and to have an effect on and to shape the enemy through the performance of traditional armoured tasks. Somearmoured personnel carriers andinfantry mobility vehicle, such as theM113,TPz Fuchs, andCadillac Gage Commando double in the reconnaissance role.
An internal security vehicle (ISV), also known as an armoured security vehicle (ASV), is a combat vehicle used for suppressing civilian unrest. Security vehicles are typically armed with a turretedheavy machine gun and auxiliarymedium machine gun. The vehicle is designed to minimize firepower dead space.Non-lethalwater cannons andtear gas cannons can provide suppressive fire in lieu of unnecessary deadly fire.[23]
The vehicle must be protected against weapons typical of riots. Protection fromimprovised incendiary devices is achieved though coverage of the air intake and exhaust ports as well as a strong locking mechanism on the fuel opening. Turret and door locks prevent access to the interior of the vehicle by rioters. Vision blocks, ballistic glass and window shutters and outsidesurveillance cameras allow protected observation from within the vehicle. Wheeled 4x4 and 6x6 configurations are typical of security vehicles. Tracked security vehicles are often cumbersome and leave negative political connotations for being perceived as an imperial invading force.
Military light utility vehicles are the lightest weight class of military vehicles. It refers to light4x4 military vehicles with light or no armour and all-terrain mobility. This type of vehicle originated in the first half of the 20th century when horses and otherdraft animals were replaced with mechanization. Light utility vehicles such as theWillys Jeep were frequently mounted with .50-calibre machineguns and other small weapons forhit-and-run tactics in World War II, especially by theBritish Special Air Service who used Jeeps to raidAxis airfields during theNorth Africa campaign. After the war, vehicles like theToyota Mega Cruiser andHumvee filled this role. In the 21st century,improvised explosive devices continue to pose threat to mobile infantry resulting in light utility vehicles being made heavier and with more armour.
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An improvised fighting vehicle is a combat vehicle resulting from modifications to a civilian or military non-combat vehicle in order to give it a fighting capability. Such modifications usually consist of the grafting ofarmour plating andweapon systems. Various militaries have procured such vehicles, ever since the introduction of the firstautomobiles into military service.
During the early days, the absence of a doctrine for the military use of automobiles or of an industry dedicated to producing them, lead to much improvisation in the creation of early armoured cars, and other such vehicles. Later, despite the advent ofarms industries in many countries, several armies still resorted to using ad hoc contraptions, often in response to unexpected military situations, or as a result of the development of newtactics for which no available vehicle was suitable. The construction of improvised fighting vehicles may also reflect a lack of means for the force that uses them. This is especially true inunderdeveloped countries and even indeveloping countries, where various armies andguerrilla forces have used them, as they are more affordable than military-grade combat vehicles.
Modern examples includemilitary gun truck used by units of regular armies or other official government armed forces, based on a conventionalmilitary cargo truck, that is able to carry a large weight of weapons and armour. They have mainly been used by regular armies to escort military convoys in regions subject to ambush byguerrilla forces. "Narco tanks", used byMexican drug cartels in theMexican drug war, are built from such trucks, which combinesoperational mobility,tacticaloffensive, anddefensive capabilities.[24][25][26][27]
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Troop-carrying AFVs are divided into three main types – armoured personnel carriers (APCs), infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and infantry mobility vehicles (IMV). The main difference between the three is their intended role – the APC is designed purely to transport troops and is armed for self-defence only – whereas the IFV is designed to provide close-quarters and anti-armour fire support to the infantry it carries. IMV is a wheeled armoured personnel carrier serving as a military patrol, reconnaissance or security vehicle.
Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are intended to carry infantry quickly and relatively safely to the point where they are deployed. In theBattle of Amiens, 8 August 1918, the BritishMk V* tank (a lengthened Mark V) carried a small number of machine gunners as an experiment, but the men were debilitated by the conditions inside the vehicle.[28] Later that year the first purpose-built APC, the BritishMk IX tank (Mark Nine), appeared. In 1944, the Canadian generalGuy Simonds ordered the conversion of redundant armoured vehicles to carry troops (generically named "Kangaroos"). This proved highly successful, even without training, and the concept was widely used in the21st Army Group. Post-war, specialised designs were built, such as the SovietBTR-60 and USM113.
Aninfantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as amechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carryinfantry into battle and providedirectfire support.[29] The first example of an IFV was theWest GermanSchützenpanzer Lang HS.30 which served in theBundeswehr from 1958 until the early 1980s.
IFVs are similar to armoured personnel carriers (APCs) andinfantry carrier vehicles (ICVs), designed to transport asection orsquad of infantry (generally between five and ten men) and their equipment. They are differentiated from APCs – which are purely "troop-transport" vehicles armed only for self-defence – because they are designed to give direct fire support to the dismounted infantry and so usually have significantly enhanced armament. IFVs also often have improvedarmour and some have firing ports (allowing the infantry to firepersonal weapons while mounted).
They are typically armed with anautocannon of 20 to 57 mm calibre, 7.62mm machine guns,anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and/orsurface-to-air missiles (SAMs). IFVs are usuallytracked, but some wheeled vehicles fall into this category. IFVs are generally less heavily armed and armoured thanmain battle tanks. They sometimes carry anti-tank missiles to protect and support infantry against armoured threats, such as the NATOTOW missile and SovietBastion, which offer a significant threat to tanks. Specially equipped IFVs have taken on some of the roles of light tanks; they are used by reconnaissance organizations, and light IFVs are used by airborne units which must be able to fight without the heavy firepower of tanks.
Aninfantry mobility vehicle (IMV) orprotected patrol vehicle (PPV) is a wheeled armoured personnel carrier (APC) serving as a military patrol, reconnaissance or security vehicle. Examples include theATF Dingo,AMZ Dzik,AMZ Tur,Mungo ESK, andBushmaster IMV. This term also applies to the vehicles currently being fielded as part of theMRAP program.
IMVs were developed in response to the threats of modern counterinsurgency warfare, with an emphasis onAmbush Protection andMine-Resistance. Similar vehicles existed long before the term IMV was coined, such as the FrenchVAB and South AfricanBuffel. The term is coming more into use to differentiate light 4x4 wheeled APCs from the traditional 8x8 wheeled APCs. It is aneologism for what might have been classified in the past as an armouredscout car, such as theBRDM, but the IMV is distinguished by having a requirement to carry dismountable infantry. The up-armouredM1114 Humvee variant can be seen as an adaptation of the unarmoured Humvee to serve in the IMV role.
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Many modern military vehicles, ranging from light wheeled command and reconnaissance, through armoured personnel carriers and tanks, are manufactured with amphibious capabilities. Contemporary wheeled armoured amphibians include the FrenchVéhicule de l'Avant Blindé andVéhicule Blindé Léger. The latter is a small, lightly armoured4×4 all-terrain vehicle that is fully amphibious and can swim at 5.4 km/h. The VAB (Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé – 'armoured vanguard vehicle') is a fully amphibious armoured personnel carrier powered in the water by two water jets, that entered service in 1976 and produced in numerous configurations, ranging from basic personnel carrier, anti-tank missile platform.
During theCold War theSoviet bloc states developed a number of amphibious APCs, fighting vehicles and tanks, both wheeled and tracked. Most of the vehicles the Soviets designed were amphibious, or could ford deep water. Wheeled examples are theBRDM-1 andBRDM-24x4 armoured scout cars, as well as theBTR-60,BTR-70,BTR-80,BTR-94 andBTR-908x8 armoured personnel carriers.
During the 1930s and 1940s, Japan produced a number of amphibious tank designs, including prototypes such as theSumida amphibious armored car (AMP),SR I-Go,SR II Ro-Go,SR III Ha-Go,Type 1 Mi-Sha (a/k/a Type 1 Ka-Mi) andType 5 To-Ku.[30] Production amphibious tanks during World War II included theType 2 Ka-Mi, andType 3 Ka-Chi; production amphibious transports included theF B swamp vehicle andType 4 Ka-Tsu APC. All production units were for use by theJapanese Special Naval Landing Forces in campaigns in the Pacific with amphibious operations.[31][32]
The United States started developing a long line ofLanding Vehicle Tracked (LVT) designs fromc. 1940. The US Marine Corps currently uses the AAV7-A1Assault Amphibious Vehicle, which was to be succeeded by theExpeditionary Fighting Vehicle, which was capable of planing on water and can achieve water speeds of 37–46 km/h. The EFV project has been cancelled.
A significant number of tracked armoured vehicles that are primarily intended for land-use, have some amphibious capability, tactically useful inland, reducing dependence on bridges. They use their tracks, sometimes with added propeller or water jets for propulsion. As long as the banks have a shallow enough slopes to enter or leave the water they can cross rivers and water obstacles.
Some heavy tanks can operate amphibiously with a fabric skirt to addbuoyancy. TheShermanDD tank used in theNormandy landings had this setup. When in water the waterproof float screen was raised and propellers deployed. Some modern vehicles use a similar skirt.
Lightweight armoured fighting vehicles designed or modified to becarried by aircraft and delivered by air drop, helicopter lift, glider, or air landing with infantry to provide heavier tactical firepower and mobility. The air-equivalent to amphibious vehicles, the main advantage of airborne forces is their ability to be deployed into combat zones without land passage, as long as theairspace is accessible. Airborne vehicles are limited only by the tonnage capacity of theirtransport aircraft. Airborne vehicles typically lack the armour and supplies necessary for prolonged combat, so they are utilized for establishing anairhead to bring in larger forces before carrying out other combat objectives. One modern example is the GermanWiesel AWC. The USA also created theM22 Locust as a way to aid paratroopers/ being paradropped in as it was very lightly armoured and very small.[33]
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Modern engineering AFV's utilize chassis based on main battle tank platforms: these vehicles are as well armoured and protected as tanks, designed to keep up with tanks, breach obstacles to help tanks get to wherever it needs to be, perform utility functions necessary to expedite mission objectives of tanks, and to conduct other earth-moving and engineering work on the battlefield. These vehicles go by different names depending upon the country of use or manufacture. In the United States the term "combat engineer vehicle (CEV)" is used, in the United Kingdom the term "Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE)" is used, while in Canada and other commonwealth nations the term "armoured engineer vehicle (AEV)" is used. There is no set template for what such a vehicle will look like, yet likely features include a large dozer blade or mine ploughs, a large calibre demolition cannon, augers, winches, excavator arms and cranes, or lifting booms.
Although the term "armoured engineer vehicle" is used specifically to describe these multi-purpose tank-based engineering vehicles, that term is also used more generically in British and Commonwealth militaries to describe all heavy tank-based engineering vehicles used in the support of mechanized forces. Thus, "armoured engineer vehicle" used generically would refer to AEV, AVLB, Assault Breachers, and so on. Good examples of this type of vehicle include the UKTrojan AVRE, the Russian IMR, and the USM728 Combat Engineer Vehicle.
Abreaching vehicle is especially designed to clear pathways for troops and other vehicles throughminefields and alongroadside bombs and otherimprovised explosive devices. These vehicles are equipped with mechanical or other means for the breaching of man-made obstacles. Common types of breaching vehicles include mechanicalflails, mine plough vehicles, and mine roller vehicles.
The armoured bulldozer is a basic tool ofcombat engineering. Thesecombat engineering vehicles combine the earth moving capabilities of the bulldozer with armour which protects the vehicle and its operator in or near combat. Most are civilian bulldozers modified by addition ofvehicle armour/military equipment, but some aretanks stripped of armament and fitted with a dozer blade. Some tanks have bulldozer blades while retaining their armament, but this does not make them armoured bulldozers as such, because combat remains the primary role – earth moving is a secondary task.
Anarmoured recovery vehicle (ARV) is a type ofvehicle recovery armoured fighting vehicle used to repair battle- or mine-damaged as well as broken-down armoured vehicles during combat, or to tow them out of the danger zone for more extensive repairs. To this end the termarmoured repair and recovery vehicle (ARRV) is also used.
ARVs are normally built on thechassis of a main battle tank (MBT), but some are also constructed on the basis of other armoured fighting vehicles, mostly armoured personnel carriers (APCs). ARVs are usually built on the basis of a vehicle in the same class as they are supposed to recover; a tank-based ARV is used to recover tanks, while an APC-based one recovers APCs, but does not have the power to tow a much heavier tank.
Anarmoured vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB) is a combat support vehicle, sometimes regarded as a subtype ofcombat engineering vehicle, designed to assist militaries in rapidly deployingtanks and other armoured fighting vehicles across rivers. The AVLB is usually a tracked vehicle converted from a tank chassis to carry a folding metal bridge instead of weapons. The AVLB's job is to allow armoured or infantry units to cross water, when a river too deep for vehicles to wade through is reached, and no bridge is conveniently located (or sufficiently sturdy, a substantial concern when moving 60-ton tanks).
The bridge layer unfolds and launches its cargo, providing a ready-made bridge across the obstacle in only minutes. Once the span has been put in place, the AVLB vehicle detaches from the bridge, and moves aside to allow traffic to pass. Once all of the vehicles have crossed, it crosses the bridge itself and reattaches to the bridge on the other side. It then retracts the span ready to move off again. A similar procedure can be employed to allow crossings of small chasms or similar obstructions. AVLBs can carry bridges of 60 feet (18 metres) or greater in length. By using a tank chassis, the bridge layer is able to cover the same terrain as main battle tanks, and the provision of armour allows them to operate even in the face of enemy fire. However, this is not a universal attribute: some exceptionally sturdy 6x6 or 8x8 truck chassis have lent themselves to bridge-layer applications.
Combat engineer section carriers are used to transportsappers (combat engineers) and can be fitted withbulldozers' blades and other mine-breaching devices. They are often used as APCs because of their carrying ability and heavy protection. They are usually armed withmachine guns and grenade launchers and usually tracked to provide enough tractive force to push blades and rakes. Some examples are the U.S.M113 APC,IDF Puma,Nagmachon, Husky, and U.S.M1132 ESV (aStryker variant).
An anti-aircraft vehicle, also known as a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) or self-propelled air defense system (SPAD), is a mobile vehicle with a dedicated anti-aircraft capability.Specific weapon systems used includemachine guns,anti-aircraft autocannons, larger anti-air guns, orsurface-to-air-missiles, and some mount both guns and longer-ranged missiles (e.g. the Pantsir-S1). Platforms used include both trucks and heavier combat vehicles such as armored personnel carriers and tanks, which add protection from aircraft, artillery, and small arms fire for front line deployment.Anti-aircraft guns are usually mounted in a quickly-traversing turret with a high rate of elevation, for tracking fast-moving aircraft. They are often in dual or quadruple mounts, allowing a high rate of fire. In addition, most anti-aircraft guns can be used in a direct-fire role against surface targets to great effect. In the early 21st century, missiles (generally mounted on similar turrets) largely supplanted anti-aircraft guns, though guns have recently shown revived utility against slow, low-flying drones.
Self-propelledartillery vehicles give mobility toartillery. Within the term are coveredself-propelled guns (orhowitzers) androcket artillery. They are highly mobile, usually based on tracked chassis carrying either a large howitzer or other field gun or alternatively amortar or some form of rocket or missile launcher. They are usually used for long-rangeindirect bombardment support on the battlefield.
In the past, self-propelled artillery has included direct-fire "Gun Motor Carriage" vehicles, such asassault guns andtank destroyers (also known as self-propelled anti-tank guns). These have been heavily armoured vehicles, the former providing danger-close fire-support for infantry and the latter acting as specialized anti-tank vehicles.
Modern self-propelled artillery vehicles may superficially resemble tanks, but they are generally lightly armoured, too lightly to survive in direct-fire combat. However, they protect their crews againstshrapnel andsmall arms and are therefore usually included as armoured fighting vehicles. Many are equipped withmachine guns for defence against enemy infantry.
The key advantage of self-propelled over towed artillery is that it can be brought into action much faster. Before towed artillery can be used, it has to stop, unlimber and the guns set up. To move position, the guns must be limbered up again and brought – usually towed – to the new location. By comparison, self-propelled artillery in combination with modern communications, can stop at a chosen location and begin firing almost immediately, then quickly move on to a new position. This ability is very useful in a mobile conflict and particularly on the advance.
Conversely, towed artillery was and remains cheaper to build and maintain. It is also lighter and can be taken to places that self-propelled guns cannot reach, so despite the advantages of the self-propelled artillery, towed guns remain in thearsenals of many modern armies.
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An assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armoured chassis, designed for use in thedirect fire role in support ofinfantry when attacking other infantry orfortified positions.
Historically, the custom-built fully armoured assault guns usually mounted the gun or howitzer in a fully enclosedcasemate on a tank chassis. The use of acasemate instead of agun turret limited these weapons'field of fire, but allowed a larger gun to be fitted relative to the chassis, more armour to be fitted for the same weight, and provided a cheaper construction. In most cases, these turretless vehicles also presented a lower profile as a target for the enemy.
Self-Propelled siege guns often carry cannons or mortars in excess of 400mm. The carrying platform could be multiple vehicles, built for use on train rails, or a purpose-built chassis.
A mortar carrier, or self-propelled mortar, is aself-propelled artillery vehicle carrying one or moremortar as its primary weapon. Mortar carriers cannot be fired while on the move and some must be dismounted to fire. In U.S. Army doctrine, mortar carriers provide close and immediate indirect fire support for maneuver units while allowing for rapid displacement and quick reaction to the tactical situation. The ability to relocate not only allows fire support to be provided where it is needed faster, but also allows these units to avoidcounter-battery fire. Mortar carriers have traditionally avoided direct contact with the enemy. Many units report never using secondary weapons in combat.
Prior to theIraq War, American 120 mm mortar platoons reorganized from sixM1064 mortar carriers and two M577 fire direction centres (FDC) to four M1064 and one FDC.[34] The urban environment of Iraq made it difficult to utilize mortars. New technologies such as mortar ballistic computers and communication equipment and are being integrated. Modern era combat is becoming more reliant ondirect fire support from mortar carriermachine guns.
A multiple rocket launcher is a type of unguidedrocket artillery system. Like otherrocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers are less accurate and have a much lower (sustained) rate of fire than batteries of traditionalartillery guns. However, they have the capability of simultaneously dropping many hundreds of kilograms of explosive, with devastating effect.
TheKoreanHwacha is an example of an early weapon system with a resemblance to the modern-day multiple rocket launcher. The first self-propelled multiple rocket launchers – and arguably the most famous – were theSovietBM-13 Katyushas, first used during World War II and exported to Soviet allies afterwards. They were simple systems in which a rack of launch rails was mounted on the back of a truck. This set the template for modern multiple rocket launchers. The first modern multiple rocket launcher was theGerman15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 of the 1930s,[citation needed] a small towed artillery piece. Only later inWorld War II did the British deploy similar weapons in the form of theLand Mattress.The Americans mounted tubular launchers atopM4 Sherman tanks to create theT34 Calliope rocket launching tank, only used in small numbers, as their closest equivalent to the Katyusha.
Missile vehicles are trucks or tractor units designed to carry rockets or missiles. The missile vehicle may be a self-propelled unit, or the missile holder/launcher may be on a trailer towed by a prime mover. They are used in the military forces of a number of countries in the world. Long missiles are commonly transported parallel to the ground on these vehicles, but elevated into an inclined or vertical position for launching.
Tank destroyers and tank hunters are armed with ananti-tank gun oranti-tank missile launcher, and are designed specifically to engage enemy armoured vehicles. Many have been based on a tracked tank chassis, while others are wheeled. Since World War II, main battle tanks have largely replaced gun-armed tank destroyers; although lightly armoured anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) carriers are commonly used for supplementary long-range anti-tank engagements.
In post-Cold War conflict, the resurgence ofexpeditionary warfare has seen the emergence of gun-armed wheeled vehicles, sometimes called "protected gun systems", which may bear a superficial resemblance to tank destroyers, but are employed as direct fire support units typically providing support in low intensity operations such as Iraq and Afghanistan. These have the advantage of easier deployment, as only the largest air transports can carry a main battle tank, and their smaller size makes them more effective in urban combat.
Many forces' IFVs carry anti-tank missiles in every infantry platoon, and attack helicopters have also added anti-tank capability to the modern battlefield. But there are still dedicated anti-tank vehicles with very heavy long-range missiles, or intended for airborne use. There have also been dedicated anti-tank vehicles built on ordinary armoured personnel carrier or armoured car chassis. Examples include the U.S. M901 ITV (Improved TOW Vehicle) and the Norwegian NM142, both on anM113 chassis, several Soviet ATGM launchers based on theBRDM scout car, the British FV438Swingfire andFV102 Striker and theGermanRaketenjagdpanzer series built on the chassis of theHS 30 andMarder IFVs.
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Anarmoured train is a railway train protected witharmour. They are usually equipped with rail cars armed withartillery,autocannons,machine guns, tankturrets andanti-aircraft guns. They were mostly used during the late 19th to mid-20th century, when they offered an innovative way to quickly move large amounts of firepower. Their use was discontinued in most countries when road vehicles became much more powerful and offered more flexibility, and because armoured trains were too vulnerable to track sabotage and attacks from the air. However, theRussian Federation used improvised armoured trains in theSecond Chechen War in the late 1990s and 2000s. Armoured trains carrying ballistic missiles have also been used.
The rail cars on an armoured train were designed for many tasks, such as carrying artillery and machine guns, infantry units, anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns. During World War II, the Germans would sometimes put aFremdgerät (captured AFVs such as the FrenchSomua S-35 or CzechPzKpfw 38(t)), or obsolescentPanzer II light tanks on a flatbed rail car, which could quickly be offloaded by means of a ramp and used away from the railway line to chase down enemypartisans.
Different types of armour were used to protect armoured trains from attack. In addition to various metal plates, concrete and sandbags were used in some cases on armoured trains.
Armoured trains were sometimes escorted by a kind of rail-tank called adraisine. One such example was the Italian 'Littorina' armoured trolley, which had a cab in the front and rear, each with a control set so it could be driven down the tracks in either direction. Littorina mounted two dual 7.92mmMG13 machine gun turrets fromPanzer I light tanks.
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728)."ARQUEBUSS".Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1st ed.). James and John Knapton, et al. p. 342.tankette.
Tanks of theFirst World War | |
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| Medium | |
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| Prototypes, experimentals | |
| Tankettes | |
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| Medium | |
| Cavalry,cruiser, fast | |
| Infantry | |
| Heavy,super-heavy | |
| Prototypes, experimentals |
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| Light | |
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| Medium | |
| Cruiser | |
| Infantry | |
| Heavy | |
| Prototypes, experimentals |
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| Main battle | |
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| Medium | |
| Heavy | |
| Prototypes, experimentals |
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| Main battle | |
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| Light /medium | |
| Prototypes, experimentals | |
Background:History of the tank,Tank classification | |
