TheARTEC Boxer of theGerman ArmyTroops deployed from the Swiss Schützenpanzer 63, a variant of theM113A1, in 1964
Anarmoured personnel carrier (APC) is a broad type of armoured military vehicle designed to transport personnel and equipment in combat zones. SinceWorld War I, APCs have become a very common piece of military equipment around the world.
According to the definition in theTreaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, an APC is "an armoured combat vehicle which is designed and equipped to transport a combat infantry squad and which, as a rule, is armed with an integral or organic weapon of less than 20 millimetres calibre."[1] Compared toinfantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), which are also used to carry infantry into battle, APCs have lessarmament and are not designed to provide direct fire support in battle. Infantry units that travel in APCs are known asmechanized infantry. Some militaries also make a distinction between infantry units that use APCs and infantry units that use IFVs, with the latter being known as armoured infantry.
One of the first armored vehicles to be used in combat was the SpanishSchneider-Brillié, which saw action in Morocco. It was built from the chassis of a Schneider P2-4000 bus and could carry 12 passengers.[2]
The genesis of the armoured personnel carrier was on theWestern Front of World War I. In the later stage of the war,Alliedtanks could break through enemytrenches, but the infantry following—who were needed to consolidate the territory acquired—still faced small arms and artillery fire. Without infantry support, the tanks were isolated and more easily destroyed. In response, the British experimented with carrying machine-gun crews in theMark V* tank, but it was found that the conditions inside the tanks rendered the men unfit for combat.[citation needed]
During World War II,half-tracks like the AmericanM3 and GermanSd.Kfz. 251 played a role similar to post-war APCs. British Commonwealth forces relied on the full-trackedUniversal Carrier. Over the course of the war, APCs evolved from simplearmoured cars with transport capacity to purpose-built vehicles. Obsolete armoured vehicles were also repurposed as APCs, such as the various "Kangaroos" converted fromM7 Priest self-propelled guns and fromChurchill,M3 Stuart andRamtanks.
During theCold War, more specialized APCs were developed. The United States introduced a series of them, including successors to the wartimeLanding Vehicle Tracked. The most numerous was theM113 armored personnel carrier, of which more than 80,000 were produced.[3] Western nations have since retired most M113s, replacing them with newer APCs, many of these wheeled. A cold war example of a "Kangaroo" is the heavily armoured IsraeliAchzarit, converted from capturedT-55s tanks, the concept culminating in theNamer.
Meanwhile, theWarsaw Pact developed their own versions of the APC. TheSoviet Union termed theirs theBronetransporter (Russian:бронетранспортер), better known as theBTR series. It comprised theBTR-40,BTR-152,BTR-60,BTR-70,BTR-80, and theBTR-90, which as a whole were produced in large numbers.[vague] Czechoslovakia and Poland together developed the universal amphibiousOT-64 SKOT. TheBMP series is termed asinfantry fighting vehicles, but it has a designed role of carrying troops to the battlefield. TheBMP-1,2, and3 all possess the ability to transport troops.
By convention, armoured personnel carriers are not intended to take part in direct-fire battle, but are armed for self-defence and armoured to provide protection fromshrapnel andsmall arms fire.
Wheeled vehicles are typically faster on road and less expensive, however have higher ground pressure which decreases mobility offroad and makes them more likely to become stuck in soft terrains such as mud, snow or sand.[4]
Tracked vehicles typically have lower ground pressure and more maneuverability off-road. Due to the limitedservice life of theirtreads, and the wear they cause on roads, tracked vehicles are typically transported over long distances by rail ortrucks.[4]
Many APCs areamphibious, meaning they are able to traverse bodies of water. To move in water they will often havepropellers orwater jets, be propelled by their tracks, or driving on the river bed. Preparing the APC to operate amphibiously usually comprises checking the integrity of the hull and folding down a trim vane in front. Water traverse speed varies greatly between vehicles and is much less than ground speed. The maximum swim speed of the M113 is 3.6 mph (5.8 km/h),[5] about 10% its road speed, and theAAVP-7 can swim at 8.2 mph (13.2 km/h).
Armoured personnel carriers are typically designed to protect againstsmall arms and artillery fire. Some designs have more protection; the IsraeliIDF Namer has as much armour asMerkavamain battle tank. Armour is usually composed ofsteel oraluminium. They will also useballistic glass.
Many APCs are equipped withCBRN protection, which is intended to provide protection fromweapons of mass destruction like poison gas and radioactive/nuclear weapons.
Generally APCs will be lighter and less armoured than tanks or IFVs, often being open topped and featuring doors and windows, as seen in the FrenchVAB.
Armoured personnel carriers are designed primarily for transport and are lightly armed. They may be unarmed, or armed with some combination oflight,general-purpose,heavy machine guns, orautomatic grenade launchers.
In "open top" mounts the gunner sticks out of the vehicle and operates a gun on a pintle or ring mount. Ring mounts allow the gun to traverse 360 degrees, a pintle mount has a limited field of fire. It can be preferable to an enclosed gunner because it allows a greater field of view and communication using shouts and hand signals. However, the gunner is poorly protected and at risk of injury in the event of vehicle rollover. During theVietnam War, M113 gunners often suffered heavy casualties.
Enclosed vehicles are equipped with turrets that allow the crew to operate the weapons system while protected by the vehicle's armour. The SovietBTR-60 has an enclosed turret mounted with a KPV heavy machine gun with a PKT coaxial machine gun. The U.S. Assault Amphibious Vehicle, Personnel (AAVP7's) machine guns (an M2, .50 caliber MG and a Mk 19 grenade launcher) are in fully enclosed turrets (turrets typically have optics which make them more accurate).
APCs may be used as armouredambulances, to conduct evacuations of wounded personnel. These vehicles are equipped with stretchers and medical supplies.
According to article 19 of theGeneva Conventions,[6] "mobile medical units of the Medical Service may in no circumstances be attacked, but shall at all times be respected and protected by the Parties to the conflict". Although article 22 allows them to carry defensive weaponry, they are typically unarmed. Under Article 39, the emblem of the medical service "shall be displayed ... on all equipment employed in the Medical Service." As such, armoured ambulances are marked with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recognizedsymbols.
The infantry fighting vehicle is a derivative of the APC. Various classes of infantry fighting vehicles may be deployed alongside tanks and APCs, in armoured and mechanized forces. The fundamental difference between an APC and IFV is the role they are designed for. TheCFE treaty stipulates an infantry fighting vehicle is an APC with a cannon in excess of 20 mm, and with this additional firepower the vehicle is more involved in combat, providing fire support to dismounted infantry.
"Infantry mobility vehicle" (IMV) is a new name[vague] for the old concept of an armoured car, with an emphasis on mine resistance. They are primarily used to protect passengers inunconventional warfare.
The South AfricanCasspir was first built in the late 1970s. In the 21st century, they gained favour in the post-Cold-War geopolitical climate. Identical to earlierHigh Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) in design and function, the uparmoured M1114 HMMWV is a clear example of this. The addition of armour provides protection to passengers. M1114s have been largely replaced by purpose-built Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.
IMVs generally feature av-shaped underbelly designed to deflect mine blasts outwards, with additional crew protection features such as four-point seat belts, and seats suspended from the roof or sides of the vehicle. Many feature aremote weapon system. Usually four-wheel drive, these IMVs are distinct from 8-, 6-, and 4-wheeled APCs (such as theVAB), being closer in appearance to civilianarmoured money and gold transporters.
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