Infantry fighting vehicle

The first attempt to carry troops in an armoured tracked vehicle was made by the British in the First World War, a lengthened Mark V that could house a squad of infantry while still armed as a tank. Post-war, the idea was largely dropped in favour of trucks and lightly-armoured half-tracks, which were widely used during the Second World War. During WWII there were some experiments into heavily armoured carriers, such as the Kangaroos, converted by stripping turrets from tanks. After the ...

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Armoured fighting vehicle classification, Armoured fighting vehicle classification - Tank, Armoured fighting vehicle classification - Armoured personnel carrier, Armoured fighting vehicle classification - Infantry fighting vehicle, Armoured fighting vehicle classification - Self-propelled artillery and assault gun, Armoured fighting vehicle classification - Tank destroyer, Armoured fighting vehicle classification - Tankette

Read more here: » Armoured fighting vehicle classification: Encyclopedia II - Armoured fighting vehicle classification - Infantry fighting vehicle

Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are light armoured fighting vehicles for the transport of infantry. They usually have only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), or mortars. They are not really designed to take part in a direct-fire battle, but to carry the troops to the battlefield safe from shrapnel and ambush. They may have wheels or tracks. Examples include the American M113 (tracked), the British FV 432 (tracked) the French VAB (wheeled) and the Soviet BTR (wheeled). Including:

• Armoured personnel carrier - History
• Armoured personnel carrier - Technology
• Armoured personnel carrier - The APC in action

Read more here: » Armoured personnel carrier: Encyclopedia - Armoured personnel carrier

A tank is a tracked armoured fighting vehicle, designed primarily to engage enemy forces by the use of direct fire. A modern 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 requires extensive fuel, maintenance, and ammunition and thus is logistically demanding. It has the heaviest armour of any vehicle on the battlefield, and carries powerful weaponry, often at least manifested in the pre ...

Including:

• Tank - History
• Tank - World War One: the first tanks
• Tank - 1920s to the end of Second World War
• Tank - The Cold War and beyond
• Tank - Design
• Tank - Weapons
• Tank - Fire control
• Tank - Ammunition
• Tank - Protection
• Tank - Armour
• Tank - Grenade launchers smoke and passive defences
• Tank - Countermeasures
• Tank - Exposed crew
• Tank - Mobility
• Tank - Water operations
• Tank - Power plants
• Tank - Sonic seismic and thermal traces
• Tank - Command control and communications
• Tank - Vulnerability
• Tank - Infantry
• Tank - Artillery
• Tank - Helicopters
• Tank - Mines
• Tank - Aircraft
• Tank - The future of tanks through research and development

Read more here: » Tank: Encyclopedia - Tank

During World War I, when the tank was developed, the British Mark V tank was designed with a small passenger compartment to carry troops. By some definitions this can be considered the first armoured personnel carrier. The first specialised APC was the Mark IX of 1918. Often, APCs were simply armoured cars with the capacity for carrying troops, but they evolved into purpose-built vehicles to su ...

See also:

Armoured personnel carrier, Armoured personnel carrier - History, Armoured personnel carrier - Technology, Armoured personnel carrier - The APC in action

Read more here: » Armoured personnel carrier: Encyclopedia II - Armoured personnel carrier - History

Tank - World War One: the first tanks. Having already seen Rolls Royce armoured cars used by Royal Naval Air Service in 1914, and aware of schemes to create a tracked fighting vehicle, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill sponsored the Landships Committee to oversee development of this new weapon. The first successful prototype tank, nicknamed Little Willie, was tested for the British Army on September 6, 1915. Although initially termed landships by the Admiralty, the initial vehicles were colloqu ...

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Tank, Tank - History, Tank - World War One: the first tanks, Tank - 1920s to the end of Second World War, Tank - The Cold War and beyond, Tank - Design, Tank - Weapons, Tank - Fire control, Tank - Ammunition, Tank - Protection, Tank - Armour, Tank - Grenade launchers smoke and passive defences, Tank - Countermeasures, Tank - Exposed crew, Tank - Mobility, Tank - Water operations, Tank - Power plants, Tank - Sonic seismic and thermal traces, Tank - Command control and communications, Tank - Vulnerability, Tank - Infantry, Tank - Artillery, Tank - Helicopters, Tank - Mines, Tank - Aircraft, Tank - The future of tanks through research and development

Read more here: » Tank: Encyclopedia II - Tank - History

Some 2,500 Casspir series APC's were originally built by TFM of South Africa according to a design by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which was subsequently taken over by Reumech OMC. Reumech in turn was taken over by Vickers Defence Systems of the UK and renamed Vickers OMC. When Alvis purchased Vickers Defence Systems to become Alvis Vickers, Vickers OMC became Alvis OMC. In 2004 BAE Systems acquired Alvis Vicke ...

See also:

Casspir, Casspir - Production history, Casspir - Variants, Casspir - Operators, Casspir - Combat History

Read more here: » Casspir: Encyclopedia II - Casspir - Production history

The South African Army was using the 6x6 British Alvis Saracen APC for several years before the acquisition of spare parts become problematic due to the arms embargo, the South Africans decided to manufacture a new vehicle to satisfy their needs. After building the Eland, a modified version of the 4x4 Panhard AML armoured car, Sandock then undertook to design a replacement for the Saracen. The prototype was completed in 1976, and the first units rolled out the following year. Since then, ov ...

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Ratel 20, Ratel 20 - Production History, Ratel 20 - Variants, Ratel 20 - Operators, Ratel 20 - Combat History

Read more here: » Ratel 20: Encyclopedia II - Ratel 20 - Production History

The Stryker has been something of a controversial vehicle, with many criticisms levered at its concept, design, doctrine and costs. The Stryker MGS is most often compared by critics to the cancelled M8 AGS and the ICV to the M113A3. It is argued that any C4I technologies to be fitted on Stryker giving it its purported Situational Awareness advantage can also be installed on existing, more survivable and efficient vehicles A 108-page report in 2003 to a Congressman reported on many flaws of the Stryker. Stryker - Disadvantages ...

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Stryker, Stryker - Production history, Stryker - Variants, Stryker - Operators, Stryker - Combat history, Stryker - Deployments, Stryker - Criticisms, Stryker - Disadvantages of wheeled vehicles in general, Stryker - Design, Stryker - Updates, Stryker - Counter-criticisms, Stryker - Advantages of Wheeled Vehicles, Stryker - Responses to Stryker-specific complaints, Stryker - Updates, Stryker - External links

Read more here: » Stryker: Encyclopedia II - Stryker - Criticisms

Whilst being a tremendously powerful weapon and the undoubted king of the land battlefield, the tank is not invulnerable. In fact it is the tank's superiority which has focused so much effort on improving antitank weapons. Tank - Infantry. The tank is still vulnerable to infantry, especially in close country or built up areas. The armour and mobility of tanks, while usually notable assets, also makes them large and noisy. This can give enemy infantry the initiative, allowing them to spot, track and evade t ...

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Tank, Tank - History, Tank - World War One: the first tanks, Tank - 1920s to the end of Second World War, Tank - The Cold War and beyond, Tank - Design, Tank - Weapons, Tank - Fire control, Tank - Ammunition, Tank - Protection, Tank - Armour, Tank - Grenade launchers smoke and passive defences, Tank - Countermeasures, Tank - Exposed crew, Tank - Mobility, Tank - Water operations, Tank - Power plants, Tank - Sonic seismic and thermal traces, Tank - Command control and communications, Tank - Vulnerability, Tank - Infantry, Tank - Artillery, Tank - Helicopters, Tank - Mines, Tank - Aircraft, Tank - The future of tanks through research and development

Read more here: » Tank: Encyclopedia II - Tank - Vulnerability

An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, equipped with protection against hostile attacks and often mounted weapons. Most AFVs are equipped for driving in rugged terrain. Armoured fighting vehicle - Types of AFVs. Tank (main battle tank, MBT) Armoured personnel carrier (APC) Infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) Assault gun Tank Destroyer Armoured car Self-propelled artillery Self-propelled anti-aircraft ...

Including:

• Armoured fighting vehicle - Types of AFVs

Read more here: » Armoured fighting vehicle: Encyclopedia - Armoured fighting vehicle

Commanding and co-ordinating a tank organisation in the field has always been subject to particular problems. Because of the isolation of small units, individual vehicles, and even the crewmen of a tank, special arrangements have had to be made. Armoured bulkheads, engine noise, intervening terrain, dust, and smoke, and the need to operate "hatches down" (or "buttoned up") comprise severe detriments to communications. Every action of a tank's crew, movement and fire, is ordered by its commander. In some early tanks, the crew commander ...

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Tank, Tank - History, Tank - World War One: the first tanks, Tank - 1920s to the end of Second World War, Tank - The Cold War and beyond, Tank - Design, Tank - Weapons, Tank - Fire control, Tank - Ammunition, Tank - Protection, Tank - Armour, Tank - Grenade launchers smoke and passive defences, Tank - Countermeasures, Tank - Exposed crew, Tank - Mobility, Tank - Water operations, Tank - Power plants, Tank - Sonic seismic and thermal traces, Tank - Command control and communications, Tank - Vulnerability, Tank - Infantry, Tank - Artillery, Tank - Helicopters, Tank - Mines, Tank - Aircraft, Tank - The future of tanks through research and development

Read more here: » Tank: Encyclopedia II - Tank - Command control and communications

There has been much speculation as to how tanks will evolve for modern day conflicts. Current research involves making the tank invisible to radar by adapting stealth technologies originally designed for aircraft and a variety of luminosity and colour shaping technologies. Research is also ongoing in armour systems and new propulsion units. One clear trend is the increasing number of electrical and communication systems on a tank, such as thermal scopes and higher powered radios. If tank designs switched to electrical motors li ...

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Tank, Tank - History, Tank - World War One: the first tanks, Tank - 1920s to the end of Second World War, Tank - The Cold War and beyond, Tank - Design, Tank - Weapons, Tank - Fire control, Tank - Ammunition, Tank - Protection, Tank - Armour, Tank - Grenade launchers smoke and passive defences, Tank - Countermeasures, Tank - Exposed crew, Tank - Mobility, Tank - Water operations, Tank - Power plants, Tank - Sonic seismic and thermal traces, Tank - Command control and communications, Tank - Vulnerability, Tank - Infantry, Tank - Artillery, Tank - Helicopters, Tank - Mines, Tank - Aircraft, Tank - The future of tanks through research and development

Read more here: » Tank: Encyclopedia II - Tank - The future of tanks through research and development

On the other hand, supporters of Stryker seem to like the vehicle very much. They point out that there are advantages to wheeled vehicles and the Stryker itself. They also pass some of the problems mentioned by their critics as unimportant. Stryker - Advantages of Wheeled Vehicles. The raised hull of a Stryker can reduce land mine damage compared to an unmodified/unoptimized tracked vehicle design. Tires do have the bright spot of having the run-flat option. This allows Strykers with extensi ...

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Stryker, Stryker - Production history, Stryker - Variants, Stryker - Operators, Stryker - Combat history, Stryker - Deployments, Stryker - Criticisms, Stryker - Disadvantages of wheeled vehicles in general, Stryker - Design, Stryker - Updates, Stryker - Counter-criticisms, Stryker - Advantages of Wheeled Vehicles, Stryker - Responses to Stryker-specific complaints, Stryker - Updates, Stryker - External links

Read more here: » Stryker: Encyclopedia II - Stryker - Counter-criticisms

The Stryker chassis is very modular in design to tout increased survivability and supports a wide range of inter-changeable parts to create different variants. The two main chassis are the Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) and the Mobile Gun System (MGS). The MGS is a heavier chassis to support a 105 mm M68A1 rifled cannon, the same gun system as was used on the original M1 variant of the Abrams main battle tank. The Stryker has the following configurations with more planned in the future: M1126 Armored Personel Carrier (APC ...

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Stryker, Stryker - Production history, Stryker - Variants, Stryker - Operators, Stryker - Combat history, Stryker - Deployments, Stryker - Criticisms, Stryker - Disadvantages of wheeled vehicles in general, Stryker - Design, Stryker - Updates, Stryker - Counter-criticisms, Stryker - Advantages of Wheeled Vehicles, Stryker - Responses to Stryker-specific complaints, Stryker - Updates, Stryker - External links

Read more here: » Stryker: Encyclopedia II - Stryker - Variants

Stryker - Deployments. Post-invasion Iraq, 2003-2005: the first Stryker brigades were deployed to Iraq in October 2003. 3rd Brigade, 2d Infantry from Fort Lewis was the first to field and deploy the Stryker vehicle to combat in Iraq from Nov 2003 to Nov 2004. 3d Brigade was relieved by 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (SBCT). The 172nd SBCT from Alaska began it's deployment in August 2005 and is now operating with Stryker ...

See also:

Stryker, Stryker - Production history, Stryker - Variants, Stryker - Operators, Stryker - Combat history, Stryker - Deployments, Stryker - Criticisms, Stryker - Disadvantages of wheeled vehicles in general, Stryker - Design, Stryker - Updates, Stryker - Counter-criticisms, Stryker - Advantages of Wheeled Vehicles, Stryker - Responses to Stryker-specific complaints, Stryker - Updates, Stryker - External links

Read more here: » Stryker: Encyclopedia II - Stryker - Combat history

Stationary tanks can be well camouflaged in woodland and forested areas where there is natural cover, making detection and attack from the air more difficult. By contrast, in the open it is very hard to hide a tank. In both cases, however, once a tank starts its engine or begins to move it can be detected much more easily due to the heat and noise generated by its engine. The tank tracks across lands can be spotted from the air, and in the desert movement can stir ...

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Tank, Tank - History, Tank - World War One: the first tanks, Tank - 1920s to the end of Second World War, Tank - The Cold War and beyond, Tank - Design, Tank - Weapons, Tank - Fire control, Tank - Ammunition, Tank - Protection, Tank - Armour, Tank - Grenade launchers smoke and passive defences, Tank - Countermeasures, Tank - Exposed crew, Tank - Mobility, Tank - Water operations, Tank - Power plants, Tank - Sonic seismic and thermal traces, Tank - Command control and communications, Tank - Vulnerability, Tank - Infantry, Tank - Artillery, Tank - Helicopters, Tank - Mines, Tank - Aircraft, Tank - The future of tanks through research and development

Read more here: » Tank: Encyclopedia II - Tank - Sonic seismic and thermal traces

The Stryker Brigade Combat Team idea is relatively new and based upon the Brigade Combat Team Doctrine. A newer generation of equipment such as the Stryker digitally connected through military C4I networks greatly enhance the overall units' lethality and ability to react to hostile forces. This light and mobile team was championed by the 34th U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General Eric Shinseki. The Stryker was recalled from duty early in Iraq in order to be retrofitted with armor capable of adequately defending against rocket propelled gr ...

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Stryker, Stryker - Production history, Stryker - Variants, Stryker - Operators, Stryker - Combat history, Stryker - Deployments, Stryker - Criticisms, Stryker - Disadvantages of wheeled vehicles in general, Stryker - Design, Stryker - Updates, Stryker - Counter-criticisms, Stryker - Advantages of Wheeled Vehicles, Stryker - Responses to Stryker-specific complaints, Stryker - Updates, Stryker - External links

Read more here: » Stryker: Encyclopedia II - Stryker - Production history

The main battle tank is the most heavily armoured vehicle in modern armies. Its armour is designed to protect the vehicle and crew against a wide variety of threats. Commonly, protection against kinetic energy penetrators fired by other tanks is considered the most important. Tanks are also vulnerable to antitank guided missiles; antitank mines, larger bombs, and direct artillery hits, which can disable or destroy them. Tanks are especially vulnerable to airborne threats. Most modern MBTs do offer near complete protection from artillery frag ...

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Tank, Tank - History, Tank - World War One: the first tanks, Tank - 1920s to the end of Second World War, Tank - The Cold War and beyond, Tank - Design, Tank - Weapons, Tank - Fire control, Tank - Ammunition, Tank - Protection, Tank - Armour, Tank - Grenade launchers smoke and passive defences, Tank - Countermeasures, Tank - Exposed crew, Tank - Mobility, Tank - Water operations, Tank - Power plants, Tank - Sonic seismic and thermal traces, Tank - Command control and communications, Tank - Vulnerability, Tank - Infantry, Tank - Artillery, Tank - Helicopters, Tank - Mines, Tank - Aircraft, Tank - The future of tanks through research and development

Read more here: » Tank: Encyclopedia II - Tank - Protection

There are essentially two main aspects of mobility to consider, the tank's basic mobility such as its speed across terrain and ability to climb obstacles, and its overall battlefield mobility such as range, what bridges it can cross, and what transport vehicles can move it. Mobility of a tank is categorised as either Battlefield Mobility, Tactical Mobility, or Strategic Mobility. The first is a function of its engine performance and capability of its running gear and is determined by aspects such as acceleration, speed, vertical obstacle cap ...

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Tank, Tank - History, Tank - World War One: the first tanks, Tank - 1920s to the end of Second World War, Tank - The Cold War and beyond, Tank - Design, Tank - Weapons, Tank - Fire control, Tank - Ammunition, Tank - Protection, Tank - Armour, Tank - Grenade launchers smoke and passive defences, Tank - Countermeasures, Tank - Exposed crew, Tank - Mobility, Tank - Water operations, Tank - Power plants, Tank - Sonic seismic and thermal traces, Tank - Command control and communications, Tank - Vulnerability, Tank - Infantry, Tank - Artillery, Tank - Helicopters, Tank - Mines, Tank - Aircraft, Tank - The future of tanks through research and development

Read more here: » Tank: Encyclopedia II - Tank - Mobility

Romanian Transporter Auto Blindat APCs that made infamous front-line news in 1989 were mostly eight-wheeled, massive Romanian clones of the Soviet BTR-60 APC. Soldiers hated this machine, with uncomfortable access from above and heavy latches that seemed designed to snap one's fingers off. Limited visibility and clumsy manoeuvrability in an urban environment might have contributed (along with bad will, of course) to the nu ...

See also:

Armoured personnel carrier, Armoured personnel carrier - History, Armoured personnel carrier - Technology, Armoured personnel carrier - The APC in action

Read more here: » Armoured personnel carrier: Encyclopedia II - Armoured personnel carrier - The APC in action