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Tanks can be classified in a variety of ways: usually either by intended role, or by weight. Modern tank designs have favoured a "universal" design that has generally eliminated these sorts of classifications from modern terminology, which tends to refer to almost all designs as main battle tanks. Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... For other uses, see Weight (disambiguation). ... Tanks can be classified in a variety of ways: usually either by intended role, or by weight. ...

The most common division in the role has been between tanks intended to focus on fighting either with or against infantry, and tanks intended for fighting against other AFVs, especially other tanks. The British referred to these as infantry tanks and cruiser tanks respectively, although the latter was expected to exploit holes in the enemy lines and "cruise" at high speeds behind the lines. Other specialist roles include anti-tank vehicles or tank destroyers which are generally highly armored compared to similar generation multi-purpose tanks, and assault guns that mount oversized and typically low-velocity guns, for attacking fortifications. An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, protected by armour and armed with weapons. ... The infantry tank was a concept developed by the British in the years leading up to World War II. They were generally more heavily armoured compared to the lighter cruiser tanks, which would allow them to operate in close concert with infantry to help them break through heavily defended areas... The cruiser tank (also called cavalry tank or fast tank) was a British tank design concept of the inter-war period. ... Self-propelled anti-tank vehicles, generally known as tank destroyers, are a type of armoured fighting vehicle, used primarily in the defensive role in destroying enemy tanks. ... A self-propelled anti-tank gun, or tank destroyer, is a type of armoured fighting vehicle. ... German StuG III with high-velocity 75 mm gun, 1943 An assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armored chassis, designed for use in the direct fire role in support of infantry when attacking other infantry or fortified positions. ...

Weight-based classifications are useful, but only in reference to a period's other tanks. For example, a medium tank at the end of World War II would have been considered a heavy tank at the beginning. Light, medium, and heavy have other meanings than just weight, e.g., relating to gun size, the amount of armour, or speed. In many cases the weight of armor was a side effect of their intended role, light tanks were generally used for reconnaissance, mediums were similar to British cruisers, and heavy tanks were used for roles similar to the British infantry designs. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... A M1 Abrams firing. ... Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets or shells, protecting the soldiers inside from enemy fire. ...

As an example, in the mid-1930s to early '40s, Germany developed a new generation of combat tanks after its Panzer I. It resulted in: the 'medium' Panzer III, armed with an anti-tank gun and intended to, like the British Cruiser tanks, speed past enemy positions to attack the rear; and the 'heavy', 'infantry support' Panzer IV, initially armed with a 75mm short-barreled gun for engaging bunkers and other static defenses, with strong frontal armor but weak side and rear armor, the thought being the infantry supporting it would keep it from being flanked. The differentiation was not absolute: the IV could fire HEAT shells and the III could fire high-explosive shells to attack infantry, but neither was as effective in the roles of the other. By the start of World War II, the Pz IV would be a medium, and the III, light-medium, when compared to French tanks of the time. The Panzerkampfwagen I, or Sonderkraftfahrzeug (SdKfz) 191, abbreviated PzKpfw I and more commonly referred to as the Panzer I, was a light tank produced by Germany in the 1930s. ... Panzer III is the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Nazi Germany and used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III (abbreviated PzKpfw III). ... Panzer IV is the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the late 1930s by Nazi Germany and used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen IV (abbreviated PzKpfw IV) and the tank also had the ordnance inventory designation SdKfz 161. ... For other uses, see Heat (disambiguation) In physics, heat, symbolized by Q, is energy transferred from one body or system to another due to a difference in temperature. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

As the war progressed, tanks, heavier anti-tank guns, and tank-versus-tank combat became much more common on the battlefield. In order to survive, all tanks required an increase in armor protection and larger guns in order to defeat a similar "up-armoring" taking place on the enemy's own designs. The separation of "infantry" and "cruiser" roles generally disappeared and the "universal tank" started to take over. These were generally classified by weight in comparison to tanks from their own country; for instance, the US fielded the M26 Pershing "heavy" tank, which was heavier than the M4 Sherman. However, the Pershing was very comparable to the German Panther tank which Germany considered a medium, due to the presence of its much larger Tiger II. The Heavy Tank M26 Pershing was an American tank used during World War II and the Korean War. ... The M4 Sherman was the primary tank produced by the United States for its own use and the use of its Allies during World War II. Production of the M4 Medium tank exceeded 50,000 units, and its chassis served as the basis for thousands of other armored vehicles such... The Panther ( ) was a tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. ... Tiger II is the common name of a a German heavy tank of the Second World War. ...

Classifying tanks

Many classification systems have been used for tanks over the nearly one hundred years of their history. Classification has always been determined by the prevailing theories of armoured warfare, which have been altered in turn by rapid advances in technology. No one classification system works across all periods or all nations. It has been suggested that Mechanized warfare be merged into this article or section. ... By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a mastery of technology sufficient to leave the surface of the Earth for the first time and explore space. ...

Tanks are often referred to by weight-based classification, such as 'light', 'medium' or 'heavy', which may also imply tactical roles. Many types are also described by their tactical role, which depends on contemporary military doctrine. For instance, 'infantry' and 'cruiser' tanks are British classifications of the 1930s and '40s; 'infantry', 'fast', and 'breakthrough' are contemporaneous Soviet types. Furthermore, expected weights for a given tank type vary over time; a medium tank of 1939 could weigh less than a light tank of 1945. Some examples: Soviet redirects here. ...

• The British Mk II Matilda Infantry tank weighed as much as a German Panzer III or Panzer IV medium tank. Due to its heavy armour it had some of the traits of a heavy tank, but the gun was typical of a light or medium tank of the period.
• German Panzer IV tanks were often referred to as 'heavy' tanks in 1939 and 1940, because they had high-calibre armament designed to attack infantry positions. However, the Panzer IV is usually regarded, and was primarily employed, as a medium tank.
• American M26 Pershing tanks were designated as 'heavy', despite being closer in performance to a Panzer V Panther medium tank than a Panzer VI Tiger heavy tank.
• Soviet T-34/85 medium tanks used 85mm guns, comparable in calibre to 88mm guns on Tiger heavy tanks. However, because of their armour and speed, and their weapons' strength, the two are ranked in different classes.

The Tank, Infantry, Mk II, Matilda II (A12) (sometimes referred to as Senior Matilda) was a British tank of World War II. In a somewhat unorthodox move, it shared the same name as the Tank, Infantry, Mk I (A11). ... Panzer III is the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Nazi Germany and used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III (abbreviated PzKpfw III). ... Panzer IV is the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the late 1930s by Nazi Germany and used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen IV (abbreviated PzKpfw IV) and the tank also had the ordnance inventory designation SdKfz 161. ... The Heavy Tank M26 Pershing was an American tank used during World War II and the Korean War. ... The Panther ( ) was a tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. ... First Tiger I tank captured near Tunis The Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. ... The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank first produced in 1940. ...

Overview

British and Soviet tacticians up to the time of the Second World War classified tanks into three major roles: infantry, light, and cavalry. Infantry tanks were to be distributed to infantry units, to integrally support dismounted infantry actions. Light tanks performed the traditional cavalry role of scouting and screening. Cavalry or "cruiser" tank units were meant to exploit breakthroughs and fight other armoured formations. Even into the 1930s, some soldiers saw tanks as merely serving in support roles for large conscript armies of foot soldiers and horse cavalry. The Infantry tank was a concept developed by the British in the years leading up to World War II. They followed from the principle of separating tank functions into two areas - the Infantry tanks that would support the infantry units in making a breakthrough in the enemy lines of defence... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The cruiser tank (also called cavalry tank or fast tank) was a British tank design concept of the inter-war period. ...

But even before the end of the First World War, some military theorists such as J.F.C. Fuller, and later Basil Liddell Hart, formulated a different image of combined-arms armoured warfare, featuring independent, professionally manned tank units. The conditions of the Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to build an armed forces essentially from scratch, allowing it to more easily abandon conservative theories and develop Blitzkrieg tactics. Major-General John Frederick Charles Fuller, CB, CBE, DSO, commonly J.F.C. Fuller, (September 1, 1878–February 10, 1966), was a British major-general, military historian and strategist, notable as an early theorist of modern armoured warfare, including categorising principles of warfare. ... The military historian Basil Liddell Hart. ... This article is about the Treaty of Versailles of June 28, 1919, which ended World War I. For other uses, see Treaty of Versailles (disambiguation) . The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was a peace treaty that officially ended World War I between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany. ... This article is about the military term. ...

The infantry and cavalry tank roles were abandoned by the end of the Second World War. WWII tanks were generally classified by weight and role: fast, relatively inexpensive light tanks for reconnaissance, general-purpose medium tanks, and slow heavy tanks for breakthroughs and long-range fire. Combat experience helped weed out unsuccessful designs.

After WWII, less expensive armoured cars and more specialized tracked vehicles gradually took over the reconnaissance role. Heavy tanks were shown to be incapable of keeping up with mobile warfare, but advances in engine, weapon, and armour technology allowed medium tanks to acquire the best characteristics of heavy tanks—the ultimate in mobility, firepower, and protection were rolled into the extremely optimized main battle tank (MBT). Military armored cars A French VBL reconnaissance vehicle. ...

Some of the names developed for tracked AFV and tank types over history:

• Up to 1918:
  • 'male', 'female' (referring to armament; male tanks were armed with machine guns and one or more cannon while female were armed with machine guns only); light tank, medium tank, heavy tank
• 1918 to 1950:
  • tankette, armoured reconnaissance, fast tank, cruiser tank, cavalry tank, assault tank, infantry tank, light tank, medium tank, heavy tank, super-heavy tank
• 1950 to present:
  • main battle tank, infantry fighting vehicle, Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty (BMP, infantry fighting vehicle), Stridsfordon ("Combat Vehicle"), Cavalry Fighting Vehicle

Tank types

There were many names given to different tank types, and similar names did not assure similar design goals. Some light tanks were relatively slow, and some were fast. Some heavy tanks had large-calibre, low-velocity, anti-infantry bunker-busters, and some had high-velocity anti-tank guns.

WWI tank types

Medium Mark B, a late-1918 British tank.

In WWI, the first tank, the Mark I, was designed for supporting infantry by crossing trenches and attacking machine-gun posts. Initially, there were two types with two roles: the 'males', armed with artillery guns, and the supporting 'females', armed with anti-infantry machine guns to protect the 'males'. The tanks that followed were described relative to it, including light, medium, and super-heavy tanks—for example, the light tank FT-17 (approximately 7 t / 15,000 lb.) and the medium Medium Mark A 'Whippet' (14 t / 31,360 lb.). By the end of the war, the Mark I (~30 t / 56-60,000 lb.) could be classified as a medium tank, and the Whippet as a light tank. Super-heavy breakthrough tanks such as the Char 2C (69 t / 158,000 lb.) or the K-Wagen (120 t / 275,000 lb.) were nearly completed before the war ended. In comparison, the current British MBT, the Challenger 2, weighs some 60 t (137,500 lb). This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... General characteristics Length 22 ft 9 in, 6. ... A Mark I tank on 26 September 1916 (moving left to right). ... The Renault FT-17 (Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917) was the French light tank. ... General characteristics Length: 20ft/6. ... Super-heavy tanks were designed in response to the arms race of ever-increasing armament and armour in tanks. ... Char 2C Alsace The Char 2C was a super heavy French tank developed, although never deployed, during the First World War. ... The Großkampfwagen or K-Wagen (short for ) was a German super-heavy tank, two examples of which were almost complete by the end of 1918. ... The Challenger 2 is the most recent main battle tank in service with the United Kingdom and Oman. ...

Tank development: 1930–1945

The BT-2 tank of 1932 was the first Soviet improvement of J. Walter Christie's design.

Tank models were developed before and during WWII according to different philosophies, with different combinations of armour, mobility, and armament. Each major nation developed its own doctrine of tank use, and therefore different tank models to suit. New doctrines explored the role of the tank as a fast-striking unit, while technological improvements led to the invention of engines, tracks, transmission, and suspension, which made tanks more reliable over a long distance. The ideas of the American inventor Walter Christie were important in establishing the fast tank concept. Image File history File links Bt2. ... Image File history File links Bt2. ... The Bystrokhodniy Tank (Fast Tank), was a series of Soviet light tanks which were produced between 1932 and 1941. ... John Walter Christie (May 6, 1865 - January 11, 1944) was an American engineer and inventor. ...

Tank doctrine in the UK declared that one group of tanks would accompany infantry in a similar role to WWI, while another group of 'cruiser' tanks would then exploit a breakthrough, in a role similar to cavalry.

In the USSR, 1930s' tank doctrine specified three groups of tanks: one 'breakthrough' tank in the infantry support role, one tactical breakthrough tank to clear the combat area, and a 'fast tank' for operational maneuver.

In Germany, the ideas of Guderian established the need for unified tank formations, but with a mixture of armaments for differing roles. General Heinz Guderian Heinz Wilhelm Guderian (17 June 1888-14 May 1954) was a military theorist and General of the German Army during the Second World War. ...

In the USA, doctrine evolved so that the main purpose of the tank was to provide support to mobile infantry, while divisions would be provided with battalions of tank destroyers to combat enemy tanks themselves. There was no analog to the cruiser tank in pre-war US doctrine, and tanks were expected to be used only along with infantry. There were those within the US Army which advocated a more modern force with tanks in the cavalry role, but their suggestions were not put into place by the time of the US's entry into WWII. A self-propelled anti-tank gun, or tank destroyer, is a type of armoured fighting vehicle. ...

These doctrinal differences are important when considering WWII tank classifications.

Infantry tank

Main article: infantry tank

A British Matilda tank displaying a captured Italian flag. (British Crown copyright).

The idea for this tank was developed during World War I by the British and French. The infantry tank was designed to work in concert with infantry, moving mostly at a running pace, which let it carry much heavier armour than the average tank. Its main purpose would have been to clear the battlefield of obstacles, kill enemy soldiers, and protect the infantry on their advance into and through enemy lines by giving mobile overwatch and cover. The infantry tank was a concept developed by the British in the years leading up to World War II. They were generally more heavily armoured compared to the lighter cruiser tanks, which would allow them to operate in close concert with infantry to help them break through heavily defended areas... Image File history File links Matilda Mk II Infantry Tank This image is protected by British Crown copyright. ... Image File history File links Matilda Mk II Infantry Tank This image is protected by British Crown copyright. ... The Tank, Infantry, Mk II, Matilda II (A12) (sometimes referred to as Senior Matilda) was a British tank of World War II. In a somewhat unorthodox move, it shared the same name as the Tank, Infantry, Mk I (A11). ... Crown copyright is a form of copyright claim used by the governments of a number of Commonwealth realms. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

One of the best-known infantry tanks was the Matilda II of World War II. Its armour was thick enough to stop all but the most powerful anti-tank rounds of the period. Its 2-pounder gun was sufficient to take on most light and medium tanks of the early war. It should not be confused with the Matilda Mk I, also an infantry tank, which however was armed with only a machine gun. The Churchill and Valentine infantry tanks were also successful models, each with a number of variants, such as some mounting heavier guns like the 6-pounder. The Tank, Infantry, Mk II, Matilda II (A12) (sometimes referred to as Senior Matilda) was a British tank of World War II. In a somewhat unorthodox move, it shared the same name as the Tank, Infantry, Mk I (A11). ... The QF 2-pounder gun was a British anti-tank gun. ... General characteristics Length 4. ... The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV (A22) was a heavy British infantry tank of the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. ... The most numerous British manufactured tank of World War II, the Infantry Tank III Valentine was known mainly for its inexpensive cost and high reliability. ... The QF 6-pdr 7 cwt was a British anti-tank gun of World War 2. ...

Cruiser tank

Main article: cruiser tank

Cromwell tank.

A cruiser tank, or cavalry tank, is 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 of World War I in part via the usage of high-speed tanks (at least, compared to other designs). This concept was later implemented in the "Fast Tanks" pioneered by Walter Christie. The cruiser tank (also called cavalry tank or fast tank) was a British tank design concept of the inter-war period. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Cromwell_tank_color. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Cromwell_tank_color. ... The Tank, Cruiser, Mk VIII, Cromwell (A27M), named after the English Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell, was one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in World War II. It was the first tank in the British arsenal to combine a dual-purpose gun, high speed... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... John Walter Christie (May 6, 1865 - January 11, 1944) was an American engineer and inventor. ...

They were used by the United Kingdom during World War II, and early models were thinly armoured and armed with anti-tank guns that could not effectively combat infantry or towed anti-tank weaponry. Cruiser tanks were designed to complement infantry tanks, exploiting gains made by the latter to break through enemy lines and assault from the rear. In practice, they largely proved to be less effective than the German tanks they opposed. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Anti-tank, or simply AT, refers to any method of combating military armored fighting vehicles, notably tanks. ... The infantry tank was a concept developed by the British in the years leading up to World War II. They were generally more heavily armoured compared to the lighter cruiser tanks, which would allow them to operate in close concert with infantry to help them break through heavily defended areas...

Early cruiser tank designs, such as the A9 and A10, were comparatively lightly armoured, but mobile and reasonably well-armed for the early campaigns of WWII. These earlier designs were largely replaced by larger cruisers such as the Crusader series, though in some cases reverted to even lighter (but better-armoured) scouting tanks, such as the US M3 Stuart. In 1942–1944, British cruiser tank units were reequipped with American M4 Sherman tanks. In 1944, in replacing their tanks, a few units were partially converted back to British equipment: the Cromwell cruiser tanks, which were similarly armed and armoured to the Sherman but significantly faster. The final cruiser tank was the Comet, introduced in late 1944, which was an extremely effective medium tank on a par with the German Panther. The last of the British Cruiser tanks, the Centurion, would be one of the first MBTs. General characteristics Length 5. ... General characteristics Length 5. ... One of the primary cruiser tanks of the United Kingdom during World War II, the Cruiser Tank VI Crusader was perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign. ... The Stuart was an American light tank of World War II named after the Civil War general Jeb Stuart. ... The M4 Sherman was the primary tank produced by the United States for its own use and the use of its Allies during World War II. Production of the M4 Medium tank exceeded 50,000 units, and its chassis served as the basis for thousands of other armored vehicles such... The Tank, Cruiser, Mk VIII, Cromwell (A27M), named after the English Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell, was one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in World War II. It was the first tank in the British arsenal to combine a dual-purpose gun, high speed... The Tank, Cruiser, Comet I (A34) was a British tank that first saw use near the end of World War II. // Combat experience against the Germans in the Western Desert Campaign demonstrated to the British the inferiority of their tanks. ... The Panther ( ) was a tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. ... The Centurion was the primary British Main Battle Tank of the immediate post-war era, and considered by many to be one of the best British tank designs of all time. ...

The Soviet fast tank (bistrokhodniy tank, or BT tank) classification also came out of the infantry/cavalry concept of armoured warfare. Fast tanks differed from Soviet light tanks by an emphasis on speed, and descended from a Christie tank prototype of 1931. The T-34 were 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. The Fast Tank (Russian: ), was a series of Soviet cavalry tanks which were produced in large numbers between 1932 and 1941. ... The BT-2 tank of 1932 - a Soviet improvement of Walter Christies tank. ...

Light tank

A Stuart M5A1 light tank at the Worthington Tank Museum.

Light tanks tend to be smaller, faster, and lighter vehicles, and cheaper to produce. The weight of a 'light' tank increased markedly during WWII. For example, the M24 Chaffee was a purpose-built light tank of late WWII, but weighed more than the Panzer III, a mainstay medium tank from 1939-43 but obsolete at the time the Chaffee was introduced. Some light tanks are able to move over land rapidly compared to heavier tanks and are maneuverable through obstacles such as jungle thickets, while maintaining lethality against enemy infantry. The Imperial Japanese Army exploited this ability of their light tanks during the Battle of Malaya. However, many other light tanks are no more mobile than their heavier cousins, in part because the emphasis on economy meant they often were powered by standard light truck engines rather than the larger, heavier, but much more powerful medium tank engines. ImageMetadata File history File links Stuart_m5a1_cfb_borden_4. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Stuart_m5a1_cfb_borden_4. ... The Stuart was an American light tank of World War II in use with British forces prior to the entry of the USA into the European theatre. ... Sherman tank displayed outdors in Worthington Tank Museum at CFB Borden Canadian Forces Base Borden (also CFB Borden or 16 Wing Borden) is a Canadian Forces Base located in Borden, Ontario. ... The Light Tank M24 was an American light tank used during World War II and in postwar conflicts including the Korean War. ... Panzer III is the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Nazi Germany and used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III (abbreviated PzKpfw III). ... Box Log Falls, Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia Jungle usually refers to a dense forest in a hot climate, such as a tropical rainforest. ... The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) (Kyūjitai: 大日本帝國陸軍, Shinjitai: , Romaji: Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun), or more officially Army of the Greater Japanese Empire was the official ground based armed force of Imperial Japan from 1867 to 1945. ... // List of Japanese Tanks and Armoured Vehicles(WW2 period) Imported tanks and armored vehicles (including captured types) Austin Armored Car Vickers Crossley Armored Car Wolseley Armored Car British Mk. ... Combatants Malaya Command: Indian III Corps Australian 8th Div. ...

Light tanks were quite common at the start of World War II, being the main element of German, Polish and French formations in the Polish and French campaigns, but during the war were relegated to reconnaissance roles because of the increasing firepower of tanks and anti-tank weapons. Some were amphibious, and some, like the Tetrarch, were small enough to be airlifted to battle. They were often preferred over armoured cars for scouting. The Soviet Union even built an experimental winged tank which ultimately was never put to practical use. An amphibious vehicle is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water - just like an amphibian. ... The Mk VII Tetrarch light tank was a British design of tank produced during the Second World War initially for reconnaisance purposes but used by airborne forces. ... Designers model of the Antonov A-40 The Antonov A-40 Krylyaty Tank (winged tank) was a Soviet attempt to build a tank that could glide into a battlefield after being towed aloft by an airplane. ...

The USSR experimented with giving infantry units detachments of light tanks (e.g., the T-70) to provide armoured support. The idea was a failure because the tanks' armour was readily penetrated by German anti-tank weapons, and their firepower was inadequate for fighting other tanks or destroying field fortifications. The T-70 light tank was used by the Army of the Soviet Union during World War II, replacing both the T-60 scout tank for reconnaissance and the T-50 light infantry tank for infantry support. ...

After WWII, light tanks continued in the reconnaissance role for some time, thanks to their modest cost and potential for amphibious capabilities, but were eventually replaced by infantry carriers and armoured cars. Mixed reconnaissance patrol of the Polish Home Army and the Soviet Red Army during Operation Tempest, 1944 Reconnaissance is the military term for the active gathering of information about an enemy, or other conditions, by physical observation. ...

The French WWII-era Light Tank (Char Léger) type was generally similar to other nations' light tanks of the period. Since it was intended to be used for infantry support rather than scouting, it was slower than most light tanks, giving it the weaknesses of the type, but no compensating advantages. The French intended the Armoured Reconnaissance (Automitrailleuses de Reconnaissance) and Armoured Combat (Automitrailleuses de Combat) for scouting and light combat roles.

Medium tank

Sherman medium tank from World War II, the workhorse of U.S. armoured forces

Medium tanks are simply neither the heaviest nor lightest in weight, and many of the designs had successful balance of firepower, mobility, protection, and endurance, and could often be adapted to a variety of roles. In WWI, the very first Mark I tank turned out to be a medium tank when compared to the range of designs of the time. Download high resolution version (1440x804, 164 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: M4 Sherman Tank classification Categories: Military images ... Download high resolution version (1440x804, 164 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: M4 Sherman Tank classification Categories: Military images ... The M4 Medium Tank was the main tank designed and built by the US for use in World War II. In the UK lend-lease M4s were dubbed M4 General Sherman after Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, continuing a practice of naming American tanks after famous Generals. ... The British Mark I was the worlds first combat tank, entering service in World War I, born of the need to break the domination of trenches and machine guns over the battlefields of the Western Front. ...

Medium tanks of the intra-war period included the British Vickers Medium Mark II, the French Char B1, and the Soviet multi-turreted T-28. During this period they were often considered by the traditional tactical roles as infantry tanks and cavalry tanks, rather than by weight class. The Vickers Medium Mark II was a British tank built by Vickers in the Inter-war period. ... The Char B1 was a French heavy tank manufactured before the Second World War. ... The Soviet T-28 was among the worlds first medium tanks. ... The infantry tank was a concept developed by the British in the years leading up to World War II. They were generally more heavily armoured compared to the lighter cruiser tanks, which would allow them to operate in close concert with infantry to help them break through heavily defended areas... The cruiser tank (also called cavalry tank or fast tank) was a British tank design concept of the inter-war period. ...

There were medium tanks that focused on anti-infantry capabilities (such as in WWII: the Panzer IV short-barrel, and the 75mm-turret M4 Sherman), and medium tanks which were more focused on the anti-tank role, mounting high-velocity tank guns. The French Medium Tanks (Chars Moyens) were much the same as their light tanks, but of a heavier sort and intended for infantry support. Their Cavalry Tanks (Chars de Cavalerie) focused on speed in addition to power and protection of the other designs. They were similar to what other countries called medium tanks. Panzer IV is the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the late 1930s by Nazi Germany and used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen IV (abbreviated PzKpfw IV) and the tank also had the ordnance inventory designation SdKfz 161. ... The M4 Sherman was the primary tank produced by the United States for its own use and the use of its Allies during World War II. Production of the M4 Medium tank exceeded 50,000 units, and its chassis served as the basis for thousands of other armored vehicles such... A M1 Abrams firing. ...

When Soviet tank designers were preparing a successor to the BT Fast Tank series, they combined its excellent mobility with thick, sloped armour and the unprecedented firepower of a 76-mm high-velocity gun. The result was the T-34 medium tank, whose superbly balanced capabilities shocked the German Wehrmacht when it invaded the Soviet Union. The lessons of Blitzkrieg, first employed by the Germans and eventually adopted by other nations, found their best expression in formations of mutually-supporting medium tanks and motorized infantry. The traditional view of infantry and cavalry tank roles was rendered obsolete. The Bystrokhodniy Tank (Fast Tank), was a series of Soviet cavalry tanks which were produced in large numbers between 1932 and 1941. ... The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940–58. ... The straight-armed Balkenkreuz, a stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the Wehrmacht. ... This article is about the military term. ... Motorised infantry is an infantry unit which is transported by trucks or other fast motor vehicles. ...

As well, the Soviet Union and the United States both benefited from their ability to manufacture a well-balanced medium tank in incredible numbers—about 57,000 T-34s and 49,000 Sherman tanks were built during the war. The M4 Sherman was the primary tank produced by the United States for its own use and the use of its Allies during World War II. Production of the M4 Medium tank exceeded 50,000 units, and its chassis served as the basis for thousands of other armored vehicles such...

During and after the war, the roles of light tanks were gradually taken over by less-expensive armoured cars and specialized reconnaissance vehicles. Heavy tanks, having shown their limitations in WWII, experienced a limited arms race of progressively more heavily-armed and armoured designs, but these too were eventually phased out in favour of increasingly capable and flexible medium tanks. Simpler and more economical self-propelled guns, and later anti-tank guided missiles, came to fulfill fire-support and anti-tank roles, allowing tanks to become more specialized for mobile warfare. A self-propelled gun is an armored fighting vehicle which primarily based on and serves to transport the gun with which its equipped. ... For other uses, see Air-to-ground missile. ...

With the production of relatively expensive tanks converging more and more on the sweet spot of the versatile medium tank, the way was paved for the development of mechanized warfare and the modern main battle tank concept. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Heavy tank

The German Tiger tank

Heavy tanks have usually been deployed to fulfill the need for a breakthrough tank, though in practice have been more useful in the defensive role than in the attack. Design goals have included attacking obstacles, creating breakthroughs, and engaging enemy armoured formations. They feature very heavy armour and weapons relative to lighter tanks, though they tend to push power plants to the limits. As a result they tend to be either underpowered and comparatively slow, or have engine and drive train problems from overworking their engines. Download high resolution version (900x592, 210 KB)First Tiger Tank captured by Allied Forces in WWII near Tunis in North Africa Source: US military File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (900x592, 210 KB)First Tiger Tank captured by Allied Forces in WWII near Tunis in North Africa Source: US military File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

The first tank, the Mark I of WWI, was designed around this philosophy: even more so the Char 2C, one of the largest tanks ever produced. At the start of World War II, the French and the Soviets were the only countries to have inventories of heavy tanks, such as the Char B1, T-35, and KV-1. The Matilda II infantry tank, though not as heavy as the others, had thicker armour than most tanks in service at the time. Later war examples were the German Tiger I and II, as well as the Soviet IS series. Note that "heavy" versus "medium" is more a question of tactical roles than weight; the Pz.Kpfw. V Panther, for example, was a "medium" tank that outweighed most Allied "heavy" tanks. Char 2C Alsace The Char 2C was a super heavy French tank developed, although never deployed, during the First World War. ... The Char B1 was a French heavy tank manufactured before the Second World War. ... The T-35 was a Soviet multi-turreted heavy tank of the interwar period and early Second World War that saw limited production and service with the Red Army. ... K. 1 is a designation given to two works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the original Köchel Verzeichnis. ... Tiger I ( ) is the common name of a German heavy tank of World War II. The initial official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H (abbreviated PzKpfw VI Ausf. ... Tiger II is the common name of a a German heavy tank of the Second World War. ... The Iosif Stalin tank (or IS tank, named after the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin), was a heavy tank developed by the Soviet Union during World War II. The tanks in the series are also sometimes called JS or ИС tanks. ...

Heavy tanks achieved their greatest successes both fighting other, lighter tanks, and destroying fortifications with their very large guns. Although it is often assumed that heavy tanks suffered inferior mobility to mediums, this was not always the case, as many of the more sophisticated heavy tank designs featured advanced suspension and transmission precisely to counteract this drawback. The German Tiger, for example, had similar speed and better terrain-handling characteristics when compared to the significantly lighter Pz IV medium tank, albeit at the cost of low reliability.

After World War II came the last major fielding of heavy tanks in addition to mediums, which included the M103 heavy tank, the FV214 Conqueror, and ARL 44, in response to the Soviet T-10. The largest tank guns were approaching maximum calibre, whose shell could still be handled by the crew, even using awkward two-part shells and propellants, which greatly slowed their rate of fire. And thanks to improved engine and armour technology, more mobile medium tanks were catching up to them in the amount of firepower and protection they could carry. After this, the role of medium and heavy tanks merged, and came to be known as the Main Battle Tank (MBTs), with no specialised super-heavy tanks being fielded. Less expensive assault guns and artillery pieces could fulfill the heavies' anti-infantry role. The M103 heavy tank, at 65 tons, was the heaviest and most heavily armed tank in service in the United States Army and the US Marines during the Cold War. ... The FV214 Conqueror was a British Main Battle Tank of the post-war era, somtimes classified as a heavy tank. ... The ARL 44 was a French heavy tank produced just after World War II. Only sixty of these tanks were ever manufactured[1] and the type was quickly phased out. ... The T-10 was a Soviet heavy tank of the Cold War, the final development of the KV and IS tank series. ... German StuG III with high-velocity 75 mm gun, 1943 An assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armored chassis, designed for use in the direct fire role in support of infantry when attacking other infantry or fortified positions. ...

Heavy tanks were finally rendered obsolete by anti-tank guided missiles and high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) ammunition. The much more flexible missiles are effective at ranges beyond a tank gun's range, and sheer armour mass was no longer a guarantee of survivability against the largest HEAT warheads of tank guns or missiles. For other uses, see Air-to-ground missile. ... A HEAT round. ...

Super-heavy tank

Main article: Super-heavy tank

There were a few rare tanks informally called "super-heavy tanks." As their name implies, most of these tanks were extremely heavy such as the impractical German Panzer VIII Maus, which buckled roads. Super-heavy tanks featured thick armor, which was generally impervious to most weapons of their time. The armaments of these immense tanks were usually heavy artillery guns. Most of these super-heavy tanks only reached pre-prototype stage, while some never even left the drawing board, such as the Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte and Landkreuzer P. 1500 Monster. WWII and the following post-war period saw the quick zenith of super-heavy tanks with the conception of the German P-series tanks, British experimental Tortoise tank and American T-28 Gun Carriage. The super-heavy tanks had an extremely short career; air units were too much of a threat for lumbering behemoths which were all too liable to get stuck in various terrain. And with the development of rockets and missiles, the super-heavy tank quickly saw its decline. In short, super-heavy tanks were merely an extension of World War I ideals regarding heavy assault guns placed on self-propelled carriages, emulating the railway guns and heavy artillery of their time, and with the rise of missiles and rockets, extremely long-range guns became obsolete. Super-heavy tanks were designed in response to the arms race of ever-increasing armament and armour in tanks. ... The Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus (Sd. ... The Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte (Rat) was to have been an extremely large tank for use by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was designed in 1942 by Krupp with the approval of Adolf Hitler, but the project was canceled by Albert Speer in early 1943 and none were... The Landkreuzer P 1500 Monster was a German pre-prototype ultra heavy tank designed during World War II - representing the apex of the Nazis extreme tank designs. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

Some designs called "heavy assault tanks" were actually heavy self-propelled guns, including the German Jagdtiger, as well as the experimental wartime British Tortoise heavy assault tank and U.S. T-28 Super Heavy Tank. The Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. ... The A39 Tortoise heavy assault tank was a British heavy tank design developed in World War II but never put into production. ... The T28 (later called 105 mm Gun Motor Carriage T95) was a prototype heavily armoured tank destroyer, designed for the US Military during the Second World War. ...

Main battle tank (late twentieth century)

Main article: Tank

K1A1 of the Republic of Korea Army

Modern Leopard 2 A6M of the German Army

Advances in tank design, armour, and engine technology allowed tank designers to increase the capabilities of tanks significantly without always resorting to heavier designs, although weights did gradually increase. However, HEAT ammunition was a huge threat to tanks and could penetrate steel armour thicker than was practical to put on a tank. Advances such as the British-designed Chobham armour did much to limit the effectiveness of weaker HEAT rounds, but the vulnerability has since remained. The demise of the heavy tank meant that what had been medium-sized vehicles were now the heaviest. What remained were developments of the more heavy-set cruiser tanks of Britain, and medium tanks intended for anti-tank work of other nations, but with a focus on weapon power and mobility greater than ever before. The name "Main Battle Tank" (MBT) gained widespread use. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1000x750, 358 KB) Summary Description: A Korean army K1A1 tank. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1000x750, 358 KB) Summary Description: A Korean army K1A1 tank. ... The K1 (or Type 88) is a main battle tank in use with the South Korean ground forces. ... The Republic of Korea Army (ROK Army, ROKA, hangul: 대한민국 육군; hanja: 大韓民國 陸軍) is by far the largest of the military branches, with over 560,000 members as of 2004. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 1. ... The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank built by the German company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann, developed in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979, replacing the earlier Leopard 1 as the foremost MBT in the Bundeswehr. ... The German Army (German: [1], [IPA: heɐ]  ) is the land component of the Bundeswehr (Federal Defence Forces) of the Federal Republic of Germany. ... For other uses, see Heat (disambiguation) In physics, heat, symbolized by Q, is energy transferred from one body or system to another due to a difference in temperature. ... Chobham armour is a composite armour developed in the 1960s at the British tank research centre on Chobham Common. ...

Many Cold War MBTs evolved more or less directly from late WWII medium tank designs: the US Patton series of tanks was a series of successive evolutions of the M26 Pershing, for example, and the Russian T54/55 was a direct descendant of the T-44, itself an evolution of the T-34. This means than many MBTs retained something of their "medium tank" origins in terms of their balance size, weight, mobility, and protection. However, in the 1960s and 1970s, a generation of purpose-designed Main Battle Tanks appeared, starting with the British Chieftain tank. These vehicles are less obviously influenced by wartime templates (the Chieftain, for example), weighing as much as a WWII Tiger tank and possessing far greater firepower and armour, whilst retaining the mobility of the previous Centurion design. Similarly, the US M1 Abrams series, the German Leopard 2, and British Challenger tanks sit in a nebulous area between what was once considered the "medium" and "heavy" weight category. Perhaps the most defining feature of the Main Battle Tank type is neither its weight, mobility, nor firepower, but instead the idea that only one type of heavily armoured vehicle is required to carry out the roles of breakthrough, exploitation and infantry support. For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... M46, M47, M48 and M60 Patton were the U.S armys principal main battle tanks of the Cold War, with models in service from the late 1940s to the 1990s. ... The Heavy Tank M26 Pershing was an American tank used during World War II and the Korean War. ... The T-54 and T-55 tank series was the Soviet Unions front-line main battle tank from 1947 until 1962, and remains in service throughout the world to this day, especially by former client states of the Soviet Union. ... The T-44 was a Soviet medium tank, first put into production at the end of World War Two. ... The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank first produced in 1940. ... The FV 4201 Chieftain was the Main battle tank of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s. ... The M1 Abrams is a military tank produced in the United States. ... The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank built by the German company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann, developed in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979, replacing the earlier Leopard 1 as the foremost MBT in the Bundeswehr. ...

The term "Main Battle Tank" is applied to tanks designed to function as the backbone of modern ground forces. It is all-around armed and armoured to face as many kinds of threats as possible, but especially direct hits from other tanks and lighter infantry anti-tank weapons. However, the threats to MBTs on a modern battlefield are numerous. Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize...

Even heavily armoured MBTs are vulnerable to all manner of anti-tank weapons, often designed to attack the most vulnerable locations: the top, the bottom, and the tracks. Tanks also retain much of their vulnerability to artillery fire and mines. While a tank can afford to have half a metre of armour on the front, it can't have such a thick slab of metal guarding all of its sides without losing major maneuvering ability.

The solution was to focus on the traits that allowed the tank to survive: mobility and firepower. The amount of armour added was usually sufficient to stop at least previous-generation projectiles from penetrating. Armour on more advanced MBTs has been shown to deflect older-generation projectiles, but there is little public information on the armour levels of the latest MBTs, as such information is generally kept secret. Some of the known examples are from friendly fire. For example, in the 1991 Gulf War it was shown that a U.S. Hellfire anti-tank missile could destroy an M1 Abrams and during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a Challenger 2 was fired upon by another, destroying it and killing two of its crew.^[1] For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... Type Air-to-ground and surface-to-surface Missile Nationality United States Era Cold War and through Global War on Terrorism Launch platform Rotary- and fixed-wing platforms, Unmanned aerial vehicle, tri-pods, ships, and ground vehicles Target Three warhead variants defeat an array of targets including tanks, light armored... The M1 Abrams is a military tank produced in the United States. ... The Challenger 2 is the most recent main battle tank in service with the United Kingdom and Oman. ...

Leopard 2, AMX-56 Leclerc, M1 Abrams, Challenger 2 ^[2] and Merkava Mark IV are widely considered to be the most heavily armored and armed Main Battle Tanks in the world.

The twenty-first century: decline of heavy armor?

Mobile Gun System, a possible wheeled replacement for tanks.

On several occasions the tank has been declared obsolete, and expected to disappear from the battlefield. The first such declaration came about because of the introduction of wire-guided missiles in the 1960s, which allowed a small team, typically two men, to defeat any tank on the battlefield at fairly long ranges. Tank designers responded with increased armor, reactive armour, and active armor systems, which while they do not entirely defeat this threat, require the size and weight of a missile needed to defeat a modern MBT to be much larger and less portable. Image File history File links IAVFiringCanon. ... Image File history File links IAVFiringCanon. ... The Mobile Gun System is an eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicle mounting a 105 mm tank gun, derived from the Mowag Piranha. ... An Anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) is a missile the primary purpose of which is to hit and destroy tanks. ... M60A1 Patton tank with Israeli Blazer ERA. T-72 battle tank layered with reactive armour bricks Reactive armour is a type of vehicle armour that reacts in some way to the impact of a weapon to reduce the damage done to the vehicle being protected. ... M60A1 Patton tank with Israeli Blazer ERA. T-72 battle tank layered with reactive armour bricks Reactive armour is a type of vehicle armour that reacts in some way to the impact of a weapon to reduce the damage done to the vehicle being protected. ...

This declaration happened again in the 1970s with the widespread introduction of larger missiles, this time mounted on helicopter gunships. In this case the response was the introduction of a newer generation of anti-aircraft weapons. The gunship does appear to maintain a large advantage over the tank, although the cost of such systems has generally limited their numbers. Even so, the tank is still able to perform at least one function that the attack helicopter cannot: it can hold ground. By sitting at an important road intersection, for example, the tank presents a formidable obstruction for as long as it chooses to remain in place - while a helicopter (or any other aircraft) can only remain over a particular spot for a limited time. A Russian Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter. ...

In more modern times the ending of the Cold War has once again led to a discussion of the role of the tank on the modern unconventional warfare "battlefield." Rapid deployment and mobility when fighting light forces appears to be much more important than capabilities against other tanks. The large logistics requirements needed to ship a tank and its support to the battlefield can be used to ship a larger number of lighter units which may have a greater effect on the actual battle. In the 2000s, Canada had begun to liquidate its park of 30-year-old Leopard tanks in favour of the eight-wheeled Mobile Gun System, but has reversed the decision and is acquiring 100 Leopard 2 main battle tanks in 2007. For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... Unconventional warfare (UW) is the opposite of conventional warfare. ... The Leopard (or Leopard 1) is a German designed and produced main battle tank that first entered service in 1965 and was used as the main battle tank for Germany, several other European countries, Australia, Canada, Brazil and Chile. ... The Mobile Gun System is an eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicle mounting a 105 mm tank gun, derived from the Mowag Piranha. ... The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank built by the German company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann, developed in the early 1970s and first entering service in 1979, replacing the earlier Leopard 1 as the foremost MBT in the Bundeswehr. ...

Specialist tanks

Tanks have often been modified for special purposes. The most common is to provide armoured capability for combat engineers. These include tanks carrying large-calibre demolition guns, with flails or ploughs for mine-clearing, or flame tanks armed with flamethrowers. The tank occasionally may lose its weapons and the chassis alone may be used, as in bridge-laying tanks. A US army combat engineer setting up a communications cable. ... A mine flail mounted on a World War 2, Sherman Crab tank. ... U.S. Army M-1A1 Abrams tank with mine plow from 1995 or earlier A mine plow is a tank-mounted device designed to clear a lane through a minefield, allowing other vehicles to follow. ... “Minefield” redirects here. ... Marine M67 in Vietnam, 1968. ... Riverboat of the U.S. Brownwater Navy shooting ignited napalm from its mounted flamethrower during the Vietnam war. ...

Notable among wartime examples which formed Hobart's Funnies was the Churchill AVRE, which was equipped with a weapon for destroying bunkers and other fortifications but also able to mount other equipment. Badge of the 79th Armoured Division Amphibious DD tanks await blowing of breaches in the sea wall on Utah Beach. ... The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV (A22) was a heavy British infantry tank of the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. ...

An M60A1 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB), deploying its scissors-type bridge.

Another important modification was the amphibious tank, such as the Sherman Duplex Drive (DD). These designs were modified with waterproofing and propulsion systems, to be able to traverse open water. Their most notable usage was on D-Day. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1720x1160, 720 KB) M60A1 Armored Vehicle Landing Bridge Source: http://www. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1720x1160, 720 KB) M60A1 Armored Vehicle Landing Bridge Source: http://www. ... An M60A1 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB), deploying its scissors-type bridge. ... An amphibious vehicle is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water - just like an amphibian. ... The M4 Sherman was the primary tank produced by the United States for its own use and the use of its Allies during World War II. Production of the M4 Medium tank exceeded 50,000 units, and its chassis served as the basis for thousands of other armored vehicles such... DD Sherman tank with its flotation screen lowered. ... This article is about the assault phase of Operation Overlord. ...

Many specialist tank roles have been assigned to other vehicle types, though many tank chassis are still used for a wide variety of vehicles, ranging from anti-aircraft roles to bridge layers. It has been suggested that SPAAG be merged into this article or section. ... An armoured vehicle-launched bridge (or AVLB) is a combat support vehicle, sometimes regarded as a subtype of combat engineering vehicle, designed to assist militaries in rapidly deploying tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles across rivers. ...

Unmodified tanks can be fitted with equipment, such as mine-clearing ploughs, to give them ancillary roles.

See also

• Armoured fighting vehicle classification
• Comparison of early World War II tanks
• History of the tank
• Hull-down
• List of main battle tanks by country
• List of main battle tanks by generation

An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, protected by armour and armed with weapons. ... Categories: World War II tanks ... This article is about the history of the tank. ... A tank in hull-down, turret-down, and hidden positions behind a crest of ground. ... This is a list of main battle tanks in active military service with countries of the world. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C2384518-7EBA-4CFF-B127-E87871E41B51/0/boi_challenger2_25mar03.pdf
2. ^ http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/chall2.htm