Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide
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TANKS

Tanks are tracked, armored vehicles with guns of generally 75mm or more. Most modern tanks are classified as main battle tanks or light tanks. U.S. Army Tank Doctrine

France
AMX-13
AMX-13 Light Tank
France
AMX-30
AMX-30 MBT
UK
Scorpion
FV101 Scorpion CVR(T)
UK
Challenger 1
FV4030/4 Challenger 1 MBT
UK
Chieftain Mk 5
FV4201 Chieftain MBT
Germany
Leopard 1A2
Leopard 1 MBT
Germany
Leopard 2
Leopard 2 MBT
USA
M1
M1 Abrams MBT
USA
M41A3
M41 Walker Bulldog Light Tank
USA
M48A5
M48 Patton Medium Tank
USA
M60A3
M60 MBT
USA
M551
M551 Sheridan AR/AAV
Russia
PT-76
PT-76 Amphibious Light Tank
Russia
T-54
T-54/T-55 MBT
Russia
T-62
T-62 MBT
Russia
T-64
T-64 MBT
Russia
T-72
T-72 MBT
Russia
T-80BV
T-80 MBT
China
Type 59-II
Type 59 MBT
China
Type 63
Type 63 Light Amphibious Tank
China
Type 85-IIM
Type 85-II MBT



ANTI-TANK VEHICLES

The term "anti-tank" originally denoted systems specifically designed to destroy tanks. The term now includes weapon systems designed to defeat armored combat vehicles. Anti-tank weapons which cannot penetrate tank armor can still be a formidable threat if they can defeat or damage more lightly armored fighting vehicles.
Russia
9P148
9P148 ATGM
France
AMX-10 HOT
AMX-10 HOT ATGM
Russia
ASU-85
ASU-85 Airborne Assault Gun
USA
M56
M56 Scorpion Anti-Tank Gun
USA
M901
M901 ITV



INFANTRY VEHICLES

Increased protection and firepower on light armored fighting vehicles such as infantry fighting vehicles and armored reconnaissance vehicles have blurred lines of distinction. A number of armored fighting vehicles can be characterized as reconnaissance vehicles, tank destroyers, fire support vehicles, or assault vehicles; but they have tracks, armor protection, and guns of 60mm or greater. Thus, they can also be used for light tank missions.
USA
LVTP7
AAV Amphibious Assault Vehicle
France
AMX-10P
AMX-10P IFV
Russia
BMD-1
BMD-1 AFV
Russia
BMP-1
BMP-1 IFV
Russia
BMP-2
BMP-2 IFV
Russia
BTR-50
BTR-50 APC
Russia
BTR-60PB
BTR-60 APC
Russia
BTR-70
BTR-70 APC
Russia
BTR-80A
BTR-80 APC
Russia
BTR-152
BTR-152 Armored Transporter
UK
FV432
FV432 APC
Italy South Korea
KM900
KM900 APC
Canada USA
LAV-25
LAV-25 IFV
USA
M2 Bradley
M2 Bradley IFV
USA
M113
M113 APC
USA
M1117
M1117 ASV
Canada USA
M1126
M1126 Stryker
Germany
Marder 1
Marder 1 Infantry Combat Vehicle
Russia
MT-LB
MT-LB Multi-purpose Vehicle
Czech Republic Poland
OT-62B
OT-62/TOPAS APC
Czech Republic Poland
OT-64
OT-64/SKOT APC
China
YW 531A
YW 531A APC



RECONNAISSANCE VEHICLES

Combat reconnaissance vehicles are designed for operations at or beyond the forward line of own troops (FLOT), not to initiate combat but to survive if engaged. They may operate in combat reconnaissance patrols with heavily armed vehicles such as tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. Many offer sensors no better than those on other armored vehicles, and use optics for a variety of combat support missions, such as fire support.
France
AMX-10RC
AMX-10RC Reconnaissance Vehicle
Russia
BRDM-2
BRDM-2 Scout Car
UK
Ferret Mk4
Ferret Scout Car
UK
Fox
FV721 Fox CVR(W)



ARTILLERY VEHICLES

The mission of the field artillery is to destroy, neutralize, or suppress the enemy by cannon, rocket, and missile fire and to assist in integrating all fire support into combined arms operations. Field artillery considerations include the following: Mortars are very effective against lightly protected personnel and for obscuration, illumination, and close-in defensive fires. Mortar considerations include the following:
Russia
2S1
2S1 122mm SP Gun
Russia
2S3
2S3 152mm SP Gun
Russia
BM-21
BM-21 122mm SP MRL
USA
M40
M40 SP Gun
USA
M106
M106 Mortar Carrier
USA
M109A2
M109 155mm SP Howitzer
USA
M1064A3
M1064A3 Mortar Carrier



AIR DEFENSE VEHICLES

Tactical air defense is used to protect ground force units and other potential targets from attack by enemy fixed-wing aircraft and armed helicopters. There are three general categories of air defense artillery vehicles: A vehicle's sensor package may consist of one or more radars, direct view optics, and electro-optics systems. The sensor package is the single most important aspect of air defense systems since these devices perform the surveillance and tracking functions. Radar systems have traditionally been the most popular sensor for air-defense systems, however, with the latest generation weapons they are usually supplemented with a variety of optic or electro-optic sensors such as; TV cameras, night vision sights, and laser rangefinders.

USA
Avenger
Avenger Weapon System
Switzerland Germany
Gepard
Gepard SP AA Gun
USA
M42
M42 Duster SP AA Gun
Russia
ZSU-23-4
ZSU 23-4 Shilka SP AA Gun
Russia
ZSU-57-2
ZSU 57-2 SP AA Gun



ENGINEER AND LOGISTICS VEHICLES

USA
M88A1
M88 Recovery Vehicle
USA
M578
M578 Recovery Vehicle
USA
M728
M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle
USA
M977
M977 HEMTT
USA
M992
M992 Ammunition Carrier



VEHICLE WEAPON SYSTEMS

USA
M219 coax
M73/M219 7.62mm Tank MG
USA
M85 fixed
M85 .50 Fixed MG
USA
M240C coax
M240 7.62mm Armor MG
USA
M242 gun
M242 25mm Automatic Gun
Germany USA
M256 smoothbore gun
M256 120mm Smoothbore Gun
USA
M250 grenade launcher
U.S. Vehicle Grenade Launchers



GENERAL INFORMATION


Military Glossary | Combat Vehicle Identification | Combat Vehicle Protection | Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) | Weapons Effects

FM 3-06.11: Lessons Learned From Modern Urban Combat

U.S. Army Center of Military History