Armored Vehicles: What is a tank?

What is a tank?

 By Chief Mac, June 25th 2023

The definition of a tank: a heavy armored fighting vehicle carrying guns and moving on a continuous articulated metal track. This not a sufficient definition. Tanks are heavily armed and armored vehicles designed to clear out well-protected targets, engage other vehicles (especially other tanks), and use their off-road mobility to exploit weaknesses in the enemy’s defenses.

According to the lame stream media it is any armored vehicle or anything with tracks – not surprising considering that the average reporter is 26 years old and has never served in the military.

 

A US M1A1 main battle tank. Note the large cannon and turret.

A Russian T-90S main battle tank. Compared to the M1A1 it has a slightly smaller turret. Note the features common with all tanks: large treads, large main gun, turret which spans most of the hull width.

Are these tanks?

Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) are easy to mistake for tanks. The main difference between the two is role and weapon size. IFVs carry infantry into battle as well as participating in combat, whereas tanks do not transport infantry. This difference is reflected by the smaller IFV primary weapon size, which frees up space for infantry and equipment.

 

American M2 Bradley IFV

The large main cannon (100mm) of the Russian BMP-3 IFV gives it a tank-like appearance. However, the turret is too small for a tank, as are the treads and the chassis.

Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) - The primary role of these vehicles is to move troops in and out of areas where they may be subjected to enemy fire. APCs vary widely in configuration from simple up-armored SUVs to tank based vehicles that can withstand immense punishment. Because their primary mission is to transport troops, APCs are lightly armed, with at most a grenade launcher or machine gun and sometimes no armament at all.

 

Based off the Israeli Merkava MBT, the Namer APC is heavily armored. The vehicle is an APC because its primary role is to transport troops, hence the armament of only two machine guns.

This Mexican DN-XI APC is a stark contrast from the Namer APC. Instead of being based off a tank chassis, this APC is based on a Ford truck platform. Nevertheless, it performs roughly the same primary role as the Namer: protecting and transporting soldiers.

Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) - MRAPS are a type of APC designed to be particularly survivable against improvised explosive devices (IEDs). MRAPs utilize V-shaped blast-deflecting hulls to provide underside explosion resistance superior to normal APCs. However, this blast-deflecting armor adds considerable weight and may require increased ground clearance. As a result, many MRAPs are lumbering vehicles with reduced off-road mobility compared to an APC. MRAPs are always wheeled and generally 4X4, although some may have more wheels. The easiest way to distinguish them from wheeled APCs is their bulky, truck-like appearance and high center of gravity.

 

This British Mastiff MRAP is designed to protect soldiers from IED blasts. Note the truck chassis, a common feature of MRAPs.

This American MaxxPro MRAP is also built from a truck chassis. Note the high center of gravity and truck-like appearance.

Combat Engineering Vehicle (CEV) - Combat engineering vehicles are designed to alter the physical characteristics of the battlefield. Their jobs include mine clearance, trench building, barrier destruction, building demolition, etc. Some combat engineering vehicles are merely up-armored variants of standard construction equipment, while others are based on dedicated military platforms. Armor quality is similarly variable, with some combat engineering vehicles being merely hardened against small arms fire while others have tank-level protection. Combat engineering vehicles are generally identified by their construction implements and lack of large armaments.

This fearsome looking American Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) is made to clear obstacles and alter the battlefield physically while under fire. The implements at the front indicate that this is a combat engineering vehicle. Adapted from an Abrams tank chassis, the ABV is extremely well protected.

This Israeli D9R Combat Bulldozer is another example of a combat engineering vehicle, this time based on a civilian construction product. It is capable of moving earth and demolishing structures while under fire.

Reconnaissance Vehicle - Reconnaissance vehicles are high mobility vehicles designed to move around the battlefield rapidly, gathering information and probing enemy defenses while engaging any ill-protected contacts. The chassis layout, level of protection and armament of these vehicles varies widely, as many different chassis designs can be modified to fit the recon role. A common reconnaissance vehicle layout is a small, lightly armored 4×4 with a relatively large autocannon or machine gun mounted in a turret. Almost all modern light tanks are built as reconnaissance vehicles. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to tell based on appearance when a vehicle (for example an IFV) has been modified from its original design to a reconnaissance layout; many IFVs and APCs are changed to reconnaissance vehicles by adding improved optics and communications equipment.

This South African Eland Mk7 armored car is an example of a reconnaissance vehicle. The 4X4 wheeled layout and minimal armor allow this armored car to maneuver rapidly and perform reconnaissance, while the 90mm gun can be used to engage targets of opportunity.

This South African Eland Mk7 armored car is an example of a reconnaissance vehicle. The 4X4 wheeled layout and minimal armor allow this armored car to maneuver rapidly and perform reconnaissance, while the 90mm gun can be used to engage targets of opportunity.

This British-made Scorpion light tank illustrates another common reconnaissance vehicle layout. Light tanks sacrifice armament and armor for small size and mobility. The Scorpion appears somewhat similar to an MBT. However the cannon and small size overall indicate it is a light tank.

Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG) - SPAAGs are designed to engage low-flying aircraft with autocannons and missiles. They are generally lightly armored and are built from an IFV or APC chassis. Despite being built for anti-aircraft combat, the powerful autocannons of a SPAAG are suited to ground combat as well, and many SPAAGs (such as the ZSU-23-4) are employed against infantry. Most SPAAGs have radar sets which may be used for fire control or merely for initial detection. 

This Russian Tunguska SPAAG is armed with autocannons and anti-air missiles. Clearly visible on each side of the turret are the missile tubes. The circular object on the front of the turret is a radar antennae.

Pictured here is a Japanese Type 87 SPAAG. Like the Tunguska, it has dual autocannons. However, it is not armed with missiles.

Self-Propelled Gun (SPG) - An SPG is essentially a large howitzer mounted on an armored chassis with treads for mobility. This arrangement allows the SPG to maneuver faster than towed artillery, which needs to be set up prior to firing and packed up prior to moving. While a SPG looks similar to a tank, there are some distinctions which allow one to distinguish between the two. First, the weapon of an SPG is often much larger than the weapon of a tank. Unlike tanks, an SPG howitzer will often have a large muzzle brake. Many SPGs also have systems to fasten their weapons in place during movement. Second, the turret of an SPG is much taller relative to the rest of the chassis than the turret of a tank. While the SPGs may appear to have tank-like armor, their armor is actually quite thin.

This Russian made Msta-S SPG may look tank-like at first, but the abnormally tall turret reveals that it is not a tank. The gun-securing clamp and muzzle brake also indicate that this is an SPG.

The American Paladin SPG has a large 155mm howitzer with a prominent muzzle brake. The large turret and gun fastening clamp are SPG features.

There are some vehicles that defy categories. Most are long retired by nonetheless need to be included

Tank Destroyers (TD) - A tank destroyer, tank hunter, tank killer, or self-propelled anti-tank gun is a type of armored fighting vehicle, armed with a direct fire artillery gun or missile launcher, designed specifically to engage and destroy enemy tanks, often with limited operational capacities.

Italian Semovente da 75/18

American M10 tank destroyer

These a just a sample of the myriad of armored vehicles in use in the world and most are not tanks.

Just to mess with your minds one last time

A Stridsvagn 103C during a demonstration at the Swedish Army's Revingehed training ground, April 2022

This is the Swedish Stridsvagn 103 (Strv 103), also known as the Alternative S and S-tank, is a Swedish post-World War II main battle tank, designed and manufactured in Sweden. "Strv" is the Swedish military abbreviation of stridsvagn, Swedish for chariot and tank (literally combat wagon), while the 103 comes from being the third tank in Swedish service to be equipped with a 10 cm gun.

This page was compiled and posted by Chief Mac, 06/25/23

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