{{Unreferenced|date=November 2007}}
An '''armoured fighting vehicle''' ('''AFV''') is a military [[vehicle]], protected by [[vehicle armour|armour]] and armed with [[weapon]]s. Most AFVs are equipped for driving in rugged [[terrain]].

Armoured fighting vehicles are classified according to their intended role on the battlefield and characteristics. This classification is not absolute; at different times different countries will classify the same vehicle in different roles. For example, ''[[armoured personnel carrier]]s'' were generally replaced by ''[[infantry fighting vehicle]]s'' in a very similar role, but the latter has some capabilities lacking in the former.

Successful general-purpose armoured fighting vehicles often also serve as the base of a whole family of specialised vehicles, for example, the [[M113]] and [[MT-LB]] tracked carriers, and the [[Mowag Piranha]] wheeled AFV.

== Tank ==
[[Image:T72 Georgia.jpg|thumb|right|A [[T-72]] main battle tank clad in reactive armour bricks, in [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] service.]]
{{Main|Tank}}

The tank is an all terrain, armoured fighting vehicle, designed primarily to engage enemy forces by the use of [[indirect fire|direct fire]] in the frontal assault role. Though several configurations have been tried, particularly in the early experimental days of tank development, a standard, mature design configuration has since emerged to a generally accepted pattern. This features a main [[artillery]] [[gun]], mounted in a fully rotating [[turret]] atop a tracked automotive hull, with various additional machine guns throughout.

Philosophically, the tank is, by its very nature, a purely offensive weapon. Being a protective encasement with at least one gun position, it is essentially a [[pill box]] or small [[fortress]], (though these are static fortifications of a purely defensive nature) that can move toward the enemy - hence its offensive utility.

Historically, tanks are divided into 3 categories: [[Light Tanks]] (small, thinly armored, weakly gunned, but highly mobile tanks intended for the armored reconnaissance role) [[Medium Tanks]] (mid-sized, adequately armored, respectably gunned, fairly mobile tanks intended to provide an optimum balance of characteristics for manoeuver combat, primarily against other tanks) [[Heavy Tanks]] (large, thickly armored, powerfully gunned, but barely mobile tanks intended for the breakthrough role against fortified lines, particularly in support of infantry formations) Other designations (such as [[Cavalry Tank]], [[Cruiser Tank]], [[Infantry Tank]]) have been used by various countries to denote similar roles.

A modern [[Tank classification#Late twentieth century: the main battle tank|main battle tank]] incorporates advances in automotive, artillery, and armor technology to combine the best characteristics of all three historic taypes into a single, all around type. It 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 is fuel, maintenance, and ammunition-hungry which makes it [[Military logistics|logistically]] demanding. It has the heaviest [[Vehicle armour|armour]] of any vehicle on the battlefield, and carries a powerful weapon that may be able to engage a wide variety of ground targets. It is among the most versatile and fearsome weapons on the battlefield, valued for its [[fear|shock action]] against other troops and high [[survivability]].

{{seealso|Tank classification}}

== Armoured personnel carrier ==
[[Image:GTK Boxer front.JPG|thumb|right|Modern APC [[Boxer MRAV|GTK Boxer]] of the [[German Army]]]]
[[Image:M113.jpg|thumb|right|The [[M113]], one of the most common tracked APCs, on duty during the [[Vietnam War]].]]
{{Main|Armoured personnel carrier}}

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 rifle]]s, [[anti-tank guided missile]]s (ATGMs), or [[mortar (weapon)|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 [[wheel]]s, [[Caterpillar track|tracks]], or both as in the [[half-track]]. Examples include the American [[M113]] (tracked), the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[FV 432 AFV|FV 432]] (tracked), the [[Germany|German]] [[Boxer MRAV]] (wheeled), the [[France|French]] [[Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé|VAB]] (wheeled), the Soviet [[BTR-60|BTR]] (wheeled), and the American [[M3]] (half-tracked).

The first attempt to carry troops in an armoured tracked vehicle was made by the British in the First World War, a lengthened [[Mark I (tank)#Mark V*|Mark V* tank]] that could house a squad of infantry while still armed as a tank. Post-war, the idea was largely dropped in favour of trucks, small [[infantry carrier]]s, and lightly-armoured [[half-track]]s, which were widely used during the Second World War. During WWII there were some experiments into heavily armoured carriers, such as the [[Kangaroo (armoured personnel carrier)|Kangaroos]], converted by stripping turrets from tanks. After the war, there was a shift away from half-tracks to tracked or wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs), usually armed with a machine gun for self-defence. A new one, currently being built for the [[Israeli Defence Forces]] is the [[Wolf Armoured Vehicle|Wolf]].

=== Infantry mobility vehicle ===
{{Main|Infantry Mobility Vehicle}}

Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV) is a modern term for a wheeled armoured personnel carrier (APC) which serves as a military patrol, reconnaissance or security vehicle. The distinction between it and an [[armoured car]] being the ability to carry a unit of infantry. Modern examples include the [[Bushmaster IMV]], Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) and vehicles being fielded as part of the [[MRAP (armored vehicle)|MRAP program]].

== Infantry fighting vehicle ==
{{Main|Infantry fighting vehicle}}

An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is an armoured personnel carrier which allows the infantry to fight from inside, and can provide significant fire support. The first IFV was the Soviet [[BMP-1]], which surprised the western intelligence analysts when it appeared in a military parade in 1967.

[[Image:Swedish CV9040.JPG|thumb|right|Swedish [[Combat Vehicle 90]], a modern IFV.]]

Modern [[IFV]]s are well-armed infantry carriers that allow the infantry inside to fight from within the vehicle. They are different from earlier APCs by their heavier armament allowing them to give direct-fire support during an assault, firing ports allowing the infantry to fire [[firearms|personal weapons]] while mounted, and improved [[vehicle armour|armour]]. They are typically armed with a twenty millimetre or larger [[autocannon]], and possibly with [[ATGM]]s. IFVs are usually [[Caterpillar track|tracked]], but some wheeled vehicles fall into this category, too.

Specially-equipped IFVs have taken on some of the roles of light tanks; they are used by reconnaissance organizations, and light IFVs are used by airborne units which must be able to fight without the heavy firepower of tanks.

By comparison the Israeli [[Merkava]] is a main battle tank with the ability to carry a section of infantry.

== Self-propelled artillery==
[[Image:Su152 2.jpg|thumb|left|Soviet [[SU-152]] assault gun, mounting a 152 mm gun.]]
{{Main|Self-propelled artillery}}

Self-propelled artillery are [[artillery]] pieces which have been given their own integral transport by mounting them on [[caterpillar track|tracked]] or wheeled chassis. They are usually armoured as well. The mobility provided allows artillery to keep up with the pace of [[armoured warfare]], and gives them nominal protection from [[counter-battery]] or [[small arms]] fire. Like towed artillery, a battery of [[self-propelled artillery|self-propelled guns]] must still set up in a relatively safe area to perform [[fire mission]]s, but is able to relocate more quickly.

[[Assault gun]]s are self-propelled artillery pieces intended to support [[infantry]] in the direct-fire role. They usually have a large-calibre gun capable of firing a heavy high-explosive [[shell (projectile)|shell]], effective against dug-in troops and fortifications.

== Tank destroyer ==
[[Image:NM142 x 3.jpg|thumb|right|Norwegian [[NM142]], a modern tank destroyer armed with antitank missiles.]]
{{Main|Tank destroyer}}

Self-propelled anti-tank guns, or tank destroyers, are used primarily to provide [[antitank]] support for [[infantry]] or [[tank]] units, in [[defence (military)|defensive]] or [[withdrawal (military)|withdrawal]] operations. They may mount a high-velocity anti-tank gun or sometimes an [[antitank guided missile]] launcher, or ATGM.

Tank destroyers cannot fulfill the many roles of tanks; they are much less flexible, and usually lacking in anti-infantry capability, but they are much less expensive to manufacture, maintain, and resupply than tanks.

Gun-armed tank destroyers have been largely supplanted by the more general-purpose tanks and ATGM launchers since Second World War, with lightly-armoured ATGM carriers used for supplementary long-range antitank capabilities, and to replace tanks in light or [[airborne forces]].

== Tankette ==
[[Image:Ozelot.jpg|thumb|German [[Wiesel 1|Wiesel]], a related modern tankette concept, seen here in the ''Ozelot'' anti-air version.]]

{{Main|Tankette}}

A tankette is a small armoured fighting vehicle with a crew of one or two, similar to a tank, intended for infantry support or reconnaissance. Most had no [[gun turret|turret]] and were armed with one or two [[machine gun]]s, or rarely with a heavier gun or grenade launcher. Tankettes were produced between about 1930 and 1941, but the concept was abandoned because of its limited utility and vulnerability to anti-tank weapons. Their role was largely taken over by armoured cars.

[[Image:TK-3.jpg|thumb|left|Polish [[TK-3]]]]
A classic design was the British [[Carden Loyd tankette]]—many others were modelled after it. Japan was among the most prolific users of tankettes, producing a number of designs, which they found useful for [[jungle warfare]].

Other tankettes are the British [[Universal carrier]] and the Polish [[TKS]].




== See also ==
{{commonscat|Armored fighting vehicles}}

* [[Self-propelled anti-aircraft]]
* [[Armoured car]]
* [[Armoured train]]
* [[Aerosan]]
* [[Combat engineering vehicle]]
* [[Armoured recovery vehicle]]
* [[Armoured vehicle-launched bridge]]
* [[Technical (fighting vehicle)]]
* [[Tachanka]]
* [[Katyusha]]
* [[Armoured warfare]]
* [[Vehicle markings of the United States military]]
* [[List of armoured fighting vehicles]]
* [[Tank classification]]
* [[Vehicle armour]]
* [[List of main battle tanks by country]]

[[Category:Armoured fighting vehicles|*]]

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