{{Mergefrom|Infantry mobility vehicle|date=September 2007}}
{{Unreferenced|date=December 2007}}
'''Armoured personnel carriers''' (APCs) are [[armoured fighting vehicle]]s developed to transport [[infantry]] on the [[battle]]field. 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 or [[Caterpillar track|tracks]]. Examples include the American [[M113]] (tracked), the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[FV 432 AFV|FV 432]] (tracked), the [[France|French]] [[Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé|VAB]] (wheeled), the [[Germany|German]] [[Boxer MRAV|GTK Boxer]] (wheeled) and the Soviet [[BTR-60|BTR]] (wheeled). More heavily armed and armoured are [[Infantry fighting vehicle]]s, which are designed for direct combat.

==History==

[[Image:M113.jpg|thumb|The [[M113]], one of the most common tracked APCs, on duty during the [[Vietnam War]].]]

[[Image:Bt7 6.jpg|thumb|Some forces practiced very dangerous [[tank desant]] tactics before the widespread adoption of APCs]]

During [[World War I]], when the [[tank]] was developed, the British [[Mark I (tank)|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 tank|Mark IX]] of 1918.

During World War II, [[half-track]]s such as the American [[M3 Half-track|M3]] and the German [[SdKfz 251]] played a role similar to the armoured personnel carriers that were developed later on. Another forerunner to the APC during this time was the British [[Universal Carrier]] also known as the Bren Carrier for the weapon it was designed to carry. Often, APCs were simply [[armoured car]]s with the capacity for carrying troops, but they evolved into purpose-built vehicles to suit the demands of motorised warfare from [[World War II]].

In 1944, the commander of [[2nd Canadian Corps]], General [[Guy Simonds]], ordered the conversion of 72 [[United States|US]]-produced [[M7 Priest]] self-propelled [[howitzer]]s to personnel carriers. They were, at the time, being replaced by the British [[Ordnance QF 25 pounder]], and no future plans had been drawn up for them. The howitzer was removed, and the resulting hole was plugged with whatever steel was available. The vehicle was called [[Kangaroo (armoured personnel carrier)|Kangaroo]], after the workshop which did the conversion, which was codenamed Kangaroo. Later in the war Canadian-built [[Ram tank|Ram]] tanks were used as a basis for the majority of conversions, as they were replaced by US Sherman tanks, and the original Kangaroos were converted back to self-propelled howitzers and returned to American forces.

After the war different specialised APCs were developed. The United States developed a series of tracked vehicles, culminating in the [[M113]] "box on tracks", of which 80,000 were made. The [[Soviet Union]] developed the wartime [[BTR-40]] into a series of 8-wheeled APC.

At the end of the 1980s, [[Israel]] converted captured [[T-55]] tanks to APCs, reminiscent of WWII conversions. The result is one of the best protected APCs in the world, called [[IDF Achzarit]].

The [[infantry fighting vehicle]] is a development of the armoured personnel carrier concept.

Currently Israel has bought and is manufacturing over 150 new [[Wolf Armoured Vehicle|Wolf's]].

==Technology==
[[Image:Dzik-3.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Polish Army|Polish]] [[Dzik|Dzik-3s]] of the Iraqi Army]]
[[Image:GTK Boxer front.JPG|thumb|200px|right|[[Boxer MRAV|GTK Boxer]] German/Dutch APC (here: a [[German Army]] model)]]
[[Image:VAB armoured personnel carrier DSC00846.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A French [[Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé|VAB]], one of the most common wheeled APCs]]

Most armoured personnel carriers use a [[diesel engine]] comparable to that used in a large [[truck]] or in a typical city [[bus]] (APCs are often known to troops as 'Battle Taxis' or 'Battle Buses'). The M113 for instance used the same engine as the standard [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] urban bus.

Most APCs are amphibious. Usually tracked APCs are powered by their tracks in the water, and wheeled APCs have propellors or [[water jet]]s. Preparations for amphibious operations usually comprises checking the integrity of the hull and folding down a trim vane in front. Swimming required fairly still waters, and good entry and exit points. Speed in water is typically 3-6 km/h.

Armour on APCs are usually composed of simple steel or [[aluminium]], sufficient for protection against small arms fire and most shell fragments. Just about any type of anti-tank weapon can defeat the armour of an APC.

The usual armament for an APC is a 12.7 (.50") or 14.5 mm heavy [[machine gun]]. This is mounted on top of the vehicle, either on a simple [[pintle mount]], sometimes with a gun shield, or a small turret. Sometimes an automatic [[grenade launcher]] is used instead.

== See also==
*[[Half-track]]
*[[Infantry fighting vehicle]]
*[[List of modern armoured fighting vehicles]]

{{commons|Armoured personnel carrier}}

[[Category:Armoured fighting vehicles by type]]
[[Category:Armoured personnel carriers|*]]
[[Category:Armoured warfare]]

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[[da:Pansret mandskabsvogn]]
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[[el:Τεθωρακισμένο Όχημα Μεταφοράς Προσωπικού]]
[[es:Transporte blindado de personal]]
[[ko:병력 수송 장갑차]]
[[hr:Oklopni transporter]]
[[id:Pengangkut personel lapis baja]]
[[it:veicolo trasporto truppe]]
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[[nl:Armoured personnel carrier]]
[[ja:装甲兵員輸送車]]
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[[pl:Transporter opancerzony]]
[[pt:Veículo blindado de transporte de pessoal]]
[[ru:Бронетранспортёр]]
[[sl:Oklepni transporter]]
[[vi:Thiết vận xa]]
[[tr:Zırhlı Personel Taşıyıcı]]
[[zh:装甲输送车]]