Tanks and Armored Vehicles (20th Century Weapons)

lOf h CENIURY WEAPON!

I

D

inn

ir~^

~OTi

SAN RA> .HARY SAN RAc-.u,, CALIFORNIA

£22 \X

©Aladdin Books

Designer

Malcolm Smythe

Art Director

Charles Matheson

Series Editor

James McCarter

Designed and produced by

Franklin

Editor

Jenny Mulhern

Aladdin Books Ltd

387 Park Avenue South

New York NY

First published in

Ltd

United States

Consultant

Charles Messenger

70 Old Compton Street

Researcher

John MacClancy

London

Illustrators

Rob Shone

in

the

1984 by

Watts

10016

W1 ISBN 0-531-04868-3

Nick

May

Printed

in

Belgium

Library of

Congress

Catalog Card No. 84-51224

The publishers would like to thank the following organizations and of this book: Barrand Stroud Ltd; British Aerospace Dynamics; Bofors Ordnance; FerrantiPLC; Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation; Christopher FFoss; GIAT; General Dynamics Corporation; Honeywell; International Defence Review; Krauss-Maffei; Martin

individuals for their help in the preparation

Marietta; Oerlikon Military Products; The Plessey Group; Racal-

Decca; Saab-Scania AB; Teledyne Continental Motors; ThomsonBrandt; Thomson-CSF; Thorn EMI Electronics and Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering.

Photographic Credits: 4/5 Ian

V Hogg;

8/9 The MacClancy Collection, Teledyne

Continental Motors, Interavia, Ian V Hogg, Swedish Embassy; 1 0/1 TASS; 12/13 Malcolm Smythe; 14/15 Malcolm Smythe, MARS;

& Stroud

24/25 GIAT, Christopher F 34 to 44 Ian V Hogg, The MacClancy Collection and Charles Messenger. 1

8/1

9 Barr

Foss; 30/31

C

Ltd; Rainer Karras;

M Harvey, British Aerospace;

THIS All A RM OREO fEHfGLE IAN

HOGG

o

FRANKLIN HAITI New York London •

•

Toronto

•

Sydney

WtM)G[ta(£tolI)

(CaDnntemft

The armored vehicle is a combination of mobility, protection and firepower, and the relative importance of each of these features depends upon the task the vehicle

is

intended to perform.

that

will rely

on

A light

and will give protection and firepower less importance; a main battle tank will be concerned with firepower and protection; a self-propelled gun will have little or no protection but will place most importance on firepower and mobility. Protection means armor and this means that armies must have weapons which can defeat armor. Firepower means guns and the ammunition tank for scouting

mobility,

goes with them. In the case of tanks, the to defeat another tank's

ammunition must be able protection. Mobility

means engines and

transmissions, powerful and strong

enough

to stand

the hardships of battle. These are the three basics.

How they are mixed together is the reason that tanks

come in different shapes and

sizes.

But as well

must be other things: sights, to allow the gun to be used effectively, ammunition storage, and radio sets to communicate with other tanks. And, of course, there must be men to operate as these basics, there

the tank.

Variety of tanks

Although the main battle tank is the star of the military show, there are many other kinds of

armored vehicle needed to carry out a variety of The first tanks were designed simply to

tasks.

their way through a line of defenses and allow infantry to follow up and complete the victory.

smash

But as warfare got

became

more complicated, so

the task

Today's tanks still aim break through the enemy's defenses, but the infantry now needs armored vehicles of its own in which it can ride and, if necessary, fight from. Tanks can break down and need to be rescued. If this less easily defined.

to

happens in the front line, then the rescuer needs to be in an armored vehicle, but one with special equipment to allow repair or recovery of brokendown tanks. Armored troops on the move are easily attacked from the air, by fixed-wing aircraft or by helicopters, and so there is a need for special armored gun-carriages with anti-aircraft weapons and radar. Supporting artillery has to be able to

accompany the tanks in battle, and so heavy guns have to be mounted on tracked and armored mountings.

Anatomy of a Tank

6

Suspension and Tracks

8

The Powertrain

10

Tank Crew

12

The Crew's Role

14

Turret

and Gun

Rangefinding and Sighting

16 18

Ammunition and Armor

20

Protection

22

Tank Family

24

The Tank in Combat

26

Supply Line

28

Anti-tank

30

Future Tanks?

32

Tanks and Armored Vehicles: History and Development

33

Tanks and Armored Vehicles in Service

Today

45

Glossary

46

Index

47

Above:

Alvis Scorpion reconnaissance vehicles

AffiMtoffifly ®ff In spite of the

a TTsunlk

many differences in detail between

models of tanks in service today, most tanks are designed and constructed in a similar manner. This illustration is of the French AMX-40 main battle tank and shows the basic parts which the different

are

common to all tanks.

There are two main units, the hull and the turret. hull is an armored box which carries the suspension and road-wheels, surrounded by the tracks, on its outside. At the back of the hull is the

The

engine and transmission, driving the drive sprockets at the rear comers. The drive sprockets connect to

two toothed wheels which engage in the both sides and drive them around. At the front of the hull

sits

tracks

on

the driver with his

He has his own hatch for getting in and and when conditions allow he can raise his it

seat so that his

head

closes the hatch,

where he

and is

relies

he lowers

his seat,

on periscopes

to

8 Commander's TV monitor 9 Commander's instruments panel 10 Commander's telescope 11 Radio sets 12 Nuclear, Ballistic and Chemical

compartment Main gun ammunition 14 Engine compartment 13

be able

21

going.

on the hull and Beneath it is the basket which carries the floor and upon which the gunner, loader and tank commander can stand. The basket is fixed to the turret so that it revolves with it; some Russian tanks do not have a basket, but revolve the floor turret

revolves

with the

fits

on

into the turret ring

rollers.

turret.

Inside the turret

is

A hatch in the turret roof allows the commander and

out,

20.

the gun, with a

machine gun alongside it. Ammunition is usually stored in the hull. Sometimes it is stored in the bustle at the back of the turret as well, as in the AMX-40. There will also be radio and fire control equipment inside the turret. to get in

and there are periscopes

for

him

Road-wheels

Armored

skirts

Driver's controls

to

use when the hatch is closed. There is also another hatch for the loader and gunner to use. The commander has a machine gun outside his hatch,

and there are also sights and night vision equipment mounted on the roof of the turret.

120mmgun

22 Coaxial machine gun 23 Coaxial machine gun ammunition

Turret unit

The

Driving wheels Tracks

20 Driver's compartment

through the hatch and he can

When in battle,

see to drive. to see

is

Smoke grenade

6 Machine gun 7 Searchlight

15 16 17 18 19

controls. out,

Night vision camera launchers 3 Gunner's telescope 4 Gunner's TV monitor 5 Gunner's instruments panel 1

2

19.

DnsflaDDQ aoimdl TTrrsKsIk In

some ways

makes

a tank

own road as

its

goes

it

discomfort which the crew can stand that really sets

by continually laying out its tracks, rolling over them and then picking them up behind. The track is driven around by the transmission, and the tank travels on it by means of its road-wheels. The

the top speed of any armored vehicle.

way the road-wheels

solid

along,

are attached to the tank

called the suspension-, there

doing

it.

The

first

is

are various ways of

it

of the

Christie,

first

successful spring systems

developed

Russia and

Britain.

rubber

tires,

in the U.S. but

was

bumpy to ride in. Because these first tanks moved only at walking speed, the men inside could still do their work. But when speeds

was

widely used

the

in

This uses large road-wheels with

capable of moving vertically

against a spring. Large wheel

tanks had none; the wheels were

attached directly to the tank, and as a result

One

movements can be

made and shocks are absorbed very well, allowing the tank to move quite fast over rough country.

extremely

increased,

it

became necessary to use

springs

between the wheels and the hull so as to soak up some of the bumping. In fact, it is the amount of

Torsion bar spring

The next important system was the torsion bar, developed by the Germans. Here a long steel rod stretches across the floor of the tank; one end is firmly locked, while the other end carries an arm,

at

M60A2 and hydro-pneumatic suspension

T34/85 and Christie suspension

^^y^y^j

Shock absorbers

^Lr*<^

roj^vA^^-"'

——

J\

.

Road-wheel Piston

\ \ UJ

Suspension arm

o)

A

^#

Suspension arm

Road-w

Wheel moves up

Christie suspension

Hydro-pneumatic suspension

The

With hydro-pneumatic systems the road-wheel

Christie suspension uses very large road-wheels

working against

amount also

coil

of vertical

an arm with a piston attached. This works

springs so as to have a large

movement.

This absorbs shock

conforms to rough surfaces very

rapidly.

and

oil

and

that

it

air;

movement

in

is

held on

a cylinder of

of the piston compresses the air so

acts like a spring.

Track bashing on

the

end of which

is

M1 main

battle tank

As the wheel rod, which acts to this system the bottom of the tank,

the road-wheel.

moves up and down, so it twists the as a powerful spring. One drawback that it takes up space in making the tank higher than is

is

perhaps desirable.

modern tanks use hydro-pneumatic

Several

which the "spring" is a tank of compressed gas and oil. As the wheel moves, it pushes a piston against the oil which puts pressure on the gas. The resistance acts as a spring. One advantage of this is that by altering the pressure of systems

the gas is

in

is

it

can also lift the tank obstacles or lower it to conceal It

to raise or

is

made from many

with pins so that the complete track

possible to raise or lower the tank. This

done on the Swedish "S-Tank"

the gun.

Track bashing

The tank's track

lower

damage

it.

is

maximum

tracks are of steel, to give tracks use rubber pads

to "see" over

links,

on the

grip

and

Most

life;

some

so as to reduce the

steel,

to hard roads, particularly

held together

flexible.

in

peacetime

maneuvers. Over a period of time the track stretches,

and Leopard

2

it

becomes necessary

Removing the

and torsion bar suspension

links

is

to

remove one or two

links.

a matter of brute force rather than

high technology: they are simply "bashed" out with a

hammer. After

£»»^fc-_

a period of service the

whole

track

is

replaced.

Swedish S-tank

!S8

S-Tank The Swedish S-Tank uses

a

hydro-pneumatic suspension

which can be controlled, to elevate and depress the gun. By increasing or decreasing the cylinders, the front of the

Road-wheel

Torsion bar In this

system the road-wheel arm

is

attached to the end of

a steel rod firmly fixed to the chassis.

twists the rod,

Movement

and the natural springiness of the

absorbs the shocks.

of the steel

arm

air

pressure

in

the

tank can be raised or lowered.

PTTS11

On® IPcDw^irteofinn All

the machinery necessary to

make

the tank

move

compartment though this has not always been the case. In modern tanks, though, the engine and the transmission, which includes the gearbox and the steering device, are usually in one combined unit; this makes it easier to install and also to change in the field should any defect occur. is

at the rear,

usually together in a

Automatic transmission

The engine

same

Specialized designs

that the fuel

is

is

less inflammable, but

engines are "multi-fuel. " This

means

many modem

that with a

simple adjustment they can operate on gas, diesel, jet fuel or

almost any other

fuel available.

Turbo-

which exhaust gases drive a compressor more air and fuel into the engine, increases

charging, in to force

the

amount of power without increasing the actual size. The American M- 1 Abrams Tank utilizes

from the transmission goes out to the driving sprockets at the rear of the tank. These turn to move the track. But before this can be done the steering mechanism has to be included. Steering a tank

is

drive

not

The engine

is

coupled

directly to the transmission,

drives the

two

driving sprockets at the

rear of the track.

controls

The engine and gear

must extend through the

to the driver's position

10

which

in

hull

the front.

like steering

a vehicle with wheels,

although the first tanks actually dragged a pair of wheels behind them for steering. Tanks are steered by slowing down the track on one side and speeding up the track on the other, so that the tank turns in the direction of the slow track. This could be done by simply putting a brake on one track. But it is more efficient if it is done by a type of gearbox which automatically slows down one track and speeds up the other, according to how much the driver

moves

system.

shows the powertrain of a main

the

need- for the driver to select them.

a completely different powerplant, a turbine engine.

battle tank.

much

now use some form of automatic transmission with a device called a torque converter which acts as a variable gearbox; this gives a wide selection of gears but without the

is

This

is

a larger range of gears. Most tanks

engine

Powertrain

which

as that used by an ordinary car but usually has

The

The engine needs to be extremely powerful to move 50 tonnes (49 tons) at fast speed, but the amount of space is limited so it must be very compact. This has led to some very specialized designs. Gasoline and diesel have both been used. The advantage of diesel

drives into a gearbox,

his steering control. This

mechanism

usually incorporated into the transmission

T52son

exercise

11

TWk £ir®w Experience has

shown

that the tank

crew is best as a

four-man team: the tank commander, gunner, loader and driver. The

says where the tank

commander is

in charge;

he

go and what targets the The gunner sits alongside the

will

gunner will shoot at. gun, usually below the commander, looking through his turret

sights.

He

controls the

movement of the

so that he can aim the gun. In addition, the

manning

tanks. In the early days,

when they were

seen as "land battleships," tanks were made with several small turrets, each with a machine-gunner,

in

main turret. The commander had his full trying to control them all. At the other hands extreme was the two-man tank, with only a driver and a commander who was expected to command the tank and also act as his own gunner. addition to the

commander has an overriding control of the turret. necessary he can swing it on to a target which the gunner has not seen. The loader stands on the other side of the gun from the gunner; his job is to load the gun with the type of ammunition ordered by the commander. When not doing this he may also operate the radio. The driver sits apart from the other three men in his seat in the hull and drives If

the tank according to the

He is

commander's

instructions.

also responsible for doing mechanical checks,

oiling and adjusting the engine and tracks, whenever he has the opportunity. In the past there have been other ideas about

Chieftain main battle tank and crew

12

Vehicles with small crews

Armored

cars

and reconnaissance vehicles have a

smaller crew, usually three or sometimes two.

Because part of the art of reconnaissance is to see and not be seen, the vehicles are smaller than a tank and it is difficult to fit in a four-man crew. Some tanks do not have the loader but rely upon an automatic mechanical loading device controlled by the commander. This saves space, but it also places

some

restrictions

upon

the

movement

of the

gun, since wherever the gun goes, the automatic

loader has to go with

it.

In the

Swedish S-Tank, the

Crew positions Shown below are some of the alternative crew positions adopted with

gun

is

firmly fixed in the hull, so that the automatic

loader remains whole tank has

in the

same place. Because

be moved

the

aim the gun, the driver actually acts as the gunner. The commander also has controls allowing him to move the tank and aim the gun. On the other hand, some armies to

to

mechanical loaders, since they might break down in battle or, even worse, injure the crew if they develop faults. distrust

its

in

different

engine

in

mam battle tanks.

the front.

It

First

is

the Stank,

has a three-man crew and

two stations of combined gun-laying and driving controls. In the four-man Chieftain, the commander is seated below the cupola, with the gunner below him and the loader standing to one side. The driver

is

the tank. The third arrangement

seated low at the front of

is

based on the Soviet

T-72 The use of an automatic loading system .

the crew can be reduced to

commander. driver in a

designers,

Finally,

driver,

means that

gunner and

an experimental option of having the

prone position has been considered by tank in

an attempt to save space

inside.

Living conditions

There all

is

not a great deal of room inside a tank after

the machinery has

been

fitted inside. In

some

Three-man crew, front-engined tank

cases the designers, intent on producing a low tank which can be easily concealed, have made it necessary to hand pick the crews one French tank could not have crewmen taller than 1.72m (5ft 8in), Once inside the tank, and with the hatches closed, ;

the conditions are

tiring.

The noise of the

engine, the

- in spite of ventilation and even air conditioning are severe enough. When the strain of actual combat is added,

movement

of the vehicle, heat and fumes

Four-man crew, rear-engined tank

with the need to perform a variety of duties accurately

and

quickly, only well-trained

and

crews can produce the answers. In conditions of nuclear or chemical attack, it is possible that the tank crew may have to remain sealed inside the vehicle for 24 hours or more. disciplined

Because there

is

a

human crew in the tank,

necessary to take into account

must

their needs-,

it

is

they

carry bedding, food, water, medical

equipment, spare clothing, personal weapons and belongings. Above all, the crew must be able to get along with each other in confined conditions. Armored Personnel

Three-man crew, rear-engined tank

Carrier being resupplied

Three-man crew

(driver lying prone) rear-engined

tank

13

rarely operate as individual units; they are almost always part of a group of tanks, and are often accompanied by infantry, so that everyone

Tanks

What the tank crew see in

the group can give protection to each other. Although the tank crew operates as a small team,

work commander, therefore, will be given some specific job to do by his immediate chief, the troop commander - "Move forward to the wood in front. " He does not need to be told "Take up a firing position when you get there," or "Make sure the enemy don't see you moving" - these things come automatically as a result of training. So, on receiving his orders, the it

is,

in fact, part

of a larger team and must

in concert with them. The tank

commander will look at his

objective, study the

ground between, decide on his route and check the area to see if he can spot any enemy. He will then give instructions to his driver as to the route he is going to take. starts the

When all is understood,

tank and

moves

the

[~~1

Gunner

the driver

off on the route given to

him, corrected from time to time by the

commander. Meanwhile

CZICommande/

commander

How the crew functions Each

scans

all

member of the crew

perform and each

is

has

his

own

particular job to

some other man's his work can be

capable of doing

around for signs of enemy activity. The gunner and loader use their optical devices to do the same,

job, so that

giving three pairs of eyes looking out for danger. At

the area around the tank (above) by means of their

the

same time

the other tanks of the group are also

watching, ready to protect by

fire

the tank which

is

moving.

driver take

most

there he could

fire at

the

enemy while having

the best possible protection against being attacked. the

how to

watch through

As soon as any member of the crew sees an enemy he tells the commander through the intercom telephone worn by each man. Once the commander has spotted the target, he decides on his action, and gives orders to the loader and gunner; the loader loads the gun as the gunner aims it. The gun is fired and the loader immediately reloads while the gunner watches the target ready to re-aim and fire again if necessary. During all this the driver has been steadily driving on his set route. However, if the commander thinks he has time and it would be useful, then he might order the driver to move off the route to take up a concealed position.

commander has completed the move

ordered, taken

up a

and checked that is clear of enemy, he will radio back to the troop commander and the next tank or tanks can move. While the tanks perform this leap-frog, the infantry accompany the moves.

the ground in front

14

is

injured

different viewing equipment.

deciding

Once

any member

The commander and

interest in the outside, since they are

concerned with the route the tank takes and with

Teamwork

From

if

shared. They also share certain tasks, such as observing

firing

position

operate, although the gunner must

his sight for targets,

sights are set correctly.

Commander's

station

and make sure the

Ford Aerospace

DIVADS air-defense system

DIVADS This

is

the Ford Aerospace DIVADS

(Division Air

Defense System),

designed to counter-attack aircraft

and

tactical

enemy

homing

has a crew of three, twin

missiles.

It

40mm guns

with a total of 698 ready-to-use

rounds of ammunition, and computer-controlled radars.

Gunner's station

Driver's

compartment

15

Utarotf The

turret

of the tank

aonndl is its

(Emm

nerve center, containing

does the gun, sights, fire control equipment, radio and vision devices. Its other name, the "fighting compartment," sums up what it is there

as

it

for.

the

To protect all this apparatus the turret is usually most thickly armored area, making it extremely

heavy. Powerful motors allow

it

to

be turned very

be quickly dealt with. At has to be able to move very

rapidly so that a target can

the

same time

it

aim the gun accurately. The gun is and depress - swing up and down -

chamber into which some gas flows when is fired;

after firing, the

the muzzle so that a current

gas

away from

inside

which

grip the shell

shell stays point-first as

Gun

recoil

recoils due to the force of the sudden and heavy strain on the turret. To relieve some of this strain the gun has a muzzle brake on its end; this is an arrangement of baffles which collects some of the gas pushing out the shell and directs it sideways and slightly backwards, so that it acts against the recoil and reduces the force. When the gun has fired and the breech is opened to reload, some of the propelling it

it

harmlessly

barrel

it, so that the through the air. The

which has no

case, the shell has fins to

its

and spin

flies

it

now coming more into use,

smooth-bored

When the gun fires,

and sends

There are two types of tank gun; the most it has grooves around

other type,

the hull.

up which draws

set

common type is rifled -

able to elevate

It is arranged so that when depressed the tank can drive up the rear of a slope and fire over the top without exposing too much of

the turret

is

into the air outside.

precisely so as to

driven by motors.

gun

the

gas flows out again toward

make

the

is

In this

rifling.

sure

flies

it

The advantage of smooth-bored barrels is that they can use more powerful cartridges, since there is less friction between the shell and the barrel because there are no rifling grooves. On the other hand, they are restricted in the types of ammunition point-first.

they can

fire.

explosion, placing a

gases could flow back into the

turret;

these gases

could affect the crew, and so a "fume extractor"

placed about halfway

down the

barrel. This is a

is

Tank gun's barrel The tank gun's barrel is long and,

to try

weight low, as thin as possible.

it

If

and keep the

gets hot, either

from firing or from the heat of the Sun, it has a tendency to bend due to expansion of the metal. This can change the point of aim and the accuracy. To prevent this happening as much as possible, the barrel

is

wrapped

in a

"thermal sleeve," a thick

wrapping of insulating material which keeps

most of the

off

external heat.

3=J Elevation and depression

The shape of the tank's front and the positioning of the turret are extremely

important, since they govern the

amount the main gun can depress. Elevation

is

less

elevate and

important,

since the tank almost always fires directly at short-range targets. But a

good angle

of depression

valuable, since

it

is

most

allows the tank to

creep up the reverse side of a

by depressing

its

gun

hill

and

to the

maximum, fire over the crest without much of the hull and turret

exposing to view.

16

Ammunition

gun is stowed in two groups-, ammunition is in the fighting compartment and more is stowed in the hull. In action the loader takes ammunition from the back of the turret; as soon as there is a quiet period he brings more up from the hull and stows it in the turret. How much ammuniton is carried depends upon how big the ammunition is and how much space can be found. It is rare to be able to put in more than 50 rounds. Some Soviet tanks carry as little as 20 rounds, which means that there is a danger of running out of ammunition during a battle. Resupplying tanks with ammunition is a constant problem for commanders.

The

Israeli

Hypervelocity

(HVMS) 60

Medium Support System

turret carries a

mm high-velocity gun

60

and an autoloader which has fo jr magazines each holding 7 rounds, allowing four different types of

ammunition

\

1

for the

the "ready-use"

Autoloader

to be carried.

\v

Commander

xJsG&yJ

\

"n

»

L^^^^y^ j^y/i

s*-~>.

Automatic loading devices Where automatic loading devices are fitted, they can work from a magazine in the turret or they can automatically bring it up from the hull stowage. They are operated by the recoil of the gun, after the first round has been loaded by a spring rammer which pushes the round into the breech. In addition unner

mechanism must also where usually means having a

to loading fresh rounds, the

get rid of the

empty metal

these are used, and this

cartridge case,

small hatch at the rear of the turret through which

empty case can be ejected. The machine gun is carried on the same mounting as the main gun so that it moves in conjunction with it - what is called a "coaxial" mounting. The machine gun is used for firing at infantry when the power of the main gun is not needed, and it is fired by the gunner using his sights. About 5000 rounds are usually carried for it. the

Main gun ammunition

Ammunition to autoloader

Rifled barrel

Smooth-bore

keeps

Barrels

There are two types of gun used

in

gun and the smooth-bore gun. The rifled gun is

tanks today; the

rifled

traditional; the rifling

grooves spin

the shell so that the gyroscopic effect

and

it

pointing toward the target

flying accurately.

fins, relying

there

The

smooth-bored gun uses with

barrel

on the

accurate. Since the fins

a belt or "sabot"

around the

the barrel without wobbling, and

a projectile fins to

keep

must be

bigger than the body of the

is

center; this allows the shell to ride

shell,

it

in

is

then discarded outside the muzzle.

Both barrels have fume extractors to prevent

smoke

entering the turret.

17

If

a

gun

is

pointed directly

at

a target and

automatically sets

fired,

downwards during flight so will not hit at where the gun was aimed. In that order to hit properly, the gun must be raised above the target. The amount is elevated depends upon gravity will pull the shell it

it

the distance or "range" to the target. the gunner

on

knows

So

it

is vital

the range very accurately

his sight before firing. In the early

sets

it

had

to guess; later there

were various

that

and

days he

optical aids;

it.

recording the

tracks the target.

It

will

and target arrive at the same place at the same The computer does this automatically and

then

shifts the

shell

the gunner

aiming mark

now re-aims,

If

calculates the

gun elevation and

how far ahead

then calculate

time.

and the time taken for it to go and return is measured. Since the speed of light is known, a small computer can work out the precise range in no more than a second, and display it digitally in the gunner's sight. He can now set this figure, adjust the gun's elevation, and fire. computer which

by

of the gunner's sight as he

of the target the gun should be pointed, so that the

then the shell should

A better way is to pass the laser range into a

direction of the target

movement

today the laser rangefinder is used. The laser works by sending a beam of invisible light to the target; this is reflected back to the laser unit,

This computer can also

measure the speed and

Guns

hit

in the

with the

gunner's

new

sight. If

position,

the target.

stabilizer

the tank

is

moving, shooting

is

more

difficult.

Once

device called a "stabilizer" helps here.

But a

the

gunner has aimed at his target, he switches in the stabilizer and a computer "remembers" the elevation and direction of the gun in relation to an imaginary level. Then by means of sensitive motors it keeps the gun at that position no matter how the tank moves or pitches underneath it. Instead of the

/ Rangefinding

Reflected signal

and sighting array

IBIW**

5

^ Target Emitted signal

commander's

sights

Laser rangefinding

Accurate rangefinding

most

is

important factor

gunnery; because the

in

almost the tank

shell

does not

travel in a straight line, a mistake in

range could cause fall

The

short.

it

to pass over or

laser has

been adopted

because

it

takes up

and

is

very accurate.

fast

beam and

of light

is

is

space,

A

is

very

pulsed

"shot" at the target

reflected back,

taken

little

and the time

used to calculate the

distance.

It is

possible to take several

measurements in one or two seconds, average them by means of a computer, and produce an answer to within a

18

few

inches.

-

1

!

gunner's sight seeing a widely moving picture j^Err

sees a steady target, and he can

^^^^H

the position of the gun,

and

alter his

aim,

now move it

fire.

Night vision devices

For shooting

at night the sight is fitted

with "thermal

imaging" which picks up the heat given off by the target

by infrared

rays. This

is

processed into a

television-like picture in the sight

enough

Chieftain tank as seen through thermal imager

to allow

aiming

at

which

is

accurate

ranges up to two miles.

Another type of night sight is the "image intensifier" which can electronically amplify the difference light and dark and so give good vision in moonlight or starlight. The commander and driver also have these night vision devices. Some tanks also carry a very powerful searchlight which can

between

Thermal imaging

A thermal targets

imager allows tank crews to

in total

darkness.

It

relies

identify

and engage

on the difference

in

temperature between the various parts of the target and its

emit white

background, to obtain an image which can be viewed

light

or infrared light as required

and so

using the special viewing instruments and sights. Such

illuminate the target, but the "passive" thermal

images are usually seen

imager and image intensifier give off no cannot be detected by the enemy.

in

shades of black and white,

like

the one above.

light

and

Rangefinder engagement

A microcomputer takes the

Stationary Target:

2

The gunner finds a target, lays the laser marker on to it and triggers the laser.

laser

1

Moving Target: Moving target button is pressed and a grid appears

correct aim,

mark

in

and puts an aiming

view.

2 Gunner adjusts angle and speed controls until grid

1

the sight.

range, calculates the

in

3 The gunner

now

swings the

4 He

fires,

and gets

a

hit.

and moves the gun until the aiming mark covers the turret

target.

matches target speed and

Microcomputer works out and speed and course of target, displays

direction.

aiming mark.

3

4 Gunner

fires

and gets

a

hit.

correction for range

19

mmmsMmm aomdl iknniKMr

h

Tanks are protected by armor which is designed be proof against ordinary bullets and shells. Therefore special ammunition must be used to attack them. The best way to pierce armor is to shoot Steel

some extremely hard missile

is

at

not hard enough and special metals

entirely of these

gun cannot shoot

will

it

at a

it

keep it stable in flight, especially when a smoothbore gun is used. Because it is long and thin its weight can be concentrated into a small area when

high speed.

tungsten or titanium must be used. But

made

shot, or "penetrator," often carries fins in order to

to

if

be so heavy

hits the target.

HEAT shell

is

To

fire the shot at high speed demands a heavy gun, and in cases where this is not possible - light tanks, for example - other types of ammunition must be used. Most popular is the High Explosive Anti-Tank

that the

high enough speed. The

therefore

is

it

or

and leave the muzzle at high speed. Once outside the muzzle the sabot breaks off, leaving the shot to go to the target. The shot and sabot are quite

it

can thus pierce very thick armor.

like

the shot

made smaller than the gun, and the space around made up with light alloy or plastic to form a "sabot, " or carrier. When the gun is fired, the shot

It

"HEAT"

shell.

explosive in

light

This carries a charge of high

body, behind a hollow nose. The

hollowed out into a conical shape, lined with a thin metal cone. When the

explosive

which

its

is

is

shell

APFSDS ammunition ^Stabilizing fin

APFSDS The armor

sabot

piercing, fin stabilized,

splits

and

falls

away due

to air

discarding sabot (APFSDS) shot

drag, leaving the penetrator to

consists of a long dart-like penetrator

the target.

made

concentrated onto the penetrator,

metal.

of extremely hard

On

leaving the

and heavy

gun muzzle, the

driving

HESH ammunition

it

On

striking,

go

the weight

to is

through the armor.

Soft shell casing

i HESH Sguash-head

shells

and are

with a plastic explosive.

On

filled

hitting,

have a thin nose

the nose crushes, the

explosive sticks to the tank and

detonates, and a scab of plate

blown

is

into the tank.

HEATammunition

IS Warhead Hollow charge The HE Anti-Tank explosive

shaped

20

filling

shell

with

into a cone.

its

has an

forward end

When

detonated

the cone focuses the blast into a fine jet

which bores a hole through the

armor.

detonates the explosive, and shape "focuses" the blast into a fine jet of explosive gas and molten metal traveling extremely fast - about 8000 metres (5 miles) per second. When this strikes the armor its force is enough to bore a hole through the metal and spray the inside of the target with flame and fragments. strikes the target a fuse

the metal to the inside,

the conical

of metal

at

where

The armor itself is usually treated to

it

throws off a "scab"

high speed.

make

it

type called "laminated" or

been developed.

solid steel, specially

new

as hard as possible, but a

Its

exact

"Chobham" armor has makeup is secret, but it

consists of layers of different material

which

react to

A layer of plastic from a HEAT shell; hardened

the various types of ammunition.

Squash-head shell Another round is known as the "Squash-head" shell because of its action. The shell is of thin steel and carries a filling of plastic high explosive and a fuse in its

On

base.

is

squash-head

Sloping armor protects the tank

shell.

fixed to their sides covering the suspension.

Known

as bazooka plates, they provide extra protection

driven into the armor and passes through

Steel

wave from a Tanks sometimes have plates

of soft metal can absorb the shock

A powerful shock

Sloped armor

can absorb the jet

titanium rods can deflect sabot penetrators; a layer

striking the target the plastic explosive

spreads and sticks to the armor.

wave

filler

against

armor

HEAT and squash-head

Sloped

steel

shells.

armor

in

two ways: a sloped surface is likely to make the shot bounce off; by sloping the plate

it

presents a greater

L_

thickness to the attacking shot.

Apparent

Increased

thickness

apparent thickness

Missile deflected

Laminated armor Laminated armor several layers of

is

made from

armor separated by

other materials. Ceramics, massive nylon, steel or titanium rods

all

present different problems to the attacker.

Nylon or

plastic

laminate

Soft metal laminate

Titanium rod laminate

Applique armor Applique armor means armor which

is

added

to the original plating

more

of the tank to give

does

this

It

by causing the penetrator to

give

up much of

the

plate

first

protection.

its

and

energy

in

piercing

also by forcing the

penetrator to twist and so approach the next plate at an unfavorable angle.

It

also muffles the blast effect

of squash-head

and allows the

penetrative jet of its

energy

in

HEAT

shell to

waste

the space between

the plates.

21

^(Ddsstom ix m As we have seen, armor is not an absolute protection - it can be defeated by special ammunition. Protecting the tank begins when it designed, when the engineer considers what is called

on

" survivability, "

the battlefield.

armor

plating will

the ability of a tank to survive

A high,

seen, so he tries to

make

be

is

clumsy tank will be easily as low as possible. The

it

easily pierced

if

it

presents a

upright surface to the enemy's shot. So the armor surfaces are rounded and sloped in a way that is likely to make shot bounce off them instead of penetrating. The armor cannot be extremely thick all over the tank or it will be too heavy to move, so the designer must decide from which direction the worst danger is likely to come. He therefore makes the armor on the front of the tank and on the turret the thickest, placing thinner armor around the top and in the rear. Finally the tank is painted in a camouflage pattern which makes it difficult to see at

by thermal imaging devices. The camouflage net is no use when moving, and the tank commander must select his route so as to conceal himself from enemy observation as much as possible. When observing himself, he must position the tank so that he can see from the turret but keep the rest of the tank behind a rise in the ground so that it cannot be seen.

flat,

a distance.

Camouflage

When in action the tank is provided with a coarse net woven with Thrown over the tank and propped with pieces of wood, it hides the regular shape of the tank and makes it blend into its

camouflage

net; this is a

cloth of various colors.

background. In addition, the cloth

strips are

mixed

Smoke bombs and the tank is seen and shot one final concealment trick which the commander can use. On the turret are small tubes carrying smoke bombs, and these can be fired so that they land ahead of and around the tank, giving off clouds of dense white smoke. This prevents the enemy seeing him, and he can then reverse, turn, and drive into safety. Protection from air attack means special anti-aircraft tanks fitted with radar and air defense guns. These tanks move behind and at the sides of the armored formation, using their radar to sweep the sky and detect attacking aircraft. As soon as an aircraft is detected, the guns are automatically pointed in its direction and the gunner merely has to wait until it appears in his sight. A computer calculates the target speed, corrects the gunner's sight, and flashes If

the worst happens,

at,

then there

is

a signal in his sight

when the

plane

is

within range of

with special plastic strips coated with substances

the guns. Air defense tanks usually operate in

which reflect infrared rays. Because of these, the camouflage cannot be "seen" by aerial cameras or

groups, with their computers radio-linked, so that

22

they can distribute the targets between them.

Down

Hull

A tank a rise

is

in

position

"Hull

Down" when

the

hull

the ground but the turret

commander can observe and

is

is

concealed behind

clear, so that

tank

the gun can be fired;

if

gun

the

tank goes further down, concealing the gun but leaving

commander

the

clear,

it is

Down". But

"Turret

unless the

Air defense

close to the crest of the

fire

down

it,

down

rise,

the

commander will

the forward slope, nor can the

so that there

is

infantry might get close

enough

and put the tank out of

action.

the danger that stalking to fire their

weapons

Search radar signal

Radar detection

is

the only feasible

option for the detection of fast-flying

Both the

air targets.

is

not be able to see

the

i

i

«)

a) a)

a) a) I

German Gepard

and the American DIVADS

self-

_ Reflected signal

propelled anti-aircraft guns have sophisticated radars

systems. in

In

and

DIVADS, which

the sequence on the

control

fire is

profiled

right, a

radar picks up any objects within

range. The reflected signal

Attacking tank

search its

is

analyzed by computer to identify

it

as

either friend or foe.

i Tracking radar

Then a second tracking radar

signal

zfc-~

is

03 Tracking radar signal

Target

automatically locked onto the target.

The nature of the target

is

shown on

the operator's display - either missile, aircraft, helicopter or

target. Targets outside the fire

Attackin g tank

enemy

ground

range of

are displayed with smaller symbols.

The DIVADS radar system also possesses the

ability to

ground and cloud

screen out the

reflections of the

target -faint reflections that can

"fool" less sophisticated systems. This

makes

it

particularly effective

against hovering helicopters and other

low altitude

Attacking tank

targets.

23

HWk WmmMj Although the main

armored vehicles

battlefield

the spearhead of an

is

number of other

and providing vital support. The photographs on this page

fulfilling

show some armored

battle tank

division, there are a

specialized roles

of the vehicles of the French

Army

division.

page is the AMX-30 main on combat maneuvers. This tank went into service in 1967 and is the principal French tank. It carries a 105mm gun which fires HEAT shells as its only anti-tank ammunition. There are also two smoke dischargers and two machine guns. The In the center of the

battle tank

AMX-30 can (6.5ft)

ford rivers to a

maximum depth of 2m

without prior preparation.

AMX-30

support tanks There are a number of variants to the AMX-30 MBT, designed for specific battlefields tasks. Most important of these is probably the AMX-30D, an armored recovery vehicle with a crew of four — commander, driver and two mechanics. It is fitted with a bulldozer blade

at the front,

a hydraulically

operated crane and two winches capable of hauling a stricken tank out of trouble. It carries a complete spare tank engine and transmission on the back of the hull plus spare parts

and

all

necessary tools and

repair equipment.

The AMX-30 important

bridge-laying tank

specialist.

It

is

another

carries a folded-up

22m

(72 ft) bridge which can be extended in front of the

tank by hydraulic power and dropped into place across a river or other obstacle so that other vehicles

can cross over. This model has a crew of three, a

commander, AMX-30

1

55

a driver

and the bridge operator.

GCT self-propelled gun

AMX-30 Roland

missile carrier

GiatAMX-30MBT

A standard chassis The French Army also uses

the

the basis for missile launchers

AMX-30

and

chassis as

self-propelled

The advantage of this lies in reduced development and production costs. Servicing and repair become cheaper and simpler too when a standard chassis is used for the different vehicles in the armored division. And in battlefield conditions, guns.

there

is

less risk of a vehicle being out of action for

want of the

correct spare parts.

The AMX GCT Self- Propelled gun The GCT consists of a slightly modified AMX-30 chassis with a large box turret mounting a 155mm howitzer with a range of 23.5km (15 miles). The turret also carries a magazine of 42 shells and cartridges and an automatic loading system. Besides the commander and driver, there are two gunners, one in charge of aiming the gun, the other in charge of loading. The GCT can fire a burst of eight rounds within a minute and move to a new position before receiving return fire from the enemy. Missile launchers

Also based on the

and Pluton

AMX-30

chassis are the Roland

is an air defense missile system capable of dealing with

missile launchers. Roland

enemy aircraft up to 8km (5 miles) away. Also shown below is the Fire Control unit of the Shabine anti-aircraft

system, capable of attacking three

targets simultaneously. Pluton

nuclear

The

weapon with a range

missile

is

control system

AMX-30

the French tactical

120km

(75 miles).

supplied in a boxed container which

loaded by crane onto an

AMX-30 Shahine weapons

is

of

AMX-30

is

chassis.

Pluton missile carrier

25

FTT^I

m ۩m\bM,

Ukmlk

Dd®

Different types of armored vehicles different tasks

on

perform and on this page

the battlefield,

we show how the different vehicles into the picture. What we call "the battlefield" is really a series fit

of zones, from the

line

of contact where the two sides

where

face each other, to the rear areas

headquarters and supply

dumps

"battle taxi" to carry the soldiers forward in safety

and

at top

speed, disembarking

them

close to their

objective so that they can then fight in the infantry

normal

Some APCs use aluminum armor,

manner.

so that they can be carried in an our picture shows a C- 130 Hercules in the background, which can carry two or three APCs for lightness, aircraft;

are located.

with their crews and infantry squads. Light tanks

The

tank and wheeled reconnaissance tank are

light

They can move quickly, are easily concealed, and can frequently see what is going on without being seen themselves. the "eyes" of the

Their task

armored

force.

not to get involved in

is

fights,

but to find

enemy is and bring back, or radio information. Some armies use

out where the back, the

amphibious light tanks so that they will not be held up by rivers. Light tanks are frequently accompanied by a small force of mechanized infantry to protect them against attack by enemy infantry.

SP and Assault guns The attack needs to be supported by artillery, and SP guns come in various shapes and sizes. There are two broad types: the artillery weapon and the assault gun. The artillery SP gun is simply a standard artillery gun or howitzer mounted on a tracked chassis. On the previous page we saw the French GCT with an armored turret, but many SP weapons are simply a tracked hull with a gun on top, with no protection. This is because the tracks are there merely to allow the gun to be moved quickly over rough country; they are not

Main battle tanks Next comes the main of the attack.

Armed with its

dominate the least a

3km

intended to get so

spearhead powerful gun it can

battle tank, the

battlefield in

all

directions out to at

(2 miles) range, destroy

enemy tanks

and small strongpoints, crush down obstacles such as barbed wire, and force

its

way through the

it is accompanied by a ground attack aircraft which can rove ahead and deal with any ambush waiting for the tank.

MICVs first

wave

of attack by the

main

far

forward as to need protection. is shown here, is handled

which

assault gun,

differently. Its role is to travel close to the

battle tanks artillery

main

so as to be able to give them immediate

support

if

they

come up

against an obstacle

own guns to deal with. Remember guns are primarily designed for dealing with other tanks, and their ammunition is highly specialized and not well suited to firing against fortifications. In such cases the assault gun can come up to close range, because it is fully protected by armor, and fire its heavy gun - up to 155mm too hard for their that tank

defenses. In our picture

After the

The

caliber

battle

mechanized infantry moves in, riding in its Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicles. These are lightly armored, have a turret with a light gun or automatic cannon, and have enough room inside for an infantry squad of about eight men. Some vehicles have firing posts in the sides, so that the

- with

a destructive high explosive

shell.

tanks, the

MICV can actually fight its way to its the troops

the

need

MICV can

armament.

It

to get out.

give

it

Once

supporting

objective before

the infantry

fire

from

also carries light support

its

is

Tactical missile carriers

The tactical missile carrier is a battlefield support weapon. It can launch its missiles deep into the enemy area so as to hit its headquarters and supply dumps, interrupting the enemy's command and communications and destroying his supplies.

out,

turret

weapons

Support vehicles Finally

come the

support vehicles. These travel

such as mortars and anti-tank rockets.

along

APCs

This class includes bridge-laying tanks, recovery

at the rear

forward

The second wave of infantry follows

in

Armored

Personnel Carriers (APCs). These can be wheeled or tracked, are lightly armored, but carry no armament except a machine gun. Their job is simply that of a

26

but are always ready to be brought

when their

specialized services are needed.

and repair tanks, anti-tank missile launchers, ground radar carriers, tanks with devices for exploding land mines, anti-aircraft tanks and tanks with bulldozer blades for clearing obstacles.

Light tank

and helicopter troop support and reconnaissance

27

Napoleon said "An army marches on its stomach" and he would still be right today. But today the stomach needs more than just food; it needs ammunition, fuel and many other things in order to keep functioning, and it is the supply and support services which provide these things. As we have seen, tanks rarely carry more than about 50 rounds of ammunition for their gun, and this can soon be used up in a battle. Without ammunition the tank is useless, and so arrangements have to be made for ammunition to be brought as far forward as possible by supply trucks, then moved to the tanks by vehicles belonging to the tank unit. The supply trucks sometimes carry ammunition forward to some convenient spot and dump it, and the tanks fall back out of the battle, drive to the supply point, reload

with ammunition and then go back into the

fight.

Fuel supply In a similar

carry

way fuel has

enough

to

about

fuel for

be provided. Most tanks 300km (186 miles) of

cross-country driving, and this

through

at least

forward

at night,

rest period,

a day. Fuel

is

will

see them

generally brought

when the tanks have stopped for a and they are topped up ready for the

next day.

Ammunition supply

line

At the

The

same time

light repairs

can be carried

out.

and it can be adjusted. Engines can be tuned, guns cleaned, other equipment tested and adjusted as necessary. To assist in this there are light repair squads who come track tends to stretch in running,

forward

work.

in trucks specially fitted to carry out

One

truck might carry an optical

such

mechanic

and equipment for adjusting and repairing sights, another an artillery mechanic who can deal with guns and machine guns, others with specialists on engines and transmissions, radios and fire control equipment. Heavier repair facilities - for changing engines and guns, for example - will be set up back along the supply line. Again, special squads will carry out this work. When operations are being conducted a long way from fixed bases, or where an enemy attack has interrupted the normal supply lines, then supplies can be brought in by air. Large helicopters can bring ammunition, food and fuel and deliver them as close to the troops as possible, since they can land almost anywhere. Heavier equipment - engines, guns, spare vehicles - can be brought in by large transport aircraft, but these need some sort of landing ground and cannot be brought in as close to the front line as helicopters. These supply aircraft and can also take out casualties as they return. further

repair

Support for wounded Wounded men are removed from battle

Oerlikon Air Defense Anti-Tank System Search radar

as soon as by helicopter or light vehicle, sometimes an armored ambulance, and taken back to medical facilities which are set up in stages. A first-aid post is close to the battle and gives immediate first aid, patching up wounds sufficiently to allow the men to be moved back to a better equipped mobile hospital which moves forward with the general advance. Here surgery and major treatment can be given, possible,

before the

man is

eventually

moved to

a large fixed

hospital well behind the battle area.

Information and intelligence

Support also includes the provision of information and intelligence about what the enemy is doing, and this can be gathered in several ways. Battlefield radar can watch over the area and detect movement

Missiles Missile

assembly

Fire control

systems

Control panels

of men and vehicles at long range. Pilotless

aircraft

can be flown over, using cameras, radar or infrared detectors to discover

enemy positions and bring or

back the information. Lastly, support can mean active support by firepower, using weapons not carried by the armored division. Long-range artillery and missiles can be ordered to assist in the operation by firing against rear areas or other troops which might be signal

ADATS ADATS

(Air

Defense Anti-Tank System)

designed self-contained weapon

unit.

is

It

a Swiss-

has radar,

thermal imaging and television sighting systems and

armed with multi-purpose aircraft that

These can be

enemy tanks, or against may be supporting a ground

against either attacking

enemy

missiles.

attack.

is

fired

One experimental weapon which might be used for this is ADATS - Air Defense called in to the defense.

and Anti-Tank System, an armored carrier with missiles which can be used against aircraft or against ground targets.

Heavy transport supplies

Mobile

field hospital

Mobile workshops

29

A

IQtMSlflQlk

Because the tank troops,

much

is

effort

the principal threat to ground

has gone into developing

weapons with which those troops can defend themselves against tanks. The problem

is

different

by the tank gunner, since the infantryman cannot have such a heavy weapon as a to that faced

tank gun; he needs something but

still

light

and

portable,

and recoilless guns of up to 120mm caliber can be moved quite easily. Rocket launchers and recoilless guns, however, have one common fault; they emit a flash and a stream of gas when fired which gives away the light,

firer's

position.

If

he

fails to hit

may not get the chance to

he

with the

fire

first

round,

a second one.

capable of stopping the heaviest tank.

The infantryman's personal anti-tank weapon is a and there are several different types in use. These all rely upon a small rocket carrying a HEAT warhead which will pierce armor by its explosive effect. The U.S. Dragon is an example of this sort of weapon.

Anti-tank missile

Today

This

is becoming the weapon. This is a rocket, carrying a HEAT warhead, which is guided in flight. The firer lines up his sight on the tank and fires the rocket, which unrolls a spool of wire as it goes. The sight contains an infrared detector which sees a flare in the tail of the missile and compares the position of this flare with the centerline of the sight. A computer calculates the difference and steers the missile back

in

into the sight line. Provided the firer

shoulder-fired rocket

Recoilless guns

For heavier support the recoilless gun can be used. is a light gun, firing HEAT or Squash-head shells, which some of the explosion of the cartridge is allowed to flow through a jet nozzle at the back of the gun. This, in effect, pushes the gun forward in opposition to the recoil, so that the gun stays still. Because there is no recoil, the mounting can be very

Dragon Dragon

an American anti-tank

can be operated by an

infantryman

its

solid

in

the

field.

It is

shot

tube and navigates to

target by using

30

pairs of

miniature thrusters around the missile body.

keeps

his

The infantryman

crosswires on the target

and the thrusters are automatically adjusted by corrective signals sent via wires.

Dragon can

also

be used

with night-sighting equipment.

Another infantry anti-tank weapon is

in

TOW, which

has been produced numbers than any other The initials stand for Tube-

greater

missile.

launched, Optically-tracked, Wireguided, which

sums up how the

system operates. Another infantry system,

LAW-80

is

currently under

development by the

30

on

the tank at

line

on

and

British

Army.

all

will

keeps

times, the missile will

strike the target. Scientists are

"fire -and -forget"

then find their

Dragon shoulder-fired anti-tank is

missile that

from a

the anti-tank missile

principal infantry

missile

missiles

fly

his sight

into the

now working

which can be

own way to the target.

fired

and

Hughes AH-1 5 Cobra

Cobra Helicopter The armed helicopter attacking tanks.

cannon,

is

the newest

Armed with

method

missiles

and

of

fast-firing

has thermal imaging and optical sights for

it

night and day use, which are stabilized so that the

gunner can keep

his

aim while the helicopter

moving about. The gunner his

W~

pointed to the

an

also has a special sight

"slaved" to the

same

spot.

weapons

on

so that

The helicopter cannot be

heard by the tank crew and

behind trees and

hills

it

can conceal

very easily,

itself

coming out

to

attack at high speed.

Copperhead cannon-launched guided

is

is

wherever he looks the weapons are automatically

Copperhead Copperhead

helmet which

is

projectile

artillery shell,

intended to combat tanks at long ranges. Fired from the standard 1

55mm

detector

howitzer, in its

it

contains a laser

nose, a

warhead, wings and control the target end,

it

Warhead

HEAT fins.

At

needs an observer

with a laser projector, either on the

ground or

in

an

aircraft.

section

Fin

British

""M^Z-Wing

Guidance section

Aerospace Swingfire

The

observer points the "target

designator" at the tank; the reflected laser signal

is

picked up by

the Copperhead shell and this

causes a control unit to steer the shell,

hit

by

means

the target.

of the fins,

Copperhead has shown kill-rate,

even

down

to

In trials,

when

a high

the gun has

been deliberately misaimed. Swingfire has a shorter range, and

has versions which can be fired

from armored

vehicles, helicopters

or by an infantryman.

31

IFunttar®

Ukrife?

Although the tanks of today appear to be as good as they can be, designers are already at work on the next generation which will succeed them. Their task is a difficult one; the tank must have survivability; it must have firepower; and it must be affordable. Today's tanks cost over 1 h million dollars each, and tomorrow's tanks must not cost much more or nobody will be able to afford them. This is particularly important, because nowadays many countries have less money to spend on defense. x

remote control by the crew who will be inside the An advantage of this is that the bulk and height will be reduced, making the tank easier to conceal. A Swedish idea similar to this is to have the gun recessed into a trough in the hull top, raising hull of the tank.

when

it

tanks, perhaps there

is

necessary to fire. Other people are questioning the role of the tank; if it is now seen mainly as a vehicle for fighting other it

hydraulically

more nimble vehicle, simply calling

Tanks with no

One

remember that

turret

idea being explored

is

that of having

no

turret,

but putting the gun in a small armored casing on top

of the tank hull where

automatic loader,

it

it

it

will

can rotate. Fitted with an be aimed and fired by

The Pod concept One idea being put forward

is

a case for

making a

lighter,

carrying a powerful gun,

a "tank hunter.

"

But

and

this fails to

a basic job of the tank

is

to assist

and hold ground. Even if tank hunters are employed, there will still be a need for a battle tank capable of destroying enemy defenses and putting the advancing troops where they want to be. the infantry to capture

Fire

to

is

Control System pod

design a basic chassis and then

develop "pods" to

suit different

them to the chassis. The "crew and engine" pod would be common; a battle tank would have a "gun turret pod," while an roles

and

MICV

fit

could have a "troop-carrier"

pod and

a recovery vehicle a "crane

pod." One attraction of

economy, since

this idea

special hulls

is

would

not have to be developed for each type of vehicle.

MICV pod

Lightweight chassis frame

and road-wheels 32

Complete APC pod

Ttate aoDDdl AmnncDrr®dl W®Dnfe P®w®n®[piM®mtl

IHInstoiiy gonad!

The

The Second World War demonstrated

history of armored vehicles stretches back

almost as

far

as the history of human conflict

war chariots were

in

use thousands of years ago

predicted by

to

measure of protection against enemy weapons. Those criteria hold good for the mechanized vehicles of modern increase battlefield mobility and provide a

warfare.

World War I The first tanks were

built

by Britain and France

War

during the middle of World attacking

was

to secure a

exploit.

as a

I

enemy troop lines. The breach

of

role of the tank

for the supporting infantry to

So successful were they

became

clear that the tank

factor in

any future

was

that

to

it

technological development.

a vital

Anti-tank weapons

was

considerable

New suspension

arduous for crews and increased tank speeds and both armor and

systems

many military thinkers of the pre-war

Tanks had been shown to play a major role in both offensive and defensive warfare in a variety of terrains and battlefield conditions. In particular, the success of both the German Panther and the Russian T-34 highlighted that the tank must combine mobility, firepower and protection in proportion, and not sacrifice an increase in one quality at the expense of another. Post-war tank design concentrated on these three themes, employing the new materials available and the new period.

electronic technologies.

rapidly

become

conflict.

During the 1920s and 30s there

made life

means

that tanks

held the key to ground supremacy, as had been

itself

less

armaments were boosted. Military thinking kept pace with these changes and many countries

As decisive as the tank had been during the Second World War, and as it was later to prove to be in the conflicts in Korea and the Middle East, its future has often been called into question. The major military powers have invested a great deal of money and technological expertise into developing effective

established specialized tank formations.

anti-tank

weapons systems. Today,

infantryman using a

relatively

a single

inexpensive shoulder-

World War II The most striking and successful examples of these new tank divisions were the German Panzers. These

costing millions of dollars. Helicopters, too, have

played a dominating role

against tanks.

in the Blitzkrieg tactics

which enabled Germany to overrun Poland and other European countries at the beginning of the Second World War. During the course of the war, Germany increased her Panzer divisions from 6 to 30, and it was at this time that the role of the battle tank

became

Russian

front,

the T-34, built,

clear: to

and

destroy

conventional land warfare

enemy tanks. On the

sophisticated

British

many countries today. At

kill-rate in

combat

is

against

far

as

concerned. The

control systems

on board such

German Leopard Chieftain and French AMX-30 almost

2,

on engagement of the target. armored personnel carriers and missile launchers have been developed to fill the specialized battlefield roles which we outlined earlier guarantee a

and Western Europe, US

Sherman tanks were quite effectively pitted German Mark IVs, Panthers and Tigers.

fire

tanks as the American M-60,

tank battle in history, with over 6,000 vehicles

the

have an impressive

major element of military strength as

Kursk, in 1943, the two tanks engaged in the largest involved. In North Africa

to

Despite these developments, tanks remain the

German Panzers met their equal in in service in

proved

Modern tanks

one of the most successful tanks ever still

held guided missile launcher can knock out a tank

kill

Self-propelled guns,

in this

book.

_ 33

Mother This

(1916, Great Britain)

was the

first

and made

built,

fighting tank ever

its first trial

run on

January 12, 1916. Inside the

engine and

a Daimler gas

a

hull

was

crew

commander, driver, two "gearsmen," and two men on each gun. Two 6-pounder naval guns were of eight:

one

fitted,

at

each side

in

"sponsons," which allowed the guns a

wide sweep

wheels

at the

for aiming.

The two

back were controlled by

steel ropes.

Mark

IV (7977, Great Britain)

"Mother" and was a much improved version. The engine was in the crew compartment, giving off heat and fumes; there was no illumination, and gunsmoke drifted This resembled

in

through the various

slots.

Mother short

37mm

cannon

in

the turret.

crew. Only

Some were still in use when the Second World War broke out.

they stayed

were

1

in

built, in

service until

1

91 9, but

1

940.

Vickers Independent (7925, Britain)

St.

Chamond

(1916, France)

was the first French tank. It did not go into combat until May 1917, when it was Built in

February 1916, this

MM (1918, Germany)

This

The

powerful enough to operate by

British

and French tanks of 1916

took the Germans by surprise, and

it

It

was

had

built in

five

1

925

as a tank itself.

separate revolving turrets,

47mm gun and

was not until March 1918 that this first German tank was seen. had a

the central one with a

discovered that the long overhanging

crew of no

nose became stuck

Weighing 30 tonnes (29

Army tested but found that the commander had too much to do in

This

in

rough ground.

happened because the

track

and

suspension were those of a farm tractor

and had not been well

It

than

less

was too heavy

for

its

8 men.

it,

tons),

it

suspension and

little

tank was designed

by Louis Renault and

first built in

designers for several years afterwards.

built

and

all

was slow, was not until May 1918 that it finally went into action. At least 3000 were built, some armed with a single 8mm machine gun and some with a

Char 2C (1919, France) late in

1918,

was the

this

French heavy "breakthrough" tank. Long,

order to cross trenches, and

narrow, which steer,

it

made

carried a

revolving turret

it

difficult to

75mm

and had

gun a

1

in

a

2-man

Renault FT-17

34

the early

it

influenced other

1

II

(7925, Britain)

920s, Vickers

was asked

produce a simple tank for

to

February 1917. Production

in

but

Medium Mark In

Developed

built,

were

and

it

the firepower. Only one

Although 100 were ordered, only scrapped after the war ended.

amazing

all

was

Renault FT-1 7 (1917, France) This

controlling

had very poor maneuverability. about 35 were

modified.

1

the others with machine guns. The

the Army. This was

its

model, which became

issue to

second Britain's

standard tank between the two wars. It

had a revolving turret with a

47mm

gun and three Vickers machine guns in

the

hull.

.

Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW)

CharBI Christie

M

1

928 f 7928, USA)

The Russians bought

engineer whose ideas on tanks were

in

mostly concerned with high speed;

1932 began making

he was also keen on tanks which

large numbers.

could have their tracks removed and

thought to

little

1

a Vickers 6-ton

930, adapted the design, and this light

They were

939 and continued

1

run on their wheels on hard roads.

But he gave

Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW)

T-26 (1932, Russia)

Walter Christie was an American

in

tank

in

built until

wanted took such design was

use

three-man

training tanks.

20mm

Matilda In

overseas. His principal contribution

was

to be

few

This

design of suspension, British

CharBI

(1930, France)

This tank

was designed and 1930.

in

1939

In

in

the world, with

armor. But to

its

it

promise

in

1

designed

Germans

in

as flamethrower tanks

in

part

in

1939.

(1936, Britain)

I

934 the

Army asked for a armor, to accompany

British

tank with thick

the attack, costing no

in

said

it

and they were used as in

Poland and France

in

Mark

IV (1935, Britain)

1

a

number

light

IV

was

"Matilda the Comical

name stuck. It was a two-man tank, armed with a single machine gun, well armored and very slow. Some were used in North Africa, others in France in 940, where their armor 1

was proof

of Vickers-

tanks as scouting

The Mark

933 and

Army

British

like

against any

German

anti-

tank gun.

issued

carried a three

man

crew.

front.

Mark

000 took

Duck," a cartoon character, and the

adopted

940 and

a

looked

built

vehicles.

Vickers Light

1

more than $9,000. When the machine appeared, somebody

Civil

to be vulnerable to

From 1930 onward the

up

was

almost any anti-tank gun. But 2000

Vickers Light

of

II

were

captured specimens were used by the

on the Russian

the Spanish

it

60mm

failed to live

in

1

infantry

easily built vehicle.

1939-40.

first

appeared to be the most powerful tank

out

combat tanks

tested

gradually from 1921 until the

were made

tried

War and found

War Two.

during World

was

It

cheap and

PzKpfW

I

was a small two-man tank armed with two machine guns and intended

adopted by the Russians and

the

tank armed with a

the Polish campaign

of his tanks, and he sold others

his

built;

light

gun. Over

(7954, Germany)

design. The Americans bought a

a long time to

appear that another emergency

throughout the war as scouting and

Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW)

practical aspects of

II

(1936, Germany)

The "ideal" tank the German Army

in

armament, crew comfort, stowage or any of the more

II

Matilda

IV

I

^~«fl^fl

*

"*U

E ,


*

i W

-Sri,*

»-«-.

— itoi

•

'-.rsi.*-

"—

.

*

'--K-

•

—

"

.•»•..

"-

!».»-

-

-

35

BT-7 (1935, Russia) BT are the Russian

initials

for"Fast

Tank," and the BT-7 was designed after the purchase of a Christie tank in

1

930.

turret

had

It

pointed

hull

the typical Christie

and suspension, but the the T-26 and had a

the experience gained with the two

commander

PzKpfW and was intended to fight tanks and was originally armed with a 37mm gun, but was later fitted

the turret, driver and

in

machine gunner hull,

and a

at the front of the

37mm

facing machine

cannon and

gun

keep the commander

rear-

the turret to

in

fully

occupied.

"interim" designs, the

II.

The PzKpfW

with a

50mm

I

III

and then

a

75mm

gun.

came from

45mm

gun.

Hotchkiss H-35 (1936, France) This

tank - a three-man design with the

was one

of several designs put

into production

in

1

935.

Its

hull

was

made up from cast sections welded together, a technique which was very advanced

of which

built, all

Over 800 were

for the time.

were captured by

Panzerkampfwagen

Type 97 (1937, Japan) This was built to replace the Type 89 and became the principal Japanese combat tank until 945. The turret mounted a 57mm gun in a rather

This

unusual way; as well as being able to

of firing explosive shells against

move up and down,

targets other than tanks.

1

it

could also be

pivoted sideways without moving the turret, allowing very precise aiming.

the Germans, who used them to construct weapons carriers and SP

Cruiser

Mark

guns.

Pre-war

British

was the second standard German and was intended as a 'close '

tank,

support"tank, to carry a gun capable

to the

III

It

was

similar

but had a larger turret,

75mm gun.

mounting a short only

German tank

to be

in

The

continuous

production throughout the war,

(1938, Britain)

I

IV (1939,

Germany)

theory divided tanks

9000 were

some

built.

into three groups: "cruiser" tanks, to

Somua This

S-35 (1936, France)

was probably the

tank

in

war.

It

best French

existence at the outbreak of

had been designed as a cavalry

vehicle but

was adopted as the medium tank. It had

standard French a

three-man crew.

Type 89(1934, Japan) After buying some Vickers medium tanks, the Japanese began to make

own

their first

design, the Type 89.

models used water-cooled gas

engines, but experience led

The

them

in

Manchuria

to pioneer the use of an

air-cooled diesel.

crew, with a

It

57mm

act like cavalry, "infantry" tanks, slow

Matilda 2 (7940,

and well-protected, to accompany

Matilda

I

1

new tanks

was the

first

930s.

was uncomfortable

in,

It

of the

and the small

Mark

of the

to ride

turrets filled with

gun and two

Type 95 (1935, Japan) This was the standard Japanese

who

favor with the

preferred a

weapon

capable of keeping other tanks away,

and so This

a heavier

was

model was designed.

a far better tank, with

to 78mm thick and a 40mm turret gun; although the

armor up

LT-38 (1938, Czechoslovakia)

weight had increased, so had

The LT-38 was adopted by the Czechs

speed.

Sweden in some numbers. The Germans then took

and

also sold to

over and production continued

1942, during which time

combat

in

it

1

it

Some were used

940 and proved

German

in

its

France

France and Russia.

tanks then

in

use.

KV-1 (7940, Russia) KV-1 was designed as a breakthrough

tank to defeat powerful defenses.

Panzerkampfwagen

III

was the

(1939,

specially

two tanks designed for the German first

of

Panzer divisions and

it

incorporated

Matilda 2

in

better than the

until

saw

Germany)

light

Army,

Britain)

little

fumes from the machine guns.

This

36

light tanks. Cruiser

had a four-man

6.5mm machine guns.

Type 97

and

infantry,

found

1

was used

successfully against the

Finns

940, after which

in

1

it

went

mass production; 13,000 were before the war ended.

It

into

built

,

Medium M3

Valentine Valentine (7940, Vickers

was

sure

it

Britain)

Crusader (7940,

could produce

The

something better than the Matilda

first

40mm

Medium M3

Britain)

Crusaders had

armor, a

1

40mm

(794

of

gun, and also a

for the driver, but the design

40mm

doing away with the driver's turret

small

this

gun;

later

75mm

and then

models had

machine gun

57mm

since he never

guns.

turret at the front

50mm

soon changed to

was then redesigned 3," with a

T-34 (7940, Russia) This

is

without doubt one of the most

important tanks ever to be

and

built,

German Army's defeat. In essence was an improved BT-7, using the same Christie

were

57mm

built;

action

it

was

as the

it.

It

saw considerable

suspension on a longer

hull

well-sloped armor, and carrying a

76mm

powerful tracks

over

gun

engine was

reliable,

The

it

Motors,

to travel

It

still

who

was

Over

gun

howitzer

in

in

They are

and

use

in

several

false

design, with tracks hull, a

76mm

the front, alongside the

driver. After initial

in

it

became

a very reliable

and

tough machine which was used

Syria.

many

countries after the war.

_»

^

'V™^^^^^^

~

L

W^

k

-_

was used

in

M3

General

the Egyptian

M3/M5

(General Stuart)

was

seen

first

in July

1

940.

It

reliable in

M5 was the same tank

but with two Cadillac engines and an

automatic gearbox.

Medium M4 (General Sherman) 7, USA) was the

(794 This

in

greatest American

contribution to the Second World

War; 49,234 were to Britain.

can

still

which

sent to Russia and

Its reliability

production kept periodical

built of

it

in

1

7,

1

81

and volume

use, with

improvement, and many

be found around the world.

"**

'

1

1

jPf*Pf|r

"T" mm*,

*-"

TmHHBBMJ

U-

-

the

Medium M4 (General Sherman)

Churchill

r

Light

4065 were

mechanical

problems the design was improved,

countries such as China, Algeria and

o

Grant, and

The

their radios.

given to Vauxhall

the turret and a

53,000 were built during the war, and production continued until 1956. still

a heavy

developed the Churchill.

was an unusual

but

,

campaigns of 1942.

combat. The

wanted

running over the top of the

40mm

and the welded attack.

Army

starts the task

the 500hp diesel

armor withstood

British

941

1

(7940, USA)

Churchill (1941, Britain)

the turret. The

were wide, allowing

mud and snow,

60mm

in

in

proved to be exceptionally

"infantry"tankand after some

with

began

new model became

This

a major cause of the it

M3

the British asked for a different turret

"Mark

gun. Over 4000

the Libyan desert.

in

USA)

7,

which would hold

of armor,

had time to use

(General Lee)

Production of

was the result. It used several components from the Cruiser tank series, and was at first armed with a and

(General Lee)

—

-"

"

S "*
^^jjjjj^ 37

Heavy

M6

1942, USA)

(

Design work on

this

began

in

1

940,

Josef Stalin (1943, Russia)

Centurion (7945,

While the Russian KV-1 and T-34

By

to meet a demand from the US Infantry who at that time were

tanks could out-shoot most

responsible for tanks. But by the time

German

it

was

tanks, they

Armored Force had

ready, the

and they did not

responsibility,

like

the idea. With one excuse or another

they

managed

to

kill

the design and

In

new tank. The

overhung the

have been the best Allied tank of the

into production a

war.

fitted,

making

eventually, in

Panther (1942, Germany) the German Army met the Russian T-34

in

shaken, since the

PzKpfW

was

1941 they were sadly

it was far

and

III

IV.

better than

counterstroke. After a few it

initial

became probably the best

German tank of the war years, with some 5500 being built. Tiger (1942, Germany)

in

was ignored

1

for a

937 but the request

until

went

it

the

1

and T-34.

went into production in August 942. It was undoubtedly the most 1

until

in

the world from

the end of the war.

Cromwell

(1943, Britain)

Cromwell was the

last

British "cruiser" tanks,

and best of the and was

designed as a "heavy cruiser," carrying a

Tiger

38

57mm

gun.

which

was the was widely sold abroad

result of this thinking It

and, although no longer used Britain,

it

is

currently

found

in

ten

in

foreign armies.

T-54/T-55 (7947, Russia)

and

IS-2,

944, came the

IS-3, a

The T-54 was

a follow-on

from the

complete redesign. Three thousand-

T-34, with a longer

seven hundred were

armor with more slope to it, a larger turret and a more powerful gun. The

built

before the

war ended, and production continued until

hull,

type of the T-34 but

King Tiger (1944, Germany)

torsion bars.

As soon as the Tiger was

appeared;

the

thicker

suspension resembles the Christie

1948.

in service,

German Army demanded an

a

In

1

is

sprung by

960 the T-55

this differed only in

having

more powerful engine. Both have

improved model, to carry an even

been widely sold or given to foreign

more powerful 88mm gun. The King Tiger was the result, and it bore more

countries, at least

the Tiger, with

armor.

In

its

thick sloped

35 armies using

them.

Light

terms of protection and

M41 (Walker

Bulldog)

(1950, USA)

was

As soon as the war was over

in

US designers began planning

unbeatable.

The Tiger was then developed and

then

a universal tank

22mm gun was

firepower, the King Tiger

the Russian

campaign brought the KV-

formidable tank

wanted was

no

What was

sense.

relationship to the Panther than to

The German Army had asked heavy tank

it

1

1

The Panther

therefore designed as a

problems

But before

installed.

made any

longer

Centurion.

00mm

1

classification of tanks as either

its

could cope with any task, and the

a

armor was

sloped to deflect shot, and a

When

was

suspension

only a handful were ever built. Had the design been continued, it could

gun was

realized

"cruiser," "infantry" or "light" in

a large flat turret

tracks; the

Army had

to the

fact the final result

completely

Britain)

British

that

anti-tank gun, and

was lowered, and

944, the

German

1942 the Russians decided to improve the KV.

been created and taken over

were vulnerable

88mm

1

a

1

945,

new

generation of tanks to replace the

Medium M26

wartime designs; the M41 was the

(Pershing)

(1945, USA)

The

first

M26 was the first American tank

to appear.

many ways:

it

It

broke

was the

new ground

first

tank to be

which had the remotest chance of

designed around a suitable engine;

surviving against the Tiger or Panther

was the

in

a straight fight.

in

soldiers

1945. Once the fighting

saw them,

their future

was

Medium M26

fume

it

extractor

optical rangefinder, an

electronic calculator to simplify

aiming, and an automatic loader.

has since been replaced by the Sheridan.

assured.

to have a

on the gun, an

Twenty were

shipped across to Europe for combat testing

first

in

(Pershing)

It

M551

AMX-13C795

France)

7,

1

but with a powerful gun.

air-lifted

in

place, with

in

which the gun

fixed

is

is

the

an automatic loader. To

Chieftain (1963,

When was

thought of

first

the early

in

and

was

was

The PT-76

burned away, leaving

It is

an amphibious tank, the

regular service with any

fitted

When

the gun was entirely no empty case

Chieftain tank

with water-jet

means

a greatly

can drive straight into

water and swim without any preparation.

It

it

to

was then

gun:

this

rid of.

The

turret.

virtually built

other respects

in

it is

improved version of

in

crew men

The T-62 was

from the

This

a

velocity

gun which

are a longer

on each with a

03 and

Conqueror, an up-dated

between hull,

and the

IS-3

model of gun

extractor, a

more

it

1

5mm

smooth-bore highfires fin-stabilized

moves

automatically

elevation

to a fixed

and the empty case

in it

the rear of the turret. Occasionally misses,

and the empty case bounces

inside the turret.

system, the rate of

fire

is

Due

light

In

1

M 60 (1959,

956, the US

improve the

M48

AMX-30

USA)

Army decided

to

Patton. They

90mm gun on the M48 with the new 05mm gun, and called replaced the

1

AMX-13

This

to this

quite poor.

in

the rear, and three is

1

as a cooperative effort

with Germany: both countries were to develop their better of the

it

can be driven into river or

own

tank and the

two was

to be

Light

M551

(Sheridan) (1966, USA)

was developed

as a

combined

tank and self-propelled anti-tank It

was

a very

advanced

aluminum

armor a

hull,

torsion bar suspension,

new 52mm gun which 1

could

either fire conventional shells or be

used as the launch tube for anti-tank Unfortunately the design

missiles.

gave trouble

in

various areas. After

four years of modification in

Vietnam but

it

was

it

went

to

still

unpopular; the ammunition was

(7964, France)

began

in

the turret. Leopard

design, using a welded

war

Medium

of a

with a"snorkel"underwater

weapon.

and

is

ejected and thrown through a hatch

around

powerful engine, and better armor.

the gun; the T-62

in 1

It is

and the differences

ammunition. Once the gun has been fired,

The main

an extra road-wheel

side, a later

fume

this

fire.

lake.

is

differences

is

can be elevated

water and along the bed of a

a follow-on

mounts Russia's

in

preparation

change 7

engine

front,

Light

British

it

French had collapsed.

are not easily seen. The greatest

version of the Josef Stalin.

that

in

the

in

machine gun

developed after the venture with the

the deck.

1

of French design

coaxial

has

a

Leopard 1 (1965, Germany) This was the German tank which was

T- 54/55 series,

M

and mounts

breathing tube, and with short

T-62 (1963, Russia)

keep moving even

answer to the American

hull

It

independently of the main gun and

fitted

also carries a"snorkel"

Of 95 7, Russia) The T-1 was probably

The

unusual

choppy water which splashes across

T-1

way, the

conventional type, with the driver

Centurion.

or underwater breathing tube,

allowing

and got

to be extracted

around

it

own

used for anti-aircraft

fired the container

propulsion units at the rear which that

firepower,

a plastic container, instead

in

of the usual brass case.

army.

its

developed. This used a propelling

in

PT-76 (1952, Russia)

in

950s

1

charge

one

1

new 20mm gun was

a totally

alignment.

only

armor

105mm gun

Britain)

replacement for Centurion

a

the prime requirement

is

and each went a cast

rock back and forth, so that the

gun are always

by both. Unfortunately, they disagreed about what was wanted

French developing the AMX-30.

other detailed improvements.

elevate, the top half of the turret can

loader and

and

stabilization, laser rangefinding,

In

order to save space, the tank has a

unique turret

M60. The current model M60A3, which has better gun

the result the

946 the French began to rebuild their shattered army, and one item was a light tank capable of being In

adopted

M551

liable to

a

explode

when

mine and whenever

the vehicle

it

hit

rained the

complex electronics ceased to function.

(Sheridan)

39

Sweden)

Strv S-103 or S-Tank (1966,

The S-Tank

is

unusual

three-man crew and no

The

turret.

object behind the design

was

/

J

to

first

reduce the height and thus make

HI _

JIM

g^S

having a

in

E£9i M^tfrv IRrt

it

easier to conceal the tank, second to simplify manufacture;

and

!

third, to

men

reduce the number of trained

needed, by using automatic loading.

The gun

is

fixed

in

the

hull,

with an

automatic loader behind. To aim, the driver

must swing the tank and

raise

or lower the front by adjusting the

suspension. There position at the

operator manning

second driving

a

is

with the radio

rear,

so that the tank

it,

can be driven backward as fast as

it

T-72

can be forward.

Leopard 2 (1977, Germany) Scorpion (1973, Although

In spite

Britain)

officially called

a"Combat

Reconnaissance Vehicle"this fact, a light tank.

It

uses

armor and mounts a its

turret.

and

is

It

is,

in

aluminum

76mm

gun

in

has a three-man crew,

driven by a de-tuned version of

the Jaguar 4.2

liter

car engine. By

using a flotation screen

it

can swim,

of

its

name this

not simply a

is

reworked Leopard

1

design. Production

began

with an order for

1

but a totally

800

in

new

1977

tanks. Leopard

its

tracks.

There are a number of

1

20mm gun with

highly

advanced

and

and

along the same general principal 1

25mm

alloy

change

is

in

smooth-bore

is

built

lines.

The

the gun, a fitted

with an

thermal jacket and a fume

extractor. This fires fin-stabilized

ammunition and

is

presumed

to be

more accurate than the T-62 gun. Challenger

7,058 tanks are to be

,

hull

and

turret use

with a

1

05mm

gun; 1

this will

20mm

smooth-bore gun based on

a

design.

Challenger (1982,

Merkava

(1978, a

Israel)

fuel tank

double thickness of

is

huge

also as extra protection.

unusual with the turret

and fighting compartment

at the rear,

the engine and transmission at the front.

A door

in

the rear of the

allows three or four extra

men

hull

to be

Britain)

began work on

Chieftain

in

the late

1

a successor to

960s. After

was known as MBT80 and the design was taking shape very slowly - so slowly that an about ten years

a space filled

fuel. This acts as a

and

The layout

Britain

it

"interim" model, Challenger,

authorized

in

1

980. This

is

was

basically

an

improved Chieftain, using Chobham laminated armor, a rifled

new 120mm

gun, the latest

carried, either infantrymen or

control system

casualties.

1200hp

digital fire

and a new Rolls-Royce

diesel engine.

Medium M1 (Abrams)

—»CE** 40

is

rangefinding,

with diesel

This replaced the T-62

971

be changed for a

German

laser

1

988. The

1

laminated armor and the turret

later

electronic fire control

in

by

fitted

armor separated by T-72 (1975, Russia)

built

suspension, and has a smooth-bore

Merkava has

variant models.

began

2 uses laminated armor, torsion bar

propelled by the paddle wheel action of

Medium M1 (Abrams) (1982, USA) A new program of development that

Bishop (7942,

Britain)

The

wartime attempt

first British

SP gun was

equipment.

It

was the

at

an

produced

this hurriedly

chassis of the

Valentine tank from which the turret

was removed and replaced with large

armored box carrying

pounder (87mm) had very

little

field

space

in

gun. The crew

which to work

the gun, but

in

drawbacks

showed the

it

a

a 25-

spite of these

benefits of

self-propulsion.

Tank Destroyer M-10 (1942, USA) In 1941 the American Army organized a "Tank Destroyer Force,"

Bishop

specialist anti-tank units

deal with

GUNS

SELF-PROPELLED

Elefant (1943, Germany)

broke through fixed defenses. After

gun weighed 67 tonnes (65.5 tons) giving rise to the name. Due to an oversight, there was no gun other

several false starts the

This SP

Schneider (1917, France) Although the idea seems to have occurred to other people at about the

than the main one, not even a

same

machine gun, and so these tanks

time, Schneider

was the

first

to

produce a working SP gun. The gun

was not capable

of being traversed

(moved from side to side) and to aim it, the whole chassis had to be slewed.

SU-1 00

This

Gun

(

1

92 5,

was developed

anti-aircraft

Panthers appeared

Britain)

could act as both a

as a field

weapon

that

gun and an

Karl (1940, Germany)

began

in

1

937,

Army asked

when the German 60cm howitzer for

for a

dealing with fortifications and

capable of operating

in

there were no railways.

areas

where

its

was given

given a

this

76mm

gun

("Hunting Panther") was the

armor, with the

mounted crew of

ex-naval gun, so

result.

It

used a Panther chassis with a built-up

body of well-sloped and in

and the assault gun was

100mm

88mm

anti-tank gun, and the Jagdpanther

85mm gun

85mm

mounting the

most powerful model of the

Russia, they

to a modified T-34 chassis. Later

turret,

very successfully.

for a tank destroyer

gun, and the Russians devised a tank

the T-34

huge weapon

and

outranged the T-34 with a

on this

in

It

1

Tigers

destroyer by mounting an

gun.

Development of

German

went into action in North Africa in March 943 and was used by American and British formations destroyer.

Jagdpanther (1944, Germany) In late 942 the German Army asked

(1 944, Russia)

the

M-10 was

standardized as the basic tank

1

were easy prey for any infantry who could sneak around them.

When Birch

intended to

armor while the tanks

in

five

88mm

thick

80mm

gun

the front plate. With a

men,

it

was

highly

becoming the SU-100. The tank

hull

maneuverable, and probably the best

was

gun

and most dangerous tank destroyer

in all

built

up

into a box, with the

the front face; the four-man crew

rode

in

the gun compartment.

the Germans ever had; they faced littlexjpposition.

Jagdpanther

41

1

55mm

M44 (7953, USA) 55mm howitzer was

Howitzer

Although the

1

the backbone of American artillery,

it

was not

until

1

medium

945

that a

self-propelled version appeared.

The

M41 was based on components

of

M24

the

light

tank but was cramped

and gave no protection to the crew.

It

was replaced in 953 with the M44, a much better design. The hull was built 1

up

into

an armored, open-topped

box to protect the six-man crew, and the rear doors were cartridge racks

which opened.

ASU-85 (1961, Russia) This was developed in order to

give

155mm

Soviet airborne divisions an effective

tank destroyer. built

155mmF-3

from components of the PT-76

amphibious tank, carrying the standard

85mm

front plate.

It

divisional

1

aircraft,

reports claim that

it

This

gun

can be carried

An- 2 transport

Howitzer

M 109

consists of a chassis

It

in

the

in

the

and some

is

AMX GCT

(1965, France)

"high rate of

AMX-1 3 tank

developed to deliver a

There

chassis.

is

no

fire at

and

fire,"

long range.

It

this

has been

fast burst of

consists of an

AMX-30

chassis carrying a large

crew stands on the ground to load

armored

turret with a

and serve the gun. Only two men

It

weapon

placing the

successfully parachute-dropped.

55 (1978, France)

howitzer mounted on a shortened

protection for the crew, and on

has been

1

GCT means'Grand Cadence de Tir'br

a divisional supporting

in

action, the

can

fire five

rounds

1

in

55mm

gun.

forty seconds.

175mm Gun M107

(1961, USA)

normally ride with the equipment, the

The

Development of

weapon began Army wanted

driver and one other; the rest of the

also a

men) ride in an accompanying ammunition

calculate the firing data from the

in

1

956,

when

this

the US

a

powerful gun with possible nuclear capability airlifted.

It

and which could be had

a history of mechanical

is

whom

ride in

carrier

3-man team, eight of an accompanying cargo

155mm (1 963,

This

After trying various ideas for an antiaircraft tank, in

with a group

1

965 the Germans 1

M44 (above) with

an air-portable and

better protected equipment. The

components of the M personnel carrier and aluminum armor. The first models had the

M1 155mm howitzer, as M44. The weapon was later

standard

improved by lengthening the

and

fitting a

chassis

1

973, Russia)

The

latest Soviet

revealed

result

is

this

SP gun to be

weapon, which

resembles a tank, rather than the usual SP gun. The general layout and

armor suggest that

thick

in

use today. The

did

and increased

a six-man

is

one of the most successful post-war American designs.

lifted

is

a search radar,

up and down, and

the front of the turret

radar.

equipment has

crew and

which can be in

barrel

turret carries

two Oerlikon 35mm automatic guns, one at each side in armored pods. In the rear of the turret

new ammunition maximum range. The

42

companies to

advanced and complex armored vehicle

1

muzzle brake and fume

extractor, with

if

function

is

its

prime

that of an assault gun.

was Gepard, probably the most

to replace the

chassis uses

the

of

undertake development. The

USA)

was developed

howitzer's position to the target,

(1

as the basis, and placed a contract

Howitzer M109

which can

152mm Gun-Howitzer M1973 (1975, Germany)

decided to use the Leopard

carrier.

sight,

ammunition.

Gepard

1

computer

required.

being

It is

operated by a

(eight

together with 25 rounds of

now in process of withdrawn from NATO armies.

trouble and

crew

and

layer has conventional sights

The

is

a tracking

driver sits in the hull front,

the engine and transmission are at the rear, and the turret has just

enough room

for the

gunner to squeeze

in

commander and among the

advanced computer-controlled electronics.

1

55mm

This

is

Howitzer G6 (South

Africa)

a wheeled, as opposed to

tracked, self-propelled gun.

The

first

wheeled equipment was developed Czechoslovakia is

yet

in

1

980, but very

known about the

in

little

actual design.

The driver in the Howitzer G6 sits in a wedge-shaped cab in front; the shape enables the equipment to cut its way through the trees and bush.

The remainder of the crew fighting

compartment.

sits in

the

steering the rear wheels, the vehicle

could be driven backward as fast as

it

could be forward.

Humber Armored Car (7947, Britain)

The Humber was adapted from an

body design

existing

armored

(the Karrier)

Guy

(the

an existing chassis

car) to

which had been

developed as an

The

artillery tractor.

engine and transmission came from

commercial designs, and the

existing

machine combined easily.

these parts very

all

was simple and

It

robust, easily

Many were

repaired and well liked.

bought Rolls-Royce

ARMORED CARS &

When

RECONNAISSANCE VEHICLES

the

Rolls-Royce (1914,

Britain)

Developed to replace various home-

made armored

cars, this

model used

the chassis of the Rolls-Royce "Silver

Ghost" touring

carried a Vickers

was manufactured up

made until

1924.

Bren Gun Carrier (1934, This small tracked carry a heavy

crew across

was adopted

as

machine gun, the

war and used by

Armored Car M8 Greyhound (1943, USA)

concept was changed to carry either a

This

Bren or a Boys anti-tank

rifle,

destroyer mounting a

three-man crew. After

was

introduced

in this

it

plus a

infantry role,

began

it

was

given tasks throughout the army.

Britain)

machine could

machine gun and

its

a bullet-swept area.

wheeled tank

37mm gun,

car. Built it

turret carrying a

coaxial

by the Ford

had an open-topped

37mm

gun and

machine gun, and

Many

are

still

in

use today

and South America, and

the rear four wheels were locked and

to have

done by the

front four.

In

an

driver.

Africa

in

it is

possible

them refitted with modern engines and transmissions.

emergency, however, the front four could be locked and, with the second, rearward-facing, driver

in

control,

Panhard EBR-75 (7950, France) Panhard has an unusual arrangement of eight wheels. Normally

Armored Car M8 Greyhound

a

bow

a

machine gun alongside the

could be driven and steered. Normally

steering

but

the design changed to that of an

armored

Sonder Kraftfahrzug (SdKfz) 232 (1936, Germany) These were complex vehicles; the engine was in the rear and all wheels

as a

was soon abandoned and

the idea

company,

machine gun.

Gradual improvements were it

the Bren gun

British light

car, suitably

strengthened. The rotating turret

and

after the

foreign armies for several years.

it

travels

on

the outer four, which have pneumatic tires; for

cross-country

work though,

the center four, with deeply ridged steel tires, are

lowered, giving

excellent performance across rough

ground. There are two

drivers,

one

at

each end, and the car can be driven equally easily turret

is

in

either direction.

that of the

AMX-1

The

3 tank.

There are also two machine guns, one at

each end, controlled by the

drivers.

43

Saladin (7959,

The

from

Britain)

Army had good

British

armored

its

service

cars during the

war, and immediately afterwards

new

asked for a six

design. Saladin has

wheels, each driven, and the front

four steerable. The suspension

is

extremely robust, and there have

been cases of cars having had one

wheel blown

off by a

home on

driving

five

mine and

wheels.

AML (7960,

Panhard

France)

A simple four-wheeled

the

car,

Panhard can be adapted to several standard form,

roles. In

three-man crew and a

gun

in

it

has a

light

90mm

weapon

AML

Panhard

the turret, but there are

various turrets and

fits

20mm and 30mm 60mm and 81 mm gun-

available, including

BTR-60(7960,

cannons,

This

mortars, or anti-tank guided missiles.

is

AMX-10P

Russia)

probably the most numerous of

the various Soviet APCs.

has been

It

(1963, Russia)

The Russians have had

built,

and are

armies. The BTR

a long

succession of armored cars, and

driven

BRDM-2

The

the current one.

is

crew of four men and

It

has a

a small turret

mounting a 14.5mm heavy machine gun with a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun.

It is

water-jet propulsion unit at the rear

end. For night work, there

is

a

set of infrared vision

devices and headlights.

Fox (1973, Fox

Britain)

known

a"Combat Reconnaissance, Wheeled"

officially

is

Vehicle,

and

it

war

British

as

replaced "Ferret," the

armored

car.

It is

first

post-

a small

four-wheeled car with a large turret carrying a

30mm

high-velocity

in

use by at least is

gun

1

1

of the vehicle,

at the front, alongside the engine.

of the hull

is

a small turret with a

smooth-bore

73mm

launching

for

missile,

rail

In

the center

gun which has

mounted on top

the troop

compartment which holds this

has a roof hatch and

it

44

a

of the barrel. is

men;

eight

Bradley (7979, USA)

began

in

the late

firing ports fully

a

ten men.

by a large bottom-hinged hydraulically controlled

ramp when dropped.

years.

its

amphibious, being propelled by

its

tracks, but requires

,

about

water five

the water.

(1982, Britain)

been under development

hull

for

criticized as

some

being it

appeared, but other armies are they had bought

years.

It

for

has a welded steel

with the driver at the front,

alongside the engine. Several variant

but the Germans had

Marder was

now wishing

in

minutes' preparation before entering

This has

(7977, Germany)

at the time.

ride in the

and behind them is the troop compartment with space for seven infantrymen. The vehicle is fully

MCV-80

tracks as

too complex and expensive when first

is

can swim without

Marder came close behind the

is

960s. The driver

turret,

about ten

at the front

1

Commander and gunner

an anti-tank guided

Behind the commander

Marder

seats for

M2

the world.

paddle wheels.

is

and behind them

compartment with

is

and

in

been working on the design

acts as a

vehicle,

anywhere

Russian BMP-1

and

vehicle, anti-tank

command

American development of an MICV

amphibious,

and engine are

door which

night

BMP-1 (7967, Russia) This was the first MICV (Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle) to appear

constructed of aluminum armor.

is

full

driving equipment. There

radar carrier.

rear.

but the

with the

are several variant models, including

engines are at the

The

Entry

and

vision

missile carrier,

along the sides. Although not

3 can be airlifted and

driver

turret,

The vehicle has

ambulance, repair

of great accuracy.

13 (7955, USA)

M

at the

infantry.

mounted machine gun, and the twin

preparation, using

The

armor.

gunner occupy the

front, the latter having a ring-

Rarden cannon, a

PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES

M1

jet unit.

and commander are

MICV and is of light The commander and

commander dismounts

1

amphibious, being

the water by a single

driver

(7973, France)

the French

amphibious, having a

fully

complete

in

is

alloy

estimated that over 50,000 have been

BRDM-2

This

some

models have been suggested but there

is

no information on whether

any

will

be

the

first

production models

built.

issued to troops

It is

in

1

expected that

985.

will

be

1

Ukraflss

amdl AumnDrrcgdl Main

Country

Battle Tanks

W®MM.®s nm S®rrw®® Hfodky

Reconnaissance Vehicles

(and number of

MBTs

Armored Personnel

Guns

Self-Propelled

Carriers

in service)

Algeria (650)

AMX-13;T-34;T-54,

BRDM-2

BTR-60; BTR-152

JSU-122; JSU-152, SU-100; 122mmM1974;

ERC-90: VBC-90

AMX-VCI; M113

M7; F3

Saurer4K7FA

M109;

Scorpion, Scimitar

AMX-VCI; M113; Spartan

M8 Armored

M113

M44; M109; 203mm M110 105mm M108

Ml

M109A1

T-62;T-72

152mm M1973 Argentina (350)

AMX-13; M4; M41; TAM

Austria (220)

M47; M60

Belgium (750)

Leopard

Brazil (600)

M3

1

M47

;

M41

Light;

car;

Kuirassier

5K105

Cascavel

Canada

(125)

Leopard

M113

1

China (12,000)

IS-2;T-34;Type62; Type 69

Egypt (1750)

T-54; T-62; PT-76; T-10; IS-3

France (2500)

AMX-13; AMX-30

M60;

13; Grizzly

Type 56 (Copy of BTR-152)

ISU-122; ISU-152, SU-100

BRDM-2

M113; BTR-60; BTR-152

SU-100

AMX-10RC; EBR-75;

AMX-10P; AMX-VCI; VAB

F-3,

M113; Marder

M107; M109; 203mm

BTR-60; BTR-152

Sexton;

BRDM-2; ERC-90

BTR-60; BTR-152; BMP-1

Scorpion, BMP-1

M113; BTR-50, BTR-60

BRDM-2

BTR-60; BTR-152;

122mm M1974; 122mm M1973 155mm M109; 175mm M107 M44; M109; M110

FIAT 66 16

M113; AMX-VCI; FIAT 6614

GCT

EBC-90

Germany (West)

Leopard

(4000)

M48

India (1300)

AMX-13; T-54;T-62;

1,

Leopard

2;

Lynx

M110 Abbot

T-72; PT-76, Vijayanta Iraq (3000J

T-55; T-62

Iran (2000)

M47; M60;

Israel (3700,)

Merkava; Centurion;

Chieftain

M48; M60; M4;

M113

T-54;

T-62; PT-76 Italy

(

Japan

700)

(900,1

Libya (2500)

Leopard

1;

M47; M60

M41;Type74

Type 73

AMX-13; Centurion;

(7000;

Leopard

Nigeria (120)

T-55;

Norway

Leopard

(200)

155mmM109, 122mm

M-113

M1974; 152mm M1973

M113

M113; YP-408

M107, M109; M110

Fox; Saladin; Scorpion

Saracen; Steyr4K7FA

1

Ferret

M113 M113

AML-60; AML-90

AMX-10P; M113

EE-9 Cascavel

&2

1

VickersMk3 1

BTR-50, BTR-60; BMP-1;

BRDM2;

T-55; T-62; T-72

Netherlands

Pakistan (76)

M44; M107; M109; M110

;

M48

M4; M24; M47; T-54;

55mm

Palmaria (ex-Italy)

M109 M109; M110

PT-76

Saudi Arabia

AMX-30; M60

155mm M109; 155mm 203mm M1 10

GCT;

(450)

South Africa(250;

M4; Comet; Centurion

Eland; Ferret;

Spain (1000)

AMX-30; M41; M47;

AML-90

Staghound

Ratel;

Sexton;

Saracen

M110

M48 Sweden

S-Tank; Centurion

Pbv302

Switzerland (800)

Centurion; Pz-68

M113

Syria (3000)

T-34; T-54; T-62; T-72;

(800)

M7; G6

M44; M107; M109;

M3; M113

Ferret; Saladin;

BRDM-2

Bandkanon 1A

M109

BTR-152; Saracen;

M113

M109; M110;

AMXGCT

PT-76

Turkey (3500J

M47; M48; Leopard

105mm M108, 155mm

M113

I

M109;

USSR (and

Warsaw

Pact generally) (USSR 50,000) (PACT 15,000)

United Kingdom

T-54; T-62; T-72; IS-3; T-10; PT-76

BRDM-1; BRDM-2; BMP

175mmM107

ASU-57; ASU-85; SU-100;

M1973; M1974

(airborne forces)

Chieftain, Challenger

Scorpion; Scimitar; Fox

(1200)

United States of

BTR-40; BTR-60; BTR-152; BMP; BMD

Abrams; M47;

M60

M3

Bradley

CFV

Fv432; Saracen; Spartan,

Abbot; M107; M109,

AT1 05 Saxon

M110

M113; M2

M109; M110

Bradley IFV

America (11,000)

45

(Gtosaony AFV "Armored

Fighting Vehicle"; a general term covering any

armored vehicle used

AIFV Armored to describe an

in

Hull

down A tank

behind a

and gun can see across the

combat.

Term sometimes used armament.

seen by the

enemy

Idler Large

wheel

is

the ground so that the turret but the hull of the tank cannot be

rise in

rise

said to be "hull

down.

Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

APC

with additional

sprocket; can be

APC Armored

Personnel Carrier. A lightly armored vehicle used to transport infantry on the battlefield.

at the opposite

moved

end of the

IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

II

Image

Intensifying.

APC

the

with additional armament.

Type of sight or

electronically increases the difference

Bazooka plates Armor plates hung ouside the tracks to detonate anti-tank rockets before they strike the main armor. gun

in

track.

Barbette Open-topped compartment with a gun mounted in the front face, usually found on assault or self-propelled guns.

Blast deflector Device attached to the muzzle of a tank

track to the drive

so as to take up any slackness

enabling tank crews to see

to

cause the firing blast to go sideways. Used on some guns with heavy muzzle blast which otherwise would go down and raise so much dust that the gunner would be unable to see to fire another

in

vision device

between

moon- or

Links The individual pieces which, up the tank track.

which and dark,

light

starlight.

when joined

together,

make

Mantlet Heavy armored plate which covers the join where the gun enters the turret; it moves up and down with the gun.

shot.

infantry weapon firing a bomb with fins up into on the target. Often mounted inside APCs. The word was also used pre- 1939 to indicate a short-barrelled tank

Mortar Short

Bustle The overhanging rear face of a turret.

the

Cannon Term used to describe small calibre (20-30mm) automatic guns. Usually used to arm MICVs, IFVs and some APCs, but have occasionally been used on tanks.

gun

CFV

Cavalry Fighting Vehicle. Term for a vehicle

like

air

to drop

for infantry support.

MICV Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle. APC with armament; much the same as CFV, IFV, AFV.

an to a gun muzzle which catches some and turns it sideways and backwards; on the gun which reduces the force of

Muzzle brake Attachment

IFV but used as a reconnaissance vehicle.

of the gas behind the shell

Co-axial Use of a second gun, normally a machine gun, mounted in line with the main armament, so that when the main gun is laid on the target, so is the secondary one.

Cupola A

small turret or raised hatch, containing vision devices.

Escape hatch A hatch close to crew positions and only used for escape in emergencies. Sometimes in the floor so that the escaping crew are protected from gunfire by the body and tracks

this creates a

forward

pull

recoil.

Periscope An optical device which allows the crewman to see through the armor above his head.

PzKpfw Panzerkampfwagen; German, meaning "Armored Fighting Vehicle."

Return rollers Small rollers attached to the tank support the upper run of the track.

of the tank.

Firing port Opening in the side of a vehicle through which the occupant can fire a rifle or other weapon for close defense. Sometimes called "pistol ports" on older tanks, and used for getting rid of empty ammunition cases.

railing.

around a tank body or Often seen on pre-1945 continental tanks. aerial

turret like a

hull

which

SdKfz Sonderkraftfahrzug; German, meaning "Special strong wheeled vehicle" and referring to armored cars. Stabilizer Electro-mechanical device which,

Frame antenna Radio

additional

gun pointed

bumps firing

when

set,

keeps the

no matter how the tank along. Without a stabilizer, accurate

at the selected target

or twists as

it

drives

on the move

is

almost impossible.

Fume

extractor Device on the barrel of a gun which ensures left in the gun after firing is ejected through the muzzle and not drawn back into the tank when the breech is opened.

that any gas

Smoke mortar Cluster of tubes on the turret side from which smoke bombs can be fired to give concealment. Sometimes called "Smoke Dischargers."

Glacis The sloped plate at the front of the tank body.

Snorkel Collapsible tube which can be extended well above the tank so that it can draw in air for the engine when the tank hull is

Gun

submerged

High-velocity weapon used for shooting at targets visible from the gun; often known as the main armament on a tank.

Gun-mortar flat like a

bombs

gun

Short-barrelled tank

weapon which can be

or elevated like a mortar

and which uses mortar

instead of ordinary shells.

Howitzer

Short-barrelled low-velocity

gun which

up into the air to go over obstacles. Used to visible from the howitzer.

46

fired

fire at

fires its shell

targets not

in

water.

Track Flexible band which passes around the driving sprocket, road-wheels and idler wheel and provides the means of movement and steering for a tank. May be entirely of metal links, or partly of metal and partly of rubber.

A7V, 34

ADATS

gunner,

6, 12, 14, 18,

19,22,25, 31

Defense Anti-Tank System),

(Air

29 ammunition, 6, 12, 14, 16, 17,20,22,26, 28 amphibious tanks, 26, 28, 42 AMX-10P, 44 AMX-13, 39 AMX-30, 24, 25, 33, 39 AMX-30D, 24

AMX-40, 6

AMXGCT,

25 42

PanhardEBR-75, 43 Panther, 38,41 Panzer, 33

hatch, 6, 13

Heavy M6, 38 HotchkissH-35, 36

HughesAH-15Cobra, 31 hull, 6, 8, 10, 12, 17,22,23,24 Humber Armored Car, 43

1

7,

38 39

Karl,

41

KV-1,36, 39

19,31,40

18,

Scorpion,

Law-80, 30 Leopard 1, 39 Leopard 2,9,33,40

25, 32

Shahine

M41 (Walker Bulldog), 38 M551 (Sheridan), 39 36

26

BT-7, 36

M2

BTR-60, 44

M-60, 33 M103, 39

Bradley,

suspension,

Challenger, 40

CharB1,35

Matilda

Char 2C, 34

Matilda

armor, 21

M1928, 35 37 6, 12, 13, 14, 19,

23, 24,

25

computer, 18, 19,22, 30,42 Conqueror, 39 crew,

8, 12, 13, 14, 16,

19,24,31,35

Cromwell, 38

Mark

36 Crusader, 33, 37 Cruiser

I,

19,24,25

engine,

T-10,39 T-34, 33, 37, 38, 41

M26 (Pershing), M48 Patton, 39

38

II,

13,24,28,34,40

thermal imaging, 19, 29, 31 thermal sleeve, 16

38

38,39,40 12,26,28,34,37 transmission, 6, 8, 10, 24 turret, 6, 12, 16, 17,22,23,26 torsion bar, 8, 9,

34

tracks, 6, 8, 9, 10,

MICVs (Mechanized

Pluton,

40 T-72,40 Tank Destroyer M-10, 41 T-62, 39,

torque converter, 10

M60A3, 39 Mark

T54/T55, 38, 39

Tiger,

M60, 39

Infantry

32

missile launchers 25,

6, 10, 12,

9

T-26, 35, 36

Vehicles), 26, Elefant, 41

38 8,

33,35

drive sprockets, 6, 10 driver, 6, 12, 14,

34, 35, 38

hydro-pneumatic,

mechanics, 24, 28 Medium M1 (Abrams), 40 Medium M3 (General Grant), 37 Medium M3 (General Lee), 37 Medium M4 (General Sherman), 37

Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium

6, 8,

Christie, 8, 36, 37,

2, 36 MBT70, 40 MCV-80, 44

19,33,39,40

12,40

9,

SU-100, 41

IV,

1,

APFSDS, 20 Copperhead, 31 HEAT, 20, 21,24, 30, 31 HESH, 20 Squash-head, 20, 21 smoke bombs, 22, 24 Somua S-35, 36 Sonder Kraftfahrzug, 43 SPguns, 26, 40, 42 18 StrvS-103(S-Tank),

Marder, 44

Mark

25

18,20,25

stabilizer,

34 Markava, 40

Churchill,

44

M113.44 M551 (Sheridan), 38

26

camouflage, 22 net, 22 Centurion, 38, 39

commander,

(General Stuart), 37

loader, 6, 12, 14, 17 Lt-38,

40

anti-aircraft system,

shells, 16, 17,

Light

"Chobham"

12,40

9,

Schneider, 41 lasers,

Light

Christie

43

Chamond, 34 Saladin, 44

BMP-1,44 BRDM-2,44 Bren Gun Carrier, 43

Chieftain,

Rolls-Royce, 40,

St.

Bishop, 41

Hercules,

16,22,26,37

reconnaissance, 12, 26,43 Renault FT- 1 7, 34

S-Tank(StrvS-103),

King Tiger, 38

M3/M5

C-130

35 35

29

radio, 6, 12, 14,

Jagdpanther (Hunting Panther), 41 Josef Stalin, 38, 39

Gun, 41

bridge-laying tanks, 24,

II,

III,

radar, 22, 26,

IS-3, 38,

Light

Birch

I,

PT-76, 39, 42

19 intercom telephone, 14 intensifier,

1

automatic loading devices, automatic transmission, 10

Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) Panzerkampfwagen (PzKpfW) Panzerkampfwagen 36 Panzerkampfwagen IV, 36 periscopes, 6

image I5-2,

26 anti-tank ammunition, 24 missile launcher, 26, 30 rockets, 24 weapons, 30, 33, 38 APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers), 26 armor, 20, 21,22,40 Armored Car M8 Greyhound, 43 armored cars, 2, 43, 44 ASU-85, 42 anti-aircraft tanks, 22,

PanhardAML, 44

33

25

Combat

Type 89, 36 Type 95, 36 Type 97, 36

Roland, 25

44 10,28 fume extractor,

Valentine, 33, 37,41

Mother, 34

Fox,

ventilation, 13

fuel,

16,

17,40

night vision,

6,

Vickers Independent, 34

19

Vickers Light

Gepard, 42 gun,

6, 9, 12, 13, 16,

optical devices, 14,

Mark

IV,

35

18

18,20,23,24,26,

28, 34, 39

47 I

INTERNATIONAL BOOK WlODUCtlON

series of books describes the

development o\ Century armaments industry. Featuring the most modem weapons, and always including the personnel involvement, each book looks at today's examples from tis

over the world. The books include photographs and illustrations and end with a concise history, tracing the technological development and theaters of operation of each subject. all

ISBN 531-04868-3

Titles in the series

Combat

Aircraft

Missiles

and Artillery