World Encyclopedia of Tanks & Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) George Forty, OBE, FMA, was a respected author specializing in armoured warfare. He served for 32 years in the Royal Tank Regiment, seeing active service first in Korea. Ten years later he commanded an armoured reconnaissance squadron on operations in Aden, the Persian Gulf and Borneo. George left the Army in 1975 to pursue a writing career, and in 1981 was appointed Director and Curator of the world-famous Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset, England. He has written over 70 books, including Tiger Tank Battalions in World War II and The Armies of Rommel.Francis Crosby has written extensively on military history and historic aviation and has acted as an historian and consultant for the film, media and publishing industry. His books include The World Encyclopedia of Fighter Aircraft; The World Encyclopedia of Bombers; The World Encyclopedia of Military Helicopters; and The World Encyclopedia of Naval Aircraft.Jack Livesey worked at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire for many years and has worked as an historian, author, consultant, lecturer and battlefield tour guide.

• CONTENTS8 IntroductionTANKS12 Introducing tanksThe History of Tanks16 Evolution of the tank18 The tank crew20 World War I22 Between the wars24 Blitzkrieg!26 Tanks in other theatres28 Wartime development 30 The Funnies32 On to victory!34 The Cold War36 Korea and Vietnam38 The uneasy peace40 Battle of Chawinda42 The Arab-Israeli wars44 Improvements in basic characteristics46 Tank guns48 Training expedients50 Wars in Iraq52 Technology and Survival54 What next for tanks? World War Tanks: 1916-4560 A7V Sturmpanzerwagen62 A1E1 Independent63 A9 Cruiser Tank Mark I63 A10 Cruiser Tank Mark IIA64 A11 Infantry Tank Mark I Matilda I65 A12 Infantry Tank Mark II Matilda II66 A13 Cruiser Tank Mark III66 A13 Mark II Cruiser Tank Mark IV67 A13 Mark III Cruiser Tank Mark V Covenanter68 A15 Cruiser Tank Mark VI Crusader69 A17 Light Tank Mark VII Tetrarch69 A25 Light Tank Mark VIII Harry Hopkins70 A22 Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill71 A43 Infantry Tank Black Prince72 A24 Cruiser Tank Mark VII Cavalier72 A27L Cruiser Tank Mark VIII Centaur73 A27M Cruiser Tank Mark VIII Cromwell74 A30 Cruiser Tank Challenger74 A30 Tank Destroyer Avenger75 A33 Heavy Assault Tank Excelsior75 A38 Infantry Tank Valiant76 A34 Cruiser Tank Comet78 A39 Heavy Assault Tank Tortoise78 TOG 1 and TOG 2 Heavy Tanks79 BT Medium Tank series80 Carro Armato M11/39 Medium Tank80 Carro Armato M13/40 Medium Tank81 Carro Veloce 33 Tankette81 Carro Veloce L35/Lf Flamethrower Tankette82 Char d'Assault Schneider CA1 Heavy Tank83 Char d'Assault Saint Chamond Heavy Tank84 Char B1 Heavy Tank84 Char B1-bis Heavy Tank85 Char 2C Heavy Tank86 Elefant/Ferdinand Heavy Tank Destroyer86 Jagdpanzer IV Tank Destroyer87 E-100 Super Heavy Tank88 FCM 36 Infantry Tank89 Ford 3 Ton Tank89 Ford 6 Ton Tank (M1917)90 Holt Gas-Electric Tank and other US experimental tanks92 Hotchkiss H-35 Light Tank92 Hotchkiss H-39 Light Tank93 JS-1 Heavy Tank93 JS-2 Heavy Tank94 KV-1 Heavy Tank94 KV-2 Heavy Tank95 The No. 1 Lincoln Machine "Little Willie"96 LK I Light Tank96 LK II Light Tank97 Medium B Whippet97 Medium C Hornet98 Medium A Whippet100 Mark I Heavy Tank "Mother"102 Mark I Medium Tank103 Mark II and Mark III Heavy Tanks104 Mark II Medium Tank105 Mark II and Mark III Light Tanks106 Mark III Valentine Infantry Tank107 Mark IV Light Tank107 Mark V Light Tank108 Mark IV Heavy Tank110 Mark V Heavy Tank112 Mark VI Light Tank114 Mark VIII Heavy Tank116 M1 and M2 Combat Cars117 M2 Light Tank series118 M3 General Lee Medium Tank and variants120 M4 Sherman Medium Tank 122 M3 Light Tank series122 M5 Light Tank123 M6 Heavy Tank123 M26 Pershing Heavy Tank124 M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer125 M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer125 M36 Gun Motor Carriage126 M22 Locust Light Tank126 M24 Chaffee Light Tank127 M1931 Christie128 Neubaufahrzeuge V and VI129 PzKpfw Maus Super-Heavy Tank130 PzKpfw I Light Tank131 PzKpfw II Light Tank132 PzKpfw III Medium Tank134 PzKpfw IV Medium Tank136 PzKpfw V Panther Heavy Tank137 Jagdpanther Heavy Tank Destroyer138 PzKpfw VI Ausf E Tiger 1 Heavy Tank139 PzKpfw VI Ausf B Tiger 2 Heavy Tank139 PzKpfw VI Jagdtiger Heavy Tank Destroyer140 Renault FT-17 Light Tank and derivatives142 Ram Mark I Cruiser Tank142 Ram Mark II Cruiser Tank143 Renault Char D2 Infantry Tank143 Renault FT Kegresse-Hinstin M24/25 Light Tank144 Renault R-35 Light Tank145 Sentinel AC1, AC2, AC3 and AC4 Cruiser Tank146 7TP Light Tank147 SMK Heavy Tank148 Skoda LT-35 Medium Tank149 Skoda LT-38 Medium Tank150 SOMUA S-35 Medium Tank151 Strv M/21 and M/29 Light Tanks151 Strv M/31 Light Tank152 Strv M/40, M/41 and M/42 Light Tanks153 T1 and T2 Medium Tanks154 T-26 Light Tank154 T-28 Medium Tank155 T-37 Amphibious Light Tank155 T-40 Amphibious Light Tank156 T-34/76A Medium Tank157 T-34/85 Medium Tank158 Turan I and II Medium Tanks159 Type 3 Ka-Chi Amphibious Tank159 Type 5 To-Ku Amphibious Tank160 Type 95 Ha-Go Light Tank161 Type 89B Ot-Su Medium Tank161 Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank162 Vickers Commercial Dutchman Light Tank163 Vickers 6 Ton Tank Modern Tanks: 1945 - Present Day166 A41 Centurion Medium Tank168 M1A1/M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank170 AAI Rapid Deployment Force Light Tank171 Alan Degman Main Battle Tank172 Al-Khalid Main Battle Tank174 Alvis Scimitar CVR(T)175 Alvis Scorpion CVR(T)176 Al-Zarrar Main Battle Tank177 ASCOD 105/Sabrah Light Tank178 AMX-13 Light Tank179 AMX-30 Main Battle Tank180 AMX-32 Main Battle Tank181 AMX-40 Main Battle Tank182 Ariete Main Battle Tank184 Arjun Main Battle Tank186 ASU-57 Tank Destroyer186 ASU-85 Tank Destroyer187 Bernardini M41 Light Tank187 Bernardini X1A1 and X1A2 Light Tanks188 Challenger 1 Main Battle Tank190 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank192 Chieftain Main Battle Tank (FV 4202)194 Charioteer Tank Destroyer195 Conqueror Heavy Tank196 CV90-120-T Light Tank197 EE T1 Osorio Main Battle Tank198 Hetzer G13 Tank Destroyer199 HIMAG Test Vehicle199 HSTV(L)200 IKV-91 Tank Destroyer201 JS-3 Heavy Tank202 Jagdpanzer Kanone Tank Destroyer203 Jagdpanzer Rakete Jaguar Tank Destroyer204 K1-88 Main Battle Tank206 K2 Black Panther Main Battle Tank208 KF51 Rheinmetall Panther Main Battle Tank210 Khalid Shir Main Battle Tank211 M8 Ridgeway Armoured Gun System212 Leclerc Main Battle Tank214 Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank216 Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank218 M41 Walker Bulldog Light Tank220 M47 Medium (Patton) Tank222 M48 Patton Main Battle Tank224 M50 Ontos Tank Destroyer225 M56 Scorpion Tank Destroyer226 M60 Main Battle Tank227 M84 Main Battle Tank230 M551 Sheridan Light Tank231 Magach Main Battle Tank232 Merkava Main Battle Tank234 Main Battle Tank 70235 Olifant Medium Tank236 OF-40 Main Battle Tank238 PT-76 Amphibious Light Tank240 PT-91 Main Battle Tank241 Pz 61 Medium Tank241 Pz 68 Main Battle Tank242 Rameses II Main Battle Tank243 Sabra Main Battle Tank244 Sho't Main Battle Tank245 SK 105 Kurassier Light Tank246 Stingray I Light Tank246 Stingray II Light Tank247 Strv 74 Light Tank248 Strv 103 S Main Battle Tank250 Israeli upgrades252 TAMSE TAM Medium Tank253 T-10 Lenin Heavy Tank254 T-14 Armata Main Battle Tank256 T-54/T-55 Medium Tank258 T-62 Main Battle Tank260 T-72 Main Battle Tank262 T-64 Main Battle Tank263 T-80 Main Battle Tank264 T-84 Main Battle Tank265 T-90 Main Battle Tank266 Tifon 2A Main Battle Tank267 TR-580 and TR-85 Main Battle Tanks268 TR-125 Main Battle Tank268 TM-800 Main Battle Tank269 Type 59 Durjoy Main Battle Tank270 Type 10 Main Battle Tank 272 Type 59 Main Battle Tank273 Type 61 Main Battle Tank274 Type 62 Light Tank274 Type 63 Light Amphibious Tank275 Type 69 Main Battle Tank276 Type 74 Main Battle Tank277 Type 80 Main Battle Tank278 Type 85-II Main Battle Tank279 Type 88 K1 Main Battle Tank280 Type 90 Main Battle Tank281 Type 90-II (MBT 2000) Main Battle Tank281 Type 98 Main Battle Tank282 Type 99 Main Battle Tank284 Vickers Mark I (Vijayanta) Main Battle Tank285 Vickers Mark 3 Main Battle Tank286 Vickers VFM Mark 5 Light Tank287 Vickers Mark 7 Valiant Main Battle Tank ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES290 Introducing AFVs The History of Armoured Fighting Vehicles294 Evolution296 Components of an Armoured Division298 World War I300 Between the wars302 Dad's Army304 The coming of age of the Self-Propelled Gun306 Amphibious Infantry Assault Vehicles308 Wartime developments310 The adaptation of soft-skin vehicles312 The Cold War314 The battlefield taxi with NBC and mine protection316 The birth of the Infantry Fighting Vehicle318 Playing catch-up320 Peacekeeping around the world322 Air mobility324 The multi-role family of vehicles326 The future A-Z of World War Armoured Fighting Vehicles: 1914-45332 75mm LVT (A) 4 Close Support Vehicle333 AEC Armoured Car334 Archer 17pdr Self-Propelled Gun335 Austin Armoured Car336 Autoblinda AB 41 Armoured Car337 Autoblindo Mitragliatrice Lancia Ansaldo IZ338 BA-6 Armoured Car339 BA-10 Armoured Car340 BA-20 Armoured Car341 BA-27 Armoured Car342 BA-64B Armoured Car343 Beaverette Light Reconnaissance Car344 Bedford Cockatrice344 Bison Concrete Armoured Vehicle345 Birch Gun346 Bishop 25pdr Self-Propelled Gun Mk 1347 Brummbar Sturmpanzer IV 15cm Self-Propelled Gun348 Buffalo LVT Amphibious Assault Vehicle350 Carriers - Machine-gun351 Cromwell Command/OP Tank352 Crossley Armoured Car353 Daimler Armoured Car354 Daimler Dingo Scout Car355 Dorchester Command Vehicle356 Dragon Carrier Mk I357 Ford Model T Scout Car358 Grille 15cm Heavy Infantry Self-Propelled Gun Ausf M359 Guy Armoured Car Mk 1/1A359 Guy Lizard Command Vehicle360 Humber Armoured Cars361 Hummel 15cm Heavy Self-Propelled Gun362 Indian Pattern Armoured Cars363 ISU-152mm Heavy Assault Gun364 Jeep Multi-Role Vehicle366 Kangaroo Armoured Infantry Carrier367 Katyusha BM-13 132mm Rocket Launcher368 Kfz 13/14 Medium Armoured Car369 Lanchester Armoured Car370 Loyd Carrier371 Lorraine Schlepper 15cm Self-Propelled Gun372 M3 Half-Track Infantry Carrier374 M3A1 Scout Car375 M3 75mm Gun Motor Carriage376 M5 Half-Track Personnel Carrier377 M8 Greyhound Light Armoured Car378 M8 75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage379 M12 155mm Gun Motor Carriage380 M15 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage381 M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage382 M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage384 Marder III Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun386 Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars387 Maultier Nebelwerfer 15cm Panzerwerfer388 Minerva Armoured Car389 Model 93 Sumida Armoured Car389 Morris CS9/LAC Armoured Car Reconnaissance390 Morris Mk 1 Light ReconnaissanceCar391 Ole Bill Bus391 Otter Light Reconnaissance Car392 PA-III Armoured Car393 Panhard AMD Type 178 Armoured Car394 Panzer IV Flakpanzer396 Priest 105mm Self-Propelled Gun398 Renault and Peugeot Armoured Cars399 Renault UE Infantry Tractor400 Rolls-Royce Armoured Car402 Sd Kfz 7/1 8-ton Half-Track403 Sd Kfz 8 and 9 Heavy Half-Tracks404 Sd Kfz 221 Armoured Car405 Sd Kfz 222 Armoured Car406 Sd Kfz 231 Heavy Armoured Car 6 Rad407 Sd Kfz 231 Heavy Armoured Car 8 Rad408 Sd Kfz 233 7.5cm Heavy Armoured Car 8 Rad409 Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma Heavy Armoured Car410 Sd Kfz 234 7.5cm Heavy Support Armoured Cars411 Sd Kfz 250 Half-Track Armoured Personnel Carrier412 Sd Kfz 251 Medium Half-Track414 Sd Kfz 251 Support Vehicles415 Semovente M42 DA 75/18 Self-Propelled Gun416 Sexton 25pdr Self-Propelled Gun418 sIG33 15cm Infantry Support Self-Propelled Gun419 Staghound Armoured Car420 Sturmgeschutz III Self-Propelled Gun422 Sturmgeschutz IV Self-Propelled Gun424 Sturmmoerser Tiger Assault Rocket Mortar426 SU-76 Self-Propelled Gun427 SU-122 Medium Self-Propelled Gun428 Somua MCG Half-Track429 The Gun Carrier430 Thornycroft "J" Type 13pdr Self-Propelled AA Gun431 Troop Carrier/Supply Mk IX Tank432 Universal Carriers434 Wespe 10.5cm Self-Propelled Gun A-Z of Modern Armoured Fighting Vehicles: 1945 - Present Day438 2S1 122mm Self-Propelled Gun440 2S3 152mm Self-Propelled Gun442 2S5 152mm Self-Propelled Gun443 2S19 152mm Self-Propelled Gun444 Abbot 105mm Self-Propelled Gun445 AMX-10P Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle446 AMX-10RC Armoured Car447 AMX-13 DCA SPAAG448 AMX GCT 155mm Self-Propelled Gun450 AMX VCI Infantry Combat Vehicle451 APC Transportpanzer 1 Fuchs452 AS90 155mm Self-Propelled Gun454 BMD Airborne Combat Vehicles456 BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle458 BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle460 BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle462 Boxer Multi-role AFV464 Bradley M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle466 BRDM-2 Armoured Car468 BTR-60 Armoured Personnel Carrier470 BTR-70 Armoured Personnel Carrier472 BTR-80 Armoured Personnel Carrier474 Buffalo MPCV476 BTR-152V1 Armoured Personnel Carrier477 Cascavel EE-9 Mk IV Armoured Car478 Commando V-150 Armoured Personnel Carrier480 Cougar MRAP482 DAF YP-408 Armoured Personnel Carrier483 DANA 152mm Self-Propelled Howitzer484 ENGESA EE-11 Urutu Armoured Personnel Carrier485 Ferret Mk 1 Scout Car486 Ferret Mk 2 Scout Car488 Ferret Mk 4 Big Wheeled Scout Car489 Fox Light Armoured Car490 Foxhound LPPV492 Frog-7 Battlefield Missile System494 FV432 Armoured Personnel Carrier496 FV430 Mk3 Bulldog498 Gepard Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun500 Honest John Missile System501 Hornet Malkara Anti-Tank Missile System502 Humber "Pig" 1-Ton Armoured Personnel Carrier504 Humvee Multi-Role Vehicle506 Land Rover Defender Multi-Role Vehicles508 LAV-25 Light Armoured Vehicles510 LMV-VTLM Panther Multi-Role Vehicle512 LVTP-7 Armoured Amphibious Assault Vehicle514 M42 Duster Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun515 M44 155mm Self-Propelled Gun516 M52 105mm Self-Propelled Gun517 M107 175mm Self-Propelled Gun518 M108 105mm Self-Propelled Gun520 M109 155mm Self-Propelled Gun522 M110 203mm Self-Propelled Howitzer524 M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier526 M577 Command Vehicle527 M901 Improved TOW Vehicle528 Marder 1 Infantry Combat Vehicle530 Marksman Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun531 MT-LB Infantry Carrier532 MXT-MV Husky534 Multiple Launch Rocket System535 OT-64 Armoured Personnel Carrier536 OT-810 Armoured Personnel Carrier537 Panhard AML 90H Armoured Car538 Panhard ERC-90-F4 Sagaie539 Panhard M3 Armoured Personnel Carrier540 Piranha Armoured Personnel Carrier542 Radspahpanzer Luchs Reconnaissance Vehicle543 Rapier Tracked SAM Vehicle543 Rooikat 105mm Armoured Car544 SA-8b SAM Vehicle545 Saladin Mk 2 Armoured Car546 Saracen Armoured Personnel Carrier548 Saxon Armoured Personnel Carrier550 Scud Missile System TEL552 Spartan Armoured Personnel Carrier554 Stormer Armoured Personnel Carrier556 Striker Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Guided Weapon Vehicle558 Timoney Armoured Personnel Carrier559 Timoney/ADI Bushmaster IMV560 Warrior Mechanised Combat Vehicle562 Varta APC564 VAB Armoured Personnel Carrier565 ZSU-23-4 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun566 Glossary568 Acknowledgements569 Key to flags570 Index