Full Description
Updated and extended for the new 2025 edition. Now an impressive 576 pages, this book is an authoritative history and directory of tanks and their immediate derivatives, such as ARVs (armoured recovery vehicles), tank destroyers, command versions, bridgelayers, mine-clearers and other Funnies, and AFVs such as armoured cars, armoured personnel carriers and self-propelled artillery, covering a vast range of wheeled, tracked and semi-tracked vehicles.
This unique volume, with over 1200 wartime and museum photographs, brings together the most significant tanks and AFVs in military history. The tank was developed as a means of transporting firepower around the battlefield, while armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) give tactical support to the tank. This book is an authoritative history and directory of tanks and their immediate derivatives, such as armoured recovery vehicles, tank destroyers, command versions, bridgelayers, mine-clearers and other "Funnies". It also explores a wide range of AFVs, such as armoured cars, armoured personnel carriers and self-propelled artillery, covering wheeled, tracked and semi-tracked vehicles. From their first appearance to their present-day roles, the development of each vehicle is discussed in depth. All of the major conflicts around the world are examined, such as the Somme, Blitzkrieg, El Alamein, Kursk, D-Day, Korea, Vietnam, Arab-Israeli conflicts, and the Iran-Iraq and Gulf wars.
The book also features substantial A to Z directories of over 400 vehicles, from the world's first tank - the No. 1 Lincoln Machine "Little Willie" - to the contemporary M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank and Varta APC, as well as madcap ideas such as those developed by the British for the Home Guard. This unique volume, illustrated with over 1200 wartime and museum photographs, brings together all the most significant tanks and AFVs that have played important roles in military history.
Contents
CONTENTS
8 Introduction
TANKS
12 Introducing tanks
The History of Tanks
16 Evolution of the tank
18 The tank crew
20 World War I
22 Between the wars
24 Blitzkrieg!
26 Tanks in other theatres
28 Wartime development
30 The Funnies
32 On to victory!
34 The Cold War
36 Korea and Vietnam
38 The uneasy peace
40 Battle of Chawinda
42 The Arab-Israeli wars
44 Improvements in basic characteristics
46 Tank guns
48 Training expedients
50 Wars in Iraq
52 Technology and Survival
54 What next for tanks?
World War Tanks: 1916-45
60 A7V Sturmpanzerwagen
62 A1E1 Independent
63 A9 Cruiser Tank Mark I
63 A10 Cruiser Tank Mark IIA
64 A11 Infantry Tank Mark I Matilda I
65 A12 Infantry Tank Mark II Matilda II
66 A13 Cruiser Tank Mark III
66 A13 Mark II Cruiser Tank Mark IV
67 A13 Mark III Cruiser Tank Mark V Covenanter
68 A15 Cruiser Tank Mark VI Crusader
69 A17 Light Tank Mark VII Tetrarch
69 A25 Light Tank Mark VIII Harry Hopkins
70 A22 Infantry Tank Mark IV Churchill
71 A43 Infantry Tank Black Prince
72 A24 Cruiser Tank Mark VII Cavalier
72 A27L Cruiser Tank Mark VIII Centaur
73 A27M Cruiser Tank Mark VIII Cromwell
74 A30 Cruiser Tank Challenger
74 A30 Tank Destroyer Avenger
75 A33 Heavy Assault Tank Excelsior
75 A38 Infantry Tank Valiant
76 A34 Cruiser Tank Comet
78 A39 Heavy Assault Tank Tortoise
78 TOG 1 and TOG 2 Heavy Tanks
79 BT Medium Tank series
80 Carro Armato M11/39 Medium Tank
80 Carro Armato M13/40 Medium Tank
81 Carro Veloce 33 Tankette
81 Carro Veloce L35/Lf Flamethrower Tankette
82 Char d'Assault Schneider CA1 Heavy Tank
83 Char d'Assault Saint Chamond Heavy Tank
84 Char B1 Heavy Tank
84 Char B1-bis Heavy Tank
85 Char 2C Heavy Tank
86 Elefant/Ferdinand Heavy Tank Destroyer
86 Jagdpanzer IV Tank Destroyer
87 E-100 Super Heavy Tank
88 FCM 36 Infantry Tank
89 Ford 3 Ton Tank
89 Ford 6 Ton Tank (M1917)
90 Holt Gas-Electric Tank and other US experimental tanks
92 Hotchkiss H-35 Light Tank
92 Hotchkiss H-39 Light Tank
93 JS-1 Heavy Tank
93 JS-2 Heavy Tank
94 KV-1 Heavy Tank
94 KV-2 Heavy Tank
95 The No. 1 Lincoln Machine "Little Willie"
96 LK I Light Tank
96 LK II Light Tank
97 Medium B Whippet
97 Medium C Hornet
98 Medium A Whippet
100 Mark I Heavy Tank "Mother"
102 Mark I Medium Tank
103 Mark II and Mark III Heavy Tanks
104 Mark II Medium Tank
105 Mark II and Mark III Light Tanks
106 Mark III Valentine Infantry Tank
107 Mark IV Light Tank
107 Mark V Light Tank
108 Mark IV Heavy Tank
110 Mark V Heavy Tank
112 Mark VI Light Tank
114 Mark VIII Heavy Tank
116 M1 and M2 Combat Cars
117 M2 Light Tank series
118 M3 General Lee Medium Tank and variants
120 M4 Sherman Medium Tank
122 M3 Light Tank series
122 M5 Light Tank
123 M6 Heavy Tank
123 M26 Pershing Heavy Tank
124 M10 Wolverine Tank Destroyer
125 M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer
125 M36 Gun Motor Carriage
126 M22 Locust Light Tank
126 M24 Chaffee Light Tank
127 M1931 Christie
128 Neubaufahrzeuge V and VI
129 PzKpfw Maus Super-Heavy Tank
130 PzKpfw I Light Tank
131 PzKpfw II Light Tank
132 PzKpfw III Medium Tank
134 PzKpfw IV Medium Tank
136 PzKpfw V Panther Heavy Tank
137 Jagdpanther Heavy Tank Destroyer
138 PzKpfw VI Ausf E Tiger 1 Heavy Tank
139 PzKpfw VI Ausf B Tiger 2 Heavy Tank
139 PzKpfw VI Jagdtiger Heavy Tank Destroyer
140 Renault FT-17 Light Tank and derivatives
142 Ram Mark I Cruiser Tank
142 Ram Mark II Cruiser Tank
143 Renault Char D2 Infantry Tank
143 Renault FT Kegresse-Hinstin M24/25 Light Tank
144 Renault R-35 Light Tank
145 Sentinel AC1, AC2, AC3 and AC4 Cruiser Tank
146 7TP Light Tank
147 SMK Heavy Tank
148 Skoda LT-35 Medium Tank
149 Skoda LT-38 Medium Tank
150 SOMUA S-35 Medium Tank
151 Strv M/21 and M/29 Light Tanks
151 Strv M/31 Light Tank
152 Strv M/40, M/41 and M/42 Light Tanks
153 T1 and T2 Medium Tanks
154 T-26 Light Tank
154 T-28 Medium Tank
155 T-37 Amphibious Light Tank
155 T-40 Amphibious Light Tank
156 T-34/76A Medium Tank
157 T-34/85 Medium Tank
158 Turan I and II Medium Tanks
159 Type 3 Ka-Chi Amphibious Tank
159 Type 5 To-Ku Amphibious Tank
160 Type 95 Ha-Go Light Tank
161 Type 89B Ot-Su Medium Tank
161 Type 97 Chi-Ha Medium Tank
162 Vickers Commercial Dutchman Light Tank
163 Vickers 6 Ton Tank
Modern Tanks: 1945 - Present Day
166 A41 Centurion Medium Tank
168 M1A1/M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank
170 AAI Rapid Deployment Force Light Tank
171 Alan Degman Main Battle Tank
172 Al-Khalid Main Battle Tank
174 Alvis Scimitar CVR(T)
175 Alvis Scorpion CVR(T)
176 Al-Zarrar Main Battle Tank
177 ASCOD 105/Sabrah Light Tank
178 AMX-13 Light Tank
179 AMX-30 Main Battle Tank
180 AMX-32 Main Battle Tank
181 AMX-40 Main Battle Tank
182 Ariete Main Battle Tank
184 Arjun Main Battle Tank
186 ASU-57 Tank Destroyer
186 ASU-85 Tank Destroyer
187 Bernardini M41 Light Tank
187 Bernardini X1A1 and X1A2 Light Tanks
188 Challenger 1 Main Battle Tank
190 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank
192 Chieftain Main Battle Tank (FV 4202)
194 Charioteer Tank Destroyer
195 Conqueror Heavy Tank
196 CV90-120-T Light Tank
197 EE T1 Osorio Main Battle Tank
198 Hetzer G13 Tank Destroyer
199 HIMAG Test Vehicle
199 HSTV(L)
200 IKV-91 Tank Destroyer
201 JS-3 Heavy Tank
202 Jagdpanzer Kanone Tank Destroyer
203 Jagdpanzer Rakete Jaguar Tank Destroyer
204 K1-88 Main Battle Tank
206 K2 Black Panther Main Battle Tank
208 KF51 Rheinmetall Panther Main Battle Tank
210 Khalid Shir Main Battle Tank
211 M8 Ridgeway Armoured Gun System
212 Leclerc Main Battle Tank
214 Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank
216 Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank
218 M41 Walker Bulldog Light Tank
220 M47 Medium (Patton) Tank
222 M48 Patton Main Battle Tank
224 M50 Ontos Tank Destroyer
225 M56 Scorpion Tank Destroyer
226 M60 Main Battle Tank
227 M84 Main Battle Tank
230 M551 Sheridan Light Tank
231 Magach Main Battle Tank
232 Merkava Main Battle Tank
234 Main Battle Tank 70
235 Olifant Medium Tank
236 OF-40 Main Battle Tank
238 PT-76 Amphibious Light Tank
240 PT-91 Main Battle Tank
241 Pz 61 Medium Tank
241 Pz 68 Main Battle Tank
242 Rameses II Main Battle Tank
243 Sabra Main Battle Tank
244 Sho't Main Battle Tank
245 SK 105 Kurassier Light Tank
246 Stingray I Light Tank
246 Stingray II Light Tank
247 Strv 74 Light Tank
248 Strv 103 S Main Battle Tank
250 Israeli upgrades
252 TAMSE TAM Medium Tank
253 T-10 Lenin Heavy Tank
254 T-14 Armata Main Battle Tank
256 T-54/T-55 Medium Tank
258 T-62 Main Battle Tank
260 T-72 Main Battle Tank
262 T-64 Main Battle Tank
263 T-80 Main Battle Tank
264 T-84 Main Battle Tank
265 T-90 Main Battle Tank
266 Tifon 2A Main Battle Tank
267 TR-580 and TR-85 Main Battle Tanks
268 TR-125 Main Battle Tank
268 TM-800 Main Battle Tank
269 Type 59 Durjoy Main Battle Tank
270 Type 10 Main Battle Tank
272 Type 59 Main Battle Tank
273 Type 61 Main Battle Tank
274 Type 62 Light Tank
274 Type 63 Light Amphibious Tank
275 Type 69 Main Battle Tank
276 Type 74 Main Battle Tank
277 Type 80 Main Battle Tank
278 Type 85-II Main Battle Tank
279 Type 88 K1 Main Battle Tank
280 Type 90 Main Battle Tank
281 Type 90-II (MBT 2000) Main Battle Tank
281 Type 98 Main Battle Tank
282 Type 99 Main Battle Tank
284 Vickers Mark I (Vijayanta) Main Battle Tank
285 Vickers Mark 3 Main Battle Tank
286 Vickers VFM Mark 5 Light Tank
287 Vickers Mark 7 Valiant Main Battle Tank
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
290 Introducing AFVs
The History of Armoured Fighting Vehicles
294 Evolution
296 Components of an Armoured Division
298 World War I
300 Between the wars
302 Dad's Army
304 The coming of age of the Self-Propelled Gun
306 Amphibious Infantry Assault Vehicles
308 Wartime developments
310 The adaptation of soft-skin vehicles
312 The Cold War
314 The battlefield taxi with NBC and mine protection
316 The birth of the Infantry Fighting Vehicle
318 Playing catch-up
320 Peacekeeping around the world
322 Air mobility
324 The multi-role family of vehicles
326 The future
A-Z of World War Armoured Fighting Vehicles: 1914-45
332 75mm LVT (A) 4 Close Support Vehicle
333 AEC Armoured Car
334 Archer 17pdr Self-Propelled Gun
335 Austin Armoured Car
336 Autoblinda AB 41 Armoured Car
337 Autoblindo Mitragliatrice Lancia Ansaldo IZ
338 BA-6 Armoured Car
339 BA-10 Armoured Car
340 BA-20 Armoured Car
341 BA-27 Armoured Car
342 BA-64B Armoured Car
343 Beaverette Light Reconnaissance Car
344 Bedford Cockatrice
344 Bison Concrete Armoured Vehicle
345 Birch Gun
346 Bishop 25pdr Self-Propelled Gun Mk 1
347 Brummbar Sturmpanzer IV 15cm Self-Propelled Gun
348 Buffalo LVT Amphibious Assault Vehicle
350 Carriers - Machine-gun
351 Cromwell Command/OP Tank
352 Crossley Armoured Car
353 Daimler Armoured Car
354 Daimler Dingo Scout Car
355 Dorchester Command Vehicle
356 Dragon Carrier Mk I
357 Ford Model T Scout Car
358 Grille 15cm Heavy Infantry Self-Propelled Gun Ausf M
359 Guy Armoured Car Mk 1/1A
359 Guy Lizard Command Vehicle
360 Humber Armoured Cars
361 Hummel 15cm Heavy Self-Propelled Gun
362 Indian Pattern Armoured Cars
363 ISU-152mm Heavy Assault Gun
364 Jeep Multi-Role Vehicle
366 Kangaroo Armoured Infantry Carrier
367 Katyusha BM-13 132mm Rocket Launcher
368 Kfz 13/14 Medium Armoured Car
369 Lanchester Armoured Car
370 Loyd Carrier
371 Lorraine Schlepper 15cm Self-Propelled Gun
372 M3 Half-Track Infantry Carrier
374 M3A1 Scout Car
375 M3 75mm Gun Motor Carriage
376 M5 Half-Track Personnel Carrier
377 M8 Greyhound Light Armoured Car
378 M8 75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage
379 M12 155mm Gun Motor Carriage
380 M15 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage
381 M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage
382 M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage
384 Marder III Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Gun
386 Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars
387 Maultier Nebelwerfer 15cm Panzerwerfer
388 Minerva Armoured Car
389 Model 93 Sumida Armoured Car
389 Morris CS9/LAC Armoured Car Reconnaissance
390 Morris Mk 1 Light ReconnaissanceCar
391 Ole Bill Bus
391 Otter Light Reconnaissance Car
392 PA-III Armoured Car
393 Panhard AMD Type 178 Armoured Car
394 Panzer IV Flakpanzer
396 Priest 105mm Self-Propelled Gun
398 Renault and Peugeot Armoured Cars
399 Renault UE Infantry Tractor
400 Rolls-Royce Armoured Car
402 Sd Kfz 7/1 8-ton Half-Track
403 Sd Kfz 8 and 9 Heavy Half-Tracks
404 Sd Kfz 221 Armoured Car
405 Sd Kfz 222 Armoured Car
406 Sd Kfz 231 Heavy Armoured Car 6 Rad
407 Sd Kfz 231 Heavy Armoured Car 8 Rad
408 Sd Kfz 233 7.5cm Heavy Armoured Car 8 Rad
409 Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma Heavy Armoured Car
410 Sd Kfz 234 7.5cm Heavy Support Armoured Cars
411 Sd Kfz 250 Half-Track Armoured Personnel Carrier
412 Sd Kfz 251 Medium Half-Track
414 Sd Kfz 251 Support Vehicles
415 Semovente M42 DA 75/18 Self-Propelled Gun
416 Sexton 25pdr Self-Propelled Gun
418 sIG33 15cm Infantry Support Self-Propelled Gun
419 Staghound Armoured Car
420 Sturmgeschutz III Self-Propelled Gun
422 Sturmgeschutz IV Self-Propelled Gun
424 Sturmmoerser Tiger Assault Rocket Mortar
426 SU-76 Self-Propelled Gun
427 SU-122 Medium Self-Propelled Gun
428 Somua MCG Half-Track
429 The Gun Carrier
430 Thornycroft "J" Type 13pdr Self-Propelled AA Gun
431 Troop Carrier/Supply Mk IX Tank
432 Universal Carriers
434 Wespe 10.5cm Self-Propelled Gun
A-Z of Modern Armoured Fighting Vehicles: 1945 - Present Day
438 2S1 122mm Self-Propelled Gun
440 2S3 152mm Self-Propelled Gun
442 2S5 152mm Self-Propelled Gun
443 2S19 152mm Self-Propelled Gun
444 Abbot 105mm Self-Propelled Gun
445 AMX-10P Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle
446 AMX-10RC Armoured Car
447 AMX-13 DCA SPAAG
448 AMX GCT 155mm Self-Propelled Gun
450 AMX VCI Infantry Combat Vehicle
451 APC Transportpanzer 1 Fuchs
452 AS90 155mm Self-Propelled Gun
454 BMD Airborne Combat Vehicles
456 BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
458 BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
460 BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
462 Boxer Multi-role AFV
464 Bradley M2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
466 BRDM-2 Armoured Car
468 BTR-60 Armoured Personnel Carrier
470 BTR-70 Armoured Personnel Carrier
472 BTR-80 Armoured Personnel Carrier
474 Buffalo MPCV
476 BTR-152V1 Armoured Personnel Carrier
477 Cascavel EE-9 Mk IV Armoured Car
478 Commando V-150 Armoured Personnel Carrier
480 Cougar MRAP
482 DAF YP-408 Armoured Personnel Carrier
483 DANA 152mm Self-Propelled Howitzer
484 ENGESA EE-11 Urutu Armoured Personnel Carrier
485 Ferret Mk 1 Scout Car
486 Ferret Mk 2 Scout Car
488 Ferret Mk 4 Big Wheeled Scout Car
489 Fox Light Armoured Car
490 Foxhound LPPV
492 Frog-7 Battlefield Missile System
494 FV432 Armoured Personnel Carrier
496 FV430 Mk3 Bulldog
498 Gepard Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun
500 Honest John Missile System
501 Hornet Malkara Anti-Tank Missile System
502 Humber "Pig" 1-Ton Armoured Personnel Carrier
504 Humvee Multi-Role Vehicle
506 Land Rover Defender Multi-Role Vehicles
508 LAV-25 Light Armoured Vehicles
510 LMV-VTLM Panther Multi-Role Vehicle
512 LVTP-7 Armoured Amphibious Assault Vehicle
514 M42 Duster Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun
515 M44 155mm Self-Propelled Gun
516 M52 105mm Self-Propelled Gun
517 M107 175mm Self-Propelled Gun
518 M108 105mm Self-Propelled Gun
520 M109 155mm Self-Propelled Gun
522 M110 203mm Self-Propelled Howitzer
524 M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier
526 M577 Command Vehicle
527 M901 Improved TOW Vehicle
528 Marder 1 Infantry Combat Vehicle
530 Marksman Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun
531 MT-LB Infantry Carrier
532 MXT-MV Husky
534 Multiple Launch Rocket System
535 OT-64 Armoured Personnel Carrier
536 OT-810 Armoured Personnel Carrier
537 Panhard AML 90H Armoured Car
538 Panhard ERC-90-F4 Sagaie
539 Panhard M3 Armoured Personnel Carrier
540 Piranha Armoured Personnel Carrier
542 Radspahpanzer Luchs Reconnaissance Vehicle
543 Rapier Tracked SAM Vehicle
543 Rooikat 105mm Armoured Car
544 SA-8b SAM Vehicle
545 Saladin Mk 2 Armoured Car
546 Saracen Armoured Personnel Carrier
548 Saxon Armoured Personnel Carrier
550 Scud Missile System TEL
552 Spartan Armoured Personnel Carrier
554 Stormer Armoured Personnel Carrier
556 Striker Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Guided Weapon Vehicle
558 Timoney Armoured Personnel Carrier
559 Timoney/ADI Bushmaster IMV
560 Warrior Mechanised Combat Vehicle
562 Varta APC
564 VAB Armoured Personnel Carrier
565 ZSU-23-4 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun
566 Glossary
568 Acknowledgements
569 Key to flags
570 Index
