Military vehicle designed for combat
"Ground combat vehicle" redirects here. For the U.S. Army's combat vehicle program, see
Ground Combat Vehicle
.
An
RG-31 Nyala
MRAP
and a
Vehicule de l'Avant Blinde
armoured personnel carrier
A
ground combat vehicle
, also known as a
land assault vehicle
or simply a
combat vehicle
or an
assault vehicle
, is a land-based
military vehicle
intended to be used for
combat
operations. They differ from non-combat military vehicles such as
trucks
in that they are designed for use in active combat zones, to be used in
mechanized warfare
and
mobile infantry
roles.
The classification of "combat vehicle" is a very broad category, and may include
armored cars
,
armored personnel carriers
,
infantry fighting vehicles
,
infantry mobility vehicles
,
MRAPs
, and
tanks
.
Improvised fighting vehicles
such as
technicals
can also count as combat vehicles. Most modern combat vehicles have
vehicle armor
,
offensive
or
defensive
weaponry
, and sufficient space to carry
passengers
,
equipment
, or
materiel
; if the first two both apply, the vehicle may be considered an
armored fighting vehicle
.
History
[
edit
]
Ancient Egyptian
warrior wielding a
bow and arrow
on a
chariot
For much of history, most soldiers not fighting on foot (e.g.
cavalry
) used
military animals
such as
horses
or
elephants
, as
land vehicles
for the most part did not exist.
One of the earliest forms of "combat vehicles" was the
chariot
. In
ancient warfare
, chariots were used as "battle taxis" and mobile
archery
platforms during the
Bronze
and
Iron
ages. However, weaponry was not installed on the vehicle, relying on the soldier's carried weapon for armament, and armor was effectively limited to a
shield
and the thin structure of the chariot, if those were even available or sufficient.
A
United States Army
Willys MB
with a
37 mm gun M3
and an
M1917 Browning machine gun
in 1942
With the invention of the
automobile
, combat vehicles took varying forms, ranging from the lightly armored passenger cars of the
World War I
era to the widely fielded
Willys MB
of
World War II
, along with a wide variety of other combat vehicles such as
half-tracks
and multiple
classifications of tanks
. Development of combat vehicles continued into the
Cold War
as
military tactics
and technology evolved, diversifying the role of vehicles in war and making them an essential aspect of
modern warfare
.
Design
[
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]
Automation
[
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]
The automation of human tasks endeavors to reduce the required crew size with improvements in
robotics
. Enhancements to automation can help achieve operational effectiveness with a smaller, more economical, combat vehicle force.
[1]
The automation of combat vehicles has proved to be difficult due to the time latency between the operator controlling the vehicle and the signal being received. Unlike air forces, ground forces must navigate the terrain and plan around obstacles. The rapid tactical implications of operating a weaponized vehicle in a combat environment are great.
[2]
Countermeasures
[
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]
Use of titanium armor on combat vehicles is increasing. The use of titanium can lighten the vehicle's weight.
[3]
Applique armor
can be quickly applied to vehicles and has been utilized on a number of combat vehicles, such as the
M8 Armored Gun System
.
[3]
- Fire suppression
Contemporary combat vehicles may incorporate a fire-suppression system to mitigate damage from fire. Systems can be employed in the engine and crew compartments and portable systems may be mounted inside and outside the vehicle as well.
Automatic fire suppression
systems activate instantaneously upon the detection of fire and have been shown to significantly improve crew survivability.
Halon
fire suppression systems quickly inundate an affected fire breach with a flood of halon to extinguish leaking fuel. Halon remains necessary for crew compartment fire suppression due to space and weight constraints, and toxicity concerns. Nitrogen systems take up about twice as much space as a comparable halon unit. Germany uses this system as a replacement for its halon system. Some systems, such as Germany's previous extinguisher, have a second shot of suppressant to mitigate re-ignition or the effects of a second hit.
[4]
Though not as instantaneous, portable crew-operable extinguishers are also used inside and outside the vehicle. Typically, portable extinguishers use a CO
2
agent instead of the halon agents used in the past. CO
2
can become lethal to vehicle occupants if it accumulates into a deadly concentration. The U.S. Army has adopted a replacement formula consisting of 50%
water
, 50%
potassium acetate
. Alternatives such as powder formulas also exist.
[5]
Crew and occupants
[
edit
]
Republic of Korea Marines
disembarking from an
Assault Amphibious Vehicle
Combat vehicles require at least one crew member, though typically at least two (one driver and one gunner). Some vehicles, such as armored personnel carriers, also contain a dedicated passenger bay, able to carry up to a dozen or more passengers. Hygiene upkeep is difficult when operating a combat vehicle.
[6]
Mobility
[
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]
Tracked combat vehicles are suited for heavy combat and rough terrain. Wheeled combat vehicles offer improved logistical mobility and optimized speeds on smooth terrain.
Silent watch is becoming an increasingly important combat vehicle application.
[7]
It is a role that requires that all mission requirements be met while keeping acoustic and infrared signature levels to a minimum. For this reason, silent watch often requires the vehicle to operate without use of the main engine and sometimes even auxiliary engines. Many modern combat vehicles often have electronic equipment that cannot be supported solely with auxiliary batteries alone. Auxiliary fuel cells are a potential solution for covert operations.
[7]
Networking
[
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]
Force trackers are not as prevalent as in air forces, but are still essential components of combat vehicles.
[8]
[9]
In the mid-1990s, U.S. weapon developers envisioned a sophisticated communication network where positions of enemy and friendly forces could be relayed to command vehicles and other friendly vehicles. Friendly vehicles could transmit enemy positions to friendly combat vehicles in combat range for efficient annihilation of the enemy. Logistics support could also monitor front-line combat vehicle fuel and ammunition statuses and move in to resupply depleted vehicles.
[10]
Weaponry
[
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]
An
Oshkosh M-ATV
firing its
M230 chain gun
Weapons mounted on combat vehicles are primarily designed for engaging
infantry
or other combat vehicles at a distance. They may consist of weapons such as
machine guns
,
automatic grenade launchers
, or simply the presence of
firing ports
or armored turrets for the crew or infantry to fire their own issued weaponry from. Some combat vehicles may also carry anti-armor or anti-vehicle weaponry such as
autocannons
or
anti-tank guided missiles
. High-caliber or dedicated combat vehicles such as tanks or self-propelled weaponry may carry
tank guns
,
multiple rocket launchers
,
artillery
, or
anti-aircraft weapons
.
Most combat vehicles are not optimized for destroying non-traditional targets such as
car bombs
, though many may be designed to be resistant to explosives.
[11]
See also
[
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]
References
[
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]