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Status: 06.01.2023 10:50 a.m
France is supplying Ukraine with reconnaissance tanks, Germany is now supplying armored personnel carriers, and Ukraine also wants main battle tanks: What are the differences? A little tank knowledge at a glance.
main battle tank
The scientific services of the Bundestag understand this to mean a vehicle with track drive and a “very powerful cannon as the main armament in a 360-degree rotating turret”. The main battle tank is therefore the “best armored vehicle” on the battlefield. Examples of the type mentioned in the English Main Battle Tank (MBT) are the German “Leopard 2”, the US “M1 Abrams”, the British “Challenger 2” or the French “Leclerc”.
The battle tank Panther from the armaments group Rheinmetall is one of the most modern devices in the world. It builds on the concept of the Leopard 2.
Image: dpa
armored personnel carrier
According to the definition of the Bundestag, these vehicles are not battle tanks. Nevertheless, they are used on the front line and offer almost the same protection. Infantry fighting vehicles accompany main battle tanks on the battlefield. Their main task is to transport infantrymen into battle. These Panzergrenadiers fight enemy vehicles and protect their own battle tanks. The vehicles mentioned in the English Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) are usually equipped with a light cannon and more and more often with armor-piercing guided missiles. The Bundeswehr uses the “Marder” and “Puma” models.
scout tank
According to the Bundestag, these are fast, small, quiet and only lightly armed vehicles, which are usually built as wheeled armored vehicles. The “Fennek” reconnaissance car, for example, is used by the Bundeswehr under the motto “See without being seen”.
This definition contradicts the tank model that France wants to deliver to Ukraine and is also referred to as a “reconnaissance tank”. In fact, said “AMX-10 RC” is a wheeled tank with a big gun.
armored personnel carrier
According to the 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, the personnel carriers are designed to transport a group of infantry, casualties or ammunition and are only lightly armed. The armor of the companions known in the English Armored Personal Carrier (APC) can usually only withstand light and medium infantry weapons. The “Fuchs” and “Boxer” models are used in the Bundeswehr.
special armor
These combat vehicles fulfill a special mission on the battlefield. With the “Buffalo” armored recovery vehicle, the Bundeswehr can recover broken down heavy vehicles under fire. The “Biber” armored bridge-laying tank makes rivers and ditches passable. In addition to swimming tanks, which belong to the amphibious vehicles, or mine clearance tanks, there are also anti-aircraft tanks such as the “Gepard”. The model, which is no longer used by the Bundeswehr, was delivered to Ukraine at the end of 2022.