Tank Encyclopedia's Archives
A sub of Tank Encyclopedia. This is the new archive section, with all former entries, and a search engine. ➀ All single vehicles are accessible by nations and eras in a more consistent and logical way than previously. ADS are needed due to finance better server performances as audience grows. But you can support also it through merchandise here.
➁ New posts weekly. These are mere "entry into matter", for vehicles scheduled on tank-encyclopedia.com, that will be seen in the latter in much more detail. A link from the archive entry will point to the new article when up. There are still circa 2,000 serial armored vehicles to be treated over the years excluding prototypes and paper projects, so tank-afv.com will continue to run until all are treated, and follow the news of armoured vehicles around the world.
☄ About the site name: If a "Tank" is obvious to anyone in this context, "AFV" is an acronym which stands for "Armoured Fighting Vehicle". It is a catch-all definition for all military vehicles armoured (and armed), tracked or wheeled. For soft-skinned vehicles please visit truck-encyclopedia.com. See also The 2015 archive.
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♆ 16/09/2026
Mark VII A17 Tetrarch (1938)
The Light tank Mk VII, Tetrarch was manufactured by Vickers in 1938-39 as a successor to the Mark VIC. In fact, it was its last light tank ever. It was the first armed with a more substantial 2-pounder gun instead of heavy machine guns, and the War Office ordered 70, and later more came up for a total of 220, but they were delayed and as flaws were evident, in addition to doctrinal changes, it stopped after the 177th vehicle instead. They were almost not deployed at first, kept for training in Britain, with 20 sent to USSR under lend-lease. Eventually they found their use for overseas amphibious operations as they were light and compact. The saw action with the 1st Airborne in Madagascar (Op. Ironclad), and deployed from Hamilcar Gliders in Sicily (Op. Husky) with the 6th airborne, and Op. Tonga over Normandy in June 1944. They were phased out for the M22 Locust and Light Tank Mk VIII Harry Hopkins.
♆ 10/09/2026
Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper mit Behelfspanzerung (1944)
The Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper (acronym sWS) for "Heavy Military Tractor" was a German WWII half-track manufactured between 1943 and 1945, but designed under orders from Hitler for mass production in May 1942. The present post is about the unprotected model were used to supply the eastern frontline and to haul artillery. However the shortage or armour meant many started to be later converted Armored versions for FLAK or as rocket launching vehicles (Nebelwerfer). Mass production remained a pipe dream and only less than a thousand were built before V-Day. Czechoslovakia designed an improved model, the Tatra T809, which became its early cold war standard APC.
♆ 04/09/2026
BTR-4MV1 (2018)
The BTR-4MVI had been unveiled in 2018 by the Ukrainian state defense manufacturer (UkrOboronProm) as a prototype designed in accordance with NATO standards. It's modified configuration is the the vehicle's hull, now flat and allowing to add additional types of protection, ceramic plates and ERA bricks, to reach the 4th and 5th STANAG protection levels. The hull rear is fitted with a single electric ramp, and there is a modified rear compartment with greater room to accomodate larger-size cargoes or modules. The vehicle so far has not been exported and saw action in 2023-26.
WW1 Tanks & Armored Cars
Born in the Trenches, when the front became static, the idea of the tank was a resurgence of ...science fiction, when some looked at HG Wells' "land battleships" novel. In UK, development was stirred by Wintson Churchill and the Navy. In France, by an artillery officer, J.B. Estienne. And soon the world took notice. Tanks were rare and few in between still, with grand plans in 1918 that never were realized. When the front was not static, armored cars reigned supreme.
WW2 Tanks & Armored Cars
In 1939, thanks had nearly two decades to evolve at peacetime rate, though the boiling of new ideas of tactics and combined arms, with some armies more acute of these than any others. Ground combat proved absolute masters of these new ideas, the Wehrmacht, with luck and opposite incompetence. After moving to USSR, the fight moved to Africa, then to Italy and back to Western Europe at large, driving fast-paced innovation in a deadly food chain contest.
Cold War Armoured Fighting Vehicles
The atomic age started with the opposition of two superpowers, which developed deterrence but at the same time, always considered conventional warfare. Far from peaceful, this second half century, until 1991, saw gradual improvement, with a gap of twenty years before generations, towards 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation main battle tanks and a cohort of armoured personal carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and many specialized variants, wheeled and tracked.
Modern Armoured Fighting Vehicles
As the recent conflict in Ukraine shows us, the tank is still useful in the frame of a conventional war. However drones unexpectedly showed deadlier as well as artillery. Between 1991 and 2026are we really seeing a radical transformation of ground warfare ? One thing is sure through for all generals: The main battle tank is still king of the battlefield, when well used and accompanied. From city scapes to desert, steppe, rolly hills and mountains, even coming from the sea, the tank adapted and is there to stay.
Armored Trains.
The New section in development
The same database as for tanks: Railroad networks developed in the XIXth soon found a military use. Before even WWI, train attacks led to armed and armored trains. This had going on for more than a century now. This will cover all WW1, WW2, but also cold war and even recent armoured trains on the long run.
03/08.2026 
MBV D-2 (1931)
A total of 31 production-model D-2 armored railcars were manufactured (plus one D3 and one D6) in 1932-39. During the fighting in the summer of 1941, NKVD railway security troops lost seven D-2 units; after repairs, the Germans incorporated them into their own armored trains. The remaining D-2s continued to be used by NKVD units until the end of the war and were decommissioned in the late 1940s. Full story.
Trucks
Military Trucks and staff cars.
A dedicated section for softskin vehicles, from WWI to this day: Trucks, staff cars, reconnaissance vehicles, and artillery tractors: Truck-Encyclopedia.com.
M76 Otter (1955)
13/09/2026 The Amphibious Cargo Carrier M76 Otter was a US Cold War USMC tracked amphibious cargo carrier mostly known for its use in the Vietnam War. Designed by the Pontiac Motor Division in the late 1940s it was adopted in the early 1950s as official replacement for the WWII M29 Weasel. Built to transport 2 men forward and 8 soldiers at the rear or up to 3,000 lbs (1.5 tons) of cargo it had a lightweight, fully watertight riveted aluminium hull for excellent buoyancy and was powered by a Chrysler 6-cylinder petrol engine. It combined full tracks with unique inflatable rubber-tired road wheels for extra buoyancy, swimming with propeller and rudder. It was also lightly armed (M2 Browning 0.50 cal. on ring mount). It was perfect for the marshy terrain of Vietnam but offered little protection. It was replaced by the M116 Husky based on the M113 chassis.
2026 Entries:
Schwerer Wehrmachtschlepper * Brossel 780B TAL * Bedford OX (1939) * M116 Husky * Kasukha 4 (2010) * MAZ-630308-224 ("KN-13") * Leyland Hippo Mark II (1943) * LARC LX (1952) * Panhard K125 * GAZ-53 (1946) * Radschlepper Ost (1942) * PZInz-222 (1938) * AT-T (1946) * Fordson WOT * Renault AHR * 5P85TE2 TEL and S-400 Triumf (2007) * Henschel Type 33 (1928) * Kaiser Jeep M715 (1965) * Hotchkiss M201 (1954) * Kamaz Palantin-K Truck (2002) * SG-10 (1949) * Isuzu Type 94 (1934) * BAZ-6909 (1990) * White 704S (1939) * Morris Tilly (1939) * Kamaz Murmansk BN (2014) * UNIC P107 * DOK-M Heavy Dozer (1967) * 9A82 TELAR (1983) * M548 (1959) * Jackal (2007) *
The Antitank-Encyclopedia.
All the means to destroy a Tank.
From early antitank cannons and rifles to missiles, mines and RPGs.
Ansaldo 149/40 Mod. 1935
➾ Field Artillery, 180 manufactured.
The Ansaldo 149/40 Mod. 1935 was developed quickly and production followed in several batches, a first order of 48, a second of 132 plus 52 spare barrels. However production ended late 1941 as the general command wanted to focus instead on high velocity AA guns and anti-tank ordnance. Capable of a range of 23,700 m with a 800 m/s HE round, the Ansaldo 179/40 Mod.35 was also used in North Africa and on the Eastern front in direct fire in some occasion, giving good results thanks to the specialized granata perforante 149/35.
It could defeat tanks by sheer concussion rather than penetration, limited to an average muzzle velocity. Ansaldo try to recycle the gun after a 3rd order for 590 was cancelled, into a self-propelled anti-tank or support vehicle based on the M40 tank chassis, creating the Semovente M42 da 149/40 tested at Turin in 1942 but never approved for production.
Upcoming:
South Africa: Bosvark, MRAP Samil-50 Kwevoel RV, Ribbok, Hippo
Israel: Merkava, III, IV, M109A5 Doher/Rochev, Magach 5 Golan, M113 Golan/Zelda Toga (IDF service), M3 HT in IDF service, M50 AGM launcher, Eshel HaYarden, M2310 shilem
Britain: Vickers Mk.I MBT, Centurion AVRE, Light Mk.IV Colonial Pattern, Light Tank Mk.II, Wasp Carrier, Bren Carrier (update), FV430 Bulldog, FV105 Sultan, FV103 Spartan
USA: M548, M728 CRV, M40 155mm HMC, T12E1 CGMC, M15 Combination GMC, M13 MGMC, M12 155mm SPG, M14 MGMC, M17 MGMC, M39 Carrier, T1 Cunningham, M22 Locust, M3 HMC-75mm, M4 sherman flail, Marmon CTLS, Sherman-MkV-Crocodile, M108 SPG, LAV-300, M113 FIST, M106 MortarCarrier, M577 Command, M103, M110 howitzer
USSR/Russia: 9M317 BUK-M2, 9K330 Tor, 1S91-kvardat, 9K37M1 buk-M (SA-17-Grizzly), 2S35 Koalitsiya, BTT-1, MT-55, 9P157-2 Khrizantema-S, 9P163M-1-Kornet, 2S23 Nona SVK, BMO-T, BMP-2M, BMP-97 Vystrel, BTR-T, Ural Typhoon, R-381T-Taran, R-145BM, STZ-5 tractor/BM-13-16(Ni tank), Pioneer(Komomolets), T26T/BNSP reco vehicle/TP26, Ya12 tractor(T60/70), GT-MU soviet airborne APC, GAZ-2330 Tigr
China: Type 63G mod. light tank, VT4, Yitian-SPAAML, PLZ-07, PLZ-52, PGZ-07, PTL-02, Type 63C APC amphib Ukraine ready: BTR-60M Khorunzhy APC , BTR4 MV1
And also: LAV-6, M120 Rak, Archer, RODEF-4, Pereh-tank-destroyer, T34-D30-SPH, Iranian Rakhsh-APC, Patria II AMV, Light Tank Mark II, Mark III, Spanish AFVs interwar, TAB B33 Zimbru, Ford Lynx, Rhodesian Crocodile, Serge CDS, Jordan Khalid MBT, Jordan Al Hussein, Leonardo-M60 , wasserwerfer-SK2, BTR-152 vz53 SPAAG, MT-55, BTS-4A, BTS-2, Renault FT command, 370-Recoiless-GunsSPG, TC5000XYB
XMas Special !
Fill your basket, offer and delight your friends/family with brand new posters* of iconic tanks of WW2 to this day:
First of this new serie: All Tiger tanks liveries. See the free web version (10x smaller) and the Panther poster available here
More to come soon !
*Also available: Photo print, metal and canvas prints, postcards, mugs, bucket or dad hats, desk mat, baseball cap, t-shirts, tops, latptop or ipad/iphone skin, sleeves, cases, snap cases, but also acrylic blocks and wood mounted prints, taperstry, clocks, coasters, comforter, duvet, shower curtain, throw blanket, pillow, drawstring bag, tote or duffle bag, backpack, pin, scarf, socks, zipper pouch, hardcover journal and spiral notebook, apron and this Xmas 2023 novelty: A Jigsaw puzzle...
